The Outbreak (The Nursery Nurse)

Thirty

Charlotte stared up at the ceiling, the deathly chill of night filtering the bedroom almost as if it was trying to suffocate her.

She leant over and took the vacant watch from the night stand.

3:30am

She inhaled deeply, her body was exhausted yet her mind was not, she had been laying there for hours.

She turned slightly and watched as Mia slept, her face was no longer vacated with stress.

It was the only time Charlotte ever saw her look peaceful, the version of Mia that was buried underneath all of the years of manipulation, the Mia that hadn't been exploited by Roger yet, the Mia she only got to see sometimes.

She took her hand and gently brushed the hair out of Mia's face before leaning over and pressing a delicate kiss to her lips.

I'm sorry for everything I put you through.

She carefully moved off the bed, sleep wasn't welcoming her tonight, she made her way downstairs silently brushing her fingertips along the banister as she went.

Switching the kitchen light on she went over to the sofa and collected her research journals that had been discarded there from earlier in the day, Siobhan and Vivian had looked through them thoroughly.

She took them to the large island and settled on flipping through them to pass time.

She was scrawling down more annotations to earlier points she made when a presence startled her.

Siobhan was across from her, watching her with uncertainty.

"Oh." Charlotte exhaled, "You scared me, is everything alright?"

Siobhan's expression wavered slightly, "I think I should be asking you the same." She muttered quietly.

Charlotte bit down on her lip slightly, she tapped the pen against the marble absentmindedly as she watched the woman analyse her, unsure on how to reply.

Siobhan was an observer, just like her.

"Can't sleep?" Charlotte asked gently before turning her attention back to the page.

Siobhan inhaled deeply, "Not in this house, not after." Her voice trailed off and she ran a comforting hand through her hair.

Charlotte froze slightly, Siobhan's journal entries were tugged harshly to the forefront of her mind, she looked up.

"Siobhan, what happened to you wasn't your fault, you must remember that." Charlotte ushered softly.

She watched as Siobhan's eyes glazed over, "I know, I've made my peace." She confirmed quietly before taking a seat on the opposing stool.

It was silent for a little while.

"You're research is brilliant, the way your mind works has always fascinated me, even way back with the children's observations." Siobhan spoke gently.

Charlotte's head snapped up once more in surprise, "I hadn't realised you'd read them at all." She admitted awkwardly.

Siobhan chuckled slightly.

It was strange, Siobhan had changed so much but in a good way, as if this is who she had always been, the woman she could of been if Roger had never of gotten to her.

She had healed.

"You're very clever Charlotte, I sometimes used to wonder what bigger things awaited for you if you ever did want to move on from childcare." Siobhan continued.

Charlotte exhaled briefly, "That was never an option for me, the Charlotte you used to know would of died at the thought of any other occupation."

Siobhan looked over her with curious eyes, "But now?" She paused, "Do you wish you did things differently?"

Charlotte felt her heartbeat quicken, her defensive walls crumbled slightly at the turn of conversation.

"I wish I did a lot of things differently." She said blankly, defeated, as if all the life had been drained from her gradually bit by bit.

Siobhan hummed slightly, "I miss so much." She said after a short moment.

Charlotte offered a sad smile, "Me too."

"Thankyou for letting us stay the night, although I don't enjoy this house I do enjoy the familiarity." Siobhan said kindly.

Charlotte met her eyes, "It's no problem, you, Viv and Jamie are welcome anytime."

Charlotte realised that this is the most she had talked for in a while, it felt unfamiliar to her, she fiddled with the charm bracelet Autumn had given to her, it offered a strange comforting feeling.

Siobhan was observing the kitchen, her gaze stopped when she spotted a picture on the fridge.

Charlotte had her arms wrapped around two small girls, they were all smiling brightly at the camera.

"Have you made yours?" Siobhan asked after a while.

Charlotte looked up from her work, "Made what?" She asks confused.

"Your peace."

Charlotte turned to see what had captured Siobhan's attention so abruptly, once she saw the picture she felt her heart drop.

She shut her eyes and slammed her protective walls into place, she slowly got up and removed the fridge magnet, she took the picture in her hands not bothering to take a second look at it, flipped it so it was now blank and hung it back up.

"I don't think I ever will." Charlotte admitted.

Siobhan felt guilt surge throughout her, "Charlotte I'm sorry i didn't mean to."

Charlotte spun back round, "It's fine, I know you meant no harm." She interrupted flatly, numb.

Siobhan looked down slightly, "I admire your strength Charlotte but sometimes you need to let yourself break, remember that."

Before Charlotte could respond Siobhan muttered a friendly goodnight and left the room.

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Sorry for a short chapter, it took me ages and it's not even 1000 words...! It's a meaningful one though! <3

I promise there will be more action in the next few, and don't worry a lot more heartbreak is coming your way

As always, Love you!