Here's the next one :)
I have an idea of what is going to come next and the chapter after, but I'm not sure when I'll be able to write it..
Please Review :) Thanks
Disclaimer: I wish I didn't have to disclaim anything. I wish it was mine.. :)
Shannon walked up to Stella's door, getting ready to knock, when it opened and the young senior constable walked out bag in hand. She smiled at Shannon before they walked to the car and engaged in casual conversation on the way to base.
When they arrived, Josh and Lawson were already there, Charlie was in talking to Leon about something and Christian was no where to be seen. As the girls were putting their bags away they heard Lawson's phone ring.
"Hello?"
"Okay, that's alright, mate. Thanks for calling in."
"Bye"
Lawson hung up, "Christians sick, so are his kids, can't come in today. Shannon, you'll be riding with me and Charlie. Stel, you'll be with josh."
All team members nodded and Josh and Lawson sat on the floating bench, talking and punching each other in the arm playfully. Shannon turned to Stella.
"Come on, Stel, get it over with, before we head out."
Stella reluctantly nodded and walked out with Shannon headed towards Kerry's office. Josh shot a questioning look at Lawson, who simply answered it with a shrug.
Stella knocked on Kerry's open door, after a brief second, they heard "come in" and entered.
"Stella, Shannon. How's it going?" Kerry asked, briefly looking up from her paperwork.
Stella spoke up.
"Uhm, Kerry, I need to talk to you about…something."
Kerry's head shot up, worry crossed her features.
"Why? What's up, Stella?"
"Um…well. I think you should know. I'm, ah…pregnant."
"Shit, you sure?"
"Positive"
Noticing the blank expression on Stella face she asked, "Do you want this, Stella?"
"I don't know to be honest, Kerry. I just don't know."
Shannon and Kerry could both see her façade threatening to crack, unveiling her grief, which she'd hidden so well from everyone.
"Do you know who the father is?"
Kerry didn't want to ask, but knew she had to.
"Michael" Stella said quietly, her head bowed so they couldn't see her face.
Kerry shot Shannon and unsure glance that she'd heard right, Shannon answered with a slight nod.
"Shit, Stella. I'm sorry. If you need to take some time, then you can, and we'll all be here for you if you need to talk to us."
"I need to work, take my mind off all this shit. Thanks, Kerry" Stella gave the older woman a small sad smile.
"Do you know how far along?"
"Nup, my guess is about 2 months, but I can't be sure."
"Okay, well, the door is always open, Stella. Okay, make sure you remember that."
Stella smiled gratefully, and both women turned to leave.
"Ah, Shannon, just stay here a sec would ya? Just need to clarify something with your last incident report." Shannon offered Stella a small smile as she walked back out to the lockers to get changed. Shannon sat on one of the chairs in Kerry's office.
"How's she been coping, Shannon?" Kerry asked, making it obvious this wasn't about the incident report. She leaned over and shut the door.
"I was with her last night. She asked me not to tell anyone, but I think you need to know. She isn't doing well at all, she's been trying to keep it in. she was scared she'd seem weak. I saw last night what I never thought id see from her. She's ruining her life, Kerry. She needs help, she's been hitting the bottle pretty hard and she's cutting herself. She hid it so well, I didn't see any of it until last night. She was crying in my arms and there wasn't anything I could do to help her. She only found out she was pregnant last night, she called me yesterday morning, saying she was lateand I offered for her to come to mine. When she saw the results, she just fell apart."
"Shit, how did we miss it? It was right under our noses the whole time. I could have helped her. I shouldhave helped her."
"We all could have, Kerry. But it's too late for that now, we can only help her from now on. You can't tell her I told you this, she asked me not to say and she'll be pissed if she finds out. The good thing about her telling me is now I can help her more. She loved Michael, and she blames herself, thinks that if she told him, he wouldn't have got into Raney's car."
"And he'd still be here" Kerry finished. "It's not her fault, she can't blame herself."
"I know, but she does. Also, Charlies been riding her ass a bit, make sure she doesn't slip up and it contributed to the cutting, so maybe you could ask him to tone it down or something?"
"I'll do my best, thanks, Shannon. I meant what I said, the door is always open."
Shannon smiled gratefully and walked out into the locker room, ready to head out with the others.