Frozen in Time

[Claire_Blake]

Thank you to all who have read and commented. I'm having great fun writing this story and thank you for all your lovely comments. I hope you enjoy the next chapter.

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“Brax.”

Charlie stared over at him transfixed before seemingly breaking out of her trance and running the tap in front of her. Her heart was pounding. Turning the cold tap on she ran her fingers underneath it in an effort to both wake and sober herself up. She couldn’t think. Brax meanwhile shifted on the spot refusing to avert his eyes from her.

“I’m sorry if you thought I was ignoring you out there.” She continued to run her fingers underneath the freezing cold water. It was cooling. Refusing to make eye contact with him she addressed him harshly, “wasn’t that exactly what you were doing?” Feeling her fingers begin to go numb she turned the tap off before making her way towards the drier. Brax smiled apologetically. He couldn’t argue with that. “You’ve done a pretty good job of avoiding this place for a while.” He signalled to the restaurant surrounding them. Charlie dried her hands with a paper towel before placing it in the bin and glancing across at him. He looked awkward and uncomfortable. “I’m a police officer Darryl. I don’t make a habit of socialising with known criminals.” She remained straight faced despite the fact that she was beginning to feel her composure drop. She was too drunk. Too drunk to have this conversation right now. He couldn’t help but laugh slightly. Charlie never called him Darryl unless she was in cop mode. In light of that he wasn’t sure how far he was actually going to progress with this conversation.

Seemingly beginning to grow bored with the conversation and impatient at the sudden silence that had developed between them Charlie made her way towards the door. Brax, meanwhile, had sensed her intention and suddenly stepped in front of her momentarily blocking her exit. Alarmed, Charlie took a step backwards. “Get out of my way.” Holding his hands up in defence and concerned that somebody may very well interrupt them soon, he pleaded with her, “Please Charlie. Five minutes. Here me out.” He watched hopefully, moving back from the door so she had the opportunity to leave need she decide to. She didn’t move. Relaxing slightly he ran his fingers through his hair before glancing across at her.

“I was gonna call ya but I figured you probably didn’t want to speak to me.”

She let out a slight laugh in agreement with his assumption as he stood there shuffling on the spot. He felt uncomfortable. Incredibly uncomfortable. Not least because she wasn’t giving him anything to work with. He felt like he was talking to a brick wall. Growing impatient and irritated by her refusal to look him in the eye he reached his hand out and attempted to lift her chin up to his eye level. Annoyed she moved her head quickly in an effort to stop him from touching her.

“Jesus Charlie.”

Brax shook his head annoyed by her seeming inability to see that he was trying here. Interpreting his annoyance as an attempt to transfer the blame for this situation to her she suddenly spoke out in apparent annoyance at his front. “You crossed a line Brax.” Looking him directly in the eye she watched as he remained silent before shrugging his shoulders slightly.

“I’m sorry Charlie but when they threaten your family and those you care about you react. That’s how we work. I’m not gonna apologise for that.”

Irritated by his inability to accept any responsibility for his wrong doing she turned her nose up at him in disgust. “And John Palmer…what was he? Friendly fire?” Brax dragged his feet on the spot and for the first time since the start of their conversation, he looked at the floor. “I’m sorry for that.” Averting his eyes from the floor to where she was glaring at him in anticipation, he appealed to her somewhat impatiently; “Come on Charlie I’m not about starting fights with nuggets.” Growing uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation Charlie laughed mockingly. “Really? You could’ve fooled me.”

Changing the subject slightly she pointed to his left temple. “What happened to your face?” Acknowledging the direction of her gaze Brax rubbed his head as if trying to hide the remnants of his latest punch up. “I fell over.” Charlie couldn’t help but smile at his attempts at humour. He smiled back at her. He was probably right; she didn’t really want to know. Growing aware of the sudden awkward silence that had developed between them, Charlie interrupted the growing atmosphere.

“What do you want Brax?”

Sighing, he ran his fingers through his hair rubbing at it rather forcefully before letting his hand drop back down by his side. He glanced across at here before forcing a slight smile. “To apologise.” Taken aback by his sudden sincerity Charlie jumped on the defensive, signalling to the clock behind him and frowning at him sarcastically. “Well we’ve been here for nearly ten minutes already and you still have yet to apologise.”

Irritated by her attempt at undermining his earnestness and coupled with her tone of voice Brax glared at her in frustration. “What do I have to do to prove to you that I’ve changed?” His words came out rather more forcefully than he’d intended and he watched as she stared in mock amusement back at him. “You’ve changed?” Growing increasingly frustrated with the direction of the conversation he glared across at her. “Jesus Charlie I leave the boys you’re not happy. I start a respectable business you’re not happy.” He watched as she spat out a laugh at the reference to Angelo’s as a respectable business before addressing him somewhat impatiently. “How about you stop defending your idiot of a brother at every turn for a start?” He once again ran his fingers through his hair in irritation at her inability see the predicament she was placing him in. “It’s not as easy as that. He’s my brother Charlie. You can’t spend your whole time trying to arrest my friends and family and expect me not to react. It doesn’t work like that.” Shifting impatiently on the spot she listened as he continued to address her exasperated. “And that stunt you pulled the other week.”

Interrupting him she flew at him angrily, “That stunt?” She shook her head in astonishment at his nerve. “You started a fist fight in the middle of the surf club. What did you expect me to do? Round the others up whilst I let you slide out of the back door?” She laughed in mock amusement at his immaturity. “Grow the **** up. Your twenty nine years old. You’re not a bloody kid anymore.”

Brax shook his head in aggravation at the direction the conversation had now been reduced too. Shifting his position on the floor he held his head in his hands in seeming frustration. Charlie meanwhile glanced at the watch on her wrist all too aware of how long she had left Bianca and Leah unattended for. Surely they were wondering where she was? Sensing her restlessness Brax suddenly found himself losing patience and attacked her cruelly; “Am I keeping you? You better get back. Your friend is probably wondering where you are.”

Charlie scowled across at him. Under no illusion that the comment was directed towards the guy who had latched on to her all night she shot him a look of disgust before smiling at him in sarcasm and addressing him sharply.

“What was it you said?” Feigning thoughtfulness she frowned at him unsympathetically, “You don’t get to judge the choices I make after you’ve walked away?”

Brax laughed in mock amusement as he leaned against the wall behind him. Shaking his head and aware of his patience running thin he glared at her in mock amusement before signalling to her previous position in the restaurant; “And that’s what that was, was it? You prostitute yourself to the first guy that shows an interest as some kind of payback? Look at the state of you Charlie!” Disgusted and shocked at his sudden outburst Charlie raised her hand in an attempt to slap him across the face. Foreseeing her intention Brax raised his hand catching her wrist in his at the last moment before holding it momentarily within the air and relaxing his grip. He stared across at her almost instantaneously regretting his harshness. Abruptly she went to push past him in an attempt to leave as he found himself instinctively grabbing her arm. Meeting her gaze, and despite her attempts at hiding it, he could see the tears developing in the corner of her eyes. Relaxing his grip he brought his hand up to her face and attempted to place it in the crook of her neck before imploring to her quietly.

“I’m sorry. You know I didn’t mean that.”

He watched forlornly as tears escaped from her eyes, running down her cheek and she backed away from his touch. Shaking her head in confusion she attempted to hide her upset before addressing him quietly, “When did you become so vindictive?” Silent and disgusted at his own behaviour and aware of the sudden implications of his own stupidity he took a step towards her pushing a strand of hair back from her face to behind her ear. “I’m sorry Charlie.” He pleaded with her stroking the side of her neck in an effort for her to judge his sincerity. “I was out of order.”

Placing her hand within his and rubbing it gently he lifted her chin up so as to ensure that she was on eye level with him. She stared across at him as singular tears continued to escape from her eyes no longer caring to attempt to hide it. Moving an inch further towards her Brax anticipated her retreat as the palm of his hand slowly made contact with the right hand side of her face and neck. Gently sliding his hand towards the base of her neck he slowly moved his other to her waist as he pulled her towards him ever so slightly before looking her directly in the eye.

“I miss you.”

Reassured by her retained position and unwavering eye contact Brax hesitantly made his way towards her lips. Gently he made contact with them, prolonging the touch before backing off slightly at the lack of reciprocation on her part. Running his fingers through her hair gently he watched as, shaking, she averted her eyes momentarily towards his lips before fixing them upon his gaze yet again. Taking the initiative he moved in slowly as he felt her hand grasp at his waist ever so slightly pulling him towards her. Closing his eyes he felt his lips touch hers again as, this time, she reciprocated and her hands met the back of his neck as she grasped at him in a wave of passion.

After what seemed like an eternity she backed off from him, pulling away from where his hands were currently positioned at the zip of her dress. Meeting his gaze she met his lips again kissing him gently before regaining control of her senses and pulling away from him so his hand fell loosely back towards his side. Pushing her hair back away from her face and taking a step back away from him she shook her head in exasperation before addressing him gently, “This can’t happen again.”

Brax had expected her reservations. Hell, he had been surprised to have gotten this far. However hearing her protestations now he couldn’t help but feel overtly disappointed at her. Rubbing his temple in frustration he averted his gaze before questioning her slowly. “Why not?”

Refusing to relinquish her gaze from his she smiled at him solemnly before tilting her head slightly to the side, “Because Charlie the cop and Charlie the bit on the side are one in the same person.” Ignoring her attempt at undermining him he leaned back against the wall, closed his eyes and glanced towards the ceiling in distress at her response. After a few seconds he regained his composure and met her gaze forcing a smile at the woman who stood in front of him. Shaking his head slightly he addressed her in anticipation, “And if I can deal with that?”

Staring across at him in front of her she smiled sympathetically at his attempt to convince himself of his own sincerity. Shaking her head faintly she glanced across at him in reluctant resistance; “Then can you promise me, hand on your heart, that you will back off and stay clear of Hammer Pirovic regardless of his own actions?”

Charlie waited in expectation as she watched him lean back against the wall and close his eyes sombrely. After a few seconds he opened them and fixed his eyes upon her once more. Shaking his head only slightly, he tilted his head to the side, exhaling gravely before addressing her hesitantly. “If he threatens my family or someone I care about then no Charlie… I can’t promise you that.”

Smiling slightly in recognition and acknowledgement of his honesty, Charlie readjusted her dress before answering him calmly.

“Then you have your answer Darryl.”

Leaning his head back against the coldness of the brick behind him he closed his eyes and listened intently as he heard Charlie’s footsteps echo out of the room. After what seemed like an eternity the toilet door shut firmly behind her.

[Guest]

Great chapter

[teespazzr]

Awe no!

[Dingo x]

Great chapter.

Love your writing.

Can't wait for more.

xx

[mft]

Just caught up with the last few chapters. Loved it! Can't wait for more.

[Inactive User]

Amazing chapter

Liked your writing

Update soon xx

[soph1303]

I've missed so many updates and they were all awesome!!,

I'm really loving so far and the direction that you're taking it in (apart from the fact that charlie and Brax aren't back together yet !!)

More soon please

[CharlieAndBraxLover]

So amazing!! Brilliant chapter! More more more!

[cablove]

that was great aww get back together chax

great update write more soon

[Siobhan B]

I absolutly love what your doing with this fanfiction, it feels like your being really true to the charaters

Hopefully Charlie and Brax get back together soon!

Brilliant writing

update soon

Siobhán xx