A/N so the last chapter...thanks to all of you who have read and reviewed. I guess enjoy isn't the right word for this story, but thanks anyway. For those of you who have struggled with the concept, the review button is hyper linked at the bottom of the page...go on, you know you want to...
IJKW will return...
6 weeks later
"She's what?" Angelo almost yelled down the phone. "She's moving in with that bitch?" He listened intently while his lawyer explained Angelo's ex-girlfriends living arrangements. A smug smile began to spread across his arrogant features. He scowled for a moment as he realised that Charlie had refused to move in with him, and they'd be together for 6 months. "So this will prove that if she can move on so quickly from me that she's a slut, right? That she must have lied about the rape claim?" He fell silent as his lawyer continued to explain. "And what about the charge of perverting the course of justice. Will that just go away? I'll get re-instated back into the police as a sergeant when this is all cleared up?"
Angelo was so consumed with self-righteousness that he forgot his surroundings and spoke freely; he didn't notice his cellmate loitering behind him, listening with great interest to the conversation.
"I'll get it!" Charlie and Joey shouted in unison at the knock on their door. Joey bounded down the stairs as Charlie raced through the lounge room from the kitchen, both eager to be the one to open the door to their first proper visitor.
Getting a place together had been an easy decision to make. Charlie and Joey spent all their free time together, and Joey's previous apartment had been too small to accommodate them both on a permanent basis. Plus Charlie had wanted a spare room should her and Ruby's relationship ever be repaired to the point where Ruby would come home. As wonderful and supportive as Leah had been, both women wanted their own home to build a future in – one where they could also make out on the sofa without fear of VJ interrupting them.
They arrived at the door simultaneously and stood there giggling. Joey reached for Charlie's hand as she opened the door. They stood and beamed at their first official caller.
On the other side of the door, Watson tried not to laugh, despite the news she was bringing, as she heard her friends bickering over who got to open the door. She was pleased that things were working out for them, and she was even more pleased that she had been able to get to know them both over the last few months and was proud to be able to call them her friends.
"Senior Constable Watson, please come in," said Joey with a flourish, waving her arm in a welcoming gesture.
Charlie instantly knew that something was wrong. She paled slightly at the grim look on Watson's face and instinctively clutched Joey's hand tighter.
"Errr can I come back later and be your first proper visitor? I'm afraid this is business." Watson glanced between the two women and wondered, not for the first time, how Charlie would react. "Maybe we should sit down."
Joey glanced worriedly at Charlie who looked like she was going to start hyperventilating. "What is it Georgie?" she asked nervously.
Charlie sank onto the couch, pulling Joey with her. "Please tell me he hasn't been released?" she whispered.
Watson shook her head. "I'm just going to come right out and say this," she took a deep breath. "Angelo died in prison this morning. It's all over Charlie. He can never hurt you again."
Charlie collapsed in to Joey's arms, not bothering to blink back her tears of relief. Joey held her tightly and kissed the top of her head. She looked inquiringly at Watson.
"One of the inmates thought he recognised him from somewhere. Turns out Angelo had been his arresting officer albeit with very dubious evidence that Angelo had made stick. Angelo had been given a cover that he was a banker charged with fraud, just to try and keep him safe until the trial. Somehow the inmates found out what he was really being charged with… and that he was a corrupt cop. The guy who Angelo had arrested incited a riot to distract the guards, and he, errr, exacted revenge on Angelo for putting him away." Watson stopped, unsure if Charlie wanted to hear all the details.
"What happened to him?" It was Joey who asked the question.
Watson glanced at Charlie who nodded her head slightly in acknowledgment that Watson should continue.
"He suffered. Trust me that you don't want to know the details."
Charlie started to sob, both with relief that the monster who had nearly destroyed her was dead and with guilt that she didn't feel bad about the death of her former partner.
Joey continued to hold Charlie tightly, gently rocking her as she tried to soothe her. Watson quietly let herself out of the house.
"Talk to me Charlie," Joey shifted slightly, with Charlie still in her arms, so that she could see her girlfriends face. She gently wiped the tears from Charlie's cheeks. "What are you thinking?"
Charlie looked up into Joey's beautiful eyes, and could see the concern lying there. She reached up and pushed a strand of hair back behind Joey's ear. "I feel relieved," she chewed her lip. "And numb. I don't really know how I'm supposed to feel right now."
"I think its fine to not know how to feel. If I'd just been told that about Robbo, I think I'd be feeling numb and empty right now."
Charlie sighed. "Its like it brings it all back."
Joey kissed her forehead. "Its ok sweetheart, we'll get through this. He can't hurt us anymore."
Charlie sighed again.
"Do you want to cancel the house warming party? I'm sure everyone..."
"No!" Charlie cut Joey off quickly, startling Joey. "No," she reiterated more calmly. "He nearly destroyed my life once," she still couldn't bring herself to say Angelo's name. "I'm not going to let him do it again."
Joey gazed at Charlie, full of love as Charlie continued. "Moving in here with you today, it's supposed to be the first day of the rest of lives. Without you I was a mess. I never want you to not be a part of my life. I love you and want to be with you. Forever. I'm not going to let him ruin that."
Joey smiled and gently tangled her fingers with Charlie's. "I love you too."
"I was hoping that today was going to be a whole new start for us. I was hoping that tonight I'd be able to be with you, completely. And now I don't think I can. Its… I feel like wounds that can't be seen have reopened. I feel like I've gone back several steps." Charlie chewed her lip. "I'm so sorry. I don't want to frustrate you or disappoint you."
Joey blinked back tears, and pulled Charlie close to her, kissing her cheek. "Oh Charlie," she whispered. "You could never disappoint me."
"But,"
"But nothing! How could I be disappointed? I get to do this," Joey leant forward and kissed Charlie softly, "everyday." She smiled. "I get to fall asleep in your arms and wake up beside you everyday. I have your heart and you share my soul. I get to love you for the rest of our lives. How could that frustrate me?"
Charlie caressed Joey's cheek and blinked back her own tears.
"I'd wait forever for you." Joey whispered. "I love you."
Charlie kissed Joey's tears away, which were now escaping down her cheeks. "I love you too."
1 month later
"Hey honey, I'm home" Charlie called out as she closed the front door behind her and threw her bag onto the couch.
Joey emerged from the kitchen her face smudged with flour. She looked Charlie up and down appreciatively and grinned. "Have I told you just how damn sexy you look in that uniform Sergeant Buckton?"
Charlie wrapped her arms around Joey's waist and kissed her tenderly. "Only every time I wear it," she smirked in between kisses.
"And have I told you just how damn sexy you look out of it?" Joey whispered huskily.
Charlie grinned and kissed Joey again trailing her lips along Joey's jaw and down her neck. "Only every time you help me out of it." Joey stood with her eyes closed enjoying the feel of Charlie's lips pressed against her. She pulled Charlie in closer and moaned softly. Taking her by the hand, Charlie pulled Joey gently towards the stairs. "Why don't you help me take it off and tell me again how sexy I am?"
Joey didn't need to be asked twice.
Charlie's uniform lay scattered around their bedroom while Joey's clothes were in a heap on the floor. They lay facing each other, kissing passionately their hands roaming each other's bodies. Charlie rested her hand on Joey's hip and teased her fingers under the edge of Joey's shorts. Joey pulled back and gazed into Charlie's eyes.
"Are you sure?" she whispered.
Charlie nodded. "I love you. I want to be with you. Completely." Charlie's voice was husky with desire. She kissed Joey slowly, and lifted her hips as Joey fumbled with removing her remaining underwear. She gasped as Joey kissed her way down her body and groaned as Joey teased her with her fingers. She gasped as she felt Joey's tongue against her. Charlie moaned loudly and tangled her fingers in Joey's hair. She closed her eyes and threw her head back as she gave herself completely to Joey.
Charlie collapsed back against the bed, gasping for breath as the orgasm flowed through her. Joey crawled back up the bed and took Charlie in her arms, holding her close and kissing her softly. As they lay together, Joey realised that Charlie was crying.
"Charlie what's wrong? Did I hurt you? Was that not OK?" Joey's voice was full of concern. It had been the first time they had made love since getting back together, and Joey was worried that she had somehow hurt Charlie or taken advantage of her.
Charlie shook her head. "Oh Joey, darling, no." She wiped the tears from her eyes. "That was perfect. You were perfect. I'm just a little emotional. I never thought I could feel this happy, this much in love. I never want to stop feeling like this. I love you."
Charlie smiled and leaned over to kiss Joey tenderly. "It was just so…" Charlie struggled to find words.
"Average?" suggested Joey, grinning at Charlie with a twinkle in her eye.
"Pardon?" Charlie blinked.
"Well, I mean it was ok," Joey continued to grin cheekily. "But I think we can do so much better."
Charlie laughed. "Do you now?"
"Huh huh," Joey nodded, a look of pure love in her eyes.
"And do you have any ideas?" Charlie smiled, playing along.
Joey rolled them over so that she was straddling Charlie. "I have one or two," she whispered.
Their lips met in a searing, passionate kiss.