CLOUDED JUDGEMENT

Disclaimer: I Don't Own Them. Channel 7 and everyone associated with 
All Saints (well maybe not everyone) do!
Feedback: Yes Please! Send it to saintly_charlotte@y...
Authors Notes: This is just a short fic I wrote last week. Note that, 
Ben never ever got with Paula, but Bron did still have the one night 
stand with Charlotte. 
This is set as an alternative to Ben getting stabbed.

Bron ran over to Charlotte after collecting the nessicary medication 
from the pharmacy.
"Ay, Beaumont, wait a second' She called out with a laugh. Charlotte 
stopped and turned around.
`ay yourself! You're looking good. A week off obviously agrees with 
you'
Bron rolled her eyes `it was 4 RDO's, not a bloody vacation'
`Whatever' she dismissed it with a wave of the hand. `What did you 
get up to?"
"Not much, caught up on a lot of sleep, just relaxed. Did a bit of 
shopping. Got a dress for the charity ball.' she smiled.
"Good, so you are coming?'
"Guess so. After you and Matt pleading me like you did, I couldn't 
really refuse to go'
Charlotte laughed, remembering her and Matt down on their knees in 
the middle of the ward, pleasing Bron to come, in the form of a not- 
so- well done opera/rap.
"Glad it worked'
Bron laughed. "where you headed?'
"seventeen'
`good. we'll have to grab a coffee when you get a break. Catch up'
`sounds good'
`we'd better head up' Bron said, turning around and gasping.. `Ian? 
What are you doing here?'
"I've come to save you.' he replied seriously. Charlotte couldn't 
help smiling a little, but the smile soon turned into a look of shock 
as Ian pulled out a knife.
`Its not too late yet Bron, to purify you'
Bron shook her head as Ian took another step closer to her, plunging 
the knife into her upperarm. She screamed in pain and staggered 
backwards as Charlotte pulled him backwards off her, mustering up all 
her strength and copping a small gash to her forehead, about her eye 
in the process. 
Once she was sure Ian was out of the way, she moved towards Bron, 
putting her arm around her, sitting her down before moving around her 
to apply pressure to the wound.
"You're gonna be fine Bron.' Charlotte reassured her, looking at her 
shocked face.
A pale Bron, her face drained of all blood couldn't even nod, let 
alone speak, in a total state of shock
`Can we get some help over here?' Charlotte yelled seconds 
later. `C'mon mate. Stay with me' Charlotte took her other hand, 
giving it a gentle squeeze, noticing all the sins of her loosing 
consciousness.
Bron looked at her pleadingly. Her eyes silently crying in pain. "it 
hurts Char' she mumbled.
`I know it does darl, just hang in there now. You'll get something 
for it soon. Just keep talking to me'
"I'm tired' she mumbled
`You can't sleep now. Stay with me. Tell me about your days off. What 
did you do?' She asked again.
Bron just shook her head, barely. `tired' was barely heard as her 
eyes slid shut.
`No, come on Bron. Wake up, stay with me' Charlotte told her, shaking 
her gently.
Bron's eyes slowly opened again. `Ben. Get Ben' She whispered before 
closing her eyes, drifting into a state of unconsciousness.
***
`Bronwyn Craig, 32 years of age. Stab wound to the upper arm. Severe 
blood loss, suspected muscle and tendon damage' Charlotte said, 
holding up a drip, as Bron was entered into emergency on a stretcher.
`oh shit. what happened?' Cara asked as she looked up, realising that 
it was Bron and not just another patient.
Charlotte opened her mouth to answer but didn't have a chance as Luke 
walked over. She turned to him and explained what had happened.
Luke nodded. `Get a theatre on standby' he told Cara `we're taking 
her in straight away'
Cara went to call a theatre and Charlotte walked to the doors with 
Bron.
`you can't go in there' Luke told her. `You're not gowned up'
Charlotte nodded. `Let me know as soon as you know something. Good 
luck!' Luke nodded grimly, it was always harder to operate on someone 
you knew. Being in control of your friends life like that was scary, 
even for a not so humble surgeon like Forlano.
Charlotte watched as Bron was taken in and bit her lip, holding back 
the emotion of seeing her best friend in such a hopeless position. 
She took a deep breath and went to phone Ben.
***
Ben had just arrived home, after a long day at work, when the phone 
rang. He had just settled himself on the lounge and was almost not 
going to answer it, but he had a gut feeling that it was going to be 
important, and that's what made him move.
`Ben Markham' he answered
`Ben, Its Charlotte Beaumont. Listen, we've had a problem at the 
hospital. I think you should come in.'
`Why? What's happened?' he asked anxiously
`Bron's been in an accident. She's in theatre at the moment, but she 
was asking for you before.'
`What sort of accident? Is it serious?'
`a stabbing. Look, she's lost a lot of blood. I know you two have had 
your differences, but I think it would be best if you came in.'
`yeah, I'll be there in 15mins.'
`yep. I'll meet you in emergency.'
`OK, bye'
`bye' They both hang up.
Ben grabbed his keys and went straight back out the door, heading 
straight to All Saints. 
***
Ben walked straight up to Cara, `Charlotte just called me. Is she 
alright?'
Charlotte came up behind him. `She's still in theatre. Listen, Bron 
got stabbed in the arm by Ian Neal. She passed out at the scene, but 
she asked for you just before. They were her last words. I thought I 
should call you and let you know what was going on. She's gonna need 
you right now, but she doesn't need you playing games with her 
emotions.'
Ben nodded, `I know, and I'm going to be here for her. Suppose she 
told you about last week?'
`I only know that Ian locked you in there and tried to drown her. She 
didn't want to talk about it'
` Well I told her I loved her....then I couldn't say it again later 
that night when she came around and asked me about it. But I meant it 
charlotte. I just couldn't admit it, and she knew it too. I hurt her, 
and I'm not leaving her now.'
Charlotte smiled at true love taking its course. `She'll be in there 
for a couple of hours. How bout we wait in waiting room. Less rush in 
there.'
He nodded following her through.
***
2 HOURS LATER

`Why is it taking so long? She should be in recovery by now'
`Ben, you know how tricky this type of surgery is. They're probably 
just taking extra care around the nerves so that everything is 
alright'
He nodded and started pacing the room again.
`Ben, she'll be ok. Sit down, you're making me nervous' 
Ben sighed and walked back and fowarth a couple of times more before 
sitting back down next to Charlotte.
***
AN HR AFTER THAT

Luke entered the waiting room and Charlotte and Ben stood up.
`How did it go?'
`Is she ok?'
Luke smiled. `She should be fine. She's in recovery at the moment, 
when she wakes up she's going to be groggy for a while and a bit 
sore, but we repaired the damage and she should retain full use of 
her arm.'
`Thank God' Ben said. `When can we see her?'
`She should be out of recovery in about 1/2 an hr then we're taking 
her up to ward 17. You can wait for her up there if you'd like'
Ben nodded `thanks'
Luke smiled `your welcome. Excuse me' He turned and left as his pager 
went off.'
charlotte smiled and turned to Ben `so, are you gonna go up and see 
her?'
`yeah, are you coming?'
`no, not yet. I'll let you two have some time together first. When 
she wakes up, tell her I'm thinking of her and that I'll pop up later 
to see her'
Ben smiled `Thanks Charlotte'
`No problems' She grinned and left him, going back to her work 
knowing that she was going to be ok.
***
WARD 17

`Terri, that was recovery. We've got a stab victim coming up in 5.'
`oh alright. Is room 1 free?' 
Matt looked up at the board `yeah'
`ok, they can go in there.'
As they were finishing allocations Ben came up.
`Ben, what are you doing up here?' Jared asked
`Bron's been stabbed. They said she was coming up here'
`Bron's been what? Is she ok?' Paula, Nelson, Terri, Jared, Matt & 
Von all turned around.
`she should be fine. weren't you told?'
`no, we thought she was tied up in pharmacy. They've had some kind of 
mini emergency down near there.'
`yeah, that was Bron. Ian Neal stabbed her outside before'
`oh ok. You look awful. Do u want anything?' Paula asked him
`No, I'll be right. I'm just waiting for her to come out of recovery'
`yeah, room 1' Terri told him.
`thanks' Ben went in and waited for her to come up, wanting to avoid 
the endless questions that would come from the staff if he waited out 
there.
***
A while later Bron was brought up. Terri walked over to her, taking 
her hand..
`Room 1 thanks' she told the orderlies, following them in. `Ben' she 
said his name, bringing him out of his trance and back to reality. He 
stood up, walking over to her, but staying out of the way until she 
was settled.
Terri finished up getting things into place and left. `I'll leave you 
too it' thinking *hallilujah, they are going to sort things out*.
Ben smiled and walked over to her, taking her hand.
`Bron, its Ben. I don't know if u can hear me or not. But I want you 
to know that I love you and I'm so glad that you're going to be ok. 
I'm sorry about being such a prick lately. I've been really awful to 
you, I know you didn't mean to hurt me. I forgive you for everything. 
I love you so much and I can't bear facing another day without you by 
my side. I just hope you can forgive me as well.' he kissed her hand 
softly, sitting down in the chair beside her bed, still holding her 
hand, and watching her beautiful face as she slept so peacefully, 
with the heart monitor and various other machines beeping beside her.
A couple of hours later Bron stirred a little. Opening her eyes and 
almost instantly squeezing them shut again because of the 
pain. `Ben?' she whispered softly in a croaky voice.
Ben squeezed her hand gently. `I'm here. you're alright, you're in 
hospital. You've been in an accident but you're gonna be ok'
Bron opened her eyes properly a couple of seconds later. `Did they 
catch him?' She mumbled.
`I don't know. I've been too worried about you to find out.' He 
kissed her hand again.
`Mmmm' Bron moaned softly
`You look exhausted. Try and get some more rest and we'll talk about 
it all later'
`Hmm, yeah' 
Ben stood up, kissing her on the cheek.
`I love you too Ben' she whispered before drifting back to sleep again
About 3 hours later Bron woke up again, a lot more aware of her 
surroundings. Ben was still holding her hand, but was leaning back in 
his chair, his head back. Bron squeezed his hand gently and he sat up 
straight away, aware of her movement.
`Hey' she smiled.
Ben grinned. `Hello Sleepyhead. How are you feeling?'
`Like I've been stabbed'
He laughed. `I'll get Forlano up here soon to get you something for 
the pain.' She nodded and went to sit up. `hey, take it easy, one 
step at a time.' He said rushing over and sat the bed up manually.
Bron smiled. `Thanks'. There was silence for a moment, then Bron took 
a deep breath. `Ben, I have to ask you something, and I want you to 
completely disregard the fact that I'm in a hospital bed and answer 
me honestly.'
`Of Corse' he nodded.
`I heard what you said earlier, about you loving me & wanting to be 
with me, but the thing is, I want to know whether or not you meant it 
or it was just a spur of the moment outburst.'
`the truth?'
She nodded, afraid of what the answer may be.
`the truth is that I love you, that I always have, and that love for 
you could never disappear no matter how much you hurt me.'
`but...'
`no buts. I love you & I want to be with you...if you'll still have 
me.'
Bron's face slowly cracked into a grin. `yes' she whispered `yes, of 
corse I still want you.'
Ben grinned widely and moved to the side of her bed, hugging her 
gently so as not to disturb her arm. `I love you so much Bronwyn 
Craig' 
`I know....and I love you too'
Bron yawned a few mins later, still in Ben's embrace.
`you should get some more sleep' he whispered
`yeah...you should go home, get some rest yourself, you've been here 
for hours.'
`no, I'm fine. I want to be here with you.'
`you don't have to'
`I want too'
She smiled. `ok.' 
Ben released her, taking the bed back down again. `nite Bron'
She smiled, once again reaching for his hand. `nite'
***
Midway through the night a restless Bron woke up again, not being 
able to go back to sleep. Ben opened his eyes half way at her 
movement. `are you alright' he whispered
`yeah, sorry, I didn't mean to wake you' she whispered back
`are you in pain'
`no, its bearable. Just can't sleep'
`Ian?' he asked, picking up on her anxiousness. She nodded, barely.
Ben moved from the chair onto the side of her bed, lying down next to 
her, putting his arm around her. `I'll look after you. You're safe 
here. Try and go back to sleep.
She smiled at him, automatically feeling comforted by his embrace and 
drifted off the sleep in minutes. Ben waited for her breathing to get 
back to a regular rhythm before going back to sleep himself.
***
10AM THE NEXT MORNING 
`Ben, I'm alright for 5 minutes...go and get yourself a coffee if you 
won't go home. There's no need for us both to be cooped up in this 
room. I'm fine,' Bron protested as Ben still hadn't left her bedside.
`Are you sure? I don't want to leave you in here alone.'
`Bennnnnnn' she whined but couldn't help smiling at the concern he 
had for her well being.
Before Ben had a chance to reply the door opened and Charlotte 
entered.
`Hey, hows the patient doing?' she asked with a smile.
`I'm fine' she smiled. `Ben, see, I'm not going to be here on my own 
now. Charlotte's here, now go and have a break' she said turning back 
to Ben. 
`you sure?'
`yes...GO. Its going to be girlie' she told him with a laugh. 
He smiled and stood up, kissing her on the cheek. `ok, I'll be back 
soon. Is there anything you want from home?'
`Don't worry. I'll send Matt to get anything I need later. Now GO'
`ok ok. bye'
Ben left and Charlotte went to sit on the edge of her bed.
`Looks like you two have worked things out' she laughed.
Bron grinned. `Sure did..he says he still loves me!'
`Well Duh!'she added. `Pity it took an accident for him to tell you 
though...I'm sure you're arm could have done without the stress as 
well'
Bron laughed. `Least I got him back.'
`Yeah. Now truly, how is the pain?'
`Charlotte...you are not my doctor.' Bron told her, rolling her eyes.
`No, but I am A doctor and I can get you something if you want it.'
`its sore. but its nothing I can't deal with at this stage. I don't 
want to be doped up again.'
`how bout just a small dose of pethadine...keep it at bay?'
`ok, thanks' she agreed.
Charlotte stood up and moved to her arm, having a look at the 
wound. `Its oozing a little' she noted.
`Would you just sit down and stop worrying about my arm.' she stated, 
amused. 
Charlotte laughed and sat back down. `ok. sorry!'
`Its fine. You're just as bad as Ben though. He's already fluffed my 
pillows up about 50 times this morning.'
`We're just doing it because we care about you, idiot' she laughed.
`yeah, I know. but if he does it one more time I'm going to scream.' 
she laughed joking. `Oh, by the way, I want to thank you for 
yesterday Charlotte.'
Charlotte dismissed it. `No worries. There's no need. Just glad 
you're ok noodle.'
`Yeah well, thanks for doing everything you did...not that I actually 
remember most of it. And thanks for calling Ben.'
`Don't mention it.'
`OK. Have they caught him yet?' She asked her, knowing she'd get the 
truth out of Charlotte. She had a feeling Ben would try and protect 
her from the truth.
Charlotte shook her head slowly. `Not yet. I'm sorry. He must have 
ran while we were tending to you.'
She nodded, looking scared still. `Bron, Don't worry about it. You're 
safe while you're in here and he probably wouldn't even touch you 
again anyway.'
`yeah, corse I am'
`oh come here' Charlotte said seeing how scared she was still, 
pulling her in for a hug.
Bron held onto her tight with her one available arm. Charlotte held 
her. One arm rubbing her back, until 10mins later when Ben returned. 
Neither of them acknowledged his arrival until he cleared his throat 
and Charlotte released her. 
`hey...that was quick' Bron told him. 
`yeah' he replied as charlotte got up off the bed, standing up. 
`I'll go write you up for that pethadine.' she told her.
`Thanks Charlotte' Bron smiled as she left.
Ben moved back over to his chair, sitting down. 
`How was your break?' Bron asked, smiling at him.
`it was fine...what going on Bron? What are you playing at?'
`I'm sorry?' she asked, utterly confused.
`you and Charlotte. What was that all about?'
`nothing. I was just upset about the stabbing, she gave me a hug. 
That's all.'
`looked pretty comfortable to me' he said, regretting the words as 
soon as they left his mouth.
`I'm sorry?' she asked, offended.
`I thought you weren't in pain. Why is Charlotte going to write you 
up for something?'
`I said the pain was bearable. I didn't want you to worry about me. 
Charlotte convinced me to have something.'
`so charlottes allowed to worry about you and I'm not. Is that right?'
`Ben, that's not how it is, you know that, don't be stupid'
`so now I'm STUPID'
`I didn't say that. Look, I can't believe you are getting jealous 
over my friendship with Charlotte. She's my best mate Ben.Nothing 
more'
`What about the other week at Cougars?'
`I was drunk and missing you. A drunken mistake, that is all it was 
Ben'
`Does she know that?'
`YES. This is pathetic. What do you want me to do? Stop being friends 
with her?'
`Well, yes'
`How can you ask me to do that Ben? Charlotte is my best friend. 
She's the one who's stuck by me these last 3 months, the worst time 
of my life. I'm not just going to dump her now because I have you 
again.' Bron was getting emotional. `I just can't understand how you 
can expect me to do that. Maybe you don't love me as much as I 
thought'
`Maybe not' Ben said, cringing.
Tears flooded Bron's eyes, but she held them back. `I think you 
should go.'
`Maybe I should. ` He said standing. 
Bron nodded, no longer able to speak. Ben walked over to the door & 
left.
Bron sat there in shock for a couple of moments, paralysed, not being 
able to move in the slightest, until Charlotte came in a few mins 
later with the pethadine.
"Where'd Ben go?' she asked when Bron was all alone. Bron didn't 
answer, didn't acknowledge her presence, in her own little world. 
Charlotte walked over to her and spotted her tears. `Oh Bron, what's 
happened now?' 
Bron shook her head. `just go' she whispered.
Charlotte didn't reply, taking her hand. `C'mon Noodle, tell me 
what's happened?'
`Nothing....go, please. I want to be alone.'
`Its Ben isn't it? What's he said to you?' ignoring her pleas. Bron 
didn't answer, so Charlotte sat down on the side of her bed, watching 
her for a moment, trying to figure out what it was. 
Bron spoke quietly soon after. `Charlotte...please leave me alone. I 
need some time by myself.'
Charlotte watched her for a minute more, then nodded, respecting her 
decision. `If you want me, I can be paged, OK?'
She nodded `I know.'
Charlotte gave her a quick hug but Bron pulled away. Charlotte shot 
her a strange look, then left the room.
As soon as she left, Bron burst into tears, which Charlotte observed 
through the glass in the door.
***
"Terri, if anyone needs me, I'm going to be off the ward for an hr. 
There's something I have to do. There's an intern, Clara Holmes, that 
can be paged if you need me. Oh, and if Bron wants me page me.'
Terri nodded `that's fine.'
It had taken Charlotte about 1/2 an hr after seeing Bron in that 
state for her to decide what to do. She figured that some kind of 
argument must have gone on between them and decided that Ben must 
have gone home, so decided to go around and talk to him.
***
Ben was sitting at home, mad at himself for talking to Bron like he 
had, and for saying what he did, when he had no real evidence that 
something was going on between her and Charlotte.
They had only just reconciled over last times events, and now Ben was 
worried that he really was going to loose her, this time for good, 
when he heard a knock at his door. Groaning he moved to answer 
it `coming'
he was suprised to see charlotte there, looking quietly mad.
`Charlotte...what are you doing here?'
`what happened with you and Bron? An hour ago she was boasting to me 
about how happy she was that you still loved her and that you two 
were sorting things out, and now she's in there, alone, sobbing her 
heart out, refusing to talk to anyone' she demanded to know.
`I thought you'd be able to answer that one, seeing as you're the 
cause of the problems.'
`I'm sorry?' raising her eyebrows.
`Hugging Bron like that. You think I wouldn't know that you two have 
something going on still?'
"Hang on a second...you think...ME AND BRON?' Charlotte replied, 
having to laugh.
`Are you trying to tell me there's nothing going on between you two?'
`NO WAY. Jeez, she's my best mate...and if you're talking about the 
incident at cougars the other week. We were both pissed and it only 
happened because of you. Bron's been pretty messed up the last 3 
months, she got drunk, got it into her head that it'd make you 
jealous if you saw her with someone else, she knew I cared about her, 
so I became the obvious `someone else'. The next morning when she 
realised what she'd done, she almost had a total breakdown. She 
thought she had lost you for good. Then you tell her you love her 
when you were held hostage by Ian the other week, then there's not a 
peep from you for a week, so she becomes even more quiet, then 
something like this happens and you're back at her side again, 
telling her you still love her, then you ACCUSE HER OF BEING MY 
SECRET LESBIAN LOVER, that's what you said, isn't it? AND YOU WALK 
OUT ON HER AGAIN. You don't deserve her. She's too good for you, and 
I should have tried to get her to see it by now, but I haven't, 
because SHE LOVES YOU. SHE IS TOTALLY IN LOVE WITH YOU STILL, THROUGH 
ALL THIS SHE'S TRIED SO HARD TO MAKE UP FOR WHAT SHE DID IN EUROPE, 
GOD ONLY KNOWS WHY SHE BOTHERED WHEN YOU TREAT HER LIKE THIS!' 
Charlotte stopped, taking a breath after her outburst.
Ben had stayed silent through the whole thing. Shell shocked! `Maybe 
you're right, I don't deserve her. Is she alright?' he asked softly.
`When I left the room she burst into tears and when I left the 
hospital I'm pretty sure she was still sobbing'
`I thought...when I saw you hugging her when I came back in, that..' 
Charlotte shook her head. calming down.
`nothing is going on between us other than a friendship Ben. I can 
promise you that'
He nodded. `I'm sorry for assuming that there was then.'
`Don't apologise to me. I'm not the one who deserves it.' she 
answered.
Ben smiled, confident that he would work things out with her, if she 
still wanted him. `Thank you charlotte'.
She nodded, `just go and talk to her' she replied with a smile, then 
left.
Ben picked up his wallet and keys and left straight after her, 
heading for the hospital, his only detour, a stop at the florist.
***
Ben stood outside Bron's door nervously, watching her sit there 
alone, in silence, with what he assumed to be tears rolling down her 
cheek.
Taking a breath, he knocked quietly on her door and entered the 
room. `Bron?'
She looked up and their eyes connected. `I'm so sorry Bron. I 
shouldn't have said that. Charlotte's right...I don't deserve you.'
`has charlotte spoken to you?' she asked, suprised.
`yeah, pulled me back into line. Set me straight' He placed the 
flowers in front of her. "Oh God Bron, I never meant to hurt you. I'm 
so sorry.' he apologised again.
She wiped her eyes quickly. `Its ok. I shouldn't have done what I did 
with charlotte the other week...I brought it on myself.'
`No, no you didn't Bron. I'm sorry!'
`Ben...are we going to work things out? You say you're sorry, but 
what does that mean? Because I can't live without you, and if I have 
to, I want to start making arrangements to move away now.'
`Bron, I love you and I want to be with you. I can't live without you 
in my life either. it'd kill me. I'm sorry for being such a 
dickhead.' He kissed her forehead softly, still not 100% he was doing 
the right thing by her.
She smiled. `but what a cute dickhead you are', cupping her hand 
around his face, caressing his cheek. `I love you' she whispered.
Ben grinned `I love you too.'
***
20mins later, from the outside of the room, Charlotte looked in on 
the two of them and smiled to herself, knowing that they would work 
things out between them, working through the hurdles that faced them, 
and that they would truly be together for eternity.

:D THE END :D

Love Julie