Disclaimer : I don't own anything so there!

MEME-ANN : Do you think that little of Adam that he'd still his best friends girlfriend? Especially when he's got me. LOL! Yes I mean that lol. Anyways thanks for the support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!

SWEETNJUICYX0 : Arr Julie didn't really mean to blab, an I suppose in her defense she was sticking up for Connie. Lol. Isn't wishful thinking brilliant lol. I wishful think all the time, 9 times outta 10 it never comes true though lol. Anyways thanks for the support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!

XSARAH : Will do lol. Anyways thanks for the support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!

HOCKEY-GIRL90 : Thanks for the support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!

PUNKTEACHER : I don't know, do you sense something going on between Adam and Connie? I might sense a little something too, but I'm not sure what lol. Anyways thanks for the support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!

Chapter 16

CONNIE'S P.O.V

It had been a week since that first Monday morning, when the whole college seemed to be gossiping about me. I'd love to tell you I coped with it all, with dignity and calmness, it was probably more of the opposite. I became paranoid about every little whisper and laugh, contrary to the fact that they probably hadn't been talking or laughing at me in the first place. I had a lot of people approaching me to tell me how sorry they were for me, and I became very close to screaming at them.

I found myself spending some extra time with Jen, talking everything through carefully with her, and venting all my emotions to her. After every session I left her office feeling that bit more ready to face the world, though within a few hours, I'd had enough and wanted to be left alone. Julie had been my rock throughout the week, spending even more time with me, continually apologizing to me for letting 'the secret' out. Honestly though, when I was at my calmest, I was strangely relieved, I suppose because it was one less thing for me to worry about.

I missed Charlie more with every day, woke every morning forgetting that things between us were different now. For that first few seconds of every morning, everything felt and seemed normal. Well that was until memories came flooding through. We'd spoken a little during the week, but neither of us approached the topic I knew was on both our minds. We talked in subjects that both came easily to us, and I suppose felt safe. The ducks too seemed extremely tense when around us and for that reason I tried to keep my distance, feeling guilty for making them feel difficult around us.

Because of my guilt, I spent less time with the ducks and more time on my own. Finding myself in my room, alone, as I was now. I had begun renting DVD's from the local rental store. Even after a few weeks, my account must have been one of the busiest, and I was probably one their most valued customers, as every time I went in I got a free bag of candy or popcorn.

It was whilst watching Speed, that the phone began ringing. I cursed the phone, believing it was Julie calling to double check I didn't want to hang out tonight. I then cursed her for interrupting the vital part, where the bus jumps the intersection.

"Hello". I spoke into the phone, expecting Julie to reply.

"Is that Miss Moreau"? A voice asked me, and I immediately leant over and turned off the TV.

"Yeah, whose this"? I asked gently.

"Oh hi, this is Theresa West, from the Police department". She told me, and immediately, my stomach lurched then began churning. "I was just calling to see if it would be possible for you to pop down to the station sometime this afternoon"?

I could feel myself getting worked up, like I had the last time she'd called. I took a few deep breaths before replying that I would. She cheerfully said goodbye, and hung up, leaving me all alone again with my thoughts. I could feel myself beginning to panic again. I fought hard to calm down and eventually did so, taking big deep breaths. I knew I didn't want to go alone, and made the decision to go find Julie, Averman or any of the other ducks really to go with me.

I grabbed my jacket and headed toward the guys dorms where I thought the guys might be hanging out. I headed into the common room of the dorm. I stepped cautiously inside, as I did everything these days. I didn't see anyone and turned immediately to try their rooms.

"Connie"? I heard a voice and I jumped about a mile high. I gripped the door frame tightly. "Shit sorry, I didn't mean to make you jump". It was Charlie.

"It's um, it's ok". I answered, regaining myself quickly.

"What you doing here anyway? I thought you'd be out with the guys"? He asked, as he lead me into the common room.

For some reason, I didn't really want to ask him to accompany me to the station. Things were difficult between us anyway, and I didn't really want to rely on him or make him feel he had to.

"Um no. But you haven't seen them have you"? I asked gently.

"I haven't seen 'em since this morning". He answered. "Why what's up"? He asked, in the same gentle tone as always, whenever he was concerned.

"Nothing, it um, it doesn't matter". I replied, and turned toward the door.

"It obviously does". He stopped my by placing his arm across the door frame. "Look, we might not be a couple anymore, but I'm still your friend, and I'm here if you need me". He told me in such a way, I couldn't not believe him.

"I've just had a call from Theresa West, you know from the police department". I told him, awaiting the slight nod of his head to let me know he knew who I meant. "Well she wants me to go down this afternoon sometime". I told him.

"Did she say what for"? He asked. I shook my head, whilst biting my lip. "Look, if you want, I'll come with you, let me just grab a jacket and I'll come with you". He told me.

"Are you sure"? I felt awkward, the idea of my ex boyfriend accompanying me to the police department.

"I wouldn't have offered if I wasn't". He told me smiling gently at me. "And I sure as hell wouldn't let you go down there alone". And with that he slipped away from the room to retrieve his jacket.

Within 5 minutes we were on our way. Sat in Charlie's car beside him, I felt at my most comfortable. But then again, I had always been comfortable around Charlie, in almost all situations. I think the only time I had been slightly uncomfortable was just after my attack, when everything around me was uncomfortable and not just Charlie.

"How you feeling"? He asked, breaking the silence, as he quickly glanced at me, then focused back on the road.

"A little nervous". I admitted. "Thanks for coming with me by the way".

"My pleasure". He replied, and we escaped back into silence.

Outside the police department, we stood gaping at it for a few seconds, before heading for it's entrance. Charlie's hand fell on my back between my shoulders. On his touch I felt my heart flutter, and my blood run cold. How I had missed his small embraces, his gentle, confidence giving touch. I fought, and I really mean fought the urge to just turn around and hide in his embrace, feel his lips against my own. Finally after what seemed a century of seconds, we stopped in front of the reception desk. I told them why I was here, then taken into the same room as before. Charlie never once left my side. I started biting my nails in apprehension. Calmly Charlie took my hand away from my mouth, at first placing it on my lap, but seconds later when I absently began biting at them again, he took my hand in his own, smirking gently in knowledge.

"Hi Connie, thanks for coming down". Theresa walked in and shook my hand. "Charlie right"? She squinted in thought, then reached over to shake his hand too. "Well Connie, I must say you look better than the last time I saw you". I nodded slightly, not knowing what else to say or do. "But then I suppose with a boyfriend like Charlie here, you're bound too". A slight giggle escaped her lips.

As soon as she said that, I felt even more tense than I had before. I didn't know what to say, was I supposed to fill her in on the happenings, explain to her why she wasn't meant to refer to Charlie as my boyfriend anymore. I glanced at Charlie slightly, seeing a hard expression on his face. I had to break the subject, and I had to do it fast, before she started going on about us even more.

"Listen I don't mean to be rude or anything. But why exactly did you want to see me"? I asked.

"Ah yes, right ok. Ok, we've had the last test results through. These aren't anything really to do with you physically if you like. They are the results of the identification tests we do". She explained. I began to feel sick, was she about to tell me they'd found him, that they were charging him. "Unfortunately the results aren't what we wanted".

"What exactly are you saying"? I asked, feeling Charlie's hand tighten around mine, more out of instinct I suppose than him wanting to silence me.

"Well, to put it simply, the tests were inconclusive". She told me and my heart dropped. "The DNA we retrieved from the semen we swabbed from your internal examinations, well we weren't able to match it against any of our records". She told me.

I winced at her words. Semen and internal examinations all in front of Charlie. Up until now, he'd not known the full extent of what I'd had to go through, but now she was speaking about as though he'd been there with me. I felt embarrassed and humiliated. One look at Charlie though, and he looked unfazed by her words, as though he'd known all along, that I'd have had to internal examinations and swabs for semen. Seeing him like this settled me slightly, until I realized she'd said the search for my attacker had been inconclusive.

"Wh… Why weren't you able to match them"? I asked, and Charlie instinctively gripped my hand that little bit tighter, as though ready for the answer.

"Well, we are only able to try and match them against men who have criminal records if you like. However the DNA we found didn't match any of our records, meaning whoever did this to you hasn't got a record with us".

I didn't know how to react. All the examination's I'd had to go through in hopes of finding this guy, were all for nothing. Tears came into my eyes, and I tried my hardest to blink them away. The last thing I wanted was to feel weak in front of her. I wasn't too worried about feeling weak in front of Charlie, damn he'd seen me at my weakest point.

"So he's still out there walking the streets, living a normal life". I stated. Theresa couldn't answer. "All I went through that night, here, was for nothing". My tears began falling.

"No, no Connie. Don't think that. We may catch him one day. Now we have his DNA, we could still find him". She told me.

"But he has to commit another crime first right". She nodded gently.

Everything else she said went in one ear and out of the other. All I could think about was the fact he was still definitely out there. Walking the streets as though there was nothing wrong with the world, believing he'd gotten away with a crime. He wasn't having to look over his shoulder every time he stepped out of the house.

Eventually I felt Charlie tug on my hand. We both shook Theresa's hand before leaving. I was in a daze, and just followed Charlie's lead. We got all the way to his car before either of us said a word. He'd yet to let go of my trembling hand. I leant against the passenger door, I suppose waiting for him to unlock it.

"How you holding up"? He asked gently, almost a whisper.

There and then I just broke down in tears. I didn't know how I felt or how I was supposed to feel. Charlie immediately scooped my up in his arms, rubbing my back soothingly with one hand and kissing my head every so often. He told me over and over everything was going to be ok, and that he was proud of me.

So what do you think? PLEASE R&R!