Fatal Attraction

[lollypop]

Thanks for all the comments everyone!! I'm hoping to get an update soon cause I know people are eager to find out what happens next. I even shed a tear myself when I was jotting down ideas for the next chapter. Stay tuned!!

[lollypop]

Half way through the next chapter!! Figers crossed I get it finished tonight!!

[lollypop]

Once again, thank you for all the reviews and comments. I really appreciate it. Hope you like the next chapter and I look forward to reading your comments.

Chapter 16

Sitting on the couch in the living room, Ruby had just finished explaining to Charlie what had happened down on the beach. Although upset at the fact that Heath blatantly ignored her warning, she was kind of glad he was around to thump the guy who had been hassling Ruby. At least the motherly side of her was. The cop side of her was telling her that she charge Heath for assault on a minor. But, after thinging it through, she decided to overlook the situation as a moment of madness that got out of hand. At least for her daughters sake. Heath may have overstepped the line, but his intentions were in the right place. It was just a pity he allowed his temper to rule his head.

"Did talking to Heath make things any clearer in your head?", Charlie asked, hoping that he change in topic would take Ruby's mind off the fight on the beach. Gesturing for the her cup of tea, Charlie picked it up off the coffee table and handed it to her, making sure that Ruby's grip on the cup was steady before realing her on grasp on it. "Not really. I mean, at least I know where I stand with him. Which is something I suppose. And it's pretty obvious that Geoff wants to be more than friends", Charlie nodded her head to herself, understanding where Ruby was coming from. Geoff had made it pretty obvious that he wasnted to get back together with Ruby. Although something inside Charlie was telling her that she believed that ship had sailed for them as a couple. But maybe she was wrong. Maybe time would relight the fire that once burned between them.

"And what about Casey? Have you talked to him yet?", Charlie asked. She knew that the youngest Braxton had been back in town a fe days, and although she understood that after everything that had happened between his family and hers, part of her was really annoyed that he had been avoiding Ruby. "No. I know he's been hanging around the beach surfing but, part of me doesn't want to pressure him. If we're going to talk he needs to want to talk to me too. Otherwise what's the point?", Ruby said as she realised that it had to be a joint effort on both their parts. Ruby had tried to get in contact with Casey a couple of times, through Xavier and Dex, but she still hadn't heard anything. Now it was his turn to reach out. "I've reached out to him more than once. Now it's his turn", she said as she took a sip of her tea.

Charlie leaned her elbow against the back of the couch, rested her head in her hand and gazed at her daughter. "And if he doesn't?", she asked. Ruby tilted her head back, trying to stop the tears in her eyes from falling. "If he doesn't, well at least then I'll know there's no future for us", she said. And with those last words Ruby burst into tears, as she realised that her relationship with Casey may actually be over. Watching as her daughter fell apart before her eyes, Charlie took the cup from Ruby and placed it down on the coffee table. Then she reached over and pulled her daughter into her arms and held her close. Stroking her hair, she waited patiently for Ruby's tears to subside and after a couple of minutes everything settled down again.

"Come on, it's getting late. You should go to bed, get some sleep. We'll talk more in the morning", Charlie said as she rubbed Ruby's arm. Shaking her head, Ruby sat up and wiped away her tears. Charlie stood up and grabbed a hold of Ruby's arm and led her towards the bedroom. Once inside, Ruby sat on the bed while Charlie retrieved her daughters pyjamas from the dresser on the side of the room. Removing them from the drawer, she placed them on the bed and left Ruby in privacy to change. Heading down the hall, Charlie entered her own room and proceeded to change into her night dress and then put on her stain blue satin night gown. Leaving her room she headed back down to her daughter's bedroom. Knocking, she heard Ruby telling her to come in.

"You ready to check your levels?", she asked as she grabbed Ruby's insulin kit from on top of the dressing table. Ruby nodded her head and sat up cross legged on the bed. Opening up the kit, Charlie removed the BSL monitor, the trips and the finger pricker, as she liked to refer to it. Ruby raised her hand to Charlie and felt the prick of the needle as it pierced the tip of her index finger. Placing the strip near the spot of blood, Charlie waited for it to turn red and then placed it in the monitor. After a couple of seconds the reading came up and Charlie began preparing the correct dosage in the insulin pen. Once she had double checked it and was sure it was right, Ruby lifted her top to reveal her abdomen and waited as Charlie, wiped it down with and antiseptic wipe and injected the insulin. When she was finished Ruby lowered her top and climbed under the duvet.

Walking over to the dresser, Charlie placed the used needle tip into the yellow sharps container and then placed the insulin kit into the top drawer. Turning around she walked over to the bed and leaned down, placing a kiss on Ruby's forehead. Walking over to the door she flicked off the light and left the room, shutting the door tight. Making her way back down the hall she walked into her room and closed the door behind her. Removing her dressing gown, she walked over to her dressing table and removed her chain and placed it in the jewellery box. As she climbed into bed she heard a noise outside. Listening intently she waited for another noise, but there was nothing. Putting it down to the wind oustide, she climbed under her duvet and fell fast asleep.

The following day, Charlie awoke to the sound of birds chirping outside her window. The sun beaming in through the gap in the curtins alerting her that morning had well and truly arrived. Sitting up, Charlie couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. That something was misplaced or missing. Climbing out of her bed, she walked over to her wardrobe, grabbed her dressing gown off the door and exited her room. Rushing down the hall, she opened Ruby's bedroom door to find her bed empty. "Ruby", she called out as she made her way for the living room. Still nothing. "Rubes", she called out again. But still no answer came. Running into the kitchen, Charlie was disheartened to find it empty. Leah rushed into the living room, startled by her roomates calls for her daughter.

"What's going on?", she asked as Charlie came back into the living room. "I can't find Ruby", Charlie said, her voice trembling as she spoke. Her memory replaying the night she received the threat from Brodie. "Well did you call her on her mobile. Maybe she went out?", Leah tried to reason, noticing that Charlie was overreacting to what she thought was a simple situation. Running down the hall to her room, Charlie picked up her phone and dialled her daughter's number as she made her way back into the living room to find Leah sitting at the dining table. "She's not answering", Charlie said as she flung the phone at the couch. Leah stood up and tried to think of a logical explaination. "Okay well, Casey's just got back into town, maybe she went over to his house to talk", she said.

Charlie ran her hands through her hair, trying with all her might to surpress the sickening feeling in the pit of her stomach. "Leah, she's blind. She's never gone anywhere on her own since the accident. Especially not when the Brodie and the boys are still out there", Charlie said, this time she couldn't hold back the tears. Leah looked her housemate in the eye, seeing the fear that was there, she knew this was more serious than she originally thought. "You don't think they've done something do you?", Leah asked, her own fear growing for the young teen who was like a surrogate daughter to her. "They've already tried to hurt her once. They're capable of anything", Charlie said as she rested her hands against the back of her neck trying to regulate her breathing.

"Okay, look, get dressed, I'll call Miles and Irene tell them Ruby's gone missing. I'm sure with a few more people out looking for her we'll find her", Leah said as she placed a comforting arm on Charlie's back. Turning her gaze to Leah, Charlie tried to think positively and nodded at her friend. "Who knows, she'll probably show up down the beach with Indi or April wondering what we're all the fuss is about", Leah said as she picked up the house phone and walked in the living room. Glancing at the fridge, Charlie spotted the picture of her, Ruby and Leah. Wiping away her tears, she dashed across the living room and down the hall to get dressed. Determind to find Ruby at all costs.

"Hey, have you seen Ruby Buckton anywhere?", Miles asked one of his students as he walked into the Surf Club, having already checked the diner and everywhere in between. When the girl shook her head to indicate that she hadn't, Miles lowered his head in defeat and walked over to the juice bar where Leah was waiting. "Any luck?", he asked her as leaned an arm on the glass counter. "None. I've checked the beach, I've talked to Indi, April, Xavier. Even Casey. None of them have seen her today", Leah said her own worry starting to build for the young teen. Gazing around at the young crowd that was hanging around the club, Leah asked Miles to ask a couple of them if they knew anything.

Just as Miles made his way to the other side of the room, Irene appeared, looking as dejected as Leah. "I've searched everywhere between here and my house. I even checked around some of the other streets but no one has seen her", Irene said, annoyed that she had come up with nothing. "April's roped in Dex, Romeo and Indi to get around the school kids", she explained as she crossed her arms. Miles returned shaking his head indicating that he had come up with nothing from asking around the teens in the Surf Club. "Well where could she be? She can't have just disappeared off the face of the earth", Miles said as he scratched his beard. Trying desperately to think of any other place Ruby could be.

At that moment, a very anxious looking Charlie appeared in the club, looking desperate for some news. "Have you found her?", she asked. The three disappointed faces staring back at her said it all. Ruby had not been found. Charlie rubbed her forehead, trying to stop herself from breaking down in the middle of the Surf Club. The other three exchanged glances and came to a silent conclusion. "Charlie, maybe it's time you called the police and got them involved", Miles said as delicately as he could. Charlie gazed tearfully at him. As a police officer she knew from experience that calling for police assistance or back up was usually the last resort in a missing persons incident. It also usually meant that there was more than a concern that harm could come to that person.

But she knew she had to do it. She had to find her daughter. She needed to find her daughter to bring her home and take care of her. Removing her phone from her pocket she dialled the number of the station. "Watson it's Charlie. I need to report a missing person", she said her voice breaking as she spoke. "It's Ruby", she said. Miles, Irene and Leah watched on helplessly as Charlie sat done silently on one of the chairs. Removing her phone from her handbag, Irene turned to the others. "I'm gonna give Morag a call. Tell her what's going on. Maybe Alf can rally up some troops as a back up plan to broaden the search in case the cops come up with nothin", she said. Miles and Leah nodded. "Yeah that's a good idea", Leah said as Irene walked off to a quiet corner.

An hour had passed since Charlie had made the call to the police and Watson and many of the other officers in the station had gone out on patrol to search for Ruby. All banding together to help their boss. Unfortunantly Watson and Avery had come up with nothing and were now in the Surf Club talking to Charlie. "So what now?", Charlie asked although she had a fair idea what they were going to say. "We're going to widen our search to outside the Bay. Including back roads, bush landand the National Park. We've got police officers broadening their search right now and Alf's rounded up memebers of the voluntary rescue service and some other locals to help us cover more ground", Watson said as she glanced over to the pool table where Alf, Palmer, Sid, Miles, Romeo and other locals were focused on a map of the area.

"We're going to do everything we can to find Ruby", Watson said as she placed a hand on her collegues shoulder and gaave it and encouraging squeeze. Charlie nodded her headed but kept her it lowered, facing the ground. Afraid to let her workmates see her cry. A voice coming in over their walkie talkies prompted Watson and Avery to make tracks and they headed out of the Surf Club and towards their squad car. Back inside, Alf and the rest of the men discussed breaking up into teams so that they could cover more ground. At the same time Alf kept an eye on Brax who had been hovering around trying to get involved, but finding himself getting knocked back by the other residents. After being caught up in the brawl, a huge dent had formed in his reputation and everyone looked at him as nothing more than a Riverboy.

But he was determind to do this. He had to find Ruby. For Charlie's sake and Casey's. He also found that deep down he wanted to find her for his own sake. She was a part of Charlie, and he loved her, which meant he also had a love for Ruby. Which meant he needed to keep her safe from the rest of the boys. Looking up he spotted Heath walk in the door. Making his way over to his younger brother, he grabbed him by the arm and led him towards the door. "We need to head out to the National Park", Brax said as he rubbed his face with his hand. "What, why?", Heath asked as he gazed around at all the commotion inside the premises. "Ruby's gone missin'. They're sendin' out a serch party. But I think Brodie and the boys have got to her, now we need to find her before they do anythin' stupid", he said as he kept his gaze staring directly forward as not arouse suspicion from anyone.

After hearing what Brax had said Heath found his temper reaching a fever pitch at the though of Brodie harming Ruby. Turning around Brax bolted out the door and headed for his truck. Brax following close behind. "I swear to God if Brodie's laid a finger on her, I'll kill him with my bear hands", he said as he slammed his hand down on the bonnet of the car and then jumped into the passenger seat. Brax watched on confused. Why was his brother so bothered by this? As far as he knew, he and Ruby didn't have much of a relationship. Knowing better than to question Heath when he was rattled up, Brax kept his questions to himself and buckled himself in as Heath bolted out of the car park.

"Charlie, maybe you should go home and wait for news there. You'll be more comfortable and besides, you're not doin' yourself any good sittin' around here drivin' yourself crazy wonderin' what's goin' on", Irene said as she sat on a seat opposite Charlie. "It doesn't matter where I am. As long as Ruby's missing my mind won't rest. I should be out there looking for her", Charlie said glancing over at the rescue squad. "No darl, you need to be at home waitin' for Ruby with open arms. The police and half the town are out there looking for her. Go home. Wait for her there", Irene said as cupped Charlie's hands in her own. Leah, having heard what Irene had said, walked over to where they were sitting.

"Why don't you come home with me now. Miles is going out soon, he can contact us if there's any news", Leah said. Sensing that neither of the women were going to let the subject go, Charlie reluctantly stood up and headed for the door in a trance like state. Leah following her to the car park. The drive home was quiet, but luckily it only took them five minutes to arrive in the driveway. Getting out of the car, Charlie opened the back door and headed straight for her bedroom. Passing no remarks as went. Closing the room door behind her, she kicked off her shoes and climbed onto her bed. Sitting on the bed, she looked at the photo of her and Ruby on her bedside cabinet and finally allowed herself to cry.

Brax and Heath had been scouring the National Park for over and hour, and still they found no sign of Ruby. Eventually they had found themselves linking up with some of the voluntary rescue crew and police officer who had brought along sniffer dogs. Although they weould have preferred to have conituned on their own, eventually they found there was no way they could keep searching on their own. They had no flash lights if it got dark. No emergency equipment or training. At least this way they could keep searching and have the skill necessary. Alf glared at Brax as he brushed passed him. If they had been meeting under any other circumstances, he would have given him an earful there and then. But he had to get on with the task at hand.

"OVER HERE", came the voice of one of the officers. Everybody rushed over to the spot where Avery was standing. Alf and the other stared in disbelief at the sight of a badly disfigured body laying in a shallow grave. "Stone the flammin' crows", Alf said under his breath. Heath gazed down at the body. Nobody could make out if it was Ruby or not. The remains were in a terrible state and the face was completely deformed. "That's Ruby's necklace", he said as he recognised the chain. He could feel himself gtting nauseous as he realised that the body could quite possibly be that of the young missing teen. "There's no way we can ID the body this way", Avery said. Watson noticed that there was blood was a substantial amount of blood next to the body, near the head.

"No but if we take a blood sample we can run it for DNA testing", she said as Avery nodded at what she had said. One of the other officers walked over to the scene and collected a sample of the blood. "I'll radio the station and get the crime scene team up here and order a rush on this sample", she said as she waved the container in front of Avery and headed back towards the direction of the squad car. Heath, Brax and the rest of the Bay locals stood back in disbelief as the reality set in that the body may be that of Ruby. With that the rest of the officers told the volunteers to head home as it was now and official police investigation.

Hours had passed since Charlie had arrived home and still there had been no word from the volunteers or the police. Leah sat next to her friend on the living room couch while Bianca sat on the in the chair opposite them. Desperately hoping of news. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. "I'll get it", Leah said as she stood up. Charlie and Bianca sat in silence as they waited in hope that it was Ruby. Unfortunantly they were wrong. Leah emerged back into the living room, followed by Watson and Avery. Charlie stood up and walked around the couch standing next to Watson and Avery. Bianca stood also stood up and walked over to where her friend.

"Charlie, you might want to sit down", Watson sopke quietly as realised just how difficult this was going to be. Charlie shook her head. "No, I don't want to sit down I just want you to tell me where Ruby is!", Charlie responded with force in her voice. Watson and Avery glanced at each other and then back at Charlie, who eyed the two of them up with fear and anguish deep in her eyes. "We found a body in the National Park. It was petty badly disfigured. There was no way we could ID it. So, we sent a blood sample to the lab for DNA testing", Watson explained. Charlie could feel her gut turning inside out as she waitd for what came next.

"It was Ruby's blood Charlie", Avery said. With those last words, a dagger struck Charlie through the hearts as she collapsed on the ground into a fragile heap. Bianca held her in her arms as she screamed in agony for the daughter she had lost. Never would she see her precious baby girl again. Watson and Avery offered their condolences as they left their collegue to mourn the death of ther child. As Bianca tightened her hold on Charlie, she glanced up at Leah and both women wondered in that moment, how Charlie would ever cope without Ruby in her life. But the truth was there before their eyes. Without Ruby, Charlie was nothing more than a broken shell. The warmth leaving her body to be replaced by sorrow and grief. Her baby was gone, and no one could bring her back...

...In a dark damp room in the middle of nowhere, Ruby sat tied to a chair. Blood seeping from an open wound on her head. Laughing, Brodie walked over to her and placed his hands on either side of her. "You're mum is gonna know what it feels like to lose a child. She's gonna know a pain like no other", he said as he began to laugh harder. Looking down at the drip laced along Ruby's arm, he noticed the blood bag on the hanger was full. Ripping the needle out of her arm, Ruby let out a scream. Unhooking the bag, he put it down on the table beside him. "A pain so bad, she'll wish she'd never set eyes on good ol' Darryl Braxton", he said. Laughing, he picked up the bag of blood and walked out the door shutting it behind him. Closing Ruby off from the outside world...

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Next Time:

*The people of Summer Bay mourn the loss of Ruby Buckton at a rememberance ceremony

*Heath nurses a broken heart by getting drunk on the beach

*Bianca, Leah and Irene ponder what this could mean for Charlie's future

*Brax takes his anger and frustration out on Angelo's

*Charlie becomes consumed by grief as she remembers the daughter she's lost

[Inactive User]

Whoa such a gripping chapter!! No wonder how you wrote it really well! Everyone's emoticons and how they were feeling/what they were thinking-you had described really well in ever chapter of this fanfiction!

*reads the flashback* Is Ruby alive....??? Hope she is and the body is someone else's!

Poor Charlie! I bet she will blame herself for what happened....because she didn't tell Ruby about Brodie's threat...

Update soon xx

P.S I am wondering if you are going back to writing your two other fanfictions or not?

[JosieTash]

OH MAN !!!!!! This is EPIC !!!!!! …especially …………

 she was kind of glad he was around to thump the guy who had been hassling Ruby. At least the motherly side of her was. The cop side of her was telling her that she charge Heath for assault on a minor.

 Ruby tilted her head back, trying to stop the tears in her eyes from falling. "If he doesn't, well at least then I'll know there's no future for us", she said. And with those last words Ruby burst into tears, as she realised that her relationship with Casey may actually be over. Watching as her daughter fell apart before her eyes, Charlie took the cup from Ruby and placed it down on the coffee table. Then she reached over and pulled her daughter into her arms and held her close. Stroking her hair, she waited patiently for Ruby's tears to subside and after a couple of minutes everything settled down again.

 The whole "You ready to check your levels?", scene

 "Who knows, she'll probably show up down the beach with Indi or April wondering what we're all the fuss is about",

 But she knew she had to do it. She had to find her daughter. She needed to find her daughter to bring her home and take care of her.

 Charlie nodded her headed but kept her it lowered, facing the ground. Afraid to let her workmates see her cry.

 But he was determind to do this. He had to find Ruby. For Charlie's sake and Casey's. He also found that deep down he wanted to find her for his own sake. She was a part of Charlie, and he loved her, which meant he also had a love for Ruby.

 Nobody could make out if it was Ruby or not. The remains were in a terrible state and the face was completely deformed. "That's Ruby's necklace",

 "It was Ruby's blood Charlie", Avery said. With those last words, a dagger struck Charlie through the hearts as she collapsed on the ground into a fragile heap.

 ...In a dark damp room in the middle of nowhere, Ruby sat tied to a chair !!!!!!!

[teespazzr]

E.P.I.C

[lollypop]

Thanks for the comments everyone!!

Sarah to answer your question, I hope to return to my other fics somewhere down the road because I do have some ideas floating around for them. But right now I'm just focused on this one.

Hoping for an update soon so stay tuned!!

[soph1303]

!!!!!Amazing update!!

OMG!! Is Ruby really dead??!!I hope that the body is someone elses!!

How is Charlie going to go without Ruby??

More really soon please

[abbie]

I agree with everyone else, wow just epic

[lollypop]

Almost finished the next chapter. Update coming in the next couple of hours. Stay tuned!!