Authors Note: Sorry everyone! I know I said I'd update every night but this week at school had been hard so I figured I was due for a movie night on Friday. That and my cat was getting annoyed at me for not spending enough time with her lately (I can't believe I've been whipped by a bloody cat!). Then on Saturday wouldn't let me log in for some reason and on Sunday my mom took the internet key so I had no internet to update. Sorry! Anyway, this chapter's fairly long so I hope that makes up for it. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed, it really is what keeps me updating! Just to help people understand, it's not that I think that just because Joey has been rapped once before she's going to immediately get over it, it's that this time she has so much more support in Charlie and while the pain of what's happened is going to run deep, she is going to need more of a physical reinforcement of Charlie's love to help her understand that Charlie isn't disgusted at her. I don't mean to offend anyone, it's just my way of showing that Joey can deal with what's happened to her with Charlie's continued support and understanding. Hope that doesn't confuse anyone. Hope you enjoy the next installment.

Darkwolf.

Chapter 12:

Charlie awoke to Joey's thrashing body.

"No…Please…Don't…Robbo…NO!" Joey yelled.

She jolted awake and sat up, breathing heavily and shaking whilst looking around herself wildly in fear. Charlie quickly sat up to comfort her distressed girlfriend. She gently rubbed Joey's back, trying to calm her after her nightmare. Joey flinched but didn't move away.

"Shh. It's okay Joey. You're safe. It was just a dream. You're safe now, with me." She murmured.

They were both aware that it wasn't just a dream. Joey quietly sobbed as Charlie pulled her into a hug, kissing the top of her head.

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Joey had eventually drifted off to sleep again and Charlie had hesitantly joined her. Joey opened her eyes slowly. It was 7am. Ruby, Leah, and VJ would be getting up. She turned to look at Charlie. She'd been so supportive the night before. She felt so lucky to have the older woman. After everything that had happened in her… well… Charlie was by far the best and most amazing. And she loved her. Really loved her. Charlie was the one person she would never need protecting fro. Unlike…

Robbo.

"Oh God!" Joey gasped.

Scrabbling out of bed she ran out into the hall and stumbled her way into the bathroom where she promptly through-up, slamming into walls as she went.

Charlie immediately awoke at the noise and lack of warmth that Joey's body gave off.

"Joey?" she questioned groggily, not quite awake yet.

Ruby, who had just gotten up when Joey ran to the bathroom, stuck her head in the door.

"Bathroom. Vomiting." Was all she said before heading to the kitchen.

She thought it might be best to get Joey a glass of water.

Charlie was up like a shot and running for the bathroom.

Seeing Joey collapsed on the floor she hurried over to pull her girlfriends hair back out of her face till she had finished emptying her stomach.

"Shh. It's okay Jo. I'm here. Shh." She chanted softly.

Joey leaned back, sobbing gently. Ruby walked in cautiously.

"Here." She murmured, handing Charlie the glass of water before retreating to get ready for school and giving her sister and her girlfriend privacy.

Charlie nodded gratefully and put the glass to Joey's lips, doubting Joey could hold the glass herself since she was shaking badly.

"Here, Jo. Wash your mouth out, Honey." She whispered.

Joey did as directed when Leah appeared at the doorway.

"Ruby told me. I think she'll appreciate these." Leah said softly, not wanting to disturb her distraught housemate.

She placed a packet of breath mints on the counter next to the couple. Charlie smiled gratefully

"Thanks." She said softly.

Leah nodded and walked away, closing the door behind her.

Charlie continued to sooth her girlfriend as Joey tried to calm down.

"I'm sorry." She whispered.

"There's nothing to be sorry for babe. Come on. Let's get you back to bed." Charlie replied.

Joey just nodded and allowed Charlie to lead her back to bed. She watched her girlfriend cautiously. She felt the need to be close to Charlie. Like she'd be safe in Charlie's arms, just like before. She needed Charlie.

"Charlie I…" she trailed off.

[You shouldn't be asking for that. Like she'd want you. After this.] She thought, disgusted with herself.

Charlie looked at her curiously.

"What is it Jo?" she asked.

Joey bit her bottom lip.

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

She knew that she'd asked the same question the night before but things could change so quickly. Maybe Charlie had changed her mind.

Charlie sighed.

[I thought we got through this yesterday!] She thought.

"Yes Joey. I still do. I always have and I always will. I will never stop loving you. Never. I promise." She replied.

Joey lay there, thinking about how all that had happened was going to change their relationship. Charlie was watching her, trying to work out how to help.

[Maybe all she needs right now is to know I love her is a physical display of love? But what is she doesn't want it? What if it's too soon?] She wondered.

It was a tricky situation and there was no real way of knowing how Joey would react as every rape victim was different.

Without making a conscious decision, Charlie reached out to grasp Joey's hand, interlacing their fingers. Joey stiffened for a second before relaxing and turning to look curiously at her girlfriend. Charlie smiled at her gently.

"I love you Joey. Always and forever." She whispered.

Joey grinned and gently leaned forward to softly kiss Charlie, slightly waiting for the other woman to pull away in disgust. Instead, Charlie moaned and pushed herself closer to Joey. She gently pushed Joey onto her back and moved herself to rest lightly on top of her lover, allowing Joey the chance to push her away if she wanted.

She pulled back slightly to gaze seriously into Joey's beautiful russet eyes.

"Do you mind?" she asked softly but seriously.

Joey gently smiled and reached up to run the backs of her fingers gently down Charlie's cheek. She shook her head.

"No. I want you. I trust you." She whispered.

Charlie grinned happily.

"Good to know. But seriously, if you want me to stop…" Charlie said.

She wanted Joey to be completely comfortable, even if it meant she had to stop. Joey smiled lovingly at her girlfriend.

"I will." She breathed.

She didn't think she'd have to tell Charlie to stop, maybe to be cautious, but she knew Charlie wasn't Robbo.

Charlie smiled and lent down, pressing her lips to Joey's. Joey pressed closer and allowed Charlie's tongue to enter her mouth. Both women groaned at the feelings coursing through their bodies. Joey wrapped her arms tightly around Charlie, pulling her down more firmly on top of her. Charlie allowed her hand to wonder under Joey's shirt slowly. Joey let her own hands mimic Charlie's as she lifted up her shirt. She allowed her hands to softly traverse Charlie's soft skin before slowly reaching around to unclasp her girlfriend's bra. Charlie smirked. Joey wasn't hesitating. That was always good.

She let her own hands copy Joey's and removed her oversized t-shirt and bra in quick succession before removing her underwear. Joey pulled back to smile at Charlie. She needed to show her how much she loved and needed her. She needed to feel Charlie's warm skin upon her own.

She gently rolled them over so she was on top and flipped her hair to one side as she leaned down to kiss softly along Charlie's jaw, down her neck and between her breasts, continuing down until she reached the waistband of the shorts Charlie had worn to bed.

Charlie let her hands tangle in Joey's silky black hair.

[Aren't I supposed to be doing this to her? Helping her get over… get over… oh god!]

Charlie's thoughts trailed off as Joey removed her shorts and started to lay gentle kisses up her body till she reached her mouth.

She smirked at Charlie's moan.

[I hope this never changes.] She thought happily.

She managed to forget Robbo for that moment. Her whole world centered around Charlie. Her fingers danced over Charlie's body, bringing her higher and higher before finally tipping her girlfriend over the edge.

Charlie's nails dug into the sheets as she called out her lover's name.

Coming down from her high, she wrapped her arms around the younger girl. Joey smirked at her.

"Welcome back." She snickered.

Charlie rolled her eyes but was happy to see the girl she loved returning to her.

"Ha ha. Very funny Jo. I think your starting to get a little arrogant." Charlie grinned.

Joey laughed.

"Should I have reason not to be?" she questioned lightly.

Charlie started laughing with her, glad to hear Joey laughing again. She'd been worried that Joey wouldn't recover from a second time.

She gently ran the backs of her fingers across Joey's cheek, smiling lovingly at the other woman. Joey's eyes softened with love.

"I love you Joey." Charlie whispered.

"I love you to Charlie." Joey replied just as softly.

Charlie smiled and pulled Joey closer. Joey snuggled into Charlie's side, determined to never leave the warmth of Charlie's body again.