Uh oh, all my fanfics appear to be traumatic at the moment! How did this happen? Please trust me, I'll make it right again eventually. xx
Chapter Fourteen
Joey trembled as she threw herself back onto the bed. This was the worst possible timing. She buried her head in the pillow. Charlie watched her partner's suffering. She awkwardly and painfully shifted round to reach out to her. Joey peeked up and burst into tears the moments she saw that Charlie was crying. She then noticed the position Charlie was in. The doctor had specifically told her not to twist. Joey scolded Charlie gently and then helped her lie on her back again, twisting herself so she could curl up against Charlie.
"Two hours, huh?" Charlie commented, looking at the watch.
"I guess."
"You'd better get packing. I'll call the others so they can meet you down at the docks to say goodbye."
Charlie's emotional pain began to rival her physical. Joey didn't fare any better.
"Hey, it's only two months," Charlie said, trying to be cheerful.
"Two months is forever," Joey replied, reminding them both of their last tearful goodbye.
"We'll be fine," Charlie insisted. "We love each other; we'll be waiting for each other. We'll be fine."
"I guess I could not go."
"But you love that job," Charlie said.
Joey sighed heavily and nodded. She leant across and kissed her. Their tears mingled and their tongues gently caressed each other. Pulling away reluctantly, Joey climbed off the bed and took her suitcase out from beneath it. Charlie watched her pack in silence, feeling bereft. Why did life always have to work this way? They always came so close to being together and then for some reason or other, they were parted. It wasn't fair.
***
After Joey had packed, she looked at the time. She had just over an hour left with Charlie. She climbed onto the bed and reached out to hold her. They kissed for a long time, both tenderly running their hands up and down each other's bodies. Joey slipped a hand between Charlie's legs, over her clothes. She looked into her eyes, asking permission. Charlie granted it, wanting to be as close to Joey as possible before they were wrenched apart.
***
Joey reluctantly got dressed when the time to leave came. She helped Charlie put her clothes back on and, picking up her bags, guided Charlie to the door. They met Katie, Joshua and Luke in the corridor and the five of them piled into a taxi to get to the docks together. Ruby, Aden, Leah, VJ and Xavier were ready and waiting to say goodbye. Joshua and Luke greeted them politely and then headed towards the boat, dragging a reluctant Katie with them. She had been eyeballing Charlie and Joey since the bed and breakfast. Joey hugged Aden, Leah and Xavier goodbye. She crouched down to embrace VJ.
"I don't want you to go," he protested sadly.
"I'll be back soon," Joey told him. "I promise."
"Can we play cards again, like before?"
"Sure we can."
She let him go and approached Ruby who was also fighting tears.
"We weren't expecting to lose you so soon," Ruby said.
"Me neither," Joey admitted.
She glanced at Charlie who was hovering on the periphery of the group. Joey hugged Ruby close.
"Take care of her for me," she whispered.
"I will," Ruby promised.
She tried not to hate Joey for going. She tried to understand that Joey needed to do this for herself, finish what she started, be independent instead of relying on Charlie like she had done in Summer Bay. But it was almost impossible as she looked at her physically and emotionally broken sister.
***
Joey let Ruby go and headed towards Charlie, aware that she didn't have much time to say goodbye. She gently pulled Charlie away from the group, to the edge of the pier. She tenderly stroked Charlie's non-injured cheek and gazed into her eyes.
"I'm going to miss you more than I could ever tell you," she said.
"Me too," Charlie said tearfully. "We'll keep in touch though, won't we?"
"Of course!"
"Maybe if you dock anywhere nearby, I could come and see you," Charlie suggested, trying to sound cheerful.
Joey nodded enthusiastically.
"And we can write and call each other," she added.
Charlie pulled Joey close and placed a delicate kiss on her lips. The kiss developed and they eventually parted to hold each other.
"I love you, Joey. I'm so happy that you gave me another chance. I'm going to spend the rest of my life making sure you never regret taking me back."
"I love you," Joey said. "And I already know I made the right choice about being with you. And I will never stop feeling overwhelming grateful for what you did last night. You never stop surprising me with your love. These next two months are going to be hell but to know that you're waiting for me, that you still love me, that's what… that's what…"
Her tears overwhelmed her. Charlie and Joey held each other one last time. They parted with a tender kiss before Joey picked up her bag and headed towards the boat. On deck, Katie rushed to greet her but Joshua held her back, realising that she and Charlie were still sharing a private, intimate moment. Joey stood on deck as the boat began to pull away, retaining eye contact with Charlie, hardly able to believe that they were saying goodbye again so soon. Charlie attempted to stay strong but it was impossible. Tears flowed and she leant against the railing for support. The more her body shuddered with grief, the more her stitches tightened and stung. She held onto her abdomen and refused to break eye contact with Joey, the love of her life.