Hi everyone! I hope you are all staying safe and nobody is poorly or has anyone they love who is poorly. Love, IJKS xxx

Chapter Twenty Four

That morning was Charlie's first day by herself. Joey was back to work with Ziggy and Aden had a shift at the Diner. Ruby had been asked out on an all day date with Casey, which she had nearly cancelled but Charlie had pushed her to go ahead with it.

Before work, Joey had suggested that she and Charlie go with Aden to the Diner for breakfast, keen to nudge her girlfriend out the door and into the world.

"Are you doing okay?" she asked as she walked alongside Charlie, who was hesitantly wheeling herself towards the Diner doors.

Charlie nodded.

"I'm good," she said.

Aden held open the doors, allowed both women inside. They were greeted warmly by Leah, who took them to a table.

"It's so good to see you, Charlie," she said. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm okay," Charlie said. "A little nervous. I haven't been out since…"

"Well, I'm honoured that the Diner is your first port of call."

Charlie smiled genuinely at her.

"And for that, your meal is on the house," Leah added. "Anything you want. We're all just so happy you're here, Charlie."

"Hey, can I get in on that?" Aden joked.

"Absolutely," Leah grinned. "I'll just take it out of you wages."

He pulled a face and sat down at the table with Charlie and Joey.

"There is definitely some favouritism going on here," he said.

"Breakfast is served," Alex said, placing a plate in front of Willow.

Alex put her own plate down and sat beside her at the table. They were at Alex's house; Willow had stayed the night. It seemed like they spent pretty much every night together these days at one or the other's houses.

"Thank you," Willow said. "This looks amazing."

Alex had made pancakes. Willow had had a craving. She leant over and kissed her.

"You're welcome," Alex said. "What are your plans today?"

"Work," Willow said. "You?"

"Same. And I was going to pop in and visit Charlie on my break. But I'm free tonight if you want to do something?"

"I'd love to do something…"

She grinned, making Alex laugh.

"Mmm… these are delicious!" Willow enthused. "Exactly what I wanted!"

"Good!" Alex chuckled. "I am to please."

"You do," Willow said more seriously. "You are exactly what I want."

Alex blushed, feeling shy. Willow couldn't help but think she was sweet. On the one hand, Alex was so confident. She ran the whole emergency department. But there were moments when she was so shy and so sweet. She absolutely adored her.

"Hey… I was wondering…" Alex ventured.

Willow offered her rapt attention.

"Would you like a drawer?"

"A drawer?"

"In my room," Alex explained. "For when you stay here. Would you like a drawer for your things so you don't need to keep packing your stuff to come over?"

"Oh!" Willow said, sitting up a little straighter.

Alex looked anxious. Willow smiled and reached for her hand.

"I would love a drawer," she said. "I've never had a drawer before."

Alex beamed at her.

"Then I'm thrilled to be your first," she said.

Willow leant closer.

"You've been my first for a lot of things!"

Alex burst out laughing. Willow laughed too. It suddenly became infectious. When she had recovered, Alex stood up and rummaged in a kitchen drawer.

"Also… would you like this?" she asked, placing a key on the table.

Willow looked at it and then back at Alex.

"Don't panic, I'm not asking you to move in," the Doctor said quickly.

Willow wasn't sure if she was disappointed or not.

"But just… so you can come and go as and when you want to," Alex explained. "If you're coming over and I'm not quite home yet or I leave for work and you want to stay and hang out. Basically, just to give you more independence here."

Willow accepted the key. She kissed her.

"That's really sweet of you, Alex," she said. "Thank you."

"It's not too much?" Alex asked.

"It's perfectly perfect just like you."

Joey dropped Charlie off at home, checking and double checking that she would be alright by herself. Charlie assured her that she would be fine, reminding her that Alex planned to visit later. Now, alone for the first time, Charlie let out a long breath. Everything had been so busy since she had arrived in her new home. She looked around, wondering how long it would take for her to adjust to her new normal.

She panicked when there was a loud knock at the door; memories of the shooting jolted her. That was the last time she had been home alone. Maybe it was too soon after all. The loud knocking continued. She fretted over who it could be. Alex wasn't due until later and she wouldn't be so aggressive in trying to get in.

Hesitantly, she wheeled herself over to the front door and anxiously opened up. Her heart sank when she saw Brax standing there. He didn't give her any choice as to whether to let him in or not. She called his name as she followed him into the lounge.

"You're alone, aren't you?" he said. "I saw everyone go out and only you and that Joey came back. Then she went out again. So you're alone?"

"What do you want, Brax?" Charlie asked, not confirming anything. "Why are you spying on me?"

"I want the chance for us to talk properly without people buzzing around us," he said.

He knelt in front of her and attempted to hold her hands. She refused and backed away. He moved forwards until she was trapped against the back of the sofa. She began to panic but tried not to let it show.

"Charlie, I'm sorry about the other night," he said sincerely. "I was drunk and stupid. I was just frustrated at not being able to speak to you."

"What's your excuse now?"

"Charlie…" he said, taking her hands.

She tried to pull away.

"I get it," he said. "I put you in danger. And I wasn't there for you or for Ruby the way I should have been. I was wrong and I'm sorry. But this is what we do, Charlie. We stuff up. Both of us do. But we always forgive each other and we always get back together."

"Not this time, Brax!" she said, pulling away from him.

"Charlie!" he half yelled.

"No!" she yelled back.

"You really were brain damaged or something!" he said angrily, standing up. "I don't know what the hell is wrong with you but whatever game you're playing, it's getting boring now, Charlie!"

"I'm not playing a game!"

She moved away into a free space where she was no longer enclosed.

"Really?" he snapped. "Playing house with some lesbian you found from God knows where? Come on! You don't belong with her! This isn't your life!"

"It is," Charlie replied quietly. "If ever there was a game it was me and you. And I very nearly lost."

"Are you seriously telling me that you're happy like this?" he said, gesturing around him.

"Well, I'd rather that my life with you hadn't left me in a wheelchair but yes, I am happy," she said coldly.

"What the hell can that woman give you that I can't?" he demanded.

"Do you want a list or…?"

She was tired of his anger. She was tired of him keep barging into her life while she was trying to recover and heal.

"What the hell's that supposed to mean?" he said.

"I asked if you wanted a list of the things that she can give me that you can't," Charlie asked, no longer afraid of him.

He looked dumbfounded.

Joey had barely got down the road when she had turned around to come back again, pulling up quickly on the drive. She had forgotten her lunch and despite it providing her with an excuse to come back and check on Charlie during the day, she really wanted to be committed to work at the garage in these beginning weeks and impress Ziggy. So far, it was going well and she wanted it to continue to do so.

However, now she was stopped in the hallway, listening to Charlie and Brax argue and she didn't know what to do. She had just been about to intervene and protect Charlie but suddenly her girlfriend was giving a list of reasons why she was better than Brax. She remained unnoticed in the hall.

"Okay," she said confidently. "I'll start. Joey gives me absolute certainty that she loves me. I can trust her and believe in her. I feel completely safe and secure in our relationship. I know that at the slightest hint of a problem, she isn't going to run off with someone else. She's also not a criminal. She's never harmed another person. She isn't involved in danger or gangs and she isn't going to get me shot or put any of my family in harm's way."

"So she's boring?" Brax remarked.

"She's normal," Charlie countered. "She's also kind. She's funny. She's charming. She's beautiful. She abandoned her entire life in order to move here and start a new life with me, the moment she knew what had happened. She's also forgiving. She did all that when I treated her so, so badly. I broke her heart and yet here she is, loving me anyway."

"Well, all that to me sounds like you've chosen the safe option," Brax told her. "And I know you, Charlie. You'll get bored. You cheated on her once and you'll cheat on her again. It's all very nice now when you're getting used to that chair but the real Charlie will come out soon enough and then you'll be back in my bed."

Joey could feel hot tears roll down her cheeks. A lump ached in her throat. There weren't many moments when she would agree with Darryl Braxton but this was definitely one of them. Charlie was only with her because of the shooting. She was only with her because she was disabled. She was clinging to Joey because she was safe and reliable. She hadn't once mentioned anything remotely passionate or loving between them. Not once. It had all been about safety and security. And as soon as Charlie didn't need that anymore, she would be gone.

She turned and left the house as quietly as she had arrived. She wasn't sure if she ever wanted to return.

"I haven't reached the end of the list yet," Charlie told him.

He stood over her, arms folded, face irritated.

"She's the best sex I've ever had in my life."

He stormed out of the house, slamming the door so hard it nearly came off its hinges.

Joey was distracted at work, which wasn't terribly helpful when working on car engines.

"You okay?" Ziggy asked.

She had only been working with Joey for a few weeks but so far, Joey had been focussed and absolutely dedicated to the job. To be honest, she had kind of been showing her up. To see her not concentrating was a worry.

"I'm fine," Joey assured her. "Sorry."

"Are you worried about Charlie?"

Joey looked up sharply.

"What do you mean?" she asked defensively.

"I just mean because it's the first time she's been at home by herself," Ziggy said awkwardly. "Seriously, Jo, are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Joey lied. "I'm just worried about Charlie but I shouldn't let it distract me."

"Well, if you want to call her or check on her, you can," Ziggy offered. "We're pretty quiet and you're in pretty exceptional circumstances. It's fine."

Joey pictured Charlie and Brax together for the millionth time. She shook her head.

"I'm fine," she said. "Honestly."

Charlie jolted when there was a second knock at the door. The knocking was urgent. She opened up, prepared this time to send Brax on his way. She was relieved when it was Alex.

"Hey, my shift got moved at the last minute," she said. "Did I just see Brax leaving?"

"Yeah," Charlie said anxiously. "I'm fine. I just… I think that's the last time he'll come by."

She let Alex come in, closing the door behind her.

"Are you sure you're okay?" the Doctor asked worriedly.

"Nothing I can't handle," Charlie assured her.

Alex nodded.

"So, I'd ask you how your first morning alone is going but it seems like you've been inundated with visitors!"

Next time… Alex is concerned about the future and can Charlie and Joey resolve things…?