Chapter Two

"After you," Charlie said, gesturing with her hand for Joey to continue talking.

Joey opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted.

"Senior!" Charlie's colleague called. "Charlie! We're needed down at the hospital."

Charlie frowned, looking and feeling awkward.

"Can you go by yourself?" Charlie asked.

She had never once shirked her responsibilities but this was too important. Suddenly nothing meant more to her than talking things through with Joey and attempting to resolve their problems. Joey looked startled and touched. Charlie's colleague looked confused.

"Okay," he said slowly. "Meet you there?"

Charlie nodded and watched him leave. Then she turned back to Joey.

"What were you going to say?" she asked, not entirely sure she wanted to know the answer.

She couldn't bear the sorrow in Joey's eyes and she hated herself for being the reason it was there.

"It doesn't matter," Joey said hurriedly. "You should go..."

Charlie shook her head. Her patrol partner was already in the car. There was no way Charlie was prepared to leave this hanging.

"Okay," Joey said shyly. "I was just going to say that I know you didn't want any of this."

Charlie chewed her lip.

"I didn't either. And I know it's hurting both of us. So, I've just got myself a job on a long haul. I'm leaving tomorrow so I'll be out of your hair."

Charlie looked and felt like she might cry.

"Joey..." she managed.

Her voice was pitiful as she tried to overcome her grief. Joey licked her lips nervously.

"It's for the best," Joey said. "So much has happened, Charlie and I just... I want... I need to get away from everything."

"From me," Charlie sighed, looking down at her shoes.

She felt like all the air had escaped her body. Joey was surprised by just how deflated Charlie was. She swallowed, feeling bad. Instinctively, she reached out to touch Charlie's hand. Both noticed the spark between them at the contact. Charlie slowly lifted her head. Joey recognised tears in her eyes and her heart began to race.

"Charlie..."

"Please don't go," the police officer begged.

She felt vulnerable and she didn't care. The idea of Joey sailing away from her, of not seeing her and talking to her was excruciating.

"Charlie, I have to," Joey said, slowly dropping her hand.

Charlie hurriedly wiped her eyes and nodded. She took a deep breath, suddenly needing to get as far away as possible.

"Fine," she managed. "I hope you find what you're looking for."

She moved to walk past her with slumped shoulders and a racing pulse.

"Charlie?" Joey called.

Charlie stopped and turned back to her, immediately getting lost in her eyes. She wondered yet again how she could bear to let this angel go.

"What were going to say?" Joey asked.

Their eyes searched each other. Charlie reached out to hold the rail to steady herself. Her heart pounded and she struggled for breath.

"I was going to tell you that I love you," she said.

The words were out before she had thought them through. She felt as surprised as Joey looked. It had been the last thing either of them had been expecting. Charlie swallowed.

"But... well, I guess you've made your choice so..."

She trailed off. Her cheeks were burning. She'd never felt this way about anyone before in her entire life. And she'd certainly never risked talking like this before.

"You love me?" Joey squeaked, hardly daring to believe that she'd heard right.

Charlie nodded and swallowed.

"I do," she said.

"But you still can't be with me?" Joey accused.

There was no way that Charlie was going to suddenly turn around and tell her that everything had changed. Charlie took a shaky step forward.

"I'm in love with you," she said, never looking away from Joey's eyes. "I can't let you sail out of here without telling you how I feel. I..."

She faltered, wondering how she was ever going to explain the rush of emotions surging through her soul.

"I've never felt like this about anyone before and I'm terrified," Charlie admitted. "But you're the best thing that's ever happened to me. I need you. I want to be with you. Please... please don't leave me."

She struggled for breath and control. Joey stepped forward and held both Charlie's hands in hers, hardly daring to accept that Charlie was really saying these things.

"Please?" Charlie begged.

She moved ever closer and dared to rest her hands on Joey's hips. Their bodies tingled and both were trembling slightly as their feelings threatened to overpower them.

"You're the only thing I'd stay for," Joey told her. "If... if you want to make a go of things I'll..."

She licked her lips and swallowed nervously.

"But I'd want to be with you," she said. "I couldn't pretend. I couldn't..."

Charlie leant in swiftly and kissed her, not caring that anyone might be around and watching. Joey's lips were warm, soft and so inviting. Charlie felt shy about kissing her, worrying that she might do it wrong. Perhaps there was a different way to kiss a woman than there was to kiss a man. Just like the first time, Joey was startled at the contact but this time, she refused to pull away. She wanted it to last as long as possible, in case, when they parted, Charlie might come to her senses and stop things before they began. She pressed her lips gently against Charlie's, opening her mouth ever so slightly when it felt right to do so. She felt a shock of delight go through her as she felt Charlie's tongue touch her lips. Wrapping her arms around the cop's shoulders, Joey parted her lips a little more and touched Charlie's with her own tongue. Charlie's grip on her waist tightened, holding her ever closer as their kiss became deeper and more intimate. A rush of joy flowed through Charlie's veins as she gained confidence and realised that kissing Joey was more right than anything else she could have done. Their bodies moulded together as they held each other tightly. Finally drawing away in order to catch their breath, they refused to come very far apart. Charlie gently rested her forehead against Joey's, blushing and smiling. Joey returned the look. It still felt so unreal.

"I love you, Joey," Charlie confirmed. "I love you and I want to be with you."

"Then I'm yours," Joey promised.