Chapter 25

How was I going to fix this?

CJ ran from me and I don't blame her. My impatience might have cost me my happiness. I put my needs before hers and now I didn't know where I stood. Had I screwed up so badly that she wouldn't believe that I wanted something more with her?

I covered my face with my hands.

When she came out and saw Ashley in my lap I thought I was going to drop dead. Every reason she had said why it wasn't a good ideal to cross our line was front and centered. She wanted an answer and I was speechless.

I should have taken Ashley's claws off of me and confessed that yes there was something between me and the woman who has always been in my heart but I didn't say a word. I stood up and willed CJ to see that I was entertaining Ashley to get what we needed. But I saw the hurt in her eyes, the betrayal that everything I had been doing to convince her to give us a chance was not what I truly wanted and I had gone back to my old ways. I saw her build those walls up between us again and I wondered how I was going to undo the damage.

"Hey Boss man Charlie Reynolds is here and Steve Mitchell brought the footage he promised he wants to speak to you."

I looked up at Star and motioned her to sit.

"Star I'm sorry that you had to see that and the disappointment in your face killed me. Please tell me Uncle Roy told you I was just acting, that I was trying to get the footage and I have no interest in Ashley Jacobs. Yes I dated her a long time ago. Yes I've dated lots of women when I was young and not wanting to settle down. But that's changed now. I'm older and wiser now. So please don't take anything I said earlier to heart."

She looked at her hands and not at me. This killed me all the trust I had gained from her and I'd just thrown it away.

"I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting that boss man, I was angry that you were entertaining that woman when I thought you had feelings for CJ. You do don't you? Then the way you spoke to me and Beast I kept remembering what Maureen had said to Carol about your past and calling you Casanova Cowboy I didn't believe them but they way you acted and what they said and how they should be protecting CJ it just made me mad that they were right"

Cassanova Cowboy, wow I hadn't heard that since I had gone to visit CJ at Harvard and was introduced to her sorority sisters. That had been a long weekend of questioning but all in good fun. Maureen never gave me leeway when it came to CJ. She would protect her from me or any other moron who would try and hurt any of her sisters.

I took her hand, "Star I don't want you to feel like you can't trust me or us. What I was doing was playing a role to get what was needed. I'm sorry I never meant to hurt you or any of you, especially CJ. To answer your question, yes I do have feelings but I know what she's afraid of and I've been in the same situation. Our friendship has endured so much and we both think we could not go back to that if anything would go wrong. I haven't been the best of friends when it comes to me bringing women around. She accepted them and kept our best friend status to what it was: one person looking out for the other our work relationship was always professional. We made sure that we would always do this. The reputation of our company depended on this."

She squeezed my hand, "So do something about it, you guys need each other and Jake needs you both. I don't see either of you walking away from him so please work it out."

She was close to tears. I pulled her hand and she looked up. "What about you Star do you need us too?"

she shook her head but tears started to fall from her face.

"I can't wish for something that might not come true. I don't want to be a burden you all have enough on your plate why would you want to add a teenage runaway into the mix. I will be fine, I just need to make some cash and move along."

I stood up and gathered her into my arms and she clung to me.

"You will never be a burden to me, CJ or anyone in that room. We are your family and I did warn you I would be meddling in your life but are you willing to accept our help. If so, we have some things to talk to you about."

She sniffled, "I don't want to be a charity case. I know what it's like and CJ understands too she lost both parents at a young age like me. I just don't want you to go to all this trouble and then be disappointed with me for whatever the reason."

I pulled up her chin so she'd be looking at me.

" I would never be disappointed in you nor your family inside. You are an amazing young girl and what you've been through others would never comprehend. We want to protect you Star. You were given an impossible situation and we would like to remedy that if you would give us the opportunity."

I wiped her tears and she gave me a half smile.

"Can I think about it and get back to you?"

I kissed her forehead, "Don't think too long and remember Jake needs you too. Wait a minute. Were you the one that got the information from the news crew? What you wanted to talk to me about?"

She smiled and nodded.

"You are the best addition to Houston Investigations and I thank you for getting that information. You are amazing."

Uncle Roy walked out to the terrace, "Of course my niece is amazing Mattlock, do you want to talk to Steve out here or inside he's still waiting inside."

I gave her one more hug and asked Uncle Roy to bring him out here and to stick around.

I had to remain calm. This would have been all avoided if he would have just kept his word and not fall for Ashley's whims.

"Houston.."

"Nope you are not allowed to call me Houston only my friends get to call me that you may call me Mr. Houston."

Steve nodded, "I deserved that and I am sorry how all this turned out. You should be happy to know that I've been fired. I never should have listened to Ashley. She was there when you called and got the ideal that it should be her not Charlie to interview CJ. She was very persuasive and not only am I losing my job I might lose my wife. I should have listened to the office gossip Ashley only looks out for herself."

I crossed my arms and shook my head, "If you want me to feel sorry for you Steve I don't we made a deal and you went back on it. Ashley did use you, we have history I'm not sure if she told you that and this was her way of worming back into my life. Also, she and CJ had an altercation and was only out to hurt her. She has it in her mind that it was CJ that came between us, what came between us was Ashley. So I hope you are happy how all this turned out."

Steve closed his eyes, " I should have known and can you let CJ know I am sorry also. This shouldn't have happened and I was going to put a stop to it when I saw the questions Ashley wanted to ask. She has pictures of you two in front of your home, not sure if they are in her office or if she brought them with her. It shows you two kissing she wasn't happy and I know she is a private person and wouldn't want to have that out."

Damn, who had been spying on us and what other pictures did they have.

Uncle Roy looked at me, "Can you get someone to search Ms. Jacobs office to see if the pictures are there. She is a woman scorned and will want to extract some type of revenge for losing her job. CJ will be the way in her mind to get this. She wants to hurt Houston and knows hurting her will do the job."

Steve said he had no pull at the station any longer that we would have to get someone to check her office. I thanked him for the information and motioned him back to the office.

Jaime looked up, "this could have gone way different Steve but she enchanted you and you didn't listen to any of us. They called her the Shark for a reason. We used to be friends and when she came on board and started to pay you attention it all changed. I'm sorry they fired you but you gave these people your word and it makes us all look bad. The office morale has been going down the toilet for months and all you where worried about was that Ashley had all the best stories and making sure she was happy screw everyone else."

"I'm sorry Jaime but maybe you can help. Can you have someone go to Ashley's office and look for an envelope they have pictures that could be damaging to Ms. Parson's.

Maureen and Chris looked up, "What pictures Houston and why would they be damaging to my sister?"

Everyone started to talk at once and I let out a loud whistle.

"Okay enough, Steve is leaving. Will, start going through the footage, Chris and Star help him out. Jaime or Buzz can you check the News Van to see if she left the pictures in there and if not please can you call the station and have someone check her office. Mr. Reynolds I hope you will not be causing Ms. Parson's any problems because if you do then you will have a problem with everyone in this room. And speaking of Ms. Parson's "Where's CJ?"

Carol was walking up the stairs, "She'll be right up, she just wanted to gather her thoughts and freshen up."

I nodded and everyone started to move now that they had their assignments.

"Mr. Reynold, here are the questions you will be asking CJ. The interview will be conducted on the terrace. If you want to go over them Maureen and my Uncle will assist you."

They walked out to the terrace followed by Jaime. I went to the bar wanting something stronger than coffee but decided against it. I needed to be clear minded.

"So cowboy what did you do? CJ ran down those stairs. I thought she was going to hurt herself."

"Oh you know I can't let things work out on their own. I have to be impatient and get what I want and not care who I hurt in the process."

I covered my face with my hands wanting to take back the last hour of my life. Carol came up to me and placed her hand on my shoulder.

"It can't be that bad now cowboy, you just need to be patient, what pictures are you talking about and why would they be damaging."

I explained the pictures of me and CJ kissing and Carol shook her head.

"This is exactly why CJ always has you do all the publicity and grab all the limelight. She's a private person Houston and if that bimbo thinks she's gonna make those public, let her. It's what you want isn't it Houston. CJ told me what you two talked about out there. You did spook her but I don't see what's the problem. Houston I kinda lied to you about Bruce she had never met him before that was their first date and really it wasn't a date oh and since I'm baring my soul I told her about what happened when she was taken. I know I'm sorry but she needs to have all the facts to make her decision. So if you want to be mad I don't blame you. I'm sorry but not sorry you two need to figure this out. I know she loves you and you her so I don't see what's stopping you two."

'Dammit Carol I never wanted her to know about that time. I was lost that week. I just want her to not feel obligated I don't want to force her to give us a chance with her thinking she owes me something. Oh and CJ told me about Bruce you really know how to push my buttons and yeah it made me mad but I know now why you did it.

"Hey wait a minute she was gone a week you were gone 30 days. Did you know how many times she cried herself to sleep with me holding her and her asking me the question why couldn't she find you. When she passed out at the office and you father was called, she was in the hospital for 2 days and left against medical advice only to come back here and go over all her notes thinking everyday she had failed you. We had to slip sleeping pills into her drinks and food to get her sleep? No, I'm sure you did not and once you were found she called me after she got off the phone with you saying she was on the way to the office and you were alive. No one told you anything, right cause she asked us not to and when you two went back to your old routine we figured what was the point. You to have been dancing around each other for so long that its time to decide what you want to do."

I felt my knees buckled and held on to the bar. I was so busy trying to clear my name that I never asked her about the time I was gone. I was the worst best friend in the world. No wonder she was weary about us getting together. I was really not the best boyfriend material she deserved so much more.

"Don't beat yourself to much Cowboy she had us for support and when she found out we were drugging her to get some shut eye she wasn't happy. But she forgave us and you where found safe. I thank god you where I don't want to know what would have happened if you weren't I never seen her so lost and losing hope as each day passed. What you felt those 7 days think what she felt for 30. So you two need to stop running away from each other. It's time to either go forward or let things stay the same. But I don't think you want that and honestly I don't think she wants that either."

I looked at her and smiled, "you're right it's time to put all our cards on the table. We have some other things to handle first but I'm done running. I know what I want and I hope she wants the same. If not I will honor her wishes."

She came up to me and gave me a much needed hug. "You got this Cowboy. Just tell her what's in your heart."

I heard footsteps behind me and saw CJ coming up the stairs. She looked at me and turned away.

"Hey counselor I thought you'd taken a nap and was about to go down and wake you up."

She shook her head and gave me a smile. "Is Charlie here? Did we get the footage?"

I walked over and put my arm around her and told her yes to both questions. I filled her in on everything but the pictures, she had enough to worry about and once the interview was over I'd tell her about them.

Jaime walked in with a torn shirt and her hair messed up. She smiled and handed me a large envelope.

"I think this belongs to you, The shark was trying to break into the van and well we had words and you should see what she looks like. Oh and the police came and Lt Hoyt says he will be on his way up after he takes care of Ms. Jacobs."

CJ looked at me and I told her I'd explain later but she needed to get this interview over with.

"He's got the questions and Maureen and Uncle Roy are going over the ground rules, you will be okay I'll be right in front of you the whole time you get stuck just look at me. You got this okay."

"Houston about what we were talking about..."

I kissed her cheek, "later we will talk later and have I told you how beautiful you look."

She rolled her eyes and laughed.

"Right I haven't slept and Carol says I will get wrinkles if I keep frowning. So you must be blind or just as tired as me."

I took her hand and started to walk out to the terrace with her. "I was blind but I see now and you have always been beautiful inside and out. Never forget that CJ."

Buzz came over to mic CJ up and she squeezed my hand.

"You're not going anywhere right?"

"I will always be here for you darling always."

That's all I could expect and hoping she'd want to take the next step with me.