There's a real mixture of opinions it seems. Some of you think the change in direction has given the story a new element and some of you want to chop my head off…literally! I know I jumped a huge bit, but with a year a lot has happened to change to the two characters. You will just have to trust me, and read on!
Pmcc – I feel as though your just about to hurl abuse at me *yes..no?*
I guess we have different definitions of 'asking nicely' lol
Miss Toastie – Thank you for your support…it's reassuring to read some positive comments!
Purplemonkeyys – all in good time!
Bumpyjack – Well I obviously live in the same 'Ireland' as you..I just have a later bedtime. I'm actually working during the day now, to save for uni, but I know I can't disappoint you readers so I stay up and write. I write when I can. Xx Sorry.
Gunni - *freaks out* OMG I just spilt the beanz to you! Oh my god I'm so sorry…what am I saying…home and away is real…duh!
Lads I had absolutely no intention to reveal everything that happen through the year that past…in one damn chapter! Surely you realise that! Of course Charlie has missed Joey! You'll just have to read on!
X
Sugar.
Charlie didn't know whether to run, scream, or hide. Her heart started pounding against her rib-cage.
Just like before…
Joey sat back with utter shock. She hadn't been expecting her at all.
Her! ….?
Charlie closed the door behind her, she couldn't possibly leave now. Joey was in here for a reason, and Watson had asked for her help.
This isn't happening!......
Joey refused to make any kind of eye contact, once she was seated.
I have nothing to say to her! Nothing!
Charlie made a mental sigh and faced her.
A whole fucking year…..and this is how I end up seeing her again…
"I have nothing to say to you, so you can just leave!" Joey mumbled. Charlie's heart sank.
What the hell have I done wrong?.....?
"Joey we can make this personal or not…it's your choice…." That was the only way forward she could see. Joey thought for a minute, a minute too long. As Charlie waited she was forced to remember all the intimate moments between them.
This is already way past personal!
"The only reason I came here for help…is because I was told you didn't work here anymore!" Joey glared at her. "I don't need YOUR help…I don't want YOUR help!" Charlie felt like crying right in front of her, but her old cop instincts reminded her to stay focused. "Joey….don't shout at me, ok? I came here without the notion that it was you Watson wanted me to see today. Every other case I've been offered to work with, I've turned down, but when Watson started telling me about this case…it…it reminded me of you." Joey shook her head, not believing the words that came out of her mouth. "It reminded me of how I let you down….so I agreed to help her." Charlie continued. Joey let a small tear run loose. "Charlie.."
God even saying her name…hurts…
"You're just like every other cop I met in the past…you've already proved once that you couldn't help me….it was about getting A job done…wasn't it? Which you evidently didn't……it was never about helping me!" Charlie bit her lip. She had been put in her place.
If that's what she really thinks….then there really is not point me being here!
"Ok, I'll go, if that's what you want me to do." She said quietly. Joey looked up at her surprised beyond words that she wasn't prepared to continue arguing for an answer out of her. She saw her blue eyes, she noticed they had become hazed with memories she had clearly tried to push behind her over the months. "The last thing I want to do is upset you…and I've clearly done that…." She forced a loving smile, hoping to convince her she that really did want to help her, no matter how upset she was herself.
She got up and walked towards the door, pausing she allowed herself to wipe away any tears before she faced her old colleagues. Joey watched every inch of her.
I could run back over to her and tell her everything….
She sighed and reached for the door. Joey had thought that her pause had been her contemplating whether or not to clear, her head sunk as she realised she wasn't. "I'm really sorry Jo…" Charlie muttered as she walked out and closed the door. Joey burst into tears, and rested her head in her arms.
I'm sorry too…
Charlie stepped into her old office. Watson was waiting in there for her. "How did it go?" She fell back into her chair, when she saw the look of sadness across her face. "That wasn't fair of you not to tell me Joey was in there…" Charlie stood by the door. "Charlie I just thought that…" "Well it didn't help, ok? All I've done is upset her…..I'm sorry but you're going to have to find someone else for the job." Watson studied her face. "The old Charlie wouldn't walk away from something like this…the old Charlie…." "The old Charlie is gone!" She cut her off from making her feel worse then she already did.
I've been moving on…getting on with my life….and this is shoved into my face…when I least expect it!
Watson knew this wasn't true.
The REAL Charlie is underneath all that…somewhere……she's just hurting right now…
"I'm sorry if I have made you uncomfortable with all this….it wasn't my intention." Watson tried to maintain a confident tone. "I know….." Charlie knew why Watson had asked for her help. She was one of the only ones that knew her history with Joey, in depth. "I'll see you around." Charlie turned to leave. Watson got up off her chair. "Would you ever think about coming back here?"
What?
Charlie had thought about it so often, but she knew in her heart she'd be re-facing a good many problems, which had originally convinced her to leave. "I don't think so….as tempting as it is…it's just not for me anymore." Watson smiled, hopeful. "We all miss you here." Charlie nodded, appreciatively. "I miss working with you guys too."
*
[Lunch Time]
Ruby came rushing through the house, looking for something.
Not there…not here…not anywhere ahhhh!
She started moving mass paper piles on the kitchen table.
I could have sworn I left it here earlier!
She scanned the placed.
Where is it?!
She tried to retrace her steps.
I was late so I went straight to the table to eat breakfast...but I put it down somewhere…..but just where?
She ran back to the hall stand.
Bingo!....oh thank god…thank you, thank you!
She grinned as she shoved her calculator into her bag.
No more detention for me!
She was about to leave when she saw Charlie curled up on the couch.
I thought she was working?
"Charlie?" She walked up to her and kneeled down beside the couch. Charlie opened her eyes. "Hey…what's wrong? I thought you were out until this afternoon?" Charlie rolled her head round and wiped her face.
Oh no….she hasn't cried like this….since….
"Charlie…what's wrong? Tell me…" She brought herself closer and wiped her face with her own hands this time. "Was it really that painful?" She tried to joke, Charlie let out a small laugh. "That's the biggest understatement…I think of the century." She let her face fall into her daughter's hands.
What would I do if I didn't have Ruby? She always manages to make me laugh even when I feel like shit…
"Tell me…" She whispered this time. Charlie's mind sent flash backs of before, causing her to melt away again. "I went into the station….this morning…for that job…and…" Ruby looked up at her wide eyed.
And?
"I walked into the interview room………..and…Joey was there." Ruby fell back on the ground. "What? Joey….our Joey?"
Our Joey…what a thing to say!
"Yes….that Joey." Ruby covered her mouth. A trillion questions were running through her mind. "But…."
But she just left…without so much as a 'goodbye'……and now she's back?...After a whole year?
"Rubz….I don't know what to do….I really don't this time." Ruby stroked her hair, trying to sooth her. She knew all too well, how hard she'd found it, trying to let go after she left. "She doesn't want to talk to me….let alone see me…" Charlie burst into tears again. "Everything's been fine the way they are…I slowly accepted that she wasn't coming back…I did my best to move on…"
Even though Charlie won't actually say the words…I'm convinced that she really did love Joey…
Ruby had watched Charlie go out with a couple of guys through the year, and watch the attempted relationship fail miserably. "She's clearly back for a reason Charlie…maybe she'll slowly come round and realise what she's missing…" Ruby suggested.
As if!
"Ruby, she's never going to forgive me….." Ruby knew what she meant, and knew what she was referring too. Charlie let her own mind wonder to that dreadful day.
I was forced to choose between Ruby and Joey…and I picked Ruby….how is she ever going to let me into her life again? I thought I was going to lose Ruby!.....She's the only real family I have left….what was I suppose to do? I couldn't have left her alone in that hospital!...Morag may have seen her chance and taken her…
Charlie reached over and lifted Ruby's top up, revealing her healed wounds, 3 neat circles. Ruby looked down. "Pretty cool huh?" Charlie rolled her eyes. "Ruby!" "What? I'm going to have them for the rest of my life I might as well look upon them positively!" Charlie smiled. She always did. "You don't hate me for not protecting you like I should have?" Ruby let her top drop back down. "Charlie, are you telling me you STILL blame yourself for what happened?"
Charlie! If anything it was my own fault!
She wrapped her arms around her. "Do you know what I think?...I think that if this is what had to happen….in order for us to be where we are now…..with the relationship we have…so be it! We can't change the past Charlie…no matter how much we want to. Yes Joey left…but she's back!" She said smiling. "The Charlie I once knew was hard and cold towards just about everyone…but when she came along….she changed you…she brought out the best in you." Ruby pulled her head back to face her again. "You both may need to learn how to trust each other again…but don't let her slip through your fingers again…fight for her!" Charlie replayed all her words in her head.
Fight for her……..Fight for her….
Ruby saw the thoughts run through her mind. "Charlie this is Summer Bay!…it's tiny…she wouldn't have come back if she didn't want to see you again…" Charlie let a smile grow slowly.
But she said….maybe she was just as shocked as I was…maybe….maybe I do have a chance…
Charlie sniffled and bit and cupped Ruby's head. "God bless you Rubz!" She said showering tons of kisses on her cheeks. Ruby rolled her eyes at the displayed affection. "Now get your butt back to school…" Ruby laughed. "And suddenly the love stops hey?" Charlie sat up, giggling with puffy eyes.
No! The love never stops….