Frozen in Time

[Claire_Blake]

Thanks again for all the great responses. Really made up you're enjoying it. Nearly finished the next chapter and, alas, I must go to work until the early hours (GMT) but rest assured there should be an update up shortly after. Thanks again

xxx

[Guest]

Amazing update I look forward to more

[Claire_Blake]

Hard day in the office and very much looking forward to getting into bed. Hope you enjoy.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Bianca reached across the living room table and filled up Charlie’s empty glass of wine. Her friend shot her a look of amusement, raising her hand and shaking a finger in her direction before reaching for it begrudgingly. She was still on medication and was, therefore, wary of overdoing her limits. Pushing this small fact to the back of her mind she picked up the glass and took a small sip. A couple wouldn’t do her much harm. The living room, meanwhile, had slowly filled up over the last couple of hours. Leah, Dex, Casey and Bianca sat on one sofa with Miles perched precariously on one arm with VJ bouncing into the room every so often in aid of Miles help on some computer game in his room. On the opposite side sat Georgina Watson, Charlie, Ruby and April. What had initially been billed as a small catch up between herself, Leah and Bianca had turned into a small gathering which had, by now, turned into far too many glasses of wine.

Ruby had argued that Casey, despite his protests in Charlie’s defence, couldn’t be expected to sit round with a bunch of drunken women all night. Not least, she had placated, without some male company. Dex was therefore hastily persuaded to ditch his plans for the evening and, with him, came Bianca’s younger sister. Watson, meanwhile, had not needed any persuading. To Charlie’s relief and gratitude she had accepted Charlie’s hesitant invitation with sheer enthusiasm, a large bottle of gin and three bottles of red wine. Her lack of contact over the past couple of weeks had been down to nothing more than illness and a willingness to give Charlie some much needed space. She didn’t have any problem with her, nor, she ensured, did she believe that her relationship with Darryl Braxton had ever interfered with her professional judgement. Charlie had been grateful at her support. It was nice to see that not all of the station followed Joyce’s thinking as to her suitability for being the sacrificial goat right about now.

Charlie smiled watching as everyone engaged in enthusiastic conversation round her. Not only was it comforting to see so many of her close friends and family in one place right now, it was just nice to sit back, relax and enjoy herself. It had been too long. Reaching for her glass again she paused watching, bemused as Casey and Dex made for a grocery bag in the corner of the room that had previously gone unnoticed to her. Grinning she surveyed them carefully, elbowing Georgina in the side and they both observed amidst quiet laughter their attempts at subtlety across the room. Whether careful to observe his surroundings or distracted by the sniggering coming from their direction, Casey turned round cautiously and observed his girlfriend’s mother and Watson glaring across in his direction. Drawing Dex’s attention to their discovery they grinned expectantly in the women’s direction.

“Ahem…Miss Scott?”

Ruby watched, hesitantly, as Charlie summoned the attention of her best friend. Glancing across, amidst large mouthfuls of wine, to April, Ruby and Casey’s position she sighed, placing her glass down on the table and feigning a look of disappointment. Amidst hiccups she shook her head in their direction.

“What do you call this?”

Charlie and Georgina watched in sheer amusement as Dex and Casey’s faces dropped at their apparent telling off. They shifted on the spot uncomfortably and bowed their heads in deference to Bianca’s reminder of their role as her students. Bianca and April, meanwhile, grinned across in the direction of the Police Sergeant clearly wise to the joke that was currently being played. Forcing them into handing the bag over, Dex apologised sheepishly and, without hesitating, passed it in Bianca’s direction. Shaking her finger she took it hesitantly before directing her gaze in the direction of the police officers sitting opposite her.

“Sergeant? Constable?”

Waving the bag aloft in their direction the women burst out laughing simultaneously. Glancing over to where April and Ruby had failed to hide their sheer enjoyment of the situation Casey and Dex glanced at each other before smiling and letting out a unanimous sigh of relief. Bianca rubbed Casey’s shoulder before passing the beer’s back to them. Surprised, he grinned in Charlie’s direction before passing one back over to Dex who was also none the wiser as to the sudden change of tune. Shaking her head and swallowing the contents of her mouth, Charlie waved his concern away.

“We saw nothing.”

Taking another mouthful of her wine she waved it haphazardly in their direction. “Be sensible…I’m not dealing with the wrath of your parents tomorrow.’ Ruby grinned, reaching across and giving her boyfriend a tender kiss on the lips. He pushed a strand of hair behind her ear before grinning sincerely in her direction. She returned the gesture, glancing across at her mother before back at her boyfriend. She understood completely his observation. Charlie was different. She seemed happy.

“So…how art life in the uniform? Am I missed?”

Georgina laughed amidst large mouthfuls of the glass in front of her. Charlie grinned before bursting into fits of a similar response and placed her hand on her friend’s arm in a bid to compose herself. She’d had three glasses of wine and, combined with a lacklustre diet of late and a daily round of horse tranquilisers to get her back on the mend, the alcohol was having a livelier effect than it should have done. Swallowing the contents of her mouth and reaching for a handful of nuts from the table, Georgina shook her head earnestly.

“Admittedly…” She signalled to her current presence on the couch. “I am bias.” Throwing the contents of her hand down her mouth she paused for a few seconds to chew them before swallowing and continuing her statement. Like Charlie, the effects of the red wine were slowly beginning to creep into appearance. “The place isn’t the same without you.” She hesitated before continuing. “I’m looking forward to having you back.” Charlie smirked across at her friend gratefully before tilting her head slightly to the side in an attempt at sincerity. Once again she burst into fits of laughter.

“I wouldn’t hold my breath.”

Interrupting Georgina’s attempts at placating her she held up her hand in amused recognition of her predicament. “Sleeping with a known criminal…” She swallowed the remaining contents of her glass before lifting it up in apparent thoughtfulness. “Not even a known criminal…Darryl Braxton…” She watched as a grin slowly erupted across her friend’s face. “Doesn’t exactly bode well for my professional future.” Comforted by Charlie’s laughter, Georgina smirked, shrugging her shoulders in recognition of her friend’s point. Pushing her slightly before squeezing her hand affectionately their attention was, amusingly, drawn to Bianca’s high pitched conversation at the foot of the room. Whatever she was, albeit drunkenly, relaying had Miles and Leah in immediate fits of laughter. Undeterred by the ability of their amusement to drown out her voice she carried on nonetheless caring little for bemoaning a recent run in Heath Braxton. Charlie grinned and laughed across at her friend only turning away as her phone vibrated across the table in front of her.

“Top up, Charlie?”

Charlie glanced up from reaching across for her phone and scowled at Miles’ current preoccupation with refilling her glass. Grinning she averted her gaze and glanced down at her phone. Georgina watched hesitantly as her expression changed somewhat. Sensing her watchful eye she grinned across at her. Reaching for her glass she threw her phone back down on the table and turned to face her friend’s inquisitive eye.

“Everything ok?”

Charlie shook her head signalling to her wine and grinning across in Watson’s direction. “Couldn’t be better Constable.” She took a sip of the glass, hesitantly glancing at her phone’s current preoccupation with flashing again. Ignoring it she beckoned towards Bianca’s empty glass as she returned from the toilet.

“There’s some more in the fridge.”

Grabbing a couple of empty bottles from the table she made her way into the kitchen closely followed by her friend. Placing them on the counter she opened the fridge in search as Bianca leaned against the sideboard lazily.

“It’s good to have you back.”

Charlie glanced across from her position in the fridge and looked over in her friend’s direction. She was currently preoccupied with adjusting the strap on her shoe and was in instant peril of falling head first on to the floor. Charlie laughed heartily. Smiling across at her in recognition of her awareness of how much she had already had to drink she held her hand up in disagreement with her presumption.

“Yes, yes…I know I’m drunk.” She hesitated letting her arm rest on the counter in an effort to support herself. Glancing across at Charlie she lowered her voice in awareness of the audible babble coming from the living room. “I mean it…I really missed you.” Charlie watched, heart warmed, as Bianca continued to stare across at her. Smiling in sincerity she laughed slightly as her friend shook her hands and pointed to her eyes in awareness of her alcohol fuelled state. Placing the bottles down next to her, Charlie reached across and embraced her warmly before hesitating and letting her go, reluctant to inadvertently make her any worse. Grinning across at her she smacked her on the arm playfully.

“You’re a good one Miss Scott.”

Passing Bianca a bottle they made their way back into the living room. Smiling across and nodding in recognition of whatever point Miles was asking her opinion on she took a seat next to Georgina. Tackling the bottle of wine with a corkscrew she turned in her direction as she passed her over what she recognised as her own phone.

“I think somebody’s eager to speak to you.”

Putting the glass down and glancing at her home screen she observed the numerous missed calls. Sensing her friend’s sympathetic gaze she glanced across at her in recognition of her intelligence. Without a second thought she immediately turned the phone off and placed it back down upon the table.

“You alright?” Watson took the glass from her and proceeded to take a large mouthful all the while observing Charlie’s attempts to pour her own drink in front of her. Smiling, in what Georgina recognised as being insincere, Charlie turned eagerly to where Bianca was initiating a toast.

“To being happy…single…”

Charlie watched amused as she hesitated focusing her attention on Georgina. Nearly spitting out the contents of her mouth in amusement, Watson shook her head in agreement. She raised her glass in unison at the query. “No…Count me in.” Relieved, Bianca continued refocusing her attention in Charlie’s direction.

“To being happy and carefree.” She acknowledged the agreement amidst attempting to hush the round of applause that had taken shape around them. Tilting her head slightly she waited for complete silence before continuing. “And… wanting to embarrass her…” Charlie watched as Ruby and those around her averted their gaze in her direction. They all smiled in unison. “to Charlie. Who is the most loyal…giving and…without a doubt…” She grinned from ear to ear as the room waited somewhat impatiently for her judgement. “god damn gorgeous person I know.” Charlie watched as everyone erupted in laughter round her. Smiling she raised her glass and placed her hand on her chest in sincere recognition of her words. Smiling, she watched as Bianca hesitated before raising her hand and silencing everyone around her. Aware of Charlie’s inability to accept recognition she nodded in her direction in recognition of her closing statement.

“Who anyone would be so very lucky to have.”

Amidst the audible agreement and clanking of glasses, Charlie smiled in gratitude before averting her gaze. She thrust a smile in Watson’s direction in an effort to hide the fact that Bianca’s words had, inadvertently, hit a nerve. Pushing the implication to the back of her mind she grinned across in recognition of her daughter’s friends raising a glass to her. Elbowing Watson in the side she beckoned for her friend to pass her the bottle of wine. Shaking her head slightly she subtly motioned in Bianca’s direction and took the bottle from her hand. “I think someone’s had a little too much to drink hey.”

“Xav is a sweetheart but he’s not the most observant guy in the world.”

Ruby smiled in recognition of April’s slightly tipsy statement, turning away as Dex placed his arm around her shoulder. Watching as she leaned into him affectionately Ruby turned in her boyfriend’s direction next to her. She nudged him playfully as he glanced up from his phone and smiled slightly insincerely in her direction. Confused, she passed him another beer, careful to make sure her mother wasn’t spying on them before signalling to his preoccupation with staring, absentmindedly, at the handset in front of him. Grinning in her direction he put the phone in his pocket before taking the beer gratefully. “It’s nothing…Just Mum acting out as per usual.” Opening the can and taking a swig he watched out of the corner of his eye as Ruby shot him a look of acknowledgment. She wasn’t convinced. Sensing her apprehension Casey attempted to shrug off her concern with an attempt at reaching for her hand. Ruby, meanwhile frowned across in his direction signalling to his phone in his pocket. Hesitating, Casey exhaled loudly before reaching for it and passing it in Ruby’s direction. Somewhat confused Ruby took it hesitantly before glancing down. After scanning the screen she glanced up at Casey.

“Turn it off.”

Hesitating, Casey glared across at her. He shrugged his shoulders in reassurance. “I was going to.” Turning off the handset he ignored her watchful stare and smiled across at April and Dex integrating himself eagerly back into the conversation. Ruby, meanwhile, nodded in agreement with their statement before quickly glancing across at her mother’s position behind her. Laughing, she was enthralled in conversation with Miles and Leah. To an observant onlooker she looked as if she didn’t have a care in the world.

“If you had all the money in the world…” Bianca took a large mouthful from her glass before raising her finger in anticipation of everyone’s attention. “Where would you go?” Leah and Miles exchanged an amused glance before laughing comically. This was definitely the staple drunken conversation. Not least, they recognised where a slightly tipsy Bianca Scott was concerned. Feigning thoughtfulness Leah turned to face Charlie who, amidst sporadic giggles, was contemplating the question carefully with Watson. Miles was the first to answer.

“I have absolutely no idea.” He hesitated glancing around at the watchful eyes upon him. “I don’t think that much would change…” His kindness was interrupted by loud guffaws, laughter and large scale disbelief around him. Bianca shoved him playfully in the leg as Leah rubbed his hair in sympathetic acknowledgement of his honesty. Charlie, meanwhile, erupted in uncontrollable laughter as Bianca relayed her glamorous ideal of leaving Summer Bay for pastures new, buying the first attractive guy she caught sight of, marrying in Tokyo and setting up a restaurant in Bali. Undeterred, Bianca carried on in amusement of her own life plan.

Smiling, Ruby observed the scene warmly. Glancing across at Charlie’s current inability to control her laughter she grinned in acknowledgement of her apparent contentment. Turning to Casey she glanced at her empty glass before raising her eyebrows theatrically. “I need ice…April?” Getting up in recognition of her friend’s agreement she laughed, climbing over the vast array of bodies in order to make her way into the kitchen. Upon reaching it amidst Bianca’s attempts to drag her down on to the couch with them she exhaled. Grinning as she opened the freezer door she proceeded to root through the shelves one by one. Finally setting eyes upon it she smiled at the laughter currently echoing from the her previous position. Closing the door and placing her glass down upon the sideboard she immediately set about slamming the mould down upon the worktop in an effort to release the cubes. She smiled at the sound of faint knocking on the door opposite her. Having contacted Morag to invite her last minute, she’d bemoaned a prior engagement and promised that, need the opportunity arise, she’d try and make an appearance before the end of the night. Grinning, Ruby glanced in the direction of the living room and listened to the enthusiastic harem of voices as she proceeded to undo the latches at the top and foot of the door. Somewhat distracted by the noise behind her she opened it before turning round and smiling in anticipation of her expected presence. Staring intently at the person in front of her Ruby scowled impatiently, surveying her surroundings before turning back in apparent anger and frustration.

“What are you doing here?”

Leaning against the frame of the door in an effort to support himself Brax ignored her question. Instead, he signalled to the familiar sound of amused voices coming from the direction of the living room and the sound of vigorous laughter.

“Is Charlie in?”

Swaying slightly he shifted on the spot impatiently as Ruby waited glaring across at him in disgust and disappointment. Pushing him back slightly so she could step outside and close the door behind them she scowled across at him immediately repulsed by the image that befell her. As suggested by his recent barrage of messages to both Charlie and his younger brother, Darryl Braxton was not just drunk; he was paralytic.

[mft]

Another fantastic chapter! I wonder why brax went out and got so drunk. Loving Charlie, Watson and Bianca. Can't wait for next update.

[CharlieAndBraxLover]

Great chapter once again! I can't wait to read more about drunk Brax and if he communicates with drunk Charlie haha! Really looking forward to more, please update again soon, i love this story. xxx

[cb2180]

Great chapter! Looking forward to the next one!

[Arielxo]

Amazing chapter! Absolutely loving this story

Looking forward to the next chapter. LOL drunk Brax and drunk Charlie

[SRJ]

Amazing chapter once again definitely my favourite fanfiction your a really talented writer!

Can't wait to see drunk brax and charlie in the next chapter perhaps they can try pole dancing together Can't wait to read more

[Samantha28]

Fantastic chapter! Absolutely amazing!

Looking forward to more!!

[Angel90]

Here is what i want you to do...

Ring up the HaA writers and tell them they are fired..

You will be replacing them...

*taps fingers impatientaly* Come on what are you waiting for...?!!!

Brilliant charpter... I Loved IT!!!

Brax drunk... Shoudl have thoguth of what he was doing before...

Plz Charlie dont forgive him so easily.. make him work for it...

Cant wait for the next chapter...

*whispers* if you havent guessed am kinda obsessed with this story... Av kinda gone off the story in the show...

Plz update sooooon