As soon as Angelo closes the door to her office, Charlie is at him. "I just made a fool of myself barging into Det. Collins office. You told me that nothing had happened."
"Nothing did."
"She has a split lip."
"Hugo and I were just mucking around and she got in the way."
"I'm going to have to put an official reprimand into your file for conduct unbecoming an officer."
"What! That bitch didn't even charge me."
"Considering how she feels about you, you're just damn lucky that she didn't charge you, because she certainly didn't believe yours and Hugo's version of events. Angelo, she intends to reopen the investigation into Jack's death and she's looking for anything to use against us."
"Ok, so it wasn't the smartest move to thump that prick, but you can't reprimand me Charlie."
"I don't have a choice Angelo. If I don't, it will look like I'm favouring you."
"I'm your fiancé Charlie," Angelo whines.
"At work I am your Sergeant." Charlie sighs, "You were in uniform Angelo and on duty when you assaulted him. We're already under investigation for the murder of a police officer and with Cam being dirty, the last thing we need is anything that makes us look bad; me letting you off the hook would look bad."
"You're right. I still can't believe Cam was dirty though."
"I just wish that when he gave his statement he'd named names and then maybe we'd have those detectives off our backs."
"Charlie, just remember that we're innocent and they can't prove any differently."
"I just want this over and her gone," her voice tired.
Angelo walks over to where she is leaning against the wall. "Hey, we're going to get through this, then we can put all this behind us and get married."
"Is that all you can think about?"
"Don't you?"
"I guess I'm not really looking toward the future; just in case we don't have one."
Putting his hands on her hips, Angelo leans against her. "You do still want to marry me, don't you?"
"Angelo, this isn't the place to be discussing this."
"It's a simple yes or no Charlie," Angelo says, trying to keep his voice calm. "Do you want to marry me?"
"Yes."
"See, that wasn't so hard," Angelo smiles as he pushes her hard against the wall, "Angelo, you know we can't."
"You're about to put a reprimand in my file and damage my chance at promotion, Charlie, I think I deserve one little kiss."
Thinking of the detective's words about maintaining a professional distance at work, Charlie is about to protest when Angelo claims her mouth possessively. Gasping when he cups her breast as his other hand works on the buttons of her top, the feel of his erection rubbing against her is enough to bring Charlie to her senses, "Angelo, that's enough," pushing him away just as there is a knock on the door. "Fuck," Charlie frantically tries to do up the couple of buttons Angelo had undone, just getting the last one done up when Det. Collins strides into the room. One look at the disgust on the detective's face and Charlie knew they had been busted.
"Nice to see my talk about professional behaviour was taken to heart, Sergeant," she says snidely. "I did knock, but clearly you were distracted and didn't hear." Glancing at Angelo, "How about I leave you two to finish up, say another 30 seconds, that's about all he'd need, wouldn't he?"
"You bitch," Angelo stalks towards her.
"That's Det. Sgt Bitch to you, Constable," emphasising his lowly rank again.
"Angelo," Charlie pleads with him, dismayed by his behaviour.
"Put a leash on him Sergeant before he crosses the line, again." The way the white butterfly bandage on her lip moved when she spoke reminded Charlie of what had started this all today.
"Angelo, could you leave the detective and I alone."
"I don't think that was a suggestion Constable," Joey says when Angelo stays put.
Charlie turns her back on the both of them as she moves behind her desk, sighing as she sits down. "Angelo, please go back to work so I can speak with Det. Collins." When Angelo still refuses to budge, Charlie feels her anger growing, "Const. Rosetta, did you not hear me!" Angelo looks shocked at her angry tone, shooting a venomous glare at the detective for making him look bad in front of Charlie, Angelo manages to find his most conciliatory tone as he apologises to both women for his behaviour.
"Ok, you've apologised, now do as the Sergeant ordered and get back to work." With a nod to Charlie, Angelo turns to leave, "Be seeing you Rosey," Joey whispers as he passes, causing him to clench his fists in anger. Holding his anger in check, Angelo closes the door gently behind him.
"You're losing control of him Sergeant," Joey comments as she takes a seat and puts her feet up on Charlie's desk. Seeing the two reproving blue daggers sent in her direction, Joey shrugs her apology and puts her feet on the ground.
"Detective, what you thought was happening..."
"Wasn't really happening? Please Sergeant, give me some credit, it was fairly obvious what you two were doing."
"I had just put a stop to it when you knocked," Charlie says, trying to sound convincing.
"It should never have even started. You've allowed him to cross the line once too often Sergeant, you need to pull him back."
"I'm aware of that Det. Collins."
"I hope you are, because I'd hate to have to officially reprimand you for unprofessional conduct."
Charlie sits back, watching the detective intently. "Why haven't you Detective, I mean, you seem determined to pin just about everything on Angelo and I, yet today you've let us both off."
"I thought it would be obvious Sergeant," Joey smiles disarmingly at her. "Why would I waste my time on reprimands or a rap on the knuckles when I can do you both for murder."
Charlie shakes her head, feeling stupid for thinking that maybe she was changing her opinion of her when the detective only ever sees her at her worst. "I assume you're in my office for a reason then?"
"I was just making sure that you were actually reprimanding him; I must say, as reprimands go, having sex is definitely a new one."
"We weren't having sex," Charlie grinds out.
"You were about to and I get the impression that lover-boy doesn't like it when you say no."
"That is none of your business."
"It is when you're bringing it into this station."
"I can assure you Detective, that it will never happen again."
"After your little display in here, your assurances mean very little Sergeant. I'll expect to see the reprimand in his file by the end of shift tomorrow."
"It will be there by the end of today."
"For your sake, I hope it is and perhaps you should put one in your own file."
"I thought you couldn't be bothered wasting your time with reprimands?" Charlie reminds her.
"Call it a test Sergeant, on your ability to do the right thing as a Sergeant and not what is best for you or your fiancé." Joey gets to her feet, "Don't worry about your own reprimand, I'll let it slide this time."
Once the door is closed, Charlie hangs her head in her hands, cursing herself, the Detective and Angelo for putting her in this position.
Angelo storms through the front door of their home after work, furious with Charlie for actually putting the reprimand in his file and for siding with Collins. Listening to his angry rant, Charlie quickly loses patience. "It was completely unprofessional Angelo and if Collins had filed a report on it, I would have been in serious trouble."
"Relax Charlie, she has no proof that we were doing anything."
His casual manner infuriating Charlie even more. "Angelo, I've warned you before that we needed to keep it professional while she is here and you try to fuck me against the wall of my office."
"I did not."
"You were more than ready to if I hadn't stopped you and Collins hadn't walked in."
"You've never had a problem with us having sex at work before."
"Once Angelo, it was once and it was a mistake to have allowed it to go that far." Both their voices getting louder.
"Jesus Charlie, why don't you just cut off my dick with this no fucking sex rule you've suddenly developed."
"Don't be so crass Angelo. The way you behaved today was totally unacceptable and if you can't see that, then maybe you aren't the man I thought you were."
"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?"
"It means that the man I love is a kind, caring and considerate person, not the one who is only interested in his own needs and who abuses another officer right in front of me. What were you thinking Angelo, calling her a bitch like that."
"She is a bitch."
"She's a Det. Sergeant, no matter how horrible she is, you don't call her a bitch to her face."
"Why are you defending her?"
"I'm not defending her, I'm trying to make you realise that if you keep carrying on like this, you're just going to give her more ammunition to use against us and make her even more determined to come at us." Charlie takes a couple of deep breaths to try to calm herself, "Angelo, what happened to your promise to be more attentive to me, to what I want?"
"I thought I was being attentive."
"Jesus Angelo, today was all about you, not me, just like it always is."
"I don't understand Charlie, why you've suddenly become all frigid all of a sudden."
"I'm not frigid," Charlie says angrily. "For god's sake Angelo, our co-worker was just murdered and now we're under investigation. I'm under a lot of pressure with my job, with Collins constantly on my back, I'm tense all the time and I can't relax; sex is the last thing on my mind at the moment."
"Yeah, well that's easy for you to say, I'm the one suffering," he says sulkily.
Charlie shakes her head, tired and frustrated. "I hate this fighting Angelo."
"So do I and we know who to blame for it, that fucking Collins bitch," Angelo goes off again.
"Angelo, we can't blame her for all of our problems."
"Why not? Charlie, we barely ever fought before she came in and stirred everything up."
Charlie realises he is right about them never fighting, but she wonders if the pressure of the investigation is the only reason why she feels this distance coming between them.
Angelo sighs heavily. "God Charlie, I really don't know what's gotten into me, I feel like I'm losing it."
"We're both under a lot of pressure right now, but if we want to make it through this, we can't keep going the way we have been."
"I know and I am sorry for what happened earlier."
"She's watching our every move Angelo, that means at work you have to remember that I am the Sergeant and not your fiancée."
Silently cursing at yet another reminder of his place at work, Angelo smiles tightly, "I really have been an idiot, haven't I?"
"Yes, but you're my idiot." Charlie leans in, kissing him quickly. "We can't let her win Angelo."
"We won't." Wanting more than anything to take her then and there on the lounge room couch, but knowing she would just push him away again, Angelo steps away from Charlie. "I'm going to go and do a workout session, work out some of my anger at this investigation. I love Charlie."
"I love you too."
As soon as the front door is closed, Ruby comes out of her room. "Mum, is everything ok?"
"Angelo and I are just having a few problems, but we'll sort them out," Charlie assures her as she hugs her daughter, missing Ruby's look of disappointment at her words.