Chapter 25---This chapter's done. I hope you enjoy reading it and thanks for the feedback.

C.J. watched as the lead attorneys outlined their case before the judge, who betrayed no bias on her face as she listened. She mentally rehearsed her own part as she looked ahead until finally, the room grew quiet and she realized they were waiting for what came next. Suddenly, her mind wandered and she thought about spending the night with Matt and what it would be like. Her cheeks grew warm and flushed and she reached for her glass of water.

"Ms Parsons," the judge said, "Do you have anything to add?"

Did she ever!

She stood up, smoothed out her skirt and began talking about the ranchers who had submitted declarations for the injunction order and what it had meant to them to work the land and raise their families living off what the land gave them in return for generations. Each family growing up, maturing alongside the land which grazed their cattle and their horses, produced their crops and served as a playground for their children.

She closed out by saying that the tradition of working land and creating a dream to hand off to one's children and grandchildren had woven itself in the fabric of the nation's history since its founding hundreds of years ago.

When she finished speaking, she took a deep breath and looked at the judge who still, had a face which resembled the rocky face of a mountain for all the emotion and feeling it displayed. C.J. didn't know if she'd won or lost. She wouldn't know in this case until the judge heard all the arguments and rendered a decision.

But she realized she really did want part of that dream for herself. Even as she worked hard in her current career, she still wanted some open space of her own out in the wilderness to go home to at the end of the day. And she very much wanted someone to share that with who felt the same way she did.

She sat back with the other two attorneys and watched silently as Kilroy's attorneys stood up to present their counterargument to everything that had just been said about a way of life.

Matt had talked to the mechanic after checking the aileron which as he had suspected, had failed during the flight because it had cracked. The mechanic said he'd look into it and install a replacement part but that it might take a couple of days. Matt told him that was fine and to call him after he had repaired the jet.

He left his plane to go rent a car and meet with his FBI contact to find out if the guy would help them. The office wasn't located too far from the federal courthouse so he would meet C.J. there after he had finished his meeting. While walking, he thought about what C.J. had proposed to him. What he had agreed to without hesitation because he wanted it too. And he didn't know just how much until the moment she had asked.

"Matt, it's been a long time," a tall man said after entering the lobby.

"Five years since that case in Idaho," Matt said, "How are you doing?"

"I have a bigger office," Kent said, "Come this way."

Matt looked around the spacious room and had to admit it was quite a bit larger than the cubicle that Kent had occupied the last time they had worked together. Kent sat at his cluttered desk and gestured for Matt to sit down.

"So you're trying to find out if we're looking into any of the threats that were made against C.J. and the other attorneys in Silver Lode the past few weeks," Kent said.

"Two of the lawyers are currently hospitalized right here in Denver," Matt said, "C.J.'s here presenting her case in court despite also being injured in that same car accident."

"The one you don't believe is an accident."

"I sent your forensic lab some photos and paint samples taken from the crashed vehicle, which shows that they were struck from behind by another vehicle."

Kent nodded.

"We received it and are still running it through a battery of tests."

"Okay," Matt said, "So what else do you want to know?"

Kent took out a pad of paper and a pen.

"Do any of the three people have any memory of the crash or what led up to it?"

Matt sighed.

"Only C.J.," he said, "She says that she saw a bright light approaching from behind them and then felt something hit the car hard enough several times to push her forward against the seat in front of her."

"Would she be willing to talk to an agent about what happened?"

"I don't know," Matt said, "She's very leery of the FBI since what happened to her more than a year ago when she did some work for them."

Kent nodded.

"I heard about that," he said, "Those agents she worked with should have taken greater precautions than they did and they all received written reprimands in their files after being investigated."

"That's small consolation for what she went through because they didn't."

"I can talk with her," Kent said, "I'm going to the hospital later today to check on the conditions of the other two attorneys."

"I think C.J. plans to stop there after court is finished."

"Then maybe I'll see her there," Kent said.

Matt left Kent's office and went down to the courthouse, where he ran into C.J. and the other attorneys who happily told them the judge had issued a preliminary ruling in their favor. C.J. didn't seem upset at all when she learned that their night stuck in Denver had turned into an entire weekend. She smiled and she introduced him to the others. They shook his hand politely and thanked him for using his investigative skills to help them.

She grabbed Matt's hand.

"I think we'd better head to the hospital to pay a visit before we…"

"Begin our weekend?"

She narrowed her eyes.

"Where are we going?"

"Away from here," he said, smiling.

They walked out of the courthouse and while driving to the hospital, she told him how the court hearing had gone.

"Do you think you've won?"

She looked excited.

"It's looking good," she said, "The preliminary ruling favored us. The final decision should be delivered by Monday."

They parked in the garage and wandered through the halls until they were directed to the ward where Jason still lay recovering. Thankfully, he had made enough progress to leave the ICU unit but he still had a long rehabilitation ahead of him. They saw Maggie sitting in the lobby, reading a book. When she saw them, she stood up and embraced them.

"This must be Matt," Maggie said, "Nice to finally meet you."

"He's been a great help on the case," C.J. said, "How's Jason feeling?"

"He's been out of the ICU for a few days," Maggie said, "He's getting better but it's slow going."

"I'm sorry about…"

"Don't be," Maggie said, "It's not your fault. We're both happy that you prevailed for all of us in court today."

C.J. walked into the hospital room with Matt behind her. Jason lay in his bed, hooked up to an IV and a heart monitor. He looked a lot better than he had trapped inside the car the morning after the accident.

"You must be Matt," Jason said, "C.J. talked a lot about you."

"Likewise," Matt said, "She said you're a very good lawyer."

"Usually, when I'm not tangled up in a bunch of tubing," Jason said.

"How are you doing," C.J. asked.

"Not bad," Jason said, "I should be out in about a month."

She smiled.

"The judge ruled in our favor," she said.

"I know, I heard," Jason said, "Good job. I wish I could have been there too."

"You were in spirit," C.J. said, "We could never have done it without the hard work that Maggie and you put into the case."

"Maggie's been incredible," Jason said.

"I'm glad."

"You were right about her," he said, "About…us."

"Sometimes it takes a crisis for us to realize what's important in life," she said, "And who."

He looked at her.

"I know," he said, "So how long are you in town?"

"My plane busted an aileron so we're in for the weekend," Matt said.

"Do you have any place to stay?"

C.J. smiled.

"I hope so," she said, "You'd better ask him."

When they left Jason's room, they ran into Kent, the FBI agent. C.J. shook his hand politely but demurred on being interviewed.

"I remember what happened the last time I helped you guys," she said, "And I don't remember much, just the light and something pushing from behind."

Kent nodded but left her alone.

After they left the hospital, they headed out of Denver on the highway before turning onto a smaller road.

"Where are we going," she asked.

"You remember my dad's friend Bill?"

She nodded. Bill had helped them out a year ago when they had fled hit men and law enforcement and needed some place to hide.

"We're going to stay at one of his cabins."

C.J. laughed.

"We just left one this morning."

"I know, but I have a feeling we'll have more peace and quiet here than back at the ranch."

"Good point."

"Before we get there, we'll pick up some groceries at the store," Matt said.

"I'm there as long as we get some ice cream."

When they got to the store, C.J. looked at the selection and couldn't decide between Chocolate Mint and Marble Fudge so she took a container of both and then helped Matt pick out food, some good wine and other items.

"Take some steak," she said, at the meat section, "I'll get some salad fixings."

She wandered through the produce section and picked out some vegetables including lettuces, tomatoes and broccoli. She returned to the cart to find that Matt had filled it high with food. She raised a brow.

"How we're going to eat all that?"

He smiled.

"We'll find a way to burn it off," he said, "There's some great hiking in the nearby mountains including a beautiful waterfall."

"Good, we can go on a picnic," she said, "We could stay in for one as well."

Matt looked at the beautiful woman standing before him.

"Either one works for me," he said.

They got to Bill's and after they caught each other up on everything that had happened since they last crossed paths, he gave them the keys to their cabin. They got their groceries and luggage out of the car and unlocked the door. C.J. dropped what she carried and parked on the couch.

"You're pretty tired," Matt asked.

She shook her head, but she had closed her eyes.

"No, no," she said, "I just want to sit for a few minutes."

He looked at her.

"You're exhausted," he said, "Are you sure you're going to stay awake through dinner?"

She sat up straight.

"Of course, I promised you tonight," she said, struggling to keep her eyes open, "I'm totally up for it. What about you?"

"You're already here with me and that's enough," he said, "Now, let's go get some dinner. What would you like?"

He looked at her for an answer and she had fallen asleep.

Matt left her on the couch as he took the groceries in the kitchen to put them away and to start preparing dinner. He knew that all the exhaustion and stress that had accumulated during the past few weeks had caught up with her the moment the judge had issued the preliminary ruling in their favor. Not to mention the car accident, which she still had not fully recovered from. He prepared a simple chili dish and some tossed salad and carried it out to the living room.

She sat up watching him, after his entrance had wakened her.

"Did I fall asleep," she said, rubbing her eyes, "I'm so sorry."

"It's not much but it will fill you up," he said, handing her a plate of food and a glass of wine.

She smiled.

"Dinner smells very good," she said, "I guess I'm not a very fun date."

"I'm having a good time," he said, "I'm kicking back in the middle of the beautiful Rockies with a very beautiful woman."

"I don't know why I feel so tired," she said, sipping her wine, "It just hit me."

"Maybe because you've been nonstop for a while trying to get this case this far," he said, "But you need to take it easier now so that your body can catch up with all that drive."

"Are you sure you want that," she said, "The night's still young."

"Not for you," he said, "After we're done eating here, maybe you should get ready for bed."

"I'm wearing all I need underneath here," she said, yawning, "And I'm most definitely ready to start the weekend off in bed."

"That's the wine talking," he said, with a smile, "You're punch drunk."

She threw him an indignant look.

"I am not," she said, "I can show you…after a few minutes rest."

"Uh huh," he said, "I think it's going to take more than a few minutes."

C.J. lay in the bathtub, enjoying the lavender salts which relaxed her body. They also made her start to drift off to sleep. The exhausting schedule she had followed the last week or so finally caught up with her. She closed her eyes and tried to push out any thought related to the lawsuit or the legal profession and concentrate on how good the warm water felt.

She reached for her wine glass and took a sip, relishing the dryness of the liquor as it went down her throat. Dinner had been delicious, and she had been hungrier than she thought she would be even after a day inside a courthouse. The chocolate mint ice cream, of course had been a bonus. She thought about Matt and how patient he had been with her, always sensitive about her feelings. Still, she felt she had let him down by nearly falling asleep again during dessert. She had insisted that the night was still young and she wanted to enjoy the moment to see where it would take them but he had just smiled at her and told her that whatever they shared could wait until she had rested up from all the pressure she had been under since the accident. Even when she had invited him to join her in the tub, he had turned her down.

She had finally agreed. Okay, reluctantly because she knew she wanted him but she knew he was right. She knew she was ready to take their relationship to the next level and wanted to be able to stay awake to enjoy it and him.

She got out of the bath and changed into a nightshirt. She walked into the living room with her wine glass. He sat on the couch looking up at her from his magazine, dressed in sweats.

"So how do you feel?"

"The bath was lovely and very much needed," she said, putting her wine glass down and sitting next to him, "And you're right, I am very tired."

"This has nothing to do with not wanting you or wanting to be with you," he said, "Because that bath offer was very difficult to turn down."

She shrugged, her nightshirt falling off of her shoulder. Matt averted his eyes away from her tanned skin.

"It's okay," she said, "You're right. I need the rest."

He smiled.

"The next time you make that offer, I won't be turning you down."

She nodded her face flushing.

"So I guess we'll have to wait to light the night on fire as they say?"

He chuckled.

"C.J., there's no pressure. You came here to relax after a job well done."

"Well, that might be true," she said, "But I didn't come here to relax by myself."

"True."

"I know I'll probably fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow," she said, "But I'd love it if you'd join me."

He put down the magazine.

"Are you sure?"

She took his hand.

"Yeah," she said, and they both got off the couch and headed to her bedroom. She put her arms around him and pulled him in for a kiss. He stroked her back and when they broke apart to regain their bearings, she pulled down the spread on the bed and slipped beneath the covers. He joined her and wrapped his arms around her so their bodies fit together. The warmth of him surrounded her like a blanket and she snuggled against him.

"Mmmm," she said, closing her eyes, "Are you sure…"

He closed his eyes and kissed the back of her neck.

"Good night," he said.

She tossed and turned, mumbling something in her sleep. Her restlessness woke up Matt. Listening to her, he thought she might be arguing some case in court. He touched her gently and she raised her head.

"Objection," she said.

"Sustained, the judge rules in your favor," he said, "Now go to sleep."

She opened her eyes and looked at him.

"Was I dreaming?"

He stroked her arm.

"Yeah, but it sounded like you were winning."

She laid her head back on the pillow.

"I hope reality lives up to the dreams. "

"I'm sure it will be even better," he said, smiling.

"How so?"

"I think the judge's ruling will ensure that the ranchers' land will be safe," he said, "and hopefully it will stop the harassment and threats."

"It should," she said, "if they give up and move on elsewhere," she said, "but we still don't really know why they wanted this land."

"We'll figure that out when we get back," he said, "Now back to sleep."

"You know I really meant it when I said I was ready," she murmured.

"I know that," he said, "But there's no rush. We're paid up here two days and two more nights."

"That's good to know," she said, then drifted off to sleep again.

He gazed at her a while as she slept beside him, thinking it would be a while before he would get back to sleep.