There's not a whole lot of CJ in this chapter, I'm afraid. But Charlie has a very important conversation. But have no fear, there is much flirtation in the next one! I hope you like it. Love, IJKS xx

Chapter Sixteen

"What the hell is this?" Angelo demanded, slamming a sheet of paper down on Charlie's desk.

Unfazed, having been expecting the outburst, Charlie casually picked it up and read through it.

"It's a leave entitlement form," she said, handing it back to him.

"I told you that you couldn't have the week off," Angelo said. "How dare you go over my head and ask another Sergeant?"

"I need the week off," Charlie said, unapologetically.

"What's so damn important that you're willing to show me up?" Angelo asked.

His fists were clenched in frustration as he glared at her.

"I have something important to do," she replied.

He stared at her, suddenly feeling his anger evaporate. He tried to hold onto it but it left him without warning. He sank into his chair and wheeled himself over to sit directly in front of her. She looked right back at him, trying to ignore the sorrow in his eyes.

"Charlie, what on earth is going on here?" he asked sadly. "I feel like I don't know you anymore."

Charlie sighed, feeling a little guilty.

"I'm sorry," she said. "I know the break up is hitting you hard..."

"Why isn't it hitting you hard?" he asked. "Why is it even happening? I thought we were happy."

She looked down. She wished she could have been happy with him. She'd tried so hard to be happy. But it hadn't worked and now she felt terrible for having dragged their relationship out for so long. At the time, she'd thought she was doing the right thing. She'd thought they could have stayed together. She'd thought she could have put Joey behind her and move on. Looking at Angelo now, she wondered how she was ever going to explain.

"Charlie, please just tell me what's going on with you," he begged.

Charlie swallowed, wondering how much she ought to say. Taking a deep breath, she decided to be completely honest with him.

"Angelo, I care so much for you. Ever since you walked into my life, years ago, and you annoyed the hell out of me, I've cared for you. And when everything happened with Jack, I was so devastated that it was you who..."

She trailed off. He looked down unhappily.

"I didn't want it to be you. I wanted to save you. And then when you came back... you were so broken and I felt so bad for you."

"Oh, great," Angelo snapped. "All this has been pity?"

"No!" Charlie protested. "I... I found an affinity with you because I was sad too. I was broken hearted and I felt like the worst person in the world."

"Because of Joey," he realised.

She nodded.

"If you were so broken hearted over her, why did you end up with me?" he asked.

"Because I was broken hearted. And Ruby was growing up too fast. And everything was so damn confusing. It hurt, Angelo. Everything hurt and... you and I, I felt like we found comfort in each other."

He nodded. Charlie had felt like his salvation. He'd worshipped her from the moment they met and he still did. He always would.

"I wanted to be happy with you, Angelo," Charlie said softly. "And there are times when I have been but... this last year... it just... it hasn't felt right. Nothing has felt right."

"With us?"

"With anything. I've lost Ruby..."

"No, you haven't," Angelo interrupted.

"In all the ways that matter, I have," she said. "She and I are never going to have the relationship we used to have."

She took a breath, trying not to cry as she struggled to explain herself.

"Charlie, I know things haven't been easy but we've coped so well. I mean, we've had our ups and downs but I really thought this time that we could work through it. I thought you and I... I thought this was forever," Angelo said. "What changed?"

"Nothing changed," Charlie said. "You and I were never going to work."

"Why not?"

"Because I don't love you," she said sadly.

He tried not to get angry and frustrated. All he wanted in the world was for Charlie to love him but she seemed to always come up short.

"That kind of thing," he said. "It grows. It doesn't happen overnight."

"It's been a year," Charlie pointed out.

"So? Give it time... You can love me. If you just try."

"I can't love you," Charlie said. "You could be the perfect man and I just couldn't love you."

"I am perfect for you," he said, reiterating what he had said during their last break up.

"You're not," Charlie replied.

He looked hurt.

"How can you be if we're not happy together?"

"I was happy," he said sourly.

"But I wasn't. All the while I'm in love with someone else, I cannot be with you or anyone."

Angelo clenched his jaw and glared at her. She shuddered quietly.

"Are you seeing someone else?" he demanded.

"No," she replied.

It was true. She was still single. She just hoped that it wouldn't always be that way.

"Well, who are you in love with them?" he asked.

She remained silent. His eyes burned into her, searching her.

"Joey," he realised.

She nodded.

"Well, I hate to break it to you, Charlie but Joey's gone. She upped and walked out on you. She doesn't love you and she's never going to forgive you for hurting her the way you did. She'll never forgive you for cheating on her, even if she was around."

"She is around," Charlie admitted. "We're working through everything that happened."

"Joey's back?"

"She lives across town," Charlie said. "We ran into each other the other day and..."

"Which day?" Angelo demanded.

"A few days ago."

"When?" Angelo bellowed.

The sheer volume of his voice made her jump in fright. He stood up and rested his fists on the desk.

"The day you and I broke up," she said meekly.

"Oh, so you cheated on me too?" he asked. "You slept with her and then dumped me to be with her?"

"I didn't cheat on you!" Charlie insisted. "I wouldn't do that!"

"You cheated on her," he snarled. "And apparently you loved her. You don't love me."

"I didn't cheat on you," Charlie said firmly.

"So, what did you do?"

"I realised that you and I don't have a future."

"You're a bitch, Charlie," Angelo said.

She looked down. Her head was so muddled and she thought he was probably right. She chewed her lip and wondered if she could ever make things right.

"You're a bitch," he repeated. "And I wish I had never laid eyes on you."

"Angelo..."

She cried out as Angelo gripped the edge of the desk and turned it over on her. Everything, including the laptop and Charlie were sent spiralling to the floor. Watson rushed in at the sound of the commotion. Angelo looked at the mess Charlie was in, glanced at Watson and then stormed out. Charlie winced as she tried to free her leg from beneath the desk. Watson hurried to help.

"What on earth happened?" the Constable ask.

"I hurt him," Charlie said as Watson helped her stand up.

Crouching on her knees, Watson sought permission to roll up Charlie's trouser leg and frowned to see a horrible bruise forming on her shin. She looked up at her.

"It looks like he's the one who hurt you, Charlie," she said unhappily.

That evening, Charlie headed round to see Joey, who immediately noticed she was limping.

"Are you okay?" she asked worriedly as they headed into the kitchen.

Charlie nodded.

"Bad day at work," she said dismissively.

She really didn't want to talk about what happened. Part of her was furious with Angelo and part of her felt like he was justified. She'd hurt him without meaning to. He loved her and wanted to be with her and she felt like she had constantly let him down. But she couldn't take back her decision. She didn't love him and she didn't want to be with him. Now was the beginning of rectifying all her mistakes.

"Anyway," she said more cheerfully. "Are you still up for the movies tonight?"

Joey grinned and nodded.

"Sex and the City, here we come!" she said.