Christian was in a foul mood when he went to meet James and Lanie for dinner. He had thought of canceling but in retrospect thought he had better go and let Lanie know Shelly, no Genie, wouldn't be able to make the wedding after all.

Sheila didn't show up for work. He only learned this after a thorough cross-examination of his feelings toward her from several of the men who worked with her. He was by no means a weakling but he had to admit that some of Sheila's big brothers were really big.

He couldn't get out of any of them where she lived. He had tried to pass himself off as a friend from out of town because after all, that's what he was. However, his feelings for her went way beyond that of a friend. It had obviously shown because they had shut him down almost the instant that he started asking. Her protectors were in full force.

His only hope was that she wouldn't be able to avoid work all week and would eventually return. He had already looked in the phone book and dialed directory assistance but both her number and address are unlisted, which wasn't all that surprising considering she was a single woman living in Philadelphia.

"You look like you need a drink, buddy?" James said pulling a chair out for him.

Christian looked around but saw no signs of Lanie. "Where's your better half?" he asked grimly.

"She couldn't make it, some family crisis over the cake for the wedding. I'll tell you it's a good thing her parents are paying for this shindig or we'd be running ourselves over to City Hall to get hitched. So," James asked sliding his chair closer to lean in, "where's your cousin?"

"Couldn't make it she had to work tonight," Christian said.

"Women," James said with a snort. "Hey, were you able to find anything out about my mystery girl?" he asked.

Once again the irony of the situation hit Christian and this time it hit hard. Last night he had no intention of intruding into Sheila's life for James' behalf and today he had spent the entire day doing just that but for his own reasons.

"No luck," Christian said, grateful he didn't have to lie. Although he was now more determined than ever to locate her and soon. Her words were still haunting him, along with the look in her eyes. He still couldn't understand what he had done to cause her to run away like she had and it was driving him insane.

"Don't worry about it buddy. I'm sure we'll figure out something?" James said misreading Christian's look of desperation. Christian felt like strangling him but instead ordered the strongest beer the second-floor pub had to offer. He needed to get lit fast before he did something stupid.

After wafting down his third pale ale he could feel his brain cells starting to deaden. "Forget the girl," Christian said for the umpteenth time to James. "You've got a girl. A great girl, who for reasons unknown and unfathomable to mankind, loves you. Do you have any idea how lucky you are?" Christian said leaning over the table and grabbing hold of James' shirt.

Pulling his friend's hand off of him, James knew two beers were too many for Christian and Christian was polishing off his third. He had never seen him drink so much in so little time. Usually Christian would nurse the same beer all evening. He was never a big drinker and seeing him in this state was causing concern. There was only one other time he had seen Christian get this trashed. 

"Chris, Debbie hasn't called you lately has she?"

Christian's eyes narrowed as he tried to concentrate on what James was saying. "Debbie? No. Why?"

"Because you're trashed, dude and the only time I have ever seen you like this is when you and Debbie split." 

"You mean when I caught my wife in bed with someone else?" Christian corrected him without batting an eye.

"Yeah," James said looking uncomfortable, "I know you're both separated now and well... seeing the state you're in. Has she decided to make it final?" 

Christian squinted and subconsciously rubbed his ring finger where his wedding band had been. He had worn the darn thing until right before this trip but didn't want to bring such a blatant reminder of a failed marriage to his best friend's wedding. So, he had left the ring behind in New York, figuring it had no place on his finger anymore.

"No, I did. Weeks ago, I've sent the papers. She hasn't signed them, yet though. Most likely to busy having sex with..." Christian noticed James was distracted and turned to see what had caught his attention. He was staring at a woman at the bar. No, wait! Christian squinted that wasn't just any woman. He could clearly see shoulder length chestnut brown hair as she sat with her back to them.

Sheila was sitting at the bar, dressed in a short baby doll dress. Her long legs were crossed and her high heel foot was hooked on the barstool. Her perch on the stool caused the fabric of her dress to flare out over her hips and barely cover her thighs.

She was, it seemed, in avid conversation with a rather large, well-built man, that under normal circumstances would have been intimidating to Christian and James if either of them were half-witted enough to recognize the danger.

Neither of them was. 

Both quite certain they knew the buxom brunette and both were just as eager to find out if they were right. James reacted first. 

"Wish me luck, my friend," he said to Christian, as he passed by him and patted his back.

Christian tried to grab a hold of him but missed. His reactions slowed down by drinking too much. James strode over to introduce himself. As luck would have it the Nordic God stepped away just as James approached. Christian tried to stand but felt slightly dizzy and so was making little progress.

Giving up, Christian slumped back into his chair, his head spinning. He looked over to where James stood to talk with Sheila, just in time to see James get his face slapped. Her bodyguard immediately returned and a sudden rush of adrenaline surged through Christian.

James was in trouble.

One minute, James thought he was making some lead way with the delightful brunette and in the next minute, she slapped him, hard. Which shocked him because she seemed interested. Maybe, he should have waited before asking her to have sex with him but if this was his dream girl he didn't want to waste time with words when they could be doing so much more exciting things together. Her slap was sobering. What was even more sobering was the return of her behemoth boyfriend who looked ready to snap him in two.

"I'm sorry," Christian said, somehow appearing between James and the giant that was about to tear James in half. "My friend here is drunk. I'm sure he didn't mean any offense," Christian said his head pounding from the sprint across the bar.

"Your friend just propositioned, my woman," the barbarian said. 

Christian blinked. Did just called Sheila his woman? So that's why she acted so strange. She was no better than his cheating wife.

She kept her face turned obviously embarrassed or possibly acting the wounded party. Christian felt sick to his stomach. 

"I am really sorry about my friend, Miss," Christian began his words sounding anything but sincere. "He can really be a jerk but believe me when I tell you he meant no harm. He just saw a beautiful woman and lost his head." 

He had thought she was different, he had thought she was something special.

She flipped her hair over her shoulder and beamed at Christian. "Your friend should learn to talk to women like you do. He'd get farther." 

Christian stared at her with open-mouthed shock. He couldn't believe it. She wasn't Sheila.

"Oh shit!" James exclaimed, sensing by the look on her boyfriend's face that something was about to happen. He pushed Christian out of the way just in time for the first blow to hit him square in the chest and knock the wind from his lungs like a punctured balloon.

Christian saw James double over in pain and something in him snapped. Yeah, James was a jerk but he'd be damned if he let anyone hurt him. Christian sprung into action and fists flew. For all his trouble he got the crap beat out of him, right before landing a lucky knock out blow. Christian stood in disbelief and the giant stumbled and then fell at his feet.

The bartender had called the cops. Christian just asked for some ice as he sat there and waited for them to come. James grabbed the stool next to him, with not a mark on him. Christian tried to console himself with the thought that it really wouldn't due to have James explain a black eye to Lanie or her parents. Christian was pretty sure members of the press would be invited to the wedding considering the family's wealth.

"I owe you one, buddy," James said slapping Christian's back causing him to groan in pain. "Sorry, man." 

Christian just glared at James. The woman who had started this whole affair came sauntering over to Christian. 

"Call me. Anytime," she said, sliding her number into Christian's shirt pocket. Christian just sighed and rolled his eyes as he watched her step over the man she came with before she walked out the door.

"Good job, Buddy!" James said amazed at his friend. "You got her number. Did you know she's a dancer for a club on Delaware Avenue? I think she's our girl." 

Christian leaned back, ignoring James and asking for a shot of something strong.

James thought this was good news but Christian obviously didn't share his enthusiasm. The bartender slid Christian a shot of some liquor he didn't recognize but really could care less at this moment he was in such bad shape.

As soon as the cops came, they took in Christian's size and his opponents and laughed telling Christian he was lucky to be alive. Several witnesses collaborated with James and Christian's stories that they weren't the first to throw punches. 

When the Barbarian came to he refused to press charges, most likely because of the embarrassment. The cops let them off with a warning. Nothing seemed broken, except for possibly Christian's fist, so the bartender chose not to press any charges either and they were free to go.

James helped Christian into the taxi. "Are you sure it's not her?" James asked for the fifth time. 

Christian just growled at him and James let the subject drop, for now. 

"Where to?" he asked thinking Christian may want to swing by the emergency room at Jefferson before heading back to his hotel. 

"My place," Christian said. 

James was about to protest but one look from Christian and he changed his mind. He hated seeing Christian like this. He was in really bad shape and James knew he was partially responsible. They should have double-teamed the guy at the bar but by the time James had caught his breath from the first punch within seconds the guy was knocked out flat.

James was still pretty certain he had found his mystery girl and was determined to get that number but he will obviously have to wait until Christian was in a better mood before approaching him about it again.