Title: Not Always Out Of Reach

Author: Kym

Rating: PG-14ish pr0n:P

Summary: Second in a series. All's fair in love and war, isn't it….? Charlie thinks she's found her place in Smithy's life – until something drastic happens, changing things forever.

Characters: Charlie, Smithy, Amber, Leela and Yvonne – others to follow in other parts.

Disclaimer: All recognised characters belong to The Bill writers and Thames TV, yada yada. Charlie belongs to me – as does her mum who'll prolly show up at some point.

Authors Notes: Second in a series after Half Hearted Love Affairs.

Not Always Out Of Reach – Part 1

"You had no right!" Charlie glared up at Smithy as she stood in front of him. "How dare you dictate who I should and should not see!"

"I didn't say that." Smithy glanced up each side of the corridor, scratching the tip of his nose. "I simply said-"

"You told Mickey to leave me alone."

Smithy scoffed and the side of his lip raised slightly into a sneer. "I wouldn't flatter yourself, love."

Charlie's eyes flashed angrily, though her cheeks flushed a little in embarrassment and part disappointment. "So why say it?"

"When you're at work, Charlotte…" Charlie's stance dropped slightly, unable to not feel like a naughty schoolgirl when her full name was used. "You do work. Not flirt with DC's."

"I wasn't flirting with him!" Charlie insisted. "He's a friend, he's helped me settle in."

"And you feel settled now?" Smithy's tone was almost mocking, winding Charlie up further.

"Yes." She held his gaze almost defiantly, echoing his stance with her arms folded across her chest.

"Then you won't need your babysitter watching over you will you?" Smithy turned and moved back to his office, closing the door after him.

Charlie bit her lip hard to stop a comeback, her expression set in a petulant scowl, turning her head to look at him through the window.

Smithy picked his pen up, barely glancing outside as he continued with the forms he'd been filling in.

Charlie scowled deeper and raised her hand, sticking two fingers up at him –albeit discreetly - before stalking off back to the front office.


Yvonne took a bite of her bun, listening as Charlie ran through what had happened earlier, chuckling softly. "And he didn't threaten to stick you in the cells?"

"Eh?" Charlie glanced around the canteen, leaning in closer to the small group of girls.

"Mouthing off to the Sarge like that…"

"It wasn't mouthing off…" Charlie shifted in her seat, brushing a tendril of hair behind her ears.

"Sounds it to me." Amber smirked, before looking thoughtful. "He almost threw the book at me and Honey last week…"

"You were fighting in the corridor." Charlie rolled her eyes, "Hardly the same thing."

"Favouritism." Leela grinned, a forkful of chips hovering near her mouth. "If it'd had been one of us-"

"I'm not a copper am I?" Charlie shrugged. "I don't get the same discipline stuff as you lot."

Amber exchanged a glance with Yvonne, smirking more. "Never stopped him with JT."

"JT was a law onto himself." Yvonne chuckled, shaking her head.

"Are you lot planning on taking up residency orders?" Smithy stood behind the small group holding a tray. Charlie tensed as she heard his voice, not looking over her shoulder.

"On ref's Sarge."

"Really?" Smithy looked at his watch. "Your refs finished 3 minutes ago."

"But sarge-" Amber started, only to be dismissed by a wave of Smithy's hand. She sighed and pushed her plate back, standing up. "See you later Chaz." She muttered, pulling her jacket on as she followed Yvonne and Leela outside.

"See ya." Charlie smiled at her, before looking up slightly as Smithy sat opposite her.

"Are you still-" He managed to say before Charlie down the last dregs of her coffee, pushing her chair back to stand up. "Charlie?"

"I have work to be doing," Charlie said coldly, before continuing, "As you so kindly pointed out this morning." She pushed her chair back under, the table, before walking out of the canteen, leaving Smithy watching her go, before sighing and starting on his lunch.


"Cheer up." Mickey breezed past, on his way through to the main station. "It might never happen."

"Already has." Charlie sighed.

"What've you done?" Mickey asked, smirking slightly. "You've never gone an-"

"Do you wanna go out tonight?" Charlie asked, pinning her hair up with a pen. "Go for a drink or something?"

"Er," Mickey looked slightly taken aback, before grinning and nodded. "Yeah, alright…"

Charlie smiled slightly and nodded. "I finish at 6." She leant forward. "You can pick me up from here…"

Mickey grinned, "See you then." He winked, disappearing through.

Charlie's smile dipped slightly as he left, sinking down onto her chair as she looked thoughtful, before being disturbed by a man entering the front office.