Chapter Eight

It had been a long day and now the sun was slowly sinking into the horizon. Joey and Charlie remained on the beach with their backs to the dunes. Tenderly, Joey kept hold of Charlie, who felt like her life depended on the comfort and love she offered. Joey held on tightly, not wanting to let her go for fear of her coming to some kind of harm. Last time they had seen each other, last time they had been part of each other's lives, Charlie had been the strong one. She'd protected Joey, helped her seek justice, put her life back together again. It was a shock now to see her so fragile and vulnerable, to realise how much she needed her.

"We'd better get you back home," she said softly.

Charlie shook her head and held on tighter. She felt safe here. She didn't want to move from this place.

"We don't want to get washed away," Joey said, noting the tide approaching them.

"That actually sounds kind of nice," Charlie said, seeming void of emotion.

Joey kissed the top of her head again.

"Now, don't tell me I've come all this way for no reason," she said. "I thought I was coming to save you. And I like the sea but not that much!"

She chuckled softly and gently shifted position so that she could look at her properly. She took a few moments to gaze at Charlie's lovely face. Even so broken, she was beautiful.

"Let's get you home," she said. "We'll get you fed and tucked up all safe in bed. Then you can have a nice long sleep and things will be better in the morning."

"How will they be better?" Charlie asked, hoping for some kind of answer.

Joey chewed her lip thoughtfully.

"I haven't figured that out yet," she said, a hint of a smile at the corner of her mouth. "But it will. I'm sure of it."

Charlie managed to smile back.

"Can I take you home?" Joey asked.

She smiled as Charlie nodded slowly. Brushing stray hair out of Charlie's face, she gently guided her to her feet. Taking her hand, she led them in the direction of the home they had once shared.

Angelo sat at the bar of the Surf Club. He was feeling sad and confused. It had been several days since he had seen Charlie and he was still struggling to process her rape claim. He replayed the scene over and over in his head and he was sure that she had been as into it as he had been. He didn't remember her saying no and he couldn't help but wonder why she would have. They'd been having a great time and he'd been so happy to be back together. Shocked didn't even begin to describe how he'd felt when he'd been interviewed as a rape suspect. And after Watson's outburst today, he wasn't sure he had quite heard the end of it yet. On top of that, Leah was refusing to serve him in the Diner. He had considered going round to have it out with Charlie several times but he wasn't feeling very sure of himself anymore. He didn't know what to say to her.

"I'm sure it'll all work out, mate," Alf said, plonking another beer in front of him.

Angelo sighed heavily, grateful that at least the rest of the town hadn't found him guilty. He'd heard on the grapevine that even Ruby had stuck up for him. That felt good. He just hoped that Charlie would admit that she'd lied and everything could go back to normal again.

"I just don't know what would make her make something like that up," he said. "I mean, she's been a rape victim. Surely she knows how awful girls who cry rape are? I mean, it makes me wonder if she was even telling the truth the first time around."

"Well, let's assume she was," Alf said.

He didn't want to think badly of Charlie. But more than that, he didn't want to think badly of Angelo. Over the past few months, he'd become a good friend and while nobody would ever forget Jack's untimely death at his hands, he was sure Angelo couldn't be the malicious, evil man that Charlie seemed to be describing now.

"Yeah," Angelo said.

He sighed heavily.

"Do you know what the tragic thing is?" he asked.

"What's that?"

"I'm still crazy about her," Angelo admitted. "If she admitted this whole thing was a lie and she just wanted to hurt me, but that she was sorry and wanted me back... I'd be there in a heartbeat."

Charlie hadn't wanted food. Joey had coerced her into sipping a cuppa soup in bed. She perched on the end of it and asked Charlie if she was feeling any better.

"I won't sneak out and shoot myself," Charlie said flatly. "Not that I have a gun anymore."

Joey shuddered at the mere thought of it. Charlie apologised and put her cup down, reaching out to hold her hand.

"Thank you for saving me," she said softly. "I didn't mean for you to..."

"Of course I came, Charlie," Joey said. "I couldn't have watched that message and done anything else. What did you think I'd do?"

Charlie shrugged.

"I thought you hated me," she said.

"I've never hated you," Joey promised.

"But you didn't come home," Charlie pointed out.

Joey forced away the image of Charlie walking along the beach with that man.

"It doesn't mean I hated you," she said.

Now wasn't the time to talk about this. Right now, she just wanted Charlie back on even ground. She wanted her to be happy again. They gazed at each other for a long moment before Joey squeezed Charlie's hand and stood up.

"Okay, you need to get some sleep," she said. "Watson's confiscated your gun and I've hidden away the contents of the medicine cabinet so don't make my life any harder by getting any more creative with your ideas."

"Where are you going?" Charlie asked worriedly.

"To find somewhere to sleep for the night," Joey said.

She'd spoken to Leah already who had agreed that she could stay on the couch if she wanted to. Charlie looked horrified.

"I'll just be out there," Joey said. "You can come and get me any time you need to."

"Please stay with me," Charlie begged softly. "I know I have no right to ask you but..."

Tears welled in her eyes.

"Please?" she asked.

Joey sat back down and held her hands again.

"I came all this way to take care of you," she said. "I'm not going to abandon you now."

Charlie smiled weakly but with gratitude. She watched Joey take pillows from the other side of the bed and then rummage under the bed for the spare blanket she knew Charlie kept there. They wished each other goodnight and Joey settled herself on the floor beside Charlie's bed. She stared out into the dark, contemplating the day. When she'd woken up this morning, being back in Charlie's life had been far from an option. And now she was attempting to sleep on her bedroom floor, having spent the day trying to stop her from killing herself. She turned her face towards the bed as she heard Charlie's quiet sobs. Sighing sadly, she got up and knelt beside her, taking her into her arms. Charlie clung on tightly and wept.

When the morning light peeked through the gap in the curtains, Charlie kept her eyes shut and tried to shut out the day. She took several breaths and was glad to feel Joey's arms wrapped tightly around her. Having realised that Charlie couldn't stop crying once they'd turned the lights out, she'd given up on the idea of sleeping on the floor and, with permission, had slipped into the bed beside her. She'd held her all night long with both of them struggling to sleep. For most of the night, every time Charlie shut her eyes, all she could see was Angelo's face. And Joey was anxious about sleeping too deeply and not being around for Charlie when she needed her. Reluctantly Charlie opened her eyes. She turned a little and smiled at Joey who was still sleeping. She smiled affectionately at her, still marvelling at Joey's capacity to put pain aside and be there for a woman who had hurt her so much. Reaching out, she stroked Joey's hair. She didn't think she could have ever shared a bed with anyone, even platonically, again after what happened. Except Joey. Joey made her feel safe in a world that terrified her. A day ago, she wouldn't have thought it was possible for her to feel comforted on any level but Joey had managed it and for that, she was eternally grateful. In her sleep, Joey began to stir. Charlie watched her eyes fluttered open. Joey immediately apologised.

"What for?" Charlie asked in confusion.

"I was trying to stay awake," Joey admitted. "To watch over you."

Charlie smiled lovingly at her, asking herself why she had ever let her go in the first place. Maybe if she hadn't been such a fool and lost Joey last year, none of this would have happened. Maybe then they could have been happy together. Now she was so damaged, she doubted she would ever be able to sustain a relationship again, with anyone, especially not a sexual one. The idea of someone touching her was horrifying. Right now, Joey's touch was mere friendship and that was fine. It was what she needed. But she didn't think she'd be able to cope with anything more. She didn't think she'd be able to cope with that kind of thing ever again.

"How about some breakfast?" Joey asked.

Charlie shook her head, although she didn't think she would get away with her refusal.

"That wasn't really a question," Joey said.

She crawled out of bed and pulled Charlie with her. Charlie put her dressing gown on and handed another to Joey. It was the one that she'd let Joey use before when she'd been living with them. Joey held it and looked down at it uncertainly.

"You're the only one who's used it," Charlie assured her. "I may have hugged it excessively but nobody else has worn it."

They smiled shyly at each other and then headed into the kitchen for breakfast.

"Morning," Leah said brightly.

She'd been more than a little surprised to find Joey arriving back with Charlie the night before. The girls had explained that Charlie had called her in a fit of despair and Joey had come to make sure she was okay. Leah was glad Charlie had someone to depend on. Someone as well as her and Watson.

Rachel welcomed Watson into her office. She had an idea as to what it was about and she was more than willing to do anything she could to help Charlie. While she struggled to believe that Angelo was capable of rape, she had seen in great detail exactly what kind of state Charlie had been in. Whoever it had been, whatever had happened, intercourse had definitely not been consensual and quite frankly, if Charlie claimed it was Angelo then she believed her. Why, after all, would she lie?

"Is this about Charlie?" she asked.

Watson nodded and sat down.

"All the medical evidence you collected has gone missing from our lab," the police officer said.

"What?"

"I should have come to you earlier but the lab said it was completely gone and there was nothing we could do," Watson explained. "But I thought there was no harm in asking if any of the evidence we collected would be here."

Rachel pursed her lips thoughtfully.

"It did go to our lab," she said. "But generally, when something's been sent to the police, we get rid of it."

Watson sighed and nodded. She'd thought as much.

"But I can check," Rachel said, trying to be helpful and hopeful.

"If you could, that'd be fantastic," Watson said gratefully.

Rachel nodded and reached for the phone. Watson sat back and listened to her talk. Then she hung up.

"They're looking," Rachel said.

"Great," Watson said, standing up. "If you could call me..."

"I will."

Watson thanked her and headed for the door.

"How is Charlie?" Rachel asked, stopping her. "I haven't seen her around."

"She's pretty broken," Watson admitted. "She called Joey and she's come to look after her."

Rachel nodded.

"That's nice of her," she said. "I know they didn't part on the greatest of terms."

She sighed.

"Do you really think it was Angelo?"

"I have absolutely no doubt in my mind," Watson said gravely.

Angelo pulled up outside Charlie's house. He killed the engine but remained in the vehicle, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel and wondering what on earth he would say when he got inside the house. Leah's car wasn't in the drive but Charlie's little blue car was so he hoped she was home alone. He was sure that if they could just sit down and talk, she would understand that he had never meant to hurt her. He was desperate to convince himself that it wasn't rape. When Grant had been on the scene, he'd hated him for hurting her like that. He'd wanted to kill him but Ross had got there first. He was sure there was no way that he was the same as Grant. He loved Charlie. He'd never do such a thing to her. If only she could remember things properly, she'd realise that she'd wanted it as much as he had. If she hadn't, why had she agreed to go on a date with him? Why had she let him walk her home? She'd pretty much offered it up on a plate and he didn't think she should be blamed for taking it. Breathing deeply, Angelo climbed out of the car and approached the house.

"So, what would you like to do today?" Joey asked.

Charlie just stared at her. She didn't want to do anything. She didn't want to eat, go out, watch television... nothing. She just wanted to cease to exist. Sitting beside her on the couch, Joey attempted to coax her into even doing something as simple as watching a DVD.

"Come on... you know you want to really," she said.

"Whatever you want to do is fine by me," Charlie finally said.

She felt like Angelo had ripped all the enthusiasm and joy out of her. Now she was merely existing instead of living. It had taken so long for her to get herself and her soul back together after what had happened with Grant. And in a lot of ways, she still didn't think she really had. Now Angelo had destroyed everything she had left and she wasn't sure a person could recover twice.

"Run a marathon?" Joey smirked.

"Like you could outrun me," Charlie said.

They smiled at each other, remembering their race along the beach, back when their relationship hadn't been quite so complicated.

"I beat you the second time!" Joey reminded her.

"Technicality," Charlie smiled.

Then she frowned and looked down at her hands. Joey inched closer and put her hand tentatively on Charlie's leg.

"What is it?" she asked. "Where did you go just then?"

"It's going to sound stupid," Charlie said, not wanting to share.

Joey settled down more comfortably.

"Try me," she said.

Charlie sighed and twisted her hands together. Noticing how much force she was using, Joey intervened and held her hand.

"It's like... now that you're here, things might be easier," Charlie ventured. "I've never been happier than when I've had good times with you. Before... you just had to look at me and I couldn't help but smile. And now... now you make me laugh and make me feel better for a few moments, like remembering racing across the beach or something fun like that and then... then it hits me. I remember why you're here. I remember what happened and it's like I break all over again."

"Should I stop making you laugh?" Joey asked.

Charlie reached for her other hand and shook her head.

"I like it when you make me laugh," she said. "I just wish I didn't fall so badly every time I stop laughing."

Joey played with Charlie's fingers for a moment.

"I do get what you mean," she admitted. "It's not stupid. That's how I felt after what happened to me. Spending time with you... knowing how much you cared about me, it made the whole thing easier to recover from. I started healing and it was all because of you. But to start with... I felt the same. Every happy moment was in stark contrast to every other moment. And it was so hard. But in the end, I was able to enjoy the happy moments. I started living for them, I started remembering them every time things hurt too badly. So maybe... in time... you'll get there."

Charlie stroked the back of Joey's hand and nodded.

"I hope so," she said.

A loud knock on the door interrupted them. Charlie physically jumped. Panic filled her. With so few people on her side, a visitor probably wasn't someone she wanted to see.

"I'll go," Joey offered, standing up.

"Tell them to go away," Charlie begged. "I don't want to see anyone."

"Okay," Joey said, heading into the kitchen.

She froze when she pulled open the door and saw Angelo standing there. He looked bewildered too, recognising her as a stranger he'd bumped into the day before.

"What are you doing here?" he asked curiously.

"Protecting Charlie from you," Joey said coldly.

She pushed the door closed but he shoved it hard from the other side. Joey stumbled back and Angelo burst into the house. Now that he had come this far, nothing was going to stop him talking to Charlie and getting what he wanted.