Sydney laughed at the joke C.D. had just made. He always knew how to put on a smile on someones face.

"So Chris," Alex asked, "what's it like in California?"

"Well," Chris smiled, "let's just say that there are definitely fewer cowboy hats!"

A buzzer rang from the back and C.D. said,

"My goodness, that pie is done already! I'll be right back."

While C.D. was gone Gage asked Walker,

"So have there been any leads on the McSteve's case?"

"Yes actually, with the evidence we aquired today our case is already won. Right Alex?" Walker smiled.

"Right," Alex answered, "but I do hope that's the last we'll be talking about work. I swear, if I hear one more thing about that trial I'm going to die!"

Walker chuckled but promised,

"Okay, no more work talk."

"Chris," Trivette asked, "have you settled into your apartment?"

"Yes," Chris answered, "I just finished unpacking today."

"Be right back." Sydney said as she walked towards the bathroom.

While she was gone C.D. came back with pie, then went on with one of his war stories. Gage, having heard this one before, talked to Chris instead while everyone else pretended to listen to C.D..

"Do you like Dallas so far?" Gage asked.

"Oh yah!" Chris exclaimed, "It's amazing!"

They talked about miscellaneous things until Chris quietly stated,

"So . . . you seem pretty close to Sydney."

"Yes, well, she is my partner." Gage answered cautiously.

"But are you two, like, . . . together?" Chris asked awkwardly.

Gage choked on the water he just swallowed and answered quickly, "Me and Syd? No, of course not! We're just friends."

Chris smiled and asked, "So, she's single then?"

"Yah, why? Are you interested?" Gage asked protectively.

"Maybe," Chris answered, "do you think I'd have a shot?"

"I doubt it," Gage answered confidently, "Sydney never dates."

"Maybe I can change that." Chris responded mysteriously.

Ten minutes later and Sydney still had not returned from the bathroom.

"I think I'll go check on her." Alex said as she got up.

Gage tensed, hoping Sydney was okay. Maybe she got sick . . .

Alex came back quickly,

"She's locked in there!"

"What?" Gage asked.

"I heard yelling in there and I tried to open the door but it was locked. She heard me and said she's been spending the last fifteen minutes trying to open the door but it's stuck!"

As the group headed towards the bathroom C.D. exclaimed,

"What in tarnation?!"

"Syd," Walker called from outside the bathroom door, "you in there?"

"Yah, it's me." she called back, "Boy this is embarrassing! I don't know what happened, the door won't open."

"Let me see." Trivette said, inspecting the door hinges. "The hinges are stuck on something!"

"What on earth?!" C.D. cried, "Not in my bar! How could this have happened?!"

Walker tried the door again, but it was stuck.

"What now?" Alex asked in concern.

"We'll have to break it down." Gage answered. He moved forward to kick the door down but before he could take another step Chris said,

"I'll do it, watch out Syd!"

Gage felt himself boil in anger. How dare he call Sydney, Syd! He hadn't even known here twenty four hours and he was already getting too comfy. And who was he to get Sydney out?

The door came tumbling down and there stood a blushing Sydney who said,

"Thanks Chris. And just to let you know, this sort of thing doesn't usually happen on a daily basis."

Chris laughed and said, "Anytime."

Later that night when Gage was driving home he wondered why he was so inflamed by Chris. After all, he was just trying to be helpful. And Syd deserved a little love in her life, Chris wasn't that bad. But that's when Gage realized that the reason he hated Chris flirting with Sydney was because . . . Chris wasn't him.