AAAARRRGGGHHHH!!! I hate my lack of willpower….. I can't have Charlie and Joey in a story without loving each other… And its ruining my plans, *sighs* :(:( :( x x x
Anyhow! Some bits might be disturbing, warning! I tried not to go into too much detail 'cause no one needs that. Enjoy:) x x
Charlie ran passed the on lookers, when she reached Joey she stopped and Joey flung herself into Charlie's grasp. Oblivious to the crowd that had gathered around them they remained in each others arms for what felt like eternity, only to be separated by the detectives.
"Senior Constable Buckton, we need to take Miss Collins to the station for a statement" god this isn't going to go down well…
"You will do no such thing detective! Joey's been through enough the last few weeks, and I think it would be wise to wait until tomorrow until she has-"
"Buckton you know well a statement is most effective when taken right after an incident, try and remain professional here! To be quite frank, this has very little to do with you, this is gone higher than your level of expertise so I'd advise you to stick to what you know."
How dare he, how bloody well dare he… Charlie weaved her fingers in among Joeys and stared her superior straight in the face. "With all due respect Detective Daly, my girlfriend has had enough on her plate in recent times, she'll make a statement tomorrow in Summer Bay, now excuse us" Charlie took lead and walked away with Joey in tow.
"First I'm taking you home, and we'll take things from there" she turned slightly so she facing Joey. "I love you, and I promise you everything will be ok" I wont try to even kiss her on the cheek, I think intimacy could be the last thing she needs for a while.
"Charlie how can you say everything's going to be ok?" Joey's voice trailed away, it was the first time she had spoken since she had been reunited with Charlie.
Charlie led her to the car and sat in the back set with her before answering her question and beginning on the journey home.
"Because I love you, and I might just be able to help you more than you think, just try and relax now, I'll hold you, nobody can get you while I'm around." Joey dissolved into the crook of Charlie's arm and fell asleep.
**********
Watson pulled up outside their house some eight hours later, Charlie was reluctant to wake Joey; her gut instinct told her reality wouldn't take long to come crashing down.
"Joey, wake up, it's only me, we're home now." The house was empty which was probably just as well seeing as it had totally slipped her mind to contact Ruby or Leah.
Charlie entered the sitting room, stopping, she turned to face her. Joey collapsed into Charlie's arms, as soon as they were within the privacy of their home. Her legs crumpled beneath her. Joey was weary; she had no resistance once she was in Charlie's arms. All I can do is hold her, and let her vent… She held her tightly against her chest until her aching sobs had become more subdued, and then guided her towards their bedroom. The last thing we need is Rubes coming home wondering what this commotion is about. Joey sat down on the edge of the bed and Charlie followed suit. They sat there in silence until Joey moved and curled into a ball on the bad facing away from Charlie. Don't do this Joey… She got up and walked to the other side of the bed and lay down beside her; they were now face to face. Joey kept her head bent low. Please Joey, I'm begging you. Charlie reached across the space between them not wanting to crowd Joey; she delicately raised Joey's head placing her forefinger under her chin, guiding her face towards her own. It took Joey a few moments but she eventually cooperated with Charlie's movements, and met her gaze. Charlie was the first to speak.
"Joey don't do this, don't shut me out…" it was a plea, and Joey could hear the desperation in her voice.
"What do you want from me Charlie?"
"To talk to me, and let me help you… Please Jo…."
She's my girlfriend; I need to let her help me. She's Charlie.
"Ok, what do you want to know?" she needs to know everything; she's my only hope…
"I think its best you start from the beginning" Joey took a deep breath and began her tale of hurt and abuse.
Twenty minutes later Charlie had gently directed Joey into her grasp. I can't believe what she just told me, I knew it was what she'd say but… Somehow its different hearing her say it all. "Charlie it hurt so bad, I though I was going to die" Charlie rubbed the hair from her face, and the tear stains from her cheeks.
"Joey you really need to go to the hospital, I'll hold your hand every step of the way, and I won't leave your side. We need to do this straight away Joey." I hate pressing her, but we have to get over this before she can start healing emotionally.
"Charlie I can't, don't make me… please"
"Shhh Joey don't cry, please, look I'll ring Rachel, she'll come over and that'll be the first step… You need to do this Joey, I know you can."
"Your right, can I go get changed first?" I don't mind Rachel, she's kind and caring, and I can do this.
Charlie leaned across and kissed Joey softly on the forehead "How about I'll run you a bath, and when you come out then Rachel will be here, does that sound like a plan?" If I sound positive it might help, even if only the tiniest bit, anything is a start.
Joey looked up at Charlie "I'd be lost without you, and you're right, everything will be ok, he might have ruined my life once, but I'll be damned if I'll let him do it again"
She smiled. Joey smiled! There is hope!
"That's my Joey, we're in this together, I said it at the start Joey and I meant it. We'll get through this." Charlie stroked her face reassuringly before raising herself off the bed to get the bath read for Joey.
Once Joey was inside in the bathroom Charlie took out her mobile and rang Rachel.
Twenty minutes, that'll give her plenty of time to unwind, well as much as possible. Charlie was in the middle of unpacking Joey's bag when she heard a knock at the door.
"Hey Rachel. Thank you so much for coming over, I know it's late, would you like a mug of coffee?" Charlie went over and gave her a hug.
"Yeah that would be great Charlie, thanks. Is everything ok, there's some commotion going on down at the station?" Rachel always only enquired out of kindness, never out of nosiness.
"Listen Rach, to cut things short Joey, my girlfriend was out on a fishing job, she got badly assaulted out there and we'd to get them to return to land. She's in a pretty bad state emotionally and couldn't hack going into the hospital today; I was just wondering could you give her a brief check over just to make sure she's in no real danger until a few days time when she's feeling better?" Now that was a mouthful, quite a lot for her to take in, presuming she already knew Joey was her partner.
"Oh, Charlie, that's awful! I'm so sorry to hear that" She was genuinely concerned; she didn't have it in her to pretend otherwise. "Would you be able to be more specific about her assault Charlie, I know this must be hard enough for you considering but I'd like to know what I'm dealing without before I go into see her?"
Charlie lifted her eyes from the contents of her mug, to Rachel's face. "She was raped, about two weeks ago. She's a strong person emotionally but I believe we will get there eventually, but I can't do much to help her physically…"
Charlie turned around to see Joey approach from the bathroom in clean clothes, looking a lot fresher.
Rachel stood up and moved over to greet Joey. "Joey, I'm so sorry for everything you've been through, Charlie's explained things to me. Is there somewhere we can go to talk?"
Talk about timing. Ruby just walked into the kitchen, momentarily startled by Joey and Rachel's presence. "Joey! Your home!" Ruby made way to run towards her but Charlie held out her arm, stopping her dead in her tracks, she observed the similar expressions they all wore on their face Something's wrong…
"Rachel, you and Joey can go into my bedroom; I'll stay here and explain things to Ruby. Will you be ok Jo, I'll only be out here?" Charlie glanced anxiously over at Joey for approval.
"Yeah I'll be fine, I'll call you when we're finished" she turned to Ruby the poor girl must be in shock, she's no idea what's going on. "It's great to see you Rubes, can't wait to catch up."
When they disappeared into the bedroom Ruby slowly made her way over to where Charlie was standing.
"Charlie what's going on?" Ruby's voice was shaking; instinct told her things were in a mess.
Charlie enveloped Ruby in a hug then drew away slightly "Rubes something bad happened to Joey when she was out at sea, she had to come home. One of her co-workers badly assaulted her, she was raped." Ruby gasped in horror and began to cry softly "Oh Charlie what're we going to do? Poor Joey, she doesn't deserve this!"
"It's ok Rubes, shhh, we just have to be there for her, it's all we can do now" we wouldn't be in this situation in the first place if you'd some sense and kept her here in the first place, poor Ruby, she adores Joey…
Charlie was coming out of Ruby's bedroom making sure she was asleep before she left when she seen Rachel sitting in the kitchen. She stood up when she seen Charlie.
"How is she? Is she going to be ok?"
"Charlie, Joey received extensive internal injuries. She explained the bleeding since the attack and I'm certain that's due to a tear as her attack was quite brutal, since she carried on labour intensive work it didn't get a chance to heal. I've given her some antibiotics which will help it to heal without infection, that's all that could have been done with her in a hospital anyway. Other than that, physically she is fine. I also did an emotional evaluation on her, as rape victims are often quite vulnerable after an attack the way in which they go about dealing with things has a long lasting effect on how they will recover from it. Joey seems very good considering, all I can say is listen to her and I'm always only a phone call away, day or night, ok?"
"Thank you so much Rachel." Charlie couldn't contain the tears any longer. Rachel let her lie against her and cry until she was finished. "Charlie this is tough on you too but don't worry, I've seen a lot of people after cases like this and Joey really seems determined to get better, she doesn't want to dwell on it and she definitely had it in her to make a full recovery. If she's dealt with it and you're certain she has, and then move on. Charlie… If you feel it might help Joey deal with things you could share your own past, it might make her feel better to know you mean when you tell her you understand…" She could jump at me for saying this.
"Yeah thanks Rach, I'll think about it. I'll give you a call tomorrow and let you know how things are." Charlie smiled affectionately at her. We'll never be able to repay her for this…
"Now go in and hold your girlfriend and I'll talk to you tomorrow, g'night" I hope the next few weeks are kind to them, they don't deserve this, not with Charlie's past.
"Bye Rach, and thanks again." Charlie closed the door quietly after her and went into her room; she curled in beside Joey without a word. Joey shuffled into Charlie's embrace and they both lay there in the silence and comfort of one another's love before they eventually let their tiredness take over.