Consider yourselves loved! Spent far too much time drinking homemade cocktails last night and yet here I am, posting the next chapter especially for you! This is the penultimate. I'm struggling to decide which story to post next but I am sure the right one will dance around saying 'pick me' when appropriate. I hope! Anyway, I hope you enjoy it! Love, IJKS xx

Chapter Nine

Charlie did not want to get out of bed the following morning. After the row with Brett the night before, she and Joey had had to awkwardly explain to Leah what the situation was. She had been surprised but fine, although Charlie was still finding telling people very difficult. Remaining snuggled up to Joey, she held her tight and kept her eyes closed.

"You're going to be late for work," Joey told her softly, although she didn't want to break their embrace any more than Charlie did.

"I don't care," Charlie pouted.

"Yes you do," Joey chuckled. "You love your job more than anything. Except Ruby."

Charlie sat up and gazed down at her.

"And you," she said sincerely.

Joey turned pink and giggled shyly.

"And I think I just fell even more deeply in love with you," Charlie grinned.

She leant down and kissed her tenderly before reluctantly agreeing that they needed to get up for breakfast.


"I didn't hear a thing!" Ruby exclaimed when Charlie and Joey entered the kitchen.

Leah was sitting with her and explaining what had happened the night before. Charlie quickly apologised for it.

"It wasn't your fault," Leah pointed out. "He was the one ranting and raving. Was it your brother?"

Joey nodded and also apologised as she sank into a chair.

"It wasn't your fault either!" Leah exclaimed.

"They're pretty well suited, hey?" Ruby teased.

Charlie poked her tongue out and proceeded to make a pot of coffee in order to wake her up enough for the day. They all looked up when Xavier knocked and entered.

"Hey, Xave," Ruby said warmly. "Breakfast?"

He declined and looked at Charlie a little awkwardly.

"What is it?" the police officer asked.

"Um... have you seen your car?"

Charlie, Ruby, Leah and Joey followed Xavier out of the house. The word 'queer' had been spray painted across one side of the little blue car. Charlie's heart sank and Joey froze. This was the last thing they needed. A couple of school girls walked by, pointing and laughing. Charlie stormed back into the house feeling humiliated.


Brett waited until he had sobered up a little before he trudged to the police station to make a formal complaint about Charlie. There was no way he was going to stand for some dyke cop taking advantage of his sister. If only Charlie would leave Joey alone, she would be normal again. She would be the reliable, dependable sister he had always loved instead of vile creature she was becoming. A policewoman looked up when he approached the desk and asked how she could help.

"I want to make a complaint about Senior Constable Charlie Buckton," he told her.


Joey felt terribly guilty as Leah headed out to take VJ to school, Ruby and Xavier left and Charlie called in to cancel work, including the talk she was meant to be giving.

"I'm sorry," Joey said.

"It's not your fault," Charlie replied. "You didn't do it."

"But my brother did," Joey pointed out.

Charlie nodded and reached for her hand. She was stressed and every instinct was telling her to run far away from everything, including Joey. But she also knew that if she pushed her girlfriend away now, she would lose her for good and it wasn't something she was willing to do. Joey accepted her touch and moved to kneel in front of the sofa and hold her. They hugged and kissed for several moments.

"I love you," Joey said.

"I love you too," Charlie replied, kissing her again.

They were interrupted by Charlie's mobile phone ringing.


"I'm sorry, Sir but my Senior Constable has done nothing wrong," Ken said firmly.

He'd instructed Watson to call Charlie and warn her in advance but he had no intention of letting the complaint progress.

"She was working my sister's case and all that time, she was seducing her into bed."

"Mr Collins, your sister and my Senior Constable came to me and explained the situation off their own back. They were interviewed together and separately and the case was handed over to another officer. They might have fallen in love on the same case but they didn't do anything about it without informing me of their decision to become an item. And it wasn't going on during the investigation. Right now, all we're doing is waiting for your sister's rapist to go to trial. My Senior Constable isn't actively working on the case right now."

"But she tricked her into bed!" Brett insisted. "Joey wasn't gay until she met that bitch."

"Firstly, yes she was. I have a statement saying so. And secondly, I don't appreciate you referring to my staff in that way," Ken said reasonably.

Brett leapt angrily to his feet.

"This is all a damn cover up!" he said. "Your cop has abused my sister and you're not even doing anything about it!"

Ken stood also.

"My Senior Constable has done no such thing, I can assure you. If she had, she would be suspended and under investigation immediately. But I will tell you now that that won't happen and there is no case to answer."