Hello. I can't believe the next chapter is the one hundredth. We should have a party! I found out last night that the Home and Away blogger in TV quoted me in her blog. I find this utterly hilarious so I just have to link you... I've had two Charlie and Angelo related rants published in a week – how awesome is that! http:/ tvweek. ninemsn. / ?sectionid=1904§ionname=hotplots&subsectionid=80475&subsectionname=blog
Anyway, moving on... I hope you like the chapter.
IJKS xxx
Chapter Ninety-Nine
"I've made some appointments to meet with some of Grant's other victims in the city," Charlie admitted.
Joey choked on her lemonade and stared at her. It was the evening and they two of them were relaxing over dinner and trying to forget the threat Charlie had made to Grant earlier in the day.
"What?" she exclaimed.
"I made some calls and a couple of women have agreed to meet with me."
Joey sighed heavily and then winced. The pain in her ribs from the night that Charlie had accidentally hit her in her sleep was still very much present. She was becoming a little concerned but was too sure it had to stay a secret to go and get it checked out. Charlie noticed her expression.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"I think I pulled something," Joey lied automatically.
Charlie furrowed her brow and pushed her chair back from the table.
"Let me see," she said, reaching for the hem of Joey's t-shirt.
Joey jerked back and insisted there was nothing to see. Charlie frowned, unsatisfied.
"Anyway," Joey said, wanting to get back on track. "Are you sure that dredging all this stuff up is a good idea?"
"Joey, if I can get enough evidence, including other victims, then I might be able to get justice for what happened to me after all," Charlie said.
Joey knew only too well just how much that meant. Robbo's trial would be taking place in a few weeks and although Joey didn't have to give evidence, she was still intent on attending and seeing him sent down, hopefully for a long time.
"And at the very least, I can make sure Ruby knows once and for all that Grant Bledcoe is not the kind of man she wants in her life."
Joey nodded her acceptance.
"I'm coming with you," she said.
"Joey, you don't have to," Charlie began to protest.
"I'm coming," Joey told her firmly.
"What about work?"
"I'll call Irene. She won't mind. We're barely trading yet."
Charlie nodded. Joey finished her meal and pulled out her phone ready to ask permission to leave for a few days. She wanted to support Charlie in her quest. And at the very least, she didn't want to be apart from her for even a couple of days.
As Charlie and Joey changed into their bedclothes, Joey turned discreetly away so that Charlie didn't see her injuries. They were not fading fast enough for her liking and she never thought she'd feel grateful that their sex life had simmered down. With all the stress in their lives and with Grant around, too many old scars and fears in both of them, although they doubted either would be put off for long. They could barely get enough of each other on a normal day. Joey slipped into bed and reached out to hold Charlie who slid in beside her. The police officer rested her head in the crook of Joey's shoulder and kissed her cheek.
"Will you get into trouble for today?" Joey asked. "You know, what happened with Grant?"
Charlie nodded and sighed. She was not looking forward to going back to work and facing the music. She had threatened a man, regardless of who he was, while in uniform and carrying a weapon. She just hadn't had control. The way he seemed intent on being around Ruby and making that comment about Joey had set her off. Her need to get him out of their lives was overwhelming.
"What will happen?" Joey asked.
She couldn't help but worry.
"I'll probably get a warning or something," Charlie said. "Hopefully nothing too serious."
She reached up and stroked Joey's face before resting her hand on her tummy. Joey winced again.
"Joey, what is with you?" Charlie asked.
Before Joey could stop her, she'd pulled the blanket down and Joey's t-shirt up and was horrified by the bruise she found there.
"Joey! What happened to you?" Charlie asked worriedly.
Catching Joey's expression she suddenly realised and shrank back.
"When did I hit you?" she asked, hating herself for causing her girlfriend pain.
"A week ago," Joey said.
"Why didn't you say anything?"
"I didn't want to upset you."
"Joey," Charlie sighed. "You should have got this looked at."
"It's nothing," Joey insisted.
"It's not nothing."
She hauled herself out of bed and began to get dressed.
"What are you doing?" Joey wondered.
"Taking you to hospital," Charlie said, as if she were stupid.
"No, Charlie..."
"I'm not arguing with you."
Joey and Charlie left the hospital at three in the morning. Both were exhausted and both were feeling guilty. A scan had shown that Joey had a mildly cracked rib and Rachel had given her painkillers.
"I'm going to ring up for some counselling tomorrow," Charlie said on the drive home.
Joey turned to her in surprise. Charlie reached for her hand across the seats.
"I am not going to spend the rest of my life risking you," Charlie told her. "Counselling really isn't my thing but as long as I'm having the nightmares, I need to do something about it. I never ever want to hurt you again."
Joey raised Charlie's hand and kissed it.
"I do love you, you know," she said.
Charlie smiled at her as she pulled into the drive, ready to get back into bed.
"I know," she said. "Otherwise you wouldn't put up with my crap."
She leant over and kissed her, promising that she would get help and that their lives would get better from here on out.
