It's All About You – part 10
2 months on….
Charlie giggled and fought gently against Smithy as he lay beside her, poking his side as he rolled over her. "Go round your side!"
"I can't." He pointed at where Rebecca lay curled almost into a ball, fast asleep.
"Then move her."
"You move her! She'll cry…!" Smithy scowled and tickled Charlie till she gave in, shifting forward so he could sit behind her on the bed, allowing her to lay back in his arms, her head resting against his chest as she stroked his arm.
Charlie had been out of hospital for the best part of a fortnight, and had spent the most of it in bed, complaining bitterly as Smithy attempted to look after her and Rebecca and stop himself from going mad in the process. Charlie had had to be forcefully pinned to the bed at times to stop her from getting out of bed and going to help. She was still unsteady on her feet, and slow as she walked, but she was getting better. As long as she was able to rest after, which when Rebecca was around, demanding attention wasn't always possible.
The day of Smithy's proposal had been a busy one, Neil and Mickey had arrived at the hospital soon after, and both looked unnerved by the amount of tears Charlie was shedding. Mickey frowned slightly and dared to – eventually - ask what was wrong, getting quite confused and frankly scared by Charlie's sob of 'Nothing, I'm …I'm happy.' If crying was a way of a woman expressing how happy she was, Mickey now knew why the male race didn't understand women.
"Happy?"
"We're…" Charlie paused for a few seconds to compose herself, wiping her eyes, before waving her left hand at Mickey.
Mickey blinked at the small plastic ring halfway on Charlie's finger. "Eh?"
"We're getting married!" Charlie's tears instantly gave way to a large beaming smile. "Married!" She repeated, grinning.
"…Congratulations!" Neil nodded at Smithy, shaking his hand, as Mickey followed suit, Mickey better at expressing how pleased for them he was then Neil, leaning over Smithy to kiss her cheek.
Rebecca looked up from where she'd rolled to the end of Charlie's bed, realising she wasn't the centre of attention. "Hiya." She waved at Neil and Mickey, opening her arms to Mickey, "Ickey!" She giggled as he picked her up, flopping against his chest in a way of a hug.
"Hiya gorgeous." Mickey grinned, kissing her cheek. Rebecca instantly loved anyone who told her she was pretty, or beautiful, or clever….and Mickey was no exception. She turned her head and pressed her lips against his cheek, resting one hand on his shoulder, looking curiously at Neil.
Neil nodded at Rebecca, smiling briefly. Rebecca offered him her free hand and he took it, looking uncomfortable, before the nurse brought through another chair, giving him something else to concentrate on, other than the pouting baby in Mickey's arms.
He moved a chair along side Charlie's bed, sitting opposite Smithy, leaving Mickey to manhandle his chair around to sit beside him, still holding Rebecca, letting Neil explain about what had happened, and what had been found out.
Two months on, Charlie was at home with Smithy, the one place she felt truly safe, laying in his arms, watching their daughter sleep. The trial was due to start in the next week. Benson hadn't given any other names, but he was still charged with attempted murder, assault on a police officer, ABH and other numerous charges.
She turned her head slightly and glanced up, watching him scowl along to a televised football match and smiled slightly, lifting her hand up to cup his cheek, kissing his jaw softly. She shifted gently and glanced back at Rebecca, before gently nuzzling Smithy's cheek.
"You getting idea's again?" He said with a grin.
Charlie rolled her eyes and giggled softly. "I was being serious though." She said softly, tracing a pattern on his cheek. "I want us to try for another baby..."
"Right now?" Smithy smiled, pressing the mattress of the bed gently so as not to hurt her. "I'll draw the curtains and stick Becca outside as guard and climb up, you think your backs up to it?"
Charlie chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Tart."
"Well you did say…"
"I didn't mean just this second."
Smithy grinned and glanced at his groin. "Shame."
"Oi!" Charlie gently dug him in the ribs, "Behave! Rebecca can hear."
"She's asleep." Smithy grinned good-naturedly and rolled his eyes. "Behave yourself!"
Charlie opened her mouth to reply, before trailing off and scowling as the phone rang. "Typical."
Smithy turned and reached for the phone, picking it up, one hand disappearing inside Charlie's top as he answered it.
"Smithy!" Gina leant back in her seat. "How're things?"
He scowled as Charlie's fingers closed around his, stopping his hand from moving further inside her top. "Ma'am."
Charlie blinked and glanced up, listening as Smithy spoke to Gina, watching his eyes settle back on the football match. She tightened her grip on his hand, feeling quite vulnerable and scared, though she wasn't entirely sure why. Her head dipped to the side, hiding in his chest, and her free hand found it's way to Rebecca, stroking her hair lightly so as not to disturb her.
"Ma'am…" Charlie glanced up as Smithy ended the call.
"Is everything…ok?" She asked eventually.
Smithy nodded, frowning at how the previously relaxed and calm Charlie had turned into a trembling mess. "You alright?" He asked, wrapping his free hand around her.
"...Hmm?" She glanced up, "Er, yeah –fine." She smiled.