Chapter 4.

"Ruby! Ruby!" Ruby walks from her bedroom yawning and wondering what all of the noise is about, she sees Charlie rushing around, picking up things and moving cushions, yawning again and sitting down clumsily she says,

"What?" Charlie stops and then says,

"Have you seen my car keys?" Ruby sighs and says,

"You woke me up for that?" Charlie rolls her eyes and continues to look before finally finding them underneath a magazine and saying,

"You should be up anyway; you don't want to sleep the day away do you?" Ruby groans before falling backwards onto some cushions as Charlie checks her phone and pulls a disappointed face, Ruby notices and says teasingly,

"Drew not called?" Charlie sighs and sits next to Ruby before saying,

"Joey called me last night." Ruby gets up shocked and says,

"Oh my God Charls. What did she say? What did you say? Are you going to meet her? When did she get back?" Charlie holds up her hands before saying,

"Ok ok slow it down a bit Rubes, I don't know. She left a voice mail and it was too late to call her back, or maybe I was too scared to." Ruby shakes her head before saying,

"You have been pining away for her for months and finally she is back, and she makes the first move. You have to go and see her." Charlie looks down to the floor before saying guiltily,

"I kissed Drew last night." Ruby's mouth flies open and she says with a amused look on her face,

"Charlie Buckton, you hussy." Charlie hits Ruby on the arm lightly before saying,

"God I don't know what to do, I'm so confused." Ruby snuggles up next to the older woman and simply says,

"You have to go and see Joey, you owe her that much." Charlie agrees before looking at her watch, getting up she says,

"I'll go before work." She smiles nervously at Ruby, who sits up and says,

"It will be ok Charlie. You have to do this." Charlie nods before swinging her keys and leaving the house.

A few minutes later Charlie pulls up outside Joey's house and watches it, hesitating she jumps out of her car and begins to walk towards the house, then stopping as she sees Joey emerge with a black bag. Charlie watches the younger girl and remembers how much she loves the way Joey walks, almost childlike in her graces, as if she hasn't a care in the world. Charlie stands for a moment with a goofy smile across her face, but if forced back to the situation as a car horn bursts into the air, she jumps and moves out of the way, holding her hand up in apology. Joey turns to see what the noise is and catches her breath as she sees Charlie stumble out of the way of the car and smile awkwardly as she turns to face her. The two women stare at each other for a moment before Charlie walks towards her. Joey moves to the gate and opens it greeting Charlie with a smile. Charlie smiles back but is unsure how Joey feels. Nervous Charlie stops in front of the beautiful younger woman and plays with her hands, Joey laughs nervously before tentatively wrapping Charlie in a hug, Charlie breaths out with relief and feels herself go weak in Joey's arms.

Joey pulls back and nods her head to the house saying,

"Coffee?" Charlie hesitates and Joey smiles saying,

"Brett's working away; he'll be gone for a long time." Charlie relaxes a little and follows Joey into the house. They walk into the kitchen and Joey walks over and begins to prepare the coffee. She feels Charlie's eyes on her and feels herself wanting so much to just give into her feelings and show Charlie just how much she has missed her. This is more difficult then I thought it would be. Maybe I should have waited. She looks so good in her uniform, oh why did she have to wear her uniform. Joey's thoughts are interrupted as Charlie speaks, her words catching in her throat as she says,

"You look good Jo." Joey puts her hands down on the side, steadying herself, feeling that she may buckle at any moment. Charlie blushes and curses herself but before she can try and undo her words she feels Joey's lips on hers. They both become lost in the kiss, feeling scared, unsure, amazed, dizzy and so comfortable. Joey takes Charlie's face in her hands, deepening the kiss as Charlie groans in delight, realising just how much she has missed Joey's touch and how good and right it feels. Suddenly Drew flashes into Charlie's mind and she pulls away getting to her feet. Joey kneels on the floor breathless before getting to her feet and joining Charlie, who looks shocked and confused, Joey notices her expression and feeling confused and slightly foolish she says,

"Charlie I'm sorry. It's just…" She stops and thinks for a moment before saying,

"You pulled away." Charlie looks at the woman now, shame in her face she tries to find some words, willing herself to say the right thing she says,

"I'm seeing someone, I think." Charlie cringes as the words just spill out of her mouth, she shuffles her feet as she thinks. Why did I just say that? Why did I pull away? I have been waiting for so long to feel Joey in my arms again, but then Drew…oh God what must Joey think. I have completely embarrassed her, but I didn't expect her to kiss me. I thought she hated me.

Joey walks back over to the side, her back to Charlie as she busies herself making the coffee. Charlie stands awkwardly before saying,

"I'm sorry Jo…" Joey interrupt saying,

"You think your seeing someone?" Charlie cringes again at her inappropriate response to an amazing kiss before saying,

"Well we're friends but…" Joey turns and Charlie fumbles as she looks into the woman's eyes, Joey smiles and says,

"No I'm sorry Charlie. I don't know what came over me, I just saw you and I guess I wanted to see if there was still that feeling and…" She stops and Charlie pushes saying,

"And?" Joey hesitates before smiling and handing Charlie her coffee, Charlie thanks her and they both take a seat. Sitting silently for a moment Charlie says,

"So when did you get back?" Joey breaths a sigh of relief that Charlie decided not to finish their other conversation, for now anyway. Thinking for a moment Joey says,

"About a month ago, we cut the trip short. Not much happening." Charlie looks shocked and says,

"Why didn't you call me? Why wait until now?" Joey looks down at her coffee and says,

"I didn't know what to say, everything was just so tense between us and I…" Charlie interrupts her, taking her hand and saying,

"I missed you Joey." Joey smiles now and forces her head up to look at the sweet and sexy police officers eyes. She lets a tear run down her cheek before saying,

"I missed you too." She rubs her thumb across the back of Charlie's hand and they sit for a moment, just taking each other in before Joey says,

"So you're seeing someone huh?" It hurt her to think that Charlie may have moved on, but she wanted to know for sure, she needed to know. Charlie shifts in her chair before saying,

"I have been out a few times with someone, but we are just friends at the moment. How about you?" Joey pictures Jess in her mind and remembers the words she had said, breaking hand contact with Charlie Joey says,

"Sort of, I guess I am yes." Charlie swallows at hearing this and feels the jealousy begin to boil up inside her, forcing a smile she says,

"Oh." She looks down at her cup and then takes a sip, waiting for Joey to speak again, not sure if she can handle what Joey has to say, but Joey laughs and says,

"We are a pair aren't we?" Charlie looks up at her curiously and shakes her head before Joey says,

"I mean we have been through so much together and yet sitting here and talking to you seems to be the hardest thing I have ever had to do." Charlie smiles a little, still feeling uncomfortable but knowing that she needs to talk to Joey, she needs to open up if they are to stand a chance at any kind of relationship, even friends. Charlie takes another sip of her coffee before breathing out and saying,

"Joey I am so sorry for everything, I was such an idiot…" Joey raises her hand and stops Charlie mid sentence saying,

"No more apologies. Maybe it all just happened a bit too fast for both of us. Maybe if I'd have stayed then…" She stops herself and Charlie waits as she composes her thoughts before looking Charlie straight in the eyes and saying,

"Friends?" Charlie breaths out in relief and then says while smiling,

"Friends."

Charlie looks at her watch and then says with a grimace,

"I have to get to work." Joey stands and takes the cup from Charlie; they both shiver a little as their hands touch, looking away from one another, trying desperately to ignore the sparks flying between them. Joey walks Charlie to the door and kisses her gently on the lips, Charlie blushes and then smiles saying,

"Maybe I could call by later and we could talk some more?" Joey nods, not wanting to open her mouth for the fear of what may come out. She smiles again as Charlie opens the door and leaves.

Sitting on her couch Joey struggles with her conflicting feelings. She looks so good and it feels so right when we kiss, but she has, or at least is trying to move on, and I have Jess to think about. God I am so confused. When I'm with Jess everything is so easy and free, but then with Charlie it's so tense and passionate. Putting her head in her hands and throwing herself back against the sofa she screams in confusion.

Charlie gets into her car and rests her head against the stirring wheel before leaning back and touching her lips. I have such a connection with Joey but it seems so hard now…it's easy with Drew and she seems to understand me. Sighing she starts her engine and unwillingly sets off for work.

A few hours had passed since Charlie had seen Joey and as she sits in her office re reading the same paperwork again she finally gives up and ripping up some paper then screwing it into a little ball she takes aim at her empty coffee mug, throwing and sighing as she misses time and time again. Then taking one last piece of paper she scrunches it up really tight and closes one eyes, trying to improve her aim, breathing out she shoots and scores before putting her hands in the air and cheering at her gallant effort. Drew stands in the doorway and watches the very cute performance before letting a little giggle slip from her mouth, Charlie freezes and goes bright red, not even turning to the door she says hopefully,

"Watson?" Drew smiles and simply says,

"Umm nope, just me." Charlie's red complexion deepens as she turns to the door, biting her lip she says,

"How long have you been there?" Drew smiles before saying,

"Long enough to know that you are an appalling shot." She smiles sweetly and holds up a bag saying,

"Thought you could use some lunch." Charlie gets to her feet and invites Drew in before shutting the door. Drew takes a seat and then says with a smirk,

"Slow day Constable." She can't help but check Charlie out in her uniform before blushing herself as Charlie clocks her looking. Charlie smiles and takes the seat opposite thanking Drew for the lunch before saying,

"So do you have work today?" Drew takes a bite of her sandwich and shakes her head, swallowing quickly she says,

"No, I have a few rest days now. I see you are very busy." She smiles again and Charlie relaxes in her company. The two women chat and laugh as they share their lunch.

Jess knocks on the door and stands shuffling on the spot, nervous of what Joey has to tell her. She had left work early when Joey had rang and told her that Charlie had been round, preparing herself to be dumped she holds her breath as Joey opens the door. Suddenly Joey pulls the woman inside and pushes her against the wall kissing her forcefully before Jess pushes against her and grabs her wrists, pushing her against the front door and attacking her lips with intensity. They break for a moment to catch their breath before Joey leans in and more gently now takes Jess's lips in hers, Jess releases Joey's wrists and Joey's hands glide down Jess's side and rest on her hips. Jess loses herself in the kiss before remembering why she is there, slightly confused she pulls away as Joey looks at her breathless and tempting, Jess smiles before saying,

"How was Charlie?"