"Two Years, Four Months & 27 Days"
Rating: K+
Chapter Twenty-Five
One week later – Nathan's wake at Joey's apartment.
"This is all too weird. I don't know what I'm even doing here," Joey quietly to Sam. "Look I know this has been hard on both of us, but you have every right to be here Jo," Sam replied. "I know I do. You know how much I still cared about Nathan. I just feel completely out of place here...with all these people," Joey started, "All these people, Nathan's work friends, our high school friends...every one of them are been so depressing around me. As far as they're all concerned I'm supposed to be the grieving wife." "And you're not? I mean you never actually managed to sign those divorce papers before...technically you were still his wife," Sam reminded her. "Not the way they all expect. Some of these people are staring at me, expecting me to break down crying my eyes out...I'm not that kinda wife," Joey mentioned. "Well if you want I could make a speech, tell everyone you and Nate were just good friends after you switched teams and started dating girls now. Sorry too soon to joke. Just feel like Nate wouldn't want us to be all depressed today. Like he'd want us to have a laugh and remember him," Sam said quietly.
"Yeah he probably would. God I still can't believe this is all happening. One minute he was there...being predictable, dependable Nathan then...I never wanted this. I really did love him. I hate that I couldn't make it work with him," Joey sobbed. "Hey. This is not your fault. It's okay really...I mean it's not okay but...I know how much Nathan loved you. You can't force something like your marriage to work if it can't. Don't blame yourself. You did the best you could. Nate wouldn't want you to blame yourself. If anyone's to blame..." Sam trailed off. "Sam please don't, not today," Joey begged. "No you're right. I'm sorry. I'm just trying to find a way to work through this. I don't know any other way to go through this," Sam said sadly. Joey slipped her fingers around Sam's hand. "Me either. But at least we can go through this together. I'm here for you." "Thanks. I don't know what I would've done without you this week. You've held everything together for me. I can't thank you enough," Sam said sweetly, "Nathan would've been proud of you for sticking by me—you have got to be kidding me! What the hell is she doing here?"
Joey looked up and noticed Ruby and Aden enter the apartment. "Who? Ruby? You know I invited her and Aid. They got along pretty well with Nathan...Oh..." Joey concluded when she noticed Charlie walking in behind the couple. "Sam I didn't invite...please just leave it. This isn't going to do any good," Joey tried to reassure her. "No Joey. She has no right being here today. Don't you dare defend her!" Sam insisted. Before Joey could stop her, Sam strode over to Charlie. Rushing after her, Joey stopped beside Sam, next to Ruby and Aden. "What do you think you're doing here?" Sam demanded of Charlie. "I'm just here as a friend. I'm not here to 'cause any problems. I thought Joey might need my support," Charlie tried to say confidently. "Well she doesn't. She has my support. She doesn't need you. We don't need you. Now why don't you leave," Sam maintained. "Joey please I'm sorry. I never meant for all this. I need you to hear me out," Charlie begged.
Before Joey could respond, Sam slapped Charlie hard across the face. "Sam don't! Charlie she didn't mean...Sam stop this please. Not here okay. Please this is not the time or the place," Joey pleaded with her friend whilst hoping that Charlie wouldn't press any charges for the assault. Aden moved in front of Charlie protecting her, while Charlie put up her hand in defence, "No she's right Jo. I shouldn't be here." "Charlie wait," Joey tried to stop her from leaving. "Don't Jo. Just let her go. I told you I didn't want her here!" Sam started to yell louder. "It's fine Jo. Please I'll just come by later and speak to you then," Charlie said sadly. "I don't think so. You're not going anywhere near her!" Sam persevered. "You can't stop them from seeing each other," Ruby remarked, "I know you're upset Sam but you are way outta line here." "The hell I am! You stay away from us. You can apologise all you like but it's not gonna change anything," Sam stated sorrowfully, "It's your fault. You were supposed to be protecting him. You were supposed to save him. You let Nathan die."
Charlie stared at Sam and Joey in front of her, as Aden moved aside to make sure Charlie was okay. Tears brimming in her eyes, not only from the pain of the hand-print left on her cheek. How can I be okay? She's right. I messed up. It's not that I couldn't save him...but it's my fault. If it wasn't for me...he wouldn't be...I should have been concentrating. I should have seen the gunman behind him. I should have been able to do something, anything. Instead I froze. I couldn't move. I was too conflicted by everything going on...too pre-occupied with the problems going on with my life. I'd been working non-stop for the last three weeks without a day off...trying to distract myself. I shouldn't have been there. I shouldn't have insisted on checking out the robbery in action. I should have trusted Nathan's judgment when he said I wasn't fit enough to be out on the field that day. I couldn't even get the courage to call them. Let them say goodbye before...It's my fault. I should've been able to protect him. As several tears fell down her cheeks, Charlie fled outside.
Charlie had nearly made it to the end of the block before she realized Joey had chased after her. Joey caught up to her, as Charlie slowed down, knowing she couldn't just keep running. She was too exhausted after the events of the past week. "Charlie are you okay?" Joey asked. Charlie looked at her apologetically. "It's okay Charlie just talk to me. Sam didn't mean what she said she was just angry because...I know it wasn't your fault. I know you didn't mean for this to happen. You can't keep blaming yourself Charlie," Joey tried to convince her. "Why not? It's my fault. Sam's right. I never meant...I'm sorry. I hope one day you can forgive me," Charlie sighed as she turned around to leave. She was surprised when Joey bolted in front of her, stopping her in her tracks again. "I know. I already do forgive you. I know you want to take this back more than anything. Nobody blames you. If they did you're superiors wouldn't have let the case rest. There wasn't anything you could've done. You are not responsible," Joey told her.
"Yes I am Joey. I froze. I freaked out. I lost all sense of what was going on. I...didn't stop it from happening. I know how much Nathan meant to you. He was family, just like Ruby and Aden are to me. And I took him away from you. I screwed up everything again...because I was too busy avoiding my life," Charlie said desolately. "Don't do this to yourself. Please Charlie don't turn away from me when you need someone. You're right, Nathan was my family. Now he's gone and I kinda need someone too. I know I made a mistake last month, but don't let that be the reason you turn your back on me. Not again," Joey shrugged, "Or else I'll have to start blaming myself for all this as well. I don't want this. Charlie I need your support here." "I can't Jo. It's too difficult. All of it. I shouldn't have come, it was a bad idea. I deserved to be slapped by Sam. I took away the only family she had. She doesn't want me around," Charlie stated.
"Sam's upset Charlie. She lost her brother and she's not coping. She feels like I'm the only person she has left. I'm not saying that's your fault. I'm just saying everybody needs someone in times like this. And I need you too Charlie," Joey admitted, "Please talk to me about what you're going through." "Ok," Charlie agreed, "Just not here. I shouldn't be here, and you need to be here. You need to say goodbye. Maybe I can stop by later tonight and we can get some dinner or something. I mean unless you think Sam is gonna need your support tonight," Charlie suggested. "Ok dinner sounds good. I'm sure Sam won't mind. I've spent all week with her. I think it would be good for her to take a break. Try to deal with this on her own for a little while. I'll see you in few hours," Joey smiled. Charlie nodded, then walked past Joey. "Oh and Charlie," Joey turned back to her, "Thanks for letting me in." Joey watched Charlie nod and walk away. Joey slowly made her way back to her apartment.
Ok so not much of a cliff hanger on this chapter but I figured you all deserved it after the mess-load of cliff-hangers in this little fic...so far. Yes I know many of you really wanted me to kill off Sam but I didn't really want to do that because it makes things more interesting. I'm addicted to the drama - what else can I say?