"Yes I understand that chief, we're moving as quickly as we can, but this case is a lot more complex than we originally thought" Senior Constable Buckton argued down the phone.

It had been a week since the discovery of the twelve bodies on the boat and progess being made to solve the case was slow. Too slow for the liking of everybody concerned. It was particularly frustrating for Charlie who had to deal with the Chief of Police breathing down her neck almost every other day. She could understand his impatience, even Charlie was beginning to grow tired of how long it was taking to crack the case, but there was nothing she could do.

"Yes Chief, I'll take that on board. Bye", Charlie said trying her hardest to place the phone down without slamming it.

"Senior, we've just pulled in someone we think might be connected to the boat case", Constable Watson exclaimed.

"I'll be right there", Charlie pulled herself out of her seat and rushed out the door.

"Get off me. LET ME GO!" the man shouted. He wrestled with the officers who were trying to hold him down. Charlie walked up to the third officer who was trying to process him for finger prints.

"Place him in holding when you're done. We'll interview him when he's calmed down. Find out whatever you can about our John Doe here" she said.

Just then Angelo walked in along with a fellow marine officer. He looked at the man the officers were dragging into the holding cell and then walked up to Charlie.

"Have we got any info on John Doe?" Angelo asked.

"Not yet, he was only brought in just now. But we took his prints so hopefully we'll be able to put a name to the man soon", Charlie answered.

Charlie grabbed the file Watson had placed on the desk. She gave it a quick glance over and signed her name on the dotted line. Angelo handed her a coffee and smiled at her. She looked tired. Angelo placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Charlie you need to go home, get some sleep", he said with concern.

Charlie took a sip from her coffee, stroked his hand and proceeded to make her way back into her private office, Angelo following suit. She walked over to her desk and picked up the files that she had been working on earlier. She opened the filing cabinate and placed them inside, making sure to lock it when she was done. She walked back to her desk and sat down, slouching down to a comfortable position, taking the coffee cup back into her hand. Angelo sat in the empty chair beside her.

"Charlie, I'm serious. Go home. I'm sure the place can cope without you for a couple of hours at least", he said

Charlie looked at him with a forced smile. She could undestand his concern and was grateful for it. But she also knew she couldn't do what he was asking.

"I can't. If I'm not working all I do is worry about Ruby. Works the only thing that keeps me sane right now. At least here I can be productive".

Angelo nodded. He could understand Charlie's reasons for staying at work. Ruby is Charlie's whole world. He knew that and he accepted it because he knew that, while Charlie did care for him deeply, he had only been a part of Charlie's life for a small period of time. Ruby is Charlie's flesh and blood and he knew he could never compete with that. Ruby was Charlie's main concern and he knew that by accepting Ruby as part of the package deal he had won over Charlie. He cared a lot about both of them and would do anything for them.

"How is Ruby anyways?", he asks with genuine concern

Charlie shifts in her seat, putting the coffee cup down on her desk. She straightens up and leans forward, playing with the watch on her wrist.

"I just feel so helpless. My daughter has diabetes. She has this illness that's going to affect her for the rest of her life and there's nothing I can do about it. You know, I've been protecting her for her whole life, I've always felt like I was in control, that I could keep her safe. And...and now it feels like I've lost that sense....that feeling of control and it scares me" she says, becoming emotional at the sheer thought of it.

Charlie strokes her forehead in a frustrated manner. The very topic of Ruby's health made her tense and anxious. The whole developement was still very new. In fact it was only a couple of days ago that Ruby was diagnosed. Charlie was still in the stage of acceptance of the condition and was on full alert. It was going to take her a while to relax a little. Angelo could sense her worries. He reached out his hands and cupped hers into his.

"I know this is hard right now. It's tough to watch someone you love develope a condition like this. Even when you have accepted this your still always going to worry about Ruby and how she's doing. But as hard as it is for you imagine how hard it is for Ruby. She's going to have to deal with this everyday for the rest of her life. Instead of worrying about her condition why not sit down with her and talk to her about how she's coping. I'm sure she's sick of everyone talking about her blood sugar level's and diabetes. I would be if I were a teenager" he says with a slight grin.

Shifting into an upright position, Charlie began to think about what Angelo had said and she realised he was right. She had spent the last few days worrying more about the diabtes than Ruby. She couldn't help it. But she realised now that what her daughter needed the most right now was emotional support and comfort and not a drill sargent calling every hour to check on how Rubys blood sugar levels were. She was neglecting one of the main areas of concern. While Ruby did have to keep her levels in order, she also needed to feel like if she had a problem or wasn't coping she ccould sit down and talk to someone without having them try to mirp manage everything. Charlie couldn't help it. Her maternal side just takes over at that moment. It's almost like that side of her she bottled up for sixteen years was trying ot come out in one out burst. She realised she was probably overwhelming Ruby.

"You're right. I've been so highly strung over this I'm completely ignored what Ruby wants in all of this. Which I'm sure is certainly not me going into panic mode everytime she calls" Charlie says with a sigh. "I'm going to go over there tonight and talk to her properly and lisen to what she has to say. Maybe we can come to a comprimise".

Angelo smiled at her. It felt like he had made a breakthrough and released some of Charlie's stress. It made him feel slightly more upbeat.

"Good. We'll I'm going to see if our boat man has settled down. Maybe I can get some answers out of him now", he said as he got up out of his chair and made his way to the door. Before he walked out Charlie called him.

"Angelo, thank you" she said with a smile and the he walked out.

Charlie turned back around and faced her desk. She looked at some of the files on her desk she had yet to sign off on, took in a deep breath and exhaled. She then looked at the picture of her and Ruby sitting on her desk and smiled. It was a picture of Charlie and Ruby on the couch as Leah's house. Charlie has her arm's wrapped tightly around Rubys shoulders in a protective manner while Ruby has her arms wrapped around Charlie's waist. They both looked so happy when the photo was taken. I t always made Charlie smile whenever she looked at it. She looked at the clock, 4:15. Ruby had called earlier to tell her that she and Geoff were going over to Nicole's to watch some DVD's and wouldn't be home until late that night. Whatever the time, Charlie was going to talk to Ruby tonight. It was too important to leave until later.

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This is just the first chapter. Please rate and tell me what you think. More chapters to come!!