Charlie was darting round the house, searching every draw, cupboard, corner, even checking the sides of the sofa, behind the curtains. "EARTH CALLING CHARLIE!" Ruby tried to get her attention "Ruby this is really not funny! What have you done with them?" She moved to the bedroom and looked under the pillows and sheets. "What have I done with what?" "My Badge and handcuffs?!" She was losing her temper and on the verge of having a major panic attack. "I'm going to be late for work!" "I honestly have no idea what you're talking about." She said innocently. "Like I'm suppose to believe that?" She scowled. "I have no idea where they are, I just got out of the shower. There are more the one pair of hands in this house you know! Anyway I was contemplating on hiding them, someone obviously got there first!" Charlie backed off. If she had taken them she'd be taking all the credit. "Why can't I just snap my fingers and find them!" "Because it would be like having sex without the orgasm!" Charlie blinked astonished. "Excuse me?" "Yeah without the work, there's no rewards." Ruby surprised herself with this answer, and giggled. "How the hell do…… you haven't..." She faced her now. Had she? Her and Xavier had been together for a good while now, she lost count of the months. "We'll talk about this later ok, I've got to go." Oh no, "the talk" Ruby thought, dad had with her ages ago. "Wait what about your..." She was gone.
-
"Excuse me…coming through!" "Mate I really think..." "Anything you say and do will be used against you in the court of law!" Hugo was being pushed into the station with a half pint behind him. Hugo was trying ever so hard to release himself from the handcuffs.
Charlie had dove head first into the paper work that morning. It was breeding, and it wasn't even lunch time yet, she groaned. Suddenly she heard havoc at the reception, and got up to check it out. Laughing reached her ears.
There was Hugo, handcuffed at Watson's desk, and VJ with her hat on, holding her badge. "What's he in for Watson?" Charlie looked puzzled. Watson coughed "This young man brought him in, why don't you ask him." She pointed out. "I'll leave you be!" Watson and the other officers tried very hard to distract themselves, but all kept a close eye on the three. Charlie looked at VJ, and then at Hugo, and then her badge and handcuffs. "VJ?" "Apparently I've been arrested for my behaviour and lack of social skills." Embarrassed, he couldn't quite meet Charlie's gaze. She wanted to burst out laughing, but put a hand to her mouth and coughed. "Thank you VJ, I think I'll take it from here mate. Why don't you wait here and we'll talk about you future career in a minute." He eyes lit up.
"I am so, so sorry for this. I was looking for these earlier this morning. I thought I'd lost them." She pointed at the badge and handcuffs oh her desk after she removed them from Hugo. Now in her office, and not met by intruding eyes, there was an awkward tension. "I am sorry for everything Charlie. I really didn't see things the way you did…" he mumbled. "No Hugo, it's my fault. It's not you. Recently everything's got too hard to handle, work here is stressful enough, and I took it out on you. I just don't know what I want right now. I hated myself for shouting at you on the beach." He smiled, and nodded. "You are a great guy Hugo, you deserve someone better." "Thanks Charlie, but I probably deserved this ya know, the whole trip down here." "Just make sure you stay out of trouble!" Charlie teased. "I'll try officer…Senior Constable." He turned and walked out. God that was awkward.
She walked out herself and found the entire station focusing on her. "That's it! You're just going to let him go?" VJ was off his seat and at Charlie's side. "VJ why did you take my stuff this morning?" "Because he hurt you, and I couldn't let him get away with it. I saw him shouting at you, you were upset." She smiled. "VJ I'm fine aren't I?" He nodded. "Sometimes adults argue with each other, but just so you know he wasn't entirely responsible, it was my fault as well….hey haven't you got footie right now?" He squirmed "I didn't want to go!"
Leah came striding in "There you are! I've been worried sick. He's not in trouble is he Charlie?" "No, no he's been helping round here, fighting off baddies." Leah shook her head. "Come on we're going home!" VJ turned to Charlie on their way out and smiled. Kids! She thought.
-
She caught Joey sitting, amused. She covered her eyes, she had seen it all. "How long have you been sitting there?" she walked towards her slowly. "Long enough, I just stayed for the show." Charlie let out a massive grin, and blushed. "Do you want to get out of here and grab some lunch?" before Joey could register, she had grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the station. She couldn't wait to leave that place.
"I feel really bad for the argument you and Hugo had, I feel partly to blame." She said nervously. "What? No! It was coming. Things hadn't been peachy for a long time. It wasn't working out, I knew that. He didn't. That was the problem. Don't worry!" she said stroking her arm. Joey caught this and watched her gesture. Charlie caught her staring and stopped.
They were out of the car and in the Diner within minutes, ordering their food. Joey picked a table as they waited, Charlie joined after apologising to Leah for before. "Your reaction to VJ earlier was hilarious, don't want kids then?" Charlie scrunched her nose, giving Joey all the more reason to start giggling "Their not that bad!" "You don't live with VJ!" she pointed out. "True." Joey looked up meeting her gaze. "So what brings you to summer bay?" Joey looked down at her hands and started twiddling them. "My brother Brett lives near here, after the court case, I wanted to run as far away from here as possible. I just fell in love with the place. I em…work on boats, I have done ever since my dad first took me out on one when I was young. I've found work on one of the trawlers here." Charlie sensed she wasn't comfortable talking about her family. So she changed the subject. "You should come round for dinner tonight, if you want? Leah wouldn't mind at all, you have to meet Ruby officially." At first she thought she was being a bit forward and hesitated. Joey smiled "Ya I'd love that." "So tell me, any guys here that float your boat?" Joey snorted and tried to avoid answering. "Come on there's got to be someone, why else would you stay?" She said with a raised eyebrow. She had a very good point. "Maybe there's someone! We'll have to see." "Oh come on, tell me!" Charlie grew impatient. Joey refused and shook her head.
-
Joey arrived at 7:30. Knocking at the door, she was met by Leah. She was a little hazed by the noise, but grew used to it as the night wore on. Leah and Ruby had been fascinated in getting to know her, and found they had a lot in common, the same sense of humour, for one. Joey insisted in Charlie telling Ruby and Leah the full story of VJ and the handcuffs, which had them in hysterics. Charlie died of embarrassment once again, which was all she ever seemed to do when Joey was around. When they had all finished their desserts, Joey jumped up and offered to help clear up. "No, no go sit!" Leah insisted, and pointed at the living room. "I think I'm going to hit the sheets guys. I have to say, I haven't enjoyed myself so much over a meal. You have to come again Joey, it was great meeting you!" She soon disappeared into her room. VJ had gone too. They hadn't realised it was 10:30 already, plus it was a week night. "Can you shut the lights off later Charlie?" Leah left the two alone on the sofa, and when to bed herself.
"Welcome to my world!" Charlie smiled, exhausted. "They keep you on you feet I see!" "That's THE biggest understatement." Joey giggled. Charlie noticed her eyes when she laughed. They were bright and alive, a huge contrast to how they looked before when she had first seen her at the station. She loved her hair, thick, long dark hair. "I suppose I should get going, it's late." "You don't have to go." Charlie wanted her to stay, something in her did. She liked her company. Joey eyed her as if to ask her why, Charlie met her wandering eyes, and silence disconnected them from the world around. Both suddenly realised they were sitting thigh by thigh, a little too close to be friendly. How had they not noticed before? Were they just that comfortable with each other? Joey blushed a little as did Charlie. Both wanted to act clueless, but both knew.