Chapter 39

Ruby paced anxiously back and forth in front of the couch where Aden sat, his eyes following her frantic movements.

"Ruby!" he exclaimed as he suddenly found himself growing dizzy "Could you stop pacing for a minute? You're going to wear a hole into the carpet"

"Sorry" Ruby stopped pacing and slumped down onto the chair opposite him "I'm just really nervous. I don't know why I can't go with her"

"You're underage" Aden reminded her gently "And Charlie will be fine. I promise I won't let anything happen to her"

"Charlie's hurting!" Ruby persisted sadly "She's in pain Aden. There's no telling what she would do in this state of mind. I'm going to be freaking out all night because I can't..."

"Can't what?" Aden prodded curiously. He leaned forward and watched Ruby intently.

"I need to be with her, okay?!" Ruby responded "I need to know that she's okay"

"I'll be there?" Aden offered hopefully.

Ruby sighed and shot him a worried look "It's not the same though. I need to know that she's safe. That's she's not going to get herself hurt or arrested. I can't know that if I'm not there with her. Charlie's..."

"She's what?"Aden asked softly.

"She's all I have left" Ruby looked away as tears formed in her eyes "Joey's just taken off and left us. If I lose Charlie I don't know what I'd do Aden"

"Hey" Aden stood up and moved over to sit next to Ruby "You're not going to lose Charlie, Ruby. I won't let her do anything stupid"

Ruby didn't appear convinced and merely shrugged in response.

"How are you holding up, anyway?" Aden questioned in concern "With Joey being gone it must be tough..."

"It is" Ruby nodded slowly "It's really hard. I'm trying to stay optimistic for Charlie by defending Joey's actions but...I'm really pissed off at her"

"I understand that" the man said quietly "But there must be a reason for what she's doing..."

"Maybe" Ruby mumbled thoughtfully.

"Hey!" Charlie said as she entered the room. She paused when she noticed Ruby's slightly defeated look "Is everything okay?"

"It's fine" Ruby reassured her as she stood up "Right Aden?"

"Right" Aden agreed hesitantly.

"You look great" Ruby said with a hint of sadness in her voice as she looked into the older girls' which seemed to speak volumes of pain.

"Thanks" Charlie offered her a small smile as she looked down at herself. She was wearing dark jeans and a red shirt "I wasn't really going for 'great' but..."

Ruby frowned as Charlie trailed off "Oh"

"So are you ready to go?" Charlie asked as she looked over at Aden who had stood up next to Ruby.

"Yeah" Aden nodded. He looked between Charlie and Joey and motioned towards the door "I'll wait outside for you, okay Charlie?"

"Thanks Ade" Charlie smiled weakly as she watched him walk out. She grabbed her black leather jacket from the arm of the couch and pulled it on quickly before turning her gaze back to Ruby who looked as if she was about to burst into tears "Are you okay Rubz?"

Ruby shook her head and moved forward enveloping Charlie in a tight hug "Do you really have to go?" her voice was slightly muffled by tears and Charlie's shoulder.

Charlie nodded trying to push back her own advancing tears as she smoothed her hand comfortingly over Ruby's hair "Yeah...I'm sorry Rubz. I just need to get out of the house for a while, okay? It'll be good for me...You said yourself I shouldn't be moping around"

"I didn't say that" Ruby argued quietly "I said you should get out because It would make you feel better. You have every right to be upset"

Charlie pulled back slightly to look at the younger girl "I'll be fine, okay? Don't worry yourself about me"

"Okay" Ruby sighed sadly "But be careful Okay? And don't get into any trouble...No drinking too much either. I'll know when you get home"

Charlie raised her eyebrows in surprise "Wow. That was some role reversal. Impressive"

"I'm serious" Ruby said firmly.

"I know" Charlie pulled Ruby close to her and dropped a kiss on her head "I'll be fine Rubz"

"Right" Ruby nodded though she still looked worried "You'd better go...Aden's waiting for you"

Charlie nodded and started towards the door "I have my phone if you need me"

"Okay...Charlie?" Ruby asked stopping Charlie from leaving the room.

"Yeah?"

"I love you"

"I love you too" Charlie smiled lightly at her daughter before she walked out of the room.

---

Charlie sipped at her drink and looked around the rather loud but calm bar she was standing in. It was crowded and music flowed through the room.

"I'm sorry about this" Charlie said as she leaned close to Aden in order to be heard over the pounding of the music "I really didn't mean to drag you away from Belle like this"

"Don't worry about it" Aden reassured her "I'm happy to be here. You know I'll help out in any way I can"

"Thanks" Charlie offered him a shaky smile "It's just so hard without her with me. I really thought that nothing could separate us"

Aden reached for Charlie's hand and squeezed it reassuringly as he noticed tears surfacing in her blue eyes "I'm sure that Joey had a good reason for what she did. You know that she loves you. Only something big could have pulled her away from you"

"I know that" Charlie nodded tearfully "I just wish she had talked to me first instead of running off and leaving me with no idea where she is or if she's sa...Aden?" she frowned as she noticed the man was staring in shock over her shoulder "What's wrong?"

"Uh...Nothing!" Aden snapped back to attention and smiled falsely at Charlie "Nothing's wrong with me..."

Charlie turned around and scanned the bar to see what he was looking at. She sighed when she found she couldn't see anything and stood on her tip-toes. Her jaw dropped slightly when her eyes met familiar dark brown eyes "Oh my God" she turned quickly back around to face Aden "Joey's here...Did you know she would be here?"

"No" Aden shook his head honestly "I didn't. I swear. She hasn't talked to me since before she left"

Charlie looked over her shoulder and her expression dropped in disappointment when she noticed that the space Joey had previously occupied next to the bar was empty "Damn it...I lost my chance. AGAIN!" tears began to build steadily in her eyes.

"Charlie..." Aden pulled the girl close to him and wrapped her in a warm embrace.

"Why does she keep leaving me?!" Charlie mumbled into his chest "I don't understand Ade..."

"I know" Aden said quietly as his eyes scanned the crowd for Joey.

Charlie pulled away after a moment "I have to do something..." she began to walk away but Aden pulled her gently back to him.

"Where are you going Charlie?" he asked in concern "You need to stay with me. I told Ruby I wouldn't let you get hurt" although Charlie hadn't had too much to drink he was still wary of her hurting or embarrassing herself, especially considering her emotional state right then.

"I'm fine" Charlie pulled her arm from his grip and moved through the crowd, leaving her staring after him.

"Damn it" he picked up his drink and drank it quickly, reluctant to leave his position in case Charlie returned. Five minutes later he was about to give up and go after her when the music stopped and a voice caused him to stop still.

"Ladies and Gentlemen" a voice boomed through the microphone "I'd like to introduce this lovely lady with a rendition of 'With or without you'"

"Oh God" Aden cringed slightly when he noticed Charlie on the stage next to a young dark haired man "What the hell is she doing?" he covered his eyes with his hand. He remained like that for a few moments until the music started and he lowered his hand. His eyes widened when they landed on Joey who had moved to stand next to him.

"Joey!" he engulfed her in a tight hug before he pulled back "Um...Do you have any idea what Charlie is doing up there?"

"No idea" Joey shook her head and looked up onto the stage where her eyes immediately connected with Charlie's. She winced slightly when she saw the pain in them, visible even from where she was standing.

"Please tell me she can sing" Aden said hopefully.

Joey shrugged "I don't know, I...." she was interrupted as Charlie's soft voice filled the room.

See the stone set in your eyes
See the thorn twist in your side
I wait for you

"Wow" Aden mumbled in amazement "She can sing!"

Joey didn't reply as her gaze lingered on Charlie's.

Sleight of hand and twist of fate
On a bed of nails she makes me wait
And I wait without you

With or without you
With or without you

Tears formed rapidly in Joey's eyes as she listened closely to the lyrics, her gaze never leaving the pain filled eyes of her love.

Through the storm we reach the shore
You give it all but I want more
And I'm waiting for you

With or without you
With or without you
I can't live
With or without you

And you give yourself away
And you give yourself away
And you give
And you give
And you give yourself away

Joey felt Aden squeeze her hand comfortingly but it did nothing to dispel the pain and guilt from her heart as she watched tears roll rapidly down Charlie's cheeks. She had given herself away. She had submitted herself to her brothers' spiteful demands and by doing that she had only caused pain for the person she loved the most.

My hands are tied
My body bruised, she's got me with
Nothing to win and
Nothing left to lose

And you give yourself away
And you give yourself away
And you give
And you give
And you give yourself away

Joey choked on her sobs, longing to reach out to her girlfriend. To fix the hurt she had caused.

With or without you
with or without you
I can't live
with or without you

With or without you
With or without you
I can't live
With or without you
With or without you

Joey pulled away from Aden and stepped forward as the music slowed. She watched as Charlie stepped away from the microphone wiped at her tears before she rushed from the stage, ignoring the applause from the people in the bar.

"I'll go..." Joey called to Aden before she rushed in the direction of the exit.

"Right" Aden sighed. He picked up Charlie's Jacket and bag and walked over to the bar fully intending to buy another (Non-alcoholic) drink.

---

"Charlie!" Joey called as she rushed out of the bar after Charlie "Charlie, Please wait!"

"WHY?!" Charlie spun around to face Joey, revealing tears spilling down her cheeks "So you can tell me that 'This is for the best'...That you're 'trying to protect me'?! So you can leave me again?"

Joey stopped short and gazed speechlessly at Charlie "Charlie I..."

"Are you really going to do this to me again?" Charlie asked as she reached up and wiped her tears away harshly "You're going to break up with me again?! I can't take this anymore Jo..."

"I'm so sorry" Joey said weakly as she stepped forward "I didn't mean to hurt you. I was trying to protect you..."

"And you ended up hurting me more than anybody else could Joey!" Charlie exclaimed painfully "Do you have any idea how much of a mess I've been since you decided to walk out on me?!"

Joey shook her head silently.

"Yeah...You wouldn't" Charlie laughed bitterly. She turned to walk away.

"Charlie, Wait!"

"You know what?" Charlie stopped but didn't turn back around "Out of all of the people I expected to betray me...I never thought it would be you. I thought we would be together forever, as immature as that sounds. I thought that we were inseparable...I thought that you loved me but...If you did than why would you leave me?!" she shook her head sadly and continued to walk.

"YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN SENT DOWN!" Joey yelled tearfully.

"What?" Charlie stopped and turned around. She walked closer to Joey and gazed at her in confusion "What did you say?"

"Nothing..."

"No, I want know" Charlie said firmly "What do you mean I would have been sent down? Sent down for what Joey?"

Joey ran a hand through her dark hair in frustration "You were set up Charlie...With the drugs allegations? It was Brett. He got a friend to plant drugs in the house and file allegations against you..."

"I don't understand..." Charlie said softly.

"I made a deal with him" Joey explained "I told him that if he left you and Ruby alone I would leave you. I had to do it Charlie. I couldn't see you go to prison because of me"

Charlie gazed at her in shock "You should have told me...I could have done something about it!"

"I know that!" Joey responded guiltily "I know I should have but...I wasn't thinking clearly Charlie. All I was thinking about was keeping you safe"

"You have no idea how much you hurt me..." Charlie turned her gaze to the ground.

"I do!" Joey argued as she stepped forward and took Charlie's hands "Because I hurt myself just as much Charlie..." she placed her hand gently under Charlie's chin to look into her eyes "God, I missed you so much"

"I missed you too" Charlie threw her arms around Joey in a tight embrace, allowing her tears to continue flowing freely. Joey hung onto the older girl just as tightly but pulled back after a couple of moments.

"I really didn't mean to hurt you" she said softly as she wiped away Charlie's tears "And I don't expect you to just forgive me. I..."

"I forgive you!" Charlie interrupted quickly.

"You do?" Joey asked dumbfounded.

"I do" Charlie nodded "I can't stand being apart from you Joey..." she pulled the other girl towards her and kissed her tenderly.

"Does this mean I can come home?" Joey asked hopefully "Because I've really missed you..."

"You can come home" Charlie smiled warmly.

Joey wrapped Charlie in a tight embrace and kissed her passionately.

---

Charlie hummed happily to herself as she walked into the kitchen in shorts and a tank top the next morning. She was just reaching for her cup when she felt arms wrap around her waist from behind and a soft kiss being placed on her neck.

"Hey" she grinned as she spun around in Joey' arms to capture her lips with her own "What are you doing up so early? I was planning on coming back to bed"

"There was snoring" Joey grinned mischievously "And then there wasn't..."

"Hey!" Charlie slapped Joey's arm lightly "I do not snore!"

"I know" Joey laughed as she rubbed her arm "I was only kidding"

"Yeah, well..." Charlie leaned forward and kissed Joey lightly "Are you planning on kissing me anytime soon?"

"Of course!" Joey pulled Charlie close and kissed her deeply. They finally pulled back and Joey smiled softly at Charlie "Great singing last night by the way. You never told me that you could sing..."

Charlie shrugged "I figured it would take some sort of grand gesture to stop you from ignoring me"

"Shouldn't I be the one who makes the grand gestures?" Joey asked quietly "I do have a lot of making up to do..."

Charlie wasn't sure what to say to that so instead she pulled Joey close and kissed her tenderly.

"Charlie?" Ruby's voice sounded as she walked into the kitchen "What time did y...Joey!"

Joey pulled away from the kiss and turned to look at Ruby offering her a small smile "Hey Rubz"

Ruby rushed forward and launched herself into Joey's arms almost knocking her off her feet. The older girl managed to remain standing however.

"God, I missed you!" Ruby said as she pulled away "Are you okay? Are you back for good?"

"I'm fine" Joey smiled at her "I missed you too. Are you Okay? I know I left without much warning and yes I am back for good"

"I'm okay" Ruby said quietly as she glanced sidelong at Charlie "So why did you leave? I don't understand..."

"It's a long story..." Joey began "It started when Brett got locked up..."

---

"What do you want Joey?" Brett groaned as his sister walked through the door "I'm not reconsidering my offer...It stays the same. If you don't stay away from the cop something else is going to happen to her. Don't think I can't make it happen just because I'm locked up in here"

"I want to know why you set Charlie up" Joey said as she took a seat opposite him "Was it just to hurt me?"

"I'm trying to HELP you!" Brett responded angrily "What you're doing with her is sick Joey! You need to stay the hell away from her"

"I won't" Joey stood up from the chair and began to move towards the door.

"Then she'll pay"

"No she won't" Joey turned around and pulled her shirt up slightly to reveal a black wire under it "You really should watch what you say to the girlfriend of a cop Brett" with that said she turned around and walked out of the door leaving Brett glaring angrily after her.

---

"Did it work?!" Charlie asked hopefully as Joey walked out of the room and she and Watson bound up to meet her.

"He confessed!" Joey grinned before she pulled Charlie close and kissed her "Great Idea Babe!" she turned to look at Watson "Are you sure he won't be able to hurt Charlie anymore?"

Watson nodded surely "We have his admission recorded. He'll be secluded and won't even be allowed to use the phone. You're both safe. Trust me!"

"Thanks Watson" Charlie smiled at her colleague and wrapped an arm securely around Joey's waist.

"Anytime" Watson nodded and walked out of the station.

"We're finally safe from him" Joey breathed out as she turned to face Charlie.

"We certainly are" Charlie agreed happily "So no more leaving, okay?"

"I promise I'll never leave you again" Joey vowed sincerely.

"I love you Joey" Charlie said quietly.

"I love you too" Joey responded sincerely. She pulled Charlie impossibly close and kissed her passionately, trying to make up for wasted time.

TBC