Fatal Attraction

[Chester-Sam]

LOVE this story, your last chapter actually made me cry!

Look forward to the next Oh and I read that you still plan to continue your other fics which is awesome news!

A Mothers Treasure is an amazing story.

- Sam.

[lollypop]

Here it is!! The latest Chapter. Thanks for all the comments guys. Look forward to hearing your thoughts on this chapter.

Chapter 18

Charlie sat on the beach watching as the waves lapped up against the sand, before rolling back out. Physically she was there, but as had been the case for days now, her mind was clearly somewhere else. As she gazed around at the surf, her eyes eventually feel on Heath who was making his way out of the water. His surf board tucked under his arm. Making his way up the sand, he noticed Charlie watching him and as he got closer he hesitated for a second. Not sure whether he should say anything or not until he remembered that he wasn't Charlie Buckton's favourite person. "Don't worry Serg, I'm not hangin' around", he said as he was about to make his way past her and up the sandy path.

"You don't have to go", she said, speaking to him, but not actually looking at him. At those words, Heath stopped and turned around. Digging his board into the sand, he pulled up his boarder shorts slightly and sat down next to her. Both of them feeling awkward. Usually whenever they were this close to each other, it was because Charlie was runing a strip search for drugs. But this was different. "So, how ye doin?", he asked not sure what else to say. "Stupid question", he said as he turned his attention out to the surf. "How are you. You know I've heard that question more in the last couple of hours than I have in my whole life", she said pulling back the hair that had swept across her face.

"It's stupid really. When something bad happens to someone, you always ask them how they are because you just want to say something to show them you care. It's only when you're at the end of the question that you realise just how empty the words are", she said as she gazed down at the sand wiping away a fallen tear. Heath turned his attention back to her as he listened to what she was saying. For the first time ever he found himself actually taking in what Charlie was saying. "I mean people say them with feeling. But, at the end of the day, they mean nothing. They don't change the pain you're feeling, or make you feel any better. They just remind you of what it is you've lost", she said and at those last words, she instinctively reached up for the chain around her neck. Cupping the pendent inside her hand.

Heath nodded his head. Although they had their differences and had found themselves on opposite sides of the fence, or in most cases, bars, on many occassions, in that moment, he actually felt both himself and Charlie, lowering their guards towards each other. He didn't know if it would last, but at least he could say they had shared one conversation together without poison or venom in their words. Charlie turned around and noticed the necklace hanging around Heath's neck. More importantly, she noticed the ring attached to it. "Nice ring", Charlie said as she wiped away the tears from her eyes.

Gazing down, Heath suddenly became aware of the fact that he was sitting next to the mother of the girl who's ring hung around his neck. Reaching down, he placed his hand around the ring and squeezed it tightly. "Don't worry, I'm not going to ask for it back", Charlie said when she noticed Heath's clutching it closer to his bear chest. "Trust me, I know what it's like to want to hold on to anything you can to feel close to someone you love", she said as she flashed her chain in front of him. Suddenly Charlie's brain froze on the one part of what she had said. Did she actually just acknowledge the fact that Heath Braxton loved her daughter? He was the last man on the planet she ever wanted her daughter being involved with. But then again, she understood exactly what it was like to be in love with someone you shouldn't. The heart wants what the heart wants. And when it wants it badly enough, it won't be ignored.

"I never would have hurt her", Heath said as he turned his attention away from the surf and back to Charlie. She looked up at him taking in his words. "Look, I'm not an idiot. I know you never would have let me anywhere near Ruby in a million years. Once a Riverboy always a Riverboy right", he said with a small sarcastic laugh. "I've stuffed up most things in my life. And I have made pretty much every mistake a guy can make. But I want you to know, that if I could have done anythin' to keep Ruby safe, I would have done it. I'm just, I'm sorry I didn't get to her in time", he finished looking down at the sand fighting back the tears.

There it was. That side of Heath that Ruby had been talking about. That side of him she was desperate for Charlie to see. Heath was a flawed man. There was no denying it. His rap sheet down at the station spoke for itself. But just like Casey, and even Brax, deep down, Heath had a good heart. It just often conflicted with his hot headed ways and his Riverboy lifestyle. After regathering his composure, Heath glanced back up at Charlie. There was something he was curious about and he thought now was the best time to ask it, while they were on friendly enough terms, "I know I gave you and Brax a hard time about being together. But he does love ye. I don't understand why ye can't just work through all this stuff", Heath said as he played with a twig he had found lying next to him.

Charlie sighed. For weeks she had managed to push all Brax related questions to the back of her mind. She wondered how long it would be before they creeped back up again. "It's not that simple", she said as she thought long and hard about the reasons why she could just forgive Brax and get back together, knowing that Heath was going to pursure those reason behind he answer. "Why not? I know your doin' it tough losin' Ruby like that. But don't you want him to be there for ye or somethin'?", he asked. Charlie gazed down and back up again with a mixed look of anger and frustration. "I can't face Brax because I can't stop myself from blaming him for what's happened", she said trying not to take her anger at Brax out on Heath.

"I love him, I do. But everytime I look at him I'm reminded of all the lies he told me. He asked me, he begged me to trust him, and I did. And now I've lost Ruby", Charlie said as her tears started to fall. Heath could see the sorrow in her eyes and he felt bad for pushing the question on her now. "She was the only thing in this world that mattered to me and she's gone. You know what hurts the most? Knowing that, if I had trusted me instincts, instead of letting Brax in, then none of this would have happened and Ruby would still be here now", she said as she wiped away her tears with the back of her hand. Standing up, she grabbed her sandles off the sand and and made her way up the sand path towards her car. Leaving Heath with a lot on his mind.

Bianca and Gina were deep in conversation as they made their way down the corridor of the school on their way to the school grounds for yard duty. One of the other teachers had a sub class to prepare for so Gina had decided to fill in with Bianca. "How has April been coping since the ceremony?", Gina asked as she opened one of the double doors and allowed Bianca to exit first. Scratching her forehead, Bianca remembered that night after she had arrived home from Charlie's. She had spent the nigh in her younger sisters room consoling her as she cried over the friend she had lost. "Ugh not great. Ruby was one of her best mates. With all the moving around we did, we were never really in one place long enough for her to make any real friends. Ruby was the first best friend she's ever had. It's been really hard on heaving to say goodbye", Bianca said as she revealed a little about her past.

"How's Xavier? I know he and Ruby were an item once", she said stopping and turning to Gina as they stood in the middle of the yard and discussed how the young teens were coping with the loss of their friend. "Oh more than that. Ruby was Xavier's first love. I mean he dated a girl called Freya before that. But that was more a case of lusting after a bad girl. But Ruby, she changed Xavier. I actually have her to thank for getting him back on the right path. He was a right handful before he met her", Gina said with a smile as she reflected on the affect his son's ex girlfriend had on him. "He's keeping a brave face about it, but I know he's hurting", she said. Bianca nodded understandingly as they continued walking.

As they rounded a corner, they noticed a swarm of students huddled around the school gazebo where Ruby used to practice music with Liam. Glancing around Bianca spotted Miles standing to the side watching the students. Making there way over to him, Gina called over. "What's going on?", she asked. Miles smiled. "The kids have made a rememberance shrine for Ruby in the gazebo. It's pretty amazing", he said. "Mr. Copeland, Ms. Scott, Mrs. Palmer, would you like a rose to put next to the shrine?", one of the students asked, holding a basket with white roses in it. All three of them nodded and took a rose each.

Walking up to the front of the crowd they gazed in admiration at the work the students had done. Sitting in the middle of the gazebo, was a stand with a picture of Ruby sitting at a piano, smiling up at the camera. It was taken during rehersals for Romeo and Juliet and it was framed with flowers. On the ground was a metal candle holder, where the students lit seventeen candles for each year of Ruby's life. Each student present had taken it in turns walking up and placing a flower down in front of the shrine. Miles was the first to walk up and place his flower down. Bianca followed next, kissing the rose and placing down. Gina was the last to make her way up. After placing her flower down, she place her hand in the edge of the picture and quoted the famous poet Khalil Gibran.

"When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight", she said. Turning around she faced the students. "What you have done has shown extradionary character and maturity in each and every one of you. As such I would like to express my gratitude by requesting that all teaching staff reframe from handing out homework for the weekend", she said with a smile on her face. Just as a cheer erupted from the students, she raised her hands to silence them. "However this does not give you free reign to cause trouble. If any students step out of line I will retract this, reward". With that Gina walked down the steps and headed back to her office. Followed closely by Bianca and Miles who had to prepare for their next classes.

Brax pulled his car up outside Tegan's house and hopped out of the car. Gazing around, he made sure no one had followed him. Walking around to the back of the house, he made his way over to the the building that used to a garage but had been converted into a mini apartment. Removing a key from his pocket he unlocked the door and walked in to find Tegan sitting down at the table with Jake sitting across from her, his hands and feet tied down. Looking up at Brax, she saw him gesture his head towards the door for her to leave them alone. Standing up, she was about to walk past Brax when he grabbed her by the arm to stop her. "Don't forget to lock the door on the way out", he said and then released her from his grasp.

Once they were alone, Brax sat down opposite Jake and ripped he tape off of his mouth. "You're gonna regret this. Soon as I get out of here, I'm gonna take a trip down to the cop shop. Show 'em my little battle wound and what you're really like. Your girlfriend too. I'm sure she'll love it", he said with a little smirk. "Nah, nah you won't. Coz you see, you do that, and I'll tell 'em it was you that kidnapped Casey and Ruby and stabbed me that night. They've got the evidence eh, they just don't have a statement", Brax said. Leaning closer, Jake scowled at him. "As far as I'm concerned, you and me, we're square", he said as looked Jake right in the eye.

Turning his head and flaring his nostrils, Jake thought for a minute. If he agree, then Brax would let him go and they could carry on as rivals as before. If he didn't, he didn't know how long he would be here for and he needed to get his gun shot wound looked at. "Okay, fine. You let me go I won't say anythin' to the coppers", Jake finally agreed. "Now will ye hurry up and let me go so I can see a doc?", he said twisting and turning in the chair. Brax nodded. Standing up, he walked around to the back of the chair and began untying the man who had been his rival pretty much since they were teens and first got involved the Mangrove River gang scene.

"The bullet only grazed your abdomen. A couple of stitches will sort it out", Brax said. Jake stood up from the chair and shook his arms. Relishing the feeling of being freed from the retraints that had been holding him down for days. Turning around he stood face to face with Brax. "Alright, not that we're square it shouldn't be too hard for you to open the door and let me out", Jake said wondering why Brax wa stalling. "Nah, we're not done yet. There's one more thing", Brax said as he scratched his arm and stared out the window. "Oh yeah what's that?", Jake asked although he wasn't in the mood for anymore of his rivals threats. "I need a favour", Brax said.

Jake Pirovic laughed harder in that moment than he had in years. Darryl Braxton was asking him, for a favour. "You're kidding right. You hold me hostage for days and now you ask me for a favour. Get over yourself Braxton", Jake said. Brax placed his hand on his hips and tried to look as serious as he could. Wanting Jake to know that this was not a game. It was business. "I'm serious. You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours", he said. Jake stood there quietly for a moment and registered what Brax was saying. Normally he would have said no straight away to anything a Riverboy asked him. But then he realised, there could be an advantage in all this for him and his crew. "I'm listening".

Walking into the police station, Charlie felt awkward. Under normal circumstances, she would be walking in dressed in her uniform as a police sergeant and the boss. But today was different. Watson had called her to let her know that Ruby's belongings could be collected. With nothing else to do with her day, except sit around and wallow in her own grief and misery while emptying yet another bottle of red wine, she decided to head down to the station to retrieve the items that had been found at the scene. Watson spotted Charlie form the reception desk and smiled weakly at her collegue. "I'm here for Ruby's things", Charlie said.

"Sure, I'll go get them", Watson replied. Noticing that the place was rather busy, Watson told Charlie to wait in her office and while she wnet to the secure room to grab Ruby's stuff. Turning away form the desk, Charlie walked briskly across the room and entered her office. Shutting the door behind her. Taking a seat at her desk, she placed her head in her hands. Looking back up she spotted the picture of her and Ruby that was sitting next to the computer. Taking a hold of it in her hand she smiled at the sight of her daughter as mind momentarily flashed back to the day the photo was taken. Her trance like state was broken by Watson who walked into the office with the bag in her hands. Handing it to Charlie she stood back to give her boss room.

Gazing at the bag, Charlie hesitated moment when she realised that these were the last items her daughter ever touched. Opening the bag she poured them onto her desk and sifted through them. She picked up the leather strapped bracelet with the silver pendent. A gift given to Ruby by her friends that she never took off. Next she grabbed a hold of the necklace, the same necklace Heath used to identify Ruby. It was one of Ruby's favourite chains. Next she noticed the empty insulin virals. Whoever had taken Ruby obviously didn't want her to die straight away. Staring at the bottle, Charlie found herself taking in ever detail. Suddenly, like a lightening bolt, she noticed something. Something that was very wrong.

"This, this isn't right", she said as she turned to Watson and stood up. "This isn't Ruby's", she said tossing the viral to Watson who analysed it but had no clue why Charlie was pointing this out. "This expiration date says it went out months ago and this isn't the insulin Ruby uses", Charlie stated as she rubbed her brow. "So what? They gave Ruby dodgy insulin?", Watson asked still very confused as to what boss was getting at. Charlie stared at the ground for a moment thinking. If her hunch was wrong, she was risking shattering the image she had of her daughter. But if she was right, then there was a slim chance she may still have a daughter. "I want to see the body", Charlie said as an order not a request. Watson didn't like where Charlie was going with this, but she wasn't about to argue with her about it.

Arriving at the hospital morgue, Charlie and Watson were greeted by the head of staff. As they entered the viewing room, Charlie felt her stomach becoming nauseous. As a police officer, she had seen dead bodies before, but never had she viewed a body that may be that of her own daughter. If it was Ruby, then Charlie was going to need years over therapy to get over this moment. But if it wasn't, then she had a small shimmer of hope, that her baby girl may still be out there. "Are you sure you want to go through with this?", Watson asked, remember how badly disfigured the face of had been. Charlie simply nodded and then gestured for the coroner to pull back the sheet.

Upon seeing the face, Charlie stood back for a second to recompose herself. It was worse than what she had been told. Gazing over the body, everything seemed in order. Staring at the legs the coroner confimed that the right leg had indeed been broken like Ruby's. Charlie has rapidly losing her grip on that slither of hope, until, she had another brainwave. Remembering the fire evacuation at the Surf Club when Ruby had cut her arm and had had stitches put in, she realised that, if this was Ruby, she should have some sort of mark. Raising the arm of the body, Charlie started in shock as she realised, there was no mark. No scar. Nothing. "Oh my God", she said as she stood back. Both Watson and the coroner stared at her. "That isn't Ruby!"...

*************************

Next Time:

*Charlie reveals the shocking truth to Bianca as she prepares to go to any lengths to find her daughter

*Heath reveals his true feelings for Ruby to Brax and enlists his help to track her down

*Geoff and Casey are thrown to together in the rescue mission. Can they work together as a team? Or will their shared feelings for the same girl interfere?

*The search in on...

...But will Ruby be found in time?

[JosieTash]

ADORE this, especially ………

 Heath nodded his head. Although they had their differences and had found themselves on opposite sides of the fence, or in most cases, bars, on many occassions, in that moment, he actually felt both himself and Charlie, lowering their guards towards each other.

 Suddenly Charlie's brain froze on the one part of what she had said. Did she actually just acknowledge the fact that Heath Braxton loved her daughter?

 "I can't face Brax because I can't stop myself from blaming him for what's happened", she said trying not to take her anger at Brax out on Heath.

 With all the moving around we did, we were never really in one place long enough for her to make any real friends. Ruby was the first best friend she's ever had.

 Sitting in the middle of the gazebo, was a stand with a picture of Ruby sitting at a piano, smiling up at the camera. It was taken during rehersals for Romeo and Juliet and it was framed with flowers. On the ground was a metal candle holder, where the students lit seventeen candles for each year of Ruby's life. Each student present had taken it in turns walking up and placing a flower down in front of the shrine.

 "This expiration date says it went out months ago and this isn't the insulin Ruby uses",

 Charlie started in shock as she realised, there was no mark. No scar. Nothing. "Oh my God", she said as she stood back. Both Watson and the coroner stared at her. "That isn't Ruby!"...

[Inactive User]

Amazing chapter!! Loved it!!

Wondering how everyone in Summer Bay e.g Ruby's friends are going to react that their loved one is alive??

Liked Charlie and Heath's conversation

Hope they will find Ruby soon in time!

Update soon pleaseeeeee xx

[Dingo x]

Wow, another amazing chapter.

Like Sarah said I wonder how everyone will react to her still being alive,

especially Heath, Casey & Geoff.

Can't wait for your next update!

Please update again soon.

xx

[LauraPhilly!!]

Ooh wow, that was an amazing chapter!

I loved the talk between Heath and Charlie. I thought it was really honest and believable, and I absolutely love that Heath still has Ruby's ring around his neck. It's a beautiful touch!

It was sad reading about Charlie's feelings towards Brax. Whether voluntarily or involuntarily, she blames him for everything that has happened to Ruby. There is still love there, I'm sure of that...maybe when Ruby is found, if sh is found , Charlie will be able to forgive him...?

The scene between Brax and Jake was interesting. I loved some of the lines too; "You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours." A brilliant line!

I also loved something else you highlighted in this chapter which I think somehow rings true for Brax, Heath and Casey; "Once a River Boy, always a River Boy."

Can't wait to read the next chapter, lollypop!

I hope Ruby is found safe and well!

[Red Ranger 1]

Nice update.Liked Charlie's talk with Heath.It was nice to hear Gina and Bianca talking about their family's reactions and the memorial was a nice touch.Kinda worried about what Brax wants from Jake.Good that Charlie knows Ruby's alive, hopefully they'll find her.

[HighwayUnicorn]

Wow. I missed a few updates there. They were all so fantastic though. Very well written so well done.

Hmm ... it's good that Charlie knows that Ruby is alive ... wondering how everyone else is going to react now.

I look forward to more.

Well done.

Carina xxx

[lollypop]

I think I've got a bit of a writing bug but I've already started planning ideas for the next chapter so I think I might pull another all nighter.

Thanks for all the comments everyone. Funny thing is, usually I come up with ideas for the next chapter, but when I sit down to write it something completely different comes out of my fingertips. I'm a bit of a blind writer. So to be honest I'm just as in the dark about what's going to happen next as you guys are lol

Hopefully I'll have another update sometime tonight as even I'm just as eager to find out what's going to happen.

[Claire_Blake]

Really, really enjoying this story. It's incredibly well written. Can't wait for an update.

Claire.