Authors Note: Hello all I will be posting another Chapter since there will be no posting next week I will be on vacation and will definitely have spotty internet access but it will give me a chance to write so more on my downtime. So enjoy this next bit and if I can will do one more tomorrow. As before all errors are mine and I'm just borrowing my favorite 80's show characters. Enjoy

Chapter 21

I could hear voices outside the door and wondered what was going on.

"Where are you going cowboy? The lady is still asleep and no you can't wake her up. She still has some time to catch some shut eye."

I heard a muffled voice and then Carol again.

"Yeah I heard about the sleeping beauty thing and Chris said CJ wanted that to stop so I'll be doing the waking up and you go on upstairs. Chris and Maureen will make sure you don't come back. I'll be waking sleeping beauty so shoo."

I heard Houston whine and started to get up to see what was going on.

"Houston! Go before I get my needles out."

The door opened.

It was Carol and she closed it behind her.

"Hi Sis, how are you feeling? Don't worry Mr. Houston will not be bothering you since I heard from Chris about your little show this morning? So you don't want to get woken up with a kiss any longer. You too looked real comfy yesterday in your bed."

I tried to answer her but knew better. I didn't know what I really wanted to say, I did like having him hold me through the night. I slept better and I did respond to his kisses, especially the one in his back seat that was breathtaking.

"Hey sis where are you? You have this dreamy look, where you thinking of the cowboy, okay if you want him to wake you up I can get him down here in a minute so what do you want CJ?"

She handed me a glass of juice and I drank it.

I wasn't ready for this conversation but knew she would not stop.

"You know why this has to stop. I can't let this happen, he's just trying to distract me. My focus is Jake. I have to give my full attention to him. Sometimes I wonder if I should have included Houston in helping me with Jake, it's just going to make it harder for us to adjust when his new girl comes around. I don't think they will be open to having an infant in the equation. I just don't want to get my hopes up, I've been hurt too many times and I'd rather us stay friends. I can't lose him."

Carol sat on the bed.

"CJ, are you sure he doesn't want more this time? I know I'm not one of his biggest fans when it comes to the love department, he's strung you along and has gotten all of us angry at him at one time or another to the point of wanting to hire someone to do him harm. But still he is a lovable and loyal guy. I just think he needed a wake-up call and he got it. He's changed. I see it. I know you have too. Maybe you should take a chance. Love is not always easy but maybe you too can make it work."

I stared at Carol and couldn't believe what I was hearing. She was the one that held me when I cried the first time he broke my heart when he didn't respond to me when I told him that I loved him in that warehouse, she was also their when I told him he was marrying the woman of his dreams and joined me in getting so drunk we both had to take the following day off of work.

"I don't think I'm strong enough to go through another disappointment, you surprised me Carol you were anti-Houston for months throwing every single doctor you know and setting me up on dates and Maureen was just as bad with lawyers. I'm not sure he wants more than he is willing to give any woman he's dated. I don't want to be a distraction."

Carol looked at me and then got up from the bed. She wasn't facing me when she started to speak.

"CJ I promised him I wouldn't tell you but I think I need to. When you were taken we were all at a loss. We all came here but he asked if we could just stay home he sent us home with guards to ensure we were safe saying he didn't want any more to worry about. We would call Chris and she would update us on what progress they had made but it was going nowhere. I then got a call from Houston's father asking if I was his primary care physician and if I could come to the office, they needed a doctor. I rushed over and had to hold back my tears. He was not the same person, he was a shell of a man arguing with his Uncle and father. Telling them that he was alright and why did they send for me. He was drunk and angry. I tried to take him into your office but he wouldn't walk in there saying that was your room and no one should be using it but you. I suggested the terrace area and he walked out and sat on a chair. He didn't fight me. I took his vitals and said when was the last time he ate he couldn't remember. I took the glass of whiskey away from him and he just put his hands to his face."

I was holding back tears Carol wasn't as she turned around and sat next to me.

She sniffled, "he took my hands and pleaded with me to help him. That when he found you to convince you to stop working with him. That all he did was put you in harm's way. He couldn't continue to do this because it wasn't fair to you. He wanted you to live a happy and safe life and if it meant away from him then so be it. He couldn't find you, no one knew anything and he was losing hope. He said if you didn't come home then he didn't want to live a life without you."

I was crying by then. I knew this had affected him but not to this extreme.

"Carol, did you help him? I couldn't believe he had to deal with this much pain over me. The photos they sent him I kept seeing a video camera in my memories but it doesn't make sense. Where they sending him video of me being tortured?"

I cursed my faulty memory, my therapist said it was my body protecting me but it was frustrating not being able to remember only snippets at a time.

"I don't know what was sent to him but I did help him. CJ I held him for what seemed like hours. He cried. He needed to unload and his father brought him something to eat and drink. I told him he needed to get some rest and his cousin Will was going to take him to his house to get him to shower and sleep. He thanked me and apologized for his behavior. I told him he had nothing to apologize for. I point blank asked him if he loved you and without hesitation he answered, with all his heart. So the ball's in your court sis. Whatcha going to do."

Could this have changed our status? Did he want more? Did he want to explore what could be with me? Could I take that chance that he wouldn't break my heart?

I got out of bed and said I needed to think.

"I'm sorry I unloaded this on you right now. We have to get you ready for that interview. They pushed it back to 12:00 pm so it gave you a little more time to sleep. So you need to go shower and see if what I brought you will be okay to wear."

I looked at the door wanting to go and find Houston and ask him so many questions but I knew I couldn't. It would have to wait. I went to shower and came out in Houston's robe. Maureen had come in as did Star and Chris.

"So what are we going to do with the bags under my eyes and this wet hair?"

I sat in front of the vanity and Chris came forward and put her hands on my shoulders.

"I can help with your hair don't laugh but I was a beauty school dropout. I lasted a whole week but I can do a great blow out."

"Chris, you never told me you really wanted to be a hairdresser?"

"At one time but I liked working in an office and I thought I'd have more fun and weekends off boy did I get it wrong my life revolves around this place and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world."

I patted her hand.

"Maureen and I got the makeup, it will be like old times. Let's see what you want to wear."

I looked at the sleeveless dresses and the tops with short sleeves and the skirts.

I looked at them and shook my head.

"I can't wear sleeveless, it will…"

Carol put her hand on her hip "Why not they will flatter you and maybe the news guy won't be such a jerk."

I took my left arm out of the sleeve of my robe and showed them why it wasn't a good ideal.

There were still marks that were healing and the bruising from my upper arms were starting to fade. My wrists were still healing from the rope burns and plastic ties that were used or so I was told.

I whispered, "If they see these marks they will be asking questions that I can't answer. I don't want to get anyone angry and if this guy goes off script Too Mean or Houston might not like it and we won't get the footage we need."

"I am so sorry sister, how thoughtless of me. I really blew it this time damn what time is it maybe we can go and buy you something don't you have anything here jeez what a mess I just made."

"It's okay Carol I'm just being self-conscious and a little vain when did I ever worry about stuff like this."

Star came to my side and took my hand and looked at my arm. She looked at me and came close to see the bruising that was fading on my face. She bit her lip and squeezed my hand.

"Boss lady, how did you get those, what happened? Who hurt you?"

"Don't worry Star, it happened some time ago I was abducted by some very bad men, they had a score to settle with Houston and I was the way they thought to extract it."

"They were caught right? Boss man hurt them for hurting you right? Too Mean, Will and Uncle Roy, they hurt them too right? No one should hurt girls ever! It's not right. I know Boss man must have been fighting mad when you were taken. Right? How did you survive? I'm so sorry CJ I'm rambling I'm sorry but when I get anxious this is what happens."

She hugged me tightly and I hugged her back.

"Star they were caught and in jail right now they will be going to trial soon. Houston found me in time but some of the details of my abduction aren't clear. I'm starting to remember some things but I have nightmares and sometimes I literally run not caring where to go just as long as I am running from the danger in my sleep. I'm working on it I'm going to a therapist for this and it's helping.

She looked worried and I smiled at her and took her hand and put it against my face. She started to sniffle and I shook my head.

"Oh no we are not going to cry once you start I'm going to follow then Carol, Maureen and Chris. Imagine the men upstairs dealing with 5 crying women."

She giggled and I laughed and that started my sisters and Chris.

"These tears are okay, happy tears trump sad tears any day."

We all agreed and got back to finding me something to wear.

I looked at my closet and remembered I had a pair of jeans and then I asked Chris if she had the matching cardigan with the top she was wearing. She nodded yes and went up to get it. I picked my favorite green shirt to wear with her sweater.

"Okay got my outfit and let's see if we can make myself presentable. These bags under my eyes are not being cooperative."

"Oh Please CJ you are gorgeous. Some cover up and powder and you will be as hot as always. Don't worry sis we will make every man turn their heads when they see you."

They started to put my make up on and Chris came back and said the news crew was setting up but something was wrong.

"CJ I didn't see the reporter you wanted to do the interview with and Uncle Roy is going over the questions, Star they asked if you can come up and entertain Beast I think they want him to be with you during the interview."

I looked at them and started to feel a dread of fear. Were they going back on their word?

Maureen squeezed my shoulder.

"Oh no you had a verbal agreement I'm sorry sis I'm going to go up and see what the heck is going on they are not going back on their word stay down here till I have Star come get you okay?"

I nodded and Chris started to blow dry my hair. I kept biting my lower lip.

Carol tap my lip and whisper to me to stop that.

"You always used to do that at school when you had something on your mind. You think Cowboy will have you sit down to an ambush oh sis you know him better than that."

She was right. I relaxed and waited to see what was waiting for me upstairs.