Hello, Sorry for the suspense but I assure you it will be resolved in this chapter, thanks for reading and like I said before all mistakes are mine, I don't have a beta and I'm only borrowing characters from one of my fav 80's tv show.
Enjoy
Chapter 55
Everything was going in slow motion.
Our safe haven had been breached and there was nothing I could do.
I felt myself trying to fight but my body was yelling at me to succumb to the darkness to protect itself since it knew what it felt like to be tortured and to be sent to the brink of never coming back.
Carol continued to scream or was that me?
All I knew was that I had to act. I had to snap out of it, my family needed me. I was going to fight and if I got hurt so be it. The person that had grabbed me had put their arm around my waist and I did the first thing that came to my mind. I leaned forward and with all my might brought my head back and connected with my attackers face.
I heard a moan and he let go and I went to help Carol. I was almost there when the shadow grabbed me again and said to stop and why did I do that to him. The voice was familiar.
Why?
Before I could ask I heard the most wonderful thing.
"CJ!"
My Calvary was on its way. The shadow also heard and pushed me down and went to his friend.
"Ron we got to go this was a real dumb ideal".
Carol was still struggling and screaming to let her go. I heard footsteps and looked up to see Carol being flung into Houston and Luca as our attackers escaped over the balcony I tried to get up but Houston had other ideas as he flung himself on me.
"Are you okay? What the hell happen? Stay down they might have weapons and might take a shot."
He was on top of me holding me and I let out a shaky breathe. I put my head on his chest and didn't speak. I was afraid if I did I'd might start to cry.
"CJ talk to me, please tell me you're okay. Honey please don't close me off they are gone, Will, Popeye Tiny, Too Mean and Uncle Roy are downstairs and I'm sure they have them in custody please darling say something."
I looked up at him, he was terrified looking from side to side but never getting up off me.
"Houston?"
He held me tighter and then I heard Carol crying, I tried to push him off but he wouldn't budge.
"Let me up Houston! Why is Carol crying?"
He looked over and said she was alright that Luca had her in the same position he had me.
"Mattlock where are you?"
"The balcony, Is it safe Uncle Roy? I'm not getting up till you guys say it's clear."
"That goes for me too sir my girl here is holding me tight, not that I mind and I don't want her to stop. Did you guys catch the bastards? If you did I need to go and have a serious talk with them."
Carol started yelling no don't let her go she was scared and how could he leave her.
"Okay so maybe you can go down there and have a talk with those bastards, my lady needs me."
So Carol was taken care of but what about the rest.
"Houston where's Momma G, Chris, Maureen and Star are they okay?"
He shushed me and said he would tell me everything as soon as he knew it was safe.
"Roy sir can you check on the girls in the laundry room we threw them in there and told them to barricade themselves till we gave them the all clear. My girl here threaten to knee me where it might affect our ability to have little Doctors if I don't tell her what the heck is going on. Please sir have mercy on me."
I let out a giggle and then a laugh and the tears came next.
"Oh CJ. Its okay sweetheart, everyone is safe I might have a heart attack after everything is settled but will deal with that later."
Too Mean came up and said it was clear that they had gotten the attackers.
Houston got up and looked me over. He asked me why was I already on the floor I told him my attacker had come out of the shadows and had taken me from behind that I had head butted him and he had pushed me down to get away from me.
He tried to be calm but I'd seen that glint in his eye before. "I'm okay Houston let the police take care of this but..."
I grabbed the nearest chair and sat down. "CJ? But what?"
"The voice was familiar and before they left he called his partner Ron."
"Do you know a Ron?" I was racking my brain to figure out who Ron could be but nothing came to mind but that voice…
We heard footsteps and Houston stood between me and whomever was running to us.
It was Star and she threw herself into his arms. I looked at them and mouthed what happened.
"Are you okay honey? I'm sorry I had to pick you up like that you weren't listening you just froze and I didn't know what else was going to happen, did Momma take care of you?"
"I'm sorry I froze it was unreal how it just happened right in front of me I turned around and heard Carol screaming than CJ and Momma calling to me to come to her and I couldn't move as much as I wanted to for the life of me I couldn't move, than you came up and called to me and I don't remember anything else."
He held her and turned her so I could see her. Poor thing had tears rolling down her cheeks.
"You pointed to the balcony and fainted. I got to you before you hit the ground and put you over my shoulder and got you to Momma. I swear my heart dropped and I did what I knew CJ would want me to do. Get you to safety. I'm glad you're okay. How's everybody else."
I smiled at him he did exactly what I would want him to do. The old Houston would rescue me first everyone else be damn, he was changing.
Momma came behind Star and pulled her away from Houston.
"We are fine I was about to use my pie that I had taken out of the oven as a weapon but seeing her freeze like that and Chris and Maureen grabbing me and trying to bring me behind the counter, I am thankful you did what you did Houston and got us to that room. Thank you."
Will came up the stairs and straight to Maureen he looked her over and she smiled as did he knowing she was okay.
"Ah Cuz you better bring the ladies down here like now before Beast decides to eat our unwelcomed guest."
"Nope! I'm not going down there, Luca please don't make me go." Carol was shaking and Luca was upset.
"Sorry buddy she isn't going down there now if she can give me 5 minutes downstairs I'd really be a happy man."
"No really Carol, CJ I need you both down here now."
I looked at Houston, "Will you go with me?"
He took my hand and pulled me up from the chair. "You think I'm going to let you go anywhere without me? Oh I want more than 5 minutes with these…"
I put my finger over his mouth. "Language. We have a minor here. No Houston I know what you want to say but not now. Please. Will why do you want us to come down?"
"CJ no it could be a trick that jackass held my wrist so tight I think it might be broken."
"What! Show me darling. Momma get me some ice my woman here is hurt. Wait you're a doctor how are you going to treat yourself honey?"
She looked at him and shook her head. "You can help me I might need to go to the hospital its throbbing and the adrenaline is seeping out of me and I'm starting to feel other injuries. Sis how are you? I'm so wrapped up in myself I didn't even ask how are you doing. This is all my fault if I didn't insist on opening the curtains and going to the balcony for a dance party…" Carol started to cry and Luca put his arms around her.
"Dance party?"
"Long story will get to it later let's go downstairs and where's the police I thought they'd be here by now?"
Will came over to me and looked me over. "I'm sorry Sunshine, I didn't call the police. You come down and will understand why and will see if you still want to call them."
"Dammit Will why didn't you call the police? What the hell is going on?"
I squeezed his hand, "let's go, there has to be a reasonable reason Will did this. Right Will."
He motioned us to follow him and Carol looked at me and started to come towards me.
"Together right sis?"
I took her hand, "Together, I should be apologizing to you, to all of you this has to do with my situation and I never wanted to bring any danger to any of you and now I have brought it to our family. Please forgive me."
I looked down they would all suffer because of me.
Houston placed his hands on my shoulders, Carol let me go and I still didn't look up, I couldn't I didn't want to break.
"Stop this, right now. This is not your fault we don't blame you, no more of this and I swear if you runaway again I will have to put you over my knee…"
Carol snorted, "No bedroom fantasies Houston, and didn't you hear we have a minor here. Sis enough of this he's right. I didn't handle that very well but this is my first time in being almost abducted, yeah I know this is old hat for both of you but us newbies it's not something I want to get use to and I hope someone will always be there to save me."
She looked at Luca and he smiled, "Always darling. Let's go see who these idiots are trying to take you with all of us here, not very bright if you ask me."
We walked down the steps each step making the pit in my stomach grow. I started to shake all my attempts to try breathing or counting out the window I stumble on the last step and fell into Devin.
He held me up and whispered in my ear, "They can't hurt you as long as I am breathing you have nothing to worry about. I'm sure that goes for Cowboy and everyone in our family."
"CJ?"
I pulled back from Devin and smiled at him. "I believe you so where are these assholes?"
Houston sputtered, "Wait I couldn't cuss upstairs but you can?"
I looked at him, "No minor down here. So Will, why did you wanted us to come down."
He pointed at the two attackers and I gasped and fell back into Houston and let out a tirade of curse words.
"You know them?"
Before I got to answer, Carol screamed and came up with words that would make any sailor blush. She went straight to her attacker.
"Aaron! This was all you and your friend? What the hell where you thinking, you sneaked up on us and scared the crap out of me and CJ then hurt my wrist why?"
Bruce looked up and his nose looked broken. I felt bad for a second but remembered he had grabbed me from behind and deserved what he got. I went straight over to him and was trying to control my anger.
I put my hands on my hips and let him have it.
"Of all the stupid dumb ass things to do! Bruce what the hell? Where was the brains behind this decision to jump onto a balcony and think we'd be happy to see you? Did you even think this through? Do you see these men here? They are our family and they would like nothing better than to tear you limb from limb for scarring us like you did. Whose bright ideal was that and you two should be on your way back to Seattle?"
"Bruce? The monstrosity flower arrangement upstairs Bruce?"
Houston came up behind me and placed his hand on my waist. Bruce saw this and inched back.
"Beautiful you know these dumbasses? Hey buddy her dance card is full, if the lady wanted your attention I think you went about it the wrong way and now I have to teach you some manners."
"Get in line Popeye I got first dibs on pounding him."
"No sorry Houston I caught him I get to deal with him, he hurt my little sis so you are behind me in the pounding."
"Aw Too Mean you won't leave anything for us to pound if we start with you. I have an ideal let's pull straws the longest one to the shortest one that will give us the order on who get to beat the crap out of this one and his friend."
"Nope I get dibs on this jackass he grabbed my lady. If her wrist is broken so is yours I guarantee it."
Luca glanced at Bruce but his attention was all on Aaron he moved back. Carol was icing her wrist and Luca put his arm around her.
"Well what do you have to say for yourselves? My nieces deserve an explanation and if it's not up to snuff well I'm going to have to unleash these fine young gentlemen to teach you some manners."
Aaron spoke up, "We are sorry, we came by earlier and another cute girl answered the door said you two were out and would be returning later for family dinner but it was only for family. Bruce tried calling CJ on Saturday but she avoided him and Carol canceled with me saying she had a family emergency and couldn't see me. Then our flight got canceled and we were here for another day and came by to see if they wanted to go out like I said we came earlier and came again and I heard Carol and decided to surprise her by coming up the balcony. Bruce said it was a stupid ideal but I'm sorry I did that. Please don't hurt us, we didn't know they had boyfriends."
Luca came close to Aaron, "honey what did tell you about dating while I'm out fishing? I swear woman one argument and you are out looking for another fellow. Hey Aaron why do you think I was out fishing and what do you think I use for bait, oh did I mention she did this last week also? Yeah use your imagination. Aaron buddy did you kiss my girl? I hope not I hope you were a perfect gentleman because I really don't want to go fishing again, now if the Cowboy here wants to tell you what he did with the guy that tried to go out with his girl well let's just say he has a way with rope…"
Aaron looked terrified, this is why they didn't call the police. I turned away and looked at Will.
He came close, "How are you so sure they aren't lying that they are part of something else that…"
Will smiled and pointed to Devin he came down and whispered had them checked while you guys where upstairs I told you I had friends in high places just needed their ID's they checked out accountants from Seattle with no criminal history and I'm sure never to return to So Cal."
I smiled and mouthed thank you to him. One less burden to worry about.
"Where they at the beach? Was it them that I felt watching me?"
Devin shook his head, "Sorry Beautiful."
I turned around and asked for a knife.
Bruce gulped, "I'm sorry CJ and Cowboy sir I told him it was a bad ideal really just please let us go we will never bother you again we won't ever come around here ever again. Please believe us, CJ I'm sorry but when you both started to scream I wanted you to stop and should never have grabbed you like I did but you have some moves I think my nose might be broken," I looked at him "I deserved it I'm sorry again please can we just go. Aaron tell them you're sorry."
Aaron nodded and begged Carol to forgive him apologized to Luca, Houston and me. He said to send him the bill for the ER visit for Carol.
I cut their ties and stepped back. Houston, Devin and Luca became Carol and my human wall.
"We didn't call the police boys, didn't know if you were going to be chum for our next fishing trip but you have been warned come back here or come across any of our women folk then we will be having a long conversation on my nephew's boat get my drift."
I turned around and saw Will by Maureen, Momma and Chris where by Tiny and Star was hugging Beast and Too Means was next to her.
"Remember these faces and they know what you look like too and like my Uncle said heed our warning. Now get out of here. Whoa wait a second."
Houston moved upstairs quickly and came down with the monstrosity of flowers Bruce had given me.
"She hates Yellow roses too cliché for her taste. Now go."
They both ran like the devil himself was after them.
I shook my head, "I still can't believe they did that. Why?"
Houston looked at Devin he raised his hands. "Really you have to say that, Beautiful, stop selling yourself short, you are something special and you only gave them a glimpse of how special you and Doc there are. They were enchanted enough to try to get it but it was stupid way to do it. Beautiful what did you see in him."
"Yeah Beautiful what did you see in him?" Houston crossed his arms over his chest and waited for an answer.
I pointed to Carol and shrugged my shoulders.
"Darling you wounded me, you dating that boy? You knew I was coming into your life my horoscope said today was the day for new beginnings and well if you read your it would of said your prince charming is down the pier. So no more dating okay?"
Carol looked at everyone blushing at his comments, '"Prince Charming really? Maybe my superhero because Prince charming usually kisses his beloved and I haven't even got a peck, maybe I should give Aaron a second chance he did kiss pretty nice."
Luca clutched his chest, "You wound me darling, you want a kiss I will make your knees buckle, your heart flutter your…"
Me, Will and Maureen yelled out, "Minor present! Take it outside you two."
Carol batted her eyelashes Luca whispered something in her ear and she smiled and whispered back to him.
Momma chuckled as did Uncle Roy.
"All's well that ends well, is everyone okay? I don't know about all of you but all threatening gave me an appetite so why don't we all go upstairs and have some dinner, Gwen my dear I heard you made a pie that will make a man weep so I can't wait to have a piece."
We all started to move upstairs. Houston held me back, "Okay now that everything is settled, are you okay? Do we need go to the hospital? I swear I was scared they had taken you again, I can't have you go through that again. I promise you that we will keep you safe."
I placed my hand on his cheek, "Thank you for being here for me. I don't know if I would have been able to deal with this, I'll do anything to ensure you don't go through anything like this."
I leaned into him and kissed him and he held me as we finally came up for air.
"Anything?"
I nodded.
"Well there is something you can do to ease my mind."
"Name it."
He looked at me seriously, "Make it one month not two?"
I smacked him, "Ugh no two we agreed now come on I'm hungry let's go."
He took my hand, "I'm going to wear you down, my love you'll see. But I can say one thing prepare to be courted."
I smiled, "Counting on it."