Author's Note: Unbeated so may be a few errors. Don't expect a quick update, but enjoy.
Part 2: Chapter 9
"You're quiet tonight" PJ commented as he eyed Maggie, the sound of the forgotten movie playing in the background. She rubbed her eyes tiredly in response, her feet currently resting on PJ's thighs as she lay stretched across the couch, giving him a tired smile.
"Just some things on my mind" she admitted softly, as she reached for the now cold coffee upon the table, grimacing as she took a sip.
"Past or present?" he inquired, running his fingers along her leg in comfort.
"Bit of both," she admitted softly before taking a deep breath, eyes locking onto his "Dad," she elaborated, a slight anguish in her voice at the mention of her father.
"Have you talked to him?" he asked softly, his body tensing although his voice remained full of comfort and concern. She gave a small shake of her head as she shifted, climbing to rest by his side, her head falling to his shoulder as his fingers stroked her hair.
"He knew I was back, but he didn't make a request to see me. I don't know what that means," she stated, her voice sounding meek and PJ felt his heart constrict at the pain in her voice.
"I'm sure he wants to see you," he stated softly in assurance placing a soft kiss on her forehead, silently vowing to kill Pat if he did anything to upset Maggie.
"The last time I saw him, he was so angry…so hurt about the wedding, everything," she stated with a sigh, breaking eye contact as she diverted her gaze. "I lied to him, right before I left…everything was a lie and then when I did leave…" she trailed off, feeling the single tear slide down her cheek as he pulled her more firmly into his embrace.
"Even you," she stated softly, voice hitching as she felt another tear slide down her cheek "When you first saw me…" she started, taking a deep breath "I knew you loved me but even you had trouble with everything."
"Maggie look at me," he commanded, voice lowering as he shifted his shoulder forcing her to look at him ""I always wanted you here," he stated softly, cupping her face with both his hands, eyes boring into hers. She gave a small nod letting the truth of his words wash over her as he whipped away her tears.
"I just don't know what to do about Dad" she admitted softly, her voice choking slightly as she looked up at him, eyes moist. "He lost Mick as well, all his children…I can't think what that must have been like," she stated softly, her mind whirling as the tide of emotion continued to crush her.
PJ instinctively pulled her back into his embrace, feeling her tears wet his shirt as his mind continued to process her words, unease growing in the pit of his stomach. When she drew back, slightly more composed, he knew he had to ask.
"What did they tell you about Mick's death?" he asked softly, a tinge of regret in his voice as he tried to mentally prepare himself, hoping against hope that he wouldn't have to tell her.
"Uh that he was shot," she stated taking a deep breath, trying to recall the facts, confused at the sudden shift in conversation. "They said he had been caught and in desperation attacked a couple of cops and he died," she finished, looking up at him, confusion etched on her features as she saw him retract from her, creating some distance between them. "PJ is that not right?" she asked voice shaking as she eyed him intently.
"It's exactly right," he choked as he took a deep breath, reaching out to grab her hands in his own "But those two cops Maggie," he stated, his mind fighting with his instincts as he struggled to tell her, to do the right thing.
His silence lingered in the air and he could feel the tension rise in the room as he diverted his gaze from her. He was surprised when he felt her warm fingers against his cheek, forcing him to make eye contact as she waited.
"Did I know them?" she asked tentatively, trying to ascertain what he was trying to say, trying to save him the anguish of telling her the words. He gave a brief nod, as he bit his lip trying to maintain control of his emotions.
"PJ," she stated softly, rubbing his arm soothingly as she attempted to comfort him, letting him know that she was ready.
"Your Dad and I," he stated, voice hoarse as he spoke as he finally met her gaze. He frowned when he saw her blank expression, she had obviously missed the point.
"You and Dad what?" she asked as he diverted his gaze, waiting for her mind to connect the information. He heard her gasp in sudden realization and he wanted to melt into the floor, knowing that he was hurting her.
"Did you," she started softly, but stopped to take a deep breath before continuing "Did you shoot him?" she asked softly, fear and despair radiating from her as she looked at him expectantly for answers.
He shook his head before taking a deep breath "Mick had a gun on me," he stated, briefly glancing towards her before cowardly diverting his eyes, voice hoarse. "Pat had figured it out, he came in behind us and he made a choice," he stated voice choking on the words, taking a deep breath.
"Why were you there? What happened?" she demanded, her tone letting him know that she needed to hear the story, needed to know her lover and her father's role in the death of her brother.
"I had figured it out that afternoon," he stated voice hoarse as he continued to keep his eyes trained on the floor, unable to look at her as he felt her move further away. "I invited him over, called him on it, we were both armed," he stated recounting the events of that horrifying night. He felt his throat constrict, as he struggled to remain calm despite the fact she had now moved completely out of his grasp, staring at him as he continued his explanation.
"I wanted to rip him apart and he knew it so we discarded our guns," he stated taking a breath, glancing briefly towards her before diverting his gaze, the pain in her eyes haunting him "We fought, and then he drew his second weapon, and that's when your Dad came in."
"He shot Mick" Maggie stated, the words seemingly harsh despite her soft tone and all PJ could do was nod.
She was silent as the tension continued to mount, PJ still unable to look in her direction keeping his eyes trained on the ground, waiting for her to speak, to make a move.
"It's late, I should get going," she stated suddenly, rising off the couch as she bent over quickly grabbing her shoes as PJ's head snapped up at her words, his hand gently grazing her arms to gain her attention. He felt himself exhale when she did not flinch from his touch.
"Maggie, please stay," he stated softly, as he attempted to turn her to him. She refused however keeping her back facing him, her labored breathing echoing in the room.
"No," she stated her voice echoing off the walls as she shrugged off his hand, turning briefly to face him "I don't know what to think, I just need some time," she added before breaking the contact and heading for the door, shutting it firmly behind her. The moment the door clicked closed, she felt the tears stream down her face.
Maggie sat in her room later that night as she stared at the TV screen. She had never quite understood the movie, she mused, tilting her head as she contemplated the actors on screen. How they had managed to make five Rocky movies she would never know. She heard a knock on her door and she felt every muscle constrict as her head snapped to the clock. 2:00am in the morning. The Imperial was closed. So who the hell was knocking on her door?
"Maggie its PJ," she heard him say, his voice somewhat muffled. She closed her eyes in an attempt to steady herself as she slowly rose making her way to the door. She unbuckled the chain as she creaked open the door, blocking the entrance with her body. She made no move to invite him in but rather stared at him expectantly, waiting for him to speak.
"Can I come in?" he asked softly as she refused to meet his eye and he shuffled nervously as he waited for her answer.
She did not move but let out a sigh briefly glancing towards him "PJ I'm tired," she stated, her voice wary even as she spoke "I have an early shift tomorrow,"
"Look Maggie I just want to talk and I don't want to do it here in the hall," he insisted, eyes darting around the deserted corridor "I already had to wake up half the place so Chris would let me in," he stated, his tone holding just a bit of pleading. She sighed giving a small nod before stepping aside.
She perched herself on her bed while he lent against the coffee table, respecting her unspoken request for distance as he slowly met her eyes, clearing his throat before speaking "I meant what I said, if you want to know, I want to tell you," he started softly.
"I have to know," she stated, finally casting here eyes in his direction as she lifted her chin "Tell me," she stated, knowing there was no way she could prepare herself for what was to come. Knowing that she would never be ready to hear what he was about to say.
He gave a brief nod as he accepted her words, folding his arms in front of his chest as he casted his mind back, more than aware he was opening a Pandora's Box.
"When I first saw you and you told me you knew about Mick I didn't question it," he stated, having had hours to practice exactly it was he wanted to say. "I didn't want to question it, perhaps maybe I should have earlier and I am sorry for that," he admitted, his eyes never leaving her small frame as she sat upon the bed, staring at him intently.
"I know he was your brother and you loved him," he continued, the words holding a haunting déjà vu "But I'm not sorry for anything other than the fact that you're hurting," he stated, a slight venom seeping into his voice. Maggie's head snapped up at his tone, her brow furrowing as she watched him.
"He took you from me," he stated voice shaking as his eyes bored into hers "He took you, the most important thing in my life. Robbed us of our future," he continued, not bothering to hide the anguish in his voice as he attempted to continue. "I'm not sorry the bastard is dead and at the time part of me wished I had the guts to pull the trigger when he first walked in my door," he finished, body shaking with barely controlled anger.
She opened her mouth to speak but closed it, not having the slightest idea what to say.
"Maggie" he stated waiting until she met his eyes before continuing, "There is a lot of stuff that went down after you…left," he finished voice hoarse. "They only had one main suspect through the original investigation and after that the case was considered cold. There were too many possibilities and no way of narrowing it," he stated, his voice still unsteady as he dredged up the old memories.
"So they didn't have enough on Mick in the original investigation," she stated slowly, her voice echoing as she attempted to absorb what he was telling her.
He shook his head in response, leaning against her coffee table as he met her eyes, his pain evident as he continued, "No Mick wasn't even in the picture," he admitted taking a deep breath. "There was only one person with motive, one person with opportunity and one person who had been lying to everyone," he stated, voice catching on the words.
Maggie frowned, racking her brain for someone who fitted that profile as her mind consistently came up blank. "But no one else besides the three of us knew what was happening," she stated softly "I mean the Boss towards the end but that doesn't make sense," she stated, baffled.
"Me," he finished as he looked up at her and he heard her gasp as he took a deep breath.
"That doesn't make any sense, who could possibly think that!" she exclaimed, voice contorted with disbelief and contempt at the very accusation.
PJ shrugged his shoulders in response "We'd had a fight, broken up…and oddly enough I was telling them one story and Mick was telling another," he finished, diverting his gaze from her as he stared at the floor.
He nearly jumped when he felt her warm hand on his shoulder as he met her eyes, her fingers intertwining with his as she reached up to capture his mouth with hers. The kiss was deep as she pressed herself closer as if trying to protect him, comfort him, despite her comfort being three years late.
He wrapped his arms around her as he continued to probe her mouth with his tongue, releasing a small groan when she finally broke away, her face hovering inches from his own as she rested her forehead against his.
"I know you would never hurt me," she stated softly, running her fingers lightly across his face as she placed a small peck on his lips, his hands resting comfortably on her hips.
"Not even the detectives could make it stick," he stated with a forced smile as he attempted to lighten the mood, capturing her mouth in a soft kiss before breaking apart, meeting her eyes.
"Maggie, I try not to think about that time. I knew you had questions, but I honestly thought you knew more than they had told you," he stated in an attempt to apologize and she gave a small nod in reply.
"If I had just done what Barry Craig had told me to do, none of this would have happened," she stated, her voice cracking with regret and he pulled her against him as he engulfed her in a comforting hug.
"Don't do that to yourself," he whispered softly into her ear "It will kill you," he added knowingly, and she felt her heart constrict as she contemplated just how much experience went behind that advice.
They stayed like that, arms wrapped comfortingly around each other until their muscles began to tense and they regretfully broke apart.
"Is that everything?" she asked softly and he gave a small nod in return "Reader Digest version but yes" he replied, reaching up to tuck her hair behind her ear. She leaned into his touch as she let out a small sigh, emotionally exhausted.
"Was…I mean…was there a funeral, for Mick?" she asked softly, wanting to know but hoping not to cause him any more pain.
PJ gave a small shrug in response "I think the Boss requested that he be taken back to Melbourne, I think I speak for many when I say that we didn't want him near you," he stated, and Maggie felt her heart constrict as she could just imagine him and her colleagues adamant that her memory be protected from his. She felt her breath hitch as she was reminded that was all she had left them with.
"You're here now," he stated softly and she blinked back, surprised, before giving him a small nod, sometimes forgetting how well he could read her.
"I think you should go see your Dad," he stated softly as she leant against his chest, his large arms still engulfing her as she listened to the rhythm of his heartbeat.
"What do I do if he doesn't want to see me?" she asked meekly, looking up towards him, her fear evident as he felt her heart quicken.
"Then you come home to me," he stated softly, his fingers grazing her cheek as he met her eyes "And we'll deal with it," he finished. She felt herself give him a small smile as she reached up, placing a light kiss on his lips, before pulling him gently towards the bed.
"Stay," she stated adamantly, placing a lingering kiss on his lips, as she indicated the covers "To sleep," she added when he gave her a playful grin and he let out a small chuckle before recapturing her lips.
"Set the alarm early, I'll have to head home before work," he instructed as he slid off his shirt and pants before tossing over the covers.
"You can leave some stuff here," she offered, as he draped an arm across her waist, spooning her small frame with his as she turned off the light.
"I didn't think the pub was going to be a long term thing," he replied as he placed a small kiss along her neck, head falling against the pillow as he made himself comfortable.
"Well I really haven't had time to look for a place," she admitted as she yawned, her own eyes drifting closed as she felt the warmth of his body surround her.
"You could live with me," he mumbled tiredly, snuggling closer to her, her hair tickling his cheek where he lay.
"Not until I see ring," she mumbled in response, eyes still closed as she began to doze, content in his embrace.
He let out a small chuckle as he began to fade into sleep "I'll keep that in mind" he smiled as sleep finally took hold.