Hello again!

I can't believe how great the response has been for this story!

Thank you for all of your lovely reviews, alerts, PMs, my list of thanks goes on!

Just to clear something up I am sorry about the confusion with the time frame! It has been 6 months since Charlie 'died' I must have forgotten to change it when Charlie said 'one year' in the last chapter when I was proof reading it! So sorry about that! X

Hope you enjoy this one!

CHAPTER 3: Unsung Hero

HEATH POV

I walked down the beach, trying to clear my head of the revelations that had came to light yesterday, trying to make sense of the past six months. How could I possibly be the one to protect Charlie that was Brax's job? I wasn't capable or smart enough to help her. How am I supposed to find a ghost? I was torn out of my thoughts by watching Brax sitting on the sand dune hill, staring out into nowhere, fiddling with a small object in his hands. I saw it glisten in the sun. I wasn't sure whether to approach him or not, the main reason being because I knew the love of his life was out there somewhere and I couldn't trust myself to keep my mouth shut.

I'd watched his life spiral out of control for months on end. I knew he'd tried to pull it back together but some things are just to damn broken to repair, he'd tried with Natalie; really tried, but anyone could see that it was all just some brave façade, everyone except Natalie. I'd walked in yesterday night to them in Angelo's kissing. We hadn't uttered a word to each other since. My heart broke in two for Charlie at that point. I wanted to cry for her. I wanted to know where she was. I was determined to find out. But Sydney's such a huge city. Where the hell do I start?

I sat down beside Brax, my feet spread out in front of my over the sandy hill. He didn't acknowledge me; he was too engrossed in the object in the palm of his hand. But he knew I was there. "Brax-"

"I'm busy Heath." Brax replied nonchalantly. I didn't push him, I never did. I'd learnt not to. I could see he wanted to break down, he had good days without Charlie and he had bad days without Charlie, this was another bad day. They'd become more regular since her birthday; his relationship with Natalie had become more strained as well. I personally think its because he can't let her in. He would but then she'd realize just how much he still loves Charlie. And she'd leave him too.

"What you got?" I asked, gesturing towards his hand. He stilled momentarily before opening the palm to reveal a diamond ring. I looked at him confused. There was no way he'd propose to Nat. Then I realized, it wasn't for Nat, it was for Charlie.

"Charlie? You were going to ask her to marry you…" I said, it was more of a statement than a question. My heart tore to pieces. Now she was out their somewhere and he was sat here with the key to her future. I heard him sniff and it was only then that I realized my brother who has looked after me since before I can remember had no one. I sit here, and I'm able to say I have a son, I have a daughter, I have my future wife in my life. Casey had Ruby there waiting for him, who did Brax have?

"I was gonna ask her the night we got to the city…our apartment had a skylight, I would have asked her in bed, looking up at the sky, but now its just cheesy romantic crap." Brax muttered, I shook my head, looking at my brothers torn exterior.

"Cost me $4000 dollars. It took me a while to find it but I did, the perfect ring for Charlie…and now she's gone, her flames burnt out." I saw him shake his head and look out to the distance. I could see he was trying to maintain his tough composure, keep his ego in tact but I could see through it. "We were gonna grow old together…what a joke." He said, tossing the ring between the palms of his hands

"Nah, it ain't a joke." I said, he turned his head to me "I can bet you love Charlie twice as much as I love Bianca, and I couldn't imagine spending my life without her. If anything mate her death has made you twice the man you were" I said taking the ring from him and holding it in my hand "This isn't a joke." I said, holding up the ring to him "Neither are you." I finished, placing the ring in his palm.

"It never seems to get any easier you know." Brax admitted, for once we were having a civilized conversation, and opening up to each other. I could see his hand clenching

"It will do mate." I said reassuringly, I just saw him shake his head and hold the ring up to his lips, pressing the diamond against them repeatedly.

I walked away from that conversation knowing one thing. I had to find Charlie.

3rd PERSON POV

Charlie stood by herself in a towel, the material draping loosely over her body, clinging slightly to her stomach. She traced her hand over her face, staring back at the foggy figure in the mirror. She couldn't remember who she was anymore, she didn't know who Charlie was, and she couldn't picture her old life in her future anymore.

Everything seemed to go wrong for her. She seemed doomed for a life of solidarity, on her own. Just her. It was time to face the facts. Brax wasn't going to come and hold her in his arms anymore. She had no one to sleep with. No one to call her mummy. She had nothing anymore, nothing that made her who she used to be.

She thought about going back to Summer Bay. She thought every single day. It's what she lived for. Summer Bay. Just the mere thought of seeing Brax from a distance or the sensation of feeling her daughter's arms around her was enough to push her through. She often wandered where Brax's life was at now, who he was with, what he was doing, did he even live in Summer Bay anymore? She sighed as she slipped on her black maxi dress, another day at the station.

Shock horror, she'd gone back to being a police sergeant again, yet she wasn't allowed out on duty at the moment, not quite yet.

Even if she tried to run they'd find her, but she needed to give them credit, all of them, her councilor, her boss…they were all there if she needed them, yet she felt so alone, like she was drowning and no one was coming to save her. She knew they all loved her in there own way, yet none could love her like Brax could, none could love her like Ruby could. She couldn't face the possibility that she'd never feel that again. You would have thought six months could heal emotional scars. It didn't.

The sun was high in the sky as she stepped onto the worn streets of the Sydney suburbs, her body cool in the humidity due to her clothing choice. She strolled along the sidewalk, her phone to her ear, chatting away to one of her few friends Amanda. Everyone knew her as Saskia. That was her name, no one knew of her past, they knew of her cover story. Everyone except constable Joyce.

Her sunglasses were slipped over her eyes, a feeling she loved to savor in her dangerous world. She could look at people and they couldn't see where she was looking. It was a bad habit of hers, scanning the area she stood in, you can't trust anyone, even people you've never met. Strangers, never trust them.

She felt the wind whip through her hair as she turned to walk through the Royal Botanic gardens, the city skyline in the near distance. She hung up the phone on Amanda and continued her daily walk from her apartment. Everything was livelier in the city today, maybe because it's a Saturday she thought. She stopped as she saw a man leaning against a tree a few yards away, staring intently at her from a distance. There was something familiar about him, she couldn't put a pin on it. But she'd seen him somewhere. The minute their eyes met he turned away, as if he'd never been watching, but he was. She'd felt it. She stalled for a second before considering her options. Various people excited via various routes through the park. Follow the crowd, she thought. It's safer that way. As soon as she exited left with a main stream of people, he immediately followed. She could feel his eyes on the back of her head.

Run.

She broke out through the masses of people, not running but eager enough to get away. She didn't know what to do, she could hear people moaning and yelling as she weaved through them all, trying to get away as quickly as possible, and she could hear others shouting out at somebody else, not her, as they too pushed through the crowds behind Charlie.

3 HOURS EARLIER

SUMMER BAY

"Where do you think you're going Heath?" Bianca asked frustratingly as she watched Heath pile his stuff into a tiny rucksack.

"I told you, up the coast." Heath replied abruptly, sighing as she lingered annoyingly by the door. "Bianca, I've already said this, I'm going up the coast with dad."

"But what about me? What about Rocco?" She begged, looping her arms around his neck and pressing her body to his.

"This is something I gotta do." Heath replied, pushing himself out of her grasp and slinging his bag over his shoulder. He sure as hell was going to miss his family, but Buckton's death was tearing Brax apart, more than he'd care to admit. Bianca was just about to argue again when they both heard the front door open and someone's footsteps in the kitchen.

"Whoa sorry to break up the party." Brax said as Heath and Bianca trawled out from their bedroom, they both smiled as Brax held a distressed Rocco in his arms, neither of them having noticed his screaming through the commotion and racket of their arguments. "You know you might want to take it down a notch, I can hear you two from the street." Brax chuckled before gently placing Rocco back down in his crib.

Neither Bianca nor Heath answered, both of them stood in silence.

"What's with the rucksack?" Brax frowned as he noticed the bag on Heath's shoulder.

"He's going up the coast." Bianca snapped her eyes burning into the back of Heath's head as she spoke. Brax stared inquisitively at Heath; no road trip up the coast was mentioned earlier.

"What that's it? This idea just sprung into your head and now what? You're just gonna leave Bianca and Rocco?" Brax asked, raising his eyebrows in disbelief.

"No, that's not how it is. I didn't realize I had to consult with everyone before I left!" Heath defended, rolling his eyes as Brax scoffed and shook his head, running his hands through his hair.

"Well mate, you do have other responsibility's now." Brax raised his voice as he pointed to Rocco.

"Clearly he doesn't understand the concept of parenting." Bianca interrupted, shaking her head before storming upstairs and slamming the bedroom doors, making Rocco scream out again.

"Look, mate, one day, you'll thank me, I promise." Heath said softly, slapping his shoulder as he walked past before heading out the door.

Next stop.

Sydney.

PRESENT

SYDNEY

Heath sighed, running his hands exasperatingly through his hair, he'd lost sight of his dad. He'd seen her. He'd followed behind her...and his dad.

And now he'd lost her.

He was yards away and she'd slipped through his fingers.

Now, there was a lone woman about to be assassinated by a middle aged, grey haired, snake of a man.

She hadn't changed one little bit. He could have sworn everything about her was the same as 6 months ago. She still had the same picture of youth about her. Her frame was just as slender and her legs just as long. But if you knew Charlie Buckton before she 'died', you cold tell, something wasn't right. The warmth didn't radiate from her, it used to, even at a distance. She'd blocked herself off from civilization. Closed her walls around her and no one was going to get in. Not Heath anyway, he'd lost that chance half an hour ago.

His legs tired as he walked aimlessly through the crowded, sticky streets of Sydney, his forehead beading with wetness from the intense heat and his back slicked with sweat from his rucksack. What was he even doing?

He was in a huge city, looking for two people, one of them incredibly important, how was he supposed to find them now? They could be anywhere.

He was disheartened as he walked through the bustling walkways of the Botanic Gardens, his head bobbing from side to side with his body, he was moving in autopilot now, not even registering who was just ahead of him.

Suddenly he caught a glimpse of her, her long dark hair swaying down her back and the straps of her maxi dress cutting low, exposing her tanned skin. Not to far behind, a lone grey haired figure hung back, his body hunched against a tree. He watched the scene unfold around him. She knew she was being watched. Of course she did, she was an ex cop!

Before he knew it he was running as fast as his legs would carry him, gaining even ground against his dad, she wasn't even running, just walking slightly faster than everyone around her, she was shady that's for sure. He slowed as he saw a quick shortcut through the field, darting through the long grass he hid behind the row of lined trees, waiting for her footsteps to get closer and closer.

CHARLIE POV

I could feel my chest constricting as I continued to try and get away from him, I shouldn't be running, I knew that, but what other choice did I have? I continued down the path lined with trees, repeatedly telling myself it would be ok, I'd get away. Just as the thought crossed my mind I immediately felt someone encase me with his or her arms and pull me off of the main walkway. The strength took my breath away. I immediately went to scream for help but felt a harsh hand clamp over my mouth. I could feel his harsh breathing against my neck, but he did nothing, we sat firmly, hidden behind one of the trees under the shade, me trapped in his grasp. He had no weapon, I was sure of that, and this was definitely not the same man following me, for starters, his clothes were different.

"He's gone…" The voice whispered softly into my ear. I felt all of the air exit my lungs as I heard that voice. Surely that couldn't be right?

HEATH POV

I felt her body go rigid in my arms after I spoke, her whole body tensing as I loosened my grip on her. I smiled slightly as she turned around, her eyes meeting mine in an intense stare, her features dumbfounded, her mouth agape. She went to speak but more air just exited her lungs as she struggled for breath. I chuckled at her as tears fell from her eyes, making dark tram lines down her cheeks, she whipped them away, but it was no use, more took their place, trickling down to her chin, hanging on the edge for a second before dripping off and onto her dress.

"Geez Buckton I'm not that bad looking am I?" I grinned cheekily, laughing as she giggled, more tears falling from her eyes as we knelt in front of each other.

"I never thought I'd be so happy to see your ugly mug again!" She whispered breathlessly, pulling me in for an embrace, her arms choking my neck. It was then I knew. She was lonely. Hell, if she was happy to see me she must be.

"Always a pleasure Buckton, always a pleasure." I smirked, squeezing her tiny frame a little tighter as I held on to her. There was no way I was gonna let her out of my sight.

I held her gently into my chest as I arched my neck around the tree and tilted my head out onto the walkway; just to make sure that dad had gone for good. Satisfied I stood up, quickly taking Charlie's hand in mine and pulling her gently out onto the path, keeping close to the trees just incase we needed to hide again. I did this until we got out onto the hustle and bustle of the main streets, other people were our safety net then, trouble was though, they were dads too. I saw Charlie constantly craning her neck to see if anyone was following. She had now slipped some sunglasses over her eyes and kept her body close to mine, trying to hide herself. After all she was the target.

I stopped as she took my hand and led me down another street, even more crowded full of people, bodies constantly brushing past the pair of us, she turned and looked at me through her shades, "Correct me if I'm wrong but a hit man comes after me and at the same time you pop out of nowhere, I'm glad to see you but-"

"Well what can I say Buckton I'm an unsung hero." I interrupted as a joke, I frowned as she didn't laugh, she just pulled me to the mouth of an alleyway and stopped,

"How do I know you're not leading him to me?" She asked anxiously, her eyes darting around us and out onto the street,

"Believe it or not I have a baby now Buckton, I've turned my life around." I said, looking at her dead in the eye,

"I didn't mean you could be doing it knowingly I just meant…" She trailed off. I nodded understandingly. From her point of view some guy was stalking her and all of a sudden of all people Heath Braxton comes to her rescue.

"Yeah I get what you meant but trust me he has no idea that I'm here," I said smugly, smiling slightly as she looked at me, her eyebrows now raised,

"You make it sound as though it's personal." She implied, scuffing her foot backwards and forwards along the floor.

"That's coz it is" I said quietly, my voice straining as I turned my neck around behind me and up the street

"You gonna tell me?" I heard her ask, I shook my head and pulled her over to my side of the alleyway,

"As much as I'd love to now's not the time…he's at 11 o'clock 100 yards away," I said through gritted teeth, both of us curling our heads around the side of the wall.

"You know him well to spot him from that distance…" Charlie muttered, somewhat impressed, I shrugged and nodded,

I nodded and squinted as dad drew out a map from his pocket. "You could say that." I mumbled, although as of now my dad was dead to me. Sure I was no fan of Buckton, but her 'death' had messed with my brothers' head and now at the same time I find out she's alive, the same person is trying to take her away again. "I take it your place is that way." I said, throwing my thumb over my shoulder as dad finished surveying the map in his hands and began walking the opposite way to us

"Yeah, why?" she frowned, furrowing her brow at me above her glasses

'Is there another way round because I don't reckon we really want to bump into him." I said, she nodded quickly and lead me across the street, taking me down a few other roads before we went down an alleyway and through a back entrance of some posh apartment block. I watched as she pulled out a card from her bag and swiped it through a doorway before taking me up some stairs at the back, secluded from everyone else.

"Why are you doing this Heath?" she asked as we walked along the top floor corridor with only a couple of rooms.

"You're precious cargo Buckton." I chuckled, she just rolled her eyes and stopped at a doorway, taking out her key and scuffling with the lock, her eyes darting up and down the corridor to make sure no one was coming, not that she really knew who exactly to look out for. "I ain't letting you out of my sight…for Brax and Ruby's sake, I'm gonna keep you safe." I said. I watched as her body momentarily stilled

"Who is he Heath?" She asked anxiously and she swallowed a lump in her throat.

"That Buckton, you don't need to know the details of. On a need to know basis."

"Its my life on the line here I'm pretty sure that's classes as need to know." She portested, crossing her arms defensively over her body.

"As long as I play my cards right, your life won't be on the line." I said adamantly, watching dads retreating figure as he disappeared into the crowds.

"And if you don't?"

"Then I'll be the one with the guilty conscience." I deadpanned. It was then I decided, I was gonna do this for Brax. They needed each other more than anything she had to know that.

She must know that.

I hope you all enjoyed that! I know it was fairly easy for Heath to find Charlie but I thought it would be kind of boring if it took him a few chapters just to find her, i also wanted him to put aside his old issues with Charlie and put Brax first for once, so I hope I did that well! :)

Please review, alert, or PM, it motivates me so much! X