ALL'S FAIR IN LOVE AND WAR

WARNING TO ALL READERS

DO NOT READ IF YOU ARE A MAJOR BEN FAN

BEN HAS BEEN MADE A HORRIBLE PERSON IN THIS FIC. THIS IS NOT WHAT I HOPE TO HAPPEN BUT THE IDEA JUST CAME TO ME. DO NOT EXPRESS YOUR DISTURBANCE AT BEN BEING SEEN SO BAD TO ME AS YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

Summary

Setting about the end of season 11. Jo has not left. PJ and Jo's relationship is going well. Sparks of tension will soar when two other Mt. Thomas Males find love within the station.

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(Locker Room – Jo and Suzie)

'Come on Suze, just tell me. You can't deny it.'

'Well I am.'

'I saw him sneak out of the pub last night. And you didn't even come.'

'Well if you saw him, he didn't do a very good job of sneaking out did he?'

'Don't change the subject Suzie. So what was he like?'

'That, Joanna, is none of your god damn business.'

'Ah, so you did.'

'You don't give up do you?' Suzie said with a sigh.

'Not easily, no. Come on, details.'

'In your dreams Jo. Alright. I slept with Jonesy. Are you happy now?'

'No. I still don't know anything I didn't already know.'

Suzie glared at Jo as she shut her locker door.

'And you're not going to find out anymore, from me. Bye, bye.' Suzie walked out the door shutting it behind her.

(That Night – PJ, Jo & Ben's House)

Ben watched as Jo turned everything in the lounge room over looking for the TV remote.

'Where the god damn hell is it?'

'Jo. You're up now just change it on the TV.'

She went to press a button on the TV and when she stood up Ben was right next to her. He leaned over and kissed her softly on the lips. She put her hands up to push him away as PJ walked in the door.

'I don't believe it.' He turned and walked out the door.

Jo pushed him off and raced after PJ.

'Peej, wait. Let me explain.'

'Looked pretty self-explanatory to me. You kissed. I just have to face the facts.'

'He kissed me. I went to push him away. Please. PJ I love you. I would never kiss someone else. You have to believe me.'

'Why?' he walked out the front door shutting it behind him and she heard his car drive off.

She stormed back into the lounge room to face Ben.

'What the hell was that about?'

'I love you.'

'Well I don't love you. I love PJ. And thanks to you, our relationship may just be over. I hope you're happy with what you've achieved tonight. I hope you're god damn happy.'

She turned and stormed into her and PJ's bedroom and slammed the door shut behind her.

(Station Main Office – Next Day – Suzie and Jonesy are late)

Tom walked into the station and was met with an eerie silence. Ben and Jo were sitting at their desks starring at paperwork but not actually doing anything. PJ's office door was shut. And Jonesy and Suzie were not there.

'Where are Jones and Raynor?'

His question received no answer.

'Don't all jump to answer to answer me!'

'No idea.' Ben snapped.

'Don't know.' Jo replied.

'Parrish, go see what's keeping her.'

'Sure.' She said. 'Anything to get me out of here.' She muttered under her breath.

'What was that?'

'Nothing. Nothing at all.'

She wandered through to the watch house and knocked on the door. When nothing happened she knocked again.

'Suze. It's Jo. What the hell are you doing? Tom's about to blow a fuse.'

Still nothing.

'Suze? Are you there?'

(Inside Watch House)

Suzie sat up when she heard a knock at the door. It was followed by Jo's voice.

'Shit! Jonesy wake up.'

He mumbled something unrecognisable and rolled over.

'I'm serious. We're like half an hour late.'

'What?' he managed to form a word this time.

'We're late. Jo's at the door yelling at me to get moving.'

'Shit. Work.'

'Yeah.'

'Go answer the door.'

'What do I tell Jo?'

'I don't know. Make up something. The alarm didn't go off. Anything.'

Suzie rolled out of bed and pulled her dressing gown on and went and opened the door.

'Well the hell have you been?' Jo snapped.

'Good morning to you too.'

'Funny. Tom's about to explode.'

'I overslept. The alarm didn't go off it.'

'Let me guess, Jonesy forgot to set it.'

'What's this got to do with him?'

'I'm not as stupid as I might look. He just walked past behind you.'

'Loser.' She exclaimed.

'Just move it. Fast. And tell him to do the same.' She turned and headed back towards the station.

'Whatever possessed you to walked past the open door?'

'Oh.'

'Exactly.'

'She probably knew anyway. She's a bigger gossip than my little sister.'

She snuck in a few minutes after Jonesy and tried to avoid the Boss.

'I would suggest the pair of you invest in a new alarm clock. One that actually works.'

'Yes Boss.' She said before taking her seat.

(Later that Day – Still Station)

Tom stuck his head out his office and called Jo in.

'Would you care to explain why you, Stewart and PJ have not exchanged words once today?'

'Out topics of conversation obviously haven't crossed. That's not a crime is it?'

'If you're private life starts to affect…'

'Private?' she interrupted him. 'That's a joke. Why don't you ask Ben? He seems to want to get involved in my private life.' She turned and walked out the office.

'Parrish!' he called out after her. He got up to follow her but stopped when he saw Suzie get up and follow her out the back door.

(Back Verandah – Suzie and Jo)

'Hey,'

'Go away Suzie.'

'What's going on? You've got all the personality of a wet mop today?'

'It's not fair.' The tears started the stream down her face. 'Everything's ruined now.'

'What's ruined?'

'Me and PJ.'

'Why? Did you have a fight.'

'No, not really, because fighting actually involves exchanging words. He won't even talk to me.'

'What happened?'

'Ben kissed me.'

'What?'

'He kissed me.'

'Did you…'

'No. Ofcourse not. PJ walked in. I had my hands up trying to push him away. And he took it the wrong way. I tried to explain but he won't listen. I would never, ever do anything to harm my relationship with PJ. Never.'

'I'm sorry. I shouldn't have doubted you.'

'That's alright.'

'Do you want me to talk to PJ?'

'Nah. It's not your problem. You shouldn't have to get involved.'

'I know what happened. I'm already involved. I wouldn't have asked if I didn't care.'

(3 Days Later – PJ, Ben and Jo's House)

PJ got home expecting Jo and Ben to both be home but was surprised that the house appeared to be empty. He went into his bedroom to change his clothes and saw Jo lying in an uncomfortable looking position on the bed. He watched her for a minute, thinking how had things gone so wrong when he realised she wasn't breathing. He rang for an ambulance and started giving her mouth-to-mouth trying to restart her breathing.

Will She Survive?

What Happened?

Find Out Next Time in … Love and War