"You were in a car accident with Jay," Watson gently told her girlfriend.

Martha's eyes widened in fear, "Oh god, our son, is he ok?"

"He's fine," Watson assured her. "He had a few scratches and bruises, but otherwise, he was unharmed."

"That's because he's tough," murmured Martha. "Just like his mama Georgie."

"I don't know about that," Watson said softly. "I've been a mess since the accident." She closed her eyes and took a moment to gather herself while Martha watched on.

"Hey, I'm right here now," she told her girlfriend.

"And I couldn't be happier." Watson raised Martha's hand to her lips. "I was so worried there for a time."

"I'm sorry."

"It wasn't your fault, it was that bastard," Watson said before stopping herself.

"What bastard?"

"I don't want to say anything until you talk to Robertson."

"Georgie, please, tell me what happened?"

She desperately wanted to tell Martha everything, but she also didn't want to say or do anything that might affect the investigation in a way that might let Angelo worm his way out. "It was an accident and it wasn't your fault, that's all I can say until you've been interviewed."

"But I don't remember anything."

"Which is why I don't want to say anything just yet," she said. Watson regarded her girlfriend thoughtfully. "What is the last thing you do remember?"

Martha stared at the ceiling in concentration. "Talking to John in the diner," she finally replied, her eyes opening wider when she remembered the exact details of that conversation and what was said before it. "Your father!"

Joey continued to wipe the black gunk off her hands with some distaste. "I feel like I've done something wrong," she murmured to Charlie, who handed her another wet wipe.

"Taking your fingerprints is just so we can identify which prints in Angelo's car are yours, so that we can discount them and I promise you, all record of your prints will be destroyed as soon as that has been done."

"Yeah, I get that, but," she held up her hands palm out for Charlie to see. "Black fingertips just seem to imply doing something wrong."

Charlie closed the door to her office and then returned to Joey's side, where she took her hands in hers. "I could say that it's a sexy look to make you feel better, but we'd both know I'd just be lying about that."

Joey chuckled at her honesty. "I don't know, maybe we could find a way to make it a fashion statement?"
Charlie grinned. "I'd love to hear how," she murmured and kissed the palm of Joey's hand, her face unwittingly screwing up after she had done so. "Oh yuck, wet wipe flavour."

"In that case, keep those lips to yourself," Joey warned her.

"No," Charlie said and dove in for a kiss, only to end up kissing air when Joey ducked out of the way. "Hey!"

"Wash those lips first."

Watson grimaced at Martha's reaction, "Just my luck you remembered that bit so clearly," she murmured to herself. She took a deep breath and looked her girlfriend in the eyes. "I'm so sorry I never told you about John."

"Oh Georgie, what am I to do with you," Martha said with a fond smile to alleviate her girlfriend's fears. "I love you, all of you, even the bits you believe makes you unworthy of my love, I love it all, but I just wish you had told me about this big secret you've been hiding all these years," she said. "Telling me wouldn't have made me feel any differently toward you and I would have supported you, but at least it would have helped me understand this resentment you have toward John and the whys and such."

"Martha, I never even told Belle or Irene, though I think Irene's suspected for a long time, but when you keep something to yourself for so long, it's hard to open up even to those who are the most important people in the world to you." Watson paused, "But maybe it is time I finally spoke about it all, just not yet."

"Georgie," Martha started but was stopped by the reassuring squeeze of her hand and look of love in her girlfriend's eyes.

"Martha, I promise you that I'll tell you everything later on, but right now, I need to call your mum and everyone else and let them know you're awake and I also need to wake up Jay," she said. "He's going to be so happy to see you."

"I feel like I've been away from him forever," Martha said and frowned. "How long have I been here?"

"A couple of days, even though it's felt like a life time."

Martha winced when she tried to move. "Ow, fuck," she muttered, along with a few more expletives.

Watson chuckled. "Just as well our son isn't around to hear his mum swearing like a drunken truckie."

"I have a feeling there might be a few more instances where that it going to happen," she moaned. "Because I hurt all over."

"It was a nasty accident that left you pretty banged up."

"How bad am I hurt?"

"You lost a lot of blood that put pressure on your heart and that's why you've been taking your time to rest and heal, but now that you're awake, you're going to get better."

"What about the rest of me?"

"You didn't break any bones, though one of your knees ended up badly damaged and you will need a reconstruction."

"It bloody well feels like it too," she grumbled in pain.

"Rachel is pretty confident that once you've had the reconstruction and started physio, then I'll still be the only one with a limp in the family."

"Georgie, you've never let it stop you in any way and the way you've dealt with it, is inspiring to me and my own injury is just going to give me even more understanding of what you've gone through." She winced again. "I could do without the pain though."

"I'll go get Rachel." Watson leant over and kissed Martha gently but longingly. "I love you."

"I love you too." Their lips met again.

Wiping her lips with a tissue dipped in water and reapplying her lipstick, Charlie was finally able to get the kiss she was after.

"That's better," Joey happily murmured.

"Now you have my lipstick on yours."

"That just means everyone will know what we've been up to in here," teased Joey.

"They're cops Joey, they know everything."

"God, I hope not."

"Yeah, now that I said that aloud, I hope not either."

With the light moment over, things took a serious turn. "Where are things now with the investigation?" Joey asked.

"Robertson and Graves have gone to tell April what is going on, then they're going to prepare a statement to the media about Bianca's disappearance."

"Poor April, I mean, I don't know the girl, but I can only imagine what she's going through."

"No one should have to deal with something like this at her age."

"Is there any other family?"

"Not really," Charlie said. "But the town will get behind April and support her."

"That's one good thing about a place like this, the way people help others."

"Not always," Charlie murmured, her thoughts drifting briefly to her cousin and the way the town has always treated her.

"What happens to Angelo now?" asked Joey.

"Nothing just yet," she replied. "Robertson and Graves are going to hold off interviewing him again until they get a bit more on him and who knows, a missing person being posted for Bianca might shake his stance a bit."

"I'm not so sure about that," Joey said. "Angelo grew up in a house where he was continually told by his mother that he was better than most other people by sheer right of money and as much as I did care for him once, even I found him snobbish and self-entitled at times, so it wouldn't surprise me if Angelo truly believed he could buy his way out of this with money and family influence."

"Hopefully that won't happen."

Joey sighed. "I can't believe how things have changed so much in such a short time," she said. "It wasn't that long ago I was living as Angelo's wife, yet now, here I am hoping he's going to be brought to justice."

"I'm proud of you for wanting that."

"Really?"

"Yeah," Charlie said. "It's natural for family and friends to want to believe the best in someone and then want to stick their head in the sand or make excuses when things start to come out that shows them the person they knew wasn't quite who they believed him to be and so the hardest part in situations like that, can be choosing to face the facts as they come out and to start to question everything."

"I suppose so," she agreed. "And in this case, Mrs Rosetta would certainly be one who would always be making excuses for her son, regardless of how in the wrong he was."

Knowing Robertson and Graves were going to be checking into Angelo's parents about any possible involvement they may have had in the cover up, Charlie asked, "How far do you think she'd go to protect Angelo?"

"Honestly, I dread to think how far she'd go to protect her boy."

"He's hardly a boy."

"He is to her."

Charlie put her arms around Joey's waist. "How was she with you?"

"I'm from money and a well-respected family, so she always treated me like one of them," Joey said a little self-consciously and then wondered what his mother thought of her now she had walked out on her precious baby for another woman. "But I've seen the other side to her when someone doesn't meet her standards and it's not nice."

"Well, I for one am glad you are nothing like them," Charlie said. "And the lovely, warm and caring woman you are just proves that money doesn't corrupt everyone and that like those who grow up in a normal house, there are good and bad eggs, whether they come from money or not."

"It's just that those with money sometimes have a lot more power to wield over others."

"You know, when Robertson first turned up, I couldn't stand him, still can't really, but he is one cop that I'm glad is on this case, because I have a feeling he will revel in the challenge of going after Angelo and anyone who helped him, whatever their status in society."

"Let's just hope Roberson succeeds."

"Here, here," Charlie said. "But then I hope for a quick exit on his part, because I imagine he's also one to let others know he's won against those others would cower before."

"Oh god, the image I'm getting with that is quite humorous and involves a prancing peacock."

Charlie grinned. "Robertson's an interesting character, that's for sure, but he knows his shit and he's the best person to have on this case."

"Better than you?"

"For this case, yes," Charlie conceded. "There is no way I could be completely objective in the way I'd need to be if I had been lead investigator on this case and it's a relief really, that the responsibility for bringing Angelo to justice doesn't rest at my feet." She shuddered a little, "I'd had to think how I'd face Georgie if I'd been in charge and failed to get Angelo."

"I can understand that," Joey said. "And I really hope this is all over soon and Angelo is brought to justice so we can all go about our lives, which includes my stubborn girlfriend and her equally pigheaded cousin finally have that nice little chat they need."

"I want that too, but I'm thinking more fireworks than nice little chat."

"Knowing the two of you, I can image things being said that will get both of your blood pressures soaring, but I also know both of you want to get past this and so you will somehow find a way to do it."

"Having you by my side makes me believe anything is possible," Charlie said and pressed hers lips to Joey's.

With a sigh of regret and longing, Watson ended the kiss and took a step back from her girlfriend's side. "I'd better go get Rachel now and start calling everyone."

"Georgie, you do realise what John being your father means, don't you?" Martha called out as Watson walked to the door. She turned and shook her head. "It means that you're a Palmer and not a Watson."

Watson shrugged, "The name doesn't change anything."

"You really believe that?"

"I'll be back in a minute," she said without answering Martha's question.

Charlie groaned as the ring tone from her mobile intruded on her intimate moment with Joey. Picking up her phone, she answered it. "Hello, this is Charlie Buckton?"

"Martha's awake," Watson simply stated.