Okay Guys, sorry for the slow update, I didn't like the sound of this chapter so I didn't upload it, but seeing as its already written ill upload it, im gonna upload a new story soon, same story line, but written differently so... anyway this chapters crap so forgive me :) please review and tell me whether to continue or scrap this stroy please
Chapter 2: Stella?
11:55. 11:55, Lawson thought, who would be knocking on his door at this hour, and he had work in the morning. Lawson walked to the front door, after turning off the T.V, to answer it and tell them to come back at a reasonable hour. But when he opened the door he changed his mind instantly. It was Stella. The young senior constable, who had been sitting next to him in the car, was a completely different person to the person that stood in front of him now. The Stella that stood in front of Lawson now had a tear stained face, and looked terrible. In her hand she had a plastic bag, what was in the bag though, Lawson had no idea.
"Stella?" Lawson asked not sure whether it really was the usually cheerful constable.
Stella didn't speak. She just nodded her head in response. She looked as if she was fighting back tears. She suddenly shivered, it wasn't til then did Lawson realise what she was wearing, a short black frock and only a thin covering over her shoulders.
"Come in" Lawson said as he led the young constable inside. Moving through to the lounge room, both he and Stella took a seat on the couch.
"Umm, do you want anything, a shower, some food, a bed?" Lawson asked, not quite sure how to respond to the unusually quite Stella.
Stella just nodded; she still hadn't spoken a word since she had arrived on Lawson's door, 10 minutes ago. Her face still looked the same, terrified and blank. Lawson didn't know what to do.
"The bathroom is through there, I'll grab you a towel, then while you have a shower I'll cook you some toast, it's the only food I have in the house" Lawson said, trying to get a reaction more than a nod.
Stella smiled slightly, and got up off the couch and walked into the bathroom, with her plastic bag still in her hand. Lawson didn't know what to think. What had happened to her to make her so quiet, and what had made her turn up on his doorstep. Lawson grabbed his phone and went through his contacts, who could he ring, who knew the constable well enough to know that this wasn't usual? Kerry…? Josh…? Shannon...? All he knew is that she wouldn't be going into work tomorrow. Lawson got off the couch and went to the cabinet where he kept the towels and got one out for Stella. He made his way to the bathroom and knocked on the door. Lawson was sure he heard a phone take a photo before the door opened slightly.
"Stel, I've got you a towel and a spare change of warmer clothes, they're mine so they will be big," Lawson said as he put his hand out for Stella to take the towel from his hand. When she did though, Lawson noticed some purpling skin on her wrist.
"Thanks Lawson" said Stella, the first words she had spoken all night.
"I'll be out on the couch when you're done" responded Lawson, before turning and leaving the hallway and returning to the couch and his phone.
Sitting back on the couch Lawson put his hands through his hair, wondering what the next step was to helping Stella. He was stuck, he knew something serious had happened, but what to him was a mystery. He'd tell Kerry and Charlie tomorrow, but right now he needed help on what to do next. Lawson decided against ringing Shannon, she cared about Stella, as did everyone in the team, but she hadn't known her for as long as Josh, also there was the fact that Lawson would probably feel more comfortable calling Josh at 12:20. He grabbed out his phone and dialled Josh's number.
"Ugghh hello?" said a very tired sounding Josh from the other end of the phone call.
"Hi, Josh, its Lawson, I need some help." Said Lawson, not really knowing what to say next.
"What is it?" a now concerned Josh responded.
"Stella's at my house, why I'm not quite sure, but I don't know what to do next. She's not talking and, I'm pretty sure she's got bruises on her wrist, she's having a shower but…"
"Ohh.. Crap! That's not at all like Stell. You think she's alright? Though by her turning up at yours I'd say she definitely isn't alright? Look after her Lawson; I'll talk to you tomorrow. Okay, see ya mate, good luck. Bye.
Lawson hung up the phone, and moved into the kitchen to cook Stella something to eat. A couple of minutes later he heard her walk into the lounge room, and he called out to her to tell her he was in the kitchen. She walked in and slid herself into one of the bench stools. She was looking a little better but she still had the blank look on her face and she was wearing the clothes he had given her, he slid the plate with the toast on it over to her.
"What's happened Stell? You told me and Charlie you were going out with your friends from the academy but yet you end up here?" asked Lawson kindly
But she just burst into tears, and Lawson just walked over to her and gave her a hug. He didn't know what else to do. The tears slowed down to just an occasional sob, and eventually Stella asleep, still in Lawson's hug. Lawson picked her up and put her down on the couch, put a blanket over her and went to sleep himself. Lawson finally fell asleep at 3:55, four hours after Stella knocked on his door, and turned his day from bad, to a whole lot worse.
Chapter 3: