Okay, I know I said the conversation with Kerry would come next, but I wanted to write Shannon going home to Lawson after she spoke with Stella, I just didn't want to make the previous chapter too long. And I didn't know if I wanted it before or after they spoke to Kerry.

A review I got last night asked if I could add another Lawson/Shannon conversation, and it helped me make up my mind to put it before. It's pretty short, It's kind of just a filler. The next chapter shouldn't be too far off. I hope this is okay. Thanks to both readers who reviewed the last chapter! I'm not sure whether it was any good, so if you guys could review it would be great, to let me know how I am going :)

Thankyou to kirst92 for the review you left asking for the Lawson/Shannon moment. You helped me make up my mind with where to put this conversation in the story. I hope it does justice. :)

Happy reading!

Disclaimer: Still no sign of Rush or Callan Mulvey under my tree, but maybe it will come closer to christmas? :)

Stella left Shannon's heading for home while Shannon headed to Lawson's for the night, she was considering just staying at hers for the night, but Lawson's was closer to Stella's so she wouldn't have to drive as far in the morning. When she arrived at Lawson's she was expecting to find him drunk or at least tipsy, but he wasn't. It seemed that he'd had just enough without becoming influenced.

She walked through the door and was met with a gentle kiss.

"How was your night with Stel?" he asked.

"Good, we talked about a fair bit, watched a movie and got Thai." She said with a smile.

"That's good, you guys really haven't spoken a heap since Michael died, it would have been good for you guys to catch up, especially since she seems to be more open to everyone now."

Shannon stayed silent, she knew this wasn't the case but she didn't want to risk Stella being annoyed at her for talking to Lawson about anything.

"Shan? What's up? Are you okay?"

Shannon nodded.

"Is Stella okay?"

Shannon bit her lip and briefly shook her head, her eyes were glassy and tears threatened to spill over.

"Shan, Shan. Just come sit down, yeah? Tell me about Stel."

Shannon placed her head in her hands,

"She asked me not to tell anyone"

"Shannon, look it's obviously affecting you, and it's affecting her, as her senior officer and friend, I need to know. I won't tell anyone, or let on that I know anything, but you need to talk about it."

"It's Stella, she isn't coping, with anything. She hasn't spoken to anyone, just hidden everything, she didn't want to seem weak. She's been abusing alcohol and drugs also, and she started cutting herself to deal with it. Charlie has been riding her ass to stop her from slipping up, and she just can't do it anymore. She told me she's been numb since Michael died, and she wants to feel something, so she cuts. She needs help, Lawson. And I don't know what to do."

Lawson wrapped his arms around Shannon, "there isn't a lot you can do, until she asks for help. Just be there for her, to support her, and be a shoulder to cry on."

"That's the thing, I haven'tbeen there for her, I've been wrapped up in my own little world, and I didn't notice the signs that something was wrong with her."

"Neither have I, Shannon. I'm her superior, it's my job to notice that, and I didn't. I failed her, again. But now, we just have to be there to help her, put it all back together. Okay? Lets get some sleep, we have to work tomorrow."

Shannon nodded, "I am picking Stella up, she wants to talk to Kerry about something, and I offered to be there."

Lawson kissed Shannon gently and they climbed into bed, Lawson lay awake thinking for a while.

'How did I not notice Stel was going through all this shit. Michael was her best friend, and losing him messed her up bad. I knew it would but I still did nothing to help. I was so concerned about Shannon being so distant that I didn't notice that my friend wasn't coping. I should have noticed the signs, and been there to help. But I wasn't. Now we have to help her fix it.'

Review, Please? :) I'd really like to have some feedback on this chapter and the last, because I am not sure that they are very good. :/