Authors Note:

*Peeks head out from under rock*

Hey all. I'm back already! So after the pathetically short Chapter 10, I have a longer Chapter 11. Hope that makes you all feel better. *Especially pmcc – Please don't maim me!* Enjoy!

*Goes back to hiding under rock with laptop.*

Darkwolf.

Chapter 11:

After managing to dry and dress Joey in her pj's, Charlie had bought her out to the lounge so Rachel could look her over. Rachel had had to apply burn cream and wrap a bandage over Joey's wrist where it looked like she'd rubbed the most. They were both curious as to why she'd do that. Joey hadn't said a word the whole time, just silently cried.

"Joey? Joey? I'm finished." Rachel softly informed the broken girl.

Joey looked up at her. Rachel could see that something in Joey's eyes was missing.

"I'm sorry." Joey whispered.

Charlie carefully sat by her girlfriend's side and hugged the scared girl.

"Hey, it's okay Joey. It's not your fault." She insisted softly.

Joey remained silent for a few moments, seeming to forget that Rachel was even there.

"Do… do you still… love me?" she hesitantly asked.

Charlie was shocked. Joey had always been secure in their love; maybe not that Charlie wouldn't hide them, but always that she loved her. In that moment, with Joey terrified that Charlie wouldn't love her anymore, Charlie had never wanted to hurt someone more than she wanted to hurt Robbo. Kill wouldn't be too strong a term.

[He's going to pay for this.] She furiously swore.

"Of course I do Joey! I love you! I will always love you! No matter what. You're my soul mate Joey. We'll get through this, together. I promise." Charlie replied with conviction.

Joey was silent for a moment as fresh tears fell from her sad, russet eyes. Then, suddenly, she through herself at Charlie, sobbing hysterically. Charlie wrapped her arms around her girlfriend and gently kissed her head.

"Shh. It's okay Joey. It's all going to be okay. We'll get through this together. Just like we always do." Charlie murmured in her ear.

Rachel didn't want to interrupt their interaction, especially considering the progress that was being made. It usually took longer for rape victims to initiate any form of contact let along throwing themselves at someone. It was obvious to her just how much Joey loved and trusted Charlie.

"Joey? I'm sorry but as your doctor I need to know why your wrist is so much worse than anywhere else?" she softly inquired.

Joey stiffened but with Charlie rubbing her back soothingly, she forced herself to talk.

[After all, it's late and Rachel's come to look after me. She has her own problems to deal with but she's here. I don't deserve her and Charlie. Especially Charlie. I shouldn't be infecting her with him but… she said she still loves me… and she's not moving away or telling me to leave.] She thought sadly.

"Robbo… he… he had my hand and he… he…" she shivered at the memory and rubbed her wrist.

"He what Joey? Tell me. Pretend that Rachel's not here. Remember, you can tell me anything? No hiding, right?" Charlie whispered soothingly.

Joey closed her eyes tightly and took a deep breath, exhaling slowly.

[Okay. Just Charlie. It's just me and Charlie. Always.] She thought, focusing.

"When Robbo went to… rape… me, he… he ran his tongue up my wrist. I have never wanted anything more than to remove my own arm as I did in that moment. When I was in shower… I was trying to get him off me. That was where he was most imprinted and I had to… to… clean myself of him. If that makes any sense." She explained, staring into Charlie's ice blue eyes the entire time.

Charlie held Joey's hands tightly.

"He's gone Joey. He's not coming back." She whispered.

Rachel shifted to get their attention before they got lost in each other.

"Given that you weren't actively seeking pain, I think I can trust you with your wrists. I'm going to check in with you every couple of days to see how you're doing. Okay? I know how much you hate hospitals." She explained.

Joey nodded, leaning into Charlie's side. Charlie wrapped her arms around her. Rachel stood with a small smile.

"Okay then. If you need to, take pain killers, but let me know before you take anything stronger. Any problems let me know." She said.

They nodded. Rachel went to leave but stopped to look at them.

"And congratulations, you two make a really cute couple." She added with a warm smile.

With that she left the smiling couple in peace to sort out their issues.

*********************** ****************************** *****************

Charlie and Joey had been on the couch for two hours. Charlie had lain down at some point, pulling Joey down with her. Joey had cried a lot after Rachel had left but had eventually, slowly drifted off to sleep. Charlie had spent the last hour gently running her fingers over the bandage on Joey's wrist.

[How am I meant to support her? I know nothing about what she's experienced.]

Charlie sighed. There was nothing she could do except be there for her girlfriend.

She heard laughter floating in from outside before a door opened.

"He looked humiliated!" came Ruby's voice.

Charlie growled. They were going to wake her Joey.

"Don't be mean Ruby." Leah laughed.

They walked into the lounge. Charlie carefully waved her free arm; the one Joey wasn't lying on.

"Guys. Quiet. She's sleeping." She hissed.

Leah and Ruby quickly shut up. They moved to watch Joey.

"How is she?" Leah asked in a whisper.

They knew something had happened, just not what it was. Whilst curious, Leah was more concerned for the young girl's health than her own curiosity.

"Not well. She's going to be off for a while." Charlie replied softly.

"What happened?" Ruby inquired.

She'd been worried all day about her other big sister.

"Robbo. He kidnapped her, raped her and tried to drown her." Charlie growled.

Leah and Ruby stared at her in disbelieving horror.

"Just be careful around her. She's worse than after the first time." Charlie sighed.

They nodded.

"What happened to her arm?" Ruby hesitantly asked.

She wasn't sure she wanted to know any details. She already felt like she knew too much already.

"Robbo ran his tongue up her wrist to scare her. I, stupidly, left her alone in the shower. Luckily I called Rachel and she warned me. When Joey was in the shower she had the hot water on way to high and burned herself but she was trying to… I don't know… remove Robbo from her skin. She scrubbed at her arm the most because that's what she was most disgusted with." Charlie explained.

Leah looked sadly at the girl who she now thought of as a daughter.

"Do you want help getting her to bed?" she asked.

Charlie considered the offer.

"No thanks. I'll wait till you two are asleep before I wake her. I'm not sure how she'll react to you both. I don't want to scare her." She decided.

"Okay. We'll see you in the morning." Leah replied, pulling Ruby away.

"Goodnight Charlie. Good luck." Ruby whispered.

"Night guys. Thanks." Charlie softly called.

Looking back down at Joey she sighed. At least Joey was allowing touch. Given how fast she recovered from the first time, maybe things would be back to normal soon.

She knew Leah and Ruby weren't asleep but she wanted to get Joey to bed and they weren't making any noise. She decided to take a chance.

"Joey? Honey? Come on. Wake up sweetie. You need to go to bed." She whispered.

She gently shook Joey's shoulders.

"No!" Joey gasped, sitting upright rigidly.

She scrambled away from Charlie, looking around fearfully.

Charlie raised her hands to show she was unarmed and spoke softly and clearly to her petrified lover.

"Joey, it's okay. It's only me, Charlie, your girlfriend. It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you." She whispered.

Charlie knew Leah and Ruby would be listening in and wanted to get them into their own room quickly.

[Damn! I should have waited until they were asleep! Damn my impatience!] She thought, annoyed at herself.

Joey slowly calmed down.

[It's okay, it's just Charlie. It's not Him. Charlie. You love Charlie.] Joey forced herself to relax.

"Hey." She whispered.

Charlie smiled brightly. As yet Joey hadn't been able to say anything that wasn't full of pain. That one word, while empty, was progress.

"Hey. Come on. You need to sleep in a bed. I'll stay with you. Keep any nightmares away." Charlie whispered.

Joey nodded tiredly.

"Okay." She whispered.

Charlie helped Joey stand and helped her into their room.

"Come on honey. You need to sleep. Get into bed, okay?" Charlie asked.

She didn't want to give Joey any orders right now. Her lover was too fragile and if she felt trapped it could trigger a backward response to the progress already made.

Joey just nodded and crawled into bed. Charlie watched cautiously. She didn't want to but…

"Do you want me to sleep on the floor?" she asked.

She dearly wanted the answer to be 'no' but given what Joey had been through today with Robbo… it wouldn't surprise her.

"NO!" Joey practically screamed, looking fearful.

Charlie hurried to her side.

"Hey, hey! It's okay! It's okay! I'm here! I won't leave you!" she murmured soothingly.

"Please, please don't leave me! I… I don't want to lose you." Joey whispered brokenly.

"You'll never lose me Joey. Never! You're stuck with me. Always and forever, right?" Charlie murmured.

Joey nodded.

"Always and forever." She repeated.

Saying it once more to calm herself, Joey drifted off into an uneasy sleep in Charlie's arms.

Charlie watched her girlfriend for a while, gently stroking her cheek.

"I promise you Joey. I'll never let anyone hurt you. Not ever again." She whispered.

She felt Joey's body completely relax and smiled. They would be alright. It would take time, but they would be okay.

Slowly she drifted off to sleep with her girlfriend firmly incased in her arms.