"Two Years, Four Months & 27 Days"
Rating: K +
Chapter Fourteen
"Hey, stranger," Nathan whispered to Joey's lifeless form. No not lifeless, don't think that. She'll be alright. She's gotta be. Sitting down next to her bed, he took her hand in his. Guessing right about now, you're probably the only one in the hospital that doesn't hate me. Everyone was so shocked at who I was. And Charlie – I could feel her eyes staring at me as I walked in here. I'm where she should be sitting. Maybe I should've told the doctor to let Charlie in first. Let her take my place. "Just ain't that simple Jo. Watching someone else care for you, the way I'm supposed to as your husband. It's not easy letting you go. But I'm gonna be here for you, you helped me back on my feet. No way I'm letting you go through this on your own."
Nathan sat there next to her for hours. Waiting, hoping she would wake up, so he could tell her she'd get through this, that he'll do everything to help her. Can't lose you Jo. You're the one person that gets me. I need you back Jo. Rachel came in to check on Joey, and informed Nathan that it would be at least a few more hours before she would wake up. Doesn't matter, I'm not giving up on you, I'm not leaving your side. After a hard and tiring last twenty-four hours, Nathan finally collapsed asleep next to his wife. His head resting on the edge of her bed, against her body, he was still holding onto her hand.
Ruby walked into the waiting room to find Leah sitting there, drinking some coffee. "Mind if I join you?" Ruby asked. "Hey be my guest. I was wondering if I was gonna get a chance to talk to you. Everything's been a bit..." Leah welcomed her. "Crazy and dangerous? Welcome back to Summer Bay," Ruby replied. "How's Charlie? Is she ok?" Ruby sighed, "Rachel needed to give her a very mild sedative but I think she's finally relaxing. She's lying down on one of the spare beds. It's been a rough day. Rough couple of days really. All she wants to do is see Joey. I don't know how they can stop her from being with her. It's not like Charlie's gonna hurt her." Leah took another sip of her drink, "I know, but the hospital has rules, and Charlie's technically not Joey's family. Joey has a...ok seriously do you wanta explain to me how in the world Joey has a husband? I know things change and your sister's living proof of that. But I wouldn't have thought Joey would be the type to run away from Charlie and get married to the first guy she meets."
Ruby shook her head, "If only it was that simple. Joey and Nathan have been married for nearly five years--" Leah nearly dropped her coffee, a few splashes slip onto her shirt, "Five years? But Charlie and Joey were..." "Nice reaction with the coffee, that's pretty much how we reacted when we found out. Joey and Nathan were separated back when Charlie and Joey were together. From the sounds of it they have been for ages. Charlie didn't know about it as Joey never told her, so that really put a kibosh on an immediate reconciliation," Ruby explained. "Wow I'm still in shock over this. How did Charlie react when she found out?" Leah questioned.
"Oh you know good ol' Charlie – shook Nathan's hand, invited him to dinner, pretended not to care. Then broke down when Joey confirmed that she was really married. Joey talked her 'round a little when she explained that she and Nathan are separated, and are looking into a divorce. Aden spent some time with Joey, and it seemed like all they needed was some time to work through things. Rebuild their trust. There's hardly much point denying they're still holding a torch for one another. But then all this stuff with Robbo happened..." Ruby trailed off, sick of the thoughts of what Robbo had done to Joey. I didn't even see how bad she looked when Charlie found her. I can't imagine how terrifying that was. Having your soul mate's life in your hands. They better lock that bastard up for decades after all the pain and suffering he's caused to my family. Ruby smiled.
"You ok?" Leah asked, "Because you were talking about Robbo now you're all smiling. What'd I miss?" Ruby shrugged, "Nothing, I was just thinking about all the pain Robbo had caused my family. It feels kinda weird still considering Joey as my family. I mean when her and Charlz got together I completely wigged, but then I got to know Joey as like a second sister. Then she took off, and now she's back and her and Charlie are in this warped place of not being able to move forward because other things keep getting in the way." Leah nodded, "Sounds very familiar to their time together when they were living with us. Other things getting in the way." "What you mean like Charlie's resistance to her attraction to Joey? Robbo? A good wigging out by me? Brett? Hugo? The entire...okay maybe just small minority of the Summer Bay community? Life? Wow I'm surprised after all that, they've made it this far."
"Well things are different now. I mean they both escaped the drama that is The Bay. Charlie's out of the closet and comfortable with who she is. All her friends support her. Especially you. And ok so there's the whole husband and nearly tortured to death things but I think they can make it through all that and be together," Leah insisted. "You really think that?" Charlie interrupted. "Hey Charlz, what are you doing up? I thought Rach told you to rest for a few hours. Get your strength back before you can see her," Ruby stood up. "I can't sleep properly, I miss her. I need to hold her. Just make sure that she really is alive. That she hasn't given up on me," Charlie walked over to her baby sister, hugging her. "C'mon now, Joey never gave up on you. Seriously for over two years, and she's still hopelessly in love with you. Dunno why, you're a ginormous pain in the butt, but she is. I know she turned her back on you two years ago when she refused to come back to Summer Bay and you. But things have changed. I know you can make this work. You just need to give her time," Ruby advised.
"Well we nearly run out of time when Robbo nearly killed her. I don't want to waste anymore. But here I am, not able to even see her until she wakes up because she has family. And I'm not it," Charlie cried. "Just be patient. Trust me when she wakes up, we'll take her back to our place and stitch her back together and make sure she'll never left you or us ever again," Ruby suggested. "Thanks Rubes. But what if she won't come with us, so we can look after her? What if she wants to go back to her tiny little apartment, and let her husband take care of her? He had no problem not letting me be the first to see her. And again the whole husband thing means he's all legally entitled to be the one to look after her. What if she chooses him over me?" Charlie asked. "Then maybe you should do what Ruby told you to do two and a half years ago," Leah interrupted, "Fight for her! Don't let her go. Be there for her, support her, don't leave her side. She needs to learn to trust you again, so this is your chance. To be who she needs. Show her how much she means to you."
Ruby nudged Charlie on the shoulder. "She's right you know. We both are. You didn't take my advice last time I told you that. You ran after her...and told her she left her I-pod Charlz. Surely you can do better than that." "Maybe if I had of done a better job last time she wouldn't be lying in that bed right now. She'd be with me," Charlie cried. Leah held out her hand, with some tissues from her purse. "Well then go and make sure that when she wakes up, there's no reason for her to not want you to be there." "What about Rachel? She said I can't visit her yet," Charlie pointed out. "Break the rules. You've done it before. Just go in there, and be with her. We'll be waiting when you come back," Ruby told her as she hugged her big sister. Charlie nodded. Break the rules. I should've done this a long time ago. I need to fight for her. And I can't do this here. I need to be by her side. I need to be the one to pull her through this.
Charlie slowly made her way towards Joey's room, careful to check that Rachel wasn't hanging around the room. The coast was clear, and as she walked up to Joey's room, she passed a trolley that had several bunches of flowers on it from the gift shop. Taking a second, she grabbed one rose. Clutching it by the stem she slipped open the door to Joey's room. Without making a sound, she stood there taking in the scene. God why did that monster have to do that to you? Why couldn't I get to you in time? I should have known something was wrong when you didn't turn up to meet me the other night. I should have picked you up for our non-date. That way he wouldn't have had the chance, he wouldn't have...I know my Joey and she would never blame me for this...but it doesn't stop the guilt I feel. The guilt that'll always be with me. Why couldn't I save you? You were the one that saved me.
Charlie stood there silently, wanting nothing more than to rush into Joey's arms and tell her to wake up. You have to wake up Jo, you don't have any other options here. I'm not going to lose you twice. But Nathan was sitting there quietly, beside Joey's bed. He was holding her hand. He was so focused on Joey, he never heard the door open and Charlie enter. Charlie was about to interrupt, when she heard Nathan talking to Joey. "C'mon Jo. You need to wake up. You don't have a choice in that matter ok? I'm sorry. It's all my fault. Maybe if I had've been a better husband, you wouldn't have left me. Wouldn't have moved to Summer Bay in the first place, met Robbo or... Can't change the past I know, but we can change our future. You gotta wake up Jo. I need you. How am I meant to do this without you? Who am I meant to talk to every night? Tell them about my day. About what's going on in my life. Who's gonna complain everyday that my job is too dangerous? Who's gonna teach me to sail a boat? You promised me a thousand times we'd do that. So I'm gonna hold you to that promise. You never held back from me. You're my best friend Jo...I...I love you."
Charlie listened to him, tears streaming down her face. He loves her. Like I love her. I can't keep fighting for her. I can't keep putting my heart on the line, and let her just leave me. She won't choose between us. She'll be too afraid to choose between Nathan and me. But she has to make a choice. We can't keep putting each other through this. How can I possibly get her to make a decision? I can't take this anymore, this pounding in my chest. How do I expect Joey to make a decision? And choose me. I wouldn't choose me. I've made so many mistakes. And I'm probably going to make another one now. Charlie turned around, and exited the room, dropping the flower on her way out. Nathan turned around hearing the noise of the door shutting. He noticed the flower on the floor, and was about to pick it up...when something stopped him. When Joey held his hand. She reached out, not letting go. "Jo? Joey you're awake? Jo that's – stay there baby I'm gonna get a doctor. I love you." Joey opened her mouth slowly, ignoring the shot of pain from her jaw, "Char-Charlie?"