Chapter 16---Updated this one too, hope you enjoy and thanks for reading!

The ballroom was in complete mayhem, as lights flickered from the ceiling and people gathered in throngs, looking nervously around.

"What happened," Matt asked Gracie.

She shrugged.

"I don't know," she said, "The lights just kept flickering and then someone started screaming…"

"Who," C.J. asked, looking around.

Gracie looked around too.

"I thought it was someone with the senator but I don't see them anywhere."

A waiter came walking by them with a tray of champagne as if nothing was happening but the gala.

"Excuse me," Matt said.

The waiter stopped and looked at him.

"What's going on here," Matt asked.

The waiter looked confused.

"I think some of the lights went out a few minutes ago," he said, "but they're being fixed right now so the entertainment can continue."

Matt looked over at the band which was standing idle, having had their power cut off.

"We were out there dancing on the floor," Gracie said, "and everything just went silent. I guess some people must have overreacted."

Roy and Sophia walked up.

"What's going on here," he said, "We were just out looking at the art collection in the study."

Matt pulled on his bow tie.

"We were out in the garden looking for one of the guards who C.J. recognized."

Roy looked over at C.J.

"Where do you know him from?"

She ran her hand through her hair.

"I don't know," she said, "I just knew he looked familiar."

Roy nodded.

"It's difficult to forget a face," he said, "more so than a name."

"I was going to ask Jason," C.J. said, "He's here checking with a team to keep some of the high profile guests safe from that hit man who's been running around the city."

"It's been a busy week for them," Roy said, "Busy week for you two as well."

One of the hosts walked up to them.

"Ladies, gentlemen, this problem with the electrical party is but an inconvenience," he said, "Come enjoy the party."

"Where's the senator and his party," C.J. asked.

"They're off having a private gathering with the mayor over some cards and Cuban cigars," the host explains, "They should be returning to the party soon."

"That's a relief," Gracie said.

"I think I should find Jason and tell him about what's been going on with the guard," C.J. said.

"I'll go with you," Matt said.

Ginger looked at them.

"Are you going to leave us here?"

But the two of them had already gone.

Gracie folded her arms.

"I'm sure they'll be back soon," she said, "You look like you could use a trip to the powder room."

Ginger reflexively reached up to her face.

"I'm sure I look as devastating as I did when I arrived."

Gracie harrumphed.

"You sure look devastated," she said, walking away.

Ginger looked at Elizabeth.

"That hussy had better watch herself," she said, "I've already been assaulted by her accomplice."

Elizabeth sighed.

"That's because you accused her of doing something so awful Ginger," she said, "Matt and I were finished and if we can move on, why can't you?"

"Come on Elizabeth," Ginger cajoled, "you can change his mind before this gala's done enough to take him home."

Elizabeth turned on her.

"I'm not going to do that," she said, "We broke it off. Whatever we had, it's over now."

"I'm sure when he's had time to think…"

Elizabeth shook her head.

"I think it's clear who he wants in his life."

Ginger waved her hand.

"That was a passing fling," she said, "It happens. The point is he returned to you."

Elizabeth started waving both of her hands.

"He didn't return to me," she said, "I approached him to ask for a second chance."

"He'll give you one," Ginger said, "He's just busy right now with running around saving the city."

Her friend sighed.

"That was part of our problem," she said, "It's very hard for any woman to fit in between the cases that he investigates."

"But you said you were past that," Ginger reminded her.

"I thought I was," Elizabeth said, "but then he got shot and he nearly got bitten by poisonous snakes, and chased after art thieves, purse snatchers and hit men."

"He survived all of that to do it again."

Elizabeth clasped her hands together.

"Then there's the biggest obstacle to our relationship of all."

Ginger snorted.

"You mean C.J.," she said, "She can't hold a candle to what you have to offer."

"Obviously she can and does because they hit the sheets on what was supposed to be my honeymoon!"

Ginger got herself another drink from the bar. Elizabeth frowned at her.

"How many of those have you had," she asked.

Ginger gulped the shot glass down.

"Not enough," she said, "After I got assaulted in front of everyone by that witch, not nearly enough."

C.J. and Matt walked back to where they had seen the movement down by the wine cellar.

"Where do you think Jason is," she asked.

"I don't know," Matt said, "but I think I found the cellar. Come on, I heard they have quite a stash of the best wines."

"So have I," she said, "but do you think the guard might be hiding down there?"

"Maybe," Matt said, "Couldn't hurt to look."

"No it couldn't," she agreed as they entered the wine cellar and walked down the small flight of stairs, the door closing behind them.

"It's not very lit in here," C.J. said, looking around at the rows and rows of what she assumed were wine bottles.

"There must be a light switch around here," Matt said, looking around.

C.J. walked among the shelves where many wines including many of them that were high vintage were stored. She caressed some of the bottles where they sat.

"Do you think anyone would notice if one was missing," she said, pulling one out, "1946, I heard it was a great year."

He looked at her.

"Now C.J. that would be stealing," he said, "They'd probably revoke your bar license if that got out."

She sighed.

"You're right but a girl can always dream," she said, "I used to date a guy in law school whose parents owned a winery and he took me on a tour of it once."

"Did you learn a lot about winemaking?"

She turned her face away and even in the dim light, he could see them flush.

"Among other things…"

"You mean you…he…"

She turned toward him and put her hands on her hips.

"Houston, I'm not going to share that with you," she said, "It's not like I kiss and tell about my relationships."

"And I do?"

She smiled and shook her head.

"No but you can definitely kiss."

His lips pursed trying to fight a smile.

"Oh I can?"

Her cheeks grew even pinker and she had to catch her breath and her words before they got away from her.

"Surely you've had other women tell you that," she said, lightly.

He stroked her cheek with his fingers.

"Not like you."

She moved away and continued walking among the wines. He followed her.

"Look at this one," she said, "It's from a French valley in the 1960s."

She showed it to him and he took it from her hands and looked at it.

"Not a bad winery," he said, "When I traveled through Europe, I stopped in that town and I met a young woman…"

She laughed.

"Do I really want to hear this part?"

"She worked at a local winery and she and her husband invited me to stay there one weekend when they were harvesting the grapes."

"That must have been fun," she said, "See you spent your summers traveling while I spent mine inside a stuffy office or dusty law library writing legal briefs."

He put the wine bottle away and looked at her.

"We could go back over there and see if it's still there," he said.

She nodded.

"I've been thinking of taking a trip there someday…when things get less busy at work."

"Alone?"

She looked at him, startled by the tone of his voice and that's when he reached for her. And when he did, she didn't resist. When he drew her into his arms and kissed her, she welcomed it and him. Just like that, standing inside a dimly lit wine cellar. Her lips melted against his and she wrapped her arms around him, rubbing his back, marveling in the muscles which tensed beneath her finger tips. She felt her back pressing against the shelf and his lips travel down her neck to that sensitive part near her ear he remembered. She closed her eyes, taking in the headiness of being with him. Until the creaking sound filled her ears.

"Houston…"

"Mmmmm…"

His mouth met her collarbone.

"The wine…"

He reluctantly pulled away and when he did, the shelf remained still.

"That was close," she said, "Thousands of dollars worth of fermented grapes and glass could have gone crashing down."

"It would have been worth paying that bill for damages," he said, fiddling with his tie.

She reached for it.

"Here, let me fix it."

He grabbed her hands instead and held them.

"I'm not sorry…"

She tilted her head.

"For what," she said, "For that?"

"For all of it."

She smoothed down her dress.

"Houston…we can't go back."

He nodded.

"No we can't," he said, "but we can go forward."

She considered that, biting her lip.

"I don't know if I can do that," she said, putting her hands up finally.

"Why, because of Elizabeth?"

She shook her head.

"No, it's not her," she said, "I don't think it ever really was her."

"Then what?"

She rubbed her arms.

"It's me," she said, "I can't go down that road with you because if it doesn't lead anywhere or we break up, I don't want to lose my best friend."

"That's not going to happen…"

Her eyes flashed at him.

"How do you know that," she said, "I mean we spent two days…"

"Two very special days," he amended.

"Okay, that," she agreed, "but look what's been happening to us since then. We've barely seen each other and when we do, it feels like we're in the middle of a minefield."

He looked at her quizzically.

"Mine field?"

She looked away.

"I feel like I have to be careful with everything I say to you, how I act," she said, "And when you got shot…"

"I've been shot before, C.J."

She shook her head.

"It's not the same," she said, "Now that we've…"

"Made love?"

Her mouth felt dry and she nodded.

"I'm still here," he said, "Not too much the worse for wear."

She sighed.

"This time…," she said, "God, now I'm starting to sound like Elizabeth."

"No, you sound like I felt when that guy threw the Molotov cocktail at you."

She furrowed her brow.

"He threw it at the restaurant not at me."

"Didn't matter."

She rubbed the bridge of her nose.

"There's more I have to say but I can't do it here."

Matt nodded.

"We'd better get back up and continue looking for this guard."

"Or maybe we can find Jason," she said.

They walked up the stairs and Matt pulled on the door and after a bit of resistance, they walked out into the hallway, where they ran into Elizabeth and Ginger who looked surprised to see them.

"Fancy running into the two of you here," Ginger clucked.

"We were looking for the guard and we thought he might have gone into the wine cellar."

"Uh huh. Whatever."

"Have you seen anyone," Matt asked.

Elizabeth frowned.

"We saw your uncle and his date," she said, "They were in with the mayor and the senator and there's plenty of armed police around them in case anything does happen."

"That's good," Matt said, "But if that guard is really Clyde Jenkins or anyone teamed with him, there could be a hit planned tonight."

Elizabeth twirled her necklace nervously.

"Oh that's just great," she said, "There's just no where to get away from all this violence."

Ginger rolled her eyes.

"Certainly not as long as Matt's around."

Her words made C.J. bristle.

"Hey, Houston's trying to stop something tragic from happening," she said, "Either help him do that or get out of his way."

Ginger's brows rose.

"Or you'll slap me again?"

C.J. looked at her directly.

"Don't tempt me."

Elizabeth put her hands on her hips and looked at her friend.

"Ginger, they're trying to do what's right and you're making it difficult for them," she said.

Ginger reached into her purse to pull out her lipstick to reapply to her mouth.

"The world's getting ready to crash down on all of us and I need a makeover."

C.J. just shook her head and took off walking. Matt looked at the other two women.

"You should get back into the ballroom with the others."

Ginger sighed.

"I can handle whatever C.J. can handle," she said.

Matt looked over at Elizabeth and she got the hint.

"Ginger, you've had a lot to drink tonight and we need to go back and stay out of Matt's way so he can do his job."

"What job," Ginger protested, "No one hired him."

Matt looked up and saw that C.J. had disappeared again.

"Excuse me," he said, taking off.

Ginger shook his head.

"Do you notice how he always goes running after her?"

Elizabeth just shook her head to herself and led her friend back to the ballroom.

Matt walked up the hallway and looked for C.J. but she had obviously gone down a different hallway in the large mansion that was filled with different passages. He had to find her in case she ran into Jenkins or any other dangerous hit men.

Not too far away from him, C.J. had continued walking down a different corridor looking for Jason or the missing guard. She glanced inside the rooms with open doors as she walked past them. No one else walked down the corridor and a cloak of silence hung over this section of the house.

Suddenly, she turned a blind corner and there he was. The guard who she could clearly see was not a guard at all but Clyde Jenkins.