Authors Note: Hey. Thank you to everyone who's reviewed the story so far, it's you who convince me to keep it up. Seriously, the more reviews I get the more inclined I am to update (hint, hint). Enjoy the next chapter, originally it was connected to the last but when I was typing it up I felt the need for a cliff hanger so you got stuck with the two separate ones. I just think that it flows better. Let me know what you think. Don't worry Gunni11; I'll try not to leave you hanging that long again. Enjoy all,
Darkwolf.
Chapter 8:
Charlie was still sitting in her office in tears when Watson opened the door and ran in.
"We've found him! The idiot used his credit card to pay for a motel room! We've already dispatched two teams!" she reported.
While she was still worried she was glad that she could tell Charlie something that was somewhat good.
Charlie jumped up and ran out the door and to the cruiser.
"Come on! Hurry!" She yelled.
Watson jumped into the car right as Charlie took off. She decided not to comment.
[Please don't let me be to late!] Charlie begged.
The drive to the motel was silent and Charlie paid no attention to the road laws. Pulling up to the motel she grabbed her vest and ran into the building, knowing her team would follow. Getting to the room she kicked open the door.
"Joey!" she yelled.
The room was empty but there were signs of life.
"Senior. Fresh blood." an officer reported.
Charlie's heart turned to ice.
"Their still here! Spread out and search!" she ordered.
She moved cautiously throughout the motel, listening for anything out of place. As she passed a closed door she thought she heard running water. Something felt different about the room.
[Joey!] She realized.
She kicked open the door.
"Get down! I said get down!" she yelled at Robbo the moment she noticed him.
That was when she saw Joey. She was in the bathtub underwater. She wasn't moving.
"Joey." she murmured, worried.
Robbo took that opportunity to smirk and strike out, knocking her hand into the wall. He ran past. Knowing that her colleges could take care of him and being far more worried about Joey, she hurried to put away her gun and move to Joey's side.
"Joey!" she screamed as she pulled her unbreathing girlfriend into her arms.
She quickly removed the tape over Joey's mouth and knew she had never been as relieved as when Joey to a deep breath and started coughing. She pulled Joey out of the water and into her lap.
"Shh. It's okay Joey. I'm here. You're safe. Your safe now." she soothed.
Joey started to cry into Charlie's shoulder. Charlie wrapped her arms around her love and continued her mantra. It was then that her brain processed that her girlfriend was very much naked and had multiple wounds. Fear, horror and rage welled inside her as she realized just what Robbo had done. She had tried to not think that he would ever do that again but he had.
[That son of a bitch is going to prison for a hell of a long time if I have any say! That's if I don't fucking kill him first!] She thought.
Watson cautiously walked in, blankets in her arms.
"Here. Try and warm her up." she murmured.
Charlie shot her a grateful look. Taking the blankets she wrapped them around her frozen girlfriend.
"It's okay Joey. It's all over. He'll never hurt you again." she whispered into Joey's hair.
She turned her head to kiss Joey's temple. Joey just cried uncontrollably. Watson watched them silently for a moment.
"She needs to make a statement." she finally murmured.
She had to force herself not to recoil at Charlie's glare.
"She's not in any state…" Charlie growled.
"Charlie. You know the procedure." Watson replied quietly.
Charlie sighed. She did know. She looked down at her girlfriend.
"Come on Jo. I'll drive you to the station, then we can go home and just relax. No pressure." she whispered.
Joey nodded. She knew she had no choice. She tried desperately to focus on something else to calm down. Something happy. Charlie.
"Okay. We still going out?" she asked so softly Charlie almost missed it.
She knew it was a stupid question. It didn't even deserve an answer really. She was in no condition to be going anywhere other than home.
"Maybe another night. I don't think tonight's a good idea." Charlie replied softly.
Joey nodded sadly. She'd messed up again. Brett was right, she always stuffed everything up.
"Okay. I'll cancel the reservations… actually… do you think Leah and Ruby would like to go? It's already paid for." Joey murmured.
Charlie smiled at Joey's thoughtfulness, even in a situation like this.
"I'm sure they'd love to." she replied softly.
She helped Joey stand up and supported her when she found Joey was unable to stand on her own.
"I'll call them at the station." she continued.
She was worried about just what injuries Joey had sustained from Robbo if she couldn't even stand on her own.
Ignoring Watson, who was giving her an odd look, she carefully helped Joey down to the cruiser. Helping her into the passenger seat she closed the door and turned to Watson who stood behind her, bewildered.
"Could you ride with another officer? She needs to not be under any kind of pressure right now. The uniform will make her uneasy." she asked, not really caring about being polite.
Watson raised an eyebrow.
"Sure, but… you're in uniform too." she pointed out.
Charlie didn't particularly care what Watson thought but decided to answer to save trouble.
"She won't mind me. I'm her girlfriend." she said.
Then, leaving Watson in shock, she turned and got in the cruiser, taking off for the station.