TNN ONESHOTS

You hit her? - AFK & CV & MK & AMR

The handover papers felt flimsy in Charlotte's hand as Autumn's voice exploded across the room. "They never do that for any of us! Why is it always here?" Autumn's eyes were blazing, and she slammed the clipboard down, the pen skittering across the side in the baby room. "Charlotte, how am I meant to come back to work when this is what keeps happening?" She punctuated the question by stabbing the pen into the signature line.

Charlotte met Autumn's gaze head-on, refusing to flinch. "I understand your frustration, Autumn, but yelling at me isn't going to fix anything," she said, her voice firm. "I'm dealing with the same issues you are. I'm trying to find solutions, but it's not an overnight fix."

Autumn scoffed, her anger momentarily faltering at Charlotte's unwavering stance. "Trying? It doesn't look like it! This is a constant problem, and it's always dumped on us. I'm tired of it!" Charlotte stood her ground. "Then let's work together to find a real solution instead of taking it out on each other," she said, holding Autumn's gaze. "Because, frankly, I'm tired of it too."

The muffled shouts carried through the nursery and into the office, a familiar prelude to another tense handover. Mia and Marj exchanged worried glances, both recognizing Autumn's raised voice. "Sounds like it's kicking off," Marj murmured, pushing back from her desk. Mia nodded, already halfway to the door. "Let's just check everything's alright." They made their way towards the baby room, the argument growing louder with each step.

As they reached the doorway, the scene unfolded in slow motion. Autumn's arm was extended, her fist connecting with Charlotte's face. It was a split-second reaction, a lash-out born of frustration and exhaustion. Charlotte stumbled back, her hand flying to her cheek, a look of shock and disbelief washing over her face.

Mia gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. Marj surged forward, her voice sharp. "Autumn! What the hell do you think you're doing?" The room fell silent, the weight of the moment hanging heavy in the air as everyone processed the unexpected eruption of violence.

Time seemed to freeze as the shock rippled through the room. Then, Mia was moving, her body acting on instinct. She rushed to Charlotte, her arms wrapping around her tightly. "Okay, sweetheart," she murmured, pulling Charlotte close. "You are okay" she hushed just loud enough for her to hear.

Charlotte's body was trembling, the fight gone out of her. Tears streamed down her face, silent and unstoppable. She buried her face in Mia's shoulder, her breath hitching in ragged sobs. Mia held her tight, her own heart aching at the sight of Charlotte's distress. She could feel the tremors racking Charlotte's body, the raw emotion pouring out of her.

"It's okay," Mia whispered, her voice soothing. "I've got you. I'm here." She rubbed Charlotte's back, offering silent comfort, a steady presence in the aftermath of the outburst. The world narrowed to just the two of them, Mia's arms a safe haven against the storm. In that moment, words were unnecessary, the embrace speaking volumes of love and support.

Autumn stood frozen, the air thick with tension. Her eyes were wide, mirroring the disbelief that echoed through the room. A tremor ran through her, visible in the slight shaking of her hands. The weight of what she'd done crashed down on her, the adrenaline fading to leave a cold, stark reality.

"Aut," Marjorie's voice cut through the silence, soft but firm. She took a step towards Autumn, her expression a mix of concern and disappointment. "Autumn?" she repeated, trying to break through the younger woman's daze. But Autumn remained unresponsive, locked in her own head, replaying the moment over and over.

She was trapped in a loop of disbelief and regret, unable to process the enormity of her actions. The world seemed to blur around the edges, the sounds fading into a muffled hum. All that remained was the image of Charlotte's face, the shock and hurt etched into her features. Autumn was lost, adrift in a sea of guilt and confusion, unable to find her way back to the present.