thanks for all the kind reviews, enjoy xox
Nighttime was hitting Summer Bay again. Joey couldn't believe that it was only twenty four hours ago she had nearly lost the love of her life and had lost her brother. He was the only family she had known since her mother had left and her father had died. But she wasn't upset over Brett; she had a new family. She thought back to the night Robbo had been found guilty and on how Ross had told her she was family. That moment now meant more to her than it ever did. Although she was glad Leah had offered to tell Ross about Charlie as she didn't think she could especially as it was her brother's sick idea of protection that had got Charlie into this mess.
She watched as Ruby sat holding her sister's hand as Charlie slept. Between the painkillers and the anestesia Charlie was sleepy and drifted in and out of conscious but this time she was sleeping for over an hour. 'Even now laying in a hospital bed she still looks amazing' Joey couldn't help but admire Charlie. She had done it so often, when she was running, walking, eating, talking, laughing, crying, arguing, no matter what Charlie was doing she always looked amazing, this was just a new one to add to the list 'hospital bed' Joey added it mentally.
She was sitting on the other armchair in the room at the other side of Charlie and she too was holding Charlie's hand. She loved that it felt warm and clammy. Maybe not the clammy part but the warmth highlighted she was still with her and she could still hold her.
She cast her eyes again to Ruby who moved her head to lay it on the bed beside Charlie's hand.
"Rubes," Joey spoke softly as to not wake Charlie or startle Ruby. Ruby lifted her head and looked at Joey, she thought against her heavy eyelids. "Maybe if Aden's there he can take you home so you can get a good nights sleep and a shower and some dinner."
Ruby's eye's where now wide open with shock as to what her ears where hearing. 'She thinks I'm gonna leave Charlie?' she thought to herself. "No Jo, I'm staying here"
"Ruby you are falling asleep and it looks like Charlie is out for the night, that last batch of painkillers have really knocked her out, plus it has been a long day." Joey tried to reason with her.
"What about you?" Ruby challenge knowing Joey had gone through the same as her.
"I know Rubes but I think Charlie would be happy knowing her sister was comfortable and relaxing after the trauma, that has been the past twenty four hours. She would be happy to see that tomorrow, she really loves you and I doubt she'd want to see you half slept and smelly!" Joey tried to add a joke at the end to lighten the mood.
"She loves you more, so she wouldn't want to see you that way either." Ruby argued, "plus I don't smell" she protested.
"She loves us equally but she is more protective of her little sis!" Joey again tried to rationalise why Ruby should go home.
"Mm think she is equally protective Jo" Ruby giggled. She knew she could be stubborn but Joey's persistence was pretty amazing, she couldn't help but think on how Charlie had caved to her feelings. With Joey she wasn't going to get away with it. Even if Joey seemed mild and timid, she made her point and you couldn't help but agree.
"Am I going to convince you anytime soon or am I going to have to get Aden and Leah to drag you home?" Joey smiled at Ruby. "Plus I'm sure ADEN would have no problem taking you back first thing tomorrow." Joey couldn't help but emphasis Aden's name in order to hint at Ruby that she could see something coming.
"Fine" Ruby said quickly so Joey wouldn't ask emphasis anymore. "But what about you?" Ruby was concerned.
"I'm sure Rachel will give me a portable bed to sleep on, and she mention a spare pair of scrubs too, but when you are coming in tomorrow can you bring me a change of clothes."
Ruby nodded happy but satisfied with Joey's answer. She stood up and kissed Charlie on the forehead and then slowly eased her hand out of Charlie's. She started to walk away and then turned back and went to the other side of the bed where Joey was. She wrapped her arms around Joey. Joey lifted her free arm and wrapped it around Ruby. "What's this for?" Joey whispered into Ruby's ear.
"Because you are the best thing to happen to Charlie, because you've been there for her and me today, because you're family… I love you… not like Charlie loves you but like I love Charlie."
Joey giggled at Ruby's quick clarification of her feeling. She felt a tear run down her cheek. "I love you too Ruby… Like you love Charlie." Joey tried to laugh through the tears running down her cheek.
Charlie tried to sit up in the bed but the pain was excruciating. She yelped in pain. She knew it would be sore before she tried but she still wanted to so she could see everyone around the room properly. She had been moved out of the ICU after Rachel's morning rounds. She was happy as this meant a few things; one she wasn't in immediate danger anymore, two she got to see more of her friends and thank them for all they had done and three it was one step closer to being allowed home.
"Charlie stop, you know what Rachel said any rash movement or over stretching could tear the stitches internally or outside." Joey looked into Charlie's eye's pleading for her not to cause herself anymore damage.
"Sorry Jo, I just want to see everyone better." She smiled apologetically knowing how worried Joey had been. She was glad this morning when she woke up and Joey was in a bed next to hers and no longer wearing the once beautiful dress that was then covered in blood. Since then however Joey had been for a shower in the staff changing rooms thanks to Rachel and Ruby had brought her some clothes to wear. 'She looks beautiful' Charlie thought to herself but then again she thought that all the time, even when she first woke and Joey looked distraught and emotional with blood strains on her clothes and her hair a mess.
Joey moved the pillows behind Charlie's head so she could sit up a bit further without moving or straining her stomach or back.
"Thank you" Charlie spoke softly at Joey.
"Anytime" Joey leaned over and kissed Charlie, Charlie happily accepted the kiss and leaned in for more.
"A-hem, we are still in the room" Ruby joked. It broke Charlie and Joey apart; Joey turned a shade of red.
"You're just jealous." Charlie teased back and laughed but her laughter was cut short with the shooting pain in her side.
"Serves you right" Ruby teased back which caused Charlie to laugh again and hurt herself again.
"Ok, remind me not to laugh!" Charlie looked around the room so everyone would agree to remind her.
"But, Charlie I am so happy to see you smile and laugh." Leah said smiling at her. "I'm so glad you're still with us." Leah had been extremely emotional since seeing Charlie she cried, laughed or got angry with Brett.
"Believe me Leah nobody is as glad as me" Joey again leaned in for a kiss. She didn't care who was watching anymore, she was just happy she could kiss her.
"Mm" Charlie enjoyed the touch of Joey's soft lips and squeezed her hand to let her know. She looked at Leah after her lips parted from Joey's "accept maybe me" she smiled.
"Thank you Aden, I don't think I will ever be able to thank you or Rachel enough for saving me life." Charlie looked sincerely at Aden.
"I didn't do much" Aden as usual was modest.
"Ah I think you'll find you saved my sister's life. You jumped into action and saved the day. First by hitting Brett and then by helping Charlie. I was too busy throwing up but you were fantastic." Ruby suddenly wished she could take back the throwing up part.
Aden sat blushing, Ruby's praise was more than he could take. "Shame you didn't get your meal though." Aden tried to change the subject off himself.
"I forgot about the meal" Charlie suddenly remembered why she had planned it.
"Awe Charlie the table was beautiful, really romantic" Leah confirmed.
Charlie gazed at Ruby and then at Joey. "Did you not like your presents?"
"Oh my god where is my black box?" Ruby screamed and then looked apologetically at the people around her who had flinched with the sound.
"I have both of your presents in my bag." Leah reached for her bag and handed them over.
"Joey wouldn't let me open it Charlie! She said I had to wait! Me wait imagine?" Ruby looked at Charlie with a pretend discussed look on her face.
"You're gonna have to tell me how you managed that." Charlie smiled at Joey.
Ruby wasted no time in opening her present. "Oh my god Charlie, it's beautiful."
"Really you like it?" Charlie wasn't too sure of Ruby's present she had bought her a present so she wouldn't feel left out at the special meal.
"Like it? I love it" she roared pulling the silver chain out of the box and putting it around her neck. Once the clasp had been done she flung herself at Charlie for a hug. "Thank you, it's really beautiful"
Ruby then turned to show Aden and Leah her Chain.
Charlie looked at Joey who was still holding the box unopened. "Jo, I wanted the night to be special, I wanted to sit relax in a candlelight meal with the two people I loved most in the world. I wanted to show you how much I loved you. I wanted everything to be perfect. This is definitely not the place I wanted to give this to you." Charlie looked lovingly into Joey's eye's trying to convey all her love.
"It's always perfect Charlie when I'm with you." She leaned forward and gave Charlie a kiss and then put all her attention on the little black box in front of her. She slowly began to open it….