So, this isn't a particularly nice chapter but it covers an important issue that I felt got ignored in the show so I wanted to mention it now. I'm going to do a double update for this fic for this reason.
Chapter Four
Charlie's mind drifted to Joey as she jogged along the beach in the sunshine. It had been three days since she'd seen her and she hadn't been in touch. Charlie couldn't help but worry. She slowed when she spotted the woman in question sitting on the sand by herself. Charlie wondered whether she should stop or not and decided that she ought to. She stopped nearby and called her name. Joey looked up and smiled. She looked sad.
"Do you mind if I sit?" Charlie asked.
"Of course not," Joey said.
Charlie positioned herself beside her.
"How are you feeling?"
"Much the same."
"Joey, can I ask you a personal question?"
Joey wanted to say no but she forced herself to say yes.
"Did he... use anything?" Charlie asked awkwardly.
Joey tensed. Eventually she shook her head. Charlie sighed and closed her eyes. Joey looked away.
"Joey, I really need to take you to the hospital."
"No!"
"Joey, this is important," Charlie said. "And urgent."
Joey covered her ears with her hands. She didn't want to have this conversation. Charlie put her arms around her. Joey collapsed against her and began to sob.
"I have a friend who's a Doctor. Her name's Rachel. She'll see you and be completely discreet, I promise," Charlie said.
"I can't do this," Joey sobbed.
"I'll be there with you every step of the way," Charlie promised.
"I shouldn't have to do this!" Joey burst out. "I'm a lesbian for goodness sake! I shouldn't have to worry about this kind of thing!"
She froze. For the second time in Charlie's presence she'd said something she hadn't meant to say. She glanced up, terrified of rejection. What would Charlie think of her now? Being gay was Joey's second biggest secret. Even her brother didn't know. She had been out to her mother and the two girlfriends she'd had in her life and that was it. She couldn't believe she'd just admitted it to Charlie.
"Sorry," she said. "The last thing you want to be doing is putting your arms around some dirty dyke."
She began to pull away but Charlie didn't let go of her.
"Joey, your sexuality isn't a problem for me," Charlie insisted.
Joey stopped moving and eyed her curiously.
"Really?"
"Why would it be?"
"Becauseā¦" Joey faltered. "Because."
She had never met someone so kind and accepting before. Charlie looked at her and brushed the hair out of Joey's face, noting how beautiful she was when she wasn't hiding away.
"Joey, I hate to go on about this but if you wanted to press charges, your sexuality could be part of your defence."
"No, Charlie. Nobody knows that I'm gay except a couple of ex-girlfriends and I want it to stay that way."
Charlie sighed. Joey wasn't going to be easy to help. She continued to hold her.
That afternoon, Charlie and Joey arrived at Joey's hospital appointment. Charlie had phoned Rachel and explained that she needed to bring someone in for a pregnancy and STI test but needed there to be no questions asked. Trusting Charlie, Rachel had agreed to see her after her shift. Charlie felt Joey trembling beside her as they entered the hospital and felt guilty for dragging her to the appointment but knew it was necessary. Rachel appeared and smiled politely, shaking Joey's hand and introducing herself.
An hour later, Joey mostly relaxed in the passenger seat of Charlie's car. She definitely wasn't pregnant and in twenty-four hours she would find out whether she had contracted anything. Charlie had promised to take her back to see Rachel to get the results. Joey didn't think she had ever been so grateful to another person before in her life.
"Would you like to go for a coffee?" Charlie asked.
"That would be great. Thank you. Thank you for everything," Joey said.
Charlie reached across the seat and held Joey's hand, glad they had got over hurdle one. They had hurdle two to get over tomorrow and she still had hope that she could convince her to press charges.
Joey sat down at a corner table in the Diner while Charlie ordered their drinks at the counter. The police officer had met several rape victims before but she had never felt quite so protective of anyone as she did of Joey. There was something so special about her that Charlie just couldn't put her finger on. Even before she'd known that she was having these kinds of problems, she had found her strangely captivating. She wasn't sure what it meant but she did know that she and Joey were supposed to be part of each other's lives. Accepting her drinks from Colleen, she brought them back to Joey who was sitting rigidly at the table. Joey wrapped her hands around her hot drink gratefully, taking in its warmth. Charlie felt guilty for putting her through everything she had that afternoon but she knew it was better than taking the risk of something worse.
"Thank you for taking care of me, Charlie," Joey managed.
Charlie smiled.
"Of course," she said pleasantly.
"I don't understand why you care so much."
"Becauseā¦"
She didn't know what to say.
"I can't see someone in pain and not try to help them, can I?" she finally said.
Joey smiled.
"You restore my faith in humanity," she said.
Charlie blushed.
