The Return of Matt Houston - 18/Apart – 21
John opened up the van and climbed in with C.J. in his arms. She was so pale he hoped it was just a matter of her needing to be horizontal for a few minutes to reset her blood pressure.
Keeping tabs on the radio chatter, he relayed a message to Marty.
"As soon as he gets them to confess, move in before they can do anything to Houston. As much as I dislike the guy, I don't want him hurt. I'd have to answer to Sunflower if he goes down."
"Okay," he responded, distracted, curious. He witnessed his partner take a very weak-looking C.J. away just moments earlier. He wondered if she was hurt or injured.
"How is Sunflower? Is she alright?"
John glanced down at her noticeably pale face and smoothed his hand along it.
"She passed out. Her blood pressure must have dropped. I'll stay with her, hopefully she'll come to in a few minutes."
Back on the dock, Matt was staring down his nemesis.
"I should've known it'd be you behind all this, Duval. What, you got tired of training terrorists and waging wars and decided to stoop to an all new low?"
He shrugged. "I've softened in my old age."
"Softened? More like sickened. Kidnapping and grooming underaged girls for sex? There's only one place for scum like you."
"Prison? That didn't work."
"No. I was thinking of another place. But first things first: where are they Duval, the girls? What'd you do with them?"
"Like I'm going to tell you."
"Might as well? You're going to kill me anyway."
C.J. started rousing and immediately tried to get her bearings.
"Where… where…?"
"You're in the van. You collapsed," answered John.
"How long have I been out?"
"About five minutes."
All of a sudden they heard what sounded like gunfire on the radio. John immediately pressed a button.
"What's going on, Froggie?"
No answer.
"Marty! What's happening?"
A long pause ensued until Marty finally radioed back.
"They've got Houston."
That was all C.J. needed to hear.
She fought to sit up.
"Wait, hold on," John urged her.
But she wasn't listening to him. She pulled out a small liquid container out of her pocket, opened it and swallowed its contents.
"What's that?"
"My emergency supply fuel," she quipped.
"Let me guess: Hoki?"
"Yep. Now help me get to the dock. It's time for my Academy Award performance."
She set her microphone on, straightened her hidden vest, and marched right into the impromptu meeting.
"Well, well, well gentlemen. I see you're finally all together. Where are the girls?"
"In an unmarked van, just as you asked, Ms. Parsons."
Matt swung around and stared directly at her. It seemed C.J. was playing the role of double agent again. Okay, he thought. I'll go along with it.
"I see you've got Houston," she said, with her eyes trained on Matt.
"Yes."
She turned and leered at them.
"Hopefully you won't lose him like last time."
"We won't."
"You bet your life you won't."
And with that, the seasoned crime fighter, despite her various ailments, and despite her innate love for her lifelong best friend, brought her left knee viciously up into contact with Matt's gut. As Matt let out a brief exclamation over the surprise violence, she left him no room to move as her clenched fists furiously came down on the back of his head.
He went down. Hard.
She brushed her hands against each other.
"Now, fellas, let's get the girls and finalize the exchange ..."
Marty and John knew it time to make their move. So did Olivia and Murray. Just when C.J. caught a glimpse of her backup committee, she did an about face.
"Hold it. I've changed my mind."
"What?"
"You heard me," she said just as she pressed a button on her electronic device and pulled out her gun.
Matt laid on the ground, starting to rouse. His head was spinning like crazy, his eyes were blurry and there was a massive pain emanating from his groin but he thought he could make out C.J. standing about 12 feet to the right with her gun cocked and aimed. Looking to the left he saw an assailant aiming and ready to shoot.
C.J. was the intended target.
No! A voice inside him screamed. He aimed his gun, difficult because his vision was impaired. His arm shook and he fought to steady it. Finally a moment of clarity happened and he pulled the trigger.
The shooter went limp.
C.J. fell to the ground.
Matt passed out.
"Matt! Matt!" he heard a voice say.
He was foggy to say the least. He wasn't sure where he was, whether he was completely conscious or not.
He looked towards the source of the voice. "Will?"
"I see you took another blow to the head."
He touched a sharp pain in the back of his head. "Ouch!"
Will shook his head. "It's amazing you're talking to me right now. With all the injuries to your noggin over the years, I'm surprised you can do basic math … or can you?"
"Very funny."
"Which one of the bad guys gave it to you?"
"None."
"None? Well how'd you get it then? Did you fall or something?"
But Matt didn't answer his question. One would think it was because of his bruised pride, having succumbed a physical assault from a woman, let alone C.J. But he actually gave up his machismo pride years ago. It happened somewhere in between his broken heart and his broken body. Both had endured years of abuse.
"Will, we're still in New York, right?" he asked, trying to ascertain his bearings. He seemed to be in a hospital room of some sort.
"Yes …"
"C.J.?"
Will was about to answer when Olivia and Marty entered the room.
"Olivia!" Matt exclaimed, never more glad to see her.
"Oh, good. You're conscious."
"Where's C.J.? What happened to her?" he asked anxiously.
"Relax. She's down the hall getting checked out."
"Getting checked out? Last thing I remember I saw her go down!"
"She had a vest on. She's fine."
"Oh thank God," he exhaled as he brought his hand to the back of his head. "Ouch!"
Will couldn't help but notice Matt's reaction.
"Man, whatever or whoever happened to your head, they sure packed a wallop."
Olivia and Marty smiled coyly, suppressing a laugh.
"What? Am I missing something? Inside joke?"
Olivia confessed. "It was C.J. who gave him the concussion."
Will shook his head. "Really? What a gal. Well I guess that's true love for ya."
Matt leered at him a moment before returning his eyes to Olivia.
"What happened out there? Did you get your girls? Are they safe?"
"Yes," she nodded emphatically.
"And Duval and his goons?
"Cuffed and shackled and facing over 20 different charges, ranging from kidnapping, to rape to attempted murder."
As Matt approached the room, he could hear C.J. talking with someone who sounded a lot like John. He remained in the hallway, listening to their conversation.
"So, this is it, isn't it? You're going to retire and ride off into the sunset with the cowboy?"
She nodded. "Yes."
"Okay ... well ..." he stammered.
She touched his hand and smiled.
"If you're trying to say you're going to miss me, save it. I know you too well."
He smiled.
"Well, you know ... it's just that we've been through a lot together ... 30 years ..."
"I know."
"And ..." he started, fighting the uncomfortableness of the moment.
"And?" she prompted, searching his eyes for a hint or two.
"And ... sometimes ... do you ever think ... what might have been ... if ..."
"If?"
"If we hadn't lost ... ?"
"Yes, sometimes. But, it just wasn't meant to be. Coworkers, yes but ..."
"Lovers, no."
She smiled reflectively.
"Never good to mix business with pleasure."
It seemed to be a painful theme in her life.
Matt edged into the room in attempt to casually interrupt. He'd save his curiosity about her past for another time. For now, he just wanted to hold her.
"C.J.?"
She turned in his direction and immediately melted.
"Houston!" she exclaimed, running to embrace him.
John took his cue to leave without saying a word.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"I'm fine. You?" he asked as he pulled away enough to look her over.
"I'm fine."
He shook his head. "I don't know about you but I'm getting too old for this."
"Funny. I was just thinking the same thing."
"Well, then I recommend retiring to a nice warm, sunny place ... " he said, resting his hands in hers. "Say, California?"
She smiled. "When can we leave?"
"How soon can you pack?"
Her smiled broadened, then in an instant it turned into a sympathetic frown, wrapped with genuine concern.
"Sorry about the concussion."
"It's okay," he said with an forgiving smile. "You did what you had to do."