TC Stark: Once again, thank you, thank you to all my loyal fans. Your comments honestly make me wish to continue writing this and keep me pumped. Xoxox

Disclaimer: I only own CJ.

Chapter 13

After a fourth session of teach CJ how to drive a bike, Gunnar felt comfortable enough to take her back to his apartment. It wasn't anything special; a one bedroom with a half bathroom. Considering he spent most of his time hanging out with the boys, he felt no need to spend a lot on a place to sleep. Although, now that he had a woman over, he felt perhaps he should have put more effort into it.

Filled with a slight sense of anxiety, his eyes watched her wander around his place with her hands held behind her back. Her strides were leisurely, nodding her head in satisfaction, "Not bad…not bad. I was expecting red. Maybe even a Soviet Union look?"

"What?" He chuckled.

CJ turned around with a huge grin, "Well, you have this whole Ivan Drago look to you."

He strolled over to her, taking a glance at his walls, "Maybe I'll consider it."

The two smiled at each other. Before long Gunnar handed the red head a beer and granted her smoking privilege as long as she stood by the window. Unlike her, he had a working television which had more than three channels. He felt comfortable enough to rest himself into his couch to watch TV while she blew smoke out the window.

There was something attractive about CJ smoking. It wasn't the fact she was smoking, he hated that. Even with his ex-wife Alexia he hated it. And back then he would have no problem expressing his hatred for it, restraining himself with CJ considering they weren't linked like that. No, it certainly wasn't the fact she was smoking. It was just how damn coy she looked during the act. The way her lips pursed against the thing and how her hips leaned while she relaxed.

Gunnar certainly looked at her sexually. It wasn't an animalistic way where he felt the need to prey on her. It was really her personality. He was attracted to who was inside. Although he had no idea where this was headed, he knew he was enjoying their time together. Perhaps even one day…he'd like to take her out on a date to really discover what was going on.

After CJ threw her cigarette away and washed her hands, she joined the large man on the couch. She didn't sit right next to him, but stretched out her feet to rest on top of his lap. The two of them were drinking beers and flipping through channels.

Finally he stopped on the channel which was playing Law & Order: SVU at the request of the young lady. He saw how happy she was and couldn't help but smile himself, "A fan?"

"Once upon a time I wanted to be a detective."

"Why didn't you?"

CJ shrugged nonchalantly, "I was 15. That was before drugs and Roy came into the picture. Before I lost touch with myself. Besides, I find now I enjoy working with my hands. Its more mind stimulating than one thinks."

Gunnar nodded, getting up and leaving her to watch her show. He escaped to the bedroom and came back with a shoe box. She raised an eyebrow as he lifted her legs to sit close to her. A Polaroid picture was then shoved into her hands. Quickly, she cupped her hand over her mouth to contain her laughter. A much younger Gunnar with long blonde hair, a torn shirt, a leather jacket, and a Harley was placed in front of her. It was priceless.

"Look how hot you look!" She snickered, shaking her fingers through his now short blonde hair, "And that hair. Must have been driving the girls crazzzzy."

"Why do I have the distinct feeling you're mocking me?"

"Not at all, dear."

"Sure," He rolled his eyes, taking the picture back, "Like you've never gone through fazes."

At this she gave a devilish smirk, "I went through many, sir. I've had blonde, black, brown, red hair. All different type of wardrobes. I even for a brief moment in time had a pink Mohawk."

"Ok, I believe you," He laughed, "Many fazes."

"C'mon, show me another picture."

As he hands went to go reach for the box, he moved it out of her reach and shook his finger, "Nuh uh, darling. I won't be succumbed to that laughter again."

CJ explained she meant no harm, but the damage was done. He could only laugh as he put the box away, assured that her eyes were following him to see where he had put it. He then came back to the couch, "So, how about another practice run this weekend?"

"Not this weekend. I won't be around. A couple of girlfriends of mine are going to Florida for a long weekend."

"Oh?"

"Yea, my tan is fading," She mocked while flipping her hair, "You should come."

Rolling his eyes, Gunnar shook his head, "Oh yea, I'm sure you'd really want to bring me on vacation."

She then sat up Indian style, shrugging honestly, "Sure, why not?"

Looking at her, he was touched. And it was the truth. CJ wouldn't have minded going on vacation with the older man. They had fun together and it might have been a nice time to just lay by the beach and forget about the rest of the world. It was what she liked about going on vacation; it was a brief escape from one's real problems. Sure, eventually she'd have to go back, but she knew people like them needed a vacation once in a while.

In her 25 years of living, she hadn't had many sexual partners. Roy had taken up much of her teen life, never being one to cheat. She had also refrained from personal affairs while trying to get clean as to avoid making any stupid decisions. All in all she could safely say she could count all her sexual partners on one hand. So, for her to let him know her that personally she knew she liked him. In what way, she wasn't sure yet. She didn't know if she was ready to start thinking that way, all she knew is she enjoyed what they had at the moment.

"Well, I'll have to decline," He smiled kindly, in a way not wanting to intrude on her time with her girlfriends and also knowing it was too soon, "But, be safe."

A few days later, Lee Christmas was sitting inside his house willing Lacy to call him. It was driving him mad how he hadn't been able to contact her in so long. He knew that her vacation was coming to an end, so why wouldn't she at least let him know? He knew they weren't a couple and he shouldn't have been thinking so protectively, but he simply couldn't help it.

He had too much time to think. Without a job on the table and no Lacy around, his mind was free to wander. He hated when his mind did that. He became paranoid, thinking things a normal man shouldn't have been thinking. He wished Ross would take a job already, any little fucking job he didn't care. It was unnerving how much free time he had; there was only so many hours one could spend in the gym in order to get his blood pumping.

While contemplating how to keep himself sane, his phone began to ring. It was on the coffee table, remembering having thrown it in frustration. It was probably one of the boys, not sure if he even wanted to go out that night. It had become routine for them to visit bars and eat fucking hot wings. He was tired of that. Not that he needed to be shooting someone's head off every ten minutes, but he was truly bored.

Walking over to the coffee table, he was surprised to see Lacy's name appear on the screen. He thought for a moment his eyes were deceiving him and he considered not answering. Then again he wanted to hear her voice badly, so he answered, "Hello, Lacy?"

"Lee, help!"

Lee's eyebrows furrowed, he heard fear in her voice. It was shaken and he knew she had been crying, "Lacy! What the hell is going on?"

"I don't know, Lee, all my crew is dead. I've been captured and-"

He heard her scream and the connection went dead.