**Chapter Eleven

Tim headed straight for his bedroom as they entered the house. Charlie looked at Billy, who simply shrugged and reached into the fridge for a beer. She sighed and made her way into the kitchen, grabbing a pack of frozen peas from the freezer. As an after thought, she grabbed two more beers from the fridge and headed to the bedroom. She found Tim sitting on his bed, his back against the headboard, staring down at the broken knuckles on his right hand. She flopped down on the bed beside him, placing the peas on his hand, before opening both beers and handing one to him. "I guess one wont hurt you, and I figure you could use it".

They sat side by side for what felt like hours before Tim cleared his throat. "Look, I know he's your father and everything, but I'm not sorry for what I did. You can hate me all you like, but I can't be sorry for it". She raised her head to look at his downbent one, sighing and running a hand through her hair. So that's what this is about.

"Tim," she began, slipping her hand under his arm to grip his left hand, "I don't hate you. I don't blame you for what you did, I only with I had the guts to have done it myself."

His head shot up at her admission, eyes wide. "But... he's your father. How can you not hate me?" She brought her hand up to her face, feeling the swell of her tortured flesh.

"He hit me Tim. How could he do that to his own flesh and blood?? And he would have done it again, if you hadn't stopped him..." She placed her beer on the side table, followed closely by his, climbed to her knees next to him and held his head in both of her hands, making him look at her. "Thank you..." his eyes dropped from hers "No, Tim, look at me please", they shot up again. "You saved me. In more ways than one. Thank you."

His left arm snaked around her waist, pulling her to sit astride his legs. He wrapped his arms around her back, burrowing his face in her neck. She tensed at the weight of his arms around her ribs but she didn't have the heart to pull him away, so she drew her arms around his shoulders, one hand on the back of his head, running lightly through his hair. They sat, cradled like this, until he drew back slightly, placing kisses along her shoulder. She smiled into his hair, tilting her head to the right a little, giving him better access. He kissed his way back along her shoulder, up her neck and along her jaw, finally capturing her mouth in the softest, sweetest kiss she had ever experienced. They both jumped at the knock on the door, and Billy's voice, slightly amused.

"Ah, guys," he called through the door, "I hate to interrupt whatever it is you're doin' in there, but we have to get going to the Taylor's real soon. So...ah.... if you could finish up...whatever...that'd be great..." Charlie laughed, giving Tim a soft kiss and climbed off the bed to grab a pair of jeans from her bag. While she changed Tim met Billy in the living room, surprised, not expecting to see him so soon. Charlie soon joined them, and they made their way out to Tim's truck.

Charlie sat between the two boys on the way to the Taylor's, her leg shaking slightly. She was worried how they would take it. Would they blame her? Would they insist on reporting it? Would they agree to let her stay with the Riggins'? Tim noticed her bouncing leg, and placed a hand on her knee to stop it. She grinned at him, chewing lightly on her thumbnail. Billy grabbed her hand from her mouth, and held it in his big hand. She glared at him, sighed and stared out the windscreen.

They pulled up out front of the Taylor's house, and for a second, she considered refusing to leave the truck. She then realised the pointlessness of such an action, as both boys would be more than capable of physically removing her. So instead, she climbed out after Tim, smiling a little when he took her hand in his. Billy knocked of the front door, and Charlie held her breath in anticipation.

Mrs. Taylor opened the door, surprised to see Billy and Tim looking back at her from the porch. "Billy! Tim! What are you doing here?" Billy stepped to the side and Tami gasped in horror as she caught her first look at Charlie. "Oh my god, Charlie! Honey, what happened to you?!?" she exclaimed, reaching out to pull Charlie into the house. They boys followed as Tami ushered her into the living room, pushing her into one of the dining room chairs. "You tell me right now! Who did this to you?!"

Coach Taylor looked up from his place on the sofa and then jumped up in shock, "What the hell?!". Julie had come out of her room, hearing the commotion and gasping when she saw Charlie's face. Charlie looked from face to face, panicked and, to her horror, burst into tears. Tami threw her arms around her, and glanced at Eric, silently asking him to give them some privacy. Eric nodded, leading the boys into the backyard. Tami gently ushered Charlie into their room, still holding fast. Charlie had missed the feeling of a mother's concerned embrace, and hung on like a drowning man clinging to a lifejacket.

Tami sat them down on the edge of her bed, running a soothing hand through Charlie's hair. "Baby, you need to tell me what happened. I can't help you unless you tell me". Charlie told them the story she told Tim, plus the adventures of last night and today. Tami stood up with a huff, dragging her hand through her hair.

"Please don't make me report him" Charlie pleaded, "I love Dillon. I don't want to have to leave!"

"Charlie, do you realise the position you've put me in? I am legally required to report this! I just.... I can't... I have to talk to Eric about this" she finished, leaving the room. Julie moved further up the bed, laying on her side and motioned for Charlie to follow. She lay down, facing her best friend, cupping Julie's right hand in hers.

"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked in a small voice.

Charlie dropped her eyes, ashamed. "I couldn't. I couldn't tell anyone. The only reason Tim found out was because he showed up at my house unexpectedly and saw the damage". Julie just nodded, and they lay like that for a long time, each lost in their own thoughts.

Outside Eric was pacing angrily, trying to digest what Billy and Tim had just told him. Doug Pippen was a good friend of his. If he hadn't seen Charlie for himself, he would have defended Doug in a heartbeat. He couldn't believe it. He walked back into the house as Tami was closing the bedroom door. "How's she doin'?" he asked.

Tami just shrugged, "We need to talk."

He nodded, grabbing his keys from the bench. "Later. Right now I'm goin' over there". And with that, he disappeared out the door. Tami sighed, turning the kettle on. This was going to be a long day.

**Another short chapter, I'm sorry. Just trying to figure it out xo