Chapter 9:

Dazed and confused.

Joey curses at Watson's bad timing as she hesitates at the door for a few seconds, desperately wanting to go after Charlie, desperately wanting Charlie to hold her and make her feel safe again. I can't. She thinks to herself while going back to her spot at the window, looking out she remembers Mia, closing her eyes and thinking how relieved she was when Angelo had said they had found her alive. She had been picked up by another boat after drifting a fair way from the wreckage. Joey smiles a little as she remembers the small amount of hope Mia had brought to her the first time they met.

"We're docking Joey so if you wanna go ashore let me know." Joey sat on her bed reading her book; she never went ashore unless she absolutely had to. This stop was unscheduled as they were to pick up a new crew member. Just as Joey had slipped back into her book a quiet knock disturbed her, she sat up to find a woman standing in the doorway, softly she said,

"Hey. Um I'm Mia. Your new crew member." She smiled warmly at Joey as Joey shuffled insecurely on her bed, she wasn't in the mood for company but it seems she now has no choice as she realised that Mia would be sharing with her. She got to her feet and indicated for Mia to enter before saying,

"Hey. Just make yourself at home." With that Joey leaves the room, leaving Mia to get settled.

Back out at sea Joey had skipped dinner, not wanting to make polite conversation she sits on deck and turns on her mobile. They where still quite close to shore so she knew she would have some reception. Shuffling through her messages she stops and listens once again to the message that had made her travels last longer then she had planned, pressing select the message played again.

"Hey Jo. It's Aden. Um not answering again huh. Look I didn't really want to do this via answering message but I need you to know this before you come back to the bay. Um...Wow this is hard to say. Look Jo, I'm sorry but you need to know. Charlie is dating someone. His name is Angelo. Please call me Jo. I just want to know that you are ok." The beep sounded and Joey turned her phone off, slipping it back into her pocket. She looked out over the night sea, quietly thinking. "How could Charlie move on so fast? Did I mean anything to her" she sighs deeply as a voice behind her says,

"Penny for them." Joey turns to see the new crew member standing, a jacket in her hand she walked to Joey saying, "its cold out here thought you could use this." Joey smiled and took the jacket, wrapping it around herself trying to find a small bit of comfort from the warmth. Mia moved closer to her and took a seat on some boxes, indicating for Joey to do the same while saying, "It can't be easy working on a boat with just men for company, especially when nursing a broken heart." Joey looked up at her startled. How does she know? As if listening to her thoughts Mia continues, "The skipper told me. He didn't go into any details. Just saw you out here and thought maybe you would like to talk about it?" Joey sighed deeply thinking "not really" but Mia looked at her with such concern she found herself opening up.

"I guess your right, can't really talk to those guys about this, they wouldn't really understand." Mia walked over and took a seat next to Joey, Joey shifted uncomfortably but not wanting to be rude she stayed put. Mia breathed in and then said, "Look Joey, I don't know what went on or where your head is right now but I can tell that you are hurting. Maybe this time away from her will help you see that you should move on. You deserve to be happy." Joey smiled at the girl and got to her feet, not meaning to seem rude but knowing she can not talk about this yet, it's too soon. As she makes her way back into the boat she suddenly turns and Mia stands as Joey says,

"What makes you think it was a woman?" Mia smiles slightly before saying with a slight shrug,

"Wishful thinking I guess."

Moving away from the window Joey lies on her bed, looking up at the ceiling thinking.

Mia was right. I deserved to move on, I deserved to be happy. So why do I feel so guilty when I look at Charlie? As if I have cheated on her. After all it didn't take long for her to move on. Oh God, why can't I just move on?

Joey closes her eyes before whispering,

"Please let me move on."

Charlie makes her way to the station, driving cautiously with tears in her eyes, but also wanting to delay her interview with Robbo, not sure if she can keep her cool. She thinks about her moment with Joey and curses the interruption. It was the first time that Joey had been willing to see her, all be it under duress, and now she is unsure of when or if Joey will allow her to see her again. She still couldn't understand Joey's resistance to seeing her, she knows she hurt her immensely but all she wanted was a chance to explain, a chance to show Joey just how sorry she was.

Charlie's thought are interrupted as a car comes from no where, slamming into her side, taking her spinning off the road. Charlie struggles with the steering, trying desperately to get the car under control, steering into the spin the car finally comes to a stop. Dazed and confused Charlie gets out of the car, looking around but seeing nothing. Her mobile rings again and stretching her neck she answers. Watson starts but is cut off by a very angry and achy Charlie saying,

"Get a bloody car down here to me; I wanna talk to that bastard now." Watson gets the information from Charlie and says she will send a car straight away.

Joey sits back up again as a knock on the door requires her attention. She says quietly,

"Come in." Watson enters with a cup of coffee in one hand and slipping her mobile in her pocket with the other. She hands the coffee to Joey and sits on the edge of the bed, she goes to open her mouth but something stops her, Joey notices and says,

"What?" Watson says unsure,

"Charlie's been in an accident Joey." Before Joey could get to upset Watson continued quickly, "She's fine, just a few aches and a touch of whiplash." Joey looks at Watson and asks,

"Robbo?" Watson knows what she is asking and simply says, trying to comfort the sacred woman before her,

"We're not sure if he's involved in this, Charlie has worked a lot of cases, but we're looking into it. Ok?" Joey nods but once again sees Watson shifting, wanting to ask something but unsure, Joey says once again,

"Watson, what is it?" Watson gets to her feet before saying,

"Joey I know your scared or traumatised or hurt, or all three but we really need to know what happened aboard that boat. Robbo has given hints and we need to know if he's just playing games." Joey puts her coffee down and hugs her legs before saying, "What hints?" Watson sits next to her again before saying,

"Joey. I need to know if you where raped again."

Charlie makes her way into the station, immediately bumping into Angelo who drags her into the office. Shutting the door he turns to her and says,

"Are you ok? Watson told me what happened." He walks over to her with his arms out stretched. She pushes him back, insulted that he thinks she will simply just fall back into his arms; she didn't hit her head that hard. Hurt and confusion written on his face he says,

"So it's still like that is it?" Charlie looks at him annoyed by his constant assumption that she will simply just take him back after everything. Walking towards the door she says,

"I have an interview to do." Frustrated Angelo moves in front of her saying,

"She's moved on you know Charlie. I believe she is involved with someone else. She's well and truly forgotten about you." Attempting to soften his voice he adds,

"Charlie, I love you. Please." She looks him in the face, suddenly feeling sorry for him but still angry for his blatant attempt to hurt her by telling her about Joey's new girlfriend, opening the door she simply says,

"I love Joey Angelo; nothing you can say will end that."

Making her way towards the interview room she thinks to herself.

Thanks Angelo, you have just put me in the perfect mood to deal with this scum."

Smiling slightly she enters the room and looks at the man before her. He smiles at her before saying slowly and methodically,

"Ah Constable Buckton. This is gonna be a great pleasure. Please take a seat."