Chapter Forty-Three

"What the fuck do you think you're doing?" Charlie shrieked, pulling away before Hugo could get too close.

"I thought you were going to prove your heterosexuality?" he said.

"Gay or straight or whatever, I'd never cheat on Joey," Charlie said, feeling hostile. "What kind of person do you think I am?"

She looked at him with utter disgust.

"Come on, you're just carried away with Joey. You've been taking care of her all this time and taken it too far. Any fool can see that."

"We love each other," Charlie said. "Doesn't that mean anything to you?"

"Is she better than a guy?" Hugo asked curiously.

"She's better than any guy I've ever known in every possible way," Charlie confirmed, getting to her feet, feeling fraught.

Hurrying away, Charlie realised that she was shaking. She surprised herself by bursting into tears, letting all her emotions pour out. Without really thinking it through, she headed to Roman's house. It was the only place she could think and hope that Joey had gone. Knowing she was risking annoying everyone in the house, not to mention losing her job, she lost the ability to care as she approached the front door and knocked.

***

Joey jolted awake when she heard a knock on the door, wondering who on earth it could be. Tense, she considered lying there and hoping the late night caller would go away. She heard the knocking come again. Swallowing, she climbed out of her duvet and off the sofa, tentatively approaching the door. She pulled it open a crack and gasped when she saw Charlie in front of her looking fragile.

"Charlie!" Joey gasped.

"I had to see you," Charlie said urgently.

"But... but you'll get in trouble."

"I know. I don't care. I needed to see you, Joey. I had to tell you that I love you."

Joey felt startled and immediately overwhelmed.

"I love you too," she said sincerely.

Charlie fell against her, holding tightly. Joey snuggled into her and stroked her back. Charlie buried her face in Joey's neck and began to kiss her. She kissed her neck, her collarbone, her cheeks and her lips, clutching her tightly and needing to be close.

"Charlie, what's... what's happened?" Joey asked.

"I just need you to know there's nothing disingenuous about this, about us. I do love you. I love you more than I could express. You're my everything. I need you, Joey. I know I'm risking a lot by being here but I had to make sure you knew. I'd never hurt you, not ever."

"I know," Joey said gently. "I know you wouldn't hurt me. I trust you. And I love you too, Charlie. I love you more than anyone or anything."

Relieved, Charlie took a breath and gazed into Joey's eyes under the porch light glow.

"And I need you. So, we can't risk getting caught, okay?" Joey said gently, hating to send her away.

All she wanted to do was pull Charlie inside and hold her all night long. She wanted the world and its stupid judgements and complaints would go away and leave them in peace. They deserved that. Charlie nodded.

"I know," she said. "I'll go home and I'll call the station first thing in the morning to find out if they've rejected this stupid complaint. And as soon as they do, we can be together again."

They kissed one more time, letting it linger. Finally prising themselves away, Charlie raise Joey's hand and kissed it tenderly before reluctantly stealing away into the night.

***

Arriving home, Charlie was still feeling emotional. She was surprised to find Ruby waiting up for her.

"Where have you been?" the younger girl demanded, leaping off her chair.

"I went for a walk," Charlie replied.

"What's wrong? I heard something happened at work."

"Brett made a complaint about me, saying that I'd taken advantage of Joey and now we're not allowed to see each other unless the station decides there isn't a case to answer."

She promptly burst into tears. Surprised by the way that Charlie had lost control her emotions, Ruby rushed over to give her a cuddle.

"They'll drop the complaint," Ruby said certainly. "There isn't a case to answer. You haven't done anything wrong, Charlie."

"What if I did?" Charlie asked worriedly. "She was vulnerable and she'd been raped. Was I wrong to fall in love with her, Rubes?"

Ruby guided her sister down onto the sofa, keeping an arm around her.

"You haven't done anything wrong," Ruby insisted. "You fell in love with her and she fell in love with you. Neither of you could help that and her brother's just being a dickhead."

Charlie laughed through her tears at her words.

"Let me get you a hot chocolate and some toast and then you can go to bed," Ruby suggested. "It'll all be sorted in the morning."

***

Joey jolted awake, having had a nightmare. This time, when Robbo had done with her, he'd leaned in and told her that she would never see Charlie again. She hurriedly brushed tears from her eyes and hoped she hadn't screamed. The light turned on in the hall upstairs. She sighed and sank back against the pillow when she saw a figure enter the room.

"Joey?"

Nicole hovered over her.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," Joey lied, desperately wanting to be telling the truth. "Sorry for waking you."

"It's okay," Nicole replied. "As long as you're alright."

Joey nodded in the dim room and watched Nicole pad back up to bed.