I have SUCH a backlog of chapters for this story. I'm writing chapters based around March 2010 in the show and right now, we're only in November 2009 so I thought I would start posting this each day as an extra so we can move on a bit quicker! I hope you're continuing to enjoy this fic. I have a lot planned for it! I've just got to the chapter where Charlie and Joey are celebrating their first anniversary and hopefully there are a lot of fun chapters on the way. Love, IJKS xxx

Chapter One Hundred and Sixty Seven

"Okay, I've got to get back to work," Charlie said, once she'd paid for their lunches.

She stood and kissed Joey goodbye, waving at Romeo and heading back out of the Diner.

"I should head back too," Joey said.

"You don't happen to need an extra pair of hands, do you?" Romeo asked. "For free?"

He had nothing else to do and he felt grateful to Joey for her help.

"Sure!" Joey said. "If you really want to?"

Romeo nodded and they headed out and into the fresh air again.

"I should warn you that I have no idea how to do anything on a boat!" Romeo added.

Joey chuckled and said she'd be happy to show him the ropes. She then proceeded to explain that boats were the best things in the whole wide world – minus the wonder of Charlie Buckton. Romeo chuckled as they walked side by side down to the docks.

"It's nice that you're in love like that," he said, thinking wistfully of Annie.

They exchanged the odd email but he had the sinking feeling that she had left him behind now. He wondered if she would ever come home and if they would ever have their chance to be happy.

"I'm pretty lucky," Joey said. "I never thought something like that would ever happen to me."

"How did you and Charlie meet?"

Joey hesitated for a moment.

"I was having a bad time," she finally said. "I was assaulted and Charlie helped me press charges. She was really sweet to me and we became friends. And then we just fell in love."

"That's sweet," he said. "Minus the assault. I hope whoever it was is behind bars now."

"He is," Joey assured him. "And he'll be there for a long time."

"Romeo!" a voice called from behind them.

He and Joey turned to see John Palmer standing there. He approached grumpily.

"Yes?" Romeo said sourly.

"I'm sorry for the way I spoke to you," John said. "And if you want it, you can have your job back."

Romeo shoved his hands in his pocket.

"Thanks," he said. "But I'm not sure I want your job back."

"Don't go wasting an opportunity because of your pride," John told him. "It won't do you any good."

"I shouldn't find it hard to get a new job," Romeo said.

"A high school drop out with no qualifications? I don't think so."

Romeo frowned. Perhaps he had a point.

"Listen, if you want the job, show up on time for work tomorrow. If not then it's your loss."

He turned away.

"What about Joey?" Romeo called after him.

"What about her?" John asked, turning back.

"You were rude to her too. You should apologise."

John sneered. Joey mumbled that it didn't matter.

"It does," Romeo insisted.

"Then I'm sorry for my rudeness, Joey. There's nothing wrong with your roots or your sexuality," John said curtly.

He walked away. Joey and Romeo headed back towards the trawler, musing over his sincerity.


"Angelo," Charlie said urgently, waving her colleague into her office.

He stood and followed her, shutting the door behind him.

"No naughty phone calls today?" he remarked.

Charlie ignored him and pushed a piece of paper towards him.

"What's this?" he asked.

"The organisation who hired the sunken boat was called Best Fruit Imports," Charlie said. "I just got the details faxed through."

"Best Fruit Imports?"

"Does that mean anything to you?" Charlie asked, curious about the way Angelo seemed to be trying to recall something.

He rubbed his temples and looked a little constipated.

"Angelo?"

"Hugo Austin's boatshed!" the Constable suddenly exclaimed.

Charlie looked at him quizzically.

"When his boatshed got busted and that guy attacked him and Xavier," Angelo said. "I had a nosy around and there was an invoice in there from Best Fruit Imports."

He grinned.

"Charlie, I think we've finally got a tangible link between them."


"Well, I think you should sit down with Liam and tell him how you feel," Joey said.

She was having quite a nice time with her new friend. In fact, she wished she could offer him a job on the trawler full time. But unfortunately, she didn't think this was a job she'd be keeping for long. John had made it clear that their days were numbered and she was already devastated.

"Maybe," Romeo said. "I mean, I know it wasn't his fault but..."

"He abandoned you," Aden interjected.

Romeo nodded sadly. He'd thought Liam was his friend.

"I've never even been drunk before," he ventured. "I don't like the idea of getting off my face on substances – legal or otherwise. It freaks me out. I don't want to be out of control. It's scary."

Aden patted him gently on the shoulder, firmly agreeing with Joey that Romeo ought to tell Liam how badly he'd behaved.


Hugo arrived home after a long and frustrating day. Martha was looking morose in the kitchen. He felt bad but decided to stay strong. Plastering a smile on his face, he approached her with a kiss. She asked about his day.

"It was okay," Hugo lied. "Nothing special."

"Who was that woman I saw you talking to earlier?" she blurted out.

Hugo looked confused, although he knew exactly what she was referring to. He could kick himself for talking to Suzy out in public. It was a stupid thing to do.

"Who?" he said, feigning innocence.

"You were talking very privately to a woman this afternoon," Martha told him.

He looked like he was trying to retrace his steps. She watched him uncertainly. While she had been out for a walk after having lunch with Rachel, she'd seen her boyfriend looking very conspicuous and she didn't like it.

"Oh!" Hugo said. "I had a bit of a spat with a client earlier. I had to cancel her appointment and she was pretty pissed about it. She wanted a refund instead of changing the time. It all got a bit messy."

"Oh," Martha said, relieved.

"Why?" Hugo asked. "What did you think it was?"

"I don't know," Martha said. "I'm probably just feeling paranoid. I'm not in a good place right now."

Hugo sighed and took her hands, knowing that she was referring to the loss of Bambang.

"Listen..."

He was interrupted by a knock at the door.

"Hold that thought," he said, getting up.

He was surprised to see Charlie and Angelo at the door. They wanted to bring him in for questioning.


Next time... Martha changes her mind about Bambang and Charlie and Angelo interview Hugo...