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CAKEEATER : I know, you can't help but feel for them both can you lol. Anyways thanks for the support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!

A : What's a mis-nomer? I've never heard of that before, or in my case, my English teacher probably tried to teach it me, but I wasn't probably paying attention that day lol(not that I ever was) lol (kidding) lol. Anyways thanks for the support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!

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Chapter 10

CHARLIE'S P.O.V

We finally got her down to the police department. Orion was walking on one side of her, and I was at her other side. She was shaking like a leaf, though Orion's steady talking kept her more calm. Once inside, we were shown into a private room. We tried to get her to sit down, but she wouldn't and continued to pace the floor. I watched her, feeling my heart literally ache. I felt powerless, here I was, watching Orion keep her calm. That should be me, I should be the strong one, telling her all the things she wanted to hear, yet I couldn't bring myself to take over.

I felt as though I was being torn in half. Half of me, telling myself to be a man, do the decent thing and work through all this with her. The other half, just wanting to run and hide and wait until it was all over, before coming back into the open. I look at her, and my heart melts, I physically and mentally love her more than imaginable, but then my brain goes into over time and memories flood through my system, making me feel sick. My emotions were continually conflicting.

"Hi Connie. How are you"? A young slightly tanned young woman walked into the room, carrying a folder. "Hi, I'm Theresa West". She introduced herself. "You must be Charlie, right". I nodded. "And you're"… She shook Orion's hand.

"Ted Orion, Head Coach at the university".

"Ah, yes, I think Connie mentioned you". She smiled.

The whole time introductions and pleasantries were made, Connie stood there, looking pretty vacant. I could tell she was just wanting to get the hell out of there, and the longer this Theresa talked, the longer we'd be there.

"Right, um, Connie. We can talk privately if you want, or we can talk where we are, it's totally up to you"? Connie shrugged in response.

"Here's fine". She muttered.

"Ok, shall we take a seat"? Theresa gestured toward the seats provided, sitting across from Connie, trying to keep the small eye contact they had. "Right, as with all these kind of cases, the swabs we took from the internal examinations, were taken away to be tested".

I physically winced when the words 'internal examinations', fell from her mouth. It wasn't because I was shocked by this, it was more to do with actually realizing, Connie had, had to go through that. It sounded humiliating especially in front of me and Orion. It was now, I realized Connie had been through so much more than the raping, she'd had to endure the questioning, the examinations, everything on her own.

"We test them obviously for any indication of who the attacker was, but we also test them for any possible STD's that may have been passed on".

I heard Connie inhale a sharp breath beside me. I reached over and took her hand under the table, giving it an encouraging squeeze. Connie catching a sexually transmitted disease had never crossed my mind, it certainly was now though.

"Anyone with an active sex life has a 50 percent chance of catching an STD, however in these kind of cases the odds jump higher and"… She began the long drawn out explanation that I neither needed or wanted to hear.

"Have I, or haven't I"? Connie snapped sharply.

Theresa, momentarily shocked at Connie's outburst, opened the folder, pulling out one sheet of paper. She pushed it in front of Connie. I looked, but couldn't understand any of the gibberish that was written all over it.

"No, you are all clear". She told us.

As soon as her words registered, I pulled Connie into my chest, planting a kiss on her temple. I felt relief wash over me, yet the fact that this was far from over, staying with me. But at this moment, I couldn't care less. She was in the clear, and that was all that mattered. Theresa smiled broadly at us, obviously glad that her news was not bad. She quickly explained all the gibberish that was on the sheet, but I paid non of it any attention, all that mattered was the fact, she was in the clear. To say I hadn't even given the chance of her catching an STD any thought, I was pretty made up that she was clear. The only reasons I could come up with for my sudden relief, was that it was one less thing to have to be contemplating later on.

Shortly after, we left. Connie had been silent since her outburst, she occasionally nodded her head in agreement or to tell she understood what Theresa was saying. We drove back to the dorms in silence, and I couldn't help but feel tense by the awkwardness.

"Thanks Coach". Connie thanked Orion, as she climbed from his car, and rushed toward the entrance of the building.

"Yeah, thanks for everything Coach". I began to get out, my eyes staring after Connie.

"You're welcome". He smiled warmly at me, as I opened the door. "And Charlie". I turned to face him. "Don't give up on her, I know things are a little difficult and weird between you at the moment, but you need each other". He told me.

"Thanks". I climbed out.

"Anytime. If ever you want to talk, you know where I am". He told me, then drove off.

Maybe I did need to talk to him. Maybe if I could just empty my feelings out of myself, then maybe I could begin to try and deal with everything. I mean I had spoken both with Orion and Adam over the passed few days, but I hadn't completely spilled my heart out to either of them, scared I suppose because they'd think me weak or be ashamed of my feelings.

A few days after, Connie started stepping slowly back into her old routine, attending a few classes, trying to merge back into her previous lifestyle. I tried to be there for her as much as possible, but it seemed on my bad days, she needed me more, and on my good days, she wanted little to do with me. Our feelings were conflicting with each other, as much as our own were already.

"Hey Con". I shouted, as I ran after her and Julie as they walked down the corridor. "Hi Jules". I greeted her.

"Hi Charlie". She returned, then stepped away for a few seconds.

"What's up Charlie"? She asked me, thankfully it seemed I had caught her in a good mood.

"Well, I was wondering whether you wanted someone to walk back to the dorms with after classes, since Julie's got practice and everything"? I asked gently.

"Actually, I'm ok thanks. I've decided to go to practice". She told me.

At that second, it felt as though the old Connie had returned, and no-one was as happy about that as me. I couldn't help but think, however, that this was a pretty big step to take. Ramsden didn't know about her real reason for her absence, as far as he knew, she hadn't been on campus, she'd gone home due to a family emergency.

"You sure about that. I mean Ramsden's not exactly gonna be easy on you or anything". I forewarned.

"I don't need him to be Charlie". She told me defiantly. "I just want to get back to normal. I'm tired of dragging this whole thing out".

"Ok, I'll see you later then". I told her, still slightly worried by her sudden change in attitude. "Have fun". I even bent over, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead.

"You too". Then she headed toward Julie, and continued her original path down the corridor.

I watched her go. To be honest, I was slightly baffled by the sudden change in her attitude. One minute, she was trying to get on with her life, yet having her bad days. But today, it was just like seeing the old Connie back. The confident, happy go lucky, pummel a guy who even thinks girls can't play hockey, Connie. The Connie I had fallen in love with. Not that I wasn't happy, because God, I was ecstatic for her, and with her, but I just had this odd feeling that told me not to get my hopes up too much.

"She seems pretty happy today". Adam stated, coming up behind me.

"Mmm, maybe a little too happy". I responded.

"How'd you mean"? Adam looked at me quizzically.

"I dunno, I just have this funny feeling. It's just a sudden change in her attitude. She just told me she just wants to get back to normal. She's been saying that for a few days now, but today, she suddenly is".

"Maybe she just decided to get on with it". He replied.

"Maybe". I answered.

So what do you think? PLEASE R&R!