A/N: Sorry about not updating in ages. My grandfather had to go to hospital and I have a nut for an aunt who thinks that hospitals are evil and antibiotics kill. Plus the rest of my life is falling apart around me. Plus I got my mid-year result and I so could have done better and I'm dealing with a heap of friend problems that are just way to stressful. So, yeah… I'm just gonna get on with the story now. Apologies for the slightly graphic chapter but this is just how I feel someone might react to what Joey's been through so I apologize ahead for any freak outs people have. Enjoy
Darkwolf.
Chapter 9:
Joey had remained silent the whole time. Charlie had decided to call Ruby and Leah in the car and, after assuring them that Joey was safe with her, she convinced them to go to the restaurant after getting the address from Joey. She knew that part of town. It was expensive.
[How did Joey get the money to go there?] she had wondered.
Now in the station, she held Joey's hand as her girlfriend recounted the events of the day. Everyone had noticed how close they were but as yet hadn't commented.
"Then I was in Charlie's arms. The rest you know." Joey finished.
She'd cried during the recollection but now forced herself to be calm, or maybe numb was a better word. The sergeant was watching them closely.
"Senior Constable Buckton, a word?" he asked.
"No need. I planned to do it tomorrow but now's good. I'm pulling myself off the Collins case due to a conflict of interest and request two weeks leave to help my girlfriend recover from her trauma." Charlie said professionally.
The sergeant waited for a moment, considering the request and its implications.
"Granted. You can take your… girlfriend… home now." He finally decided.
Charlie nodded. "Thank you Sergeant."
She turned to a quiet and submissive Joey.
"Come on babe. Lets go home." She murmured.
Joey nodded and with a steadying hand from Charlie, got up. Charlie led her out to the front desk. That was when they saw Robbo.
Joey tensed up as he smirked.
"Look at the happy couple. Did you get to give your little girlfriend mouth-to-mouth?" he laughed.
Charlie saw red and got in his face.
"If you EVER go near my girlfriend again, I swear to god I will rip you apart limb from limb. We clear? And just for the record… I don't need an excuse to kiss Joey, girlfriend and all." Charlie growled.
Robbo was shocked. He hadn't expected Charlie to be so blunt.
Charlie smirked then returned to her girlfriend's side. She gentle kissed Joey and took her hand.
"Come on babe. Let's go home and get you in bed. You'll feel better after some sleep." She said softly.
Joey gave a small smile and allowed Charlie to lead her out of the office leaving a very shocked station behind.
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Joey hadn't said anything on the way back to Leah's and was now curled up in a ball on the couch, still not speaking. She felt dirty and ashamed.
[What's wrong with me? Do I have some kind of target on my back? Do I let off a 'rape me' vibe?] She wondered sadly.
She knew she should say something to Charlie, she had rescued her after all, but she didn't even feel worthy of being in her presence let alone being able to talk to her. Charlie deserved better than her. Once had been bad enough but twice? No. Charlie deserved much better.
[Why does she even put up with me? She'll probably tell me to get out once she relises how… dirty I am. She'll never talk to me again.] She thought dejectedly.
Charlie walked into the room and quietly watched Joey, who was silently crying. She sighed and walked over to Joey's side. She knelt down in front of her and carefully reached out to touch her knee.
Joey jerked away.
[Can't let her touch me! I'm not clean!] Joey frantically thought.
Charlie hid her hurt. She sat back slightly, deciding to try a deferent approach.
"Do you want to go to bed or maybe have some dinner? You could take a shower and get into your pj's while I cook. Nothing major though, we all know I'm a klutz in the kitchen!" she tried to joke.
Joey gave a weak, fake smile.
"Yeah… shower." She breathed.
Charlie nodded.
"Okay. Do you need a hand?" she asked.
Joey shook her head 'no'.
"Okay. I'll go make us some dinner then." Charlie said softly.
Joey nodded and got up, quickly walking into the bathroom and shutting the door.
Charlie sighed.
Getting up she walked into the kitchen to find something she could make. Mac and Cheese was the best she could find that she knew Joey liked. As she started to cook she grabbed the phone, dialing the number by heart she waited for someone to pick up.
"Hello?"
"Hey Rachel. It's Charlie." Charlie said.
"Oh, hey Charlie." Rachel replied. "What's going on?"
Charlie sighed.
"Robbo kidnapped and rapped Joey again today. He tried to drown her too. We only just got there in time. I need help. She's so distant and cold. She won't even talk to me unless I ask her a direct question that requires a verbal answer and… she's not really there. I don't know what to do." Charlie explained.
She was nearing tears.
"Okay Charlie. Chances are she's going to be that way with everyone. Don't take it personally. Rape victims are known for withdrawing into themselves." Rachel explained.
"But… Rachel, Joey and I are together. As in dating. I need to be able to be there for her. I don't know how to help or why she won't let me touch her. It's like she doesn't even want to breathe the same air as me!" Charlie exclaimed.
Rachel was silent for a moment, giving Charlie time to calm herself down.
"She doesn't want to taint you." She finally replied.
"What?" Charlie asked, bewildered.
"You two are dating, right? That means she loves you. Rape victims are well known to pull away from their partners for fear of tainting them. They feel dirty. That's why it's never a good idea to leave them alone in the shower the first few times. I've had more than one rape victim go home only to come back an hour later with 3rd degree burns and their skin scratched off." Rachel explained.
Charlie felt her blood turn to ice.
"Rachel. I gotta go." She said.
"Charlie? What's wrong?" Rachel asked, concerned.
"Joey's been in the shower for 15 minutes." Charlie just managed to breathe out.
"I'll be right over." Rachel snapped.
The line went dead.
With a sense of dread, Charlie took off for the bathroom, terrified of what she would find.