Chapter 25
Maggie knocked firmly on his office door, not waiting for a response before opening the door and slipping in, closing it quietly behind her. She smiled slightly to herself as she watched him continue to write despite officially being past knock off time.
"Paperwork?" she asked surprised as she sauntered over to his desk, taking up her usual seat across from him.
He gave her a small smirk, before putting down the pen and meeting her gaze "What can I do for you?" he asked, giving her a wink as he laid back in his chair, stretching his cramped muscles as he did so.
"Coming to the pub?" she asked hopefully and he exhaled heavily before responding.
"Ben going?" he asked bitterly and she jerked her head back in surprise at his tone.
"I don't know" she responded tentatively "Is it important?" she asked, obviously unsure of his problem.
"He's just…everywhere" he muttered and Maggie had to bite her lip to keep from laughing at his petulant expression.
"He's only been in town a week and a half," she replied somewhat soothingly as she rose and made her way around his side of the desk, leaning against the wooden frame. "And having a roommate would take some getting use to" she offered, placing a reassuring hand on his arm.
"How did I get sucked into that.." he muttered and she gave him a small smile "He is getting in the way, isn't he" she mused and he nodded as he placed a hand on her knee.
"Great cook though," he admitted with a smile and she laughed as she smacked his arm playfully. "Well you did imply that you would pass up a night with me for Ben's food," she reminded him, mock hurt in her voice.
He shook his head as he stood up from the chair, suddenly inches apart from her "Not in a million years" he replied with a grin, slowly sliding his hand up from her knee. She stilled his hand, covering it with one of her own as she shifted off the desk "Not here" she whispered, giving him a small smile as she headed for the door.
"So, drinks at the pub?" she asked again, waiting impatiently for an answer.
"I've got to finish up one more brief, then I'll meet you there" he confirmed and she gave him a small nod before shutting the door behind her.
A couple of hours later, PJ made his way through the familiar crowd at the Imperial, eyes scanning for his colleagues and in particular a certain blonde Senior Constable. He spotted Nick with Zoe attempting to beat her at pool, he couldn't help but smirk as he watched his friend cue up his shot, Nick still looked like he would poke his eye out with the cue, even after all those years. He spotted Dash and Adam at the bar with a few of Adams friends that he had never bothered learning the names of and frowned at the one particular person that was missing. As he finally located her at one of the tables, he could not help but correct himself, two people. He made his way over to the couple, feeling his protectiveness rise as Ben placed his hand on hers, inwardly irritated when she did not immediately shrug him off. He was not the least bit fazed at the glare Ben threw his way as he approached, pulling up a chair right between the two of them.
"Hey" he greeted warmly, inwardly cringing at the glare that Maggie shot his way, obviously unimpressed by his jealous antics. Ben also seemed peeved that his alone time with Maggie had been cut abruptly short.
"What were you talking about?" he asked curiously, gaze flickering between the two of them.
"Nothing that would interest you, PJ" Ben replied dismissively, as he cast a grin to Maggie, which she returned.
"Try me" he replied firmly and Ben shrugged as he took a sip of his beer.
"Just a personal joke" he replied flippantly as he turned his gaze back to Maggie, ignoring PJ. "I'll let you know if I find that movie," he said with a grin before taking the last mouthful of his drink.
"Ben are you getting another round?" Maggie asked politely and he met her gaze, eyes sparkling "Yeah, why not" he replied with a smile "You after anything?" he asked, holding her gaze.
"OJ thanks" she replied sharing his smile as she handed him her empty glass to pass back to Chris.
"Beer, if you're offering" PJ responded before Ben could get far enough from the table. He gave a nod of recognition to PJ before heading to the bar.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" she hissed the moment he had moved out of earshot. He felt himself gulp at the fury in her eyes but he refused to be daunted.
"What, I didn't say anything" he replied, trying to keep his voice low despite his irritation.
"Maybe you couldn't see it through the testosterone haze that is currently surrounding this table" she spat, clearly irritated at his behavior.
"How come your irritated at me and Ben all smiles" he replied, his own irritation matching hers.
"Because he's not trying to stake out his territory," she replied moving slightly further away from him as she noticed Ben returning with their drinks.
"I beg to differ" he replied as he moved back away from her just as Ben returned with their drinks, silencing any further argument between them.
"Thanks mate" PJ replied attempting to be civil as he helped unload the drinks from Ben, sliding Maggie's orange juice towards her.
"You know I actually reckon I have that movie recorded somewhere, I'm actually pretty certain that its at home" Ben stated as he sat back down, passing PJ his beer distractedly. "Would you like to come over and watch it, it's a classic," he stated brazenly, oblivious to the glare that PJ was currently throwing him.
"Uh.." Maggie stated, obviously not expecting the offer "Sure, that sounds like fun" she responded politely, before quickly glancing at PJ giving him a small smile.
"Well no time like the present" he offered, "Unless you have plans..." he added apologetically and Maggie shook her head.
"No. No plans" she replied slightly off guard "I'll just go tell Dash" she responded, catching PJ's eye before heading across to her housemate.
It was hours later and Maggie let out another laugh as she watched the dramatic scene unfold on the television. She had somehow ended up stretched out on the couch, PJ on the floor just below her, their height differences making them quite close. She leant down towards him to grab another fruitchoc from the bowl, allowing him to whisper comments about the movie in her ear. Ben watched them from his place on the chair, slightly irritated that PJ had stuck around for the entire movie. He had expected him to eventually retire to his room, instead he had spent the entire time with Maggie. He knew that the two of them were close and while she had turned him down for a date previously, it did not necessarily mean that he did not have a chance. If only PJ would stop acting like a protective older brother.
Ben stole a quick glance at the time and grimaced, aware that he had the early shift the following morning and it was getting quite late. He sighed, seemed like he was going to have to give up on his hope of alone time with Maggie. He glanced back at the screen, painfully aware that the movie still had an hour to go. With a small sigh, he moved from the seat, stretching his tired muscles, as he moved over to the couch. Both Maggie and PJ looked up at him as he moved and he flicked the movie onto pause so that they would not miss what was about to happen.
"I'm going to turn in" he stated, stifling a yawn.
"Oh I should go" Maggie responded automatically but Ben shook his head.
"Nah you're enjoying the movie, stay, you can even have the couch if you want," he offered, giving her a small smile. "Here" he said reaching down and passing her the remote while stealing a quick peck on the cheek "Have a good night" he replied as he left the room.
"Night PJ" he called over his shoulder as he turned into his bedroom, shutting the door firmly behind him.
She could feel PJ tense but chose to ignore it, not wanting to get into an argument over the Ben issue again tonight. Instead, she pressed play, turning her attention back to the dark comedy currently playing out on the screen. It was fifteen minutes later when PJ shifted from his position on the floor and she scooted over, allowing him a space on the couch. He positioned himself comfortably and she leant against him, shoulders touching. He leant back towards her in return, but did not pull her closer, painfully aware that Ben was only one room away. They watched the end of the movie in relative silence, PJ still making comments as the final scenes played out. She rubbed her eyes tiredly as the credits rolled, flicking off the TV as silence suddenly filled the room.
"You staying?" he asked softly, neither in a rush to move from their current position.
"I don't think so" she replied with a shake of her head "Don't want to give anybody the wrong idea" she added as she stifled a yawn.
"Who Dash or Ben?" he asked sarcastically and she sighed, not wanting to argue.
"PJ, don't" she stated warily, stretching her neck to ease her acing muscles.
"Sit on the floor" he stated suddenly, popping down a cushion between his legs for her to sit on. She stared at him oddly, but did as he asked, suppressing a moan as she felt his hands kneed the aching muscles in her neck. She moved her head down, allowing him better access to the muscles, closing her eyes in relaxation.
"Your muscles are tense," he stated, as he massaged her neck and she 'hmmed' in agreement.
"I bet yours would be too, especially with all that jaw clenching," she stated as she leant against him, his hands resting on her shoulders, having released the majority of the tension.
"PJ" she whispered softly, looking up at him to meet his gaze "You do know I don't want Ben" she asked.
"Yeah" he admitted "But that doesn't mean I have to like him touching you with his filthy hands" he replied brushing a loose tendril behind her ear. "Or kissing you" he replied irritably.
"I didn't like him kissing me either, he wasn't you" she explain simply as she placed her hand on his knee. "But that doesn't mean that you can stomp around, trying to lay claim to me whenever he's around"
"I wasn't stomping" he mumbled in defense before letting out a breath in defeat "I'll work on it" he relented and she gave him a small smile in return, reaching up to kiss him softly.
"Much better" she commented as she pulled back, PJ helping to pull her up from the floor as she made her way towards the door.
"By the way, how many times have you seen that movie" she asked eyebrow raised and he laughed in response "A few" he admitted.
"Strange movie" she commented as she opened the door, the sudden cold making her shiver slightly.
"That's why that called it Dr Stragelove" he commented as he walked her out to her car, which was parked in the driveway.
"I can feel your neighbor watching me," she whispered casting a paranoid glance towards the fence and he let out a small chuckle at her antics, as she fiddled with the car lock before opening the door.
"Goodnight PJ" she stated as he stepped back, allowing her to shut the door. He gave her a small wave in acknowledgment as she drove off, before heading back inside. Sometimes, he thought to himself, Ben didn't have such bad ideas.
