Title: Cleanse My Soul
Pairing: Charlotte/Cooper
Rating: PG
Word Count: 495
Disclaimer: I did not create nor do I own the characters of Private Practice. This is Shonda Rhimes world and I am just a visitor.
Authors Note: This idea came to me when I was discussing the last Private Practice episode with my Aunt. This is also my first attempt at anything Private practice. Let me know what you think. Enjoy!

A gasp escaped through Cooper's lips as he took in the disaster that was now his girl friends office. A feeling of uselessness quickly washed over him; something he had not expected. Not with something that was supposed to be a simple act of cleaning up Charlotte's office. It was something he had been feeling a lot when he was at home. Since Charlotte was not able to take anything for the pain, he was at such a loss for how he could help her. He felt like he should have been able to do more for her then he was, but he was at a loss for what it was. So when Charlotte had fallen asleep he had decided that he would try and help in the only way he knew how. The police had called and had said they were done processing the crime scene. He probably could have asked them for a number or asked the maintenance to clean up the office, but he wanted to do it himself. He wanted to feel useful.

Cooper turned away only for a moment to pick up the broom to begin sweeping the glass off the floor. But when he glanced around the floor he realized that it was not going to be as simple as he thought. In between sections of glass were pieces a broken chair or side table. He spotted a fallen pot and decided he might as well start there. He swept the dirt that had spilled over into a dustpan, before dumbing it into a black garbage bag. When he went back to pick up the flowers he noticed something shiny in the pot. He wondered why the police hadn't taken this.

Curiosity quickly got the best of him, so he grabbed the key out of the pot and headed around to the other side of Charlotte's desk. He tried a few drawers before he found the right one. He was not at all prepared for what he found when the drawer was opened. He found a stained pair of panties and a million different scenarios flew through his mind. He suddenly found himself pressed against the wall behind him. All the old feelings that he felt when he first found out about Charlotte's attack came flooding back. He should have been there to protect her. He was supposed to protect. He knew he had failed her. All his friends, and even Charlotte, had told him that this wasn't his fault, but he knew they were lying. And now the full reality had hit him. He pushed all of his thoughts to the back of his mind and locked it there with a metaphorical key. He didn't know what he was going to do now that he knew the truth, but he knew he had to clean up this office. It was all he could handle emotionally at the moment. He would just take it one step at a time.