"Georgie, don't say that," Charlie said. "This was a tragic accident and nothing at all to do with you."
"I bring nothing but trouble to everyone," Watson continued on as if not hearing Charlie. "Martha and Jay would both be better off without me."
"Don't be stupid, Georgie," snapped Charlie. "Martha loves you so much, as does that little boy over there and right now, both of them need you more than ever, so you need to stop blaming yourself and be strong for them."
"It is my fault though, Charlie," she insisted. "Martha must have been so upset with me because once again, I couldn't be open and honest with her and then she got behind the wheel and crashed."
"Martha would never endanger herself or Jay by driving in an unfit or emotional state," Charlie pointed out in a more even tone. "And you know that, just as deep down, you know this wasn't your fault."
Georgie closed her eyes, wanting to believe what her cousin was saying, but it was so hard to think clearly when all she wanted was for her Martha to be ok.
This was the part Charlie hadn't been looking forward to and she stepped back from her cousin. "Georgie, there was another car involved in the accident." She paused and took a breath before continuing, "Martha was run off the road." She then told her cousin everything Robertson had said to her.
As her words sank in, Charlie watched a change come over her cousin. Gone was the look of defeat and in its place, was anger and a coldness Charlie had never seen before. She nearly shuddered when that coldness was reflected in Georgie's tone as she spoke. "If I ever get my hands on the bastard who left my family to die," she fumed and left the rest unsaid.
Even though Charlie felt the same, she gripped her cousin's shoulders. "Georgie, I want you to promise me that you won't do anything rash and that you'll let Robertson take charge of the investigation and find the other person involved. Promise me that, Georgie."
Watching her son with tears in his eyes and his arms held out for her as the paramedic brought him to her, made the next words easy to say. "I promise Charlie, I won't do anything dumb that will take me away from my family."
"We will get this person Georgie."
"I hope so." She rushed over to meet the approaching duo and took her son into her arms.
"Mama?"
"I'm here little man," she said, hugging him close and kissing his forehead over and over.
"He's scared and has some bruises and scratches, but otherwise he appears to be fine," the paramedic told her. "You should have him checked out at the hospital just to be sure though."
"Thank you for taking care of him," she said. "What about Martha?"
"She's holding on, but we can't get an accurate assessment on her condition until she's cut from the wreckage and we can give her a proper examination."
Despite his lack of certainty about Martha's condition, Georgie appreciated his honesty.
"I'm going to go and see what I can do to help with my partner, but I'll let you know as soon as there's any more news about Martha."
Georgie nodded as she cuddled her son.
"Why don't you go and sit up in my car," Charlie suggested.
"I don't want to be away from Martha."
"You can see everything that's going on from the car," she said gently. "Please Georgie, take Jay to the car and away from prying eyes." Her cousin finally noticed the growing number of onlookers lining the road. "I'll be with Martha the whole time," Charlie promised. "And I'll keep you up-to-date on every single thing."
"I don't know if I can do this Charlie," Georgie admitted in a quiet voice.
"You're not in this alone," Charlie assured her. "I'll be there by your side, so will everyone else, now go up to the car and think only positive thoughts."
"I'm not sure if thinking positive thoughts is a part of my personality," she said with a wry smile.
"Then it will be a new experience for you," she replied with a slight smile. "Georgie, I promise that everything that can be done is being done for Martha."
"I know that." At the sound of metal grating on metal, she stared at her girlfriend's car as the jaws of life set to work. "Come on little man, you don't need to see or hear this," she whispered, turning him away from the wreckage. "Thank you Charlie, for everything you've done for me today."
"Just remember Georgie, you have friends and family who care about you and will help get you and Martha through this."
She nodded as she started the trek toward Charlie's squad car.
It took over an hour to extract Martha from the wreckage and by the time Charlie followed the ambulance to the hospital with Georgie and Jay, the waiting room was filled with friends and family who all rushed toward them the moment they arrived. Charlie smiled gratefully when Joey came to her side and squeezed her hand in support.
"Georgie looks about ready to bolt," Joey whispered to her.
Charlie glanced at her cousin. Joey was right. With everyone crowded around them, her cousin looked a bit like a deer in the headlights, especially with having Roo so close.
Watson was just waiting for the accusations to come from Roo, the woman who never failed to make it clear that she thought Martha would be better off with anyone but her.
"How is my grandson?"
She was shocked by the gentle tone, even more when she saw no censure in her expression, only the same look of worry and fear she knew must be reflected in her own eyes and it took her a moment to gather her thoughts. "The paramedic at the scene said he was fine, just some scratches and bruises, but to have him checked out just to make sure."
"It's probably going to be some time before we get news on Martha, so why don't we go and find a doctor now for Jay?" Irene suggested as she put her arm around Georgie's waist when she looked about ready to make a run for it.
Georgie nodded. She was grateful for the support of everyone there, but it was just too much for her right now.
"What happened Charlie?" Alf demanded the moment Irene led Georgie and her son away in search of a doctor.
Once again, Charlie went through everything she currently knew about the situation and with Martha being a much loved and respected member of the community, she had a feeling the growing anger she sensed in those present now, was going to be replicated by many more when they heard.
"It's just so unfair that this has happened," Charlie said two hours later while they still awaited news on Martha. For her cousin's sake and with a promise to keep them up-to-date on any developments regarding Martha, Charlie had talked most of the gathering into going home, so that now it was only the immediate family and a couple of close friends who remained on vigil at the hospital. "And I'm scared Joey, not just for Martha, but for Georgie. If Martha were to die, I think a part of Georgie would die with her and I'm not sure she would ever be able to get over the loss." She looked toward the room where her cousin was putting her son to sleep. Jay had been cleared by the doctor and was free to go home, but when Georgie had made it clear to everyone that she had no intention of leaving the hospital and was also unwilling to let her son get too far from her side, a nurse had set aside an empty room for them to use.
"You can't think like that Charlie."
Charlie snorted in response and smiled wryly. "It wasn't that long ago that I was telling Georgie to think positive thoughts and here I am thinking the worst."
"This isn't an easy time for anyone and I think that under the circumstances, it's understandable for the odd doubt to creep in, but we have to just keep reminding each other that Martha is a strong woman who has a lot to live for and so she is going to come through this." In the short time since Joey had known Martha, she'd come to respect her and now regarded her as a close friend, so she was also having a hard time with staying positive, but she would keep her own doubts to herself, because those closest to Martha would need the support and strength of their friends to get them through this.
"I am so glad I have you in my life right now," Charlie said. Like her cousin with Martha, she doubted she'd ever get over the loss if something were to happen to Joey.
"I'm always going to be here for you Charlie." Joey leant over and pressed her lips to hers.
Georgie jumped when a hand landed on her shoulder.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," Roo said softly as she stood by the bed where her grandson was sleeping.
"I didn't even hear you come in."
"You looked worlds away, so I'm not surprised you didn't hear me."
"I just want news on Martha."
"We all do and it's going to be good news when it does come."
"God I hope so."
"Martha wouldn't want you to blame yourself for this." Georgie stared at her and Roo smiled wryly at her surprise. "I know we've never seen eye-to-eye and that's largely my fault, because I've been more interested in judging you unfairly rather than giving you a chance, but despite that, I think I do know you well enough to realise you'd find some way to blame yourself for what happened and you shouldn't."
"Even though I kept something this big from her and she had to hear it in public like she did?"
Roo looked around the room and seeing another chair, she brought it over and sat down next to Georgie. "Martha came to see me after what she heard in the diner and while she was upset at first, she calmed down, because she knows how much you love her and she understands that sometimes, you can't always open up about things, even to her. Of course now though, you are going to have to explain about John to her when she's better."
"I know I do and I was actually on my way to explain things to her when Charlie called about the accident." She sighed heavily and looked at Roo. "I wasn't expecting this from you."
"You were expecting yelling and accusations of blame?"
"Yeah, something like that."
"Once, I probably would have been screaming at you, but for the first time today, after seeing Martha like that and listening to the way she spoke about you, I finally realised how much she truly loves you and it got me thinking. All I have ever wanted was for my daughter to have someone who loved and respected her as much as she did for them and she had that with Jack but when he died and she started seeing you, I just didn't believe you fit that role, both because you're a woman and because of your background, except I couldn't have been more wrong. I let my preconceived prejudice against you colour my view and I can see now that you're exactly the type of partner I've wanted for Martha. You've always been there for her, even before you got together and you've been a good partner to my daughter and mother to my grandson and I'm sorry for making things so difficult for you."
Georgie was wondering if she was just imagining this conversation, because it was the last thing she ever expected to be hearing from Roo.
"I know my daughter is going to live, but I'm also aware she's probably going to have a long recovery ahead of her and she's going to need her family by her side every step of the way, and while we may never end up best friends, for Martha and Jay's sake, I'd like for us to set aside the past and start working on getting along together."
"I never wanted things to be like they were between us, so if you're willing to, then so am I."
"Maybe miracles are possible after all," Charlie murmured from just outside of Jay's room.
"It's rude to eavesdrop," Joey whispered to her.
"Said the woman who has been eavesdropping right along with me."
"Hey, after everything I've heard about the two of them, I was just here to make sure there was no bloodshed."
"That was my excuse."
"And a very good one it is." Joey reached over and took her hand. "Let's give them some privacy."
Charlie let herself be led away before they both came to an abrupt halt. "Oh shit, this isn't going to be pretty," she muttered as the Palmer family walked toward them.
"I know I'm the last person she wants to see, but I couldn't stay away any longer," John said to them. "She's my daughter and I want her to know that we will be there for her and Martha through this."
"You're right, you are the last person I want to see," came Georgie's cold reply. The moment she'd heard his voice, she'd left her son's bedside. "Why couldn't you have just kept your mouth shut," she let loose as she found a new avenue for her anger at what had happened to Martha. "You're the reason my mum is dead and now this," she waved her arms to where Martha was still in surgery. "Just stay the fuck away from me." She turned on her heels and stormed back to her son's room.
"What did she mean, you're the reason why her mum is dead?" Shandi asked her father.
"I have no idea," John murmured.