Looking around the room the shock on their faces, and cries filling the room, looking up Shannon sees Lawson get up, his face showing no emotion, no tears or grief, as he leaves the room, calling out after him "Lawson", feeling Christian's hand on her arm, shaking his head "leave him Shan, he needs to be by himself"

Watching Lawson get up and walk out of the room, Stella, tries to remain strong, "when will they know who the other body is?" Looking at Stella Charlie shakes his head "could be a few days now"

Looking around at everyone, Shannon is numb, so many times in the past few weeks, she had wished Kerry dead, or away from TR, now it is true, she feels awful her boss might have been a lot of things, but deep down, she cared for TR and her team members. Looking up at Charlie "someone needs to tell Tash, about Josh" Seeing Charlie nod "I'll do it soon", shaking her head "she needs to hear it from one of us, I'll do it Charlie"

Listening to everyone speak, it becomes too much for Stella yelling out "No one should have to tell Tash, or James or anyone, this shouldn't of happened, we caught the Rainey's why didn't someone, keep an eye on the rest of them, we all knew what they are like, violent thugs, but no one did, and look what happened"

Glancing at Shannon, Charlie sees Stella get up and storm out of the waiting room, turning to see Shannon's worried face "I'll go after her, you see Tash", nodding at Charlie, Shannon wonders why he didn't ask her to go after her friend.

Walking out of the hospital, Charlie looks around for Stella, despite coming across to the team without much feeling, there is one person in the team, he had found himself drawn too, and even trying to distance himself, he keeps finding himself coming back to her. Looking around, he sees Stella running towards the road, calling out to her, he sees her pause momentarily before continuing on.

Running towards the road, he catches up with Stella, just as she is about to hail a taxi, seeing her turn towards him, "what do you want Charlie, I'm off duty now"

Feeling Charlie reach out and touch her arm, she pulls away from him, his gentle touch sending shivers through her body. Seeing his caring eyes look into hers "I'll give you a lift", looking up at him slightly confused for a moment before her eyes widening "You want more of last night". Seeing him sigh "Stel, give me a break, I'm worried about you".

Seeing her eyes harden slightly "Don't need to worry about me Charlie I can take care of myself"

Grabbing her arm "Ouch, Charlie", then seeing his face soften "Like last time" before continuing on quickly "Stel, all I'm giving you is a lift nothing else". Seeing her nod "Save me a taxi fare"

….

Driving away from the hospital, Lawson's frame of mind not concentrating, hearing the horns beep at him several times. Pulling up outside the remain of TR base, he gets out of the car, walking over to the site he looks around, his face expressionless, walking over some of the rubble, he looks up at what was the building, despite the explosion the building is still mainly in tact, trying not to hope, but maybe just maybe Josh was still alive, walking under the cordon, he walks towards the building. Staring at the entrance, not able to go any further, was it not long ago, that so many happy memories were there.

Walking slightly forward he looks inside was it only about 4 ½ years ago that Tactical Response was formed, they were fine without Kerry, but despite the rocky start the working relationship bloomed, each giving each other a hard time, the underlining chemistry there but not really explored until Grace died, blinking back tears, why did it take so long for them to get their act together, the sizzling chemistry there all along but neither willing to make it go any further, a one night stand or a few more nights an that was it.

Despite everything, there were mostly happy memories there, despite losing a few team members, drinks after work, meeting Shannon.

Looking up he sees a fireman, walking towards him, looking up at him trying not to show any hope, he sees him shake his head "We're still looking", stepping one step closer to the building, not really caring about himself at the moment in time, feeling a hand on his shoulder he turns around "Its still very unstable and unsafe in there, we are still looking for them" nodding at them, he turns around, ignoring the phone ringing in his pocket.

Hopping in the car, he tears away from the base, pulling up outside the house a short time later, hopping out of the car, he slowly walks up to the front door, knocking on the door, it isn't long before it is answered, seeing the tears in Tash's eyes, he gathers someone has already told her about Josh, following her inside, he looks up at her face, without either of them realising or knowing what they are doing, their lips meet, as Tash's brings her arms around her, as they continue kissing.

….

Pulling up at Stella's house, Charlie gets out of the car, seeing Stella turn to face him "What are you doing Charlie, I'm fine go home to whoever". Standing at the car he watches as Stella walks towards the door, calling out to her "Want to get a drink then", seeing her turn and smile at him slightly "Only if your buying"

Pulling up at the pub a short time later, it isn't long before, the drinks start to flow, sculling them, Stella is surprised to see Charlie keeping up with her. Seeing him looking at her "Drinking helping you Stel?", glaring at him "Piss off Charlie" . Hearing her phone ring, she looks down at the phone, she answers it her voice slightly tipsy "Shan, come and join us" smiling to herself as she sees Charlie's questioning eyes.

Walking into the pub a short time later, Stella looks up surprised to see Christian there with Shannon, he usually went home to his wife Annie.

Sitting down at the table, Shannon glances at Stella and Charlie, Charlie's chair is way to close to Stella's, making a mental note to question her friend about it.

Sipping his drink slowly, Christian looks around at the few remaining team mates, even though he had only been in TR for a short period of time, he loved the team, and the closeness they felt. Looking at Charlie "What happens now?", seeing Charlie shake his head "Not now Christian, no work talk, except to say, tomorrow, everyone to be at HQ at 11 am for debriefing, counselling etc" then raising his glass "to Josh, Leon and Kerry" Seeing Christian look at him "Josh or Leon could still be alive",

Charlie looks at Christian, deciding not to say anything "Anyone seen or heard from Lawson", looking more at Shannon as she shakes her head "I tried calling him but no answer"

Sipping her drink, Stella looks up "The two of them were definitely going out then?" seeing Shannon nod before answering "yes, for a few weeks now".

Christian looks around the table "has anyone told James, that his mother is…."

Seeing Stella look at him "you can say it Christian, Kerry is dead", Looking up at Stella his youthfulness showing "I just can't believe she is dead, what about James, does he have any idea"

Charlie, glancing at Christian, not really knowing "I think someone would of told him, if not, they will when they think it the right time"

Looking down, Christian continues "when is the right time, to tell her son, that his mum died, he's in witness protection"

Shannon glances at Christian "Kerry knew what she was doing, she knew it was dangerous Christian, but it didn't stop her from doing it, she not only risked her life, but she put the whole TR in danger"

Looking at Shannon, hearing the rumours about why she and Lawson broke up "James still lost his mum, you have no idea, what it is like when your kids are in danger, or wanting to protect them"

Listening in, Stella looks at Christian "Either do you Christian", looking around the table "I know I'd want to protect them, and more understanding than you do"

Still bitter over what Kerry did to her, Shannon "There is protecting and helping your kid, and putting other peoples life in danger and getting them killed"

Sick of Shannon's attitude, Christian looks at her "She is dead now Shannon, give her a break, just because she and Lawson were going out, and Lawson and you broke up, she did what she thought was right"

Looking at Shannon, tensing up and Christian, Charlie interrupts them "She had her own way of dealing with things even if it wasn't the right or correct way, but she was loyal to her squad all of you"

Stella nodding at Charlie, then looking at Shannon "TR won't be the same without Kerry, Leon or Josh, Leon and his cheezel towers, or funny things he did, Kerry is just Kerry, as hard as she was, I'm amazed she never did anything about over hearing us about rooting her on her birthday", seeing Charlie and Christian raise their eyebrows there eyes in surprise as Shannon smiles "I wonder if anyone did knock on her door, remember Josh saying I pay $100 and root Kerry" before both of them saying at the same time "Lawson"

Walking out of the pub a short time later they say goodbye to each other, walking away from the pub around the corner, Stella turns around seeing Charlie behind her, looking up at him "I'm going to another pub", following her down the road, they don't go far, before he feels Stella's hand against his chest, pushing him against the wall, before kissing him hard, feeling her hand move down his body he whispers "this isn't the place" feeling her lips silencing him "live life"

…..

Walking out of Tash's place the next morning, Lawson hops in his car, gripping the steering wheel tight, staring straight ahead, his head muddled, what had he done, pulling away from the curb, not looking, ignoring the beeping horns. Pulling up at the traffic lights, his thoughts back to the previous night, what on earth had he done, what possessed him to do it, not even hearing the horns beeping behind him, looking up finally he sees the lights about to turn red, putting his foot down and tearing through the intersection.

Pulling up at Williamstown a short time later, he parks the car, sitting there staring straight ahead, what would of Kerry said if she found out, or Josh, thumping the wheel with his head, that is why it happened, why he slept with Tash, in one day, he lost his girlfriend, the love of his life and best friend.

Getting the carton of beers out of the car, he walks out to the end of the pier, sitting down looking over the water, throwing back the first beer, the smooth cool liquid down his throat. Blinking away the tears, was it really 3 years ago, that they ended up here one night, not long after Grace had died, walking along the water talking, and walking to the end of the pier, one thing lead to another, in the moonlight, Kerry looked so beautiful, he felt he had to kiss her. Sculling another bottle he throws it into the water.

…

Hearing his phone ring Charlie reaches out to answer it, feeling his arms wrapped around someone, not just someone, but the person he has wanted for so long, looking for his phone, it stops ringing, feeling Stella move, as he moves over to his side, seeing her eyes looking up into his, as she moves her mouth back up to his. Responding to her kisses, he pulls her towards him, making love to her.

Hearing his phone ring again a short time later, he moves away from Stella, hanging up he turns to Stella the surprise evident on his face "That was…Josh has been found", seeing Stella's face he looks into her eyes "He's alive Stella, just but they pulled him out and he is alive,"