Okay- This is something I've been working on in-between my other stories, Ijust had to get it out there. You will see a side to Charlie that you've never seen before let's just say she goes Crazy, it will happen in this capter but thoughout the story you'll know why. Let me know what you think.
Jack and Charlie Buckton- Brother and sister, Jack the typical overprotective big brother Charlie the typical little easy going laid back sister, both cops Charlie in the city- Jack in the bay. Jack and Brax are best friends have been since Jack arrived in the bay three years ago. After the deaths of their mother and his fiancée he couldn't face the city anymore and took off leaving a devastated Charlie behind looking after her own daughter sixteen year old Ruby and his daughter Louise also sixteen. What happens when Charlie arrives in the bay to stay and catches Brax's eye? And what secret is she keeping from her big brother? And which of the teenagers know what it is?
Just so no-one gets lost this will jump back and forth from the city to the bay.
Jack dragged himself into the Yabbie Creek police station very hung over him and Brax had sort of over done it on the drinks last night, "suppose it doesn't help when your best friend owns his own restaurant," he grumbled to himself as he went into his office.
He looked at the pictures on his desk and smiled one was of him and a woman holding a smiling teenage girl her sandy hair bunched around her face in little bouncy curls all smiling happily for the camera- god he missed her so much and still could grasp she was never coming home to him- his happy family was no more. He had given up and run away which is why he was in the Bay, as soon as he heard there was an opening in Yabbie Creek he left the city walking out on his family a screaming crying Charlie begging him not to go while Ruby and Louise stood looking on. He was lucky he met Brax he took him in and helped him get back on his feet and now they were best friends and lived together.
Another was of three girls lying across a bed big grins on their faces, he took it into his hand and ran his hand over the face of the eldest one she was smiling but he could see the hurt and pain behind her smile- Charlie was his only sister and she meant the world to them she took it hard when their mother died, she went off the rails and a little crazy and shut everyone out, this was taken two months after the unspeakable tragedy. Beside her lay her daughter Ruby she was a great kid and did her best to help Charlie through her ordeal she too had pain in her eyes. Next to her was his daughter Louise she had lost her mother and grandmother in the same night her smile said she was happy but Jack knew better, she was so like her mother in every way from her smile right down to the way she buttered her toast, sighing he picked up the final photo. Staring at the woman smiling back at him the woman who gave him everything he had today, he felt his eyes fill with tears- his mum held him close to her while on the other side of him their dad held Charlie protectively against him all smiling like one big happy family. Shaking his head clear before he got lost in that night again he placed the photos back where they belonged and tried to focus on the paperwork in front of him.
"Jack line two!" the officer behind the front desk yelled into him.
Picking up his phone he sighed "hello?" he mumbled.
"Hey daddy," a voice chirped.
"Hey Lou," Jack replied happily "how are you?"
"I'm fine listen dad, there's this party tonight for a friend at school and Aunt Charlie is letting Ruby go and she said I could go too but she said I had to ask you first."
"Hhmm we'll see put your Aunt on."
"Okay daddy bye I gotta go to school, Charlie!" She yelled.
Jack waited as he heard them talking then rumble on the line "hey," Charlie said.
"Hey listen what's the story with this party?"
"Aww some boy out of their class is turning seventeen he's a really sweet boy, I told them they could go but I'll be dropping them off and picking them up at eleven I told Lou to check with you first."
"Charlie you know what you're doing you don't need to call me every time she wants to go out os something stupid you can deal with yourself."
"Well sorry for involving you in your daughter's life! You're the one who ran away and left her here Jack! I see someone is in a mood this morning."
"I know I'm sorry bad night," he sighed Charlie always got highly defensive when it came to anything involving Ruby and Louise.
"Let me guess you and Brax and that place of his?"
"Yep, got home after four and now it's eight and I'm sitting here while dummy drools on the sofa and sleeps the day away."
"Are you coming up this weekend? I thought we'd do something with the girls."
"I can't Charlz I'm working the night shift Saturday and Sunday."
"Again! Jack! This is the third weekend you've missed Lou was very upset each time."
"I know I know I'm sorry it's just hectic here at the moment."
Charlie sighed "whatever I gotta get to work I'll speak to you soon."
"Charlie I'm sorry."
"If you say so- bye."
Jack sighed as she slammed down the phone he missed her and the girls but there was no way he could go back to the city one night a week was all he allowed himself to see his family- if he even made that one night. He cursed that Aaron Cosgrove he had let him win and left the city- the man that got away with killing his mother and the love of his life was walking around up there with not a care in the world it just wasn't right.
"Hey Buckton ya here were getting a new Sergeant soon?" A female office said sticking her head in the door.
"Nah have they found a replacement already? Adams hasn't even left yet."
"Yup they start sometime next week it's not confirmed who but Joyce has rang a few stations he's trying to get someone in by the time he leaves but if they don't you'll be acting Sergeant until they arrive. I can't believe you turned it down we all thought you'd jump at the chance ."
"Great someone else to get on my nerves, and I'm just not in the right state to run a station now," Jack groaned.
In the city Charlie was in her station catching up on her paperwork Jack had pissed her off he was always letting Louise down lately well most of the time, since he'd left he'd always let her down at the last minute the only time she wasn't disappointed was when she went down there. She knew something was behind it and was even more pissed that he wouldn't tell her the truth Charlie had to be there to pick up the pieces each and every time her niece came to crying over Jack. She looked at the photos on her desk and sighed the first was of her and Jack – Jack had his arm wrapped around her and she had her arms wrapped around his waist- that was when they were a happy family. She looked to the next one it was of her, Jack, Ruby and Louise and Denise they'd just been out for their mums birthday and were all dressed up- she missed her mum so much still three years later she was finding it hard to move on. Looking to the next photo tears filled her eyes, it was of her and Jack with their parents. Not long after the funeral her dad said he couldn't be here anymore and he moved to Queensland to take a job up there she was devastated and then Jack decided to do the same she broke, but what shocked her most was he left his daughter in her care.
"Senior Constable Buckton?" Charlie looked up to see her boss's receptionist standing over her "Sergeant Wilson would like a word with you now."
"Okay Jen I'll be there now," Charlie gathered up her paperwork and closed it all in one file before slipping into a drawer and going to her boss's office. She knocked and waited for him to yell come in, opening the door she stuck her head in "you wanted to see me Sir?" She asked.
"Yes come in Charlie." Charlie closed the door behind her and sat across from him "nice work on the Delko bust you're a fine officer Charlie the best we have if I'm honest."
"Thank you sir," she said proudly.
"I got a call from Inspector Joyce, he's looking for a new Sergeant for Yabbie Creek station seems old John Adams is hanging up his cuffs."
"Oh yeah? He's a great guy my brother loves him."
"So Charlie do you know where I could find a new Sergeant?" He asked looking at her pointedly with a smile.
She stared back at him open mouthed 'is he saying what I think he's saying?' She asked herself "m-me sir?" She stuttered.
"Yes Charlie you- you've earned it although it would involve you leaving here and transferring to Summer Bay permanently, you'd have to move the girls too," her boss said he was well aware of her situation as Jack had worked here too until the Tragedy happened.
"Oh my god," Charlie shrieked she always wanted to be a Sergeant or a Detective "I don't know what to say."
"I take it you're happy about it?"
"Yes I am I'll take it- but of course I'll have to speak to the girls first."
"I know that so here's the deal- you can go home now think it over and talk to the girls I want you back here at seven am with an answer."
"Thank you sir," they both stood up "I can't believe you picked me out of everyone here."
"Well Charlie not many of the coppers here could take down five members of a dangerous gang single handed you've proved you deserve it," he shook Charlie's hand "now get outta here."
"Thank you sir I'll see you in the morning," Charlie smiled widely and skipped from his office she grabbed her keys and ran out of the station and headed for the high school a day off would do no harm.
Halfway through the day Jack's phone rang as he was walking into Angelo's he groaned when Charlie's name flashed up on the screen "Charlz," he greeted waiting for the yelling.
"Hey I got some great news for you," she squealed she was too happy to be pissed at him.
"Hold on a sec," Jack pulled the phone away when he spotted Brax dragging himself around the bar "hey man didn't expect to see you up yet."
"Some idiot kept calling the house at ten or something so I'm up," Brax replied.
"And why didn't you just answer it and it would have stopped the first time," Jack laughed.
"JACK!" He heard an impatient Charlie yell.
"Yeah sorry listen can I call you back?"
"No Jack I need to te-"
"Okay bye," he hung and turned back to Brax "Charlie," he said nodding to the phone.
"Ah the sister- am I ever going to get to meet her by the way? It's been three years and I haven't even seen a picture of her I've answered the phone to her a heap of times that's it.
Jack tensed up at this comment he hated people- guys especially- looking at her like some object and after what happened with Ruby's dad he tends to go crazy if anyone looked at her a second too long "she doesn't come down here she just drops Lou to the bus stop and I pick her up- I see Charlie when I go up there we talk every day."
"So that other kid that does be with Louise sometimes is?"
"She's my niece Ruby she's Charlie's daughter- she had her the same time Denise and I had Lou."
"So she has a boyfriend then?" Brax asked knowing the full story of Denise and knowing after a black eye and a busted lip never to mention it again.
"No she's single, just broke up with a guy a few weeks ago" Jack replied rolling his eyes "he was a tool."
"Right does Ruby see her dad too then? Charlie must get the weekends to herself while Louise is down here."
"Why the sudden interest in my sister?" Jack snapped no one knew about Ruby's dad except him Charlie and their dad.
"Chill man just making conversation you here to eat or mope?"
"The usual then," Jack grumbled.
Back in the city Charlie had just told the girls about her job offer and was waiting for their answer. All three sat at the kitchen table.
"Well I'm in since Brandon just cheated on me! And I can make new friends there, a change will do us good" Ruby said after a few minutes.
"I'll get to see dad every day?" Louise asked.
"Yes every day but you'll still have to live with us Lou and I'm sorry Rubes he was a jerk anyway I didn't like him," Charlie said.
"Ah he was kinda cool but I'm okay… so the Buckton's are hitting the bay?" Ruby said looking at Louise- she put her hand in the middle of the table Charlie placed her hand on top of Ruby's and they both looked at Louise.
She smiled after a minute and put her hand on top of Charlie's "the Buckton's are hitting the bay!" She yelled excitedly. They all jumped up and had a group hug.
"So when do we leave?" Louise asked.
"Well as far as I know the Sergeant there is finishing up on Tuesday so we could go then, but I don't know when I start I still have to tell Wilson I'm taking it . I'm going to see him in the morning so I'll find everything out then, and then I'll head down to find us a place to live- I'll still have to finish out my time here."
"So we can still go to the party tonight?" Ruby asked.
"Yes you can, and I'm going to call Matt's mother and see is it okay if you two can stay later than eleven seeing as this will probably be your last party here."
"Oh thanks mum," Ruby squealed and hugged her.
"Yeah thanks Charlie," Louise said joining the hug.
"Not a word to Jack though I want to tell him myself… I'm gonna be his new boss," Charlie said with a smirk.
Both girls laughed and ran off upstairs. Deciding to try Jack again she dialled his number and waited "hey I really ne- who is this?" She said when a different voice answered.
"Oh hi it's Brax he left his phone behind in my restaurant."
"Oh hey Brax it's Charlie, can you tell my idiot of a brother when he's finished trying to avoid me to call me it's double triple urgent."
"Sure can Charlie," he said smirking.
"Okay thanks Brax gotta go, bye."
"Yeah bye," Brax hung up and handed the phone back to Jack "that was mean she needs to talk to you about something and it sounded important and she knew you were lying."
"I'm not in the mood for her she'll just tell me something stupid like is it okay if Lou stays out later or something."
Brax chuckled "well what's wrong with that? The way I see it is she's still involving you when she can even if it is the smallest thing."
"Shut up softie and get me a drink," Jack laughed.
"That hurt my feelings," Brax pouted and went to grab two beers.
Charlie was lying on her sofa with her laptop out she'd just dropped the girls off at the party a little earlier than eight and was now searching for a place for them to live. Clicking into one she was amazed it was beautiful, it had four bedrooms- three with an ensuite and a big kitchen she needed one of those, looking for the price she thanked her mum for leaving her money when she passed and her dad for the account he'd set up for her whenever she needed it- picking up her phone she was about to call the agency when it rang in her hand.
"Hello," she said yawning.
"Charlie hi," her staff Sergeant said "I know I said you could stay off until tomorrow but Jenkins just had to leave his wife is gone into labour. Is there any chance you could cover the night shift? You'd be solo and off tomorrow of course."
"Aww it's about time she was ages overdue- yes that's fine I'm sitting home alone anyway just give me half an hour I just have to arrange for the girls to be picked up and let them know I won't be here and I've decided to take they job the girls are happy to move."
"That's wonderful news I'll let Joyce know, come see me before you head out and we'll sort out all the details and thanks Charlie you're a star," her boss replied and hung up.
She shut down her laptop and called the place hoping they'd still be open- thanking her lucky stars when a man on the other end answered and told her he'd met her at eleven tomorrow. Quickly changing into her uniform she grabbed her key's, asked her friend Kellie who was a nurse to collect the girls on her way home from work, sent both girls a message letting them know and headed out the door.
Jack and Brax now sat on the front porch of the house they shared with a beer, it was close to midnight now and Jack had got roped into helping Brax clean up. "So when's Louise down next?" Brax asked.
"I don't know it was my turn to go up to them but I've been assigned the night shifts."
"Aww I see- so not this weekend don't worry they'll understand."
Jack sighed "that is just the excuse I know Charlie can see right through it I know she's pissed at me."
"What do you mean an excuse?" Brax asked.
Jack sighed and stood up "I can't do it anymore I can't drive by that spot I can't walk into that house I can't be near any of it I can't be in the city again- I just can't do it."
"What about Louise? I know this is hard man but if you feel this way you need to talk to Charlie, it's not fair on her, the kids or yourself mate. She's done you good taking on your daughter as well as her own you need to tell her how you feel."
Jack dropped back beside him "I know I know I'm so screwed up at the moment I don't know what I'm going to do and I've this new sergeant to worry about now too."
"Maybe it's a chick and she'll be hot," Brax said trying to lighten the mood.
"Yeah maybe you want another beer?" Jack asked and stood up.
"Yeah go on we're both off tomorrow," Brax replied handing him the empty one.
Back in the city Charlie was driving around it was close to one am and all the drunks were starting to roll out of the pubs and nightclubs. Turning down an alley that led out onto a busier street she noticed a man and woman walking slowly in front of them. Flashing her lights and sirens once they both stopped and turned around. Charlie stuck her head out the window "could you let me by please!" She yelled.
"Oh sure- sorry," the girl said and they moved to the side.
As she passed she looked to them and gave a small wave of thanks but the guy was smiling at her staring intently. She shook her head and continued driving, sure his hair was a different colour but it couldn't be him he wouldn't be so stupid to show his face around here again.
Turning out of the alley she stopped and reversed back, looking back up the Alley both had disappeared. "Get it together Charlie," she said out loud and took off.
At the party the girls were at Ruby had snuck out the fire exit for a smoke she didn't want Louise to know as she only had one or two when she drank- something Charlie nor Matt's mother knew they were doing. Flicking the butt away she tried the door to go back in and groaned when it wouldn't open, tapping lightly hoping someone may be passing she listened and groaned before pulling out her phone calling Louise, followed by matt, even stooping to call Brandon all of course didn't answer with the music going on. "Great just great," she huffed and looked for the ladder down.
Climbing down the ladder Ruby made her way out of the alley turning towards the entrance but jumped back when she saw Matt's mother at the door with a friend, groaning Ruby went the opposite way. She knew Charlie would kill her for walking on her own this late but she didn't care her jacket was still inside and she was freezing. Seeing a cruiser go by she looked through the window hopping it was Karl (her mum's ex) or someone she knew, she thought she saw Charlie in it so when it stopped at a red light she hurried towards it only for it to flash it's lights and speed off "ugh tonight is not my night!" Ruby yelled and tried to call Louise again.
Charlie had been called to the scene of an attempted rape, flying through the back alleys she was there in two minutes; some guy had another guy on the ground while a woman comforted the distraught woman. "What's going on here?" She asked hurrying over to the men.
"This piece of scum tried to attack that girl over there," one man answered nodding to the hysterical woman not far away with ripped clothing and a bloody face.
"Sir is that true?" Charlie asked the other man.
He laughed and looked up "long time no see Buckton how's mummy doing?"
Charlie was shocked to see it was him, she looked to the girl and sure enough it was the same girl from a while ago but she held her poker face "very funny Mr Cosgrove I'll take it from here sir thank you," she said pulling her cuffs and slapping them on him. Pulling him to his feet she roughly dragged him to her car and flung him into the back of the car- her heart pounding hard and her stomach churning the whole time.
She walked over to the woman and got an ambulance on the way, took statements from the other man and woman, as soon as forensics arrived to comb the area she got back into her car. Starting up the engine she backed out of the alley and headed back for the station.
Ruby however was finding it impossible to hail a taxi her phone had just gone flat and she was beginning to freak out, then she saw that cruiser from a while back seeing it defiantly was Charlie she began running after it, she didn't care if her mum yelled she just wanted to get home. She stopped and raised an eyebrow as it turned into an abandoned warehouse site she followed and crept though the place until she found Charlie's car.
A few minutes ago in the car
"So, how's Jacky boy doing?" Aaron said smartly.
"Shut up," Charlie spat and continued driving.
"Oh that's right he bailed on you and dumped his kid on you- some brother," he scoffed.
"You drove him away it's all your fault! You ruined our lives!" Charlie yelled.
"Well what can I say his girlfriend-"
"Fiancée," Charlie snapped.
"Whatever if she had of went on like she saw nothing she'd still be here playing happy families." Aaron leaned forward "as for mummy… she cried and begged me to stop- mmmh I can still picture her face- begging for her life," he drawled.
That was it for Charlie something inside her snapped, she jammed on the brakes and screeched down another alley way. Turning back onto one of the main streets she spotted and old warehouse site that was due to be torn down soon she skidded in there and drove as far back as she could.
Back to present time
"Where are you taking me?" Aaron asked looking around.
"Shut up!" Charlie shouted as she tried to hold back the tears.
Pulling to a stop she opened the back door and dragged him out of the car, slamming him against it she pulled her gun on him "say another word about my mother and you will be sorry!" she screamed in his face the gun moving in her unsteady hand.
Aaron smirked at her "you can't shoot me for nothing," he laughed.
"Wanna bet?" Charlie aimed for his foot and let off a shot like it was nothing.
"Owww you crazy bitch!" He yelled and dropped to his foot grabbing it in pain.
"Oh I'll show you a crazy Bitch!" Charlie spat. "You know they only found you not guilty because the girl you raped dropped her charges claiming she got you mixed up with the real attacker- but you see I am a cop and so is Jack we can read people we knew you'd get to her- the second you took that stand we knew you were lying. Can you imagine what it's like to be called to a scene to find it's your mother and sister- in-law? Have you any idea how that felt? Did you even care!" Charlie dragged him to his feet and slammed him back into the car "did you even care you left a thirteen your old girl without a mother? You took two very special people from me and I will never forget it."
Aaron smirked "well we'll just go tell the other cops about this shall we," he nodded to his foot "I hope they lock you up too."
"I'd gladly spend the rest of my life in prison knowing I got you!" she hissed "but no- were gonna play fair," Charlie stepped back and slipped her gun back into its holder before she spun him around and un-cuffed him she took another step back. " I'm not a cop now," she said flinging her badge to the ground."You take me down you can go free- I take you down you admit to killing my mother and sister- in-law."
Aaron looked at her like she was crazy he stared at her trying to read her wondering what to do next when she spoke again "this deal expires in five- four- three- two on-"
"Okay okay- how do we do this?" he asked thinking it was some kind of test he had to thread carefully.
"I'll start shall I?" She walked forward and punched him hard in the face.
He threw his head back before staggering forward swinging his arm- smacking her in the side of the head sending her backwards before punching her again in the stomach. Charlie gasped and tried to take deep breaths she wasn't giving up and swung back.
Ruby had finally spotted the car and gasped in horror as some guy punched her mother in the face, pulling out her pone she tried to call the police "damn it!" She said and shoved it back in her bag forgetting it was dead. She watched as Charlie punched him back again sending him to the ground then again again and again before she was flung off him and sent on her back. Panicking Ruby looked around for something she could use to help Charlie.
All Charlie's rage she'd built up over the last three years was slowly releasing itself- she punched with all her strength over and over again until he kicked her off him and she landed with a thud cracking her head hard off the ground.
He crawled over to her and climbed on top of her with a smirk on his face as she lay there dizzy feeling the blood roll down her neck "oh I think I win- but I'll tell you something before I go," he said sliding his hand up the inside of Charlie's leg "you wanna know what your sister-in-law said before I killed her- actually while I was doing her? Charlie panted and reached down for her gun there was no way this bastard was getting her too, she cringed as he kissed her neck and up to her ear "she said please stop my baby my fiancé doesn't even know yet," he whispered in her ear.
"Baby?" Charlie gasped.
"Um-hum," he laughed as he slipped his hands around her neck and began to squeeze "you could have been an aunty again- Jacky could have been a daddy again, aww she begged me to get off her to leave mummy alone but it was so good, the way she squirmed under me," he said in a tone that made Charlie wanted to throw up.
Blind rage over took Charlie as he unzipped her trousers with one hand still tightly around her neck s she was beginning to find it hard to breathe but found a burst of strength and pulled her gun between them "deals off asshole!" she yelled- before she could register what was happening she pulled the trigger planting one in his chest. He gasped and dropped down fully on her panting to breathe before it went quiet. Lying there under him she let the tears fall as she felt his blood pool though her and onto the ground beside her.
Ruby screamed upon hearing the gunshot, dropped the pole she had found and ran over "Mummy! Mummy!" She yelled and dived down beside Charlie "oh god- Mum!"
Charlie panted and rolled his lifeless body off her "Ruby what are you doing here? You need to go right now!" She said jumping to her feet panicking nobody was meant to see this.
"No mum you're hurt," Ruby said pointing to the blood dropping off her face and the side of her head. She looked horrified at the blood all down her uniform shirt "mum look at you!" she screamed "we need an ambulance!"
"No! No, I'm fine Ruby- Baby you were never here okay? You need to go I'll talk to you at home right now you need to go and pretend you saw nothing go! I need to call my boss- go!" she yelled.
Ruby grabbed her bag panicking and took off running she couldn't form anymore words what the hell her mother was up to? She took one last look behind her as Charlie slumped against her car wiping the blood from her face before running as fast as she could nothing but worry for Charlie in her stomach. Something was wrong very wrong she though as she jumped into a taxi she'd caught just outside the site.
Charlie panted and dialled the station willing the tears to stay away strangely enough as soon as her eyes landed on his body they went away. The phone was answered snapping her back "Jen it's Charlie I don't have time for formalities put me through to Sean!" she yelled.
"Charlie something wrong? You sound in pain," Jen said sounding worried.
"Just put me through!" she screamed and heard the transfer tone.
"Charlie what is it? Jen said you sounded hurt," Sean said quickly.
"I've been attacked sir pretty badly" she panted "suspect is down I had no choice, I'm at 3478 Dalton way that old ware house- we need the corner and an ambulance."
"Charlie are you okay- how bad are you hurt?"
"I'm about to pass out- it was Cosgrove," she muttered sliding down the side of her car before very thing went black.
"Charlie? Charlie! Sergeant Buckton! You answer me!" he yelled shocked, if it was him this didn't look good for her, when he didn't get a reply he ran out of his office. "Officer down its Buckton she's bad- someone get Jack Buckton on the phone now! Karl you're with me!" He said before running out of the building.
Brax and Jack still sat on the porch laughing when his phone rang "who's it this late?" Brax asked it was past two am.
"Dunno- hello?" He said.
"Hi this is Amanda Collins from CD Police station, is that Constable Jack Buckton?" a female voice asked.
"Senior Constable but yeah," Jack replied getting a bad feeling.
"Are you a relation to Senior Constable Charlie Buckton?"
"Yeah she's my sister, has something happened?" Jack asked jumping up- followed by Brax.
"I'm afraid we need you to get to hospital in the city, Charlie was brutally attacked and is on her way to the hospital."
"I-is she okay?" Jack asked fear and panic washing over him.
"Like I said I have no more information other than she's on her way by ambulance."
"I'm on my way," Jack hung up ran inside the house and grabbed his keys.
"Mate what's going on?" Brax asked grabbing him back before he could run pass him.
"Charlie's been attacked, I have to go."
"I'll come with you," they both headed out the door and raced to the hospital.
In the ambulance Charlie had come around, looking beside her Sean sat with a worried expression on his face "sir," she said weakly.
"No Charlie, keep your strength everything else can wait until tomorrow," he said squeezing her hand.
"It all happened so fast- it was self-defence, I arrested him at another scene and while I was stopped at lights someone walked by and opened the back door for him and he took off. I gave chase and caught up with him in the warehouse he attacked me and took my cuff keys releasing himself, so I shot him in the foot, he kept coming at me so I had no choice but to fight back. Then he got the better of me and climbed on top of me, I reached for my gun as he kissed my neck I-I-I shot him when he tried to choke me and undo my pants I'm sorry," she cried.
"Sounds reasonable enough to me Charlie, you were protecting yourself don't worry about it Jack is on his way."
"What no no, call him back and tell him I'm okay not to come."
"He's already on his way Charlie we couldn't get through to Ruby or Louise you just worry on getting better."
"Jack is never to know who it was and what I did, promise me sir you won't tell him he can't know," Charlie said panicked.
Okay Charlie just calm down, I know all about him and he's done I'll keep his identity it to myself," Sean said as they were ushered out of the ambulance.
Charlie groaned no one could ever know what she had done and Jack would see right through her. Arriving at the hospital she was given the all clear with just minor bruising to her face and a few stitched in the back of her head and beside her eye.
"WHERE IS SHE!" She heard Jack yell seeing Sergeant Wilson and a few others standing by.
"Mate calm down shouting will do no good," she heard the voice from the phone call earlier.
Looking out she saw a tall dark well-built guy holding onto Jack "Wow he's hot- he must be Brax," she said out loud. Seeing a nurse direct them to her room she grabbed her clothes and ran out the other door just as the door she'd just been at flew open she couldn't face him not now.
"IS THIS SOME KIND OF JOKE? WHERE THE HELL IS MY SISTER?" Jack yelled back at the nurse.
Charlie tried to stifle a giggle as she ducked into the toilets, he was beyond pissed but she knew under that he was just worried about her. Quickly changing into her clothes she stuck her head out and the coast was clear. She ran and looked back before turning the corner and ran head on into someone "oh sorry," she gasped and jumped back 'shit' she thought when she saw it was this Brax bloke looking back at her.
"It's fine you in a hurry?" he asked.
"Uh yeah kinda I need to get home," she smiled sweetly at him he didn't recognise her.
"Well don't let me keep you I'm just looking for my mate's sister although I have no idea what she even looks like- hey you just came out of the bathrooms there didn't you?"
"Uh yeah," Charlie said dropping her gaze to the floor 'too hot' she whined to herself.
"Was there anyone else in there?"
"Uh no just me and a nurse but she left before me- gotta go bye, hope you find your friend," she hurried away throwing him a smile over her shoulder.
Brax watched her go "wow she was beautiful, she looks familiar though," he said and watched her until she was gone before going looking again for Charlie unknowing he had just found her.
Charlie pulled a taxi and gave him her address and headed home. Pulling up outside her house she was met by a frantic Ruby "Mum are you okay? Oh god, look at your face! I've been worried sick! Why did you tell me to leave? Why did you hit him back? What's going on?"
"Ruby not now please, I need a shower I promise we'll talk tomorrow, where's Lou?"
"She's in bed and Kellie was pissed over me not being there she was pacing here when I got home she's not long gone and she said she'd be calling you" Ruby answered.
"Look baby I know what you saw scared you and I know I have some explain to do but right now you need to go to sleep and forget everything that happened," Ruby just nodded and hugged her. Running to the bathroom Charlie made it to the toilet just in time as she emptied her stomach "oh god what have I done? Shit why did I let him get under my skin? Oh no what the fuck do I do now?" She cried, quickly texting Jack with shaky hands not to worry she was home with the girls and threw her phone on the floor. Running the shower she climbed in scrubbing herself raw until she couldn't see a speck of blood or dirt.
After she got out and put fresh clothes on she went to find Ruby to find her asleep in her bed she walked to Louise's room and found her asleep too. Closing the door she went to her own room and fell into her bed, looking at her phone she already had ten missed calls from Jack she knew there was a possibility he'd show up at the house but right now she didn't care. She wasn't getting any sleep tonight his face kept appearing in her mind his smirk washed through her casing her to shiver, she knew she was in way over her head and what she had done was wrong, if they found out the truth she'd go down for life sighing she rolled on her side and tried to get some sort of sleep.
The next morning she woke to her alarm she was due in work but they knew she did last night and with what happened they wouldn't be expecting her so she got ready for the day and headed out the door leaving a note for Ruby and Louise to start packing up their stuff up after school, she had to get out without raising suspicion and fast.
Arriving at Jack's house she took a deep breath and knocked, thankfully he hadn't shown up last night and had text her to say he was going to kill her and that he was home. When he didn't answer she tried again, sighing she went to meet the guy about her new house.
She walked through the house and listened to the guy tell her about and after looking around twice she took it. Shaking on it he told her to come see him later and he'd sort out the papers and the keys.
Driving around for a while she pulled up near the beach and thought of that place Angelo's Brax owned 'Jack could be there.' Climbing out she found the sign for it and followed it to the surf club, walking up the stairs she spotted him at the bar with Brax he was upset and she knew it, his shoulders were slumped and he was hunched over a drink. Gathering herself together and pushing everything aside she walked up behind him.
"Oi Buckton," she said causing him to spit his drink all over Brax and spin in his seat.
"Charlie!" He jumped off his stool and picked her up off the ground and swung her around before dropping her and pulling her into a hug. "I've been so worried about you I got to the hospital and no one knew where you were, and Ruby's damn phone was off and I couldn't remember how to get to the house I've been driving around half the night looking for you.
Charlie lifted her sunglasses and smirked at the stunned look on Brax's face 'yeah he knows who I am now' she smirked at him and winked before he shook his head and smirked back. "I know sorry Ruby was freaking out and really it wasn't that bad so I went home without telling anyone I was sick of all the fussing."
"What happened last night?" Jack asked.
"Nothing some drunken asshole let a guy out of the back of my cruiser when I was stopped at a light. I gave chase and we got into it I'm fine just a few bruises," she lied.
"It's more than a few bruises Charlie," Jack said tilting her face to the side so he could see for himself "Wilson said you were passed out when he got there?"
"Well I hit the ground pretty hard I'm fine Jack stop worrying we'll talk about it later- so who's this?" She asked already knowing.
"Oh sorry Brax this is my sister Charlie and Charlie- Brax," Jack said pulling her over to the bar.
"Nice to finally meet you Brax," Charlie said shaking his hand, a bolt of electricity shot through her and she smiled up at him.
"You too- Jack's always talking about you," Brax replied still holding onto her he felt the electricity too until Jack cleared his throat "uh sorry," he let go and stepped back under Jack's glare.
"What are you doing here? It's not like you to just turn up," Jack asked pulling her onto a stool.
"Well that is what I wanted to talk to you about yesterday… I'm here to look at a house for me Rubes and Lou."
"What why?" Jack yelled "Charlie is this about what happened last night?"
"Um no we need to move here."
"Why? You said you were happy up there and so were the girls."
"Jack I haven't been happy there since you left," she said sadly "but that's not the reason… I got a new job down here and we need to relocate."
"Doing what?" Jack asked trying not to look at her he felt guilty she wasn't happy although she lied and said she was just so he could move on.
Charlie smiled she was going to love this, standing in front of him she winked at Brax who watched with great interest before turning back to her brother "well Jacky… I'm your new boss," she smiled as his mouth dropped open and he stared at her in shock.
Brax burst out laughing at Jack's face this was unexpected but fun... well for him "you really know how to bring some drama Charlie."
Charlie shrugged "I wouldn't be me if I didn't, gotta give guys something wonder about," she flirted.
"So you'll be bringing some trouble this way?" Brax asked he didn't miss her flirty tone so he smiled his dimple smile at her.
"Well maybe your way," she flirted again.
"I'm sorry MY BOSS!" Jack finally yelled.
"Nice of you to join in," Charlie teased "yes Jack, I am now… well from Wednesday I will be Sergeant Buckton I'm taking over from Adams."