Houston landed with a thump, lying flat on his back he blinked several times until he felt a little less dazed, before slowly climbing to his feet and glaring at Too Mean. "Nice!" He muttered to himself. He was brushing his trousers down as he quickly looked around him. "Where are we?" he asked as he finally straightened up and looked around the small car park outside what appeared to be a community hall. Just as he asked he recognised the Navigator car sweeping into the nearby vacant space. "CJ!" he grinned as he saw her climb nimbly out of the car, he walked over to her…his smile spreading as he said, "It's so good to see you…I wanted to …oof!" he gasped as not only did CJ not notice him, but walked right through him.

"Can't see you jerk!" Too Mean chuckled, again earning a glare from Houston

The two of them turned and followed CJ up the steps and into the hall, guiltily Houston recognised it as the small concert and theatre hall that Hoyts daughter, Kathy, had asked him to come to and see her carol concert. He watched as CJ politely moved through the other audience members, waving as she saw the group she was looking for. "Michael!" she smiled as she bent forward to kiss his cheek... "Hi!" she grinned as Hoyts wife hugged her fondly and admired CJs dress.

Hoyt was looking passed her and asked. "Where's Houston?"

"Coming with Roy…I hope!" CJ shrugged a fraction

"Hope?"

She sighed. "I don't know Hoyt…normally I would have reminded him or waited for him…but uh…" she hesitated and looked at the ground before saying, "I had to dash out early, so I didn't get a chance. I'm sure he will be here…you know how much Kathy means to him!"

Hoyt wasn't a detective for nothing, he could see that CJ was hiding something from him, and could see whatever it was had really upset her. He glanced at his wife and could tell he wasn't the only one that had noticed, but both chose not to say anything. They weren't the only ones that had noticed either…Houston had spotted her reaction to, and felt a stab in his chest at the pain he saw cross her eyes, the way her smile had faltered. He had done that, he had caused that pain…and it hurt him!

"And she is still covering for you…numbnuts!" Too Mean whispered in his ear

"CJ!" A young girls voice cried out, and CJ turned in time to see Kathy Hoyt run towards her. As the two hugged Kathy asked "Where's Uncle Matt?"

"We've been real busy at work honey," CJ explained, "but he knew how much I wanted to be here so he let me come on ahead…I know he will do ALL he can to be here, he loves Christmas and has been looking forward to this!"

"Really" Kathy asked excitedly

"Really!" CJ said with a smile as she crouched down and hugged the young girl again. Neither noticing the exchanged looks between Michael and his wife

"So…tonight is for charity huh. Which charity?" CJ asked as she straightened up

Kathy looked a little sad as she told CJ. "It's for my best friends little brother. He is poorly, and unless he gets enough money to do something special, he could get real poorly!"

CJ looked at Michael, silently asking for a more of an explanation, but it was his wife who filled her in. "Little Timmy Cratchet has a rare genetic disorder, his only help is a new stem cell treatment…but it's costly and experimental…so the concert was to try to raise funds… and we had hoped the Cratchets could talk to you and Houston…you see the board of hospital trustees have to agree to allow the treatment…and…"

"The hospital is the Wiltshire?" CJ asked with a slight grin, nodding more as she saw the way Hoyts wife blushed. "Where Houston and I both happen to be on the board huh?" She chuckled. "Well, I remember meeting Timmy and his mom when I came to Kathys birthday party…nice family…nice kid. So, I will see what I can do, and count on me for a donation…I'll make sure there is a cheque from Houston Industries to"

"You sure?" Hoyt asked, nodding slightly as CJ just looked at him.

Houston sighed and looked at Too Mean. "Thought it was a charity thing to raise money for books or summat, had no idea it was for a kid!"

"No?" Too Mean handed him an envelope. "Seem familiar?"

"Oh!" Houston took a deep breath as he recognised the invitation, clearly stating Timmys Fund

Too Mean prodded him slightly. "You just threw it in a drawer, it was CJ and Roy that made a note of the day and time, Roy who agreed to pick you up to make sure you got there, and CJ who arranged a bankers draft from Houston Industries cleared and ready to go as soon as she knows the kind of figure they are looking for!"

"A bankers draft huh?" Houston asked quietly "So I signed it?"

"Yup, a long with a donation to St Winifreds Orphanage, the Veterans Support Society and half dozen more…you were very generous with your Christmas wishes!"

Houston pursed his lips and nodded. "She has a good heart."

"And a real sensitive soul…which you have spent the last six months jumping up and down on!" Too Mean prodded him several times this time, each one slightly harder than the last as he added, "Jerk, moron, muppet!" and several other words for good measure

"OUCH! Dammit that hurt!" Houston cried

"Diddums!"

"Diddums?"

"Yeah!" Too Mean huffed. "Diddums! I hurt you for a few seconds…the way you been treatin' your friends…your family…CJ…each of your callous thoughtless actions was like a prod to their hearts, their feelings…not good Houston, not good at all!"

"I'm sorry, truly I am!" Houston stepped toward him but Too Mean stepped back. "I mean it! I'm sorry!" Houston added

"Sure you do!" his friend gave a cynical smile, "you're sorry you hurt CJ…you love that woman…but what about Chris? Uncle Roy? Murray?"

Houston blushed. "I, I never meant to upset them…!"

Too Mean bent forward until they were face to face. "Well you did!" He placed his hand on Houstons shoulder and images flashed into Matts mind. He could see his secretary…no his friend…Chris…she was talking on the phone. "No Pam, I know that…and I DO love my job, I love Houston to, they're like family to me…but I can't take it anymore…working all hours, trying to make excuses for him, dealing with him being drunk in the office…diverting calls from the latest girl he picked up in a bar the night before, each of them thinking they had bagged themselves a millionaire only to find it was just a night of fun! You know, I told two of them he was engaged to CJ and had been drinking as they had been in an argument…another I told he was upset cos a friend was ill…I couldn't tell them that he probably didn't even remember their names!" She sighed and added, "And now CJ rings and tells me she has quit…never saw that comin'…but with her gone, I know I can't stay! So, I'm gonna hand in my notice to" She paused as Pam spoke to her, after chewing her lip she said softly. I have no idea what I'm gonna do…I may go back to Ohio, start again!"

Matt blinked rapidly as he felt a buzz in his head, he tried to clear his mind, but in crowded another image. Murray this time, talking to what looked like a few of Matts business managers. "I know it is the night before Christmas Eve, but if we don't act now…then Houston could destroy the whole company. We need to cut all ties with him, now, in order to protect the very legacy he built…to protect the charity fund, the share holders, the thousands of people who work for us…so, by all of us signing this document, we unanimously remove Matlock Houston from his position within this company. Agreed?" In Houstons mind he saw everyone around the table sadly nod their heads. "Ok" Murray sighed, "I will give each of you a copy to read over the festive break…then we reconvene the 3rd of January, sign the document, and by the 4th of January, we elect a new chairman? Man, gotta tell ya…this is one of the toughest things I have ever had to do, I know you all feel the same…he is our friend, but…we have a responsibility…we have to do this…we have to!"

Houston gasped, but before he could hear any of the replies his mind was filled with another image. His Uncle sitting in an arm chair, an open bottle of Scotch on the table, an empty glass in his hand. He was staring at the phone, and the picture of his son next to it, his eyes red rimmed as he whispered, "Miss you son, hope you're happy wherever you are!" Shakily he refilled his glass, and gulped down the contents in one

"No, stop Uncle Roy!" Houston cried, gasping in shock as his mind cleared and he found himself back in his penthouse, Too Mean standing next to the bar and happily slurping on a Shirley Temple. "This, all this…is happening now? Murray is taking over my company? Chris…planning to leave…and Roy, Roy is so upset…!"

Too Mean nodded. "People have been getting real upset recently…they all have their own lives to lead, their own worries, but cos they care about you they have been taking on so much more…sooner or later there's no more they can give…they're tired, heart sick…and you…too selfish to notice, to wrapped up in your own Kingdom of self pity to see the pain your friends are in…pain you are causing!" He came to stand next to Houston, but this time when he rested his hand on his shoulder Houston didn't see images, he saw the concern in his friends eyes instead. Man, I know you're sore about the wedding being cancelled, but you were chasing a dream…your childish sulking has blinded you to the fact that your reality is so much better…and if you look closely, act bravely and truly follow your heart…could be so much better than the dream…so very much better!"

"CJ" Houston whispered, startled when his friend chuckled and nodded.

"Now you're learning Matlock, now your learning. But just to make sure, another friend is gonna show you some of the consequences if you don't learn…but ask 'em nice and they may show you what you could have if you get it right…so…wise up my friend…don't make me come back here to sort you out again!" With that he gently knocked the side of Matts head, but caught him off balance meaning Houston landed with a thump on the sofa, dazed, confused…and alone again