Casey had heard the news and decided that he really couldn't wait around any longer. With any luck, the cops, Pee Wee, Brodie and everyone else would be otherwise distracted, allowing him to leave town unnoticed, including by Ruby. He hadn't gone through with the phone call, and did regret not saying goodbye directly to Ruby, but he could no longer risk staying here and if he didn't go now, he could very well get caught up in the mess he'd been trying to avoid.

He'd left a letter to Alf explaining he had to leave suddenly because of a family drama, and asking him to pass on a letter he'd also left for Ruby, to her. Alf would probably be pissed at his sudden departure, but at least Casey had warned him he hadn't been planning on sticking around. Still, he felt like a heel for leaving Alf in the lurch like this, especially after Alf had given him the job and a place to stay. One day, he'd find a way to repay Alf for his generosity.

Casey readjusted his backpack and kept an eye out for cars. Hitchhiking in town was probably a dumb idea under the current circumstances, and he was wary of the buses as well, so he was going to have to walk. He didn't know how far, he didn't even know where he was heading, other than in the opposite direction to where the shooting had happened. At least he'd have a lot of time to consider things, he thought as he walked.

His thoughts then turned to his brother. Kyle had promised to continue to run interference for him. Casey hated putting his brother in a position where he had to lie to their other brothers, but Kyle understood. He always had, because he was the only Braxton who saw Casey for who he really was. Different. He just wished he'd figured it out so much earlier.

In the distance, Casey could hear the faint sounds of sirens. He really did hope that the women managed to avoid Brodie and Pee Wee, because he genuinely believed they didn't deserve to die.

Parking further down the street and out of sight from the building of their interest, Brodie and Pee Wee made their way back, keeping to the shadows, just in case this was the right place.

Joey winced. The staples still felt as if they were pulling against her skin whenever she moved, and she was desperately hoping the injury wouldn't impede her during their departure, especially when she had a feeling that everything was about to come to a head, and she certainly didn't want to be stuck here if or when it did. As it was, they were going to be pushing their luck just to get out of town without either the cops or Pee Wee and Brodie seeing them. This mess really had become even more fucked up and it was obvious she had over stayed, both in this town and with Charlie. She really should have cut Charlie loose much earlier, even if it meant setting herself up as bait to have the others come after her while Charlie...here she paused. Just what would Charlie have done had she been left to her own devices? Called the cops of course and possibly risk falling into the hands of the wrong ones. No, sticking together had been the right call then, just as it was now. It was too late and too risky for them to now separate, at least until they were out of Summer Bay.

Kyle glanced at his watch for what felt like the hundredth time. He'd heard all about the shooting incident, he'd heard the reports, the gossip, the news, he'd also heard from Brax who had passed on a message from Tegan. What he hadn't heard, was from Brodie and Pee Wee. They'd left him stranded here and every time he saw a blue uniform or cop car fly past, his heart sped up a little, because if they'd figured out that the Braxtons were involved, his being here wouldn't be seen as a coincidence, even though that's exactly what it had been. One big coincidence. Who knew in their search for his runaway brother, they'd stumble upon those two women, purely by chance. Like Casey, he dreaded the fate that awaited those two women should his side catch up to them first, but unlike his brother, Kyle understood the necessity, even if he didn't fully support it. And unlike his little brother, Kyle had a lot more to lose should he fall into the hands of the cops.

He sighed. Part of him wished he'd been more like Casey in finding a way to steer clear of the business for as long as possible, but he'd succumbed in the same way Heath had, though Heath had had less choice than either of them. Heath had lacked the intelligence and acumen to be anything but the brawn and muscle in charge of the troops. He never had the education or support from Brax that their older brother had bestowed upon the two youngest Braxtons, yet Heath had never resented them for it and in a way, he'd found more freedom to do as he pleased than they ever had, though Kyle suspected that courting Brax's wife had been in some part, Heath's way of getting back at Brax for his constant lack of approval. It wasn't all about revenge however. There were genuinely feelings on Heath's part, which made the impeding birth of Bianca's child all the more problematic. God help them all if Bianca's baby did turn out to be Heath's, because despite his faults, Heath stood by his children and he might just stand in front of Brax on this.

Kyle sighed again. Sometimes he hated being the brother in the middle, the one who had to be the peacemaker.

Joey surveyed her surroundings from the surgery window, taking in every detail; where the streetlights were located and the shadows they cast, the potential cover the shrubs and fences could provide, to the young woman walking her red kelpie and the car heading up the driveway of the house four doors over, where two people got out. Anyone of them a potential threat if they saw something amiss with the surgery, such as a light on at the wrong time. The blinds looked fairly heavy, so Joey was hoping they blocked out most of the inside light from the outside.

"Come on, Charlie," she murmured to herself. The other woman was in the next room, searching for medical supplies to take care of her shoulder. She'd told Charlie not to bother, but Charlie had insisted that if they were to make a run for it, they needed further supplies just in case they weren't able to get access to any once they were on the road. Joey hadn't bothered arguing with her, because all that would have done, was to delay them longer. As it was, they should have been out of here already.

She continued to keep a lookout while she waited for Charlie. It was times like this when she hated the direction her life had taken. There didn't appear to be any safe place for her and even if there was, she always expected trouble to come at her. She sighed despondently. It was exactly because of this life, why she was alone. How could she expect a woman to be a part of this life.

Joey glanced toward the door where Charlie had departed. There was the woman she wanted a future with, a future that could now only happen in her imagination. Charlie was a cop, she'd have no interest in her now that she knew the truth. Most women wouldn't. Once she was out of here and she could leave Charlie somewhere safe, Joey resolved to turn her life around, and maybe, just maybe, she'd find a woman to spend the rest of her life with, and maybe even be honest with her from the start.

"Oh grow up, you don't believe in fairytales," she muttered to herself, for that's what such a life was. A fairytale, one she doubted she'd ever have. She'd be lucky to even get out of this alive.

"What was that you just said?" Charlie asked when she returned to the room.

"Nothing," she said. "Are you ready, because we need to get the hell out of here as of now."

"I'm done," Charlie replied. She felt guilty for stealing the supplies, but under the circumstances, their needs and safety outweighed the wrongs. At least that was what she was telling herself to ease her guilt. How could Joey live her life like this, doing the wrong thing over and over. It was such a horrible feeling, but Charlie supposed that was the greatest difference between her and Joey. Joey didn't see it as wrong, so had nothing to feel guilty over.

Brodie snuck around the side of the building to the next window. He could just make out a soft glow through a crack in the blind. He flattened his back to the wall and edged closer. By now he could hear voices from inside, including one he was quite familiar with. Grinning from ear to ear, he rushed back to tell Pee Wee.

Movement caught Joey's eyes as passing headlights illuminated two figures skulking by the fence to the left of the building, right next to where they'd stashed the car.

"Shit," she muttered. "Charlie, we have company."

"Who?"

"Didn't get a clear look, but I'm certain it was two men."

"Brodie and Pee Wee?"

"That'd be my guess," she said.

"What's the plan?"

"We can't get to the car, so we're going to have to make a run for it, and first chance we get, we steal a car," she told her. "We don't have a choice."

"There's a window in the next room we can get out of without them seeing us," Charlie suggested. "But there's not much cover on that side once we're away from the building."

"It's our best option," said Joey, and she reached into her bag. "Don't shoot unless you absolutely have to," she warned as she handed Charlie one of the guns. "We don't have many bullets left and we don't want to draw every cop here."

"Speak for yourself," muttered Charlie.

"Charlie, if we don't make it," Joey started to say, then stopped. She was lost momentarily in Charlie's eyes. "Oh fuck it," she said, seizing the moment by pressing her lips to a startled Charlie's. "I meant those words before," she said. "I love you, Charlie, I truly do, and I just wanted to say that one last time." Unlike before, Joey this time felt a weight lifting from her with those words, because if this was to end up being her last stand, she'd at least die with Charlie knowing the truth. That she really did love her.

"Joey," Charlie murmured, her heart pounding inside her chest. "This really isn't the right time," she lamely said.

"I know."

Danger was right outside, they may even have to shoot their way to safety. They could be hurt, or worse. It was now or never, Charlie decided, finally opening her heart to what her mind had been trying to deny. It didn't matter that Joey was a criminal, or that she was a cop, or that this truly was the most inappropriate and fucked up time to be doing this, she just didn't care. This could be her only chance to tell Joey.

"Come on, we have to move," Joey said, before those three words could come to Charlie's lips.