HELLO! Please don't shoot me, I know I haven;t updated in blumin' ages! INO! But I have good reason, as I have an addition to the family :) so be happy for me! I don't know how you will find this chapter, but I'll let you know I'm bringing a new character in it soon, who will have an impact on things, after this chapter you can maybe guess who it is (not their name obviously but you'll see what I mean.)
Anyway, here you go!
Chapter 8
"Deodorant – Check."
"Shorts and top – check."
"Shoes and socks – check."
"Perfume-" Charlie sprayed some sweet perfume onto Joey's neck and wrists, "Check."
"underwear... oh I think you should-"
"Check?" Charlie raised an eyebrow, "You never change Joey do you." She chuckled.
"is That a bad thing?"
"Do you consider flirting bad?"
"oh my GOD? I'm so not flirting with you." Charlie laughed, "What?! You were the one perving on me AGAIN when I was bathing." Joey exclaimed.
"I wasn't perving! JEEZ Jo, I'm just going to check if Ruby's ready." Charlie laughed on her way out of the room leaving an amused Joey behind.
Joey heard her mobile phone ring a couple of seconds later, to which confusion washed over her as the only people who she could think of contacting her were to be going out with her that night, unless its Aden cancelling or telling me he'll be late or something, although it's very unlike him to do so.
She got up and hobbled over to the bedside table and upon seeing a withheld number she answered it thinking it was probably one of them companies trying to sell her some crap.
After a couple of seconds into the call, Joey's eyes widened and her expression fell.
"Brett?" She croaked.
*****
Charlie, Joey, Ruby, Aden, Annie and Geoff had went out for a meal that night in the diner. Geoff- after becoming good friend's with both Aden and Ruby (more or less in love with Ruby but unable to act on his feeling because of her boyfriend Xavier) and being Annie's brother, had come along with them.
Charlie found herself worried about Joey since they left the house, not because of her injuries, but because of the distantness that radiated from her. It wasn't like Joey at all
When everyone was finished their main meal, and involved in deep conversation, Charlie decided she didn't like this far away Joey at all – and so would ask her quietly.
"Jo?" She nudged Joey's side a bit. "What's up?"
"What? Oh Nothing, I'm fine. " Joey lied.
"Joey I'm not stupid-"
"-I'm fine Charlie. Leave it." Joey weakly smiled.
Charlie felt rejected; Joey had always shared her thoughts with her before, even in the last few days she had seemed to. What was going on?
*****
"Feels good to get the PJ's on huh?" Charlie mused after helping Joey out of her clothes. She was getting better at getting herself ready and stuff, but not good enough to be done on her own, or without a bit of help.
"Yep."
"Fancy a film?"
"I think I'm just going to head for bed Charlie, I'm pretty beat." Joey yawned and smiled.
"No worries." Charlie was a little disappointed.
Charlie remembered after Annie's stay over the weekend, she had went home after dinner, so she would probably have reason not to be sleeping beside the one person she hoped to have reason to sleep beside. Her night just got worse.
"Are you staying up?" Joey asked upon seeing Charlie stand up to leave the room after in her PJ's.
"Nah I'm going to hit the hay too. Annie's away now so you'll get the bed to yourself." Charlie smiled half-heartedly at an un-amused Joey. "Night Jo. If you need anything let me know."
Charlie opened the door but before she left Joey butted in.
"Charlie?"
"Hm?" She turned at the door frame.
"You don't have to but, if you like, want to keep me company or whatever. I mean, I'd like it if you slept here, y'no. With me." Joey blushed, looking down at her hands.
"Still having nightmares?"
"No, well yeah, but it's not that. It just relaxes me. Keeps the bed warmer too." Joey meekly smiled adding in the joking comment at the end.
Charlie sighed, closed the door and sat on the side of the bed. "Hows about you tell me what's been going on today first?"
"Charlie-"
"-Joey." Charlie raised an eyebrow, "I can't see you like this. I know there's something up. Is it me? Have I done anything wrong?"
"No Charlz it's not you!"
"Then what?"
Joey sighed, a little defeated.
"I can't say."
"Joey..." Charlie groaned.
Joey fumbled with her hands. "Joey whatever it is, you can tell me."
"Not this."
"Anything."
After a few minutes silence and long glares from Charlie, Joey gave in with a sigh.
"FINE! But you can't go all cop on me?"
"COP?" Charlie was worried. Will there be a need for me to be 'all cop'.
After seeing Joey's reluctant glance, Charlie nodded, "fine..!"
"OK." Joey breathed in. "Brett called me today-"
"Brett!" Charlie stood up at the man's name who had been on the run since he had put Joey in such a state, no one had caught him yet, he was in hiding she'd guessed.
"Charlie!"
"Sorry. What did he want?!"
"He wanted to make sure I was ok."
"Oh my god? Seriously? He wanted to make sure you were ok?! This is priceless? After what? Oh yeah after HE pushed you into a mirror and after HE pushed you down the fucking stairs!" Charlie breathed.
Joey was shocked at Charlie's sudden reaction. This is not cop mode at all Joey thought, she's so angry about this.
"What did you tell him?" She calmed.
"I told him I was being looked after. I didn't say who by, he guessed right away. I'm scared he's going to put you in danger Charlie. But I didn't want to say anything, he sounded so scared on the phone, he knows their after him."
"He's god damn right we're after him!"
"Charlie." Joey had a pained expression.
"Joey I'm sorry, I know he's your brother and everything but if he does this to anyone else, like you said, he might come here, think about the danger he can put people in Jo."
"I know, I know." Joey sniffed, "it's just hard that's all, he's the only family I have, apart from a cousin in the city."
"And do you know where Brett is?"
"No." Charlie took Joey in her arms when she heard the sniffling get more intense.
"We could always track the phonecall... it would be the best thing to do Joey, I'm sorry."
"It's ok." Joey sniffed, "I understand."
Charlie felt horrible that she was locking up the woman she loves brother. It crushed her to think that she was putting away the only family member, excluding a cousin, behind bars that Joey had. It had to be done though. She couldn't put Joey in danger again.
"We can head over and give Watson your mobile tomorrow, if you like? I'm not going to get involved." Charlie wondered.
"OK." Joey snuggled closer to Charlie, and they both lay silent until Charlie leaved over and turned the bedside light out.
"The beds warm already." Joey smiled into Charlie's chest.
"That's me done then?" Charlie joked.
"No, stay, please." Joey's gripped became very tight on Charlie, much to Charlie's shock.
"I'm kidding Jo. Relax." Charlie kissed the top of Joey's head. "Goodnight."
"Are you staying?"
"Yes I am, if you want me to?"
"Yeah I do. Don't leave."
"I won't." The promise wasn't just about the sleeping arrangement. Both girls knew it meant more.
To be continued...
