Lil20 -I got typing...but I don't think you'll like it...I hope you forgive me ;)

CJ4Eva – I have to say anything can happen in my fics but I hope it'll soon make sense :)

Enjoy all happy reading

Linda

x x x

Chapter 20

"Joey, how are you feeling?"

"Confused. You?" It took all of Charlie's strength to pull herself up and off of the bed. She wobbled slightly as she walked the short distance to Joey's bed, reaching the younger girl she instinctively placed her hand upon hers. Falling against the chair she sat down upon the still slightly warm cushion.

"I'm confused too, did you...I mean...were we...oh I don't know." Charlie dropped her head in defeat at not knowing the right words to choose. Joey felt even more useless unable to comfort the woman beside her or even to squeeze her hand reassuringly.

"Charlie it's okay, don't worry please. I was there too...I mean on the beach" Charlie lifts her head up and her eyes connect with Joey's deep chocolate eye's.

"You were?"

"Yes" Joey replies and Charlie lets out a sigh, a little sigh of relief that maybe it wasn't so much of a dream that she thought it was. "I can remember kissing you...holding you..." With a barely audible whisper, "touching you." Joey and Charlie both close their eye's as their memories of the beach fill their minds.

"How...what..." Charlie still struggles to find the words to describe what had occurred between them.

"How did we end up there, and what does it mean? Is that what you're trying to say?"

"Yeah I guess it is, but Jo it was real wasn't it?"

"To me it will always be very real, there was only you and me on that beach. I can't answer anything else right now, I'm struggling as it is to understand exactly what's been happening to me. Just know that it's thinking of us, and the words we spoke on our beach that helps me to wake up each day. Charlie?" Joey manages to turn her head enough to connect fully with the older woman.

"What is it Jo?" Charlie raises her hand and softly strokes her fingertips over the young, smooth cheek of Joey. Joey closes her eyes loving the familiarity and safe feeling of Charlie, licking her lips she poses her question to Charlie. "Did you mean those things you said? Or was it really a dream?" A shy smile began to appear upon Charlie's lips, "I meant every word Joey, I love you I always have. I know I had a funny way of showing it but if you let me I'll prove it to you...will you let me? Can I have another chance?" The hope poured out in her words, letting her heart be seen by the fragile tone portraying her wish. Joey felt the memories of the past come back and then the situation of now dawned on her. If she did let Charlie have another chance was it going to be out of sympathy for her injuries now or did Charlie truly love her?

Down the corridor Ruby walked towards the cafeteria in search of food, she hadn't eaten for a while and her stomach was reminding her of this fact. She felt like she was being followed but she was in a hospital full of patients and workers so of course she wouldn't be the only one walking this way. Standing in front of the lift she waited patiently for the doors to open, a man took his place beside her and she turned her head smiling pleasantly to say hi. The elevator pinged as it took its place and opened its doors to the waiting duo. The man gestured to Ruby, letting her enter first, he followed and asked what floor.

"Fifth please" Ruby said with an innocence to the man. His rough finger grazed the button and pressed against it, also he pressed the floor before it as his mind began to whirl with an idea. Ruby lent back against the back wall of the elevator, her hands placed firmly upon the hand rail, her finger tapping along to the usual mundane music. The tall dark haired man turned to cast his eye over her, causing Ruby to shift uncomfortably and grip the bar tighter praying that they wouldn't be alone much longer. Panicking that he had startled the girl too soon the man decided to break the uncomfortable silence,

"I don't know what's worse, this music or silence." It wasn't probably the best thing to say but in his state it was the best he could come up with. Ruby couldn't help but think that she recognized the voice, it was incredibly familiar and come to think of it the man look a lot like Angelo. A shiver ran through her body as she started to connect the dots, what if this man was the one that the police were looking for. They thought it could have been Angelo that had taken Joey but he had an alibi, this man could be who did it. Her knuckles turned a shade of white as her grip increased, her throat was like a sandy dessert that needed water to bring it back to life. The blood ran from her cheeks as the fear washed over her, gulping in an attempt to gather the air that had been knocked out of her. 'You're probably wrong Rubes, you can't let your mind wander like this.' she said to herself in an attempt to calm herself down. It had to be one of the longest elevator rides in the history of elevator rides, and they were only just coming up to the forth floor. 'He should be getting off now' Ruby wished deep down, he turned around once more trying to ease her mind and trying to remember her exact position before the doors opened.

The elevator made its ping noise telling them that the doors were about to open. Ruby watched the stocky man shift forwards and she released her grip slightly, as the doors opened he peered out and saw that this floor was quite empty. The forth floor was the operating floor so those that were based there were mainly in theatre operating or following up in other wards. His lips curled as a sly smirk of pleasure graced his mouth, he blinked his eyes and motioned like he was about to exit, which Ruby fell for and relinquished her grip upon the bar moving forward herself. In one quick, swift motion he had Ruby in his grasp, one arm around her waist and the other across her mouth to stifle any noises for others to hear. As the doors began to close he bundled himself and Ruby through the closing, heading towards the stairs. Ruby was wriggling and flaying her body, arms and legs as much as she could, the man was struggling to subdue her and found a medical cart against the wall. He raised her head and said with venom, "I'm going to let your head go, if you scream it'll be the last thing you ever do. Stay quiet and we shouldn't have a problem, okay?" Ruby nodded along and realised that saying nothing was probably the best idea right now as there was no one around to help her anyway. He let her head go and she complied like he said for her too, he fumbled around and found just what he needed, he prepared the needle without Ruby seeing and as soon as she felt the prick in her skin she was asleep and Grant was whisking her away.