Authors Note: Hi everyone hope you got all your shopping done, it's been a hectic week and I am looking forward to having next week off. I finished this one off and should be done with one more before I go on vacation. I hope you are enjoying the ride and like before all errors are mine I don't have a beta and I am just borrowing the characters from one of my fav 80's show. Enjoy.

Chapter 41

Dammit CJ where are you?

I look at a pissed off Cowboy. He has every right to be mad I think we all are upset, but he hasn't even heard the worst of it and I had to be the bearer of bad news.

"Come on let's go inside we can go back to the conference room, Ms. Bloom the child advocate is there she wanted to talk to both of you. So you are going to be the voice of reason and tell her that CJ went home she was not feeling well after being treated for the injuries she sustained by being accosted by the security guard. You will not lose your temper you will pour on that Texan charm and bat those long eyelashes over those big brown eyes at her and tell her everything she wants to hear. Once we convince her that we will be doing everything and anything they ask us to do to help Jake I have some more bad news but first things first. Okay Houston?"

I hid behind Maureen who mumbled, "Thanks a lot sis."

He stared at both of us his chin looked like there would be some nasty bruising and the cut lip was no better.

"What bad news I want to hear it now I'm not going anywhere, if she's in danger I need to find her. What did she tell Will and why does she think she's a burden? She hates me right now, that's fine I'll deal with it when I see her again. I can't deal with anything else right now but finding her. I don't want to get angry but I will. So start talking I want the whole story no sugar coating so spill it you two."

I swallowed hard he was not happy and his tone was a little scary. CJ said there was a dark side to Houston and I was witnessing it now. Maureen grasped my hand. I wanted to laugh with being scared that was my first reaction. Wait till he heard what the else was. I wonder if he'd give us a head start before chasing us down and killing us for withholding what we knew.

Maureen put her hands on her waist. "Well that's fine and dandy buddy but we aren't going to tell you nothing until you go up to that conference room and talk to Ms. Bloom. Whatever happened before is done. We need to stay focus on what is important and that's Jake. Yeah remember him this is all because of him. So stop the wallowing and get your butt upstairs we need to talk to her she is the key in getting both of you back to taking care of our little man. Yes ours's your family we care for him even though we haven't met him. He means the world to my sister and I know you also. The bonus in all this is Star she's a part of all of us and I will defend both of them. You two stubborn mules have got to let this go we are a team and yeah stuff was said and you're not the only one she's mad at I kind of lost my cool with her too but it she needed some harsh truth and she know I will not hold back. You know that to Casanova. So yes she's mad but she will get over it. She's sorry for what she said in the conference room. She told me that she didn't think you'd forgive her I told her you would. So don't make a liar out of me. We will tell you what Will said as soon as we are done with Ms. Bloom."

Maureen stepped back she had been there for the big fight and had tried to put out the fires that followed and she had defended them to the point of charges being dropped and having them still have a chance in helping Jake.

Houston shook his head, "You let her have it too. Great it's starting to fit together the burden comment. I need to talk to Will I want it from the horse's mouth what exactly she said. Maureen I'm glad you were there to be her friend. Was she okay I know that guard hurt her I nearly lost it when I saw him man handle her and well as you can see he got lucky. I'll go but on one condition both of you are coming along I am not losing any more women today and once I charm Ms. Bloom you two are going to sing like canaries. Deal? "

He knew us so well. He knew we'd leave as soon as he was behind closed doors. I knew exactly where she was. She had it in her mind that she needed to confront the men that had hurt Star this morning determined to get the location of the idiot stepfather and if the man happened to be a the bar. Heaven help him he would not be a match for CJ's fury. Where else would she be, she needed to protect the one angel she still could.

"Hey doc did I ruin your plan on taking off to find your sister? "

I looked at Maureen and she looked down. She was blushing and my cheeks must be a pretty color of pink and still we said nothing. If we spilled now it wouldn't be good I just hoped she had the sense to wait but… Damn if we told him we'd be screwed either way maybe I should tell Too Mean then he'd have a head start. I looked at Too Mean and he tilted his head wondering what I wanted to say.

"Nope you will not be telling him a thing doc, you know what forget it I'm leaving with our without your help I'm going?"

"Mr. Houston, where are you going?"

We all turned around. Busted Ms. Bloom was behind Cowboy. I wondered how much she had heard.

He put on his best smile and winced the blow to his chin must be hurting.

"Ms. Bloom I was just on my way upstairs I was just asking Maureen and Carol you've meet them right? To join me so they could update me on what's happen since I was taken away. Oh let me introduce you to My Uncle Roy and this is Too Mean Malone he is an associate helping us out with finding Jake's mother."

They all shook hands and she looked around, "Where's Ms. Parson's I asked to speak to both of you."

He came up to her and started to move her towards the hospital. This could be our chance to leave.

"That's what we are all doing outside the ladies here where just putting CJ in a car. Doc here checked her out that guard did some damage and my cousin came to pick her up she's been through a lot today and they felt it was best to get her home and into bed to rest, right ladies? Don't lag too far behind we are all going to the conference room right?"

He gave us that look that said leave and see what's going to happen. I dare you.

I looked at Uncle Roy and he shook his head and whispered, "Don't push him girl he is hanging from a thread. I heard an earful on the way over hear and I didn't tell him what CJ told me.

I stopped the color drained from my face.

I smiled at him, trying to keep my voice low.

"What did she tell you Uncle Roy, you wouldn't be trying to use some of your spy techniques to trip me up in telling you what we know?"

He put his arm around me and Too Mean did the same to Maureen after Houston stopped and waited for us to catch up at the elevator.

I kept my mouth shut. Did CJ tell Uncle Roy? If she did why was Houston still in the dark they would have gone straight to the Bar? Or maybe they hadn't told Cowboy. I was confused as the doors opened and we were escorted in I leaned into Uncle Roy.

"Tell me what you know and if it's the truth I'll verify it."

He looked at me and Maureen. "You went on a morning run and happened upon Star at a Bar on the wrong side of the pier."

I was about to answer. "I think we all want to hear what's going on. So much whispering I feel like we are missing out on something. Don't you Evelyn?"

Uncle Roy squeezed my elbow, "I was telling your handsome Uncle that I think my friend her might have a crush on his son, your cousin Will."

Maureen gasped and turned red. We had been talking about Will and why no one had told her about the handsome Houston that loved the outdoors. I needed to change the subject and well this tidbit was the thing I needed to throw off Cowboy.

He did a double take, "Wait Uncle Roy I thought Will was sweet on Carol when did this change."

I closed my eyes. Well that backfired. I saw the smirk on Houston's face. This was payback and if I knew my sis I was not going to hear the end of this.

"What? Carol is there something you left out? Does he like you and you couldn't tell me you and him are already…"

The elevator stopped and we got off. "I need to go to the little girl's room I'll meet you in the conference room. I made a bee line to the restroom and I heard Maureen say she needed to go too.

As soon as I went through the door I turned around awaiting the million questions Maureen was about to unleash.

"Start talking Carol, if you liked him why didn't you say something? I wouldn't have acted like such a…"

I squeezed her should, "like what sis? I know how hard it is for you to open up and the guys that work with you are not up to your level. There's nothing going on between me and Will we plotted to get those two stubborn mules together and he did try and kiss me but I said I liked him but not in that way. He was more like a brother to me and I didn't want to mess up our friendship. You know better he's not my type. More your speed, I like my bad boys and Will is a boy scout unlike his cousin. Just wait, payback will be a bitch. He did that on purpose he wanted to us to fight but we can't let this fester. You believe me right sis?"

"Yup that sounds about right he's playing dirty and to think I defend the big lug. I think he's smart and he loves our sis as much as we do. I've been out of the game its weird that I'd find someone that's been so close all time. So no feelings for him right Carol?"

"You have nothing to worry about sis. Today is another day you two talked most of the day and you two worked so well together back at Houston's office. You should have seen the way he looked at you when you stood up to that news crew and went off on them and how you two worked to get those questions straighten out. You two make a good team."

There was a knock on the door and Evelyn walks in.

"Are you ladies okay? Do you have somewhere else you need to get to? Since Ms. Parsons isn't here we could postpone. Mr. Houston is getting impatient and the other gentleman told him to relax there are not any windows you could sneak out of. So should I ask what he means by that?"

We both laughed, "He's a big joker that Houston is he likes to poke the bear to see what our reactions will be no were done just need to wash up and will be right out. But if you need CJ at this meeting maybe it would be a good ideal to postpone let's see what Houston says."

She nodded and left.

"Do you think CJ is at the Bar? We shouldn't have told her of all the dumb and dangerous things to do. Damn she's going in alone and we don't know what kind of trouble she will be getting into. I'm worried Carol."

I grabbed her hand, "let's go I'm sure the Cowboy is about to lose his mind if we don't come out and well I don't know if we will be able to keep that from Ms. Bloom."

We bumped into Houston as we came out of the door, "Evelyn says we can postpone the meeting till tomorrow, says she'll meet us at my office at 9:00 am so I think we should get to my house to eat and see how CJ is doing come along ladies Too Mean is holding the elevator. Thanks again for your help Evelyn we will be there bright and early tomorrow and we can sit down and see what will need to do to certify us to help Jake in his care."

She said she needed to follow up with her boss and left.

We got into the elevator and not a second went by when Houston pulled the emergency stop button and turned to us. "Answers now! I've been patient and I don't think I can hold back any longer so you two start talking."

I stepped back and bumped into Uncle Roy I looked at him and he didn't say a word.

"Fine, we spoke to Will, CJ called looking for information about you and why you were taken into custody she asked about Star and then started to thank him for being such a good friend and that she was sorry for being a burden oh and to tell her sisters and you she was sorry and wish she could take everything back. He asked her to stay here and he was on his way to pick her up and she just said bye and hung up."

Houston leaned against the elevator wall, "Damn woman is going to be the death of me. She's going to be sorry when I get my hands on her. When did this bull crap about being a burden started?"

I looked at Maureen and she nudge me and I looked at her and gave her the sign to tell him the rest she shook her head no.

Uncle Roy spoke up, "There's more boy."

He pushed himself off the wall, "What do you mean more what more can there be?"

He looked at us and I wanted to hide behind Too Mean. Houston was right she was going to be the death of not only him but us. I started and I lost the ability to speak I looked at Maureen and she was speechless herself.

"Will someone tell me what the hell is going on?"

He scared me and I started to talk. I told him about my morning run and Maureen's walk on the beach this morning and then us following Star to the Bar and the incident between the man and Star.

Houston growled and hit the elevator wall behind him.

"Keep talk Carol."

I told him about the nice looking guy that had took care of the guy that grabbed Star and us telling CJ what we had witness.

"Houston we are sorry, we thought we could handle this, CJ didn't want to tell you because she knew how you would react, but I didn't think she'd be dumb enough to do this on her own. We're sorry."

He didn't say anything pushed the button so the elevator would move.

"Mattlock…." Uncle Roy tried to get his attention.

He shook his head, "Nope I am sure you already knew about this and you wasted our time coming back to the hospital, she is walking into an unknown situation not in her right mind. She wants to right her wrongs. She wants to clean up her mess. When in reality is all our mess, but she won't see it that way. All she is worried about is Star or Emiliana. She lost Jake and she will be damn if she's going to lose another kid. She's thrown logic out the window and I pray to God we get there before those bastards hurt her because I will not be held responsible for what I will do if they hurt her. So if this is not what you signed up for don't follow me."

Too Mean cracked his knuckles and said he was in as did Uncle Roy. Maureen looked at me as the doors open and I grabbed his hand. "We're in she's our sis and we know where the Bar is. Come on Cowboy lets go save our CJ."