19

C.J. fell asleep right after Roy got her home. For whatever reason, she thought, she was exhausted. None of this made any sense to her. She had seen her fair share of bullet wounds, in fact she had a couple of scars herself. So why did she react the way she did?

Matt also seemed beyond concerned. He wanted her to stay put in the beach house until he, Roy and Hoyt cleared this whole case up. Despite the fact that she never really liked being told to stay put, she had other things she needed to do.

First on the list for the day was getting a hold of Bo and Lamar and expressing her displeasure that they had gotten into a bar fight with Matt. She also wanted to know what was going on with the house she lived in there in Texas.

She had slept in. Unknown to her, Matt had come home that night, slipped in to bed holding her tightly. When he woke up, she was still in the same position in his arms, never even moving a muscle. He had kissed her on the forehead before getting up and had Roy come over to keep an eye on things before heading out.

Matt told him, "She's been out all night. Just don't let her go too far." He put his suit jacket on and grabbed his keys, "I'll be with Hoyt so if you need me call the car or his office to get me a message." Roy nodded and he left.

C.J. got dressed and then sat down to make her phone call. She knew Bo and Lamar should be heading in soon to get their gear before heading out again. They usually ended up back at the house at about this time. She got Bo, "Well, hello there Bo."

She could almost hear him gulp on the other end, "Oh, uh C.J., well, how's things out there in California?"

C.J. told him, "Not bad Bo. In fact I met a really nice lawyer..." she was dragging this out for effect, "his name is David Matheson. I hear you know him?"

Lamar then took the phone from Bo. Before speaking into it he held on to the receiver and whispered to Bo, "Let me handle this. She always did like me better and I know how to handle women." As Bo was about to object he spoke to C.J., "Well now, C.J. how are you doing this morning. I bet everything is going just fine, you've probably lost weight and...I mean not that you needed to...I mean... uh..."

Bo pulled on the phone and asked Lamar irritated, "What did you say that for? She didn't ever need to lose no weight!"

Lamar then told him, "Women like to hear that, Bo! Now just trust me!" He got back on the phone, "Well, now C.J., as I way saying, uh...what can I do for you?"

C.J. then told him, "Well I was wondering if you could tell me exactly what it was you, Bo and Matt were doing in Lucky's? Why you three decided to get arrested...why you didn't call me? I am the one with the law degree...remember? I would think that before pleading to something you three would want my advice and I would think you three are old enough to stay out of bar fights."

Lamar then looked down and handed the phone to Bo, "She wants to talk to you."

Bo looked confused but then heard C.J.'s voice, "I mean really fellas. Why can't you three just go out, have a nice beer and then call it a day? Do you really need to add more to your rap sheet?"

Bo then asked, "Rap sheet? What's a rap sheet?"

C.J. rolled her eyes and then said, "Listen, if you three ever pull a stunt like that again, you will regret it. You are already going to regret this one. You won't even see it coming, but I will definitely make you three pay for it." Her tone really wasn't menacing and she didn't plan anything violent, just a real zinger of a practical joke for later. Planning all that would take some time, so why not make them sweat in the meantime. They had done it to her and Matt plenty of times growing up and just made their relationships with each other stronger.

Bo gulped as she hung up and told Lamar, "She's really gonna get us back for that."

Lamar nodded and said, "I was afraid of that."

After successfully scaring the pants off Bo and Lamar C.J. headed downstairs to get her coffee. She had woken up so refreshed and rested, it seemed amazing. Roy sat on their couch drinking coffee and reading the newspaper.

She asked him, "Uncle Roy, what are you doing here?"

He put his paper down and smiled at her, "Just thought I'd drop by. Matlock is working with Hoyt to wrap up this case. I just thought I'd see how you were doing."

C.J. shot him that 'I'm not stupid' look and said, "Why is it I have this feeling that you are over here because my overprotective husband didn't want me left alone this morning?"

Roy shrugged and then said in a much more serious tone, after taking a deep breath, "C.J., Matlock is worried about you."

C.J. took a deep breath, about to reassure Roy but not knowing really how to do that. She, herself was rattled by how she had reacted to different things on this case. If she couldn't explain it to herself, how would she ever explain it to anyone else?

She told him after taking his hand and patting it, "Uncle Roy there is nothing to worry about. I probably didn't eat enough yesterday during the day or something and that's why I blacked out. I'm sure I'm fine." He nodded and then she told him, "I really need to head into the office. I have some research I need to do on Baby."

As soon as she said that, she stood up, avoiding eye contact with Roy. He asked, "C.J. the case is almost wrapped up...what research is it you need to do?"

She turned back to face him with a plastered smile on her face and said, "I want to research more into my parents. I haven't really thought about them much the last few years and I think, since Matt and I are trying to be parents ourselves, that I should make an effort to remember them."

Roy got up and walked over to her, taking her hands, "You know it won't be easy."

C.J. smiled a little and told him, "I know, but I can't go through life without remembering them. I lived with them for 9 years and I don't remember much of that at all. Why?"

As she was shaking her head he told her, "I think you're making the right decision, but C.J...its going to be hard, I know it will." She nodded looking down. He continued, "But you won't be alone through this."

C.J. smiled and then said, "Why would it be hard? What about it would be so hard? I don't remember much of the funerals, but I was thinking I could have Baby find something on them and then maybe look at cases my father worked. You know he was a lawyer." She smiled again, "I was thinking I might be able to find his opening arguments or closing statements and compare them with mine." She started tearing up, not understanding herself why, "I just thought I could see how alike we are, since I don't really know."

Roy gently put his arms around her and told her, "This is what I mean. It won't be easy, but you aren't alone. Trust me, Matlock isn't going to be leaving you alone while you do this."

She nodded and he went with her to the car to head into the office. Roy remembered what Matlock had told him, but C.J. was ready to start now. Letting her guide things was the best option.

Matt met up with Hoyt and Warren at headquarters. Outside of Hoyt's office sat Perkins and Calindis. Hoyt was raising his voice, "Warren I told you! No! You aren't leaving on vacation, not until this case is solved!"

Warren yelled back, "Lt. Hoyt I told you! Listen, the lab boys just called to tell me they found something by the pistol set up under the stage and they have a witness, a janitor that can identify the man he saw putting the gun under the stage and setting it up. He also swears he heard a conversation between that man and another one. Trust me by the end of the day, I'll have your attempted murderer!" He opened and slammed the door as he left.

Hoyt then rubbed his face as he stuck his head out the door, "What do you two want?" He asked gruffly to the two men.

Calindis then spoke up, "I was told by an officer to come in to pick up the death certificate."

Perkins then said, "I was told by an officer that I had to come in to pick up the wedding ring I gave her that she was wearing on her right hand when she died."

Hoyt nodded and said, "Both of those can be found down the hall." He pointed down to the office that handled the personal effects of the deceased and the vital statistics records. He then tersely turned around and shut the door.

Calindis drove slowly in to the parking lot of the auditorium, waiting for Warren to leave, who came out almost skipping. Irritated, Calindis took out a gun from the glovebox of his new car and walked slowly in.

He found a man with his back to him mopping up the concrete hallway. Approaching as quietly as possible he got right up behind him with his gun drawn, "Now you just need to do what I tell you and everything will be ok. No sudden moves, just start walking out to my car. We're going for a little ride."

Calindis looked around for a second before the janitor said, "So, that was you."

Calindis then said rather angrily, "Yeah, it was me. You saw me I know. I assume you told the police?" The janitor nodded and then Calindis said, "That's just great. Look we can either work something out that involves you taking a trip for the next few years or you just disappear permanently."

Matt then turned around and said, "Oh really now." At that point police officers came out of nowhere. "Well, let me see if I have this right, you were worried that since Blake turned out to be the father of Dove that he was going to take away your meal ticket, right?"

The officers took Calindis' weapon away and were handcuffing him as he said, "You have no proof."

Matt then got in his face, "How could you do that? Dove was right there! She could have easily been hit by that bullet!" His voice was rising, "In fact, if Sandy hadn't been there she would have been!" He then grabbed Calindis by the collar and said, "Was it worth it? Huh! Was it worth it to almost kill the only other person in that little girl's life right in front of her!"

At that point Hoyt and Warren were pulling Matt off of him as he tried to defend himself, "I didn't know she was coming. Sam assured me Dove was going to sit with him on the other side of the room, we..."

At that point Calindis caught himself, but not before Matt, Warren and Hoyt did. Warren then speculated, "You and he set this whole thing up didn't you?"

Calindis looked down and said, "I think I need a lawyer."

Warren then told him, "I think you do too. In fact I'm betting that little weasel talks to us before you do. He'll be the one we cut a deal with I'm sure. You, on the other hand, can kiss that inheritance goodbye because by the time you get out to spend it, you'll be 80."

Calindis looked up and said, "No, listen, I...I want a deal. I'll give you Perkins. We went in on this together."

Calindis told them he and Perkins met after the paternity tests came back. After Macy had died, and again he swore it had to have been an accident, he and Sam had come to an agreement. Perkins suspected that Blake was the father not him. Apparently Dove's blood type didn't match his or Macy's, but Macy never questioned his assertion that he was the father. He told Calindis that if he supported him and his claim of fatherhood, he would cut the inheritance in half, 50/50 with Calindis. That would be better than getting the percentage Macy had lined out in her will. Perkins had rigged the vent at Blake's house and sent the note to distract everyone and have them focus on the threats not the paternity issue. Then when clearly that didn't work, they decided to just go ahead and really eliminate Blake. Perkins arranged for Calindis to meet with a prop man who would rig lots of Macy's on stage special effects. He showed him how to set it up and trigger it from on stage.

Hoyt issued an APB on Perkins and police apprehended him at the airport, trying to flee. The two men yelled at each other in the hallway as the media looked on. Hoyt was able to issue a statement as Matt headed over to the hospital to tell Blake.

He found Blake tearfully holding little Dove as she cried in the waiting room. Matt took a deep breath and walked over, "Joshua, Dove...I just came by to update you on the case."

Joshua wiped a tear away and asked, "Did you find out who shot Sandy?" His eyes were red from crying for hours it seemed. He held Dove crying more softly on his shoulder slowly going to sleep.

Matt nodded and told him softly, "Yes we did. Darrin Calindis and Sam Perkins were working together..." Joshua looked confused as he rocked her holding her, "They had decided to split the inheritance...with you out of the way, Perkins would try to legally get guardianship of Dove. He would have Darrin's support and they would just split it all."

Blake shook his head and then said softly but angrily, "And where did they plan to fit Dove into everything?" Matt didn't have an answer. "I can't believe they would just disregard her like that." He squeezed her closer to him with more tears, "They never cared about her. How could they do that to her? She could have been shot. Do you know the police told me that if Sandy hadn't shielded Dove, she would have been killed?"

He started crying and Matt grabbed his shoulder telling him, "She wasn't and now she's going to grow up loved in a household that treasures her. I know someone who had something similar happen to her and trust me..." He had to swallow hard before finishing, "she turned out just fine."

Blake nodded and then looked past Matt as another doctor came in to tell them that Sandy was starting to regain consciousness. Her injury was serious, but the bullet had luckily missed her spine and kidneys. Blake thanked him squeezed Dove one more time as the doctor left. He could go in after she was evaluated one more time.

Blake sat down with Dove almost slouched over. Matt told him, "You care about her don't you?"

Blake looked up surprised and then nodded, "Yeah. I interviewed her and made sure Dove had someone with a good soul to watch over her, but seeing her with Dove...I don't know how to explain it."

Matt sat down beside him and said, "You fell in love with her."

Blake nodded, "Yeah, I guess I did. After Macy and I split up, I came by to check on Dove and to see her. It tore me up knowing she was so close yet so far away. I couldn't stay in Dove's life if I wasn't her father. I didn't want to add any more confusion to her life." He kissed her little asleep head and then said, "Now I have the potential to have it all. Court Sandy for real, as long as she comes out of this..." He got choked up so he swallowed, "have my little girl grow up with her. I'll never let Dove forget Macy, but she's gone. Sandy can be that mother she needs now. We can be a family. I just can't believe that almost as soon as I found out she was my daughter, that I could have it all...I almost lost it all."

Matt nodded knowing exactly how he felt. His life with C.J. had surpassed even his wildest imagination. Never had he experienced that much happiness with another woman. Now they were trying to have it all and it looked like there was going to be one major hurdle standing in their way. He swallowed hard and then left after Blake and Dove went to see Sandy.

Roy called almost as soon as he got in the car. "Matlock you better get back to the office. C.J. needs you."

A cold fear swept through Matt's body at his uncle's voice, "What's going on Uncle Roy? Is she alright?"

His uncle did help matters. All he replied with was, "No, get over here now. But be careful." Then he hung up.

Matt's chest tightened and he raced off. Why were they at the penthouse? He thought they were staying at home today. In record time he got in and ran up to the elevator which was going much slower than usual it seemed.

When the doors opened he didn't see anyone. Of course Chris was still out on sick leave but where were Roy and C.J. He called out, "C.J.! Uncle Roy!" He was rushing in, not knowing where to start first until he caught a glimpse of his uncle out on the patio.

He got out there about to ask where C.J. was when he saw her standing on the ledge. He froze seeing his whole life flashing before his eyes, along with his future. He carefully inched along the edge, past his uncle. He studied her first, seeing her appear almost in a trance. Swallowing hard he whispered, almost afraid to say anything for fear it would startle her and cause her to lose her balance, "C.J..." She didn't move. "C.J., honey what are you doing up there?"

Roy whispered over to him, "She just got up and walked out here. I tried to get her attention but it was like she couldn't hear me."

Matt's eyes couldn't leave her so he nodded. "C.J. honey can you hear me? It's me, Matt. I need you to hear me. I love you so much. Whatever is wrong, let me help you. Please, baby, please...Hear my voice..."

C.J. started to blink and then began falling backward. Matt was close enough to her to take just a couple of quick steps to catch her. As he did they fell back together. He couldn't move. It was taking his mind much more time to process the enormity of what had almost just happened. He grabbed on to her as she laid there unconscious and tears began forming. Even though he knew she couldn't hear him he told her, "I love you, I love you so much."

Roy knelt down, "She was going to do some research on her parents on Baby. A man showed up, claiming he needed her to represent him on a case and handed her some legal documents. I went outside here and the next thing I know, she is walking right past me, as if in a trance, and then got on the ledge. I kept telling her over and over that you were on your way. As soon as I said your name she stopped. I heard the elevator ding and the man had left. Matlock, it looks like something similar to what you went through when you went missing that 30 days. I'm afraid you two have more in common than we ever thought."

Matt laid there wanting so bad to just push everything back into the past as if it could just be pushed into some kind of box. That wasn't possible though. He ran his hands over her and cradled her. He didn't know what his uncle meant by that exactly, but he was getting her away from this for a little while. She needed a couple of weeks away from all this. Murray had left a message last night that he was back so they were leaving. He didn't know where, but they were getting away. When they returned they'd deal with this. Until then, she needed a good week or two with him to strengthen herself, but for what, he didn't know.