Author's Note: Hello! Just to say (for those that might be interested!) that I am planning on writing more chapters for 'You There' but I had this idea niggling at me for a totally separate story and rather than wait until 'You There' is finished I thought I'd just put this up now. It's something a little different and I hope you enjoy it. For a little context 1 it's set quite some time after the Bangladesh Tour and Georgie Charlie are together. As always, I would love to hear what you think! xx

Ghosts

Chapter 1

Georgie stood and stared as the bright green numbers on the microwave clock counted down 59..58..57..56..55. The meal-for-one circled slowly inside.

"That vein thing on your forehead is happening again." Elvis suddenly said. A small smile crept over Georgie's lips upon hearing his familiar voice. She rolled her eyes. Why does he always have to bring that bloody vein thing up to annoy me? She thought. He knew she was self conscious about it. Just as she turned to reply to him, Charlie could be heard fumbling with his key in the front door and just like that, Elvis had gone again. Georgie's heart sank.

"This fucking lock." Charlie muttered under his breath in frustration at the rusty old lock as he entered the house. He really needed to get it replaced, he thought to himself for what must have been the hundredth time. He never seemed to get around to it though.

"Georgie?" He called out tentatively as he kicked his running trainers off and set his keys down on the sideboard. There came no reply.

He padded down the hallway and into the kitchen. The microwave was bleeping repeatedly to signal the end of the cooking time. Georgie was stood staring at it but it was like she wasn't hearing it. He walked over and stood beside her but she didn't appear to notice him. Carefully studying her vacant expression, he gently pushed the button on the microwave and its door pinged open, bringing Georgie out of her trance-like state.

"You're back." She stated, blinking at Charlie in genuine surprise.

"Yea." Charlie answered, scanning her face. He was worried about her. He thought she looked as though she may have been crying, he couldn't quite tell. He placed a hand against the small of her back "You ok?" He probed gently.

"Yea." She smiled. Charlie could see that her smile was forced. Nevertheless, he managed to force a small smile back at her.

"Sorry. I was hungry, I didn't know how long you were gonna be." Georgie said, gesturing at the microwave meal. "Shall I make you something?" She asked, wide eyed.

"No, it's fine. I'll get something in a bit. Gonna take a shower first." Charlie answered, still searching her face for clues as to what was wrong. She hadn't been herself lately and he was growing more and more concerned with each day that passed.

"Ok." Georgie replied. She turned and took the plastic tray from the microwave and began to peel the film off the top. After a short moment she realised Charlie was still standing by her side looking at her and she turned her head to look at him questionably. He wrapped an arm around her waist, twisting her body round so that she was now facing him. Then he wrapped his other arm around her and hugged her in close to him. She let out a small sigh as she too wrapped her arms around him and leant her head against his chest. She could hear the steady rhythm of his heartbeat as they stood holding each other. Charlie caressed her hair and planted a kiss on the top of her head. He had such an overwhelming desire to look after her. If only she would open up to him, he thought. Something that they had both promised each other after the events of Bangladesh was to always be honest, with both themselves and each other. But he couldn't help but think that Georgie was holding something back. She looked up at him with her big Bambi eyes and he leant down and kissed her softly. As their lips met Georgie closed her eyes and became lost in his heady scent, feeling safe and protected in his strong arms. She slowly opened her eyes as he gently pulled away. "I love you Georgie." Charlie said. "Love you, too" she replied, tracing a line down the centre of his chest with her finger. They smiled contently at each other and Georgie watched him longingly as he turned and headed out of the kitchen.

Suddenly the safe little bubble she found herself in was well and truly popped. "Must you two keep doing that?" Elvis said in annoyance. He was sat casually leaning back on one of the dining room chairs with his feet crossed over up on the dining table, his arms folded across his chest. Cocky, self assured git Georgie thought to herself, but he was sexy as hell with it, although he didn't half know it.

Georgie felt her cheeks flush in embarrassment. Her eyes moved from the kitchen doorway to glare across at Elvis.

"You were thinking about me weren't ya?" He teased, a glint in his eye, waiting for her reaction.

"Stop it." She said.

"What?" Elvis asked shrugging his shoulders, playing innocent.

"I'm with Charlie now." Georgie stated matter of factly.

"Physically, maybe, but not in 'ere you're not." Elvis said prodding a finger repeatedly against the side of his head.

"Elvis, please." Georgie quietly pleaded, biting her bottom lip and closing her eyes momentarily. When she opened them Charlie's head was peering around the kitchen door looking at her expectantly "What is it?" He asked.

Georgie gulped and blinked at him in surprise. "Huh?" came her slightly flustered reply. She nervously glanced sideways toward the dining table. Elvis was gone again.

"I thought you said something?" Charlie said.

"No." Georgie replied, shaking her head and trying to smile. She could feel her heart racing so hard she thought it might burst out of her chest.

Charlie stared at her. He knew he had just heard her say something. "My mistake." He said softly and he turned and headed back down the hallway.

Once he was out of sight Georgie let out a huge breath she didn't realise she'd been holding. She pulled out a dining chair and flopped herself onto it. Leaning forwards with her elbows on the table she ran her fingers through her hair, exasperated. What was happening to her? She thought. She had been doing so well, things seemed to be getting easier. Now she was seeing and hearing Elvis everywhere she went. She was scared but she didn't want to say anything to Charlie, she knew he was still dealing with his own issues. She was sure if she just carried on as normally as she could that things would get better on their own, in time.

Charlie climbed the stairs and went into the bedroom, closing the door carefully behind him. He reached into his pocket for his mobile and he scrolled through his contacts, pausing momentarily wondering whether or not to press the 'call' button. He did, and seconds later a voice had answered.

"Yea, uh, Hi, it's Charles James here. I'd like to speak to Dr. McCormick please..." He took a deep breath "It's Georgie." He gulped.