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The story takes up from the end of chapter 3 in the Josh after Gracie story. You really DO need to read the Josh after Gracie story first because this explains who Sophie is and how they met. This story was originally a little aside, a different idea for how Josh may have needed to rescue Sophie, but the story never stopped, it just kept going and going………

Instead of Sophie being threatened with a knife by a stranger in the alley, this is what could have happened and then what followed on later for Josh and Sophie.

Josh is at work on the night shift, in the TR car.
Sophie is at her place, her flat-mate Marisa is also home. They go to bed. Later, when they are both asleep, a man arrives at the front door and opens it with a key. He looks like he's drunk, he fumbles a bit, stumbles around as he makes his way through the house. He stops outside the door to Sophie's room. She's asleep inside. He twists the door handle, it squeaks, he opens the door and goes inside.

Sophie is waking up, she heard the noise, and whispers; "Marisa ?"
She reaches for the bedside lamp and turns it on. He's standing next to her bed now, Sophie lets out a gasp but she doesn't scream because she knows who it is. Its her ex-boyfriend.
Sophie; "Luke.....what the hell are you doing here ? I thought you'd gone to Queensland."
Luke; "I did, but I came back baby".
He starts to get into her bed.
Sophie; "Luke ! No…. hey, how did you get in ? Do you still have that key ?"
Luke: "sure baby" , still getting into her bed.
Sophie; "No Luke !"
She pushes him away but he's drunk and as far as Sophie goes, he's always been somewhat deluded, couldn't accept that it was over. They start struggling.
Luke; "what's wrong ? You're my girl Sophie"
Sophie: "no ! , no I'm not anymore, get out ! "
Sophie calls out to Marisa; " MARISA !"
Then she turns to Luke; "Luke, I have a boyfriend, get out !"
Luke; "No way !, I don't believe you"
Sophie; "its true, give me the key and get out !"
Luke stares at her, then swears and hits her on the face. Marisa turns up at the door and sees this.
Marisa; "Luke, no !"
Sophie is leaning over the edge of the bed, blood starting to trickle from her nose; "get help Marisa ! "
Marisa runs out to get her phone. Luke keeps pushing and hitting Sophie who tries to fight him off. Marisa gives details to the cops and comes back to find Sophie on the floor, her face bloodied and cut. Luke is hugging her and asking for forgiveness but Sophie is unconscious.

In the TR car, Josh gets a call from Leon.
Leon; "There's a home invasion, or domestic at ......................"
Josh; "Where ? Repeat that address Leon"
Leon repeats it.
Josh; "What ? That's Sophie's place ! "

The TR car pulls up out the front of Sophie's place, it's not really a TR job, the local cops are there, but it's Leon who knew it was Sophie's address and brought it to their attention. The local cops are surprised to see TR and Lawson attempts to explain the situation whilst Josh barges inside looking for Sophie. Fortunately Josh, in his haste, doesn't notice Luke being dragged out and taken away otherwise things could've turned nasty.
Lawson to Cop; "So, what's the story ?"
Cop; "seems like a drunk ex-boyfriend turned up and let loose"
Lawson; "I see"
Cop; "and the TR connection ?"
Lawson; "ah, one of our crew knows someone at this address"
Cop; "I see, hope it's not the girl who got beaten up"
Lawson; "Do you know her name ?"
Cop; "I think it might be Sophie ?"
Lawson grimaces and shakes his head in disbelief that Josh has once again attracted so much drama in his love-life.

Inside

Josh rushes inside straight to Sophie's room. Marisa is standing outside the room crying, being reassurred by a cop. So now Josh knows that it is definitely Sophie who is injured.

His heart sinks.

He walks into Sophie's room, a cop stops him.
Cop; "TR ? What are you doing here ?"
Josh; "She's my girl, let me see her"
He pushes his way past the cop who feels sorry for him and lets him go without a word. Josh strides over to where Sophie is lying on the floor with ambos attending to her. They've got her on a stretcher and are ready to take her outside.
Josh; "Sophie ?"
He turns to the ambos, " I'm her boyfriend......Is she going to be ok ?"
He's trying to remain in control but his voice is cracking up.
Ambo; "yeah mate, it looks like she fell and hit her head on the bookcase"
Sophie is unconscious, with a decent cut on the back of her head.
Josh; "Is that all ? She just fell ?" He didn't see Luke being lead out and doesn't know that she was attacked.
The cop comes forward; "Mate, she's been attacked......."
Josh; "attacked ? by who ?" ( looking around )
Cop; "an ex-boyfriend apparently, he's been arrested and taken away already"
Josh kneels down on the floor next to her, he strokes her hair and whispers to her; "Sophie"
Ambo; "Come on mate, we have to get her to the hospital"
Josh stands up and lets them lift her up. He follows the stretcher to the ambulance where Lawson and Michael are waiting. Josh looks terrible, he feels like he's in a bad dream, only 6 months ago it was Grace in an ambulance unconscious. How could it be happening again ? Josh stands at the back of the ambulance, watches them close the doors and drive off, then he sinks to the kerb.
Lawson sits down next to him, pats him on the shoulder. Lawson wants to say "she'll be fine, she's in good hands now" but it rings hollow after Grace's death in hospital. What can he say ?
Josh is too stunned to cry or react, he sits in shocked silence. Michael is standing nearby in disbelief. Lawson stands up, walks off a bit and calls base on his phone.
Lawson; "Kerry.......listen, Josh's girlfriend has been beaten up, we're at the scene, he's distraught, he can't continue his shift. I'm going to take him to the hospital ok ? If its quiet, I want to stay with him."
Kerry; "what ? what's with Josh and these girls ?"
Silence whilst Lawson attempts to ignore her smart remark, he's not in the mood for it.
Kerry; "Yeah ok, it seems to be quiet enough tonight"
Lawson drops Michael off at base and grabs Josh's clothes. Josh doesn't leave the car, he doesn't want to speak to Kerry or anyone else, he just wants to go to the hospital.
They arrive at the hospital and have to wait, she's in surgery. Josh gets changed out of his uniform. Josh and Lawson sit on the waiting chairs in silence.
Lawson; "Josh, you gotta talk about these ................things....."
Josh; "I already talked about Grace enough.........."
Lawson nods.

Josh is permitted to see Sophie. She actually looks worse now, the bruises are showing up and she has swelling and stitches in the back of her head. She regained consciousness in the ambulance on the way to hospital but now she is very sore and groggy from the surgery.
Josh sits down on the chair next to her bed, he holds her hand.
J; "Sophie ?"
She turns her head towards him, looks at him, then looks away again, crying.
J; "hey, hey" he says stroking her hand, he tries to reassure her but now he starts crying too
S; "Don't look at me like this, I must look........."
J; "sshh, I don't care Sophie, I love you"
S; "Josh....."
J: "Sophie, why won't you move in with me ? This wouldn't have happened if......"
S; "I know, I'm sorry..........."
J; "no, I'm sorry I raised the topic again........."
He sits there quietly stroking her hand and face. She falls asleep and after a while he gets up and leaves sadly. Lawson was waiting for him outside and takes him home, they have a beer together.

The next day

Josh goes to see Sophie in hospital during a quiet break in his shift. Dom and Michael wait outside in the car. He brings a bunch of her favourite flowers. She's sitting up now, feeling a little better, but she has visitors.
Josh walks in the door, looking good, in uniform, tall and confident. There's a woman sitting next to the bed and a man standing at the window. Obviously her parents. It's too late for Josh to back out, as he'd very much like to, so he grits his teeth and continues in.
Josh; "hello "
Sophie; "oh Josh, these are my parents, mum and ....... I mean, Elizabeth and Andrew.
Josh shakes their hands.
E; "Josh, I believe you're called now ?"
Josh nods awkwardly.
E; "You haven't been back home for a while have you ?"
J; "no, that's true but I'm sure I'm not missed"
E; "I'm not so sure, your mother speaks fondly of you"
Josh swallows hard, he's on the verge of walking out right now. It's all he can manage to turn around and focus on Sophie who needs him now. He passes her the flowers.
S; "Oh Josh !" ( smiling ) " my favourites !, you're so sweet " and they kiss each other.
After a moment's silence Sophie launches in with her news.
S; "Mum was just suggesting I move back home for a while"
Josh looks absolutely horrified.
E; "Well, it doesn't seem too safe, this share-house of your's"
S; "What if I had somewhere safe to live mum ? somewhere in the city...."
Josh raises his eyebrows at Sophie and she smiles sweetly at him.
E; "Like where ?"
S; "well...........I did have an offer, it's in a security apartment with a reliable flatmate....."
There are other descriptions that she would like to use for this flatmate but it wouldn't go down too well with this audience !
Andrew ( the dad ); " And who is this flatmate ?"
Sophie; "It's Josh"
Josh feels all the attention shift to him. Very awkward. They stare at him.
Josh; "yes, it's true, I asked Sophie to move in, we've been seeing each other for several months now..........we're in love"
Sophie blushes and smiles deeply.
Josh; "After this incident, she'd better not move back to some share-house with lax security !"
Sophie's mum isn't too keen, she'd like a decent wedding first, but Sophie's dad has been impressed by Josh's appearance and behaviour today, and the uniform helped too. He's quite pleased with this idea, a security apartment with a personal bodyguard thrown in free of charge..
Andrew; "So is this definite ?"
Sophie; "Yes its definite" smiling at Josh.
Josh beams.
Sophie's parents leave them alone for some privacy.
Josh to Sophie; "Have the doctors told you how long you'll be in here ?"
Sophie; "Just a few days"
Josh; "Do you want me to move your stuff ?"
Sophie; "you're quick !"
Josh; "well, you know, I thought with a head injury it might be a daunting task"
Sophie; "sure, you're right"

In actual fact what Josh is most worried about is cleaning his apartment before she turns up (which is why he had to find out how long before she got out ! ). Now he has thought of something else......he can just imagine that her parents might hang around for a week or so, to see her settled in properly.
Suddenly he's thinking about entertaining in-laws too !
Josh; "I've got to go now, Dom and Michael are waiting for me in the car.
They kiss goodbye.