Charlie and Danny had just finished patching up the broken roof when the call went out on the police radio for all available units to meet at the Fitzpatrick house and they shared a dark look. They both knew that call meant something bad had happened.
"You don't think?"
"Not Terry!"
They both finished the cup of tea that had been gratefully offered by Mrs Bowman, the house owner, and passed her the empty mugs.
"You boys drive safe now! Come back anytime for a cuppa and a bikkie won't you?"
Charlie slid into the drivers seat as Danny smiled at the woman "Thanks for the hospitality Mrs Bowman "
"Thanks for fixing my roof, you boys have been such dears"
"Ahh that's what we're here for" Danny shut the door and waved at the little old lady as Charlie started the car and drove off
They drove in silence for a bit
"I think we made a friend" Danny attempted to break the tension, but if anything it just made Charlie grit his teeth and drive faster. Danny fell back into silence.
They pulled up outside the Fitzpatrick house, and as they got out of the car they saw Bill, Ned, Lucien, Alice and Matthew gathered around a fallen tree branch.
Charlies stomach dropped as he surveyed the scene. His eyes darted back to where Matthew stood. They locked eyes.
"Boss?"
"I'm sorry Charlie"
Charlie felt his knees weaken. He couldn't explain why this was hitting him so hard. He wasn't any closer to Terry than any of the other officers, but none of them looked like the bottom of their world had just fallen out.
Danny reached over and put a comforting hand on Charlies shaking shoulder. He looked towards Matthew who nodded towards a bench at the edge of the property.
"Come on mate" Danny put his arm around his waist and guided Charlie to the seat.
Charlie wasn't exactly crying yet, but he was doing the deep staggered breathing of someone trying very hard not to cry.
As they sat in silence, broken only by Charlie's laboured breathing, Danny gently lay a hand on Charlie's back as tears streamed down his face and he gulped for air. Danny rubbed his hand up and down his back soothingly as he looked away to watch a Rosella pecking at the ground in the hope of finding food, giving Charlie the time he needed.
Eventually Charlie spoke "I don't know why it's hit me this hard. It's not as if the guy was my best friend" his voice was heavy and thick.
Danny turned to him "You've had a bit going on these last 24 hours mate, maybe it's just all caught up with you and this was 'the straw that broke the camels back' as they say"
Charlie met his eyes "You know, He was the first person I spoke to, here in Ballarat. Asked him if he could point me in the direction of the police station." He took a shaky breath "He walked with me all the way down the main street"
Danny moved his hand on to his shoulder "Well there you go, He meant something to you. You were a new arrival in an unfamiliar town, and he was kind. That's a powerful bond."
"I guess you're right" Charlie rubbed his face and dirt from his hands smeared his cheek. "I just wish…."
Danny instinctively put his hand on Charlie's cheek to wipe the dirt off with his thumb. He forced him to look at him "Hey" he said softly "Listen. None of this is your fault, Not the thing with Rose, not Terry's death. That was some storm last night and we're lucky there aren't more fatalities really."
Charlie dropped his eyes, feeling Danny's big hand cupping his face
Danny sighed "Come here" he pulled Charlie in to his arms and embraced him. Charlie sighed as he rested his head on Danny's shoulder. He automatically felt safe and strong in Danny's arms, and his breath caught in his throat again, but this time for an entirely different reason.
Danny was still speaking "I'm gonna go talk to the boss and see if you can have the rest of the afternoon off"
Charlie began to protest
"Shut up idiot" Danny muttered fondly with a small smile "If there was one thing I learnt in Melbourne it was to take sick days when you need to"
"But I'm not sick" Charlie mumbled against his shoulder
"There's more than one kind of 'sick' Charlie, and you definitely currently have a sickness of the heart" He pushed him gently off his shoulder. "You stay" he instructed him softly but sternly.
Charlie watched him as he walked away. He stared unseeing as Danny spoke with Matthew, as Matthew looked at Lucien, as Lucien shrugged and Matthew looked back at Danny and nodded. Suddenly he realised the figure he had been watching, was walking back towards him
"Good news" Danny's hands spread wide "The boss has given us both the rest of the day off"
"What?"
"He said most of the hard work is done and Bill and Ned can finish up, Blake and Doctor Harvey have… Terry to look after" He'd almost said 'the body' but caught himself in time
Charlie gaped at him "What did you tell him?"
Danny leant down and put an arm around his waist once more, pulling him into a standing position "Just that you didn't sleep well because of the storm last night and this" He indicated the house, "has really hit you hard"
There was a pause as they made their way to the car. Once they'd sat themselves in the car, this time with Danny driving and Charlie as the passenger, Charlie turned to him "Thanks" he muttered.
Danny tried to brush it off "Don't mention it"
"No, I mean it. I haven't had a friend my own age here in such a long time. I'd forgotten how nice it is for someone to have my back."
Danny flashed a soft grin at him as he steered the car with ease "What are friends for?"
Charlie locked eyes with him for a second before Danny flicked his eyes back to the road "So, We're gonna go back to Auntie Jean's, you're gonna have a shower, and then we can decide what to do for the rest of the day. Whether you want to read a book, go for a ride on the bike, listen to some music, whatever you need." He paused "I don't have to stay with you if you'd prefer to be alone." They drove for a bit and as they pulled into the driveway Danny continued to speak "I'll take the car back to the station and we can chat when I get back." He parked the car and jumped out to open the door for Charlie who was still staring into space. "Out you get"
Charlie slowly unfolded himself from the car, then suddenly wrapped his arms around Danny's neck and pressed his body close in a warm hug.
Danny was slightly taken aback with the hug, but softened and tucked his arms around Charlie's waist.
It was a good hug, and it surprised both of them to find how well their bodies fit together.
Danny pulled back and looked at Charlie's face. He didn't want to take advantage of his emotional state but as his eyes flickered to his lips, he wondered what they would taste like, what they would feel like. He saw Charlie lick his lips and lean in
At that moment Jean came out of the front door "Why are you boys home so early?" She took stock of their proximity and glanced at them suspiciously. "Is everything alright?"
Charlie broke away instantly. He dropped his arms from around Danny's neck and walked past Jean into the house without saying a word, or looking back to where Danny and Jean stood on the driveway. Jean looking confused and Danny looking thoughtful
"I'd better get the car back to the station" he turned and began to walk back to the car
"Daniel Parks! Get right back here this instant and tell me what on earth is going on?!"
"So I think I've probably got enough candid shots" Rose fumbled with her camera "Are you… I mean, would you mind doing some posed shots for me? I'm trying to build up my portfolio"
Mattie rubbed her nose "Surely you're sick of the subject matter by now"
"Nonsense, as if anyone could ever get sick of looking at you" Rose shut her mouth, realising how that must have sounded. "Anyway. It's good practice"
Mattie's cheeks coloured as she felt her face flush. She was so used to flying under the radar that all this attention was a bit intense. In London, no one looked twice at the quiet, mousey brown-haired nurse and it had been a long while since anyone had been interested in her. But so much had happened since coming back to Ballarat. She already felt so much more loved, More needed. She'd stitched Rose up when she had fainted and banged her head, been useful in the clinic, taking over for Jean this morning and she'd like to think she'd helped Rose with her relationship with Charlie. She'd made a new friend and confided in an old one, Ballarat felt so much more like home than London ever had. Here, she made a difference. There, she doubted people even knew she'd gone.
Rose touched her arm "You ok? You went all quiet"
Mattie blinked "Just thinking about some stuff"
"Do you….. wanna talk about it? The stuff?"
Mattie looked at the hand resting on her arm and smiled up at the girl "Maybe later" she still wasn't sure about how she felt about Rose. There was no doubt she had feelings for her, but she wasn't ready to act on them just yet. She'd only known her for less than a day. And let's face it, for half of that time she had resented her. Strange to think that was only last night. "Where do you want me?"
Rose smiled at her. "Why don't we go over there near those trees? She pointed to a group of gum trees at the edge of the park
As they made their way to the trees, they chatted easily
"The lights good here."
Mattie stopped and shifted uncomfortably "So, what do I do?"
"Can I pose you? Do you mind?"
Mattie shook her head "Nope, I'm all yours"
Rose smiled "It might feel a bit weird. If I pose you in any uncomfortable positions, let me know."
Mattie swallowed nervously and nodded.
"Could you…. Lean your back against the tree?"
As Mattie did so, Rose pulled her arm to rest on top her head. "Just let your arm flop there, don't hold tension in it." Rose stepped back to see the bigger picture. She tilted her head slightly and then frowned. "Relax your wrist."
Mattie tried to listen to her and do what she said, but there was a piece of bark digging in to her back. She made a face and tried to adjust her position, just as Rose bent down to move Mattie's leg.
Mattie lost her balance and toppled over, landing on her back, amongst grass, bark and leaves.
"I'm sorry! I should have asked before trying to move your foot!" Rose was mortified but also clearly trying not to laugh. "Are you alright?" She stood up and moved to look where Mattie lay.
"I'm fine. Nothing hurt… except my pride" she extended a hand to Rose in the hope she would help her up, but Rose was looking at her critically.
"No. Stay there. This is a great shot" Rose said, excitement evident in her voice
"You're not serious?" Mattie stared up at her, but Rose was already raising her camera to her face.
"Actually, could you... maybe just roll on to your side to face me and fold your arm under your head"
Mattie obediently did as she was asked, rolling her eyes the whole time.
"We can go back to the tree in a second. I just want to get this one shot." Rose continued as she crouched down. She shook her head "No, I need to get lower"
Surprised, Mattie watched as Rose herself, lay on her stomach in the grass, raising the camera to her face. She snapped some photos
"This would be such a good photo in colour! The green blades of grass juxtaposed against your creamy skin. If only colour wasn't so expensive!" Rose thought to herself for a moment "Maybe every page could just have one colour photo on it? Just to make it really pop"
Mattie sighed with amusement "Can I get up now? I think there's ants on me"
Rose raised her camera to her face once more and snapped a few final shots "Yup. That's a great shot. "You got a boyfriend back in England we could send one of these to?" Rose surreptitiously fished for information.
Mattie's breath caught in her throat as she stood and brushed herself off, grateful for the excuse to not answer straight away. "Um, no actually"
Rose pouted "Pity. I'd love to see his reaction to some of these shots"
Mattie pursed her lips and said nothing. She didn't quite know why she wasn't telling Rose the truth. But since she'd been back in Ballarat, the only person she'd been entirely honest with was Danny. She leant back against the tree in the same position Rose had her posing in earlier and raised her arm above her head. "Now, what did you want me to do with my foot?"
Rose stood and looked at her and cocked her head to one side, "Just lean your foot back, flat against the tree"
"Front foot or back foot?"
"Front foot"
Mattie raised her front foot obediently and Rose stepped back and raised her camera to her face. She brought the camera back down, frowning slightly.
"What's the matter?" Mattie asked
Rose stepped closer to her and leaned forward tucking a strand of hair behind Mattie's ear.
The intimacy of the move surprised Mattie, who felt goosebumps begin to crawl up her arms.
Rose stepped back to her spot and raised her camera once more. This time the camera stayed there and she began to click away.
Mattie chewed on her lip nervously.
Rose took the camera away from her face once more and gave Mattie a look "I don't want a photo of you looking like a nervous rabbit, Be confident, I want you to look beautiful."
Mattie smiled shyly.
"More" Rose demanded "Smile like you did before."
Mattie grinned at her.
"Better" The camera was returned to her face and Rose once more began to snap photos.
