Chapter 23-4

He saw his family all quickly stand up when they saw him, and he held up a hand telling them not to rush over. They slowly made his way to his family as Charlie slowly looked up at them and he heard the gasp from his mother. "Oh Charlie, my sweet girl." His mother sobbed, and he watched as she lowered her head again. "I'm going to get my car then we can get her to settle into my home. Mum why don't you let Robert take you home then he can get Harriet in an hour." He watched his mum nodded his head, and he put the breaks on as he slowly moved around and squatted down in front of Charlie. He gently grabbed her hands and watched as she raised her beautiful, bruised, tear-stained face. "I will be back okay. I just have to grab my car okay." He watched as she nodded his head and he quickly rushed out to grab his car, wanting nothing more than to get her settled into his home for rest. He quickly pulled up to emergency and texted his sister where she wheeled Charlie out. He watched as his sister helped her into the back seat as he quickly said goodbye to his parents letting them know he would call them. The trip back to his place was done in silence and when they pulled up to his house, he quickly got out to help Harriet. He opened his front door as Charlie leaned on Harriet and they both went upstairs to his spare bedroom. Chase went into his room and grabbed a shirt and a pair of boxes and took them to the spare room and knocked quietly on the door. "Come in." His sister mumbled, and he walked in to find Charlie sitting on the end of the bed. "Hey, I bought some clothes for you to change into. The doctor said the best thing for you would be rest." He handed the clothes over to his sister before leaving the room and making his way downstairs. He walked into the kitchen and poured himself and his sister a large glass of scotch before he started tackling the mess from dinner. His sister eventually came down and not in the mood to talk, he nodded his head towards the kitchen where her glass was waiting. "What kind of sick bastard beats a fucking woman," Harriet said breaking the silence as they both slowly put food away and wash up. Chase reached other with his wet, soapy hand for his glass and took a big swing to take the edge off. "I don't know Harriet. But if I see the bastard, he is a dead man. No way in hell is Charlie going back to that man." He shoved his hands back into the soapy water, needed something to do to take his mind off murder. "If you knew something, why didn't you say anything earlier." Harriet finally asked him, and Chase sighed shamefully. "I didn't know the extent. At the charity I walk past him, hitting her across the face. Before that, I knew something wasn't right. Charlie was never happy, and when I did finally meet him, he seemed very controlling. Charlie promised me not to say something and while she didn't tell me outright, I knew he pushed her around a lot, but I didn't think he would go this far." His shoulder and head dropped as his body finally shook with tears he had been keeping in this whole night. "I should have gotten her out sooner and we could have avoided this. She could have died tonight Harriet and I don't know what I would have done. I love her so much, she is my soulmate, my muse and the thought that I could have lost her because I said nothing, I couldn't live with myself." He wrapped his arms soapy wet arms around his sister as she hugged him back crying to comfort him as fat ugly tears ran down his face. He rested his head on his sisters' neck as his body shook with uncontrollable crying. "It's not your fault okay Chase. She made the choice to stay. Charlie is here now, safe and healing. You did everything you could have by staying and being there for her." Harriet rubbed his back as he sniffled and wiped his eyes before standing up. "I'm sorry. It's been an interminable night." He sniffled again and used the bottom of his shirt to wipe his eyes. "It's okay, this is what big sisters are here for." Harriet gave him a smile, and he smiled back. Together they finished the dishes and when Robert arrived, he walked his sister out giving her one last hug and kiss before locking up the house. Chase took off his shirt and put it in the laundry basket before making his way upstairs to check on Charlie. He slowly opened the door and saw she was sleeping and, on the night, stand her medication for when she woke up. Not wanting to wake her, Chase quietly closed the door and walked into his bathroom to have a shower. He quickly showered and got dressed and set an alarm on his phone for when to check on Charlie again. Pulling back the covers, he jumped into bed and stared up at the ceiling, unable to sleep. Thousands of thoughts ran through his head. First was murder, then second happened and third was how on earth did Charlie get to his face. He wasn't sure how many hours passed when he heard his bedroom door open and the soft glow from the hallway showed Charlie standing in the entryway with a sheet wrapped around her body. Chase quickly sat up as she closed the door and moved into the room. "Hey, is everything okay? Are you alright?" He turned on the light next to his bed and saw her shaking her head. "I- I'm scared and I didn't want to sleep alone." Before she could say another word Chase pulled back the covers and watched as she dropped the sheet and slowly sat on his bed grimacing. "Have you taken your medication?" He asked and watched as she nodded her head again. Chase watched as she laid down and faced away from him on her good side. Turning off the light, Chase laid down again on his back and closed his eyes. He wanted to pull Charlie close to him, but he was scared of hurting her and wanted to move at her pace. He didn't want to crowd her and knew he had to wait for her to come to him. "Thank you, Chase." She whispered in the dark and he looked her way and saw the soft rise and fall of her chest. "It's no problem." He whispered softly back before sleep finally dragged him into the long-awaited darkness.