The usual disclaimers.

CHAPTER 10

It was a weary Joyce that showed up at work. Worry over the kids and Bob, plus erotic thoughts about Hopper had kept her up most of the night. She knew what awaited her today. She'd been tempted to call in sick, but that would delaying the inevitable. Also it would lend some truth to Bob's claims, turning people against Hopper. She wouldn't let that happen, she couldn't let that happen. So here she was, ready to face the music.

"Joyce" Melvad cried rushing out of the back and wrapping her up in a hug, much to her surprise.

"I heard what happened. I'm sorry you had to go though all that. You know you didn't have to come in today"

"I need the money" she said simply heading out back to dump her bag and coat.

Melvad followed her, standing in the doorway.

"Bob always seemed like such a nice guy" he exclaimed. "I can't believe he would do such a thing. Accusing Jim Hopper of rape. Who in their right mind does that?"

"You got me" Joyce replied, straightening her overall.

She turned to find her boss standing there, twiddling his finger, shuffling his feet, not able to look her in the eye. She sighed. She knew the question he most wanted to ask, one he felt ashamed to ask. No point in putting it off.

"Yes, I did sleep with Hopper" she said. "It was yesterday afternoon. Bob saw us, but he couldn't handle it, so reported Hopper for rape. I went down to the police station and told them the truth. Now I need to get on."

That pretty much summed up the rest of Joyce's day. Nearly every customer was the same. Sympathy for her situation, disbelief that Bob would do what he did, then the awkwardness before they asked the big question. Some of them displayed no such awkwardness, they just came straight out with it. Hopper's former conquests were the worst for that.

When she confirmed that she had slept with Hopper, they looked her up and down with an ill disguised sneer on their faces. Their whole demeanour said Hopper must have been desperate to bed her. Joyce hadn't felt so bad about herself since she found out about Lonnie's first affair.

One visit that did cheer her up was from Karen Wheeler.

"Have you heard the news? Jack Harker and his wife are getting a divorce" she announced not giving Joyce a chance to speak.

"Really!?" Joyce was genuinely surprised. "What happened? Hasn't he always thought the sun shined out of her ass? When did he wake up and smell the coffee?"

"It was you, Hopper and Bob" Karen leaned forward and spoke quietly. "I think he saw a lot of himself in Bob and it scared him."

Joyce felt sympathy for Jack. Divorce was never easy, but at least Donna couldn't make a fool of him anymore. She knew what that felt like. It took a few minutes before she realised Karen was still stood by the counter, looking like she wanted to say something. Joyce knew what it was.

"Go on" she sighed. "Ask me before you explode."

"What was it like?" Karen asked in awe.

Joyce's eyebrows flew up into her hairline. That was not the question she'd been expecting.

"What was what like?"

"Sex with Hopper" Karen hissed.

Joyce blushed.

"Karen!"

"Oh come on Joyce" she leaned down on the counter. "I've been imagining what Hopper would be like in bed for years. I'm never gonna experience it first hand. Let me live vicariously through you. So how was it?"

Joyce's blushed deepened. Karen's words struck a chord in her. Hadn't she spent many a lonely night thinking the same thing. Lying there, knuckle deep in her own pussy, imagining her fingers were Hopper's cock moving in her. Now she'd experienced the real thing, and it was way better than her wildest fantasies. She looked up at Karen, practically trembling with anticipation of her answer.

"It was amazing" she said. "He's amazing. It was the best sex I've ever had in my life."

Karen gave a gasp of surprised laughter.

"Really? Is he big? I always thought he would be big.

At her friend's question Joyce's mind went back to the moment Hopper pulled his boxers down and she saw his cock for the first time. It sprung up, long, thick and hard. Her pussy clenched with need, her arousal practically soaked the sheets. When he climbed between her thighs, she grabbed hold of his cock, guiding it to to her soaking wet, pussy, wrapping her legs around his hips so he'd enter her faster.

"Oh yeah!" she answered breathlessly. "He's big."

"Hmm!" Karen replied with a sly smile.

There was a pause.

"So how have things been here?" Karen asked.

Joyce groaned.

"For some reason, people are struggling with the idea I actually slept with Hopper. I'm getting tired of telling them. I don't know what to do. Put up a sign? Fuck him over the counter?"

As she said the words, an image popped into her head. An image of her bent over the counter while Hopper took her from behind. Everything on top of the counter, shaking, bouncing, falling off as he fucked her hard. People watching them, completely stunned.

"Joyce! Joyce! Come back Joyce!"

Karen was clicking her fingers in front of Joyce's face, making her jump.

"Sorry" she apologised. "My mind wandered there. What did you say?"

"I was asking if any of Hopper's 'old flame's have come in." Karen repeated using the polite term for Hopper's one night stands.

"A few have been in." Joyce admitted. "They made it pretty clear they think he's scraping the bottom of the barrel with me."

"Oh, pay no attention to those bitches" Karen waved her hand dismissively. "They're just jealous. He only slept with them because he was drunk."

"I guess you're right. Thanks Karen"

"Anytime! I better go. See ya later hun"

The two women hugged then Karen left, and Joyce went back to the nightmare that was dealing with customers.

Finally, it was the end of Joyce's shift. Gratefully she handed over the counter and went to get her stuff. Coming out of the back room she overheard a couple having a whispered arguement behind some shelves.

"I'm not saying what Bob did was right" the woman was saying. "I'm just saying I can understand why he did it. Joyce cheated on him. He was angry. He lashed out."

"Oh come on Mary!" the man snapped. "Lashing out is taking a swing at the guy, keying his car, deflating the tires. Not having the guy arrested for a crime he didn't do. That's something else all together."

"I know that" the woman hissed back. "But Joyce and Hopper aren't completely innocent in all this."

Joyce had heard enough. She marched out of the store, slamming the door behind her. She drove home fuming. She really needed to talk to Hopper, not just to figure things out, but to tell him about her day. Karen had been great, but only Hopper could really understand. Lately it seemed he was the only one who understood her at all. Maybe it was because of what they went through last year. Maybe it was because they'd known each other so long. Whatever it was, they had a bond, a connection, one they could never have with another person. Was that why they ended up in bed yesterday? Was it always destined to happen? She didn't know.

Hopper was waiting for her when she got home, leaning against his blazer. Looking at him, remembering what he looked like under his uniform, she was overcome with desire. This was going to make talking hard. Sighing she got out of the car. He pushed himself upright.

"Hey!" he said awkwardly.

"Hey!" she replied just as awkwardly.

They fidgeted, each trying to think of something to say.

"So how was work?" he eventually asked.

She rolled her eyes.

"You don't want to know."

He winced.

"That bad, huh?"

She shrugged.

"That's the problem with working with the public. You have to deal with the public."

They both smiled, breaking the tension.

"Come on in" she said.

"Hey, did you hear about Jack?" Hopper asked.

"Karen told me. Apparently we're the cause of it." Joyce replied.

"Well, at least Donna can't make a fool of him anymore."

Joyce turned to look at him.

"That's exactly what I said."

Because she wasn't looking where she was going, she tripped on the front step. She gave a cry as she fell forward. With lightning reflexes he grabbed her arm and pulled her back. She ended up in his arms, her hands pressed flat against his chest. Their blood was pumping from the adrenaline, their breath coming in pants. Their eyes met.

Who moved first neither could say, but suddenly they were kissing, wildly, hands all over each other, stumbling up the steps.

END OF CHAPTER 10

I'm in a good mood. I've got Saturday off for the first time in, I can't remember. Reviews can only improve the mood.