As he followed her as they ran down the corridor to the room, that Ange had told her Pete was in, she slowed and swallowed the rising lump as she saw the others sitting outside the room. Ange curled up on Oscar's lap head buried into his chest, with Danni sitting on the floor knees pulled tightly to her chest, as Oscar had one arm tightly around Ange, and the other resting around Danni's shoulders.

"Oh my god," Mac whispered, as Jack moved to her.

"I'll take Sarah," he whispered, pulling the little girl from her mother's tight grip.

"Ange, Dan, Oscar!" She called moving to them quickly, as Jack hung back, and watched the four embrace. "Where is he? What happened?"

"We were at a park, looking around and Paul was there, he recognised Pete and shot him, Mac we're so sorry!" Ange blurted out, as more tears ran down her cheeks and Mac pulled her into a tight hug, holding her own tears at bay.

"He didn't… We got Paul Mac, but Pete, he…" Danni chocked as Oscar pulled her into a hug.

"Stoney?" She whispered, gripping Ange tighter. Shaking his head he looked at her for seconds before he let Danni go, and moved Ange from her grip. Pulling Mac into a tight hug she buried her head into his chest as she cried. As her legs gave out Oscar pulled her closer holding her up, before moving her to one of the chairs in the hall, as a nurse moved over to see them.

"Ellen?" She asked gently. Sniffling Mac looked up, nodding.

"I'm really sorry, there wasn't anything that could have been done," she whispered. "If you like I can take you in to see him." Nodding Mac pulled her self up. As they walked to the room, that was only five to six meters from their current position, they stopped out side the door.

"I need to know, where was he shot?"

"Straight through the heart, who ever did this knew exactly what they were doing," she said gently, resting a supportive hand on Mac's back, as she nodded.

"Was there anything else? Was he in any pain?"

"As far as I can tell, he was still fighting the loosing battle, until the paramedics arrived. When they got there it looks like he just gave up. That he'd told your friends everything that he needed to, and that was it. There weren't any other injuries, and I'm not sure if he was in any pain, more then likely if he hung on long enough to tell your friends, the things he did, but I can't answer that for you I'm sorry." Sniffling Mac nodded.

"Thanks," she mumbled before walking into the room. Upon closing the door and seeing him Mac couldn't help the sob that escaped. Moving closer she sat on the edge of the bed, as the tears cascaded like a waterfall just after the rains. Picking up his hand she gripped it tightly, bringing it to her lips she kissed it, before leaning over him, and pecking his lips. As the sobs became more and more frequent, she couldn't help but to lie next to him, burying her head into his cold chest.

Looking in, Ange felt her heart ripping once again. She was the only one out of the three to have seen everything. She watched it as if it played in slow motion. The expression on his face, and in his eyes that she saw, before screaming for the others, was the one thing that she'll never forget. The way that Pete's body fell to the ground next to her, the way he gasped for air, the way she held his hand. Hearing her own voice screaming for help as if it were someone else's. The way she tuned out of everything around her, while trying to calm him down. While she was promising to look after Mac and Sarah. She knew that he was going to die, after opening his shirt, and seeing where the bullet had entered.

Looking up at his face, when she pressed both her hands over his heart, trying to stop the blood flow, as much as possible. The way she was crying hysterically. The way he grabbed her wrists, before telling her that he loved Mac that she belonged with her family that they were her family that she had to move on. The fact that he was always going to be there with all of them. She couldn't stop her trembling hands, as she soon became to realise that he was now lying beneath her, dead. He'd stopped moving, stopped talking to her, stopped telling her how much he loved Mac and Sarah. Stopped breathing, only for her to sit back on her heels and sob uncontrollably, as the paramedics ran to her side.

'Leave him,' she managed to chock out. 'He's gone, please don't put him through this,' she cried before letting her head fall against his bear chest, before she felt another pair of arms wrapping around her waist, and pulling her back, so they could get him ready for transport. 'I'm sorry, Peter! I'm sorry!' She screamed, as they took him away from her. Just then a pair of arms wrapped around her waist gently, pulling her from the memories, from just hours previously.

"You alright?" He whispered, sniffling she nodded.

"Yeah I'll live, it's Mac that's not going to cope," she stated her eyes not once leaving her best friends figure, as she was leaning over the lifeless body, in front of her. "I should have taken the bullet, I should have moved him out the way," she whispered, "Pete's got a life, he's got Sarah, he's got… Oh my god, Stoney, he's gone and I'm talking abut him, as if he was still here," she whispered, before turning in his grip and sobbed into his chest.

"Hey shh, it's alright. If you didn't I'd think there was something wrong. It's a natural thing Ange, come on, shh." He whispered rocking her gently, as he looked in on Mac who looked liked she was sleeping after crying, for the last half an hour over the only guy she really loved, over the father of her child, over her best friend."

"Oscar there's something Pete never knew," she sobbed pulling away from him.

"What is it?"

"Mac's pregnant," she whispered as he looked at her in shock, she pulled away form him, bowing her head and moving back to Danni, who was talking to Jack. Sniffling as she sat Danni wrapped an arm around her.

"Hey, how you going?"

"I'm alright, I was just telling Stoney that it's Mac we should be asking that, she's the one that's not going to cope. I mean Sarah doesn't have a dad, and neither does this other little guy," she stated, before looking up at Danni, who flashed a sad smile.

"Yeah I know, but Mac wasn't the one who witnessed it, you did. You're the one that's going to be having nightmares Ange, not Mac. She didn't look after Pete, she didn't hear his last words, and she didn't try to save him that was you. And you are going to need us as well. So don't go leaving your self alone alright. We stick together remember?"

"Yeah I know, but something Pete said just, I don't like what I've come to make the meaning be."

"And what's that?"

"He said that she belongs with her family. Then he said that we were her family, as if he was meaning someone else, before thinking about us. You think that he means her dad? You know her real dad um, Jake?" She frowned.

"Ange it's up to Mac were she stays, but she'll be coming back with Pete I know that, and I really want to stay here with her, and be here for her, and come back on the jet with her, just so she doesn't start thinking about things,"

"Yeah I know, I want to, to but you know what she's like." Ange whispered, bowing her head. "I just hope her friend pulls through, because if she doesn't this'll kill Mac, she wont be able to pull through with both of them gone." Ange mumbled.

"Jack what's going on? How's Peter?" Jacob questioned when Hammond put him on speaker. Sighing Jack swallowed.

"I'm sorry Jacob, from what I can gather, he was shot straight through the heart. One of his friends saw the whole thing and she's pretty shaken, and Ellen hasn't left the room yet. Sarah's here with me, and Ellen's friends are extremely distraught."

"Oh god," he whispered, sitting down.

"Jacob, are you alright?" Hammond questioned looking at his friend. Looking up he swallowed.

"George you have to take me to the hospital please, I have to be there for her."

"Jacob you know I can't…"

"General, sir… For the sake of Ellen and Sarah I believe that Jacob should be here. Her friends are distraught and know one has gone into the room, to see how Ellen really is. They've told me that it looks like she's cried herself to sleep, and she's lying across him. They are also worried, because apparently she's pregnant. They don't know what to do, and they want her to see a doctor, to make sure everything's alright. I think that if anyone could get her to calm down and talk to a doctor, it would be Jacob." Sighing Hammond looked at him.

"Alright, but you have to change into something," nodding Jacob forced a slight smile.

"Thankyou George!"

Jogging down the corridor, Jacob swallowed as her saw the trio sitting or rather slouching in their seats, and Jack, sitting there holding Sarah, and playing peek-a-boo with her to pass the time.

"Jack!" He called. Looking up, Jack smiled slightly. As the others looked up, Ange couldn't help the sob that escaped, as she saw Jacob moving towards them. "Angie," he said gently, crouching in front of her, she nodded, but kept her face shielded from him. "Look at me please?" He coaxed. Sniffling she raised her head, to look into his eyes.

"I'm so sorry," she sobbed. "I should have gotten him away, I should have done more!" She cried, before he pulled her into a tight embrace.

"Hey shh, you couldn't have done anything more then what you did," he soothed. Nodding against his chest, her blood soaked hands wrapped around his neck, and Hammond couldn't help but stare in shock. Pulling back she looked at him.

"Mac's still in there with him, I want to go in but I can't, I feel like I didn't do enough for her, she's pregnant, and now he's gone…" She chocked out through sobs before trailing off.

"Hey it's ok, you did what you could, alright? Don't go blaming your self, you weren't the one to pull the trigger, it wasn't your fault." He whispered, before she nodded.

"She's in the room, about five to six meters down the hall on the left," Ange whispered. Nodding he forced a sad smile.

"Thanks Ange," he mumbled, before getting up and walking to the room, peering in, he swallowed hard, to stop the lump from rising any further in his throat, before entering.

"Jack?" Hammond questioned, gently. Looking up at him, the group frowned, before Jack turned back to them.

"Guys this is my boss, General Hammond." Sniffling they nodded.

"Hi," Ange whispered,

"Yeah hey," Danni and Oscar stated, before they all looked away again. Standing Jack moved to him.

"Sir?"

"I take it; the one with the blood on her hands was there first?" He whispered. Nodding Jack turned to the trio.

"Yeah, they were all there, but she was walking with him, she actually saw him go down. She tried everything to keep him alive, but the bullet went straight through his heart, as I said before, and there wasn't much any of them could have done. From what I can gather from Danni, the other blonde." He mentioned casually, which Hammond nodded at. "Was that, Ange saw him fall, was screaming for help, and yet by the time the paramedics got there, he'd told her everything that he wanted Ellen to know, and then he just passed away." He said gently, looking at Sarah in his arms.

"I just can't help but feel guilty sir,"

"What for Colonel?"

"The fact that, these people were here, to help Ellen, and the person they were trying to protect her from, killed Peter, while she was here trying to save Carter's life. She left them behind in Australia, to come here to help us, and now her life's been taken from her, and there isn't anything that we can do to help her." Jack sighed, looking back towards the door, only to see Jacob walking out with his arms wrapped tightly around a distraught Mac.

That night, they took Mac back to the motel unit that they booked. She was curled up on the bed that Pete had occupied only hours before. As there was a knock at the door, Oscar got up to answer it, as Angie was in the shower trying to get the blood off her as she was crying and fumbling with the thought of Pete yet again. And Danni was in with Mac talking to her gently. As he opened the door, he gave a sad smile to Jack, Jacob, Janet and Hammond.

"Hi," he whispered.

"We thought that maybe you guys might get a bit hungry?" Janet said gently, holding up the bags of take-away. Smiling gently he nodded.

"Yeah and thirsty!" Jack grinned.

"Thanks guys, but…" Sighing he shrugged, before letting them in.

"OSCAR!" Ange screamed. Running to the bathroom door he knocked gently.

"Hey Ange you alright?"

"I can't get it off! Please get it off!" She cried.

"Sweetie just calm down for me ok? Just use the scrubbing brush and soap." He called through the door.

"It won't come off!" She cried, before slipping down the tiles. "It won't come out!" She cried.

"Angie, I need you to open the door, sweetie, unlock the door for me,"

"No!" She cried.

"Ange!"

"It won't come off!" She screamed hysterically.

"Stoney?" Danni questioned moving out of the room, closing the door. "Is she alright?"

"Not really, the blood won't come off and she freaking out, it's…"

"I'll talk to her if you want to check on Mac?" Sighing he nodded.

"Oh hey um, Jack and a few others are here too, brought food and stuff," he mumbled, getting her to turn around, and look at them, forcing a sad smile.

"Hi," she whispered, before turning back to the door, after their sad smiles registered in her memory. "Angie honey, its Danni…"

"Danni it won't come off, help me!" She called, through sobs.

"I can't help unless you unlock the door angel, can you do that for me? Can you unlock the door for me so I can help?" She called gently, which got the lock turning a few minutes later. Once unlocked she slipped into the bathroom.

"Oh my god," Janet whispered, tears stinging her eyes.

"Doc?" Jack questioned looking at her.

"There a mess sir! I wouldn't be surprised if a few of them end up with…" She stopped as a phone was heard. Turning they looked at one of the bedroom doors as it opened and Stoney walked out with Mac. Sniffling she wiped the tears from her eyes, and looked at her phone.

"Mackenzie!" She stated.

"Ellen, its Gordon, have your team been able to contact you?"

"Yes sir, they're here, I'm with Ange, Danni, and Oscar at the moment."

"What about Church didn't he go with them?" Swallowing she looked at her trembling hands. "Detective?"

"I… I'm here," she whispered. "Um sir, Peter he…" She looked at the ceiling and took a deep breath. "He was shot, sir… he um… he died instantly."

"Holy Shit! Ellen, I'm so sorry I know you…"

"Sir with all due respect I really don't want to talk about it," she said gently.

"Sorry of course, I'll have the jet ready and get them to fly over and pick you all up, a sap!"

"Yes sir," she stated clearing her throat. "Commissioner, sir,"

"What is it Ellen?"

"When I was talking to Pete the other week, he had your name at the top of his list sir," she whispered. "I just thought you'd like to know how he felt about you, how he looked up to you."

"Ellen you don't have to do this,"

"I know but working with him, I suppose a few things were bound to rub off," she smiled gently. "Gordon, he always said he never wanted a proper police burial, but…"

"It'll all be taken care of when you bring him home Ellen,"

"Thankyou sir," she whispered, before hanging up, and looking at her phone. At the wallpaper, the picture of her and Pete, in happier times.

After Ange had finished her shower, and Sarah was sleeping soundly in one of the rooms, Mac, Oscar, Danni, and Ange sat down with Janet, Jack, Jacob, and Hammond to eat the take-away food, and have a few drinks. When the group was more then slightly inebriated, the stories started to flow.

"Remember Danni's first shift when he got her thinking that he was the boss!" Ange stated smiling.

"Yeah or what about when he found out about Sarah!" Stoney put in. Smiling they nodded.

"Ange when Bernie went into that restaurant and we needed to get Stoney out in the street and all Pete said was 'Ange, do your blonde thing'?" Mac smiled at her.

"Oh, what about just after Sarah was born!" Danni smiled. "He went to mush!" She giggled. "That was SO cute, the big tough Peter Church, turns to mush at the sight of his daughter!" She smiled, as the others laughed.

"Doc, is this normal?" Jack whispered. Shrugging she nodded.

"It can be for some people, but they are intoxicated Colonel, the alcohol can be playing more of a part of this then we can see. Some people act like this to help, others just keep everything inside." She whispered back.

"Ellen, what about your fear when I first met Peter?" Jacob stated which got her laughing for the first time that afternoon. Nodding she smiled.

"The big tough Peter Church was scared of Jacob!" She giggled taking another sip of her beer, as Oscar and the girls laughed.

"Your not serious!" Danni laughed, smiling she nodded.

"Sure am!" She grinned.

"Oh my god Mac that's classic!" Suddenly everything went quite, as they started looking at each other.

"We shouldn't be like this," Ange said gently. As they sighed and nodded.

"Guys just because he's gone, it doesn't mean that he would want you to be sad and not move on in life," Jack said gently. Looking up at him, the group frowned and suddenly he saw anger rising in all of them. "Oops," he whispered.

"Jack's probably right," Mac mumbled, which got them to nod, and calm down. "I'm going to bed, and check on Sarah." She sighed, getting up. Turning she forced a sad smile at the group. "Thanks, it's nice to see that people, who don't know him, actually care about us." She stated, walking to the room.

Waking the following morning, Mac groaned, rubbing her forehead before looking at Sarah who was perched over her hips giggling, and rubbing her mothers expanding stomach. Smiling up at the little girl, Mac reached for her.

"Hey come here Sarah," she said gently, watching her as the small child crawled along her mother's torso, until she snuggled into her chest and Mac wrapped her arms around her little girl. Sighing she squeezed her gently. "Daddy is so proud of you," she whispered, before a knock interrupted her. "Yep!" She called looking over Sarah as the door opened.

"Morning," Janet smiled.

"Morning,"

"How are you this morning?"

"Not too bad, you?"

"I think the alcohol and lack of food thanks to you and the Colonel has a very bad impact on my health this morning," Janet smiled walking over and sitting on the edge of the bed. "How is she?"

"Good, I don't think it's all sunk in yet, but we'll see," Mac smiled gently, as Janet nodded.

"And what about you? You say your fine, but after last night I'm not too sure about that,"

"Uh-o, why don't I like the sound of that?" She smiled gently. Smiling Janet shook her head.

"No it's nothing like that, it's just how you all were talking about him, and reminiscing on the 'old times', and different things. I understand that you miss him Ellen, but I just can not shake this feeling I get every time I see you and Sarah. It's like that there is something in you that is holding you together, and yet the same thing is tearing you apart!" Janet whispered. Sighing she nodded.

"Yeah I suppose there is something in there. But I just don't want to face it yet, I think maybe after the funeral, but I really don't want to do anything right now, I just want to get it over with and try to 'move on'" she whispered, mocking the final phrase she said. Smiling gently, Janet nodded.

"Yeah I understand, maybe the Colonel might understand better, as he's been through this sort of loss before apparently, but I don't really know."

"Yeah he has, it was…" stopping Mac sighed, sitting up, and holding Sarah tightly to her. "It's not my place to say," she replied gently. Nodding Janet smiled again.

"Well breakfast is almost ready if you want to get changed or have a shower or something, and tell the others?" she asked gently. Nodding Mac smiled as Janet left and closed the door gently behind her, giving her the privacy that she still required. However as Mac watched the door closing behind Janet, she felt as though she had been left alone yet again, shut out, having the only people that she cared for even the slightest bit taken away from her. Snatched away from her.