Disclaimer : I don't own anything so there!

MEME : I totally understand where you're coming from. I'm so grateful though, that you took the time to review anyway. It means so much. Anyways thanks for the support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!

GRUMPYPIRATE : Glad your so eager to find out lol. Anyways thanks for the support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!

ANNE918 : I can't believe you almost forgot your crystal ball, how could you? Lol. I think it's just a little out of practice, that's all, after another couple of chapters, it should be back on form lol. I loved Adam's little speech too, I thought I needed to put it in there since I'm feeling a little down with it not being an Adam/Connie fic lol. Anyways thanks for the support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!

PUNKTEACHER : Arr thank you. Yeah, get back to your updating lol. Anyways thanks for the support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!

JOANK : Arr thank you. Yeah I know what you mean, I'm trying to not let Connie get TOO melodramatic, I can't stand the thought of her being really needy all the time lol. Anyways thanks for the support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!

XSARAH : Your keyboard broke, my mouse went funny the other night lol. Between us, we could probably build a really dodgy computer lol. Anyways thanks for the support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!

CAKEEATER : YAY! New reader (sirens go wild lol) I'm glad you're enjoying the story. You have a suspect all ready? Wow you work fast lol. Anyways thanks for the support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!

Chapter 7

CHARLIE'S P.O.V

This shouldn't be happening. Rape was something that happened to other people. Not someone you knew, not your girlfriend. Everything felt that little bit surreal. I didn't blame Connie for this, she couldn't have predicted or prevented this, anymore than I could. It didn't mean to say though, that my feelings toward her hadn't changed, because even though in a slight way, they had. She'd been through an ordeal, of which I would never understand.

Ok, so, it wasn't as though this unknown guy had taken her full innocence, we all knew that. Especially me. I would gladly stand up and say it was me that had taken her innocence. But she was also guilty of that with me. However, no matter how I looked at it, this unknown guy had taken something from her and not just the obvious.

I did feel different toward her now. Who wouldn't? I'm pretty sure Adam did, and when the other ducks found out, they would. It didn't mean to say though, that I wasn't going to stand by her. I loved her more than imaginable, and by no means, was I going to break up with her, for something she had no control over.

Just the way she was reacting to me now, flinching at every touch, backing away from me in fear. Would it always be this way? Every time I went near her, or went to kiss her, or hold her hand. Would she always flinch from me? Could I cope with that? If she ever did get over this, would she be the same girl I remember her as? No, she'd never be the same, she'd wouldn't be the head strong, independent, happy girl she once was. There'd always be that slight unease whenever she was around guys.

No matter what though, I was here to stay, I was going to fight her demons with her, all the way. My hand would be there ready for her to take, whenever she needed it. I wasn't going to let her down, I was going to be by her side throughout everything. A friendly face when she needed one. Someone for her to lean on, on her bad days, someone to push her along on her good days.

"Baby, you're gonna have to tell the cops". I finally whispered to her.

"No, no, I can't. They won't believe me. They'll just laugh in my face". She sat up straight, suddenly all tense. Tears entering her eyes once again.

"You can. I know you can". I took her hand in mine, squeezing it reassuringly.

"They won't believe me Charlie, they won't".

"Of course they'll believe you. What makes you think they wouldn't? They will take you seriously, I promise". I soothed her. "If you tell them, they might be able to catch this guy. While ever this guy is on the loose, he can do the same to other people. He could get Julie, or any of your team mates next". I told her. She nodded mutely, finally accepting what she needed to do. "That's my girl". I pulled her close, kissing her hair line. "I'm gonna go find Adam, and let him know". I told her.

"NO! Don't leave me". She shrieked in fear.

"I gotta let him know where we're going. I'll only be a few minutes, I promise. I'll even lock the door behind me". I gave her a last squeeze, before getting up and leaving.

On the way out, I made sure to lock the door noisily, so she knew I had done it. When I pulled my key out of the lock, I turned and lent against the wall, letting out a huge sigh. My body was screaming out for sleep, but I knew there was no way I would get any, even if I tried. Adam was no where in sight, and I began to think exactly where he might have gone. It was then, that I noticed Goldberg and Averman's dorm room, door slightly ajar. I headed that way, gently pushing open the door, to find, yes you've guessed it, all the ducks, sat around, solemn faces and all. I knew Adam had filled them in, which to be honest, I was grateful for.

"Charlie"! Guy noticed me first. "How is she man"?

"Um, pretty messed up at the minute. I've had to lock her in, that's how scared she is". I told them. "It's unbelievable really, how scared of me she is". I rubbed my heavy eyes.

"How you doing"? Goldberg asked.

"Honestly"? I leant on the wall. "Pretty crap. I really, really just wanna put my fist through a wall. If I ever meet this guy, when I've done with him, he'll look like a mangled piece of shit". I sighed.

"What's gonna happen now then"? Julie asked.

I could tell by looking at her, that she'd been crying. I couldn't blame her, I too had cried many a tear over the past hour. I don't know whether it was because I was guilt ridden, or just too angry that crying seemed the only self controlled option I had left. I was trying desperately to keep control of the situation, well in all honesty, I was trying to regain a semblance of control, that truly didn't exist.

"I've um, just managed to talk her into going to the cops, so I'll probably take her down there. Then I have no idea what so ever. It isn't as though everything can go back to normal, it probably never will". I told them honestly.

"Don't talk like that Charlie". Ken said dismally.

"Why not, it's true isn't it"? I replied dejectedly. "She won't ever trust people the way she did. Hell, she might not be able to hang around with any of us comfortably ever again. She'll always be looking over her shoulder, shying away from people in fear". I felt my shoulders sag just in the thought.

"Then it's our job to make sure she doesn't feel the need to continually look over her shoulder". Adam replied, resting a heavy hand on my shoulder. "We're all gonna be here for her, neither of you are in this alone. Right guys".

There was a chorus of agreements. I felt slightly better. I suppose I had sub-consciously seeked the ducks company, for exactly that reason. They had this exceptional way of halving my problems, making them seem so minute, yet this time they failed, their support was all I needed.

Adam offered to go with us to the police department, and I accepted his gesture. The others said they'd stay where they were, and we'd to call them as soon as we knew anything. Both me and Adam, returned to our room, to find Connie, in exactly the same position as I had left her, though there were new tears present. We eventually, got her into Adam's car, and to my surprise, she huddled into me. Her grip on my hand was tight, and not once did she let go. It was as though, she'd suddenly realized, she needed me desperately.

Once in the Police department, and we had explained the situation, a young female officer, came, and after much coaxing, led her away from us. Both me and Adam, in turn were taken into an interview room, where our statements were taken. After we had each done that, we were left alone in the waiting room. The chairs were luckily comfy, and there was plenty of room. We sat furthest away from the door, looking out of the window into the night sky.

"How's it going"? Adam asked, when he returned with two black coffee's, handing me one.

"When did life get so complicated, huh Cake-eater"? I replied, taking a sip of coffee, then placing it on one of the coffee tables.

"Wish I had an answer for you Charlie, I really do". He answered, sounding as dejected as I felt.

There was a long silence between us. I could tell by the look on his face, he was trying to come up with something comforting to say, but there wasn't a thing he could say, that would make this go away, or any easier and we both knew it.

"You know, when you left the room earlier, and I was trying to calm her down. You know what was on my mind"? I sudden broke the silence, having had enough of hearing, just the plug in heater in the corner whirring.

"What"?

"All the times we played out on the old pond. It only seems 5 minutes ago, that we just those 10 year olds, breaking all the rules, and having a good time doing it". If I closed my eyes, I could see us all clearly. "Weird really, how 10 years on, we're still doing the exact same thing".

"But with more trouble, as a consequence". Adam laughed. "You ever think all those years ago that, we'd still all be together now"?

"Sometimes I did. Other times not so much. I suppose I always knew I'd stay in touch with you and Connie, Averman, Guy, Fulton and Goldberg". I admitted. "As for the others, I used to, like to think so".

"Why were you so sure about the 6 of us staying in touch"?

"I dunno. I suppose without sounding stupid, but we're the originals, you know". I told him. "I mean now, I know we'll always stay in touch. But before Eden, I wasn't positive we would. For one my mom would have killed me, if I kept calling the out of state ducks".

We both laughed a little at the thought of my mom going ballistic, after seeing the phone bill, when there was calls to Maine, Chicago, Texas, Florida and L.A made regularly. I wouldn't be alive today if I had.

"We've had some good times, haven't we"? Adam stated.

"Yeah, we really have. Can you remember the summer before Eden and we went camping. That morning when we all woke up to find Portman still in bed, but the air bed was in the middle of the lake. And when Ken found that egg on the floor, and climbed that tree, to put it back in the nest, and was attacked by that bird". I was in reminiscent mode now.

"I actually have a confession about that. The night Portman ended up in the lake. I woke up and heard a noise. So I unzipped the tent and found Connie dragging the air bed out of Portman's tent. He'd been trying to scare her all day with bugs and the like. You remember"? I nodded.

I remembered that day clearly, she hadn't been scared of bugs, snakes and spiders, but he kept telling her there was a snake about to wrap itself around her leg. I knew then, that she'd get her revenge, but I never really suspected her of this.

"Well, she saw me, and she knew I'd caught her. I think she thought, I'd drop her in it at first, until she realized I wouldn't. Well I ended up helping her. I'm surprised you didn't hear us. We couldn't stop laughing, the whole way to the water".

"But Julie"?

"Yeah, I know Julie said, that he'd probably done it himself, because she'd heard him sleep walking the night before. I think she realized Connie had done it, and covered for her". I admitted. "To this day, I don't think Portman ever found out. In fact, I remember hearing him comment once, that no-one had ever caught him sleep walking before or after, the night in question".

"You ever think we'll be able to do things like that"? I asked.

"Course we will. We're getting older, but we'll never be too old". He replied.

"No I mean with"…

"Yes". He answered confidently. "I know it doesn't feel like it right now, but she won't always be like she was tonight with us. She's just scared and upset".

"You really think that"? I asked, still slightly unsure myself.

"Yeah, I do. Ok, it's gonna be a long time, before she's over this, and I know she'll never be one hundred percent over it, but it will get better. You have to be strong for her Charlie. She's gonna need you to be her constant". He told me.

"What if I can't though". It felt like I had sudden just put my heart on my sleeve. Tears had re-entered my eyes, and my own insecurities and fears came into view.

"You can Charlie. I know you can". He pulled me into a hug, allowing me the opportunity to cry. "It's gonna be hard, I'm not gonna lie to you. But I'm gonna be right behind you every step of the way. The ducks too".

"Thanks Adam". I patted his shoulder, and pushed away from him slightly. "Thanks".

"Anytime".

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