"It's just the same thing all the time, never get what I want, never get too close to the end of the line..."
As Stella sat hopelessly beside Michael in the sand, Shannon watched from a distance. It was obvious that Stella still had feelings for Michael, and that made the Sergeant's heart wrench. Because what's worst that knowing that the one person you love, will never return your feelings?
The awful burn of guilt ran through Stella's body. She had been arguing with Michael, and he'd gone off by himself and gotten shot with a spear gun. So it was her fault, her mind assured her. Not that she had loved him in the first place, but she now realised how she felt.
Josh watched Shannon, finally noticing where her blank gaze was directed. The pieces finally connected, and he clicked onto why Shannon was continually zoning out.
Lawson observed his team. Josh's head was flicking back and forth as if he was watching a tennis match. Shannon's sight was currently focused on Stella. Christian was leaning on the bonnet of the buggy he'd found, throwing up. Audrey was nowhere in sight, however Lawson suspected she was in the bushes close to the beach, away from Stella. And Stella... she was acting like a spoilt child, Lawson had to say. It had been proven that if you pick up a child's toy, even if they're not playing with it, they'll want it back. Well, Michael was the toy, and Stella was the child. He shook his head, focusing on the task at hand.
Michael was slipping in and out of conciousness, but was awake long enough to beg Stella to kiss him. Shannon's heart shattered when Stella complied with his request.
Stella kept pressure on the spear wound. She was usually prepared for anything that came up in the line of duty. Everything except the blood, the redness of it, the impossible quantities of the stuff. When the rescue boat finally arrived and Michael was loaded on board, Stella simply collapsed, staring at her hands.
Shannon stayed put, already hurt to her very core. She noticed Stella sitting on the sand, but took no notice until Josh pushed her forward.
"Just go," he whispered into her ear.
"I'm just a friend to her," was Shannon's hushed reply.
"It hurts, doesn't it?"
"More than anything."
Josh nodded and pushed her again, causing her to face-plant in the sand. Shannon got up, the fire back in her eyes, and shoved Josh into a nearby dune, causing him to splutter. A small smile graced her features.
"Better. Now go." Josh brushed himself off, spitting the sand out of his mouth.
Shannon approached carefully, ready to defend herself if Stella needed to take out her sorrow.
"Stel?"
Receiving no answer, Shannon sat down next to her best friend and slowly reached out, pulling the younger woman into her arms.
Shannon wasn't prepared for what happened next. Stella burst into tears, and began to punch the front of Shannon's vest. Shannon winced, even though the bulletproof vest underneath her TR uniform absorbed most of the force. Shannon kept a hold of Stella, knowing that she'd wear herself out soon, and her prediction fared true. Stella stopped punching Shannon and simply cried, clinging onto Shannon like a small child, burrowing into her body warmth.
Shannon just held her.
"If I can't have her," Shannon thought, "then I'm going to be the best friend that she could ever have."
Prompt from "Writing Prompts and Story Starters". Google it.