Roy was dozing so had lost all track of time, it was only when he heard raucous laughter from a group of uniformed officers walking to their patrol cars that he blinked, looked as his watch and stretched a fraction before climbing out of the car and heading to the precinct door. He glanced over to the group when he heard one say "Lowell didn't stand a chance…priceless!", he stopped in his tracks when another yelled the reply of "Captain already has Lowell in his office, bet he'll be doing the school parking run by the end of the day!", and he grinned wildly as the last cop to climb into a car called, "Couldn't happen to a nicer go…Ladies one, Lowell...ZERO! Hooooh hah! Yeah!" As Roy watched the cars pull away he nodded to himself and walked back to lean against his own car and wait, he had a feeling he wouldn't be there much longer!

After fifteen minutes of basking in the sun Roy turned and watched as Lt Michael Hoyt opened the precinct door, and escorted a dishevelled Houston outside, and towards his waiting Uncle. Roy stood up straight and held out his arms, Matt walked straight into them and hugged him tight as they both slapped each other affectionately on the back. Hoyt sauntered over to join them, a large smile playing across his face. "Hey Roy!"

"Hoyt! Uhm seem to be missing a couple of people!" Roy said as he looked pointedly over his friends shoulder and back to the now firmly closed precinct door

Hoyt chuckled as he casually put his hand in his pocket and with his other hand rubbed the side of his nose. "Oh they'll be right out, once Captain Bradley has finished grovelling to them!"

Roy tilted his head a fraction. "Grovelling? What did I miss?"

"Apparently not as much as Lowell!" Houston muttered

Roy looked at him, then back at Hoyt. "Huh?"

"Seems our young Detective Lowell forgot a few basic rules of investigation, strike that, not a few…try ALL! For a start he didn't bother to ask Houston where he was when Elizabeth was killed, and as Houston has a solid alibi that was more than a rookie mistake, it was sheer stupidity!" Hoyt said with a grin

"He had already found Elizabeths journals in her car, read them, and decided that I was guilty, worked what little evidence he had to consolidate his little theory!" Houston added as he rubbed the back of his neck and leaned against Roys car, "trouble is, Elizabeth was living a fantasy world, the stuff she must have written in her journals, the things Lowell accused me of...US of! Roy, he thinks CJ was in on this to, arrested her for conspiracy to murder!"

"Arrested CJ!" Roy chuckled, "hoooo weeeeeee, wudda loved to have seen her face!"

Houston smirked as he looked up at him "It was funny, but it was Pip that came out swingin'! She rattled off to Lowell about checking alibis, checking the stuff Elizabeth had written, more or less asked him in front of the whole station if he had any clue what he was doing, made him look like a fool!"

Hoyt was really chuckling now. "Oh she sure did, and I loved every minute of it, she is a class act, can see why she is friends with CJ, not sure how she is friends with you Houston!"

"Hey Hoyt, you could hurt my feelings! And she is CJs sister-in-law! "

By now Hoyt was laughing. "Even better! Oh the look on Lowells face though, when Bradley yelled across the whole office to get in to his office now, every one looking at him as he did the walk of shame! Your friend Pip was already in there looking cool as a cucumber, they brought CJ in a few minutes later and Lowell looked mad! Couldn't hear all that was said, odd phrase like illegal detention and compensation, Bradley sure looked nervous as both CJ and Pip kept ticking what looked like a list of complaints off their fingers, like a legal tag team! Oh it was a thing of beauty to see! Just wish I cudda heard more!"

Roy shook his head a fraction as had Hoyt started giggling like a five year old. "Correct me if I'm wrong now Michael, but I get the feeling that you are not exactly Lowells number one fan!"

Hoyt instantly became serious. "He is the kind of lazy cop who put us all to shame! He wants the glory, sees himself as some sorta celebrity cop, ya know…a hero! But thinks he is above actually doing the foot work! He saw Houston as step up the career ladder…high profile murderer, sordid affair with his well known associate, the kinda story that makes headlines and police officers careers…IF they get the facts right! If not, well, as Lowell is about to find out, kinda case that breaks a career to"

"And I have a felling that CJ is determined to make sure that Lowells career is firmly on the downward spiral!" Houston added quietly, shaking his head a fraction, "never known her to have a vindictive bone in her body, but this guy…sure pushes her buttons!"

Hoyt was definitely no longer laughing as he put his hand on Houstons shoulder. "CJ isn't the only one this guy winds up, difference is…she and this Pip are the only ones to bring him down! He's a loose cannon Houston, I hate the guy, I mean it, he is a disgrace to the badge, devious, arrogant…an ego the size of the State of California…he makes life difficult for the people who cross him…do you see what I'm trying to tell you?"

Roy was the one who answered. "CJ and Pip just made a new enemy!"

Hoyt nodded as he added. "And a very dangerous one, especially if Bradley doesn't see sense and take away his badge!"

The three men stood looking at each other, before Houston suddenly straightened and looked across, watching as CJ and Pip walked towards them. Pip was smiling, CJ tight lipped and slightly flushed. She reached up to rest her hand on Houstons shoulder and kissed his cheek before turning to Hoyt and hugging him. "Hello old friend!" she said, her eyes sparkling as she stepped back and smiled at him

"Oh CJ!" Hoyt said with a shake of his head, "things sure have been dull while you've been gone!"

"Well then good to be back, I would hate to think of you being bored Hoyt! Oh, Pip, this is our friend Lt Michael Hoyt… Hoyt, may I present my sister-in-law Lady…"

Pip suddenly leaned forward and put her hand out to Hoyt "Uh, Pip…Pip Coombs…nice to meet you Lieutenant, CJ has certainly told me some crazy stories about you!"

"Delighted to meet you to, you realise you have just become a hero to a lot of folks in that precinct! And CJ, you just completely cemented your pin up status with us all! Oh, CJ, you ok?"

The others all looked at her as she brought her hand to her a nose. A steady trickle of blood was flowing down, and as she took her hand away her eyes widened at how much was there. Roy quickly pulled the handkerchief free from his top jacket pocket and passed it to her. Pip steered her to the passenger seat of the car as Houston flung the door open and helped her sit down. "Lean forward!" Pip said, "and apply pressure here, on the bridge of your nose…no, not too hard, just a pinch, that's it, breath through your mouth…good girl. Do you feel dizzy?"

"Nnnu" CJ shook her head a fraction

"Wouldn't do that just yet Alamo!" Pip chuckled as she crouched down before her and pushed CJs hand away, applying the pressure herself as she carefully studied her sister-in-law. "Probably a rise in blood pressure, all got a bit tense back there, and after along flight to! May be a smart move to go home now, and let you take a nap!" Looking quickly at CJs narrowed eyes she added, "I mean, I know I am tired so think we both could do with some shut eye before we make a start on reading the diaries of the late Mrs Houston and the copies of all the evidence Lowell couldn't be bothered reading!"

"Ahm no veelin' tired doh!" CJ slapped Pips hand free and repeated, "I'm not feeling tired though, a cup of coffee and I'll be fine! See? Nose bleed has stopped, almost, and the sooner we get started the better chance we have! And stop calling me Alamo!"

Pip smirked as she straightened up and looked down at CJ "But it suits you! And no CJ, I'm putting my foot down here…you'll keep going until you drop and then you'll be no use to us, we rest now, start again fresh, ok? Besides, I promised Stephen to keep an eye on you and the…the fact is, I always keep a promise, even if I have to rugby tackle you and lock you in your room!"

Hoyt raised his eyebrows. "I like this girl!"

"I'd like to see the rugby tackle!" Houston muttered as he wiggled his eyebrows, but before he could add any further comments he yawned, loudly and openly. CJ looked up at him, glanced at Pip and burst out laughing. "What?" Houston asked innocently

CJ and Houston were in the back of Roys car, Pip sat up front as they drove towards Houstons house. "Thought you lived in a Beach House?" Pip looked out of the window as Roy turned towards Montecito, and started to drive up a picturesque mountain road

Houston nodded "Moved out a few months ago. Needed a fresh start, got me a house that overlooks the sea, backs onto the mountains and has room for a few horses. Got a swimming pool and a place to land the chopper to!"

"Like the old ranch!" CJ whispered as she took his hand in hers and smiled nostalgically

He looked down and put his other hand over were she held his. "Yeah, a little like it, but missing a few good things ya know!"

She smiled at him and nodded

Roy stopped in front of a set of large majestic gates and clicked the switch he had picked up from the pocket in his car door. Slowly and silently the gates swung open and Roy edged through, slowing down as he checked his rear view mirror to ensure the gates had closed behind them. Pip gave a small laugh as she watched him, and Roy glanced sideways at her as he whispered. "Old habits die hard!"

Pip nodded. "I know, I've been checking the side mirror all the way up here to check we weren't followed. We were of course!"

"Uh huh, dark blue Ford, followed us from the precinct…guess Houston and CJ are free but still not clear!" Roy chewed his lip thoughtfully before adding, "think we should check with Hoyt though as soon as we get in, just make sure our little follower is official and not Lowell on a mission dontcha agree?"

Pip just raised her eyebrow and nodded a fraction before turning in her seat to look at Houston and chuckled as she saw him sleeping soundly, his head resting on the top of CJs as she tucked into his shoulder, sleeping as peacefully as her best friend. "Maybe we should get a blanket and just leave them there?"

"Think we can offer better accommodation inside, besides, it's sunny now but when evening comes it can get a bit chilly in the mountains, got to take care of our girl!" Roy glanced at Pip and winked

"Do you ever miss a trick? She asked with a slight giggle. "I mean, how did you know?"

Roy pulled the car to a halt in the side garage and turned in his seat to look directly at her. "When it comes to my family I make it my business to know everything. I know CJ, she is like a daughter to me, and although it has been a few months since I have seen her, I KNOW her! I can see the way her eyes shine, I noticed the way you worry about her, I noticed that CJ seems to be more tired than I would expect…and though it probably isn't polite to say it, I notice that she has…err…well…developed! Like my Flo did!"

"Developed?"

Roy blushed as he nodded, and brought his hands up to his chest, cupping them and making slight circular moves he whispered. " Developed!"

Pip smirked and gave a quick nod before reaching back and gently shaking CJs knee. "Wake up sleepy head, time to get you in doors and let you have a nap some placed comfy!"

CJ blinked and looked sideways as Houston groggily murmured "Are we there yet?" He blinked and opened up one eye, then the other and smiled goofily as he looked straight into CJs eyes. "Well hi there!" he whispered

"Hi!" she whispered back, holding his gaze as a small smile played across her kips. "Houston?"

"Yeah?"

"You're squashing my hand!"

"Oh!" he pushed himself back quickly, just as Roy opened the back passenger door, sending Houston crashing to the floor at his Uncles feet.

"You ok son?" Roy asked reaching his hand down and helping Houston stand

Houston just shot him a glare and dusted his trousers down before walking to the boot and helping Roy pull out the girls luggage as Pip and CJ both stretched and breathed in the fresh mountain air

Roy led the way as he and Houston carried in the bulk of the luggage, Pip had been quick to pick up the remainder leaving CJ with just her hand luggage, briefcase and handbag to carry. They all went straight up stairs were Houston showed the to the two guest rooms nearest his own master suite. "Roy tells me he rang my maid and had the rooms made up as soon as he heard you were on your way, and hopefully if we dig in the kitchen she will have left us a treat for dinner!" He said as he put one Pips case down in her room before guiding CJ to the room next to his. He walked in ahead of her and put her case down. He grinned as he told her "I'll bring the rest of yours and Pips luggage up later, guess we all need that nap now!"

"Guess we do!" CJ grinned back as she stifled a yawn then slowly stretched before walking across to the bed and sitting down.

Houston watched her and felt his chest tighten a fraction. God, he thought, I hoped things would get easier, but she is more beautiful than ever! He couldn't stop himself, he walked over and sat down next to her, taking her hand in his he raised it to his lips and kissed the back of it gently before cupping his other hand over it and rubbing her hand gently, he was looking at her hand in his when he whispered. "Still can't believe you're really here!"

She leaned her head on his shoulder and whispered back. "I always told you I would be here if you needed me, wild horse couldn't have kept me away!"

"I missed you!"

She smiled softly and nodded. " Missed you to cowboy, more than I can say!"

Maybe he was tired after being arrested, maybe he was tired after the emotions of hearing Elizabeth was dead, maybe he was just not as tough as he pretended to be, or maybe he just plain missed his best friend…but before he knew it he had reached over, pulled CJ into his arms and begun to sob as he whispered. "I love you CJ, don't leave me again! Please, don't leave me!"

CJ was too shocked, to caught of guard, she didn't know what to say. So she reached up and hugged him back, rocking him gently as she whispered. "Just sleep Houston, lie down now, lie down here and rest, we'll talk later" She started to push Houston gently down, gasping as she realised he wasn't going to let go of his tight hold on her, with a soft sigh she kicked off her shoes and wriggled closer to him, snuggling against him as she whispered again. "I'm here pal, it's ok…I'm right here"

Pip realised that CJ still had her handbag, and she needed her mobile, so reluctantly she tiptoed to CJs room, tapping gently on the door she called out CJs name softly, hearing no reply she called again, quietly opening the door and peeping round. She smiled to herself as she saw CJ and Houston holding on to each other in the middle of the bed, fast asleep. She softly crossed the room and picked up her handbag, stopping to quickly grab a blanket and tuck it around the two sleeping friends, chewing her lip a fraction as she looked at them before tiptoeing back out and into her room.

The first call she made was to her brother. "Hi, Stevo! Yeah, I know I forgot about the time difference but I owe you for waking me to join CJ! Yes, she is fine and will no doubt ring you as soon as she wakes up…that's right, wakes up! She is being careful and I am keeping an eye on her! Yeah, I will…though from what I have seen getting her to eat is no problem, keeping it down, well that's another matter! I know, she is stubborn…but so am I! Yeah, Houston is out for now, I did what CJ told me to do and we got him out without even needing to pay bail, but he is still a suspect and one that a couple of cops don't want to let go of! I have a feeling that there is more going on here than a simple crime of passion, and that's why I'm ringing, I need your help…and I don't want CJ to know about this ok? No Steve I'm serious…if you get anything back you ring ME, or email ME…not CJ, ok? Promise me! Right, well…I want you to get in touch with my old partner in Special Investigations, Roy told me that Elizabeths brother has links to the IRA…now he is in jail, but it was always rare for just one member of the family to be involved in organisations like this, so I want him to look at all of Elizabeths family, get a look at their financial back ground, or at least try to put together a list of names for me to research…yes, I know I can do it from here, but that means hacking the Scotland Yard computer again, were as Mick can just log in…and send me a link!" She laughed as her brother made a comment about not having enough bail money to help her again, and nodded as he told her to be careful and keep an eye on his darling wife. "I will!" she told him, "promise!"

An hour later and Roy walked out to find Pip sitting on the balcony, watching the sun dip down over the moutains and softly sink towards the sea. She jumped a fraction as he said "Stunning isn't it?"

"Yeah, pretty impressive!"

"You not tired?"

Pip shook her head. "I'm usedd to not sleeping, especially when I'm working or got something on my mind…in this case both!"

"Hmm!" Roy nodded as he sat down on the sun chair nest to her, "know the feeling! Oh, and Hoyt confirmed, the car that was following us…wasn't official!"

"So that means it was Lowell?"

"Apparently not! Cap'n busted his butt to desk duty, he is still chasing up unwritten reports and linking witness statements, he hasn't left the precinct!"

"Uh oh!"

"Yup, uh oh! So did Elizabeths diary shed any light?"

Pip gave a soft chuckle. "Depends what planet you live on! In the real world…no light what so ever…in Elizabeths land, ooh Houston is the Big Bad Wolf and CJ the Wicked Witch of the West!"

"Huh?"

"Oh, let me read you an extract!" Pip cleared her throat and put on a fake southern belle accent. "Houston took me to New York, he told me he loved me, bought me a new wardrobe for the trip, but then when we landed he disappeared he was gone for hours. I waited in our room, when he came back he didn't tell me where he had been, but I know…I've always known, that bitch has followed us here! He just can't be without her, she is probably up in her own room laughing at me, she was always laughing at me! But one day I'll show her! She thinks that she is going to keep him, but he is my husband…mine…and if CJ Parsons thinks she can steal him from me, if she thinks that I'll let him go, then she is wrong. Oh so very wrong! I know she is here somewhere, I'll find her…and I'll let her know Houston is mine, and no one elses. No, she won't get him, not over my dead body!"

Roy let out a soft whistle. "Dare I ask when that was written?"

Pip closed the journal and sighed. "Three months ago! CJ was in Japan with Stephen, a business trip that they extended by flying on to New Zealand…NOT New YORK! I have put a call in to an old friend of mine in NYPD, asked him to check if Elizabeth was registered in any of the hotels she mentioned in her diary…uh …journals! I also asked him to check if maybe she had an apartment there…she has been off the radar since the warrant was issued for her. Got another friend doing the same in Chicago, seems Houston took her there for their anniversary…only guess who turned up as an uninvited guest!"

"I'm guessin' CJ!"

"You're guessing correctly! Only I know that CJ was in Paris that week, I was with her! Seems the late Mrs H really lost the plot!"

Roy nodded then looked at her sideways. "You got friends checkin' you say?" Pip gave a quick nod and Roy continued, "In New York and Chicago?" Again Pip nodded, "And you've got your brother checking with Scotland Yard, some old friends of yours again?"

"Old partner, and it's rude to eavesdrop Roy!"

He chuckled. "I was taking a drink up to Houston and just overheard is all! Darndest thing, boy wasn't in his room!"

This time it was Pip that chuckled as she wriggled down into her seat and watched as the last of the sun sank down from view leaving the sky streaked with oranges, reds and violet splashed of colour. "They sure were tired!" she muttered softly

Roy glanced over as heard a slight slur to her voice, he watched as her eyes blinked shut, smiled as her head nodded forward…"Yeah, they sure were!" he agreed to himself as he gently reached over to pull the blanket form the back of her chair and tuck it around her, prising the journals from her lap, he sat back down and started to read, his eyebrows shooting up in alarm as he read the first entry that mentions Houstons senile interfering old Uncle. "Humph!" he muttered, looking quickly at Pip to make sure he hadn't woken her. "Houston my boy, what did you do marrying this loose cannon and letting CJ slip through your fingers?" he whispered softly, again looking quickly at Pip before turning the page and reading more of the journal.