Chapter Ten

Andrew stood talking with Josh in reception, as he'd been notified of the day's events by Amy. Josh tried to reassure him that she was fine now, but he was stopped in his tracks, as he glanced over Andrew's shoulder. He'd caught sight of some movement's in Charlie's office. He saw Duffy at the door, and Charlie walking towards her, then he saw Charlie kiss her. Josh swallowed hard, as he quickly turned back towards Andrew.

"How about we go into the relative's room, and I'll go and get Duffy?" Josh said, hurriedly.

Josh took Andrew by the arm, turning him away from the office, as he tried desperately to keep him from looking over at the office, he led him down the corridor and into the relative's room.

He opened the door, and said, "Give me five minutes and I'll go and get her." He smiled wistfully at him, and closed the door.

"Bloody hell!" Josh said to himself, as he shook his head, and rolled his eyes.

-o-

Charlie pulled back from kissing her, and then took a step back from her. He took her by the hand, and pulled her towards him, out of sight of the door and near to the sink. He then kissed her again, with more passion. She pulled at his collar, then cupped her hand around his neck, as she deepened their kiss. He put his hands around her back, carefully avoiding her right abdomen, bruised from the attack earlier. Their tongues intertwined, as their kiss heated up.

Knock, knock.

They broke free from each other quickly, and looked at each other in horror.

Knock, knock, knock.

Charlie stepped back from her, and looked towards the door.

He saw Josh standing behind the door.

Knock, knock, knock, knock.

"It's Josh." Charlie whispered, as he looked back at her.

She sighed, a little relieved it was at least someone who knew them both. A friend.

Charlie frowned at her, and took her hand in his and squeezed it, smiling at her, to make her understand he wasn't going to leave her. She nodded back at him, and smiled sombrely at him, understanding what he meant.

Charlie sighed and walked towards the door, turning the handle and opening it to reveal Josh standing there.

"Everything ok?" Josh asked, a little nervously, as he peaked his head into the room.

"Um, yeah." Charlie said, a little flustered.

"Um, can I come in?" Josh asked, a still unsure if he was treading on their toes.

"Yeah, 'course." Charlie said, as he signalled for Josh to enter.

Duffy straightened down her tunic.

Josh walked further into the room, closing the door behind him.

"You ok Duffy?" Josh asked, as he looked at her, noticing the gauze taped to her neck.

"Um, yeah, fine...erm...just a few stitches...a few bruises... I'll be ok. Thanks Josh." Duffy said, as she hesitated at him slightly, and smiled wistfully.

Something Charlie had picked up on, as he frowned looking at her, then back to Josh.

"It's just, erm, Andrew is here." Josh said, as he looked at Duffy, and then to Charlie.

"Andrew?" Duffy said, as she looked worryingly at Charlie.

"Um? I've left him in the relative's room. He's really worried." Josh said, as he looked at Duffy.

"I didn't want him here." Duffy said, as she shook her head.

"Eve called him." Josh said, as he looked at her sympathetically.

"Eve?" Charlie said, as he furrowed his brow, in annoyance.

"Want me to speak to him? Tell him to meet you at home or something?" Josh asked, as he looked knowingly at them both for a second.

"Um?" Duffy said, unsure what to say to him, as she massaged her temples with her hand.

"I could tell him you're busy, or, um." Josh replied, sensing she was getting herself upset again.

Duffy just looked over at Charlie, and her lip quivered slightly at him.

Charlie frowned at Duffy, then looked back at Josh.

"Can you think of something to tell him Josh, just for now?" Charlie asked, as he looked at Duffy with worry.

"Um, yeah, no trouble, um, ok." Josh said, nervously as he looked at Charlie, then at Duffy.

Josh then turned and walked out of the office, gently closing the door behind him.

"Oh God Charlie! I can't do this. Not now. Oh God!" Duffy said, as she looked up at the ceiling, tears forming in her eyes again, as she shook her head.

"Duffy?" Charlie said, as he took a few steps towards her, grasping her by the shoulders, trying to calm her.

"I can't, I'll crack, he'll know. He'll see it written all over my face. He'll know about us. What we've done." Duffy said, as looked away from him.

"Duffy, you have to. He's your husband. He's here because he's worried about you." Charlie said, as he tried to look into her eyes.

"I know, for God sake, I know. Why did he have to come? Why now?" Duffy said, as tears fell down her cheeks, as she finally looked at him.

"Duffy?" Charlie said, as he struggled to calm her down.

"I can't do this now Charlie. Not yet. God. Not yet." She said, as she couldn't control it any longer and she buried her head into his chest and sobbed, she clenched the coat he wore in her hands, in frustration.

"It's ok, it's ok, shhh." Charlie said, as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders, and gently rubbed her back.

"I can't do this. I can't." She said, repeatedly against his shoulder.

"Shhh." Charlie said, as he rubbed her back, trying to soothe her.

-o-

Josh walked back to the relative's room, and sighed before he opened the door. He rolled his eyes, as he looked up at the ceiling, took in a deep breath, and then opened the door.

"Andrew." Josh said, as he looked over at him sat on the sofa at the other side of the room.

"Where's Duffy?" He asked, as he put down the newspaper he'd been reading.

"She's um, still resting." Josh said, with a solemn look on his face.

"Resting?" Andrew asked, as he raised his eyebrows at him.

"Yeah, she's had some painkillers, she's a little sore, and but she's asleep." Josh advised.

"Oh, she's alright though Josh, Eve said it was just a superficial flesh wound. Nothing serious." Andrew said, looking up with more concern, and confusion.

"Yeah, yeah it is. She's just had bit of a shock that's all. She needs the rest. It's been a busy shift tonight." Josh said, as he looked back at him with a slight raise of his shoulders, as he put his hands into his pockets.

"Can I see her?" Andrew asked, as he rose from the sofa.

"She's in the on call room, flat out, she said she just wanted some rest. She told Charlie to tell you not to worry, and she'll call you when she wakes up." Josh said, as he looked at Andrew.

"Oh, ok. Um, in that case, um, tell her I'll come and collect her. I don't want her to think I'm not worried about her." Andrew said, as he looked at him, as he ran a hand around the back of his neck.

"Yeah, yeah, I'll tell her." Josh said, as he nodded at him.

"Ok, um, right. I'll erm, leave you to it then." Andrew said, as he rose up out of the sofa, walked towards the door, and walked out into the corridor.

He folded the newspaper underneath his arm, and waved over at Amy, and walked out through the exit into the early morning light.

Josh stood in the corridor watching Andrew leave, when he did, he sighed heavily at himself, looked up at the ceiling and shook his head.

"Bloody hell!"

-o-

Knock, knock.

Josh stood at the office door once again, as he sighed to himself.

Duffy flinched in his arms, and Charlie pulled back and looked at Duffy, he then looked over her shoulder and saw Josh at the window.

Knock, knock, knock.

"It's ok, it's just Josh." Charlie whispered at her.

She relaxed against his hands on her arms, and sighed.

Charlie released his hold on her, and stepped around her to answer the door.

"Josh?" Charlie said, as he opened the door.

Josh walked into the office, and closed the door behind him.

"He's gone home." Josh explained.

The light shone through the window onto Duffy, as she let out a deep breath and looked at Josh, tears filled her eyes, which he saw were red and sore from crying.

"Thank you." She muttered to Josh.

"No trouble. You sure you're ok?" Josh asked, as he frowned at her.

"Yeah, um, just a bit shook up still." She answered, as she grimaced at him slightly.

"Not ready to face Andrew or the kids just yet." She added.

"Oh, oh, ok, gotcha." Josh said, with a knowing nod, and small smile.

"She needs a bit of space, that's all." Charlie added, as he looked over at Josh.

"Get some rest then Duffy. I told Andrew you'd call him, erm, when you'd finished your nap that is." Josh explained, as he put his hands into his pockets.

"Oh, erm, ok, thanks Josh." Duffy replied, gaining a little bit of composure.

"It's ok. I'll leave you two, to it then." Josh answered, as he turned towards the door.

"Thanks Josh." Charlie said, as he gave him a fleeting smile and a nod.

Josh just nodded back at him. Then he opened the door and walked through into the busy corridor of the E.D., he shook his head at himself, as his whispered, "bloody hell!"

-x-