Thanks to XTR75 and DV8 for their reviews. This chapter will reveal a bad side to Brax. Just a warning before you read on…

Joey had woken up in a panic; Charlie was not next to her… she looked up to see Brax exiting her room.

With every ounce of energy she yelled out in a bid to wake her up from her slumber "Charlie!"

Jumping out of the bed, still very much in pain she attempted to run after Brax but he was too quick. The hospital doors closed as he left the building. Joey broke down, her body unable to run.

"Charlie" she sobbed "Charlie, wake up!"

Charlie was in a deep sleep but much like a dream, Joey's voice was all she could here until she heard the motor of a car start. Waking up like a lightning bolt had struck her, she looked around her only to realize Brax was driving out of the hospital car park.

Yelling at Brax to stop the car, he refused and pressed pedal to the medal, the speed accelerating to in excess of 100km/hour very quickly. Every bend in the road Charlie thought it was her last moment alive. Holding onto the car she reached for her pocket, her mobile was still in it thankfully. Ringing Watson, she waited for it to answer then put the phone back in her pocket discreetly. Every word she spoke Watson could hear now.

"Brax you've kidnapped me, for what? What are you thinking?"

"Charlie, I'm not going to stand by and let you ruin everything we had. You're mine forever. I'm not letting you go."

Charlie was shaking from fear that she would never get to look into those beautiful brown eyes of Joeys again. She had to get out of the car but with no idea how far Brax was intending to drive, she kept talking, any information was essential for Watson. As they drove out of Summer Bay, Charlie suddenly remembered…

"You're taking me to the cabin where Bianca and I stayed, near where you hit Liam?"

"See Charlie, I knew you'd be smart enough to figure it out, a few days away from Summer Bay and we'll be right again." Brax replied in acknowledgement.

Charlie kept talking, anything just to keep Watson on the line, road names, suburbs, landmarks.

…

In amidst the chaos at the hospital Joey had told Watson what had happened when her phone had rung. She had it on speaker phone and one of the constables was documenting everything Charlie had said. With a destination in hand now due to Liam's collision with Brax's car, Watson flew out the door with backup in tow. Joey remained at the hospital, holding onto Ruby who had popped in for a visit. Ruby couldn't believe that Brax would hurt Charlie, but in a moment of insanity she realized anything is possible.

…

Arriving at the cabin, Charlie obeyed Brax and went inside. Fearful for her life as Brax was becoming increasingly erratic and verbally abusive.

As they argued about Joey, one thing was clear- Charlie's feelings towards Joey. She was not giving up on their relationship and despite how hard Brax tried, he realized he couldn't persuade her to change her mind.

Finally he did the only thing he could do when words no longer worked, he pushed Charlie against the wall, slapping her face and hitting her in the stomach until she cried out in pain. Lying on the floor curled in a fetal position Charlie closed her eyes, all she wanted was to see Joey, everything went black less the pools of brown eyes gently whispering 'it will be ok, it will be ok" over and over.

…

Joey was restless, every hour that went by she fretted even more. She was concerned for Charlie's safety, where was she, did Brax hurt her? She sat up in her bed when she heard the police radio chime in. The Constable awaited news and instructions "We've located Sergeant Charlie Buckton, ambulance arriving within 15 minutes. Advise Dr Walker she needs immediate attention."

The young Constable jumped up and immediately sought out the medical team and Dr Walker. Joey sighed in relief that Charlie had been found but an ever looming black thought lay in the back of her mind. Something was wrong. Very wrong.

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