Three days had passed since Benji had turned up and Charlie had avoid Brax as best she could, sitting at her counter she let out a heavy sigh, as much as she wanted to keep Daryl away from him she couldn't do it Daryl didn't do anything wrong so he had spent the last few nights there with Brax.
Since Benji had showed up Charlie had looked into Douggie and what she's found wasn't nice at all. She'd even got in contact with the Bali police- there she learned Douggie has an outstanding bench warrant, with the authorities alerted over there she had promised to get in contact as soon as she had located him before they flew all the way for nothing.
Sighing again she stood up and walked to the sink, dropping her cup into the sink she grabbed her keys and turned around-jumping a mile at the figure leaning against her door "Jesus Heath!" she yelled holding her chest "you scared the crap out of me."
"Sorry," he chuckled "thought you heard me," he said walking in "have you got a sec?"
"Just one I have to get to work," she said and sat beside him "what can I do for you?"
"You can't let our past ruin what you and Brax have-he was a teenager Charlie we didn't know what we were doing," Heath said "please go see him?" he asked and squeezed her hand. "I'm not asking you to be a lovey dovey again just at least hear him out-let him tell you what happened."
Charlie sighed "it's not that simple Heath," she said and stood up "he saw that note here the other morning he could have told me then."
"He wasn't sure if it was real or not he thought someone knew he was here and wanted to mess with him," Heath said and stood up "please Charlie he's been moping around the last few days please just go talk to him… slap him, argue- anything, but please please please get him to stop moping," he pleaded.
Charlie shook her head "that guy was at my house Heath, what if me and my kids are in danger now?" she asked.
Heath shook his head "Brax would never let that happen-I won't let that happen," he said and stepped closer to her "Charlie he loves you so much trust me when I say that- you didn't have to live with him the whole time he was looking for you."
Charlie played with her keys she knew Heath and Benji had been taking turns sleeping outside her house, she did miss him and she worried about him but whenever she saw him her anger just took over-as angry as she was she still put a car on him "I gotta get to work," she said and walked out the back door.
Heath followed her and waited for her to lock up "are you going to go see him?" he asked as they walked to their cars.
Charlie turned back to him "did he get up with Daryl this morning for school?"
"Yeah he took him and Ruby…she stopped by for a book," he added when Charlie raised an eyebrow-Ruby had been home this morning.
"Alright," she said and pulled her door open "but don't tell him I'm coming," she said and climbed in "bye!" she called and started up her car.
"Thank you!" Heath called after her and climbed into his own car.
…
Brax sat at his table on his laptop again he had located one of Douggie's crew back in the day and it just so happened he was dating his cousin in the city-finally somewhere to start.
He looked up when someone stopped in front of him he stared at her for a minute before he spoke "hey," he said and looked back at the laptop.
"Hi," Ruby said and dropped into a seat beside him.
"Why aren't you at school? I just dropped you off like an hour ago," Brax said and looked at her "mum will kill you."
"I know- told B I forgot my insulin she's given me twenty minutes before I've to be back," Ruby replied and shifted closer to him "I'm worried about Case," she said.
Brax frowned "why are you worried about him? He seems fine to me."
"Two days ago we were lying on the beach, he went to grab a drink, he was taking ages so I got up and walked towards the diner. When I got there Leah had said he just left so I walked back out the other door and saw him with some guy I'd never seen before…they looked like they were arguing, anyway, he's been real snappy and distant since I was just wondering did you know anything, he keeps telling me he's fine but I know he's not."
Brax frowned again "no he never said anything to me…did he tell you who the guy was?"
"No," Ruby shook her head "all he said was he'd never met the guy and that he must have the wrong person-he did say something like he'd have to watch his back that I heard myself," she said and stood up "will you talk to him for me?"
Brax nodded and stood up "yeah I'll have a talk to him…you better get back to school I'll come see you when I have talked to him."
Ruby nodded "thanks Brax," she said and walked to the door "and go see mum I'm sick of her snapping and moping!" she called on her way out.
Brax sighed and sat down "if only it were that easy," he muttered. She had ignored his calls, ignored him if she bumped into him, she'd even got her brothers or Ruby to drop Daryl over so he didn't have to go to her house, he'd even gone to see her at the station but she still refused to see him.
He looked up again when the door closed "hey," he said and stood up.
"Hey," Charlie said and leaned against the door "what are you working on?" she asked nodding to the laptop.
Brax looked down at it he wanted to tell her nothing and close it over but after the other day he couldn't lie to her "looking for someone that can tell me where Douggie is," he replied.
Charlie nodded but didn't say anything for a minute "did you find anyone?" she asked.
"Yeah," he nodded "my cousin is with one of the guys that was in his gang when I was."
Charlie walked over and sat down "how do you know Douggie would get in touch with him?"
Brax sat down beside her "I don't but he and Douggie were pretty tight he trusted him with his life-it's worth a shot," he added.
Charlie nodded again "where's Benji?" she asked.
"Gone to see his daughter he'll be back later," Brax said and stood up "do you want coffee?"
"Uh yeah," she said and followed him "has anything else happened?" she asked.
"No," Brax replied while he made her coffee "nothing but you already know that," he said and turned back to her "I know you have a car on me," he said as she opened her mouth.
Charlie looked down and played with her cup "I was worried about you," she said and looked up at him "I don't want anything to happen to you, as much as I'm pissed at you I love ya…I couldn't bear to lose you," she said and looked away quickly.
Brax placed the cup down and walked over to her, sliding his finger under her chin he tilted it up "I'm sorry," he said "we were finally happy-I finally found you then this happens I honestly thought I'd left it all behind me."
Charlie nodded she could feel tears welling she was afraid to speak "I miss you," she said shakily "I can't sleep thinking about you, I've been at the station nonstop looking up this Douggie guy Brax he's not a nice guy, did you know he shot a cop…what?" she asked when Brax closed his eyes with a pained expression.
Brax opened his eyes and looked back at her "I know he shot a cop…she was my friend," he said and stepped away from her "she was undercover I caught her on the phone to her boss or someone. She begged me not to tell him that she'd do whatever I wanted," he shook his head and walked away from her "all the times Douggie used her as his punching bag she did nothing-didn't even fight back."
Charlie walked over to him "she had to keep her cover…why did he shoot her?"
Brax closed his eyes as he remembered that night-the same night he got Heath and left Bali for good. He turned to face her "she was trying to save me."
"You?" Charlie asked confused.
"Yeah me," he sighed "Douggie had ordered me to go see someone that owed him five grand- he told me to kill them if they didn't have it. When I got there a pregnant girl about nineteen opened the door…she was the person I was there for."
Charlie's eyes went wide "Brax please tell me you didn't kill her!" she yelled.
"No I didn't kill her!" he yelled back "she was just a kid landed with her boyfriend's debt when he took off without her, I have never killed anyone in my life…well I thought I had killed Douggie but I even messed that up."
"So you just left her alone?" Charlie asked finding it hard to believe.
"No, I took her with me and Heath when we ran…she's in the city now," Brax sighed and turned back to her "Douggie had a feeling someone was talking to the cops so he had me and a few of the boys followed. When I got back he went off on one saying it was me because I didn't do what he told me to do, he pulled his gun and Emma pulled hers blowing her cover to save me," he hung his head "she could have been killed."
Charlie listened as he radio sprang to life and walked over to him "I'll be by after my shift so we can finish this, will you be here or at Angelo's?"
"Angelo's," he replied and turned to her "I miss you too Charlie," he said and smiled sadly.
Before she knew what was happening her feet were carrying her to him and her arms flung around his neck at their own accord leaning in she kissed him softly-moving closer to him as he pulled her and deepened the kiss.
After a minute she pulled back breathing heavily "I have to go," she said and walked to the door "I'll be by when I'm done!" she called and hurried out the door "that shouldn't have happened," she groaned.
Brax hurried after "Charlie! Wait!" he called.
She stopped and turned around "I have to go."
"I know you do," he said stopping in front of her "I just want you to know that Douggie has a tattoo on his neck and one on each wrist in case you do bump into him…I want you to be careful if he left that note at your house he's seen you."
"I'll be fine," she said and pulled her door opened and climbed in.
"Just be careful," he said and closed her door "…I love you," he said.
Charlie started up her car fighting with herself as what her reply would be "I love you too, if you hear from him I want you to call me."
Brax nodded and stepped back "I'm gonna go call my cousin so I'll let you know how that goes."
"Do…I'll see ya later," she said and pulled off.
Charlie arrived back at the station and walked to her office-backtracking when she spotted Dan at the front desk "hey," she said and leaned on it beside him.
"Charlz, hey," he said looking around "Watson said you were out for a while."
"I was, got a call that was a false alarm, what are you doing here?"
Before he could reply Peter walked out of his office pulling on his jacket with Jack behind him "alright let's get go…hey Charlz," he said and stopped.
"Hey," she said slowly looking at the three of them darting their eyes to each other "what are you up to?" she asked.
"Lunch," Jack said quickly.
"It's eleven am," she said looking at them again.
"Breakfast then," Peter said and walked by her "which we better get to I have a meeting soon."
"And you didn't invite me?" she asked knowing they weren't really going for breakfast.
"Me either," Watson said returning from the back "my fiancée doesn't like my company," she pouted.
Peter chuckled and leaned over the counter "you know I love ya," he said and kissed her "but this is boy time," he chuckled "later!" he called and walked outside with Dan and Jack following.
"They're up to something," Watson said as they watched them all climb into Noah's car.
"Don't I know it," Charlie said watching the car pull away "Noah will tell me he can't lie, I'll let you know what he says" she said and walked into her office.
"Hey Charlz," Watson said and followed her "do you mind if I slip off on my break? The girl that's making my wedding cake called she has the sample there for me to collect."
Charlie smiled "I can't believe it's in three weeks that year flew in," she said and picked up a note on her desk "yeah go on I'll be fine here."
"Thanks I won't be long!" Watson called on her way out.
"I want some of that cake!" she called after her, giggling she walked to her desk and sat down frowning at the note six calls from a Benjamin Abram's with no number to call back. Grabbing her phone she text Watson about it and threw her phone down.
A few minutes later Watson replied 'just said he'd call back wouldn't give me a number' "great," Charlie said and stood up. Walking out of her office she jumped as someone stepped in front of her "can I help you?" she asked the guy with his back to her.
As he turned around she had to physically stop her eyes widening at the tattoo on his neck, bringing her eyes down to his wrists her stomach dropped.
The guy smirked this was the woman from the house other night "yeah," he said and walked a bit closer to her "you can give your boyfriend a message for me."
"Sorry I don't have a boyfriend," she said and walked by him "so if you've no police business I'm busy here," she said and routed around the desk for something.
As she turned around she jumped again he had walked behind the counter and was standing right up in her face "I suggest you take a few steps back and get on the other side of the counter," she said seriously.
He chuckled "I ain't afraid of no cop," he said and took a step closer to her "this message for your boyfriend," he said and took a step a back.
"I told you I do-" she was cut off as he pulled his arm back and launched it into her face sending her across the desk and onto the floor under it.
Douggie leaned down to her and chuckled he had knocked her out- with the help of the corner of the desk. Scribbling a note he threw it on top of her and laughed again before he took off.
….
Over at Brax's he paced outside Casey's room he had heard him move about so he knew he was awake, what Ruby had said had been bothering him he couldn't wait any longer "Case!" he called and knocked on the door.
"Yeah!" he called back.
Brax pushed the door in "I need to talk to you about something come out to the table," he said and walked out to the living room.
Casey frowned but rolled off his bed and followed him "have I done something wrong?" he asked sitting beside him.
"No mate you haven't done anything," Brax said and sat back in the chair "who was this guy I heard you were arguing with on the beach the other night?" he asked.
Casey looked back at him with a blank expression "I wasn't fighting with anyone," he said.
Brax knew he was lying he sighed and leaned over the table "I know you're lying Case so whatever it is you better tell me now before I track this guy down myself."
Casey knew he would find the guy so what was the point in lying? He sighed heavily "I never met the guy before-never heard you or Heath mention him, he said you and Heath had stiffed him years back in Bali he wanted me to work off what you owed him."
Brax nodded "what was his name?"
"Douggie," Casey replied he knew by the look on Brax's face that he knew who he was talking about. "You know this guy?"
"Yeah," Brax sighed and rubbed his face "and he's bad news," he said and stood up "you and Kyle have to go somewhere until I can sort this…where is Kyle?" he asked.
"He's at April's," Casey said and stood up "Brax what's going on? Why do we have to leave? Who is this guy?"
"Don't ask questions Case! Just get Kyle back here and pack enough stuff for the both of you!" he yelled.
"Brax we're not kids anymore this guy told me you shot his is that true?" Casey asked "Brax!" he yelled when he didn't answer.
Yes!" Brax yelled "yes I did shoot him and now he's out for revenge and he'll stop at nothing to get to me. I need you all out of here as soon as!" he yelled and walked to his room he needed Heath and Benji back here now.
Casey could hear the fear and worry in his voice he knew his brother too well he didn't get spooked easily, walking to his room her pulled out a case from under the bed and picked up his phone to call Kyle now was not the time to question Brax about anything.
…
Over at the station Charlie still lay unconscious on the floor. Watson walked back in and dropped a box on the counter "cake is fab Charlie do you want a bit now?" she asked walking into her office "Charlie?" she called when she found it empty. Frowning she walked back towards the desk "she has to be here her car is outside," she muttered and pushed the bathroom door open "Charlie?" she called "Charlie you here?" she said and walked back out to the desk "where the hell is she?" she asked and looked into the interview rooms.
Sighing she walked behind the desk and stopped "Charlie," she gasped "Charlie!" she yelled once her shock had worn off and jumped down beside her "come on Charlie," she said panicked and slapped her face "shit!" she yelled when she got nothing. Leaning over her she reached for the phone stopping when she heard laughter "call an ambulance!" she yelled as Jack Peter and Dan walked back into the station.
They all hurried over "what happened?" Peter asked running behind the desk as Dan grabbed the phone to call for an ambulance.
"I don't know!" Watson cried "I went on my break when I came back she was here like this she won't wake up!"
Peter moved her out of the way and tapped her face "come on Charlz wake up," he said, looking down at the note he picked it up and read it "Jack!" he said and stood up "go to the schools and get Ruby and Daryl," he said reading it again.
"Why? What's going on? Is she okay?" Jack asked leaning over to look down at her.
"Just do it Jack!" Dan yelled and ran behind the desk "ambulance is on the way, is she breathing?" he asked and got down beside her.
"Yeah, she's just unconscious," Peter said and jumped down beside her as she groaned and tried to move "stay still Charlie," he said and steadied her.
"Brax," she mumbled.
"No sweetie it's us," Dan said rubbing her hair "you banged your head ambulance is on the way."
Charlie tried to sit up she was awake now but her head was all fuzzy "Brax," she said again "the guy said it was a message for Brax!" she yelled.
Peter and Dan looked at each other "what guy?" Peter asked they had all assumed she'd tripped and fell "did someone do this to you?"
"Look at her eye," Dan said as she sat up "someone punched her," he said moving some hair out of the way "do you know who he was?"
Charlie nodded then winched as her whole head stung "guy that is after Brax," she muttered she couldn't form a sentence in her head it was all muddled up.
"Looks like she has a concussion," Watson said as she returned with the first aid kit.
"Yeah," Peter sighed "hey, what's your name?" he asked.
Charlie looked up at him and frowned she knew this it just wouldn't come out, she closed her eyes tight and willed it to come out "Charlie," she finally said.
"And where are you?" Dan asked.
"Work," she muttered and tried to stand up "I need to find Brax," she said when they both forced her back down.
"No Charlie you need to stay here," Peter said and stood up "I'm going to check the cameras stay with her and call me when the ambulance gets here," he said and walked off.
Dan sighed "I'm gonna kill the son of a bitch that did this," he said and pulled her closer as she closed her eyes.
Watson stood up after cleaning and covering her head wound "I'm gonna go call Brax she can't go looking if he's here," she said and picked up the phone.
Over at Brax's he paced by the front door with his keys in his hands "will you two hurry it up!" he yelled and continued pacing.
Casey and Kyle hurried out of their rooms both with backpacks "when can we come home?" Kyle asked.
"I don't know," Brax said and walked out towards his car.
"How come Heath gets to stay?" Kyle asked following him.
"Because he can look after himself I don't need to worry about him," Brax said and took their bags from them.
"Why do we have to go?" Kyle asked.
"Kyle!" Casey hissed shut up "he knows what he's doing he says we have to leave we have to leave," he said and climbed into the backseat.
Kyle sighed and climbed in beside him "but why? I don't understand."
"Because I screwed up when you were younger and now it's come back on me, I don't want you here for it," Brax said and started up his car. He sighed and pulled over just as he'd left his drive his phone rang "hello?" he said quickly not recognizing the number.
"Brax?" Watson asked.
"Yeah," he replied "who's this?" he asked.
"It's Georgie…Charlie's sister in law," she added when he didn't reply "listen we've had an incident here…Charlie's been attacked Brax you need to get down to the station."
"Is she okay?" Brax asked quickly, his heart was racing he felt sick to his stomach he looked back at Casey and Kyle who were watching him closely "I'll be right there…is she bad?" he asked praying the answer was no.
"She has a nasty shiner on her eye and she has concussion and now she's refusing to go to the hospital," Watson replied.
Brax sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose "I'll be there in two minutes," he said and hung up.
"What's going on Brax?" Casey asked leaning forward.
Brax was silent for a minute he couldn't believe this had happened, he was sure Douggie would go after his brothers if he was to go after anyone "Charlie's been attacked," he said and screeched away for the station.
Pulling up at the station he jumped out "stay there and lock the door!" he yelled and ran inside "where is she?" he asked as soon as he spotted Jack.
"In her office Pete and Dan are trying to get her to go get checked out she's not making any sense," Jack replied "maybe you can get her to go," he said and opened her door.
Brax brushed by him and into the office Peter was sitting in front of her blocking his view while Dan stood beside her watching him without a word. His breath caught in his throat when Peter finally did move "Charlie," he sighed and walked over to her.
"It's not as bad as it looks," she mumbled and removed the ice pack from her head.
Brax walked around the desk and sat on it in front of her, bringing his hand under her chin he tilted it up and turned her face to the side "what happened?" he asked examining her face.
Dan and Peter walked to the door "we'll be outside, Brax I need to see you when you're done," Peter said and closed the door behind them.
Brax looked at the door then back to Charlie "babe what happened?" he asked again.
Charlie pulled away from his hand and stood up-Brax jumping to catch her as she swayed "someone finally got hurt," she said and sat back in the seat.
Brax sighed and scooted closer to her "I'm so sorry babe," he said and caressed her cheek "please will you let me take you to the hospital?" he asked.
Charlie looked back at him she could read the worry all over his face, sighing she pulled away from him again "I'm fine I sent the medics away I don't need to go to the hospital Pete-I mean Brax."
Brax raised an eyebrow "I'm not leaving here until you agree."
"I'm fine Brax," she said and winched "…hand me that icepack."
"Babe you are not fine," he said and stood up "please for me will you go to the hospital?"
"Why should I do anything for you?" she snapped "you created this mess in the first place!" she sighed and dropped her head as guilt flashed across his face "I'm sorry I didn't mean that," she said and looked up "my head feels like it's about to explode, my sentences are coming out backwards I just want to go to sleep but I know I can't."
Brax leaned forward and slipped his hands into hers "you have every right to me mad at me Charlie-I'm mad at myself, and yes this is my fault but I promise I'll never let anything happen to you again. Please will you go to the hospital so I know you're okay?" he asked again.
Charlie sighed and closed her eyes "fine, but only because I can't blink without a pain shooting across my forehead."
"Thank you," Brax said and dropped a kiss on her forehead "I just need to go see Pete then I'll take you," he said and stood up off the desk "stay here," he said and walked out of the room.
…..
Brax walked to Peter's office and knocked on the door "you wanted to see me?" he asked when Peter looked up.
"Yeah shut the door," Peter said and stood up "did you persuade her to go to the hospital?"
Brax closed the door behind him "yeah I'm taking her now," he said and walked to the desk "is that what you wanted me for?"
Peter reached into his drawer and pulled out the note, leaning over the desk he handed it to Brax "this was found on Charlie when Georgie found her. I watched the footage he knocked her out then wrote it-it was for her when she woke up, a message to be passed on to you."
"Me?" Brax asked and looked down his eyes going wide 'tell your boyfriend to meet me at the old warehouse at midnight come alone, if he tries anything those kids of his will be next and I will do much more damage' Brax threw the note down "I gotta get Daryl and Ruby," he said and ran to the door.
"Brax calm down!" Peter called stopping him in his tracks "they're already here they're okay."
Brax sighed in relief and turned back to him "I have to get them out of here today, Casey and Kyle are already in my car I'm taking them to my granddads old house he'll never find them there, I can take them all after I get Charlie to hospital."
Peter shook his head "there's no way Charlie is going to let them out of her sight she's already seen the note."
"It's the only way I'll know they're safe I want Charlie to go with them too," Brax said and pulled the door open.
"Have you ever had Charlie do what you ask her to do?" Peter called after him. As Brax stopped he walked out to him "Charlie is going to be at the hospital overnight Dan is not going to leave her side until we need him then Noah will sit with her, the kids are going to a safe house-Casey and Kyle too, Jack and Georgie will be with them."
Brax turned back to him "so what am I supposed to do?"
"Do what the note says-but you won't be alone," he added "call that Benji guy and Heath, meet me back here after Charlie finally kicks you out…you should go see the kids before you go," they're in the interrogation room with Georgie," he said and walked back into his office.
Brax sighed heavily this was so messed up walking to the room he knocked and opened the door "daddy!" Daryl squealed and jumped off his chair "we gets a half day!" he said excitedly and wrapped his arms around him.
Brax pulled him closer and buried his head in his shoulder "I know mate," he said when he pulled back "listen buddy mummy and daddy have something very important to do so Jack and Georgie are going to take you all to a very cool house."
"Wow," Daryl said and looked at Watson "are we aunt G?"
"Yeah buddy we are," she smiled "all of us," she added looking from Casey to Kyle who Peter had spotted in the car and sent inside.
Brax stood up and walked to Ruby she looked terrified "she's alright Rubes just a bump to the head," he said and pulled her out of her seat "everything is gonna be okay," he said and pulled her into a hug.
Ruby gripped him for life as her eyes filled with tears "can I talk to you alone outside?" she asked.
Brax looked over at Watson who nodded "sure," he said and took her hand and led her outside. Once the door was closed her turned back to her "I talked to Casey," he said.
"And?" Ruby sniffed and wiped her face as a tear fell she was so scared, none of the younger ones knew what was going on Jack or anyone else wouldn't tell her a thing just that she needed to be somewhere safe for a while. When Jack turned up at her classroom with an unreadable look her stomach dropped she thought he was here to tell her Charlie had been killed-Bianca and April did too.
"It's the guy that's after me trying to do it by using Case, don't worry about any of it Rubes it will all be sorted tomorrow," he said and smiled quickly.
"Promise?" she asked.
Brax nodded "I promise," he repeated "I gotta take mum to the hospital now, you look after your brother," he said and dropped a kiss on her forehead "mum will be out in the morning this will all be over soon," he said and went to walk to Charlie's office
"Brax wait!" Ruby called and hurried over to him "I never had a dad," she said and fidgeted with her fingers "since you've been around I started to feel like I do," she sighed and shook her head "I sound like a mumbling idiot." She looked up at him "what I'm trying to say is I've grown close to you and I would like to continue doing so."
Brax smiled wide he got the feeling she liked him but didn't think that much of it "I care about you too Rubes-as much as I do Daryl and my brothers, everything is going to be okay I'll be home by morning," he said and hugged her again.
Ruby pulled back "you better get mum to the hospital…tell her I love her," she smiled quickly and walked back to the interrogation room.
After Sid had seen to Charlie he confirmed it was a minor concussion that he'd have to keep her in overnight "but I don't wanna," she whined "the food is horrible, some of the nurses are grumpy and rough, they don't let you do anything, the beds are all…" she trailed off as Brax moved closer to her face.
Brax chuckled and leaned closer "you're staying," he whispered and kissed her slowly just the way he knew she liked.
Charlie slowly deepened the kiss and ran her hands up his chest and around his neck, as Brax leaned in further to her she groaned into the kiss and pulled away "my head," she said and lay back on the pillow.
Brax sat on the side of the bed "Sid said it was okay for you to get some sleep they're motioning you so you'll be fine."
Charlie groaned again "can't I just go home?" she asked.
Brax chuckled and leaned down to kiss her "no babe you can't you're in the best place" he said and stood up "Dan will be here in a minute then I have to go," he sighed.
Charlie looked up at him "hey," she said and held out her hand.
Brax took it and sat down lacing his fingers with hers he started to play with them "I'm sorry Charlie," he said and sighed "I thought he'd come after Casey and Kyle first."
Charlie pulled herself out from under the covers and scooted closer to him sitting on her knees she placed her hand on top of theirs "what you said about me having every right to be mad I'm not-not at you," she said "I'm mad because I didn't see it coming, mad that he threatened my kids," she looked up at him "and I'm begging you with everything I have not to go to that warehouse tonight."
Brax sighed "Charlie I have to I have to end this before anyone else gets hurt look at you!" he said his voice rising "I'm gonna make sure he pays for what he did to you and I'm gonna make sure he doesn't come near any of us again!"
Charlie bit on her lip "I love you Brax," she said seriously "I don't want you putting yourself in danger over me…please don't go?" she asked
"Charlie," he sighed
"Please!" she cried "I couldn't take it if anything happens to you, I need you!" she choked out.
Brax shook his head as tears fell from her eyes he reached out with his free hand and wiped them away "I'm gonna be fine Charlie, I'm gonna go do this so we can be happy again," he said and stroked her cheek "I love ya babe I'm not gonna sit where while someone threatens my family or hurts the most important thing to me."
Charlie sighed she knew there was no talking him out of it "bring my brothers?" she asked.
Brax smiled sadly "I can't Dan is here with you and Jack is with all the kids," he said and stood up as Dan stopped in the doorway. "I have to meet Peter back at the station I'll call you later," he said and kissed her "I love you with all my heart Charlie I promise I'll be sitting right here when you wake up."
"You better be or I'll kill you myself," she said and kissed him again "I love you too-be careful."
"You still have that dress you wore the night we almost got married?" he asked with a smirk.
Charlie burst out laughing and blushed as she remembered it "yes I do," she giggled.
Brax smiled "good you'll be needing it when this is over…I love ya," he winked at her and walked out of the room.
….
Charlie looked up as Dan stood in the doorway staring at her open mouthed "what?" she asked and lay back.
"Married?" he asked.
Charlie smiled as she thought about it "yeah married," she smiled again and looked out the window.
"Really Charlie?" he asked walking into the room "when you were on holidays the year you met him?" he asked praying she wouldn't say last week or something.
"Yes," she sighed "the night before we went home," she said and rolled on her side all she wanted to do now was sleep-but no Dan had other ideas.
"Jesus Charlie how thick can you be?" he hissed and dropped into the chair beside the bed "you're lucky you didn't or I'd have killed you."
Charlie snapped back to him winched as her head shook "says the one who ran off and married Leah at nineteen!" she hissed.
"That was different I knew Leah since we were kids, I grew up with her I was with her for four years by then," he replied.
Charlie rolled her eyes "time doesn't matter Dan, if you love someone nothing else matters-who knows what would have happened, maybe if I did marry him that night he'd have been there for everything with Daryl and we'd still be together now."
"Keep dreaming Charlie," Dan scoffed " you'd have woken the next morning and felt like idiots-the same thing that did happen still would have happened except you wouldn't have been looking for your kids dad you'd be looking for your husband too!" he snapped and stood up "stop living in dream land you and Brax aren't going to last! He's no good for you!" he yelled and walked out of the room.
Charlie bit back tears she couldn't believe he'd said that she thought they all liked him, sighing she rolled back on her side willing the tears to go away. A smile came to her face as she went back to that night.
FLASHBACK; Charlie and Brax stumbled along the beach hand in hand "I can't believe we're this drunk," she giggled and dropped to the sand.
Brax dropped behind her and pulled her back into him "all those shots babes," he said and kissed her.
Charlie turned around and wrapped her arms around his neck "someone would think you were trying to get me drunk Mr Braxton," she giggled and kissed him.
Brax chuckled and pulled her closer "you were the one that asked the guy on the bar to leave the bottle."
Charlie giggled and pushed him back in the sand and climbed on top of him "what are we gonna do now?" she asked and kissed him.
Brax deepened the kiss and rolled them "I know what I wanna do," he said huskily and ran his hands up under her dress.
Charlie looked from side to side to see no-one around "you read my mind," she said and lifted her butt so he could pull her underwear down.
Halfway through they were interrupted "this is a public beach! You should be ashamed of yourselves!" an old man yelled.
Brax jumped up quickly and pulled Charlie with him and took off down the beach "don't look back," he laughed as he tried to hold his bottoms up.
Charlie looked back simply because he told her not to "oh my god Brax! It's a priest!" she yelled and slowed down "I am so sorry father!" she called as Brax tugged her along.
"Charlie shut up and keep moving he might have called the cops, I'm not getting arrested for having sex on the beach!" he laughed as he dragged her up to the walk away.
"I'll remember your faces!" the priest called running after them "I'll remember those tattoos!" he called as they disappeared down the other side.
Sure he was gone Brax swung Charlie around and pinned her to the wall under a bridge "that was way too close," he laughed and kissed her hard.
Charlie pulled him closer to her and hitched her leg up to his side "I was close," she said with a smirk "and my underwear is still on the sand," she said sweetly.
Brax chuckled and let go of his bottoms "be quiet," he chuckled and kissed her.
After they were finished they fixed themselves and came out from the bridge laughing "what now?" Brax asked and pulled her closer.
Charlie stopped as a little chapel came into view "how about we get married?" she burst out laughing "I was kidding Brax you should see your face right now," she giggled.
Brax looked at the chapel "why don't we?" he asked seriously.
Charlie started laughing again but stopped when he didn't "oh god you're serious," she said.
Brax nodded "why not?" he asked wrapping his arms around her "that way you're mine for life and you get to come home with me tomorrow- and," he said stepping closer to her "I hear wedding night sex is the best," he murmured and kissed her deeply. Pulling back he looked at her and slipped both his hands into hers "what do ya say?" he asked nodding to the chapel.
Charlie bit her lip her brain was yelling NO! But her heart was already singing 'going to the chapel' "I say…let's go," she giggled and started to pull him along.
Brax chuckled as they walked inside "hi," he said when they got to the desk "we wanna get married."
"Second door on the left, you have to fill these out," the guy said and slipped out forms to them "if the red light is on don't go in, you pay sixty bucks when it's done," he said and looked back to the tv.
"Thanks," Brax said and took the forms, when they got to the room no light was on.
Charlie opened the door and stuck her head in "hi," she smiled at a guy looking back at her.
"Here to get married?" he asked and stood up.
"Yeah," Charlie nodded "is this the right place?"
"Yeah," the guy nodded "I'll go get the priest, you'll need two witnesses I'm one and there's a room to the right full of people just pick one, flowers are in that box over there," he said nodding to them "pick whatever one you want we have veils too and the priest has the rings," he said and walked to the back.
Charlie grabbed the first bunch she saw and the first person in the room and walked to the top with Brax "you know I'll get to find out you second name," he chuckled.
Charlie giggled "it's…" she trailed off and her eyes went wide as the guy returned with a priest-the priest who had saw them on the beach "Brax," she whispered and nodded behind him.
Brax turned around "no way!" he yelled getting the priests attention.
"That's them!" he yelled and pointed to them "that's the couple I saw on the beach! Have you no shame!" he yelled walking closer to them.
"Later!" Brax called as he dragged a laughing Charlie down the aisle and out the door- not stopping until they were clear of the chapel. END OF FLASHBACK.
Charlie sighed and rolled on her back and looked up at the ceiling "stupid priest," she muttered and closed her eyes.
Over at the station Brax and Heath walked out with Peter "so you all know what to do?" he asked.
Brax nodded "yeah we know what to do," he said and pulled out his car keys "see ya soon I guess," he said and walked to his car.
Peter and Heath stood watching him go "Benji's in place?" Peter asked.
Heath nodded "yeah he's there already, Douggie like Brax said turned up with another bloke and he's carrying."
Peter nodded "right you follow in five minutes I'll meet you there we go in together-do not go in without me," he said and walked to his car.
Brax arrived at the warehouse and climbed out of his car taking a deep breath he went inside and jumped as the door came down behind him. "Over here Collins, or should I say Braxton?" Douggie snarled from a nearby door.
Brax looked behind him once more before he walked over "Douggie," he greeted then pulled his fist back and launched it into his face "that's for what you did to my girlfriend!" he hissed.
Douggie chuckled and wiped his lip "nothing compared to what you did to me," he snarled and walked over to a van "you see Daryl, you left me there to die that I can forgive, you taking off with half my money I can't," he said and pulled the van door open "get in," he said and leaned against it.
"Not a chance," Brax said and took a step back "I left that money in Bali I took enough for tickets out of there that's all."
"You took enough to run away you mean," Douggie said and nodded to the van "get in or I can knock you out too then drag you in it's all the one to me…I like the second one better but it's up to you."
Brax took another step back "we're here to sort this out I'm not going anywhere with you we're gonna talk here."
"Then," Douggie sighed "I'm afraid you don't leave here Braxton, but don't worry your son and daughter will be joining you soon," he smiled and walked away "Nicky!" he called.
Brax's stomach dropped as a guy climbed out of the van with a gun-the guy he was supposed to call earlier "Douggie you touch them I swear I will kill you! Nothing will stop me!" he yelled as Nicky got closer.
Douggie laughed and turned back to him "still the tough soul Daryl," he said and walked to him "tell me, how good was that cop on the boat?" he smirked "I heard she was giving it all she had 'oh Brax'," he mimicked and chuckled "really dude a boat?"
Anger shot through Brax lifting his hand he ran at Douggie and took him to the ground "you son of a bitch! You stay the hell away from her and anyone else in my family!" he yelled and punched him over and over again.
"Brax, that's enough!" Peter yelled running in with Heath Benji and Dan "drop the gun!" he yelled at Nicky.
Dan went straight for Douggie "you're dead mate," he yelled and dragged him to his feet "that cop you got today she's my sister," he hissed and punched him.
Heath ran to Brax "are you okay?" he asked pulling him away.
Before Brax could reply gunshots rang out and everyone hit the floor. Dan Peter and Heath started firing where it was coming from.
Brax looked around "where's Douggie?" he yelled and looked around again.
"Damn it!" Peter yelled and took off after Brax.
They looked everywhere outside and came up with nothing "God damn it!" Brax yelled and kicked a load of boxes "how the hell did he get away? Who the hell was shooting at us?"
"Brax calm down he can't have gotten that far," Peter said.
"Calm down!" Brax yelled "I have to go back to the hospital and tell Charlie I screw up again and our kids and her are still in danger!" he yelled and walked off.
Peter sighed and followed him "alright you two give me back the guns," he said and held out his hand.
Heath and Benji groaned but handed them over "what happens now?" Heath asked.
"Now we lay low, he's seen us all and no doubt he'll hit back harder," Dan said coming up behind him "you two are staying with me at the station Pete you follow Brax to the hospital."
Peter nodded "check in on Jack!" he called as he ran to catch up on Brax.
…..
Outside Brax sat in his car with his phone to his ear, he sniffed and bit his lip as Charlie answered sleepily "hey baby did I wake you?" he asked shakily.
"Yeah," she yawned "so it's over now?" she asked now more awake.
"I'm so sorry Charlie!" he cried he couldn't keep it in anymore "I fucked up again, things went wrong he got away we can't find him you're still in danger…I'm so so sorry!"
Charlie's eyes filled with tears as she listened to him cry "hey," she said "it's okay we'll work something out…I love you," she said hoping to calm him.
"I love you too," he sniffed.
"Come see me?" she asked.
"On my way," he said and hung up.
…..
At the hospital Charlie looked to the door every two seconds, Dan had returned to tell her he was going to meet Pete for something that Noah was outside before he took off again- she knew he was up to something.
Next time she looked at the door Brax stood leaning against it, her heart broke at the broken look on his face "it's okay baby," she said and scooted over in the bed "come sit with me."
Once he was beside her she pulled him to her and kissed him deeply "I love you we're gonna alright okay."
Brax didn't say anything he just scooted down in the bed and held her tight "I'm not gonna lose you," I'm not gonna let anyone take you away from me."
Charlie ran her fingers through his hair "I'm not going anywhere babe," she said and scooted down so she was face to face "do you remember the look on that priests face when he saw it was us?"
Brax burst out laughing "yeah, I thought he was gonna have a heart attack."
Charlie giggled "I have a proposition for you," she said and kissed him quickly.
"Yeah? And what would that be?" he asked sliding his hand onto her hip.
"Meet me at the church by the station at two pm on Wednesday-we have until then to get this Douggie," she said and ran her fingers along his cheek "then we're getting married," she whispered and kissed him sweetly.
"As long as you wear the dress," Brax said and rolled her under him "wanna see who could walk in on us?" he asked and ran his hand up her leg.
Charlie giggled and kissed him hard "go for it."
A/N sorry for the lack of Daryl and the others I promise they'll be in the next chapter-a lot. And for anyone wondering Brax will get to tell the whole story to Charlie and why Benji called Charlie so many times will be revealed too.