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C.J. and Matt looked at each other wondering who could be dropping by at this time of the evening.

A blonde woman stood at the door that looked slightly familiar. What she didn't look was happy to see either one of them. And she soon proved that by slapping Matt across the face before he could even remember her name.

"You …I can't believe what you've done…"

Matt touched his face where she had slapped it and C.J. just stared at the irate woman, trying to remember where she had seen her before tonight. Then her eyes widened.

"You're Courtney Garner aren't you?"

C.J. remembered when she and Matt had traveled to a resort to solve the murder of a renowned if a much hated mystery novelist who as it turned out had been dispatched cleanly by one of Matt's oldest friends, literary agent Wayne Slokam who now sat in prison penning short fiction to be published in the monthly penal newsletter.

"This is she," the woman said, "You're the man who ruined my life."

"You look pretty healthy to me," Matt said, "if unhappy."

She sighed.

"My life's regained some of its luster since that horrible experience at the resort," she said, "I've sold two more novels and even have my own radio show."

Now Matt felt confused.

"Then what's there to complain about," he said, "Sounds like you're quite successful."

She paused, working up her ire even more.

"It's not you this time…it's her."

C.J. looked at her and folded her arms.

"What exactly have I done," she said, "I haven't seen you in a couple of years."

"It's what you've done to my muse…"

"Your what?"

"My inspiration," she said, "He teaches the dance. He's a role model for a character in my latest novel."

"I'm not following you."

Now Courtney looked really impatient.

"You know for a Ivy League trained lawyer, you sure are dense."

C.J. ignored the jibe.

"Enlighten this lawyer then," she said, "but hurry up, my food's getting cold."

"Rodrigo," she said, "He's portraying the hero in my latest book and he said that the police have been hassling him over what happened to you at some club."

C.J. and Matt looked at each other.

"That has nothing to do with me Courtney," she said, "The police are going to decide who to investigate and he had been the one who bought me that drink."

Courtney snorted.

"How do we know you didn't do drugs before you even got there?"

C.J. turned to walk away not willing to even dignify that with a response. She had a feeling for whatever reason, the other woman wanted a fight. Well, she wanted no part of it, she wanted to enjoy food from her favorite Thai restaurant and spend time with her friend.

Matt stepped forward.

"Maybe you'd better leave," he told her, "if you're going to make baseless accusations about C.J."

Courtney sighed.

"How do you know that they are Matt," she said, "and here I thought you were the famous detective."

"The drug nearly killed her…"

"Well it didn't," Courtney said, "Because she's right here causing trouble for Rodrigo which means trouble for me if I don't get this book finished on time for my new publisher."

"Well then you'd better get on writing then," he advised.

"But…"

Matt closed the door on her and he locked it. C.J. shot him a rueful look and then resumed to eating dinner. Matt looked out the window.

"Is she gone," C.J. asked.

"She's walking towards a parked car," he said, "but I'm looking to see if anyone else is lurking out there."

C.J. just shook her head.

"It's sure been a crazy couple of weeks hasn't it," she said, "and here I thought I had it bad."

Matt joined her on the couch and she handed him his plate.

"I can't believe she knows Rodrigo," she said, "Small world isn't it?"

Matt wondered about that, but he had been doing that a lot lately. Still, he had settled in for a quiet dinner with his best friend who would be staying with him a couple more days and he wanted to enjoy it.

"Really small, but she must suspect that he could be guilty of spiking your drink."

She sighed.

"Maybe but I doubt she cares either way," she said, "Unless she could use it in one of her mystery novels."

Matt didn't doubt that, as during the short time he had interacted with Courtney who loved to slap him, he had noticed coldness in her. A ruthless side that she had hid beneath a smile.

"How'd she meet up with him anyway?"

C.J. shrugged.

"Maybe you should have asked her."

"I don't think she likes me much."

C.J. chuckled.

"I don't think so either," she said, "Maybe Rodrigo sent her here to get information and she wanted to help him."

"The only information he needs is that he's going to jail."

"We don't even know if he's responsible Houston," she said, "I think we should be sure. That's what the police are trying to do."

"In the meantime, he's running around," Matt said, "because I think he did do it."

C.J. heard the certainty in his voice and she almost told him about what she and Derek had planned but she kept silent. She knew how he would react and it would be to involve himself in the operation which would only complicate things.

"if he did, there needs to be evidence," she said, "or they'll never get a prosecutor to take it."

Matt nodded, thinking that they should just skip the filing of the charges, the trial and just let him handle Rodrigo. But in the midst of his thoughts about going after the creep, rationale prevailed. But if the dance instructor showed his face…

She read the expression on his face and knew what he was thinking and knew she had made the right decision.

The delicious food had made C.J. tired and when she had cuddled up to him on the sofa to watch an action movie, she had fallen asleep during one of the endless pursuits. Matt had smoothed her hair off of her forehead as she snored lightly, wondering how she could do such a thing during the most exciting part of the film but then he remembered quickly enough that the two of them had been involved in ear-splitting street cornering chases during the years that they have been investigating cases. They had done everything from tail bad guys, to fleeing officers usually when one or the other had been framed for some horrible crime they hadn't committed.

He held onto her tightly as he slept, her gentle weight settling, her arms wrapped loosely around him. And that felt good.

Over and over in his mind he had played the drive to the hospital where he had burnt rubber and had been engaging in earnest prayer the entire trip. And then the time spent at her bedside until she regained consciousness, reciting even more prayers, damned if he ever wanted to go through that again. But both of them had done so and would do it again unless they decided to turn their backs on the career that both loved. He sighed as he remembered how he had inadvertently pushed C.J. aside while he had spent most of his time working cases with his uncle He hadn't meant to do it, as he and Roy had just been making up for lost time and the foray into investigating had provided his uncle with some avenue away from personal troubles resulting from reuniting with his long-thought deceased son and then nearly losing him to a mental breakdown several months later. Will had rebuilt the shattered remnants of his life and had finally found happiness and Roy had rebuilt his relationship not just with him but with Bill through his only son, Matt as well.

But his relationship with C.J. had suffered in the process and when he had finally realized how much, she had been moving on in the process of building her own life separate from work…and him. And it had shocked him some of the things she had done and okay, some things had intrigued him like her tattoos, but he realized that engaging in his investigative career just wasn't as rewarding without her as his partner.

The danger it would bring back to her, he couldn't deny that but she had nearly been killed not by that career choice but by an incident in her personal life. Danger could be found anywhere after all, particularly if you didn't see it coming.

She stirred in his arms and looked up at him, sleepily.

"What time is it," she asked.

"About midnight."

"Did they ever catch up with the bad guys," she asked, "in the movie…I guess I missed it."

He smiled.

"You didn't miss much," he said, "except they had the final chase on horseback through the desert."

"Oh I would have liked to have seen that," she said, "I guess it's time to go to bed."

"You look pretty comfortable here and you feel even better."

"Houston, the couch is too narrow," she said, "and you'll get squished."

"I'll be fine," he said, "After getting slapped around by Courtney, I could use someone to stay with me for a while."

She harrumphed.

"Oh really Houston," she said, "She's gone and probably making someone else happy."

She felt him tighten his hold on her and she couldn't say that she minded. No, definitely not, because she did feel pretty good here the way her body molded against his even though the sofa definitely was narrow.

"It's been nice having you stay here."

"You've really been that lonely," she asked, "I would have thought you'd have plenty of company being one of L.A.'s hottest bachelors."

"Not like this…someone to spend a quiet night watching movies even if you do fall asleep during the most exciting parts."

"Yeah it's been nice…"

He felt her relax even further in his embrace.

"C.J. do you ever wonder…"

He heard that light snoring again.

C.J. sat in a conference room inside the police station with Derek, who looked at her. She thought he needed to patch up his jeans and maybe go with a stud rather than a gold hoop for an earring but didn't think he'd appreciate the fashion advice. She wondered if he felt nervous like she did and then decided of course not, because he had been a narc for years before they had gotten together.

"This is going to have to be well coordinated," he said, "The wire won't be visible to anyone and it will pick up any conversation and ambient noise."

She nodded, understanding most of the basics of undercover work because she and Matt often did that on their cases. But it would be different working with the police, she knew that.

"You sure Matt doesn't know about this?"

"I'm sure," she said, "He's got some work at the office to do today. Then he and Roy have to meet with a client."

"Good, then that's one less complication to worry about," Derek said, "now give him a call on your cell."

C.J. nodded and then pushed in the numbers for Rodrigo's phone. He answered on the second ring.

"Hi C.J., I was hoping you would call back," he said, "Are you willing to come talk to me?"

She paused, looking up at Derek who nodded at her to continue.

"Yes…but I want us to meet in a public place like the Zen Gardens restaurant…you do know where that is, don't you? They have an outside patio area where there's some privacy."

He appeared to think about it and she wondered what to do if he vetoed her suggestion.

"Okay…I can meet you right now…"

She hedged.

"I have a…meeting this morning," she said, "How about at 2 p.m.?"

"Sure," he said, "I really want to talk with you and see you again."

"I want that too," she said, "You have no idea how much."

They hung up after that and C.J. put her phone away, just looking at Derek.

"It's all set up," she said, "Now I guess it's time for us to get ready."

Derek nodded and they set out to do that.

Matt walked into the suite from the elevator and Chris hit him with a dozen messages, mostly from clients but Matt could see that Elizabeth called him again. Roy awaited him in the lounge.

"We have that meeting later on today," he said, "at that restaurant."

Matt knew which one he meant and nodded.

"This client's a friend of yours?"

Roy nodded.

"It sounds like a very interesting case," he said, "and not too complicated."

"That's great," Matt said, "I want to finish up early today to get back and check on C.J. without her feeling that's what I'm doing."

Roy smiled.

"How's she doing?"

"A lot better," Matt said, "She called from the doctor's office early this morning and said the blood work they ran looked much better."

"She's very lucky…"

Matt knew that but…so was he. He had really enjoyed spending time with her and so he had a special errand planned to surprise her with after he and Roy completed their meeting at the Zen Gardens. The quiet place that C.J. had so often recommended to him to try some time.