Disclaimer: Do I really need one after all these years?? Anyway, Matt Houston and said characters belong to Aaron Spelling and um… have no idea who else after 20 years.

Rating: K

Category: Houston & CJ friendship

Author: Traci

One True Friend

It was yet another warm, sunny day in downtown Los Angeles. The only one constant in the City of Angels was the weather.

"Are you okay? You've been out here for hours."

Smiling, CJ Parson looked up at her boss, though if they were honest with each other, he was never truly her boss. "I'm fine, Houston. Just enjoying the day."

The tall Texan sat at the table with her and looked at the numerous legal papers sprawled out between them. "Anything I can help you with?"

She laughed. "Not unless you've been taking corporate law classes I don't know about."

Houston grinned. "Guess I'm off the hook then." He sat back and watched her as she studied some papers. "I could help by making you eat something, though. When was the last time you ate?"

She looked up and cracked her neck. "Um…"

Standing up, Houston reached out and took her hand, pulling her up as well. "This can wait at least through dinner."

CJ's eyes sparkled and she smiled at him. "I guess I am a little hungry. Just let me finish up some stuff then we can eat."

An hour passed before Houston walked out to the balcony to see if CJ was ready for dinner. He stood and watched her from the doorway for a moment. Anyone else would have seen a hard working lawyer lost in paperwork but he had known her for far too long. After a recent breakup with her boyfriend, she had drowned herself in work, never admitting to anyone, not even him, that it upset her more than she let on.

He knew all too well how she felt. Their job was not exactly condusive to relationships and their relationship was something none of their dates ever truly understood or accepted.

"CJ?"

With tired eyes, she looked up at him and offered a small smile. "Dinner?"

Extending his hand to her, he nodded.

As she slipped her hand comfortably in his, she stood up then yawned. "Would you mind if we ordered in instead?"

"On one condition."

"What's that?"

"You agree not to even think about all that for a full hour."

"But…"

He faced her and took her other hand in his. "No buts! I'll carefully bring all your work inside so we can eat outside but one full hour of no work. I'm worried about you, CJ."

She stared at him silently for a moment. "Why are you so worried? I'm fine, just busy."

"You… it seems you've been buried in work since you and Eric broke up."

Her eyes clouded a bit at the mention of the name. "Houston…"

"I know how you feel, CJ. Remember how I was after Elizabeth left? You stood by and took care of me then and I'm going to do the same for you," he sternly told her.

Another smile spread across her lips. No matter how badly she was feeling Houston always managed to be the only one who could make her smile. "What would I do without you?"

He pulled her into a tight hug and whispered, "Hopefully you'll never have to find out."

An hour turned into two, then three and before long, CJ stretched and grinned at Houston. "It was a dirty trick, but it worked. Thank you."

Feigning innocence, he blinked twice. "Trick?"

She leaned across her chair and kissed his cheek. "Yes, trick." Sitting back, she continued, "But it was exactly what I needed to take my mind off things." She paused for a moment. "Houston, there was one thing I didn't tell you about what led to the breakup. I don't know if it was out of embarrassment for me or because I know how you'll react."

Reaching across the table, he held her hand. "What is it?"

"He…" She squeezed his hand. "We had a fight, I don't even remember what it was over, and… he… tried to hit me. I ducked but I knew right then and there that was it." She felt his hand tightened in hers. "Houston, I walked away the second he did that. It's over and he's not worth getting in trouble for."

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" he gently asked.

Biting her lower lip, her gaze held his. "Because I know you and I didn't want to have to defend you for threatening my ex-boyfriend."

"He would have deserved it," he countered.

CJ smiled. "Yes, he would have but still not worth it." Her smile faded. "The worst part is I can't do anything to prevent him from hitting someone else. He didn't physically hurt me and the way the laws are written, that leaves him free to do it to someone else who may not be able to walk away."

Houston stood up, took her hands and pulled her up with him and walked over to the balcony then stood behind her and slid his arms around her waist, pulling her back against him. "What do you see?"

"Houston, what are…?"

"What do you see?"

"Lights, stars, buildings…"

He turned her around in his arms so she was facing him.

Resting her hands on his chest, she waited for him to clue her in on where he was going with the question.

"I see a city full of people that we have helped over the years. People who might not have had a chance otherwise. And I see one amazing woman who is always thinking of others when most would be thinking of themselves under the same circumstances." He ran his fingers through her hair. "I've told you this before and I'm sure I'll say it again, you are a very special person and I am honored to be able to call you my closest friend." Leaning forward, he kissed her lips – just as he had done numerous times over the years. They were always soft, quick kisses that never crossed the line of friendship yet, somehow sealed a bond that went beyond friendship at the same time.

Loosening his hold on her slightly, he noticed her fight back yet another yawn. "Come on, let's get you home. There's nothing in that paperwork that can't wait until tomorrow."

CJ happily obliged.

It was nearly midnight by the time CJ arrived home. Houston had insisted on following her to make sure she got there safely but that was an argument she won that night. With keys in hand, she unlocked the front door then all went black before she was able to step inside.

The phone continued to ring unanswered. Houston could not help feeling as if something was wrong. When he had first tried calling her, he figured maybe she was taking a well-deserved hot bath. When her phone went unanswered twenty minutes later, he started to worry but figured maybe she had turned it off. Now, by the third time, he was already in his car on the way to her house.

Everything appeared normal as he approached her driveway. Her car was there and one inside light was on. Nothing appeared disturbed around the front door, so he knocked gently at first, then a little louder when there was no answer. Using his key, he unlocked the door and stepped inside.

"CJ?"

Again, no answer.

"It's me, CJ. Are you here?"

He turned on the lights, called the police then noticed the one thing that he feared most. Blood. Tiny droplets of it spotted the floor just around the door. Houston closed his eyes and sent up a desperate prayer to anyone willing to listen.