When Angelo reaches his hideout in the bush two hours later, he finally unleashes his fury. "How could you Charlie?" He screams, the memory of her betrayal seared in his mind. Having followed the couple further down the beach, he'd watched in disbelief as they had rutted like a couple of dogs in heat, the ease with which Charlie gave herself to that whore a knife in his heart. His anger had burned as Charlie had done things with that woman she had refused to do with him. "I need to get her away from here before she's permanently damaged and then she'll be back to being normal with me."

Charlie wakes the next morning, her limbs still entangled with Joey's after their lovemaking the previous night. She blushes as she recalls how their emotions had gotten the better of them during their walk and they had sought out a secluded stretch of beach where they had made love. Despite the chance of discovery, they'd made love unhurriedly, taking their time to bring each other to climax. She still couldn't believe that they had made love on a public beach and if Charlie was honest with herself, the chance of discovery had made it some of the best sex she'd ever had and it hadn't ended there; they'd rushed home and picked up where they had left off on the beach. "Maybe we should have taken time to shower and get the sand off though," she mutters at the uncomfortable feel of sand in their bed.

"Mmm, what was that?" Joey mumbles sleepily.

"Nothing, I didn't realise you were awake."

"I'm not."

Smiling, she brushes her lips over Joey's. "Still asleep?"

"Yep."

"Joey, we need to shower and get ready for work."

"Don't wanna."

"Shower or get ready for work?"

Joey opens one eye, "A shower would be nice but work can go jump."

Charlie chuckles at her pouting. "I thought you loved work?"

"I love being in bed with you more."

"There are times when I wish we could just stay in bed all day but work calls and you are the one always talking about being professional."

Sighing, Joey opens both eyes. "I wish I'd kept my mouth shut."

"Joey, the last of the evidence is going to be sent to the Feds today, which just leaves Angelo and then it will all be over and we can go on our trip."

The trip which they'd been forced to make some changes to. When they'd gone down to Charlie's yacht to get it ready, they'd quickly realised that having four people, one a teenage girl, in those cramped quarters wasn't ideal for a restful holiday. They were going to buy some camping equipment, so that they could set up camp on land each night. Ruby had groaned at the change in plans, saying she needed to rethink her wardrobe for the trip. Joey still wasn't sure why that was necessary, then again, she had never been all that fussed about clothes as teen. "I must admit, I'm really looking forward to taking a break from work."

"Have you thought anymore about what you will do when this is all over?"

"I was only allowed back on this case to finish what I'd started and until I know the extent of my hand injury and how it will affect me in the long term, I'm going to be on disability."

"What about limited duties?"

"I was hoping to go onto limited duties, but Hugo advised me to take the disability leave and see to my hand, then decide what I'll do." She looks at her hand, "I may need more surgery yet and I'll definitely need plenty of physio, so taking the time off isn't such a bad idea."

Charlie strokes her cheek gently, "You've put so much into the investigation and since you've been here, your body's taken a bit of a battering so taking an extended break could be good for you."

"If I don't die of boredom."

"I'm sure we can find a way to keep that from happening." Charlie smirks, "You know, I think you'd look hot in a uniform."

"You just want to order me about."

"Well, technically, I do out rank you and the only reason you were able to order me about this time, was because you were in charge of an investigation, but in uniform, I am senior."

"Going back into uniform may be the only way to continue my career here, but having my lover and my brother as my bosses, is kind of putting me off the idea," she jokes.

"Oh, I happen to think your boss is an extremely fair Sergeant."

"You would." Joey grins, "I suppose I could always brag that I'm nailing the boss."

"You'd better not!"

"Charlie, it's hardly a secret that I am."

"I suppose you have a few months off with your hand to make a decision." She pushes Joey onto her back and moves over her. "That gives me plenty of time to convince you to go back into uniform."

Joey runs her hand along Charlie's back, "I thought we had to get up and shower."

"We do," she says with a large sigh, rolling to Joey's other side and off the bed and reaching for her robe. "We should put the sheets in the wash too."

"I love the beach but sand can be a pain in the arse at times."

"I'm going to take the shower first, but I better not come in here and find you still in bed."

"Aye, Aye, Sergeant."

"I could get used to ordering you about." She leaves before Joey could reply.

"Funnily enough, I could get used to it too," Joey murmurs to herself.

Having received a call from the realtor, Joey and Charlie were spending their lunch break looking at a house, one Charlie had immediately fallen in love with.

"Joey, it's perfect. It's close to Georgie and Hugo, the street is well lit at night and," she takes Joey's hand, leading her out the back door, affording them with a view of the beach. "I can sit out here with my coffee and watch you surf."

"It is a great place," Joey admits.

"It even has an extra room we can use as a study or nursery." Charlie stops when she notices Joey's expression. "What?"

"You said nursery."

"I did?"

"You did." Joey shrugs, "Maybe it's all the talk about babies with Georgie and Leah."

"Yeah, maybe," she says quietly.

Joey links her arms around her waist. "Hey, I told you, baby or not, I'm never leaving you."

"I know, it's just," she sighs. "I was so young and scared when I had Ruby and I've always been wary of commitment, which is why I've always been reluctant to have another baby, but now," she smiles at Joey. "With you, I have no fears of commitment and I have to admit to thinking more and more about having a baby with you, but I'm confused as to if it's what I really want or if it's because I'm jealous of Georgie and Leah being pregnant."

"There's no rush to decide Charlie so don't let it bother you."

"I want to make you happy."

"You have made me incredibly happy. Charlie, I love you and I want you to stop putting pressure on yourself about a baby. If we do decide to have a baby, it will be because we both want it and not because you want to please me."

Charlie smiles wryly, "I am so looking forward to getting away from here, because I really need to clear my head of all the clutter."

"I'm sure I can find ways to get you so relaxed you forget just about everything."

"Everything except you." She leans in, capturing Joey's lips in a short but tender kiss. "You really like this place?"

"Yeah, I do."

"Then let's go and fill out an application."

Driving past her old place on the way home after work, Charlie slows, before turning the car around and pulling into the driveway. Looking around, seeing no one about, she gets out of the car and walks up the path, slowing as she nears the house, the memories of what Angelo had tried to do to her coming back. "I can do this." Heading inside, Charlie pauses outside her bedroom, spending a few minutes dealing with the memories which were even stronger here.

"I knew you'd come back here," Angelo says, stepping through the front door. "You came home to me."

The end is nearing, only a chapter or two to go.