TITLE: Family Problems!

SUMMARY: Jo's half sister (A result of a one night stand Geoff had) comes to Mt Thomas with a problem. Jo is hesitant about helping her solve it until she sees how much it means to her sister.

"Surprise!" Rayleigh smiled nervously as the door opened. "Oh." She turned away embarrassed when she saw PJ.

"Do I know you?" He asked.

"Ah I err...must have the wrong house."

"Who were you looking for?"

"Joanna Parrish." Rayleigh replied.

"And who might you be?"

"Depends. Who's asking?"

"I'm PJ. Jo's fiancée."

"Oh. Well in that case." Rayleigh put her things down and stuck out her hand. "Rayleigh Joanna Parrish. But you can call me Ray." PJ shook it. "Nice to meet you. Jo's told me quite a bit about you. Where is she?"

"Working till 5."

"Righto. So are you going to invite me in?"

"Ah..."

"Thanks." Rayleigh pushed past him. "Nice place. Smaller than I had expected but it'll do."

"Huh?" PJ was confused.

"Didn't Jo tell you?" PJ's face was blank. "Obviously not. Well I may as well. She invited me to stay."

"Excuse me but how do you know Jo?" PJ asked.

"We go way back. Been friends since I was born actually."

"I noticed you have the same last name." He commented.

"Well we are sisters."

"Really?"

"Well half sisters anyway. We have the same father. Different mothers."

"Oh." PJ replied, still confused.

"So where's my room?" Rayleigh asked.

"Excuse me?"

"Where am I going to sleep?"

"Ah..."

"I'll find somewhere." Rayleigh said and she walked down the hall, looking in every room as she went until she came to the spare bedroom.

"This'll do." She dumped her bags on the floor.

"Sorry but...who said you could stay?"

"Jo did. She told me that I was welcome to come down anytime I wanted."

"Oh." He was still shocked by the girls' mysterious and sudden appearance.

"So where's the TV?"

"Ah..."

"It's ok. I'll find it." She made her way through the house searching for the lounge room. When she eventually found it she settled down on the couch and put her feet up on the coffee table. She grabbed the remote and switched the TV on.

"Care to join me?" Rayleigh asked.

"I err...why not?" He knew he was not going to get rid of her until Jo got home so he just decided to go with it and let her stay.

"So...how old are you?" PJ asked.

"Almost 18." Rayleigh replied. "How old are you?"

"I don't think that's any of your business."

"Oh well." She shrugged her shoulders and flicked the channel.

"Do your parents know you're here?"

"Don't know...don't care. And I'd prefer it if you stopped asking questions."

"Right." PJ replied not sure of what to say. "What are you watching?"

"Dunno yet." Rayleigh replied as PJ sat beside her.

"Do you...want a drink or something?"

"Well I wasn't going to ask but now that you're offering...sure."

"What do you want?"

"Dunno. Whatever you got." Rayleigh replied.

"OK." PJ stood and walked into the kitchen. When he came back with the drink Rayleigh was sitting forward her eyes glued to the TV.

"Here." He started handing her the drink.

"Shhh." She cried and she reached her arm out towards him.

"What are you watching?"

"Shhh." Rayleigh hushed him again. PJ sighed and sat down.

"Now what did you want?" Rayleigh asked once the commercials had started.

"What are you watching?"

"Neighbours. There's a marathon on."

"I've never heard of it before. What's it about?"

"You've never seen neighbours before?" She sounded shocked.

"Actually no."

"Well there are so many things going on. Ok that guy he's been online pretending to be a chick and the old guy there...Lou. He's been talking to 'her' online."

"Why would they do something stupid like that?"

"I don't know. It's a soapie. It's not supposed to make any sense."

"Then why do you watch it?"

"Dunno. Cause it's interesting." She replied.

"I still don't get it."

"Never mind. Just start watching it and you'll eventually catch on."

"Ok."

"Shhh it's back on."

They sat in silence watching the TV. PJ still didn't get what was going on but he watched it anyway.

About ½ hour later Ben arrived home.

"PJ I'm home." He called ads he walked through the house. "PJ?" He asked when he got no reply. "PJ" Ben almost fell over when he saw PJ sitting on the couch with Rayleigh.

"Hey what's going on?"

"Shhh." Both PJ and Rayleigh cried.

"Sorry." Ben replied. "But who are you?" He asked Rayleigh.

"Ben, Rayleigh, Rayleigh Ben." PJ introduced them.

"Hi." Rayleigh said. Neither PJ nor Rayleigh took their eyes off the screen.

"What are you watching?"

"Neighbours." PJ replied.

"What?" Ben was shocked. "But that's..."

"Shhh." Rayleigh and PJ cried again.

"Ok fine." Ben stood up and walked out of the room. "Weird." He shook his head.

"I'm home." Jo said when she walked through the front door. "And I came bearing food."

"Yum. I'm starved." Ben replied as he walked into the hall.

"Where's PJ?"

"In there watching TV. Good luck trying to pry them away from it." Ben replied. "They're watching Neighbours."

"What?" Jo was confused. She handed the bags of Chinese food to Ben and walked into the lounge. "Hello?" She asked.

"Hey Joey." PJ replied without looking up. "Oh yeah. You've got a visitor."

"Hey Jo." Rayleigh put her hand up to wave.

"Rayleigh?" Jo asked. "What are you doing here?"

"You told me I could stay remember?"

"What?" Jo thought for a second. "I said you could stay during school holidays. It's the middle of term."

"So?"

"So why aren't you at school?"

"Cause I got expelled. No big deal."

"What?" Jo cried. She marched over to the TV and switched it off.

"Hey I was watching that!" PJ cried.

"Yeah so was I."

"Sorry but this is more important. Please explain to me why you aren't in school anymore." Jo cried.

"Like I said I got expelled. No big deal."

"PJ can you give us a moment please?" Jo asked.

"Sure. Did someone say something about there being food?"

"In the kitchen." Jo replied and she watched as he left the room. Then she turned to Rayleigh angrily.

"What?" Ray asked innocently.

"What happened? Why would you get expelled from the school?"

"Because I slept with one of the male teachers. No big deal."

"What?" Jo asked her face growing redder by the second. "Why on earth would you do that?"

"Because I love him."

"What?" Jo was having a hard time believing what she was hearing.

"I loved him and he loves me. But apparently that doesn't matter to anyone. I'm a minor and he got sent to prison because he's 10 years older than me. That's why I came down here. So that you could help me. You can help me get him out of there." She said hopefully.

"What made you think that I would help you?"

"Because you're my big sister. And I love you." She put on her 'sweet little angel' face.

"No. That's not going to work so drop it." Ray frowned. "Does your Mum know?"

"Nope. Dad does though. He told me maybe you could help me. Seeing as you're a cop and all."

"And he doesn't mind that this...teacher is 10 years older than you?"

"Nope. He's very understanding actually." Ray replied.

"Are you sure we're talking about the same dad here?"

"Course. Dad saw how much we loved each other and he doesn't want to see me get hurt so he offered to help me get him out. But we can't do anything without your help. That's why I'm here."

"So how long have you two been seeing each other?"

"Almost three years."

"And you've been...you know...since then?"

"Hell No!" Ray cried. "I am only 17 you know. We've only ever done it once." She told Jo.

"Are you sure?"

"Course I am. I figured hey I'm ready, he's been ready for a while so why not. Then bloody Charlie my so-called 'best friend' dobs him into the cops the minute she finds out about it. Jealous little Bitch!" Ray cried. "Just because she doesn't have someone who loves her doesn't mean she has to take it out on me." Ray started crying. Jo sat next to her and put her arm around Ray.

"Hey it's ok. If you love him as much as you say you do..."

"I do. I love him with all of my heart."

"Then I'll help you." Jo replied.

"Really?" Ray looked up at her. Jo thought for a minute as she took in the pleading look on Rayleigh's face then she smiled.

"Of course." Jo replied. "Anything to make my little sis happy." Jo hugged her.

"Thankyou."

"You do realise this is not going to be easy. Paedophiles do not get off their charges easily." Jo explained. "Most the time they don't get off at all."

"He's not a paedophile Jo. i gave him consent to have sex with me. He loves me. And I really need him Jo."

"I know sweetie. It's ok I understand. And we're going to do everything we possibly can do get him out. But for now let's get something to eat. If those guys haven't polished it off already." Jo laughed.

Well that's part one so far. I hope you like it cause I think it is very extremely crappy!!! Feedback good or bad I don't care. Plus any suggestions for the next part would be good!

Jess