"Where have you been Charlie, I've been waiting for ages."

"Not now Angelo, can't you see that Ruby is upset."

Angelo spares a glance at the girl, forced to admit to himself that she did look like crap.

"Did something happen?"

"I want to get Ruby settled first, then we'll talk."

Two hours later, with Ruby finally resting in her room, Charlie returns to the lounge room.

"Well, Charlie, what's going on, why were you late?"

"What's going on Angelo, is your friend Robbo tried to rape my daughter."

"What!" Angelo cries out in disbelief. "There's no way Robbo would touch her."

"He was more than touching her and if Det. Collins hadn't come to her rescue, my little girl would have been raped by that animal."

"I can't believe he'd do that," Angelo says, not really surprised at all, considering what Robbo's done before.

"Ruby told me about the sick suggestions he's been making to her when he's been around here; did you know what he was saying to her?"

"They were just words Charlie."

"No, it was a grown man making disgusting suggestions to a 15 year old girl."

"You're right, I'm sorry." Angelo tries to ease the tension. "I just thought he was all talk, you know, showing off in front of the guys. If I really thought he'd act on it, I would have told you Charlie or made him stay away."

"Really?"

"Ruby's your daughter and soon to be my step-daughter; she's family and that's more important than a loser friend."

"You really think that?"

"Of course I do."

"Then why haven't even asked how Ruby is?"

Angelo winces at his slip up. "I guess I still have a lot to learn about this parent thing," he admits. "How is she?"

"She was nearly raped, how the fuck do you think she is," she snaps at him. "She's too young to ever have had to deal with that fucking animal," Charlie wipes away the tears.

"So what happened to Robbo?"

"After what he did, I don't even want his name mentioned, and if you must know, he's in jail, where I hope he will be for a very long time."

"Charlie, everything is going to be fine, we'll get through this." Angelo moves over to her, holding her close while she cries. Tilting her head up, he bends down, kissing her, deepening the kiss as he moves his hands under her top, cupping her breasts.

"What the fuck Angelo!" Charlie jumps away from him in disgust.

"I'm sorry, I just thought it'd make you feel better."

"How is fucking when I'm upset about my daughter being attacked going to make me feel better? The only person who'd be enjoying it would be you, which seems to be all you're interested in."

"I'm sorry ok, I thought I was offering you comfort."

"Right now, sex is the furthest thing from my mind. Ruby is my priority at the moment."

"It's not just tonight Charlie, it's the past couple and even when we have sex, I feel like you're not even there sometimes."

"Angelo, not now."

"When?"

"Would you stop fucking obsessing with sex."

"What the fuck is your problem?"

"I am sick of your childish tantrums whenever we don't have sex. Just because you're happy to have sex all the time, it doesn't mean that it's what I want."

"Where the fuck are you going now?" Angelo demands when Charlie walks away from him.

"You hear that Angelo," Charlie holds her hands up to her ears to emphasise her point. "That's my daughter crying out, so I'm going to go and look in on her. Unless of course, you prefer that we just fuck on the floor while she's in there having nightmares about your best buddie?"

"Frigid bitch," he mutters as he grabs his keys and heads out.

"What are you doing here Angelo?"

"You, I hope," he smirks at her.

"I'm not alone."

"Who is he?"

"She is none of your business, now fuck off." Closing the door in his face, Angelo puts his hand on it to stop her.

"What the fuck am I supposed to do?"

"How about you do your fiancé, that's what she's for isn't she?"

"Well I would, if her stupid brat wasn't all upset because Robbo tried to rape her."

"You're kidding! Man, I knew the guy was an idiot, but going after a cop's daughter, that really is stupid, especially if he got caught."

"He's in jail."

"Get him out Angelo, before he starts blabbing about certain things."

"How am I supposed to do that?"

"He's your friend Angelo."

"You were happy to let him fuck you."

"So what, I fuck you too, but that doesn't mean anything. You were the one who brought him in, now I don't give a fuck how you do it, just do it."

"Martha, are you going to be all night?" a voice comes from within the house.

"I'll be back in a minute."

"You're doing her?" Angelo asks in surprise when he recognises the voice.

"You're just pissed because she always turned you down, now fuck off," slamming the door in his face.

"Fucking whore."

Kissing her passionately, he moves her onto the bed, climbing over her, exploring her body, making her arch her back when he takes a nipple in his mouth. Loving her with his mouth and hands, bringing her to her first climax, he holds himself above her.

"Charlie?"

"Please Angelo, I need you inside me."

Positioning himself at her entrance, he eases the tip of himself in, testing her reaction. When her hips thrust up to meet him, he pushes himself in to the hilt, groaning in pleasure. "Oh god Charlie, you're so tight." Moving his hips, he starts to thrust, slowly at first, wanting to make it last. Ducking his head, he captures her lips, his tongue demanding entry. Opening her lips to him, he thrusts his tongue in, matching the rhythm of his hips as she moans against his mouth. He moves his hands under her knees, encouraging her to put her legs around him, before thrusting in even deeper.

"Oh god."

"You like that, don't you Charlie, having me so deep inside you?"

"God yes, it's amazing."

"No this is." Drawing out of her until only the tip of him remained inside her. Holding himself there, he looks down at her, smirking at the look of desperation on her face. "You want it, don't you," taunting her with another inch.

"Ahhh," thrusting her hips against him, trying to take him deeper, annoyed when he holds her in place, denying her.

"Oh yeah, you like this," Angelo revels in the power he has over her body, "Tell me you love me."

"I love you Angelo, now shut up and fuck me."

"Your wish is my command," thrusting hard and fast into her, reaching new depths, making her cry out for him. Meeting his thrusts, she feels him go deeper, the feeling of having him so deep sending her over the edge, making her cry out, her cries of pleasure making him lose control as he thrusts harder and faster into her.

"Oh god...ahhhhhhhh."

She climaxes again as she feels him stiffen inside her, one hard thrust sending him over. Collapsing on top of her, he stays inside for a moment, whispering in her ear, "That's what it should be like all the time, you begging for it." Moving off her, he sits on the edge of the bed.

"Is that why you wanted me to pretend to be Charlie, because she's not giving you what you want?"

"You're a good fuck Annie, but you talk too much."

"You've been fucking me since I was 14, but it was different tonight."

"Annie, be a good little whore and don't read anything into this."

"I wish you wouldn't call me that."

"It's what you are."

"When can I go home?"

"When we say you can."

"Please Angelo, I've been here for over 2 years."

"Keep pleasing me like tonight, and we may let you go sooner."

"I want to see my brother."

"Do you think bible boy would want anything to do with you once he finds out what you've been doing since you left?"

"I never wanted this."

"No, you wanted fame and fortune as a model. Let this be a lesson to you Annie, life sucks sometimes and we don't always get what we want."

"I just want to go home."

"You will, once we're done with you," Angelo assures her. "Until then, I expect you to make yourself available whenever I want you and to take whatever I give you or I may just tell Martha that you're no longer happy with us."

"You can't," Annie says terrified.

"Just remember Annie, we own you. Now, stop whining about going home or seeing Geoff and I'll keep Martha away from you."

"You will let me go though, once you've finished with me?"

"You have my word Annie, once you're no longer any use to us, you can go. Clean yourself up, there's a client waiting for you." Angelo dresses without another word and lets the client in as he leaves.

"How's Ruby?" Joey asks as soon as Charlie walks into her office the next morning.

"She's still jumping at the slightest sound. Sally's looking after her while I'm here to check on things before heading back."

"That explains the clothes."

Charlie looks down at her shorts and tank top, "I thought I'd try a summer uniform."

"If everyone looked as good in it as you, I'd sure go for it," her words making Charlie to blush. "What about you, you ok?" Surprising Charlie yet again with her concern.

"Yeah, I didn't sleep much last night. Ruby had a nightmare, so I spent the night with her in her room which pissed off Angelo, so we had another fight this morning," Charlie says, suddenly wondering why she was telling her about her problems with Angelo.

"He doesn't seem very understanding."

"Yesterday was just a bit of a shock for all of us."

"Right," deciding not to comment further on him, at least for today.

"Anyway, I just wanted to thank you again for helping Ruby."

"I'm just glad I was there."

"Believe me, I'm glad you were there too." Charlie moves around to Joey's side of the desk, leaning against it. "I didn't realise until I read the charges that he had hit you," shocking Joey when her hand unconsciously caresses her cheek where the bruise from Robbo's fist was starting to show. Charlie recalls the pain she saw in her eyes when she had slapped her. "I still can't believe that I hit you, I've never hit another person before."

"You've never met someone like me before," Joey jokes, trying to ignore the soft caress on her cheek.

"That's for sure." Suddenly realising what her hand was doing, Charlie pulls it back as if burned and quickly moves to the other side of the desk. "Has Robbo said anything?"

"I thought it best not to sit in on the interview yesterday, but aside from making obscene comments to Graves, calling Georgie a stupid dyke and I'm not even going to repeat what he apparently called me, he said absolutely nothing and then his lawyer arrived."

"A lawyer? I didn't think Robbo had money for a lawyer."

"I looked the guy up; he doesn't do pro-bono work and he's not exactly cheap."

"So where's the money coming from?"

"That's what I'd like to know."

"Is he going to make a fuss about you breaking Robbo's wrist?"

"He can try, but it's not my fault the stupid bugger was squirming so much while I was trying to cuff him."

"I wish it had been me."

"It really was an accident," Joey assures her.

"I can't tell if you're lying or not."

"Then neither can they," Joey grins, making Charlie laugh.

"I really wish you had done both."

"That would have been a little harder to explain away. Do you think your friend Robbo could be behind the other rapes?"

"He's no friend of mine and I doubt he's behind the other rapes. This rapist is smart, he leaves no trace of himself behind; Robbo's a sexist pig and an idiot. Besides, Ruby doesn't match the profile, unless I'm wrong about the link being married women left alone while their husbands are away."

"No, I think that's still our best connection, and you're probably right about Robbo, but we shouldn't discount him, not yet. Maybe Ruby was just an opportunity he couldn't resist, especially after all the taunts he's been making to her."

"She told you about that?" Charlie asks in surprise

"She was pretty shaken up at the time."

"I just wish she had told me. I've never felt entirely comfortable around Robbo but he was Angelo's friend, which is the only reason I ever allowed him in the house."

"Sometimes with guys it is just all talk and sometimes it's not. Robbo said something about catching up with Ruby, has he been away?"

"He took a long haul." Charlie's eyes widen when she realises the implication.

"Let me guess, he left not long after the last rape when the rapist suddenly stopped for 8 months."

"He got back only days before Kirsty's murder."

"The knife he had on him was different to the one used on Kirsty and as you said, Robbo doesn't seem smart enough to pull this off, but stranger things have happened and his absence fits with the break in rapes."

"I just wish we had some DNA evidence from the previous cases to know one way or another," Charlie groans in frustration.

"We have him in jail, why don't we go and question him."

Staring at the empty cell, Charlie is filled with fear as she rushes back to the front counter.

"Hogan, where is Robbo?"

"He was bailed out 3 hours ago."

"What!"

"His lawyer came and bailed him out."

"How the hell did he manage to put together that much money?"

"I don't know, but we had no choice but to let him go. I did have a car follow him when he left."

"That's good. Have them pick him up again."

"Ah, that maybe a little hard, seeing as how they lost him."

"They what!"

"I'm sorry Charlie, they lost sight of him and he hasn't turned up at his home or his usual haunts."

"Who was following him?"

"Watson and Giles."

"Did Georgina say how they lost him?"

"His lawyer let him out at the bus stop and he bolted into the bush. By the time they pulled up, there was no sign of him."

"Damn it, that fucking bastard has done a runner and now he's out there, free to come after my daughter again."

Joey puts a comforting hand on her arm, "Sergeant, we won't let him near her."

"I have to get home to Ruby."

"I'll drive you."

"Thanks."

"Are you ok?" Joey asks as she pulls up at Charlie's house.

"I'm just trying to calm myself before I have to go in there and tell my daughter that the man who attacked her is still out there."

"I doubt he'd come after her again."

"That's small comfort."

"We'll get him."

Charlie looks at the detective, wishing Angelo had been as caring and understanding as she had been. "Why don't you come inside, I'm sure Ruby would love to see you again?"

"I should be heading back."

"Thanks again, for Ruby and for today."

"I didn't really do anything today."

"I appreciated you asking after Ruby and how I was feeling, you didn't have to. I should get inside."

"I'll let you know if we find him."

"Thanks."

Watching Charlie walk up the path to her house, Joey puts her hand to her cheek, still feeling the gentle caress of Charlie's hand. "What the fuck is going on?" she mutters as she drives away.

"Hey granddad."

"Martha, what are you doing here at this time of night?"

"I got bored sitting at home alone," Martha says as she spies a woman sitting alone, drinking her beer. "That may be about to change. Look granddad, why don't you take off; I can cover the bar until closing."

"Are you sure?"

"It's only half an hour before closing and there's only a couple of customers, I'll be fine."

"That'd be great love, I'll see you tomorrow."

With the last two customers leaving not long after her grandfather, Martha locks the door and pours two more beers and heads over to the table. "It's Joey, isn't it?" placing the beers on the table and sitting down.

"Det. Collins."

"Joey's easier to say. I've seen you here the last few nights, drinking alone."

"I'm unwinding."

"You don't look very unwound."

"That goes with the job."

"I heard that you were trying to reopen the case into my husband's death."

"Does that bother you?"

"I had accepted Jack's death and forgiven Angelo and I guess it's a little upsetting to find out that someone is trying to dredge it up again."

"That's not my intention. I'm just after the truth."

"Do you really think there was more to it than an accident?"

"Yes."

"Yes, just yes?"

"Yes and you don't have to worry, the case won't be reopened."

"I'm not sure if I'm grateful for that or not. Would you like another drink?"

"Sure, why not."

Chatting with Martha for over an hour, Joey suddenly realises the time. "I probably should be going," Joey tells her as she gets unsteadily to her feet. "Whoa." Using the table to balance herself, she smiles a little sheepishly as she sits back down, "I think I've had a little too much to drink."

"You still look wound up," reaching over and taking Joey's hand, "I could help you unwind."

"Are you suggesting what I think you are?" smiling slightly at the flirtatious look Martha was sending her way.

Martha stares at the detective, finding her standoffish demeanour very appealing, not to mention finding her very attractive. "I have a thing for married women, especially ones whose husbands aren't around."

"I guess having a husband turn up unexpectedly could put a dampener on things. I really should be going," this time having a little more success in standing up.

"Here, I'll help you." Helping Joey to the door, Martha suddenly pushes her against the wall, her lips pressed hard against Joey's.

"Is this the way you help all your..." Martha cuts her off with her lips, "There's a cot in the office," she says as nuzzles her way along Joey's neck, eliciting a drawn out groan when she moves her hands to her breasts and captures her lips once again.

I'm going away for a few days and won't be able to update until Saturday or Sunday. Still plenty of surprises and secrets to be revealed. :)