Title: Jack's Back

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters you recognize, but other than that it's all mine.

Summary: After several years away from Mt Thomas Jack returns to find a lot of things have changed.

Dedicated to Willow, Blaire, Nat, Manda, Mandy, Chantal and Susie!

Jo grimaced as Susie sank the eight ball for the third game in a row. She was relaxing, playing doubles with PJ, Susie and Jonesy at the Imperial. They all needed to wind down after the hectic week that they had settling into their new station.

"Alright!" Susie cried

"Looks like it's my turn to shout drinks hey!" Jo replied.

"Yep. Got it in one." Jonesy said. "There's just no beating the best. And my Susie is the best." He said wrapping his arms around her.

"Hey I told you not to call me that!" Susie said hitting Jonesy playfully. "I don't belong to you."

"Sorry Suse." Jonesy replied making a puppy dogface. "Do you forgive me?"

Susie sighed, turned and handed Jonesy her cue. "Who could stay mad at someone with a face like that?"

"No one."

"Exactly."

"I'll go get the drinks then." Jo laughed as she left the pair kissing.

"Hey you two," PJ mocked, "Why don't you get a room. I'm sure Christy would give you a key!"

"Hey Chris. Three beers and an OJ thanks." Jo settled at the bar to wait for the drinks.

"I always knew you were a heavy drinker." A voice behind Jo said. She thought she recognized the voice, but couldn't place it, she wasn't happy that whoever it was, was accusing her of drinking too much. Especially now

"Who the Hell do you think you are?" She spun around. "Jack!" She cried and she wrapped her arms around him.

"Got it in one!" He smiled and hugged her back.

"Wow it's so good to see you again! Where have you been, when did you get out, why haven't you come to see us sooner?" She almost couldn't believe it was Jack standing there in front of her. She had tried to keep in contact with him when he had been sent to jail, but he hadn't returned any of her letters and after a while she had stopped sending them.

"Slow down and take a breath Jo! I've missed you so much."

"I've missed you too."

He went to give Jo a kiss on the lips, but she turned away so he got her cheek instead.

"Hey what are you doing to my girlfriend?" PJ said as she walked up. "Lips off mate! Hugs are fine, but the lips belong to me now!" PJ said as he slipped in behind Jo. "'Bout time you showed your ugly mug back here." He looked at Jack.

"Nice to see you too mate." Jack replied and PJ stepped away from Jo after giving her a gentle kiss on the lips.

"Jack buddy how have ya been?" PJ asked as he and Jack shared a brotherly hug and slap on the back.

"I'm great buddy. How are you?" Jack asked.

"Better than ever." PJ smiled as he looked back at Jo. "What are you doing with yourself these days?"

"Umm hello did I suddenly become invisible?" Jo asked.

"Sorry Joey you could never be invisible. Can you forgive me?"

"Of course." She kissed him lightly.

"Well, well, well. What have we here? I go away for a few years and everything's changed!" Jack asked. He had hoped that Jo would be available, but when he looked at his two friends he realized that they were perfect together.

"We've been married for three years now." She held out her hand and showed him the ring proudly.

"Well good for you. It's about time you guys got off your butts and got together." Jack laughed, as he pushed his own feelings about Jo away.

"Here are your drinks Jo." Chris said and she placed the tray on the counter.

"Thanks Chris." Jo said as she turned around and Chris spotted Jack.

"Jack!" Chris cried. "What are you doing here?" She practically ran around and wrapped him in a hug.

"I came to see you Chris." Jack laughed. "So where's everyone else?" Jack asked. "I heard a rumor you guys made a few changes around here."

"Several actually. The new members are all over there with Ben."

"Well what are we waiting for? Let's go over and say hello." Jo and PJ led him over to where the rest of their group was sitting.

"Hey Jo where's our drinks?" Jonesy asked.

"Umm sorry. Something more important came up."

PJ almost laughed, Jo had been getting so easily distracted lately, and when she got distracted she usually forgot what she had been doing. It was getting to be a joke at work, but they all made allowances, and helped her out when it happened.

"Don't worry guys. Here they are." PJ said as he handed the drinks around.

"Jack?" Ben asked.

"Mate!" Jack cried. Ben stood up and they too shared a brotherly hug.

"How have you been?" Ben asked.

"Not so bad. And you?"

"Same. I got engaged."

"Yeah? Who's the lucky woman?"

"Her name's Marissa. Unfortunately you can't meet her tonight, she's been held up at work."

"Well you'll just have to introduce me later then. As for now. Drinks are on me." He shouted.

"What did you suddenly win the lottery or something?" Jo asked.

"No better. I've got my own company in Adelaide."

"So is that why you're here?" Jo asked.

"Actually it is. I had some business in the area and I thought I would drop in and see how my old mates were"

"Well you know you're always welcome." PJ said.

"Umm guys." Mariah said. "I don't mean to be rude but…who is your friend?"

"Sorry. Umm guys this is Jack. Jack I'd like you to meet the new members of Mt Thomas Police. Constable Mariah Sanchez, Constable Cameron Peters, Constable Susie Raynor and Constable Evan Jones." Jo introduced them all.

"Wow. You must have made some big changes." Jack cried. "It's nice to meet you all. Well sorry to meet and run but I've got a few things to organize before I settle down for the night. I promise I'll catch up with you all before I head back to Adelaide!"

"Yeah. We'd love that. See ya Jack." Jo kissed his cheek.

"Bye Guys." Jack called as he walked out of the pub.

"He seems nice." Mariah said.

"Yeah." Susie added.

Jo leaned back into PJ as the rest of the Heelers continued to chat. She couldn't hold back the huge yawn that threatened to break her jaw. It didn't take much to tire her out these days, and she was glad that this part of her pregnancy would soon be over.

PJ noticed that Jo was getting tired and decided it was time to take her home and put her to bed.

"Ok guys well I think it's time that Jo and I made a move, we have a big day tomorrow!"

"Aww PJ, just a little longer..." Jo started to complain until another huge yawn attacked her.

PJ laughed. "Hey it was you that said you wanted to be wide awake when we went for the first ultrasound!"

Jo grumbled some more, good naturedly, as PJ pulled her up into a warm hug.

"Well I hope it goes well." Susie said.

"Me too. Don't forget to bring the photo in and give us a look at the little one." Jonesy called as Jo and PJ left.

"Bye guys."

Jo was lying on the hospital bed, her eyes glued to the monitor. She was almost holding her breath with excitement. PJ was sitting next to her, holding her hand and watching the screen and Jo with equal pleasure. He didn't think things could get any better.

"Wow look at that." Jo said with tears in her eyes. "It's our baby."

"I know. It's so hard to believe."

"Um guys I'm not sure how to tell you this, but I hope that you have a big house and lots of friends." The gynecologist smiled. "You not having a baby, your actually having two!"

"Twins?" Jo asked, shocked. She turned to look at PJ, not sure what to think.

PJ felt his smile grow impossibly wider.

"Twins? Wow, this is fantastic!" He lent down and kissed Jo's brow, and watched the awe spread across her face. "We're going to be parents Joey, twins!"

"I suspected as much when you told me how tired you have been Jo. Although some women do feel fatigued during the first trimester, you seemed to be extremely tired." Her doctor said. "Would you like to know what sex they are?"

PJ being a traditionalist wanted to wait to find out and Jo was too blown away to really mind what they were.

"This is so great. I can't wait to tell the others."

Well that's it for chapter one. More if you guys want it later on! Love Jess