Broken
Set after the team have discovered Lawson and Shannon's indiscretion in episode 20, incorporating my ideas for the "rift" that was supposed to happen between Shannon and Stella and how it could've come about. Enjoy…
The team see the beginning of the sex tape, Stella gets angry then storms out of base. Everyone's dumbfounded and Shannon wanders outside to find her, confused at her reaction. Stella says that what Shannon did sucks. Shannon thinks she just means that she did the wrong thing - being on duty and hooking up with her superior. Shannon reminds her of her being with Michael while being on duty, but still makes it clear that she doesn't want to lose her respect - both as a colleague and as a friend.
Stella says "Jesus Shannon…you just don't get it do you!"
Shannon, with an increasingly confused look on her face replies, "Get what, Stel, what are you on about?"
"You can't see it…all this time…we work together…party together…you've had no idea…", Stella's voice trails off with a hint of sadness.
Shannon grabs her by the shoulders, begging for more information. "Please Stella, will you just spit it out? Talk to me"
"That night out in the forest, the kiss, didn't you ever wonder?", Stella questions.
"Wonder? Huh?" By now Shannon frustrated and confused.
Stella looks around to avoid looking her right in the eye as she contemplates her response, then lets out a deep sigh and shakes her head.
"Dam it Shannon…"
Just then, as her shoulders are still being held, their eyes meet again and she can see the pleading look in Shannon's eyes. Something takes over inside and she realises there's only one way to show her friend why she so hates the idea of her being with Lawson. Before Stella knows exactly what she's doing, she lunges forward to plant a forceful kiss on Shannon's lips.
Shannon pulls back, gasping in complete shock and has no idea what to say. She just looks away for a moment before returning her gaze to Stella. Then she releases her grip on Stella's shoulders and stumbles back slowly, taking small steps… "Stella…I didn't…I can't…why?", she said, her voice shaky. Shannon turned and left, her pace speeding up and she knew she had hurt Stella badly, but she simply didn't know how to deal with the situation just yet.
Stella stood there, broken…unable to move and starting to realise what just happened. A tear ran down her face as she watched Shannon walk away. She may have just ruined the best friendship she'd ever had. But she couldn't deny her feelings any longer. She'd had these feelings for too long now. Was this the beginning of the end of their friendship as they knew it?