This is for a friend who is having surgery today =0(
Where Things Stand
Rated R
Chapter 10
Charlie rubs her neck; it had been a very frantic 48 hours, trying to find Rachel and Tony's baby son, Harry. Rachel beside herself with worry, lashing out at everyone, accusing them and Tony of not caring, which is not true. Charlie thought at the time 'I can relate, Ruby has taken off and I don't know where she is.' Charlie shakes her head, she does not want to continue with that thought, as it will only drive her crazy, because they have been invading her sleep. Images of Ruby, bloody and broken, sometimes running from some unknown assailant, the worst is of Ruby being raped. She had woken from that one in sheer terror and was ready to put out an APB on Ruby. But Leah had calmed her down telling her that Geoff was with her and he would make sure she would be safe.
Charlie gets up and stretches, "Charlie you should go home and get some sleep, you're dead on your feet", Georgia gently tells her. She sympathises with Charlie, now knowing that Ruby is her daughter and her running away. Then having to find Harry, she thinks 'I hope Charlie keeps in mind that Harry was found safe and sound and that Ruby is a smart young woman and she is alright'.
"I'm okay Georgia, I just need a coffee" Charlie replies wearily.
Before Georgia can disagree, Ross comes up behind Georgia, "Charlie can we talk?"
"Not now dad I'm pretty busy", Charlie says trying to brush him off.
"Please Charlie", he begs.
Georgia leaves Charlie's office quickly shutting the door on her way out. "What is it dad', Charlie asks in a short tone.
"You have hardly been home, you aren't sleeping and eating properly, I'm worried about you sweetheart", Ross emotionally points out.
"I'm fine dad, I just need to keep working", she says in a fatigued voice, she really wants him to leave before she says something she would regret.
"You're not fine, look at you, you're exhausted", Ross exclaims grabbing her by the shoulders.
Charlie shakes him off. "Fine you want to know why I can't sleep or eat, I keep imagining Ruby out there seriously hurt, or dead but my worst fear is that she'd been raped, and feeling all alone", Charlie angrily tells him with tears coming down her face.
"Are you blaming me for this", he utters in shock.
"You made me feel ashamed of myself and my own daughter, and if I lose her, I will never forgive you", she cries.
"Charlie you were four months pregnant what would you have had me do", Ross asks shaking his head.
"You could have charged him dad, he raped me", her voice thick with emotion.
"It was too late Charlie, there was not physical evidences, no witnesses only your word against his", he says trying to explain the decision, he had made.
"It wasn't too late it was only four months, four months", Charlie comments emphasizing the last part.
"Grant was your boyfriend and a minor like you…", he says frustratingly.
"Don't ever say his name again. That wasn't a good reason not to charge him, he raped me", she tells him furiously.
"Charlie the chances of a conviction where next to none, for god sake you're a police officer you know better than anyone", Ross explains annoyed.
"I would give the victim the choice and I would choose girl's side every time, every time", Charlie exclaims with suppressed rage. She hurries out of her office before she can say anything more to damage their relationship.
When Charlie gets back from her walk, she finds her office empty, 'good I need time by myself. I know I was tough on dad, I'm just not coping. Angelo keeps assuring me that Ruby is okay and I shouldn't worry, easy for him to say it's not his daughter. On top of that he wanted to distract me by having sex, he said it would relax me and help me sleep, it did for him, I just felt yucky and had to have a shower and all I could think was I really didn't want to have sex, so why did I? Who the fuck knows, obviously I don't! Was it to keep him happy, probably. Was it because I dreamt about the first time Joey and I made love, had to be the cliché on the back seat of my car. I was so hot, horny and wet from that dream I wasn't thinking straight, no I was thinking straight with huge curves, god I miss her. I wish she would call me back, she would help me through my nightmares. But like everything good in my life I fucked it up majorly' she thinks. "Charlie just thought you should know your Aunt Michelle called to let us know Ruby is staying with her", Morag informs a startled Charlie.
"Aunty Michelle's, why would she be there", Charlie asks in a panicked voice.
"I don't know, but at least she is safe and we know where she is", Morag says wondering why this worries Charlie.
"You're right. Is there anything else", Charlie asks jadedly.
"I've come to pick up Ross, he says he was coming to see you", Morag replies.
"He's not here, he must have walked home", Charlie comments looking guilty.
"What happened", Morag tensely asks.
"I got angry and yelled at him", Charlie says shamefaced.
"Charlie you know he's not a well man", Morag exclaims.
"I know, I'm sorry. I just cracked", Charlie answers contritely.
"I know you aren't sleeping and working way too hard because you are worried about Ruby, but taking it out on your father isn't helping", an upset Morag says. "I'll go check if he's at home", with that she walks out.
Charlie slumps in her chair, and thinks 'I needed that dressing down like a hole in the head, not. I wish I was somewhere else, somebody else, because I don't like the person I am. Just a damaged, tainted, worthless wasted excuse of a human being. All I ever do is hurt the ones I really love and for what so nobody will judge me, reject me. Come on stop the self-flagellation it's getting you nowhere. Georgia might be right, I think I need some sleep'. She is brought out of her revelry by mobile ringing. "Hello Morag…hang on what…okay I'll organise a search at this end…I'm sure he's fine, don't worry". She quickly hangs up and hurries out to the main office area "Okay Georgia we need to coordinate a search, my dad has wandered off. Alf, Morag and a few of the locals are down checking out the beach. I need people covering the Surf Club, the Diner, the wharf, the local sports grounds and a general sweep of the area. I'll stay here just in case he comes back here. Okay move", Charlie barks. Georgia gives Charlie's arm a reassuring squeeze as she assigns the rest of the staff who and where to go.
An hour later Charlie gets a call from Morag tell her they found him, he ended up a Rachel and Tony's house. Charlie quickly makes her way home and is relieved to find Ross is a bit shaken but otherwise unharmed. "Are you okay dad", Charlie asks giving him a hug.
"Yes. I'm sorry I made you feel that way, it was never my intension", Ross says weakly.
"It's okay dad, I know you did what you thought was right", Charlie gently replies.
After Morag takes Ross off to bed, Charlie heads off to have a shower. Once in there she lets the hot water soak in to tired and sore muscles and wishes she had Joey here to massage the stiffness out of them.
Charlie curls up in bed and put her iPod on softly, hoping it would help her fall asleep. When the song starts, tears fill her eyes…
.com/watch?v=FYxoLX78hTY
If I'd known the way that this would end
If I'd read the last page first
If I'd had the strength to walk away
If I'd known how this would hurt
I would've loved you anyway
I'd do it all the same
Not a second I would change
Not a touch that I would trade
Had I known my heart would break
I would've loved you anyway
It's bittersweet to look back now
At memories withered on a vine
Just to hold you close to me
For a moment in time
I would've loved you anyway
I'd do it all the same
Not a second I would change
Not a touch that I would trade
Had I known my heart would break
I would've loved you anyway
Even if I'd seen it comin'
You'd still have seen me runnin'
Straight into your arms
I would've loved you anyway
I'd do it all the same
Not a second I would change
Not a touch that I would trade
Had I known my heart would break
I would've loved you anyway
I would've loved you anyway
She cries herself to sleep.
Next morning Charlie and Morag try to get Ross to eat something, but he is too dejected. "Please dad you need to eat something…" Charlie starts to say but does not finish as she looks up to see Ruby walk into the room.
Charlie heart aches in her chest as Ruby gives Ross hug. "Ruby your back", Ross says with happiness written all over his face.
"Yes, Geoff drove all night to get us here after Michelle told us about what happened", Ruby tiredly replies kissing Ross on top of his head. Looking over at Charlie she asks "can we talk late?" Charlie nods all she wanted to do was take Ruby into her arms, hold her tight, and never let her go.
Charlie goes to her room and gets dress and then she leaves to give Ruby sometime with Ross. Out in her car she calls Angelo to let him know that Ruby is home and can he meet her at the Juice Bar. It does not take her long to drive to the bar, she order a mango, watermelon and pineapple juice and waited for Angelo to turn up. Whilst waiting she give Michelle a call. "Hi Aunty Michelle, I just wanted to give you a quick ring to thank you for looking after Ruby", she tells her.
"It was no problem Charlie", comes Michelle happy response.
"I was glad she found her way to your place, just like I did all those years ago", Charlie says warmly.
"I was only too happy to help", Michelle replies.
"So how was she there", Charlie asks tentatively.
"She's struggling with it", Michelle honestly says.
"Oh. Do you think we'll get through this", Charlie sadly asks.
"It will take some time, just give her some time, she is a mature girl, but I'm sure you will, I have faith in the both of you", Michelle gently answers her.
"Thanks, I needed to hear that, I've got to go, bye", Charlie says smiling and hangs up.
Angelo smiles and asks her what had been happening, Charlie quickly fills him in. "So have you had a chance to talk to Ruby", Angelo asks picking up Charlie juice and drinking it.
"No, I left her with dad. I'm hoping to get a chance to speak with her before I go to work", Charlie replies looking slightly miff. One of her pet hates is him taking a drink of her drinks and taking bites out of her food without asking. She usually gives them to him to finish off because it turns her off them. However, with Joey she did not mind because she usually offers them to her or Joey would ask, maybe that was the problem, he never asks.
She does not get a chance to speak with Ruby because she is still with Ross and Morag, so Charlie gets ready for work and leaves quietly. Not long after she gets back from lunch she finds Ruby at the station. "Hey what are doing here", Charlie nervously asks.
"There was too much going on at home for us to talk there" Ruby cautiously explains. Charlie leads her into her office and closes the door. "Charlie I know that you loved me when I was a baby, but I'm still angry at you", a hurt Ruby tells her.
"I'm sorry Ruby I never meant to hurt you", Charlie comments with tears in her eyes.
"I still need time, so I'm going to stay with Irene" Ruby informs her. Charlie nods and takes a step towards her, but Ruby backs away and Charlie stops. That breaks Charlie's heart just a little more, Ruby still not allowing her to touch her. "See you later then", Ruby says quietly.
Charlie nods, not trusting her voice because her throat was closing up due to pain she is feeling. Ruby leaves Charlie standing there with tears running down her face.