Losing herself completely at having Joey once again in her arms, Charlie pulls her closer as their lips work hungrily against each others, neither woman concerned that at any minute, they could be discovered. Charlie groans again as her tongue continues to dance with Joey's, her hands running along her back, moving lower. Feeling Charlie's hands cup her buttocks finally brings Joey to her senses. Pushing her away, she stares at her breathlessly. "Charlie, we can't do this, I'm married."

"I'm sorry," Charlie steps back from her, no longer trusting herself. "I shouldn't have done that."

"It's ok, I guess we both got caught up in the moment." She shrugs helplessly, "I never expected to see you again."

"Neither did I, though I had hoped."

Joey looks away, hating to see that hope in Charlie's eyes. "I think it's best we just forget that night and tonight ever happened."

"Just like that," a little bit of anger creeping into her voice.

"Charlie, I told you that morning that it was only ever meant to be one night and considering I'm now married to your boss, nothing can ever happen between us so yeah, I think it's best if we forget it."

Charlie sighs, trying to ignore the sudden pain in her heart she was feeling. "I've had my share of one-nighters, but with you," she shrugs. "Maybe it's just because you're here now," she lies, not wanting Joey to know how much she had been affected by that night.

"If I had known you lived here, I'd have warned you I was coming."

"Yeah, I guess this is what happens when you talk to someone and avoid personal details, like a last name or where you live." She stares pointedly at her. "Or like you not mentioning you were getting married, I'm assuming it was your wedding you were sneaking off to." Joey nods. "So what," she feels her anger building again, "I was just one last fuck before you took the plunge into marriage or was I just an experiment, you know, make sure you didn't fancy something other than dick before committing to it?"

Wincing slightly at her words, she shakes her head. "No Charlie, you weren't an experiment."

"Then why did you sleep with me Joey when you were marrying a man?"

"I'm bisexual Charlie and when I went out that night, I really didn't know if I was going to spend it with someone or not."

"But you decided to fuck some woman you picked up in a bar anyway?"

"Isn't that what you do?" she answers back. "It may seem weird to you Charlie, but Angelo and I both agreed we could spend our last night before marriage any way we wanted to."

"So I'm the just the poor bitch who happened to be there when you felt the urge," she mutters.

"It wasn't like that Charlie."

"Then how was it?" she demands, her voice rising.

"Charlie, we could go round and round in circles with this, but it was a one night stand, that's all it ever was and ever will be."

Charlie leans back, deflated. "Does your husband know you fucked some woman that night?"

"Yes but I never mentioned a name, neither did he."

"God, you have one screwed up marriage."

"We weren't married at the time Charlie and we both fully intend to honour our vows."

"Do you regret that night?" Charlie asks suddenly.

"Charlie, it's in the past," she avoids answering. "Let's just leave it there."

Charlie shakes her head in disappointment. "This isn't going to be easy Joey, you're married to my boss and we're not going to be able to avoid each other, not in a place this size."

"I realise that, but we really don't have much choice in the matter."

"So we just forget it ever happened, hope he never finds out I'm the woman you were with that night and carrying on like we never spent an amazing night having sex."

Joey tries to quickly forget the memory that flashed into her mind just then of that night. "We could bring it all out in the open but I think that despite our agreement, Angelo may find it as awkward as you if he did find out about us."

"This is a mess." Joey nods in agreement. Charlie gazes into her eyes. "If you weren't married, would we have a chance?"

"Why ask that Charlie, when I am married and we have no chance to be together."

"Is this a private conversation or can anyone join in?" Both women jump at Georgie's interruption, neither having heard her enter. Georgie glares at Joey, "Don't you have a husband to run along to?"

Joey blushes, feeling guilty at the reproachful look Charlie's cousin was giving her. "Just forget it ever happened Charlie," Joey says, before rushing from the room.

"Good advice, I hope she takes it herself."

"Just drop it Georgie."

"No I won't drop it," she snaps, standing with her hands on her hips. "Jesus Charlie, what part of she's married, you need to forget her did you not understand."

"I just came in here to talk to her and when I saw her there, I just," she shrugs helplessly.

"You just decided to stick your tongue down her throat and hope for the best."

"Don't say it like that."

"Charlie, you are playing with fire."

"I know that."

"I don't think you do. She's not just married Charlie, she's married to your boss and if it ever got out that you made the moves on his wife, you can just about kiss goodbye any chance you had of getting a station of your own."

"If I was a guy, it wouldn't be held against me," she says petulantly.

"Well you're not a guy, you're a woman and a lesbian, two things to hold against you in the boys club that we're in."

"It's not fair Georgie."

"Welcome to my world Charlie," she mutters.

"I really have fucked up Georgie."

"Yeah you have, big time and to avoid doing it again, you need to stay the hell away from her."

"We both know that's impossible in this town."

"Well you need to try, at least until you can be near her without ramming your tongue down her throat."

"She kissed me back Georgie."

Georgie rubs her temples, wishing she had stayed home. "Charlie, don't read anything into that, because from what I heard, she wants you to forget and that's exactly what you both need to do."

"I just wish it was going to be as simple as saying it."

Georgie moves over to her, draping her arm across her shoulders. "Come on, I'm taking Jay home and I think it's best if you leave with me."

"Where is Jay?"

"I left him at the bar with a couple of drunks, where do you think."

"I suppose you'll be telling Martha."

"I'm going to have to tell her something when she comes home and finds me laughing so hard at your misfortune."

Charlie glares at her. "I never would have spent the night with her if I'd known she was engaged."

"Really?" she asks sceptically.

Charlie hangs her head, "Hell, I don't know anymore."

"Charlie, are you going to be able to work with him knowing that he has the woman you want?"

"Of course I can."

"Well, look at the bright side," Georgie says cheerfully, "After meeting Rosetta, I think he's an even bigger fuckwit than I first thought, so chances are, he won't be here for long and neither will his wife."

Despite herself, Charlie finds herself chuckling. "Georgie, one day you really are going to have to learn to respect your superior officers."

"Maybe if we ever get one who deserves it, I will."

Unable to sleep, Joey had spent the last hour staring out the window, wondering how she could have ended up in the same place as the woman she had struggled to forget was. Shaking her head, she glances over at her sleeping husband, feeling guilty for feigning a headache to avoid sex, but her encounter with Charlie had been too fresh in her mind, as was the way she had responded so readily to Charlie's kiss. "I'm married," she reminds herself, knowing she would always honour her vows but also knowing that after tonight, the promise she made six months ago was going to be so much harder to keep. "Why did you have to be here Charlie," she murmurs, running her finger along her lips, imagining she could still feel Charlie's lips there.