6:37am
"Nice of you to join us ladies, hope we aren't keeping you from a pressing engagement at the pub" Charlie said sarcastically as Shannon and Stella walked in.
"Rack off Charlie, we're only a few minutes late. Shannon had to pick me up on the way, my car broke down."
"Rack off? That's how you talk to your commanding officer? Are you kidding me Senior Constable? This is the third time you have been late this week"
"oh, come on Charlie, ease up. Shit happens. We are 7 minutes late, feel free to doc our pay, but in the mean time, how about we all just get over ourselves and get on with it" Stella raised her voice at Charlie, her pounding headache and lack of sleep making her increasingly irate.
"I'm sick of both of you acting like you are above the rules" Charlie yelled back "And I'm sick of everyone here only doing things when it suits them."
"Stop yelling" Shannon screamed in a wavering voice.
Both stunned by her sudden outburst, Stella and Charlie turned to look at Shannon as Lawson and Kerry strolled in to the locker room.
"We all right in here?" Kerry questioned as she walking into the visibly tense situation. She looked quizzically at Charlie who was now glaringly angrily at Stella. "Right, what's going on with you two?"
"Nothing" they both said in unison.
Lawson scoffed, slightly pleased at Charlies increasing inability to control Stella and the team as an awkward silence crept over the room.
With the distraction of Kerry and Lawson, Shannon had quietly slipped out into the bathroom. She had tried to stay calm and in control but the more Charlie yelled, all she could think about was Frank shouting abuse at her. She ran into a shower cubicle and bolted the door shut. The more she tried to stop thinking about everything, the worse she felt. The pressure of the last few weeks building up in her head and the memories she had so carefully attempted to hide, sent Shannon into a panic. As her breaths quickened she knew she was in trouble. She sat on the small shelf in the shower room and unsuccessfully attempted to steady her breathing. As she struggled to breathe all she wanted was Lawson. As much as she had pushed him away in the last few weeks, he was all she wanted. But had she waited too long to tell him? He would be angry she hadn't told him and what if he never wanted to see her again? What if he didn't want to touch her? what if...
"What if he doesn't love me anymore?" Shannon whispered out loud to no-one. Her breathing had calmed down to an almost normal level and she felt hot tears on her cheeks.
"Shit" she quickly wiped the tears away.
"Shannon, you in here?" Stella yelled from the bathroom door.
"Yeah. Ergh, Stella why did we drink so much last night? I feel like a thousand piece brass band has set up shop in my head. "
"I'm fairly sure the world is punishing me for drinking by sticking me with Charlie in TR1 for the next 9 hours."
"Stella, that isn't the world punishing you for drinking. Charlie is."
"Whatever, I have plans to piss him off so bad for the rest of the day he is going to wish he had Christian and his bird calls back. Why are you still locked in the bathroom? You get to spend all day with Lawson and Christian in TR2."
"great" Shannon mumbled emerging from the cubicle.
"wow" Stella said. "you really do look like shit."
"Nice Stel, thanks for that."
"Look, I know we said no questions but..."
"Yeah, we did" Shannon interrupted, "so no questions" she told Stella as she quickly left the bathroom and walked straight into Lawson who had been hovering outside.
"You right there Lawson?'' she asked annoyed
"I just wanted to make sure you were ok" he said softly
"I'm fine" she replied bluntly, "let's go"
"You're always fine" he whispered to Shannon's retreating form.
"Lawson. She's not fine." Stella said as she walked up behind Lawson.
"I know. And she refuses to tell me why." Lawson sighed as they both watched Shannon silently walk towards TR2 and he nervously ran a hand through his hair. He watched her carefully, scrutinizing every step she took. She almost looks like it's painful for her to walk he thought to himself.
"Enjoying another mothers club meeting are we Stella?" Charlie asked as he approached Stella and Lawson who were both still standing outside the bathroom, each lost in their own thoughts.
"Not yet," Stella replied "The fun never starts until you're here Charlie."
"You planning on keeping this up all day Stella?" Charlie asked
"Well luckily for you, you decided to move me to TR1 with you this morning so I guess we're going to find out aren't we." She grinned and walked away leaving Charlie annoyed and Lawson smirking.
"Sucker" Lawson said as he walked to TR. "Right, we all ready?" Lawson asked, looking directly at Shannon. She looked away from him, avoiding his eye contact.
Lawson sighed as Shannon looked away from him completely. I'll take that as a no, he thought.
A/N- Sorry for the time between updates! With Christmas and all that, I've had very little time! I hope you all had an excellent festive season and enjoy the new year. Review, advise...whatever! :)
