9 ½ months earlier.

Thoughts were whirling around Jo's head at a million miles per hour. She'd just come home after a doctor's appointment to find out the test results that she'd had done three days before. Only one had come back positive. She was 10 weeks pregnant.

The rain poured down outside and sitting curled up and alone on the couch in the dark, Jo was glad that PJ and Ben had gone down to the pub. She'd declined, pleading that she didn't feel well and thought it was the flu. She didn't really know what to tell PJ. She loved him deeply, and she knew that he loved her, but he wasn't ready for a baby. For that matter, she wasn't sure she was ready for a child. She knew that she wanted kids eventually, and she knew that she wanted them with PJ, but she couldn't get the definite 'No' of PJ's out of her head when she'd once asked him if he wanted kids.

She sighed and laid her head in her hand, allowing herself to drift off to a light sleep. A short time later, she was woken by soft voices in the hall.

"Hey. How are you feeling?" PJ asked softly.

She smiled. "Okay. Where's Ben?" She yawned.

"Right here." Ben smiled at her as he wandered past. "I'm stuffed. I'm going to bed." He said.

Jo nodded. "Goodnight." She got up off the couch and headed to the bedroom she shared with PJ.

"I'm asleep on my feet." She muttered to him as she got changed into her pajamas. He smiled.

"Tired, huh?" She nodded and slid into bed. "Mmm."

He turned out the light and slid in next to her, wrapping an arm around her waist. "Love you." He said.

She smiled sleepily. "Love you too."

The next afternoon Jo was alone at the station except for Jonesy. It wasn't often that she was the highest ranked officer in charge of the station, but it was the Boss's day off, PJ was at St Davids for the afternoon and Ben had taken Susie out on patrol.

"Oi. You want a doughnut?" Jonesy threw a paper plane in Jo's direction, smiling as it landed down her collar. "Bulls eye!"

She raised an eyebrow at him and plucked the plane out of her collar. "No thanks, Jonesy. But if you want one I wont tell the Boss." She threw it back and grinned at his expression of incredulity as it did a perfect loop- de-loop and landed on his desk.

"Well. You're a woman of hidden talents, Joanna. A natural at pool, darts, and now I find that you know how to throw a paper plane. But I bet you can't make one."

She grinned. "Challenge accepted." She said, turning to grab a blank piece of paper from the printer. Quickly folding it, she made a swoop-dart and turned and pitched it at him, laughing out loud when it hit him straight between the eyes.

"Alright, spill. How did you learn how to make that?" Jonesy was put out.

She grinned. "I have an extremely annoying older brother, who was impossible to beat unless you played dirty."

Jonesy nodded. "Ahh. Little Sister Syndrome." He grinned. "I didn't know you had a brother." He shook his head. "Ah well. That just means I don't have to hold back on you. You're used to it."

"Really?" She said smiling.

He nodded. "Yep." Jo rolled her eyes and turned away from Jonesy to answer the phone, which was closer to her. Engrossed in trying to calm down the elderly woman on the other end who was convinced that aliens had landed on her house, she didn't hear the blonde woman walk nervously in the front door of the station and over to the counter.

"Excuse me?" The woman said quietly. Jonesy got up from pestering Jo and walked over to the counter smiling.

"Hi, how can I help you?" He asked her.

"Um...Is that Jo?" The woman asked, pointing to where Jo had her back to them on the phone. Jonesy nodded.

"Yeah, are you a friend of hers?" He asked, looking at her closely. She was slightly familiar to him, but he was sure he'd never met her before. The woman smiled sadly.

"You could say that." She looked around the station. "It hasn't changed much." She commented more to herself than to him. Jonesy looked at her quizzically, but she'd turned her gaze back on Jo.

"Jonesy, can you radio Ben and Susie? Mrs. Edgers seems to think that aliens are invading her roof." Jo said, putting down the phone and turning around. Jonesy quirked an eyebrow.

"Again?" He said chuckling. "That's twice in three days." He walked over to the CB and put the message through to Ben and Susie.

Jo nodded. "I know." She swung her gaze from him to the woman on the other side of the counter, stopping in shock as she recognized her.

"Wholly Fuck." Jonesy turned away from the radio in shock at Jo's outburst.

"Joanna!" He said staring at her. "You cant say that here!" Jo was staring at the blonde woman like she'd seen a ghost.

"Hi, Jo." The blonde woman didn't look surprised at Jo's reaction to her presence at all. Instead, she simply looked sad. She walked around the counter and over to Jo.

"Maggie?...No...You're dead...You left..." Jo's eyes sparkled with unshed tears and she almost choked on her words. Jonesy looked extremely confused, and moved towards Jo protectively, putting an arm around her waist. Jo leaned into Jonesy and closed her eyes and then re-opened them, half- expecting Maggie to be gone. But she wasn't. She was still standing in front of Jo, looking upset.

"I'm not dead, Jo. I went back into 'witness'." She said, reaching out a hand. "It was all fake. Me being shot by Mick and Mick being shot by Dad? It was set up. I've been in London since then." Jonesy was lost for words. He had no idea what was gong on. Jo stared at Maggie for about ten seconds before suddenly bursting into tears and wrapping her arms around Maggie, hugging her tightly. After a minute, they separated, and both had tears running down their cheeks. They stared at each other for a minute before Maggie spoke.

"So is this your boyfriend, then?" She asked Jo, looking at Jonesy and sniffing. Both Jo and Jonesy's eyebrows shot up, and Jonesy started to speak.

"No, she's with..." Jo cut him off.

"No. This is Jonesy. He's just over-protective, like everyone else in this station." She said, wiping her eyes. Maggie nodded.

"Guys get that way, huh?" Jo nodded.

"Baise un canard! They're unbelievable." Maggie started laughing, and drew Jo into another hug.

"Admettons! You haven't changed at all. But since when have you been able to speak French?" She asked, smiling. Jo chuckled.

"I've always been able to. I have a Uncle who married a Frenchwoman and a whole lot of cousins who doesn't speak English." She grinned at Maggie. Jonesy stared at them.

"Jo what the hell is going on? And why are you speaking French?" Jo looked at him, sobering.

"I'm sorry, Jonesy. This is Maggie Doyle. She was the Sargent before Tess and she died...sort of...but not." She glanced at Maggie, who smiled faintly. Jonesy finally understood.

"I heard about you from Chris." He said. "You're a bit of a legend round these parts."

Jo nodded. "And I was speaking French because you told me off for swearing in English."

Jonesy looked at Maggie. "What'd she say?" Maggie laughed again and raised an eyebrow, silently asking Jo, who shrugged. "As far as my limited French goes, I think she said fuck a duck." Maggie said chuckling. "I don't think she likes the over protectiveness."

Jonesy stared at Jo. "I should've known better than to ask." He said, amused. "Since when do I over protect you?" He asked.

"Since Tess left." She said looking back to Maggie. "I can't believe its you." She said quietly as tears began to form in her eyes again.

Maggie nodded, understanding. "I know how you feel." She said.

"I missed you." Jo whispered. Maggie drew her back into another hug, as Jonesy stood there feeling as if he'd just witnessed a miracle.

An hour later, Maggie had just finished explaining everything that had happened to her and her family in the time that had elapsed since her 'murder'. Jo had calmed down considerably and Jonesy was in awe at her willing acceptance of Maggie back into her life. He was aware that Maggie had been engaged to PJ at the time of her 'death' and it had occurred to him, and he was sure it had occurred to Jo, that Maggie was probably back for PJ. But yet, Jo hadn't laid any claim on PJ, or even told Maggie that they were living together or in any kind of relationship. Instead, Jo talked about him as if he was dating Maggie as opposed to her. Jonesy couldn't quite figure that out. Surely Jo wouldn't just let Maggie see PJ without letting her know the deal. He sneaked a glance at Jo, who was wearing an expression he'd never seen before, and he worried. He had a feeling that he knew what was running through her head, and he didn't like it.

"She's NOT insane! She's just a lonely old woman. You can't charge her for that."

"I don't care, Susie! She locked me in her cupboard!" Ben and Susie came in from patrol talking animatedly. Susie came into view first, rolling her eyes. "Hey." She nodded at Jo, raised an eyebrow at Jonesy, and smiled at Maggie.

Ben followed her in and caught sight of Maggie. "No fucking way." He said, staring.

Jonesy chuckled. "I can't wait until the Boss sees you." He said to Maggie.

She smiled. "He doesn't swear."

"He might." Jonesy remained hopeful.

Jo stood and walked over to Ben. "Sit down before you pass out." She said, guiding him to the chair she'd just vacated.

Ben stared. "It can't be..." He said hoarsely.

Jonesy looked at Maggie. "Are you going to have to go through this with everyone you see?" He asked her.

She nodded. "Probably." She smiled wryly. "But it's a small price to pay."

Jonesy nodded and turned to Jo. "Wanna come for a breather while Maggie's talking to Ben?" He asked softly.

She nodded. "Mmm." She got up and turned to where Susie was sitting watching Ben and Maggie. "Suz...Jonesy and I'll just be out the front, okay?" Susie nodded and waved them off. With a last glance at Ben, who was hugging Maggie like he'd never let her go, she followed Jonesy out the door.

"When we go back in I'm calling the Boss. I can't wait to see if he swears." Jonesy said after a minute of standing in silence.

Jo didn't even smile. "More likely he'll have a heart attack." She said with a faraway look on her face. Jonesy stared at her. "Huh?" She didn't answer. "Jo." He reached out and grabbed her arm, turning her to face him. "Are you alright?"

She nodded. "Fine." She tried to move away, but he held her still. "What?"

"What are you going to do?" He asked her.

"About what?" She said, staring away into the distance.

"About PJ and Maggie." Jonesy noticed the flicker of pain in her eyes as he spoke.

"Who says I'm going to do anything?" She said.

"You have the 'I'm determined' look on your face and you didn't tell Maggie about you and PJ. That makes me think that you have something up your sleeve."

A teardrop made it's way down her cheek. "Maybe I do." She said.

"I have this bad feeling that I know what it is and I want you to tell me that I'm wrong." He said staring at her.

She looked up at him, eyes shining wetly. "You're wrong." She said, and tried to pull away again.

"Very funny. You don't even know what I think you're going to do."

She rolled her eyes. "What do you think I'm going to do?" She asked.

"That you're gonna leave." She looked away. "I'm right aren't I?" He said, cupping her face. She didn't answer. "Jo, think about what you're doing. At least find out where you stand with PJ." He said.

"I already know where I stand." She said quietly.

"He loves you." Jonesy implored.

She nodded. "I know. But he loves her too."

"What can I say that will make you stay?" He said, despairing.

"Nothing." She sighed and leant against a post. "Bittersweet, isn't it?"

"What?" Jonesy frowned.

"Maggie coming back. I gain back a friend, but lose him."

Jonesy nodded. "Yeah, it is. But you don't have to lose him. You're throwing your entire career away on an uncertain ending, you do know that?"

Jo sighed. "Its almost time for me to knock off. I'm gonna go write my resignation."

"When are you leaving?" Jonesy said, unhappily.

"Tonight." Jo said. "I'm going to drop my papers round to the Boss's house and then go."

Jonesy sighed. "Where are you going to go? Where are you going to work?"

"I don't know. I'll sort something out and I'll email you when I'm settled, okay?" Jo walked back inside. Half an hour later it was the end of her shift and she printed out her resignation. She placed it in an envelope and then sealed it. Standing up, she stretched, and then walked into the locker room, where she emptied her locker into her backpack and picked up her spare uniform and walked out the back way to her car. After dumping them unceremoniously on the backseat, and the envelope containing her resignation on the passenger seat, she walked back inside. Avoiding Jonesy's eyes, she walked over to Maggie, who was once again relating her story to Ben. "I'm going to swing by the Boss's and then I'm going home to get PJ." She said to Ben.

He looked up sharply. "Then what?"

"I'm gonna send them here." She said, now avoiding his eyes as well as Jonesy's.

Maggie stood. "Thanks, Jo. So we should just stay here?" Jo nodded, and leant over and kissed her cheek. "Good luck."

Maggie smiled tightly. "Thanks."

Ben stood up too, eyeing her sternly. "Jo..." He began.

She cut him off by kissing him quickly on his lips. "Bye Ben."

He stared. "You're not."

She frowned. "I'm not what?"

Ben looked at Maggie and then grabbed Jo and pulled her into PJ's office, calling out to Maggie that he'd be back in a minute. Maggie stared after her in surprise as Jonesy followed them in.

She looked at Susie, who simply shrugged. "Don't ask me." She said. "I have no idea."

"Jo...What are you doing?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

"You can't go." The door opened and Jonesy stepped in. Ben paused.

"Don't worry mate, I've been trying to convince her not to go for the past half hour, but she doesn't seem to listen." Jonesy said, glaring at her. She shrugged and tears filled her eyes. Impatiently she wiped them away.

"Don't make this any harder than it already is." She said, almost begging. "It's the right thing to do."

Ben sighed. "I know as well as you how much he loved her. But he's over her. He loves you. Doesn't he get a say in this?"

Jo shook her head. "No. If only that were true." She sighed. "He's not over her. I know he loves me, but she was his world. I can't stay in the way of that, it wouldn't be fair."

Neither of the boys said anything and Jo smiled wryly. "See. You know I'm right." She walked over and kissed Ben again. "Explain to PJ for me?" She said, hugging him. He nodded and she moved over to Jonesy. "I'll write when I find somewhere." She said and then kissed him.

"Look after yourself." He said, holding her close. She pulled away and walked to the door.

"I'll miss you. All of you." They watched her walk through the door and she was gone.

The rest of that night was almost a blur to Jo. She remembered stopping off at the Boss's house, handing him her resignation and telling him that the reason for it was sitting at the station at that very moment. She remembered going home and telling PJ that he was needed down at the station because a missing person had turned up. She recalled kissing him goodbye without telling him it was goodbye, and then after he'd gone down to the station, she'd packed her things, leaving anything that was too big or that she didn't need. The only thing she left was a photo of her, Ben and PJ in front of the new house on her pillow. Then she'd got back into her car and got on the highway, turning up at her brother's house just in time to interrupt his boys' beer 'n' pizza night.

She'd stayed there for the next three days, ignoring all calls on her mobile phone and refusing to read the text messages. Cameron made a couple of calls and four days after that he'd set her up in Darwin with an apartment, a different car, and a job with a mate of his who owned an imports and exports business.

She liked her work. It was flexible and it allowed her time to relax, and as her new apartment was on the beach, get a tan. She swam a lot and her dark brown hair grew light brown and developed golden streaks from the sun. She was happy enough in Darwin. She missed her old life terribly, but she supposed that her new one wasn't all that bad.

She sent a letter to Jonesy, telling him that she was safe, she was happy and everything was okay. Her pregnancy didn't seem to bother her for some reason. She felt the same except that she had a large stomach.

Almost nine months later she'd gone into labor at work, and Kirk, her brother's mate had taken her to the hospital where Lena was born two hours later. She'd thrown herself back into exercising and had gone on a health kick as soon as she and Lena had got out of hospital. Now she was back to her old body size, and her tan, sun-streaked hair, and clear skin gave her a glow of health that she hadn't had before.

But she still felt that there was something missing...