"Where's your better half?" Shandi asked Charlie when she walked out of the Diner with her extra morning caffeine kick.

"Taking Ruby for another driving lesson before school."

"Yikes."

Charlie smiled. "Yep, better her than me," she quipped. "Though Joey did say that Ruby's not too bad, but that just might be a con to lull me into taking over the lessons once Joey's given her a few more."

"I always knew there were advantages to living out of town," Shandi said with a grin. "It saved me from having Xav asking me for lessons."

"How much longer are you in the Bay for?" she asked since they hadn't really had much opportunity to talk about it the other night at Gina's party.

"I'm not really sure," she replied. "I was only going to stick around for Gina's birthday and sort of see how things went after that, but now that the truth about dad and Georgie is out, I want to stay and see where it goes, however long it takes," she said. "I was horrible to Georgie as a kid and I've apologised to her for that, but now I really want to make up for that and be a big sister to her. This is something I really should have done years ago."

"Georgie wouldn't have been ready then," Charlie pointed out.

"Not sure she's ready now," Shandi replied. "But her joining us at the table the other night could be a good sign," she said. "I know she was only there for Gina, but I never thought I'd see the day she'd be seated at the same table as me, dad and Hugo."

"That's something I certainly never expected to see," agreed Charlie. "Though until recently, I never understood why Georgie was so against John. You and Hugo, I could understand, but with John, I just never got that."

"I still feel bad for not telling you the truth about dad and Georgie," Shandi said. "It's been hard keeping the secret for so long and there were times when I did want to tell you, especially after we hooked up."

"It wasn't your secret to tell," Charlie said.

"I'm just glad it's all finally out in the open now," Shandi said. Or most of it. She'd still love to know what her sister had meant about their father being the reason why her mum was dead. One step at a time though, she told herself and turned her attention back to Charlie. "And that the weirdness between us is gone."

Charlie grinned at her. "Well, it's not every day that I find out I was sleeping with family."

"Please stop referring to it like that," she said with a grimace. "It's not like you are actually related to me by blood," Shandi said. "We just share a common relative."

"Still, if I'd known back then that you were my cousin's sister, then I probably never would have gone out with you."

"We were good together though, weren't we?"

"Yeah we were," Charlie readily replied. "You were my first real long term relationship, which was good for me, because it let me believe I was capable of being with a woman beyond a few weeks," she said. "But I think we both knew, even back then, that it was never going to last between us."

"True," Shandi said. "Your messiness would have eventually driven me insane."

"My messiness?" Charlie replied with a raised brow. "If I recall correctly, it was you who had an aversion to using coat hangers and anything resembling a household cleaning product."

"You clearly recall wrongly," she said with faux huffiness.

"Ask Joey and she'll tell you I'm a neat freak."

"Obviously a new thing with you then," she countered. Then she grinned at Charlie. "Never thought I'd see the day when Charlie Buckton was happy to be balled and chained for eternity."

"Have you seen my girlfriend?" Charlie said.

"You're right," replied Shandi. "If she was available, I'd gladly let her chain me for eternity."

"We prefer cuffs," quipped Charlie. "What about you, has there been anyone special since we split?"

"Not really," she murmured. "I'm not ready to settle down just yet and I guess a part of me wasn't really looking for anything stable, because at the back of my mind, I always knew I'd end up back here for an extended period," she explained. "At least I always hoped my sister would give me a reason to stick around long term, so I never thought it fair to get involved with a woman and then have to leave her or drag her here with me."

"I'm sure there is a woman out there who will be happy to tame you when the time is right," she teased. "And as for Georgie, well she and I have own issues that still need sorting out, but I hope you two can find a way to be sisters."

"So do I," she said. "I just really hope this goes somewhere, especially for dad. He has gotten all excited at the possibility that Georgie may finally be thawing toward him. Both Gina and I have tried to warn him not to get ahead of himself, but he's wanted this for so long, he just can't help himself."

"It's such a shame the way things ended up, because it's obvious John cares for Georgie and her life could have been so different if he had been allowed to be a part of it from the beginning."

"Well, what's done is done, it can't be changed," Shandi said. "All we can do now is try to get past it and move forward," she said. "Hopefully as a family."

"You know, Roo and Georgie are actually talking civilly toward each other now, so miracles are possible."

"God I hope so. We all really want to be there for Georgie, even more now with Martha being in the hospital."

"She might need her family even more soon, since things might be about to get a little worse for Georgie."

"How so?" Shandi said. "I thought Martha was improving every day."

"She is," Charlie said. "I can't really go into details just yet, but it looks like Angelo might be around for longer than any of us would like."

"Shit," she muttered.

"And having him back at work is hard on everyone, especially Georgie. I've done my best to make sure they're not on the same shift, but there's no way to avoid their shifts crossing over," Charlie said. "Angelo's working right now and Georgie isn't on till this afternoon, but there's at least three hours where their shifts cross over today."

"Just let him rot on the graveyard shift every night."

"Joey said the same thing and I would if I could, but Angelo would be the first to complain about being victimised if I did that, especially since Georgie's not on graveyard shifts for the time being," she explained. "With her partner in hospital, she's allowed to work split shifts so she can be home at night for their son."

"Sounds reasonable."

"It is, but she's my cousin and since I'm now with Angelo's wife, it really wouldn't be a good look if I then went against Department policy and tried to force Angelo into only working the graveyard shifts. He'd argue I was being preferential to Georgie just because we're family while having it in for him since he's the husband of my lover."

"He really does sound like a piece of work," Shandi muttered. "Did you know that he actually took a restraining order out against dad?"

"You're kidding!" Charlie said. "When was this?"

"It came first thing this morning."

"Bastard must have gotten it signed off elsewhere, because I certainly never saw any application for it."

"He alleges that my father twice threatened him, once when he was in uniform."

"That little shit."

"Well, I suppose dad did kind of threaten him, but it was just words, he'd never have carried through with it," Shandi said. "Though I admit, I think it would have been enjoyable to see dad scraping that prick off the bottom of his boot like a piece of dog shit." She shook her head in annoyance. "But that order is a crock of shit. All dad was doing, was standing up for his family."

"I guess now we know what Angelo meant when he told John he wasn't going to let him push him around," murmured Charlie. "What are the terms of the restraining order?"

"Dad has to stay at least fifty metres away from Angelo at all times for the period of the order," she replied. "Which is for the next two weeks."

"That suggests to me that Angelo or his lawyer must have done some grovelling to get even that much into the order," Charlie said.

"It still pisses dad off," Shandi said. "And now he's worried Angelo will target Georgie or himself, just to try to provoke him into breaching the order."

"I certainly wouldn't put that past Angelo." She sipped her coffee. It was extra strong this morning, because she figured she'd need the boost to get her through the day. "I'll do my best to keep an eye on him." Unfortunately, she had an awful feeling that she was going to be forced to do a lot of that.

Angelo stifled a yawn. He was tired. She'd begged him to show her what a real man was like and he'd spent most of the night doing just that. That woman was up for almost anything and she was proving to be a far better curative measure than drugs had been. He grinned. At least going at it all night and screwing her brains out wasn't going to show up in a drug test and he got the added enjoyment of knowing he was giving that young Detective's girl great sex right under her nose. That was such a turn on. He wondered if that stupid woman would ever notice that her girl was being pounded wide open by his dick the next time she stuck her little fingers up her. He sniggered.

"What's so funny?"

Angelo glanced over at his partner. Hogan had barely said two words since they'd been assigned to sit on the side of the road with a speed camera, unless it was work related. Since this was usually a one-man job, it felt like he was being banished from the Station and babysat at the same time. It infuriated him. Not that long ago, he was the Sergeant and this man his lackey and though he was still senior to Hogan, he knew this man no longer respected him. It wasn't fair. "Just thinking of the night I had," he replied in a civil voice.

"We're here to work, not daydream."

"Yes sir," he said mockingly and ignored the glare he got from Hogan as he went on to imagine what he was going to do to her when they hooked up again during his lunch break. He'd been pissed at first when he'd woken that morning to find her gone without so much as a word to him. Then he'd found her note, promising to make up for her hasty exit to him over lunch. He was definitely going to enjoy lunch today.

"That's it, ease around," Joey instructed.

"I'm getting better at this," murmured Ruby.

"You're doing really well, Ruby."

"Because I have such an amazing teacher."

Joey chuckled. "You're being a little too obvious with your praise, Ruby," she told her.

"Whatever do you mean?" she innocently asked.

"You figure if you keep flattering me with how great an instructor I am, that I'll cave in and offer to give you even more lessons."

"That's not it at all," Ruby replied. "You are a great teacher."

Joey just shook her head in amusement.

"Really you are Joey," she remarked. "An absolutely amazing and remarkable teacher."

"Now you're just trolling me."

Graves had enjoyed the company of Charlie and Joey last night. They'd found some seats in the outside enclosure of the pub where it was a little quieter and had a great time. She had found Joey to be a very funny and mischievous lady who she had little doubt was going to be keeping Charlie on her toes for a very long time. It had been fun to watch them together and it had taken her mind off her own loneliness, even if only for a short time. She'd eventually had to climb into that big empty bed all alone though, but come morning, she found herself on a mission.

With the tray in one hand, she used the other to knock on the door. The caravan rocked slightly as she heard Shannon move about. Moments later, the door flung open.

Shannon sniffed the air and said by way of greeting, "Is that coffee?"

Graves nodded in amusement. "And egg and bacon muffins."

"Oh my god, you're a life saver," she said and reached for one of the cups.

"No offence, but you look like you haven't slept," Graves said as she stepped into the caravan.

"Because I haven't," she replied. "I was going at it all night." She took a large mouthful of coffee and savoured it for a moment. "Oh caffeine, how I've missed you."

"What about me?" Graves said. "Have you missed me?"

"Hand me the muffin and I'll say yes."

Graves handed the muffin over. "Did you really stay up all night writing?"

"Yeah," she said around her first mouthful. "When I'm in the groove, I lose all track of time."

"Do you even stop to eat?" she asked as Shannon was swiftly polishing off the food.

"Last night was one of those times that I forgot to take some time out, so I really appreciate you bringing this around." With the last of the muffin now gone, she took another couple of mouthfuls of coffee, before setting it aside and eyeing off her lover. She was on such a high from last night. "How long before you have to go to work?"

"Not long."

"Long enough." Taking a handful of shirt in her fist, she dragged Graves toward her, their lips meeting strongly and their clothes quickly discarded as their passion took over.

"Oww," Graves complained as her head hit the overhead shelf when she was pushed onto the bed.

"Oh shit, I'm so sorry," Shannon said in embarrassment.

"Now I know why you preferred my place over yours," she murmured as she rubbed her head.

Shannon straddled Graves' naked waist and leant over her, their breasts touching as she stared into her eyes. "Let me make you feel better."

"You already are," moaned Graves, her body on fire at just the merest touch from her lover, let alone having her whole naked body pressed hard against hers.

"I haven't even begun baby," she purred and Graves' heart fluttered at the sheer lust she saw on Shannon's face. All thoughts of work were forgotten as Shannon crushed her lips on hers.

"We should be heading toward the school now," Joey said to her young driver.

"Doesn't feel like we've been driving all that long," muttered a disappointed Ruby.

"It's been half an hour," pointed out Joey.

"Really?"

"Yep." She leant over to look at the dashboard in front of Ruby. "Watch your speed Ruby."

"Oh shit," she said and eased back.

Angelo was brought out of his daydreams by a familiar car going past with an even familiar passenger. He glanced at the speed camera and smiled. Today really was his lucky day.

"What are you doing Angelo?" Hogan asked when Angelo started the car.

"That car was speeding."

"It was one K over the limit."

"Over the limit, is over the limit." He flipped on the lights and sped off after them.

"Joey, there's a cop car behind me," Ruby said in mild panic.

Joey glanced over her shoulder behind them. "Damn," she muttered under her breath. "The lights are flashing, so you'd better pull over and see what they want."

"I can't get a speeding ticket when I'm on my L's," complained Ruby as she pulled the car over to the shoulder of the road.

"Relax Ruby, you were already slowing down and I doubt you were still over the limit," she told the young girl. "Wind down your window."

Her heart went into her mouth when she saw who the officer was when he stepped from the car. Joey had been dreading seeing him again and she hoped he wasn't going to get at her or Charlie, by going through Ruby.

Angelo leant on the open window with his elbows. "Morning ladies," he said with a cheerful grin. "Were you aware that you were speeding, Miss Buckton?"

"That was my fault," Joey said. "I'm giving her lessons and I should have been paying more attention to the speed."

"So should have the young lady," he replied.

"How far over was she?" asked Joey. She was still sure that it couldn't have been by much, since Ruby hadn't been that far over to begin with and had already started to slow down before they even would have passed the camera.

"She was over the limit," was all he said. "And I'm going to have to give Miss Buckton a ticket for that." He pulled out his ticket book. "This isn't going to look good on your leaner's permit," he informed Ruby as he started writing down the details.