Charlie sat at her dressing table and finished off putting clips in her hair. She stood up and straightened herself out, checking her reflection in the full length mirror across from her in the corner of her room. The last time she had worn her police uniform was three weeks ago and it was while taking part in a police call out she never thought she would ever have to witness. She never thought it would be her own family on the other end. But it was and in those three weeks she has had to confront the man who cause her that anguish. These images, as much as she wished to forget them, were stuck with her.
She walked out of her room and down the corridor. Quietly as she could, she briefly looked on Ruby who was still sleeping and when she felt everything was okay, she walked out across the living room and into the kitchen. Leah, who was dressed in a night gown, ready for bed, was preparing herself some coco. When she heard Charlie walk into the room she turned around and studied the police uniform.
"Are you heading into work?", Leah asked.
"Yeah. I thought while Ruby was asleep I'd go in do a couple of hours, catch up on whatever paperwork I've missed over the last couple of weeks", she said wearily. The thought of all that paperwork weighed on her mind and more than likely, it had piled up while she was on leave. "Hey, Leah could you keep an eye on Ruby for me, just check in on her before you go to bed, make sure she's comfortable?", she asked her housemate.
"Of course yeah, you don't worry about that I'll be in the next room if she needs anything", she replied postively. She smiled at Charlie and then returned to making her coco.
Charlie smiled back at her. It was a huge weight of her shoulders knowing someone would be here for Ruby while she was at work. Although she made it a point that she would only stay for a couple of hours, she couldn't help feeling guilty about leaving her daughter. But, she knew she had to get back to reality at some point and she figured better sooner rather than later. Charlie grabbed her keys and wallet off the kitchen table and walked out into the into the night, locking the door behind her and checking it twice.
The drive to the station was quick. The lack of cars on the road made the journey quicker. She pulled into the station car park and shut off the engine. She grabbed her jacket, wallet and keys and got out of the car. She made her way to the station door and walked into the station for the first time in three weeks. When she made her way into the reception area she was surprised at the number of officers on shift. Then she noticed two thirds of them were Marine Command.
When she looked past the three officers at the reception desk she saw Angelo talking to another marine officer. He turned around and saw her, giving her a smile. He pointed at something on a map and then left the desk and walked over to her placing his hands on her arms and stroking them up and down.
"Hey, how's Ruby? I thought you were on leave to take care of her?", he asked looking a little surprised to see her at work.
"I was. Rubes came home today. I thought while she's asleep I'd come in and get some work done", she said giving him a half hearted smile.
Angelo nodded at her. He felt like she was keeping her distance from him. Even though she was with him physically, he felt her being somewhat emotionally distant. She wiped her brow and looked at him, pulling away.
"I'm gonna go do some paper work in my office. If there's anything that needs signing off on or any developements with the bodies on the boat let me know", and with that she swiftly made her way into her office, closing the door behind her,
Angelo watched as she closed the door. He rubbed his hads against the sides of his head in a frustrated manner. Had he done something? Or maybe Charlie was just stressed from the last couple of weeks. He wanted to know what was wrong, but he knew if he tried to question her he would just be frozen out. So, reluctantly, he went back to work on the boat case.
Charlie sat in her office, filling in the report on Derrick. As she reviewed Geoff and Nicole's statements she couldn't help but feel angry. How could he be so calious and cruel? How could he pull the trigger and shoot and innocent human being in the wrong place at the wrong time? And the one that that had been eating her up from that night, up unitl now, was why Ruby? Anger welled up inside her and she felt her blood beginning to boil. She couldn't do this anymore. She couldn't sit there and read the play by play details of the incident reports. It hurt her too much.
Charlie got up out of her seat and grabbed her jacket of the rack. She picked up her keys and wallet and exited her office. As she made her way across the reception are Angelo called after her.
"Charlie" he said running up to the door just in time to catch her. "Where are you going?", he asked puzzeled.
"I can't stay here. I just want to go home and take care of Ruby", she said.
Angelo nodded at her and stroked her arm.
"Ok, I'll....". Charlie cut him off before he could get out what he was trying to say.
"I have to go. I'll talk to you later", she said and walked out of the station. Angelo watched her until she was no longer in view.
Charlie got in her car and started the engine. She pulled out of the car park and set of in the direction of home. She hadn't realised how much time had passed since she arrived at the station. Although she spent hours going over the reports, to her it only felt like minutes. It was now 6:30 and the sun was beginning to rise. It was a beautiful, picturesque sight. But Charlie wasn't fazed by it. She just wanted to get home.
She finally arrived home. Her muscles were tense and the idea of going for a jog along the beach suddenly seemed to be a good idea. She unlocked the back door and walked into the empty kitchen. Placing her keys and wallet on the table she began to stretch. She walked around the table to the kitchen counter and began the process of making a fresh pot of coffee. She half filled the kettle with water and switched it on and the removed the bag of coffee from the side stack on the counter.
Just then, she heard a grunt. A silent one. The another, then another. The she heard someone speaking and she realised it was Ruby. She could hear here from her room....no, please, no....she said. Each time sounding more and more like she was in distress. Charlie dropped the bag of coffee on the counter and dashed out of the kitchen, across the living room and down the corridor. She burst into Ruby's room and saw her daughter twisting and turning in her bed, talking in her sleep.
She walked over to the side of the bed and gently nudged her daughter to wake her up. She tried once, but Ruby continued to toss and turn, this time her movements were more frantic. Charlie nudged her again a little harder and a little longer.
"Ruby, baby wake up...Ruby", she said as she tried to coax her daughter awake.
Suddenly Ruby screamed and her eyes snapped open abruptly. She looked around her and tried to sit up. She gripped her chest tightly. Gasping for breath. Charlie sat on the edge of the bed, slid one arm under Rubys back and with the other arm pulled her daughter upright. Ruby was breathing rapidly, her heart punding out of her chest. She felt like her chest was closing in. Shou couldn't breath. Charlie caressed her back, trying to calm her daughter but it didn't seem to work.
"Ruby, breath deep breaths, come on I need you to try", she said, a wave of panic crackling through her voice. "LEAH!!", she shouted hoping to wake her.
Within seconds Leah was standing in the door way lookin on in concern.
"What's the matter, what's wrong?", she asked concerned.
"Call Rachel get her to come over, I think Ruby's having a panic attack", she ordered. Turning her focus back to her daughter.
Leah dashed out into the living room and grabbed the phone. She dialled Rachel's number and waited for an answer....ring ring...ring ring...then at last an answer.
"Hello", a tired voice answered.
"Hi, Rach, it's Leah. Can you get over here quickly, Ruby's in a really bad way we think she's having a panic attack", she said worridly.
"Ok, I'll be right there, just try and keep her calm 'til I get there", Rachel said and then hung up.
I've been finding more time to add more chapter so I might be posting a couple more chapters this week. Please keep reviewing. I enjoy reading what you think.
