Author Note:

This is yet another new idea I had, which came from a line of dialogue in my head when I woke up this morning. I think this is going to be a two or three part story, though don't hold me to that.

In relation to the WR timeline, I pictured it being an additional scene during S7e6, sometime after this conversation:

Rob: Karen, is what I've done really so bad or are you just angry with every man in the world because of Charlie?

Karen: You're out of order!

Rob: You're out of order!

The pairing is Karen/Rob, naturally! I'm still far too obsessed with them to be able to write anything different!

Apologies to those of you who are waiting for updates on my other stories. I do have them written but I'm having some technological issues currently. I will try to update as soon as I can.

Please read and review!

Leanne xx


Disclaimer: I don't own Waterloo Road. So don't sue me! :)


Cooling Down

Part One

"Is Karen busy?" Janeece looked up from a pile of folders to see Rob stood in the doorway. She sighed theatrically, able to tell from his tone that he and Karen still hadn't managed to put aside their differences. However entertaining she'd found their fights at the beginning of term, now she relished the prospect of a day when she didn't go home with a headache.

"She's not in a good mood," The secretary warned him, picking up a nail file and beginning to attack a rough nail.

Rob grimaced at her words, "What's new these days?" He commented ruefully, "I'll take my chances." He moved past her and into the office.

"Karen?" The headmistress sighed, barely turning away from where she was pouring herself a coffee to look at him. She'd spent the past hour and a half silently fuming; it hadn't made her anger towards him abate any and now seeing him stood there just continued to make her temper flare.

"What can I do for you?" She asked in a clipped tone, picking up a pen and scribbling something on a post it note before sticking it to a manila folder. "One moment," Karen added before he could speak. "Janeece?" Her secretary poked her head around the door, "Can you hand these out to all staff, I need them signed and handed back in by Friday." The three of them all knew Karen was inferring she wanted some privacy.

"Yes Mrs Fisher," Janeece said taking the folder from her, and exchanging a sympathetic look with Rob. The door shut quietly behind them, and Karen turned back to address Rob. "So, I assume there was something you wanted?"

Rob inwardly sighed at her attitude towards him, although he knew after earlier he couldn't blame her. He hadn't meant to bring Charlie up but Karen was being so infuriating, that the words tripped off his tongue before he'd registered the implications they would have. "I wanted to ask if you could spare me for a couple of hours this afternoon." Karen didn't speak, just raised an eyebrow at him. She didn't look impressed as he'd predicted she wouldn't, but he had little choice. "You know I wouldn't usually ask but I've got something that needs taking care of at home."

"Rob I'm sure I don't need to tell you that when your personal life starts to interfere with your work – that's when we start to have problems," Karen's voice dropped a whole octave, pure jealousy coursing through her system like poison as the various ideas of what he could possibly have to attend to chased each other through her mind.

"Yes because it's not like this entire conversation is at all personal Karen," He answered back bitterly, marveling at the depths which women would go to in order to make themselves feel better. Rob mimicked her tone, defiantly meeting her eyes, though silently wondering if he was getting the same meaning from her implication. She knew how much he needed this job to support Aiden and she still wasn't cutting him any slack. "Just because of what happened with us you think you can-"

"There is no us; I told you earlier not to over think things," Karen interrupted, "I'd appreciate it if you'd take note of that because I'd really rather people not get the wrong idea about us. You are a married man after all." She forced the words out, her gaze dropping to a piece of paper, the words blurring as tears swam in her eyes.

"For your information Naomi and I are getting divorced," Rob told her bluntly, wincing at the little dig in her words. "I'm supposed to be meeting with the solicitors at half past two, but don't worry I'll change it."

Karen's cheeks flushed now, and she felt a painful ache settle somewhere between her chest and her stomach at the hurt look that flickered behind his eyes. "No it's okay," She answered, feeling about an inch tall. Rob didn't say anything, just looked at her for a few seconds before leaving, letting the door slam loudly shut behind him.

-WLR-

"Have any of you seen Karen?" Chris asked, as he walked into the staff room. Both Grantly and Eleanor shook their heads, immersed in a deep argument about politics and drinking tea.

"She's in 'er office but I wouldn't disturb her," Janeece said from the corner, looking slightly miffed at having been instructed to give Karen some privacy. She was disappointed at the prospect of not overhearing the conversation she was about to have, but it didn't matter. By the time she'd reached the end of the corridor she could hear her boss' voice, as clear as if she was sat right outside. Chris looked at her questioningly, "She's got Mister Scotcher in there."

"Ah," He didn't need to say anymore, understanding perfectly. Whenever the two of them got within about six feet of each other you could cut the tension in the air with a knife. "I take it that it's not going well."

"Well if you all shut yer trap's, we'd be able to listen!" Janeece complained bossily, and everyone fell silent as she opened the staffroom door a fraction. Above the sound of the boiling kettle they could all clearly hear Karen shouting, but were unable to make out Rob's response. Eleanor sniffed shaking her head, both at the lack of professionalism on Karen's part and the interest of her colleagues, going back to filling in a crossword. Suddenly there was complete silence for about a minute, before the sound of a door slamming echoed down the hall. "Something needs to be done about it," Janeece glanced at them all as though expecting someone to contradict her. No one did though, because for the first time they agreed with her.

"What did you have in mind?" Chris asked trying to keep a straight face. "Because we've all just seen what happens when they're in the same room."

"Not if they 'aven't got a choice in the matter," Janeece replied, the beginnings of a plan beginning to form. "Leave it to me," She tapped the side of her nose conspiringly, and tottered out of the room in her heels only to come back in a minute later. She walked over to Daniel, "You can help me," She said, nudging him towards the door. He looked weakly back at his colleagues, who just shrugged in a 'just do it' manner, before following haplessly in her wake.

-WLR-

When Janeece went back to her desk, Karen was nowhere to be seen and the secretary presumed she'd gone down to the canteen to fetch her lunch. She pulled a pile of letters towards her and began to address them. She'd been working for about fifteen minutes when her boss returned, carrying a tray of food. Karen barely looked at her as she swept into her office, and Janeece got up from her desk, hovering hesitantly in the doorway. "Mrs Fisher?"

Karen lifted her head out of her hands, "What is it Janeece?" She asked tiredly. Her eyes were slightly reddened and it was clear from her demeanour that she was upset.

"Don't shoot the messenger like," Her secretary babbled, idly wondering if it was such a good idea but dismissing the thought instantly, "But there's a bit of a situation, yer needed in the cooler." Karen opened her mouth to speak, when they were interrupted by the phone ringing. Quickly Janeece flounced out to answer it, leaving Karen sat at her desk.

With a sigh the headmistress stood up and made her way down to the cooler, mentally preparing herself for whatever crisis was happening now. A grin spread across Janeece's face as she left and she quickly tapped out a text.

-WLR-

"Rob, I was just looking for you," Daniel said nervously, fiddling with his tie. He'd spent the last five minutes wandering around the school looking for the site manager and had found him repainting some fencing.

Rob wiped his paintbrush on a piece of rag and laid it down on the grass, replacing the lid on the tub." Is there a problem?" He asked, frowning.

"You could say that," The maths teacher rambled, "Aiden's been sent to the cooler for fighting." He repeated the lie that Janeece had told him, not able to look at Rob incase his face gave it away.

"Again?" Rob answered exasperatedly, because it was the second time that day. This would really please Karen, he thought with a sigh. She thought the way Aiden had turned out was his fault anyway, and this wouldn't do anything to rectify that. "Thanks for letting me know. I suppose I'd better have a word." He followed Daniel back up to the school.

-WLR-

"Are you sure this will work?" Daniel hissed at Janeece, for the fourth time since she'd voiced her plan as they quietly pulled the door shut. They could see them through the thin pane of glass. Both Karen and Rob were stood just inside the room, glaring daggers at each other.

"Look yer sent to the cooler for disruptive b'haviour," She commented pointedly, beginning to get slightly annoyed at his reluctance. "What's more disruptive than all that obvious sexual frustration between 'em? If this doesn't resolve it, nothin' will."

Red-faced at her words Daniel nodded reluctantly; he could see she had a point but he was more than a little concerned about the consequences when Karen realised; after all, he hadn't exactly got off to the best of starts at Waterloo Road. "I guess you're right," He answered uncertainly.

Quickly they turned the key in the lock, and walked away.