Several weeks later, Joey had returned to work. Most weeks it was a mix of Noah's and the Bait Shop. Despite the hurdles, she and Charlie had made as much of an attempt as they possibly could to catch up while Joey was out working.
Catching up for a chat and juice at Noah's or a surprise lunch being delivered to the Bait Shop was Charlie's way of expressing her love for Joey. Ultimately, she just wanted to make Joey happy.
Charlie's return to work was immenent. Her request for day shifts had been approved and initially she was allocated light duties, so administration work mainly in the office. Watson was happy that Charlie was finally returning to work, and she understood the turbulances. She didn't want to see Charlie return to her previous state of overworking, and running like a machine. Since Joey's return to Summer Bay, Watson had noticed the differences in her collegue and ultimately, those changes had produced a more confident, outgoing, happy Charlie. A return to who she once was, before Joey left.
...
Charlie headed into Yabbie Creek Station this morning, dropping off Joey at the Bait Shop on her way. Her thoughts were consumed mainly with Joey, how well everything was going. How happy they both were and how much their relationship had evolved. Little did she know that their happiness was about to face its biggest test.
As she walked in the door, a familiar face greeted her.
"Good morning Leading Senior Constable. Glad to see you're coming back to work."
"Angelo, what are you doing here?' Charlie asked, confused and angry that noone had told her of his return.
"I just got back. I wasn' t too keen on staying in the City. Thought I'd come back here."
"I don't care Angelo. Go back to the City, no one wants you here!!" Charlie said gritting her teeth. Anger was consuming every fibre of her being. She felt like she was about to explode. Turning around, she walked straight out the door, not looking back as Angelo called after her.
Charlie didn't know what to do. Anxiety set in. She headed back to the car, thoughts rushing through her head. 'What on earth is he doing here? If he's here and stays permanently, he's going to be my boss, again! We just went through all this before he left. Before we broke up. Aarggh!! This cant be happening!!'
Putting her head in her hands, Charlie felt like she was losing control, when she heard a tap on the window. Fearing it was Angelo back to gloat, she ignored the tapping. As it persisted she looked up to see Watson. Sliding down the window, she asked "Charlie, is everything ok?"
"I can't go back in there Watson. Not if he's there. I can't work with him everyday. He's the reason I lost everything I cared about. He's the reason I became the machine that never stopped. I can't do it."
"Charlie, i've called Joey. She said she'll come round as soon as she can. I didn't want you going through this alone. I mean I can stay and talk to you, but Joey's your girlfriend. I think you should let her in, let her know whats happened."
Charlie looked up again at Watson, seeing concern in her colleagues eyes, she whispered "thanks."
After some convincing, Watson got Charlie to agree to a coffee while they waited for Joey to arrive. Just as they were about to set off, Joey arrived. Seeing Joey embracing Charlie in a deep hug, Watson slowly slipped away, indicating to Joey she was heading back to work.
From a distance, seeing Watson about to leave Charlie, Angelo thought it was a good time to talk to Charlie once more. That was until he saw Joey dive into a deep embrace followed by a kiss. His fists clenched, his jaws locked. 'Who was this woman? Is it Joey? The ex? The one Charlie left me for?' he thought to himself.
Watson noticed Angelo standing in a secluded spot. Looking back into his line of sight, she said protectively "Don't you even go there Angelo. You ruined Charlie's life once. I won't have you destroy it a second time!!"
"What on earth are you talking about Watson? I never did anything to Charlie. She bought everything on herself. She couldn't handle our relationship or my promotion. I left to give her space. I come back and she's still messed up. She's still got the panic attacks. And who's the woman? Her ex?"
"Get over yourself Angelo'" Watson replied "Charlie hasn't officially come back to work yet and she's got to put up with your crap already. You're not the perfect one. You complicated her life. Your return to Summer Bay has just made her life that much more complicated. Oh and if you think i'm going to give you the insights on who's dating who you're dead wrong." Watson chuckled she headed back into the office.
She believed in Charlie and Joey. She knew that for everything they had faced recently, since Joey's return, Angelo maybe the toughest obstacle but she believed they could get through this.
If anyone could get Angelo out of Summer Bay again, it would be Charlie.
...
"Charlie, honey, lets walk, we'll go get a drink, come on" Joey coaxed gently, leading Charlie up the road, away from the police station.
They walked in silence for most of the trip, detouring for some drinks and food, they settled down in a quiet spot down by the beach, away from prying eyes.
"Joey you need to get back to work, Alf needs you. You can't come running to my rescue every time something gets me upset." Charlie finally spoke up.
"Hey, Alf's cool. He knows whats going on with us and i'm using my luch break so it's taken care of. No need to worry your pretty head about it" Joey replied, tucking charlie's hair behind her ear. "I want you to tell me what's going on, what happened earlier? Let me in please?"
"Joey, it's all a mess, everything was set in my head, you know... i was ready, in my head i was sure it was the right time, now.... i dunno.... the first face I see is Angelo's and the past images of working with him, breaking up with him, the memories they all just flooded back. I can't go back to work. I'm not ready. I can't face him. If he's here permanently I may as well quit or move to another station. I'll be damned if I have to work under him again. No way!!'
Joey looked at Charlie, not since her first day back when she saw Charlie on the beach, had she seen her girlfriend so broken, so unconvinced, so un-Charlie. All that work they had done together to build their relationship and each other so they could rely on each other and help one another. All that work looked like it was dissapearing down the drain in one split moment of time.
Taking Charlie's hand in hers, Joey pondered her reply. She was afraid that any wrong words now would undo the counselling Charlie had received, and ultimately the foundations of their relationship would need to rebuilt. Joey believed in her relationship. She just wasn't sure if Charlie could cope with external factors that will in time target their relationship. Like Angelo. Joey didn't know the guy but was aware of his history with Charlie and the events that led to their breakup. But why had he returned? Was he back for Charlie? Charlie was the one that broke it off. She told Joey that when she broke it off with Angelo it was crystal clear that it was for good.
"Charlie honey...' Joey began, stammering, unsure of her words, "If you're not ready then... maybe you should talk to Watson, take extra time, do some more counselling sessions, see where you're at in a couple of weeks. It won't help with Angelo,but at least you'll be in the right frame of mind when you do return. If he's still here then you at least know you can cope with him being there."
Charlie was unable to think, she had absorbed Joey's words but images were flashing through her head. She started to panic again, her breathing becoming faster. Joey realised this and tried to calm her down with some breathing techniques that the counseller had shown them. She thought to herself 'at least i went to that session, otherwise I just wouldn't know how to help right now.'
Several minutes went past, and then another 10, followed by another 20. Charlie had calmed down but her facial expressions suggested otherwise.
"Talk to me Babe, Let me in" Joey coaxed, stroking Charlie's back.
"I've been thinking.... i mean... what if i quit or asked to be moved to another station. That wouldn't be so bad would it. I mean i'd get away from here. Away from him" Charlie replied.
"Honey, you are so not quitting. I've told you a thousand times before. You're too damn hot in that uniform. Besides, I think at a time like this, you need friends like Watson around you. She knows what's been going on. She was there when Angelo was with you and now, she's seen us get back together and the struggles you have endured since my return with the counselling and all. You need your friends around you. You need to stay in Summer Bay. If only until you're confident of returning to full duties."
Charlie knew Joey was right. Friends and moral support were most important now. She had been through too much these last few months to see it all dissapear in a blink of an eye. She kept thinking what to do. Then, one definite solution became the only answer.
'Joey, walk me back to the station, i'm going to talk to Watson. She's my only hope of a resolution."
"Ok, but shed some light on it for me. What exactly are you thinking?' Joey replied, once again confused.
"She's the only one that understands me, she's seen everything that I have been through in the last 18 months. She saw you come into my life, and leave it. She saw what happened with Angelo and then she has seen you return and how my life has been enriched because of it. She's the only one that can help me get Angelo out once and for all."
"OK Babe, let's move before you change your mind and hit another obstacle of thougt. I'm glad you're not quitting. I'd miss you in that uniform too much." joey laughed as she kissed Charlie.
They headed back to the station where Joey left to return to work, giving Charlie a hug and a kiss; as she left saying "What ever happens, I love You Charlie Buckton. You have my heart for life andI'll be waiting for you to return this afternoon, whatever the outcome."
Charlie's eyes started to go red with tears welling up "Oh Joey, now you're going to make me cry..." she laughed, wiping the away the first loose tear "i love you too and this afternoon, we will celebrate something- be it a delay to my return to work, or the disposal of one Angelo Rosetta."
Joey laughed as she reached in for one more kiss and then she was gone
Charlie watched as Joey returned to work, pondering her words to Watson, she watched Joey walk back to work until she was out of sight. With a sigh, she opened the door to the station and headed toWatson's office.
The office was clear, the station empty. Charlie sat down in Watson's office, glad to have some time to herself to gather her thoughts. Her counsellers words ringing in her ears 'If you're mad,don't fire, count to 6. take a deep breath and then talk. Those 6 seconds or so make a difference, they calm you down.'
Some 10 to 15 minutes had passed and Watson had finally returned. "Charlie, what are you doing here?"she asked, closing the door and drawing the blinds, ensuring privacy for them both.
"I'm sorry Watson, I needed to make sure Angelo wasn't here. He made me jump right out of my skin before. I needed to come back while the coast was clear. I needed to talk to you."
'Ah, Angelo... he won't be back in, I rang the Boss this morning, after you left. Told him what happened and he made the necessary ammendments to the staffing here. Angelo has been permanently reassigned else where, another station. You should have heard bim on the phone pleading his case. How he knew the Bay, the people here. How he wanted this move to be permanent. It was sad just to listen to. Either way, he won't be back here in any capacity. He's gone for good.!
Charlie sat back in her chair, a smile returning to her face. Happiness filling her up once more.
"Thankyou so much Watson. I don't know what to say."
"How about you say you start in 2 weeks, and that you'll be rostered on 3 days a week, mainly doing clerical stuff and then we'll see how you go. What do you say?"
"Wow Watson i'm impressed. You sound so much like the Boss!!"
"That's because this was his request. He considers you too valuable to replace. Your experience is needed in this station. No matter how many days you're rostered on. Your experience is invaluable."
"Aww Watson, i'm about to give you the biggest hug of my life right now", Charlie expressed, pulling Watson in, true to her word.
With the official paperwork filled in, Leading Senior Contable Buckton made her way out of the Station, a smile so big, she couldn't hide it.
'Finally something to celebrate', she thought.
As she headed back to pick Joey up from work, she failed to notice another car following some distance back....
TBC
Please R&R. All comments appreciated.