Chapter 2

Hey everyone,

sorry it took so long here's chapter 2

Disclaimer - I don't own the characters from Sea patrol or Blue Heelers

Enjoy!

Beyond the Blue

Chapter 2

Mike burst out laughing, this had to be some kind of joke. He glanced up at Kate and noticed her straight face, he stopped laughing immediately.

"Kate?"

Kate knew there was no going back now, she was going to sound crazy, she just hoped it wasn't going to send him over the edge.

"Mike, I'm in witness protection..."

There was a deafening silence, Kate poured herself another drink.

"Mike, please say something."

Mike turned towards her, he was so overwhelmed, he had so many questions but none of them found their way out his mouth. He took a deep breath in and composed the sentence in his head.

"Has this all been a lie?"

Kate desperately grabbed his hands and held them tight trying to reassure him.

"No, Mike! Our life is real, it's just my past... I want to have a future with you but I can't do that until I am completely honest with you!"

Mike knew this was serious but he couldn't get his head around it, she was Kate McGregor, how could she really be anyone else?

"This is crazy?! Why were you in protection?"

Kate didn't want to reveal why, she didn't want to involve him just in case, she had done that once and look where that had gotten her.

"Mike, I don't know if it's wise for you to know that much..."

Mike still didn't know how to feel, he stood up out and paced around the room out of frustration, he didn't mean to yell but he was in shock.

"Well, what's the point in telling me this then?"

Kate feared that it would go this way, she tugged on his arm trying to get him to sit back town.

"Look Mike, I'll make some calls in the morning and then I might be able to explain., can you please sit down?"

Mike couldn't sit still, his body was reacting to his mind, he started to pace around the room again.

"Okay, so tell me, where did you live? What did you do?"

Kate smiled remembering her time in Mt Thomas, she hadn't thought about her old team for years. She had tried to block it out, the way she left everyone, the way she left PJ.

"I was a Copper in Victoria, in a small country town called Mt Thomas"

Mike laughed at the thought.

"You in a country town?"

Kate smiled and nodded as her mind flashed with images of her home.

"Yeah, I loved it! I could walk to work, drinks at the local every night, it was peaceful."

Mike stopped dead in his tracks as a question popped into his mind, he couldn't bare to look at her as he asked.

"Did you have a boyfriend?"

The smile instantly dropped off of Kate's face, how was she going to explain? It could be the last straw, her answer came out as a whisper.

"A fiancée."

Mike hesitated hoping he had heard her incorrectly

"A fiancée? Kate, what happened?"

Tears escaped from Kate's eyes, Mike was instantly worried and sat back down next to her.

"I had to leave him, I put everyone in danger, I wasn't going to do that too him."

Mike was anxious, he had to know if she still had feelings for this man.

"Where does he think you are?!"

Kate hesitated, she could only hear her heat beat. Mike was growing impatient, scared more than anything.

"Kate?!"

Kate's voice stuttered, she knew that this could change everything.

"He thinks, everyone thinks... I'm dead."

Mike instantly moved away from her, this was not the person who he fell in love with, the Kate McGregor he knew would never do that to someone, not if she actually cared about them.

"How? How could you do that to the people you love?!"

Kate knew there way no way that he would understand, she didn't mean to but she started to get defensive, she didn't feel like he had the right to judge her.

"Mike, I had no choice! I could have had them killed!"

Mike rubbed his hands over his face, he loved her, but he needed to understand why. He placed a hand on her shoulder trying to demonstrate that he was willing to listen.

"Tell me why, Kate, help me understand!"

Kate shook her head, she couldn't.

"I can't Mike, not yet?!"

Mike didn't understand, they had discussed it this far, was she pushing him away? Did she still love this other man? He couldn't cope with the thought, his emotions took over and he rose from the couch.

"Well, call me when you feel like telling me who you really are!"

Mike headed for the door and slammed it as he left, Kate clenched her fists and kicked the couch.

"Shit!"

The next morning Mike stood out the front of Kate house, he had barley any sleep and he needed answers. He knocked and waited a few minutes, it was early after all. After about 10 minutes, he became impatient and got out his keys, Kate had given him a key for emergencies, and he deemed this an emergency.

"Kate, it's Mike...I know you're home your car is here!"

Mike wandered around her house, she was obviously not there, he spotted a note on the kitchen bench.

"Mike,

I need to sort things out, I've gone back to Mt Thomas. I want to make things right, I don't want to drag you into this. I understand if you want to take back your proposal.

Love, Kate McGregor"

Mike rubbed his hands over his face, he didn't know whether to go after her or give her some space.

Kate sat on the plane, her body twitched from nerves. What was she doing? They could all hate her, they could have all moved on. She removed her wallet from her bag and pulled out a crumpled photo from behind her cards. It was a photo of the team before Dash had left for Melbourne. She smiled as she studied their faces, The Boss, Ben, Dash, Adam and PJ.

The elderly lady sitting next to hear leaned closer.

"Going on a holiday?"

Kate smiled back at her.

"No, I'm going home."

Kate drove into town via the old Melbourne road, she drove over the hill and laughed remembering her first day in Mt Thomas. PJ and Nick and pulled her over, PJ tried his best to chat her up but she was already prepared thanks to her brother and father's investigating on her new team.

Kate pulled up outside the station and her hands started to feel clammy, she didn't know if she was ready for this. Was she being selfish? They could all hate her for leaving the way she did. She tried to calm herself by confirming her actions.

"Just get out the car. You can do this!"

Kate walked up the path to the front door, she leaned herself against the wall afraid that her legs would collapse from nerves. She took a deep breath in and reached for the handle, she swung it open and stepped inside, it slammed behind her causing her to jump.

She watched as an attractive young officer approached the counter, her eyes scanned his name tag "Constable Evan Jones". He stood there with a friendly smile on his face.

"Yes Ma'am, how can we help?"

Kate looked around the station, it hadn't changed much, maybe a coat of paint but it calmed her knowing that it was still the same. She glanced about for any familiar faces, negative.

Evan frowned slightly at her lack of communication, he waved his hand in front of her face bringing her back to the moment.

"Hello? Ma'am, are you okay?"

Kate's head snapped to the left as she heard the the CI office door open, her heart skipped a beat as she saw 2 familiar faces approach. They looked over to the counter at Evan who was now waving both his hands in front of Kate's face. They immediately stopped talking, Evan and Tess were now staring at Ben and PJ who were staring at the blonde woman at the counter. Ben slowly approached the counter and opened the door, a large smile appeared on his face and he wrapped his arms around her.

"Maggie?"

He picked her up and swung her round, placing her back on the ground the glanced over to PJ but he wasn't there, he had skulked back to his office. He shook his head slightly and focused his attention back on Kate.

"I can't believe it's you! Come in, sit down! Tell us everything!"

Tess and Evan looked at each other completely confused about what was happening. Tom Croydon exited his office to see what the commotion was about.

"Why aren't we working?"

Kate wiped the tears from her face and smiled as she saw her old boss.

"Boss…"

Tom removed his glasses not quite sure what he was seeing.

"Doyle?"

Kate nodded, of course Tom was still there, he was the heart and soul of Mt Thomas.

"Miss me?"

Tom shook his head and walked back into his office, the smile dropped from Kate's face, she was a little surprised by his reaction. She knocked on his door and entered without an invitation.

"Boss, I'm sorry for showing up like this. But I didn't think an email or a text message was appropriate... how would that go? "Hi, by the way I'm alive."

Tom walked up to Kate with a blank expression on his face.

"I spoke at your funeral Maggie"

Kate looked at her feet, she awalys hated disappointing Tom.

"Boss, I cant imagine what it was like but..."

Tom smiled and threw his arms around her and gave her a squeeze.

"I'm so glad your safe!"

Kate took a moment to register that he was happy, she hugged him back.

"I've missed you!"

They exited his his office and returned to the main office. He cleared his throat to make introductions.

"Ah, Sergeant Tess Gallagher and Constable Evan Jones this is Senior Constable Maggie Doyle."

Kate smiled and shook their hand.

"Ah, actually, it's Lieutenant Commander Kate McGregor."

They all had confused looks on the faces, Ben wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

"Well, you can explain down at the pub, Lieutenant Commander, first rounds on you seeming you've missed like 1000!"

Ben lead her out of the station, she looked back at the CI office hoping PJ would come out, but the door remained closed.

The Heelers met out the front and walked into the Imperial in front of Kate, Chris was flat out and barely looked up as they entered. They all leaned on the bar waiting for Chris to acknowledge them, she threw the tea towel back onto the bar and walked over to where they were standing.

"The usual?"

They watched as her eyes scanned the group counting how many beers she needed to pour, Kate stood on the end. Chris's eyes ran straight past Kate, she turned to start pouring the beers and suddenly turned back and focused on Kate.

"Hey Chris!"

Chris was frozen for a moment then let out a scream.

"Maggie!"

She ran out from behind the bar and hugged her tight.

"I can't believe it's you! How are you here!?"

"It's a long story, that we will need a lot of beers for! Can we use the Parlor?"

Chris nodded and handed her a bottle of Champagne.

"Gotta celebrate…"

Inside the parlour they gathered around Kate eagerly waiting for her to explain, she took a sip of champagne exhaled sharply.

"I don't know where to start! Well, obviously you know what happened

here. I was moved to Cairns, it took them a while to get all my ID and stuff sorted seeming it was going to be pretty permanent. I was so bored, there are only so many things to binge watch on Netflix! I wanted to do something like being a Copper so it was suggested I join the Navy. I went to Naval collage and because of my Police training I blitzed it."

Tom laughed and raised his glass.

"Wouldn't expect anything less from you Doyle!"

Ben swallowed the rest of his drink.

"Yeah, you know you were always the bosses favourite!"

Kate playfully punched him on the shoulder.

"No I wasn't, well not always!"

Evan nudged her other shoulder and laughed.

"Oh yeah, the Boss told us about your first day!"

Kate shook her head, it was one of her most embarrassing days on the force.

"Hey! That dog would have mauled us! Anyway, after I graduated I worked on a few ships and currently I'm serving as a Lieutenant Commander on an Armidale class Patrol Boat, Hammersley. And well, now I'm here."

Tess felt a little on the outer, she sheepishly raised her hand, Kate smiled and nodded in her direction.

"So, umm, what are you doing back here if you're in the Navy?

Tess realised that it may have come across as impolite and quickly elaborated.

"Oh, that wasn't supposed to sound rude, but I heard what happened to you, like, how do you know it's safe?"

Kate sighed and took another sip of her drink.

"Well, I made some calls, they weren't impressed, but I had to do it for myself. I'm sick of hiding, I love the life I have but I left a pretty awesome life here too!"

Kate went on to explain about their patrols and missions, the people she works with and the lifestyle of the Navy. A few hours later she began to yawn.

"Sorry guys, it's been a long day and I'm stuffed, I promise I'll answer all your questions tomorrow!"

Everyone agreed and started to head home, Ben walked up to Kate.

"You can crash at the watch house if you want!"

Kate nodded warily.

"I'm too tired to argue!"

Ben unlocked the door and swung it open, Kate smiled as this house hasn't changed either. He grabbed the bottle of scotch from the liquor stand.

"Night cap?"

Kate nodded and sat on the couch.

"Okay, just 1."

Ben poured them a drink and sat down next to her staring, Kate sipped on her drink and glanced over to him.

"Ben?"

He shook his head and laughed, he placed his drink on the coffee table.

"I just can't believe your here, Maggie!"

Kate corrected him instantly.

"It's Kate now..."

Ben laughed and leaned back into the couch.

"So, are you going to come back?"

Kate nearly spat out her drink at the thought.

"Ben, I'm not even in the force anymore! I've just come back to clear the air..."

Ben titled his head confused.

"What do you mean?"

Kate swished her drink around her glass, how was she supposed to explain her new life her old friends?

"Well, back home, my boyfriend."

Ben raised an eyebrow and nudged her shoulder.

"Boyfriend?"

Kate nodded and sipped on her drink.

"Yeah, Mike, he umm, he proposed, and I couldn't start a life with him while I was hiding all this."

Ben looked at Kate's left hand, she was instantly embarrassed, she wasn't wearing the ring.

"Well, I actually haven't said yes, yet..."

Ben frowned wondering where this man was, why wasn't he here supporting her?

"So, why isn't he here with you?"

"Well, there's still a chance that this could go all wrong, and I didn't want to put anyone else in danger! Also I didn't know if..."

Ben halfheartedly smiled.

"PJ?"

Kate nodded as her heart skipped a beat, she hadn't said his name out loud for years.

"I don't know what I'm supposed to tell him, he looked so mad!"

Ben finished his glass, he knew that he was the last person that should be giving advice on love life, especially hers. He kissed Kate on the forehead and got up from the couch.

"You'll figure something out, I'll just go make your bed."

Ben walked off, Kate realised that she hasn't checked her phone all day. She assumed that Mike had gone to her house and had seen the note. She scrolled through the multiple messages and missed calls, all from Mike. She opened a new message and simply replied "I'm safe".

The next morning Kate awoke and forgot where she was for a moment, she rolled out of bed and and walked into the kitchen smelling the aroma of Ben's cooking. Ben was standing at the stove and turned hearing her enter the kitchen, he handed her a cup of coffee.

"Oh Ben, how you're not taken is beyond me!"

Ben smile and tuned back to the stove so she couldn't see his rosy cheeks.

"So, what's your plan while you're here? How long are you staying?"

Kate sat at the table and sipped on her coffee.

"I don't really know, it was such a spur of the moment thing. I wasn't sure how you guys were going to react. I want to talk to PJ and, I dunno, I want him to be okay with all of this. Did he ever..."

Ben shook his head and served them breakfast.

"Nothing serious... I'm surprised he didn't move back to Melbourne to be honest."

He sat down next to her and handed her a plate, she tucked in straight away.

"Ben, you need to come and be my chefo on board!"

Ben laughed and rolled his eyes.

"Don't tempt me!"

There was a knock on the door, Ben got up to answer it, he swung open the door and was surprised to see PJ.

"Is she here?"

Ben nodded and looked back at Kate, she looked up from her breakfast and sighed. She gave him a slight nod and he opened he door to let him in, Ben sensed the awkwardness.

"I'll umm, I'll leave you two to talk."

Ben walked into his bedroom to get himself ready for work, PJ sat at the table while Kate continued to eat her breakfast refusing to make eye contact.

"Ben's still a great cook, hey?"

PJ ignored her question and cleared his throat.

"So, you're alive... "

Kate moved the food around her plate, she exhaled loudly and placed her fork down and looked up at him.

"PJ, I could never explain how sorry I am! I had no choice."

PJ didn't want to get angry but he couldn't forget that she betrayed their plan,

she lied. He tried to keep calm.

"You had a choice to let me know you were okay!"

Kate closed her eyes, she shouldn't have to justify this to him.

"You know the rules PJ."

PJ slammed his fist on the table, he knew she was going to use that as an excuse.

"I could have come with you!"

Kate shook her head, why couldn't he understand.

"And deprive you of a life? Of your career... the last moments with your mum?

PJ you would have ended up resenting me!"

PJ sighed, he knew she was right but it still didn't hurt any less.

"You could have told me! Do you know what this did to everyone?!"

Kate was getting frustrated, she didn't expect PJ to welcome her with open arms but he's was cop, he should, on some level, understand why she did what she did.

"PJ, do you know what this did to me? I had to forget everyone, everything I had ever done and anyone I had ever loved. I put you all in danger, if anyone got hurt I wouldn't have been able to live with myself!"

PJ couldn't listen to her explanation, he knew why but he couldn't justify it in his head.

"What it did to you?! Maggie, I was the prime suspect! I was arrested for your murder! Not only did I loose you, they thought I killed you!"

Kate inhaled sharply, this was news to her, she had no idea. She stood up and gently placed her hand on PJ's cheek.

"PJ, I had no idea! I'm so so sorry!

He stepped back out of her reach, he couldn't bear her touch.

"Why are you back here? Why now?"

Kate knew that her reason was going to send him over the edge.

"Maggie?"

Kate couldn't lie to him again, she glanced up into PJ's eyes.

"I'm engaged and..."

The words cut through PJ's heart like a hot knife, he couldn't hear anymore, he shook his head and walked out. Kate stood there for a moment in silence then burst into tears.

Later that day Mike came running into the station, he impatiently rang the bell on the counter. Tom approached and move the bell out of reach.

"Yes sir..."

Mike scanned the office for Kate's face.

"I'm looking for... umm, Maggie Doyle?"

Everyone stopped what they were doing hearing her name from a stranger, Tom glanced back at them indicating he would handle it.

"I'm sorry Sir, she no longer works here, she..."

Mike shook his head and raised his hand to stop Tom.

"No, I'm her fiancée, Mike..."

"I'm sorry sir, but that's impossible, she is..."

PJ approached the counter and placed his hand on Tom's shoulder.

"It's okay, Boss, she told me this morning..."

PJ opened the gate and let him through, they walked around to the watch house in silence. He swung open the door to find Kate crying on the couch, she spun round hearing the door creak.

"PJ, please, we need to talk..."

PJ stepped aside to reveal Mike, he ran into the room and wrapped his arms around her.

"Kate! I was so worried! You just left! I would have come with you!"

"Mike, I didn't know how else to do this, I'm sorry."

PJ couldn't watch them, he closed the door and headed back to the station.

Mike held Kate's hand in his.

"So, umm, how come no one knows about me?"

Kate instantly became annoyed, she pulled her hand out of his grip, it was so like Mike to make it about himself.

"Mike, I've been here 1 day give me a break. People had other questions like

how am I alive?"

They sat there in silence for a moment, Mike cleared his throat.

"Is he still here?"

Kate nodded ever so sightly.

"He's the one who brought you in here..."

Mike let out a laugh much to Kate's surprise.

"I thought the blonde one would have been more your type!"

Kate playfully punched him on the arm.

"So umm, how did he react?"

Kate stood, she didn't know if she could look him in the eye, this was such a strange situation and she didn't know how to feel.

"Not great, I lied to him Mike, before I left I told him he could come with me. But then I began to think, what kind of life could we have together? He would have to leave his friends, his job, his dying mother. I couldn't do that to him."

Mike stood and placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Some people are worth that Kate."

Kate turned to face him but still unable to look him in the eye.

"Yeah, but I didn't want to be the one to do that to someone. Could you

imagine never being a Commander again? Leaving Ryan with no explanation.

That's what I would have done to him."

Mike did understand to a point but it hadn't happened to him, however he would probably do all those things for her. He sighed, he had one more question, but he was afraid of the answer.

"Do you still have feelings for him?"

Kate stood there staring at their intertwined hands.

"Mike, it's been a really overwhelming 24 hours."

She went to walk off but Mike pulled her back to face him.

"So you could still..."

Kate closed her eyes, she could feel the tears start to well.

"Mike, I'm sorry, I just, I know Kate loves you and loves the life she has."

Mike looked confused at her statement.

"Why are you talking like that?"

"Mike, I have literally lead 2 different lives and now they're merging, I don't

know what to think!"

Mike exhaled loudly and dropped her hand.

"Maybe I should go back to Cairns?"

"I'd really like you to get to know my friends, if there's any chance of us

getting through this you need to understand where I'm coming from and how

hard this is. Would you please stay?"

"What about PJ?"

Kate ran her hands over her face and shook her head.

"I don't know."

Mike wanted to be there for her, but he couldn't bear the thought that she might leave him. He needed to understand what he was up against, what was so good about this town.

"I just need some time…"

Mike left the watch house, Kate was lost for words, she sat back down on the couch and started to cry.

Mike walked around Mt Thomas, he couldn't imagine Kate living and working here. She was an ambitious, career driven woman, and this town was quiet and uninspiring. He spotted the Imperial and nodded, he needed a drink, a very large drink. He walked in and looked around, it was just as he predicted a quaint country pub, there were a few people perched at the bar. Chris spotted him and instantly knew that he was from out of town. She leaned over the bar in his direction.

"Hi, what can I get you?"

Mike sat down at the bar and nodded towards the top shelf.

"Whiskey, make it a double."

Chris poured his drink all the while keeping an eye on him, trying to figure him out. She already knew he wasn't a local but there was something else about him, she couldn't tell if he was trouble or not.

Mike swallowed the glass of whiskey in one mouthful, it didn't make Chris feel any more comfortable about him.

"Do you rent rooms here?"

"Ah, yeah, how long you staying?"

He held up the glass indicating he wanted another, she poured him another.

"Ah, not sure…"

He swallowed the lot again, Chris didn't look impressed.

"If you're gonna tie one on how bout I get you a bottle and you can go up to

your room."

Mike waved his hand in the air dismissing her comment.

"I won't be trouble, I promise!"

Chris laughed uncertainly.

"Yeah, that's what they all say! How bout you tell me what the problem is, or let me guess, is it women or work?"

Mike laughed, she had nailed it.

"You're good!"

Chris smiled and nodded.

"Been doing this along time, so which is it?"

"Well, technically both..."

Chris poured him a glass of water and placed it in front of him.

"One in between, you'll thank me later."

Mike smiled and took a sip.

"So, what are you doing here? I haven't seen you round here before. What do you do?"

Mike fished his tags out from his shirt.

"Navy."

Chris laughed, not anything she would have guessed.

"You sure you're in the right town? No water around here, well, no sea water."

Mike hesitated, he wasn't sure he was ready to tell his life story to a complete stranger.

"Ahh, I'm visiting a friend."

Chris could tell he was apprehensive and laughed.

"Ahh, a woman friend?"

He nodded, of course she guessed.

"Umm, you might know her actually, her name is Kate, I mean, Maggie, Maggie Doyle."

Chris froze, she was suddenly afraid.

"Ah, who are you?"

"Oh sorry, Mike Flynn, her fiancée."

Chris stepped towards the office door, she needed to check his story.

"Ah, can you just excuse me a minute?"

Chris ran to her office and picked up the phone to call the station, Tom answered.

"Mt Thomas police.."

"Oh Tom, it's Chris, I've got a guy here claiming to be Maggie's fiancee..."

"Umm, yeah, apparently she hadn't mentioned it, but PJ seemed to know."

"Oh, okay, well, I just wanted to make sure it was all good, didn't want to get her into trouble."

"No, you did the right thing Chris.."

Chris hung up the phone and returned to the bar, Mike laughed seeing her guilty expression.

"Checking up on me?"

Chris laughed nervously.

"It's okay, I would too, I'm glad she's got such loyal friends."

Chris smiled and leaned on the bar.

"So umm, what she been up to? You know we all can't believe she's not dead!"

Mike sighed and finished his glass of water.

"Yeah, well kinda feels like she is."

Chris tilted her head, she didn't understand Mike's statement.

"What do you mean?"

Mike pushed his glass towards her, she rolled her eyes and refilled the glass.

"Well, the Kate that I know ceases to exist here. Everyone knows Maggie here, I

don't, she's a different person here and I don't know who she is."

Chris felt bad for him, she didn't know him very well but he seemed like a nice guy.

"Well, let me tell you about the girl I know, Mike. I think you'd like her too, she

came here at a bright eyed and bushy tailed 22 year old. City girl trying to make it in the country."

Mike laughed, he still didn't really understand the appeal of this town.

"Yeah, I still can't quite picture here living here."

"She settled in pretty quickly. She was a bit gung-ho at first, wanting to prove herself but she settled in quickly. She was so caring and understanding, always wanting to find the best in everyone, but she was stubborn as all hell!"

Mike let out a laugh, Chris smiled and continued.

"She's incredibly loyal, everyone loved her. She was like a daughter to Tom, a roll model to all the younger guys and Nick treated her like his pride and joy little sister. You should have seen all the flowers outside the station when she... Mike, she's still the same person on the inside, all the things you love about he are still there!"

Chris was right, she may have had a different name bu she was still the same amazing person.

"You should be a shrink Chris!"

Chris laughed and picked up the tea towel and started to dry the rack of glasses in front of her.

"What about PJ?"

Chris hesitated and put down the glass.

"Oh Mike, you should probably ask her about that?!"

"C'mon Chris, I need an unbiased opinion."

Chris poured him another drink.

"On the house…"

Mike raised his eyebrow and his glass at the same time.

"Is it that bad?"

Chris didn't know how to describe their relationship, she thought that they were meant to be together but how was she supposed to say that to her fiancee?

"He went through a lot Mike, did she tell you he was arrested for her murder?"

Mike shook his head and ran his hand over his face.

"No, she didn't did she know that?!"

"It was crazy! We couldn't believe it. It wasn't true of course but he was set up...

by her brother."

This was all news to Mike, but it was worse than he thought, Chris didn't want to say anymore, she could already tell that Mike was in shock.

"She didn't tell you that either?"

Mike shook his head.

"Look, I know this must be hard on you, but it's not that simple. Give it time, they all have things to work out."

Mike was suddenly irritated, they didn't have time.

"And I'm just supposed to sit back and..."

Chris didn't want to make things worse but she wasn't going to let him think the worst of her.

"No Mike, you're supposed to support her."

Mike swallowed the rest of his drink.

"Do you think there's a chance she would still have feelings for him?"

"Mike, I can't answer that!"

"Please, Chris."

"Wouldn't you? Look Mike, best thing you can do is just be there for her! If you leave her now what kind of man does that make you?"

Mike dropped his head, he knew that would make him a jerk but if she still loved him he didn't know if he could watch it happen.

"Chris, I don't know if I can do it. I don't know if I could let her go..."

Mike watched as Chris' focus was distracted behind him.

"Oh Hi Peej..."

Mike turned to see 'him' standing behind him, he sighed and stood up. PJ cleared his throat.

"I think we need to talk.. Chris can we use the Parlor?"

Chris nodded and handed him the key, Mike followed PJ in, they shook hands.

"Mike Flynn."

"PJ Hasham."

They sat down avoiding each others stare, neither of them knowing where to start.

"Mike, is she happy?"

Mike nodded not expecting him to be straight to the point.

"Well yeah, I think she is, she wanted to come back here to make everything

right."

"Okay, but what is right?"

"PJ, I've been asking myself the same question for the last 24 hours."

A silence came over their conversation. Mike had a burning question but didn't know if he could hear the answer.

"Do you still love her PJ"

PJ didn't want to make waves, this was hard enough.

"Well, I guess but I don't have to tell you how complicate this is, she's not Maggie Doyle anymore, I don't know her"

Mike laughed, they were in the same strange situation.

"Yeah, I feel the same way, but in reverse. So what are we going to do?"

Kate cautiously entered the parlour not knowing what she was walking into.

"Ahh, so what happening in here?"

PJ and Mike exchanged a nervous look, Mike stood and held Kate's hand.

"Kate, we just want what's best for you.."

Kate frowned and placed her hands on her hips, what was that supposed to mean?

"So, you're deciding what's best for me? You 2?"

PJ rolled is eyes, this was typical Maggie.

"Maggie.."

Kate stepped away from both of them frustrated that they were talking about her, without her.

"It's Kate! And you 2 are unbelievable! Discussing my life and what's best

without me! Making decisions for me! Nothing's changed! You're as bad as

each other!"

Kate stormed out of the parlour, PJ and Mike glanced at each other, PJ couldn't help but laugh.

"She still has that same temper!"

Mike nodded in agreement and gave him a friendly pat on the back.

"Can I buy you a drink?"

Kate sat on Ben's couch trying not to let her head explode, Ben walked in and was surprised by her presence.

"Oh Kate, I thought you'd be staying at the pub with Mike?"

Kate exhaled and shook her head.

"I just needed some time."

Ben sat down next to her sensing she needed to vent.

"What's going on?"

"They were at the imperial, talking"

Ben didn't understand the problem.

"Ah, isn't that a good thing?"

She shook her head and started to pace the room.

"Ben, they were deciding for me, what is best for me! Shouldn't that involve

me it's my life!? Ugh, I've fallen in love with the same man, just in a different uniform."

Ben wasn't sure what he could say to make her feel better, stood and placed hand on her shoulder.

"Oh Ben, I'm sorry, you don't need to hear all this!"

Ben turned her around to face him.

"Kate, do you remember what I said the day before you left, I'll always be here for you!"

Kate smiled, she was so grateful for Ben, he had always been there for her, she did feel a little guilty for unloading all her guy problems on him as she knew that he'd always had feelings for her.

"Thanks Ben, I just, I'm sorry…"

Ben wanted to change the subject for both their sake's.

"So umm, tell me about Mike."

Kate sat back down trying to decide how much to tell, she didn't want to paint a bad picture of him from the beginning.

"Well, he was my Commanding Officer."

Ben couldn't help but smirk.

"Didn't picture you as someone who slept with their boss!?"

Kate let out a laugh and gave him a friendly shove.

"Yeah, I know it's a cliché… well short version, the Navy has a non fraternization rule so basically we were on and off for 5 years! He finally got a permanent shore posing 9 months ago so we could be together. He's a good guy Ben, but I don't know how he's supposed to cope with this…"

Again, Ben wasn't sure how to answer her question. Kate was so overwhelmed, she leaned forward and paced her head in her hands.

"Maybe I shouldn't have come back."

Ben rubbed her back for support, he knew that the old Maggie hated conflict and chaos, she was all about structure and rules.

"No Kate, it was the right thing to do!"

"Ben, it's just a mess, my life is a mess!"

"Kate, you would have know this wasn't going to be easy...you are still the same good person you were before."

"Ben, I hurt a lot of people. PJ thinks I just moved on so easily but now they're drinking together! As if this wasn't hard enough"

"So you still have feelings for PJ then?"

Kate remained quiet, she didn't know, but how could she not have feelings for him, there were so many unanswered questions.

"Kate, no one would be surprised if you did! But it seems pretty clear to me, if you're not coming back here to be Maggie Doyle, the country copper, then you live out your life as Lieutenant Commander McGregor and marry Mike. You have a new life and that's okay."

Kate appreciated Ben's support but it still wasn't that simple, she couldn't just forget her family in Mt Thomas, she had tried for 5 years and it was hard. She let out a frustrated huff.

"I don't know if I need 5 bottles of vodka or to sleep for a week!"

Ben laughed and got up and grabbed a bottle of vodka and 2 glasses.

"Well, here at Chateau de Stewart we can provide both!"

Kate smiled as Ben poured them 2 glasses.

A few hours later the bottle was nearly gone, they sat on the floor laughing.

"Well, I think the answer is clear, Lieutenant Commander!"

Ben saluted Kate with a goofy smile, she laughed and returned the gesture. They both bust out laughing.

"And what is the answer, Senior Constable Stewart?!"

"Just marry me!"

Kate stopped laughing and put down her glass.

"Ben, that's not funny!"

"Kate, it was a joke!"

Kate drew her knees up to her chest and leaned her head on her knees.

"I'm sorry Ben! You know it'd be nice not having to be so put together!"

Ben laughed not knowing what she meant.

"What do you mean?"

"I never just let loose, all my life, well, lives I've had to be responsible. A responsible Copper, a responsible sister, a responsible CO... why can't I just be me?"

She sculled the rest of her drink and Ben poured her another one.

"And who is Kate McGregor?"

Kate stared off into space and shook her head.

"I have no idea! But we can always have fun figuring it out! C'mon let's go out!"

Kate grabbed Ben's hand and pulled him off the couch.

End of Chapter 2