Where Things Stand
Rated R
Chapter 37
Having spent several hours of forgetting their troubles and having fun hanging out together, Joey and Aden arrive back at Storm's beachside holiday home. They discover Storm has not returned from taking Jade home. Joey is slightly worried that Storm is not going to come back because she cheated on her. Aden notices her expression, puts his arm around her, and softly says, "she could have gotten caught in traffic or she is having a heart to heart with Jade."
"I hope so...sorry I'm being insecure", Joey replies fretting.
"It's ok, come on, you promised me a coffee", he says reassuringly, moving her towards the front door.
Once inside Joey busies herself making them coffee, while Aden wanders around the house checking it out. When he is looks through Storm's dvd collection, he spies some movies he thinks would be good to watch while they wait for Storm to get back. He walks into the kitchen and leans on the counter beside Joey. "Hey, do you have any munchies", Aden asks with a cheeky grin on his face.
"Yeah, I think there's some chips and popcorn in the pantry", she answers hesitantly.
"Cool, I'll check", he comments still smiling.
"Why, what have you got in mind", Joey asks not knowing if she wants an answer.
"Movie time! Storm has a few of my favourites", his voice muffled while he is in the pantry. He pokes hid head out smirking, "Ripley Action", Aden finishes off excited.
"Ya dork", Joey chuckles shaking her head.
Aden dashes out of the pantry and puts his hand on Joey's face and cries, "face hugger!"
"Get off me ya dick", Joey slaps his arm.
He laughs and lets her face go, Joey puts her hand on Aden's head and forehead. "What's this", she asks with a wicked glint in her eyes.
"A face hugger", he answers sarcastically.
"No, a brain sucker. And guess what it's doing", she asks smirking.
"Getting its fill", Aden laughs and winks at her.
"Hardly, no, starving", Joey snickers.
"Oi", he pulls his head away from her hand, looking indignant. "So do we have any cake to go with our coffees", he asks slyly.
"Yep, got mud cake", she replies and gives him her winning smile.
"Ooo, very nice", he utters with a grin, with Joey thinking he is such a little kid.
By the end of 'Alien', Joey's stomach is in knots because Storm still has not returned. Joey turns to Aden and anxiously asks, "Aden where is she?"
"I don't know. Why don't you call her", Aden suggests, secretly wondering what was keeping her.
Joey tentatively selects Storm's number and calls her. After several rings, Storm answers sleepily, "Hi honey."
"Where are you", Joey asks worried.
"At home", Storm replies still waking up.
"Oh, so you're not coming back", Joey states devastated.
"What? Yes I'm coming back Logan. I stopped in at home to pick up some things sat on the lounge and I fell asleep. I'm sorry I worried you honey", Storm explains apologetically.
"So you're leaving now", Joey asks hopefully.
"Yes. I'll see you soon", Storm answers warmly.
"Bye hon, I love you", Joey responds with relief.
"I love you too, bye", Storm replies smiling.
Joey hangs up and sighs, Aden looks at her questioningly as she rubs her eyes. "What's up? Storm's coming back, you should be relieved", Aden comments slightly confused.
"I am, but if I hadn't called her, would she be coming back", she answers slightly disheartened.
"Well what did she say was keeping her", he asks curiously.
"She fell asleep", Joey replies tiredly.
"I can understand that, with what you've told me she would've been tired. It's good she went home then", Aden states
"Good? Why was it good that she went home", Joey asks surprised at what Aden had said.
"Better that she fell asleep there instead of falling asleep behind the wheel", he replies calmly.
"I didn't think of that. Do you think she will be ok driving back", she asks with worry in her voice.
"I'm sure she'll be alright. I can't see Storm doing anything stupid like driving still tired", Aden replies reassuringly.
"You're right, stupidity is my forte`", Joey remarks depressed.
"Jo stop beating yourself up. We all make mistakes and if Storm loves you she'll forgive you and want to be with you", he tells her with compassion in his voice.
"Yeah just like I forgave Charlie and stayed with her", she snorts in self-disgust.
"Well if you don't want to be with Storm then tell her, don't keep stringing her along", Aden exclaims in exasperation.
"I do want to be with her", Joey shrills, shocked by his comment.
"It doesn't sound like it. You are making excuses for why she should dump you. Is she the one you want to be with", he fires at her.
"Yes, but she deserve better! I'm nothing but a pathetic loser who is no good to anyone", she cries out in anguish.
"Joey you're not a pathetic loser, do you hear me! And as for Storm I think she would be just as disappointed to hear you call yourself that just as much as me", Aden remarks furious that Joey could think such a thing.
"Aden if I was a good person then my family would have loved, protected and supported me. Family is supposed to love you unconditionally", she throws up her hands. "So you see I'm not worth the trouble", Joey cries, feeling miserable and alone, she buries her face in her hands.
"Joey I know how you feel, but Belle and you taught me self worth. That I don't need other people or family's approval or opinions. You both showed me that holding onto the hurt and anger was hurting me and turning me into them. You've got such a loving and beautiful heart Jo, that's what draws people to you. So I don't want to hear you say you're pathetic and a bad person again, you hear", Aden states in righteous indignation and gives her a strong hug.
"I just want to be happy without all the complications", she sniffs into his shoulder.
"Don't we all", he comments softly and kisses Joey's forehead. "Come let's watch 'Ripley mark 2', it'll make the time pass quicker and before you know it Storm will be here. That is, if you want her here", Aden remarks solemnly.
"I do", she says quietly, and then she looks up at him. "Aden I don't want to lose her", Joey adamantly states, but thinking Storm would be better off without her.
Charlie decides to go for a walk along the beach to try to clear her head to figure out what she is going to do about Joey. Her walk leads her to her 'Joey' thinking spot, where she found herself the morning after Joey left. Where Aden found her leaning on the bonnet of her car looking out to sea wishing for Joey to come home.
Now sitting on a rail of the wooden fence that is protecting the sand dune. Charlie again looks out over the ocean hoping Joey will stay so she can show Joey how much she has changed. Charlie snorts at the thought that she has changed, 'yeah right Charlz, fucked up yours and Joey's life again because you couldn't keep your legs together', she disgustingly thinks. She shakes her head and wonders will she ever learn or is she doomed to spend the rest of her life continuing the same pattern.
As Charlie ponders how to break her self-destructive relationship cycle. She does not hear the sound of someone approaching until they speak, startling her out of her revelry. "So your beloved Joey has miraculously returned, to what, sweep you off your feet? No, as I hear it, she hasn't come alone, her girlfriend is with her", Angelo laughs, gloating at the fact that Joey has moved on.
Charlie ignores him. "How does it feel to be in love with someone who doesn't love you", he continues with sarcasm dripping with every word.
Charlie turns to him and folds her arms, "well you know exactly how I feel! Because you knew I was never in love with you while you loved me", Charlie coolly points out.
This wipes the smirk from his face, "hurts, don't it", Angelo growls in her face.
"Yes, but unlike you I'm not going to carry on like a two year old. Throwing tantrums and spewing hatred at Joey like you've been doing to me. I care enough about her to want to be friends with her", she answers tightly.
"I have a right to be angry with you Charlie, you used me so you wouldn't be all alone", he barks at her.
"We used each other Angelo. You needed me so you wouldn't be all alone either and to help you get back into the good books with everyone in town! So don't try to play the moral high ground card with me", Charlie fires back at him.
"I wasn't alone, I had May and you got jealous", Angelo states trying to hold in his anger.
"Yes I got jealous because I was lonely. And as for May, she's better off without you in her life because your love smothers", she remarks tired and frustrated at his unrelenting hurt and anger.
Angelo forcefully grabs Charlie by the arm and hiss venomously in her face, "you suck the love and warmth out of people with your cold and unfeeling heart!"
"Angelo let Charlie go or I will arrest you for assault", Georgia Watson icily commands.
Neither Charlie nor Angelo had heard her approach. However Charlie is glad she showed up because she was about to knee Angelo in the groin. Angelo glares at Georgia then back to Charlie, he grunts, shoves, and releases Charlie's arm and stalks away. Georgia moves to stand beside Charlie watching Angelo disappear. "You know he was talking out his arse", Georgia causally comments and turning her head to face Charlie, "you are one off the warmest people I know, well that is outside of work", she finishes off smirking.
"Hey, I'm warm at work", Charlie squawks and hip bumps Georgia and smiles with gratitude at her friend for her kind words.
"Yeah right, says the professional frost maiden. And god help any of us if we stuff up, because then out comes the ice bitch", Georgia chuckles with tongue in cheek.
"Well I have to keep you all on your toes", Charlie laughs and smiles at her.
"So how are you really, I heard that Joey has a girlfriend", Georgia gently enquires feeling sympathy for her friend.
Charlie shakes her head wearily, "like my life has gone further down the shit chute", Charlie glumly comments.
"Are you going to try and win her back", Georgia asks as she puts her arm around Charlie.
"I don't even know if I can get her back as a friend", Charlie sadly comments.
"I'm sure Joey won't hold a grudge", Georgia utters reassuringly.
"Well after this morning I'm not holding out for any hope", Charlie states with sorrow in her voice and stares out over the ocean.
"What happen this morning", Georgia tentatively asks, wondering what disaster had occurred.
"I went to talk to Joey this morning to find out why she didn't come back when she said she would, and you know me, it came out all wrong. All I managed to do was get her back up and we ended up in a shouting match", Charlie answers with regret.
"That sucks, but it doesn't sound bad enough for Joey to never want to speak to you again", Georgia comments unbelieving Joey is that petty, and noticing Charlie embarrassment.
"We didn't just stop at yelling", Charlie replies uncomfortably.
"What, you hit her", Georgia asks hesitantly.
"No!" Charlie shrills, "we had angry sex", she mumbles embarrassedly.
"I didn't catch that, you had what", Georgia asks slightly confused.
"We some how ended up having anger sex", Charlie whisper, wishing the ground would open up and swallow her.
"Fuck Charlie, you and Joey know how to complicate things", Georgia exclaims astounded with amusement in her voice. 'They end their relationship with cheating and now they renew things with cheating', Georgia ironically thinks.
"That sum up our relationship nicely, complicated", Charlie tiredly agrees.
"Do you think Joey will tell her girlfriend", Georgia asks wondering, because she gets the impression that Joey is very honest.
"Storm knows", Charlie briefly states.
"God, has she confronted you about it", Georgia enquires curiously.
"No because she was too busy helping to bring me back to reality to tell me what a low life I am", Charlie painfully explains.
"Bring you back to reality", Georgia asks confused.
"Let's just say that after the angry sex, it sent me for a loop and I slip back into my past", Charlie comments, not wanting to get into too much detail.
"And I take it, it wasn't a happy memory", Georgia states insightfully.
"No it wasn't, it was the worst time of my life", Charlie replies with a bad taste in her mouth.
"So I take it, Joey's girlfriend is the psychologist who left her business card at the station", Georgia remarks joining the dots together.
"Yes", Charlie simply says.
"Fuck this is making my head spin", Georgia states shaking her head.
"Welcome to the nightmare I call my life", Charlie snorts sarcastically.
"You know watching your life is like watching a train wreck. You know what is going to happen but you can't turn away", Georgia comments with her lip twitching trying to hold back a smirk.
"I'm so glad that my fucked up life is entertaining you", Charlie caustically huffs.
"I need some distraction from the boredom of paperwork", Georgia states poking fun at Charlie.
"I thought having Angelo at the station would be a big enough distraction to keep you happy", Charlie quips back.
"What would make me happy is for him to be transferred to Macquarie Island so he can keep the seals in line", she huffs. "Why the fuck is he really here because if he is here to find out who is poaching abalone, he's doing a shit job. He should be staking out the abalone areas, not just the wharf", Georgia states in frustration.
"I think the abalone poaching was just convenient to get him back here. He is too focused on Hugo. If it was just the poaching, he would be looking more at trawler operators because of the need for large cold storage. Hugo's boat only has a couple of small ice boxes on it", Charlie explains her thoughts on the whole Angelo transfer.
"What do you think he's really investigating", Georgia asks wanting to know her bosses thoughts.
"Smuggling, either drugs, weapons or exotic marine life", Charlie tells Georgia her theory.
"Well I hope he solves it soon so he can fuck off", Georgia utters with distain. She thinks Angelo had as much chance as solving his case as she has of winning 'Powerball'. He needs Charlie's help and how he has been treating her lately, he's got Buckley's of getting her help.
"You really can't stand him can you", Charlie comments, curious to know why Georgia dislikes Angelo so much.
"No I can't! He thinks his shit doesn't stink, but his farts give him away! He waltzes back in here like nothing has happen, giving orders like he's the boss. That we're here at his beak and call, showing you no respect for your position and treating you like he owns you, the smug chauvinistic bastard", Georgia replies vehemently. She hates the fact he plays on Charlie's insecurities turning her from a strong capable woman into a weak needy wimp.
"Aww I didn't know you cared, want to go out on a date", Charlie teases, taken back but pleased to know how much Georgia thinks of her.
"Fuck off, you wish. Oh and I'm taken", Georgia snorts.
"What's her name", Charlie quickly asks.
"Who said it was a she", Georgia replies in surprise because Charlie had not realised about her own sexuality to recognise it in anyone else.
"Please, you never gave a second look at anyone of the hunky cops", Charlie retorts.
"Joey told you, didn't she", Georgia states knowingly.
"Yeah she did", Charlie admits chuckling. "So what's her name?"
"Her name is Jamie", Georgia answers smiling brightly.
"Do you have a picture of her", Charlie asks, curious to know about the woman who has captured her friends heart.
"Yes I do", Georgia reluctantly sighs, pulling out her mobile from her trouser pocket. She knows Charlie would hassle her until she showed her.
Showing Charlie a picture of Jamie, Charlie smiles seeing the goofy expression Georgia has on her face as they look at the picture. "She's pretty Georgia and by the look on your face she makes you happy", Charlie utters warmly.
"She does Charlie. I think she's the one, I've never felt this in love before", Georgia exclaims gushing with love.
"Oh my, I never thought I'd see the day that Georgia Watson would gush over anything! Will wonders never cease", Charlie laughs making fun at her.
"Oh, get fucked, I was not gushing", Georgia replies embarrassed over her 'girly' comments.
"You were practically swooning. I definitely have to meet the woman who has made 'ball breaker' Watson go all girly", Charlie continues to laugh and tease.
"I'm not girly", she squawks in a high pitch voice, causing Charlie to laugh harder. "I'm not", Georgia repeats lowering her pitch and huffing.
"I think it's sweet", Charlie utters with a smirk.
"Yeah right, I'm going now", Georgia retorts pushing herself off the fence.
"Come on Georgia, I think you'd look great in a little French maid outfit", Charlie laughs and winks at her.
"Bye Charlie", Georgia responds not taking the bait.
"Georgia, thanks for what you said earlier, I appreciate it", Charlie sincerely comments, knowing she has her support.
"No problem Boss", Georgia answers happily.
Just then, Georgia's radio squawks, informing her of a break in at Hugo Austin's dive warehouse down at the wharf. "Got to go", Georgia plainly states.
"Yep. Let me know if you find out anything interesting", Charlie remarks with interest.
"Boss", Georgia asks questioningly.
"About what we discussed before. I trust your instincts", Charlie answers her with a knowing smirk.
"Sure thing Senior", Georgia says grinning back, turning and walking away. She suddenly turns and calls out, "Charlie if you want Joey in your life be honest with her and yourself", leaving Charlie with those parting words of advice.
'How much worse can it get if I tell her how I feel and the truth about my life', Charlie ponders, and once again, she looks out over the ocean.
Ruby and Nicole slowly pull apart as they hear voices coming from down stairs. Looking shyly at one another, Nicole tentatively stammers, "thank you for being here for me... and for what I needed."
"I'm glad to be here", Ruby softly answers and gently brushing her finger tips down Nicole's face.
"So what do we do now", Nicole asks, nervously licking her lips.
"I don't know, what do you want to do", Ruby replies slightly anxious.
"I asked you first", Nicole retorts with a nervous smile.
"Very mature of you, leaving it up to the kid", Ruby teases and starts to giggle.
"You make me sound so old", Nicole swats Ruby's arm.
"Well, you are an adult now", Ruby pointedly jests.
"I'm not even 2 years older then you", Nicole squawks in offence and pouts.
"Well you're lucky I only go for the slightly older ones then", Ruby wickedly winks at her and gives Nicole a quick kiss on her lips.
"Seriously Rubes, what are we doing? Is it because we are lonely, depressed or desperate", Nicole sighs in frustration.
"Oi, speak for yourself. I'm not desperate, maybe slightly lonely and depressed. Look Nic I don't know why we kissed but I do know that I like it and I'm not going to freak out about it. Because I'm freak out enough about Charlie being my mother and having rapist for a father", Ruby explains sadly with tears running down her face.
Nicole takes Ruby in her arms and holds her tight, "I'm sorry Rubes, it's just last time a girl kissed me it got around town and I got hit on. And I told her if I were into girls, she would be my type. I just didn't think I would end up kissing another girl and liking it", Nicole whispers.
Ruby moves slightly out of their embrace and gazes interestingly at Nicole, "A girl hit on you, who", she enquires.
"Joey", Nicole answers warily and not looking in Ruby's eyes.
"Joey hit on you", Ruby shrieks in disbelief.
"Sshh keep it down, and yes she hit on me. But I think she only did it to try and get over the rape", Nicole clarifies still feeling empathy for what Joey was going through.
"Wow", is all Ruby can say on that matter. "So I take it, your type is younger sexy intelligent chicky babes", Ruby quips giving Nicole her seductive look.
"If that is your seductive look it failed", Nicole collapses back onto her pillow in peals of laughter.
Ruby stares at Nicole then pouts at being laughed at. Nicole observes this, springs up, and kisses a surprised Ruby. Drawing out of the kiss, Nicole murmurs, "but if you pout like that you will always succeed."
Ruby blushes and leans in and captures Nicole lips. As the kiss deepens, Ruby brushes her tongue along Nicole's lips. Nicole responds opening her mouth as Ruby's tongue slides inside and gently touches and tastes her. Nicole moans and pulls Ruby on to her as she lies down. Running her hands gently up Ruby's back she elitists a moan of pleasure from Ruby. This encourages Nicole to run her hands slowly down Ruby's back, causing more moans. When she reaches Ruby's bum she softly kneads it, Ruby tears her mouth from Nicole and gasps in pleasure, "yes". Ruby then attacks Nicole's neck with soft nips, licks and kisses drawing sounds of pleasure from Nicole.
Before they things really start to heat up, they are interrupted by a knock on the door. Rolling Ruby off her, Nicole answers her voice still husky with desire, "who is it?"
"Jai, can I come in", his voice muffled through the door.
"Hold on", Nicole hollers back.
Giving Ruby an apologising look, who falls back on the bed frustrated, as Nicole gets off the bed, goes, unlocks, and opens her door.