Title: Never Lose Faith 4/4

Rating: PG

Setting: Mt Thomas, set a week after Jonesy's stabbing, Jo Ônapped, etc.

Summary: This is basically a TJ and PJo fic (so please read if u r one of the couple's fans!) and it's based on the aftermath of Jonesy's stabbing and tells a different story of Jo's kidnapping.

Note: Finally! I've finished! Taken me about 5 months... oh well.


NEVER LOSE FAITH 4/4

"How much," queried Tom. Marco looked down at his lap for a few seconds before replying, "I borrowed 30 grand, but Stephen is really pissed now... He want's $100,000".

"You Ôborrowed' $30,000 off a crook!" exploded PJ, who'd been standing patiently in the corner until now, "Are you insane! Jo's missing because you can't keep your head around a few pokies? If anything has happened to her..." he threatened as he moved towards Marco.

"PJ Please." Said Tess, standing up between Marco and PJ, "Perhaps you'd better leave it up to us..." she reasoned, showing PJ to the door, "What and leave you guys with this piece of filth!" spat PJ. "PJ, just leave! warned Tom who was starting to loose his patience with PJ. "Fine, fine, whatever is easier for you" replied PJ sarcastically as he slammed his way out the door.

Sitting back down, Tess continued, "Have they arranged a meeting place for the exchange yet Marco?". "Umm yeah, I was meant to drop the money off by Cutter's Bridge about two hours ago" said Marco bleakly, whilst staring blankly at the bare wall ahead. "two hours ago? But you where heading into Melbourne then..." "Yeah I know," said Marco abruptly, interrupting Tess, "I didn't have the money so I didn't show.

"I think that's all we need to know Tess," said Tom, standing up, "Interview suspended at 5:25pm. You're free to leave now Marco" he continued, showing Marco out of the interview room. "Can I stay here, please! These guys are dangerous, they probably know I haven't shown up by now and are gonna come after me!" said Marco agitatedly, refusing to leave the Station. "Fine, fine, but don't make a nuisance of yourself." replied Tom with a sigh, "As for the rest of you, in my office now".


Meanwhile, Jo was back in the dusk gloomy cellar, slowly getting weaker and weaker from dehydration. Grasping at her last ounces of energy,

she lifted her head partially from the floor and folded her legs underneath her body to half sit – half lean against the wall. Finding her voice, she called out through the darkness, hoping desperately that someone would hear her calls.

Finally, Fabio crashed through the cellar door and shone his torch in her face. "What's your problem Bitch!" he spat at her as he pulled the bond out of her mouth, allowing her to answer him. "Water," she whimpered softly, "want some water". "Water eh?" he replied, "Fine, I'll get you some water if that's gonna shut you up! he said and sprinted back out of the cellar.

Before she could make a rush for the door though, he returned, carrying with him a small, clear jug. He leant down beside her and placed the jug in her bound hands when Stephen thumped heavily through the door. "What are you doing you idiot?" snarled Stephen at his younger brother, "Just giving her some water, she's dehydrated," exclaimed Fabio. "Did you get the money?" he asked, standing tall to face Stephen. "No. He didn't turn up. Waited an hour as well." Replied Stephen sharply, "So what do we do now?" queried Fabio, "We'll wait. Let Marco stew for a while, we'll call him with new arrangements tomorrow," Said Stephen as he and Fabio started heading up the stairs and out the door, "If he doesn't show tomorrow, we'll kill her. That oughta teach him a lesson.


"Any leads Boss?" queried Ben once they'd all settled inside Tom's office.

"Apparently Marco has a gambling debt and borrowed $30,000 from Stephen. Looks like he kidnapped Jo to get his money back." Explained the Boss, lying back in his chair. "So have they sent a ransom note yet?" asked Ben, "Yes, but the exchange was meant to occur two hours ago..." replied Tom uneasily. "Fantastic!" yelled PJ sarcastically, "We've still got no idea where she is and now we're just gonna wait until we get a call from some bloody crooks are we?" he continued, pacing recklessly around the room.

"I don't like this either Boss. We can't just wait until the kidnappers make contact again, that could take ages," added Jonesy, "I agree Boss," said Tess, "I think we should bring in Sophie again. She may know of people or places Stephen goes to". After a few moments' hesitation, Tom finally looked up and replied, "Right, let's do it".


"I don't know how I can help you," said Sophie frustratedly as she entered the interview room with Ben and Jonesy.

"Stephen is holding a colleague of ours prisoner somewhere and we're just trying to find out where Sophie," said Jonesy calmly as he sat down opposite her. "Sophie," started Ben, "Do you know anyone Stephen might deal with in these sorts of matters, or places Stephen would go?

Taking a few seconds to think, Sophie replied, "His brother Fabio hangs around a lot. He and Stephen did over that Jewellery Shop five years ago. Stephen might have gone to his place".


Ten minutes later, they had all gathered in the main station.

"Yep, Fabio's had priors for theft," said Tess triumphantly over the top of her computer. "Right so do we think Fabio's involved?" asked Jonesy, "I'd say so," replied Ben.

"I've been thinking this through" interrupted Tom, "These guys are amateurs, they don't know anything about kidnapping someone, I mean Stephen was stupid enough to use his own car... I reckon they'd be stupid enough to hold her in their house".

"Right," said Tess, thinking it over, "Well she's not at Stephen's, we checked there, so she may just be at Fabio's house... "I think it's worth a shot," added Tom.

"Let's hit it then," confirmed Tess, "PJ, Ben and I can go..." "Wait a second," said Jonesy abruptly, "Tess, anything could happen, it's too dangerous for you to go in your condition, I'll go".

"My pregnancy you mean?" replied Tess harshly, "I'm just as capable of hitting this place as PJ and Ben are! You're just out of hospital and probably shouldn't even be on desk duty!". "Boss I'm fine, doctor let me out, didn't she?" said Jonesy to Tom, "you'll need all of us there anyway".

There was not enough time to argue about it. "Ok, you all go, and I'll stay and man the station. Tess, Jonesy, I want you two to be extra careful alright?

"Right Boss," they answered simultaneously. "Let's go," said Ben.


"This is the police, you're surrounded," said Tess calmly into the megaphone. She and Ben we're crouching behind the police van, whilst Jonesy and PJ were standing behind some nearby trees. They were ready to bombard the house if necessary.

"We know you're holding Constable Parish hostage," Tess continued, "All we want is to get her out of here safely. If you let her go, we may be able to strike a compromise," she said, hoping that they weren't already too late.

Suddenly the side door swung open. Automatically, the Heelers all spun around and faced their guns towards the open door. Stephen emerged with Jo in a headlock and a shotgun pointed to her head. Fabio followed and pointed his gun with a mad rage at the Heelers.

"Nobody move, or we'll blow her head off!" yelled Fabio, psychotically waving his gun around as they made their way to the front of the house. ÔJust.. just let her go, and then we'll go away," said Tess coolly, placing the megaphone and her gun on the ground. Slowly, she moved around the side of the car so she could talk to Stephen and Fabio. "TESS, get back!" yelled Jonesy from his tree, a few metres from where Tess was standing. Ignoring his warning, Tess took a small step towards Fabio.

"GET BACK BITCH!" he yelled, waving the gun in her face. Tess replied, unshaken by his burst of rage, "I'm unarmed, I just want to talk." By now Fabio was sweating like mad and shaking nervously. The situation was obviously too much for him to handle.

Without warning, two gunshots were fired. Everything that followed happened in a blur. Tess choked back a scream and fell into the police van. Jo seized the opportunity by kicking Stephen in the shin and ducking, just as PJ shot Stephen in the shoulder. A moment later and PJ was on top of Stephen, putting him in handcuffs. Fabio was already dead. Ben checked his pulse, then ran over to where Jonesy and Tess lay.

Evan had reached the car and was ripping the bullet-proof jacket off Tess. Her body was convulsing in pain, and tears were streaming down her face. She groaned as Evan finally managed to take the jacket off her. Quickly, he scoured the jacket and came across two bullet holes. "Thank god," he said, cradling her head in his arms.

"Evan..." she whimpered faintly, groaning with pain, "the baby". Evan's sense of relief was suddenly taken over to by fear and panic. "Shit, BEN! Get an ambo, quick!


"So what happened out there? Where is everyone?" asked Tom temperamentally as Ben entered his office.

Ben, still a bit jittery, took a seat and began explaining. "Jo's fine. She's outside right now with PJ. Tess and Jonesy are at the hospital. It looks like she'll be fine, but they're not so sure about her baby...

Tom didn't look at all pleased. "So how on earth did this all happen anyway?" he continued.

"Stephen came out of the shed with a shotgun at Jo's head, and Fabio was waving his gun at us. Tess tried to talk to him and clam him down, but he lost control and shot at her. I shot back at him three times and killed him," said Ben.

"What about Jo?" interrupted Tom abruptly. "Well, Stephen hesitated, she kicked him and PJ took the chance to shoot him. He has a wounded shoulder, nothing major".

"Right," said Tom, holding his head up with his hands. He was getting too old for all this. "As long as everyone is alive and safe...


PJ lay back on the grass and closed his eyes. It had been such a long day. He'd come so close to losing Jo today. What would he have done without her? She meant so much to him, but he could never summon up the courage to tell her.

"I was terrified I'd loose you Jo.." he said solemnly, staring at the clouds moving by. He heard her moving beside him and felt her hand slide into his grasp. Smiling, he rolled over and faced her. She was so beautiful. "Jo, I've been meaning to tell you for a while now... I'm in love with you".

Her heart felt like it had skipped a beat? Did he just say he loved her? PJ had been all she could think of whilst she had been trapped in that small dark cellar. She had remembered all the good times they'd had together and had prayed for God to give her one more chance with the man she loved. Thankfully, it looked as though God had listened and felt she had something more to live for. Perhaps this was it.

She beamed at him and answered, "I've been waiting so long to hear that." He moved in closer and planted his lips on her own. The kiss was so sweet; it sent tingles down Jo's spine. PJ whispered, "I'll never loose you again...


Tess couldn't stop the pools of tears flowing down her cheeks. She lost her baby, all because of her stubbornness. If she had just stayed out of the operation, she wouldn't have been shot and her baby would still be alive. She felt hollow, as though she'd just lost everything.

Evan was by her side and had been for hours. His face was also wet with tears, and she could see that he was hurting too. She was glad for his company.

"Tess," he began, breaking the silence that was hanging between them. "I'm so sorry. I can't begin to imagine how you're feeling...

"I'm so stupid!" Tess cried out, "I shouldn't have gone out there, the boss would have gone instead... it's all my fault." Her voice was quavering and her head felt like a lead weight. The only thing that was stopping her breaking down completely was Evan's strong grasp on her.

Evan tightened his hold on her hand and hugged her close to his chest. "It's not your fault! These things happen... you can't blame yourself," he said soothingly.

She knew he was right, she couldn't blame herself, but the guilt was still there. She was trembling uncontrollably and was glad, now more than ever, for his unrelenting support. He never failed to be there when she needed him most.

Gently, she disentangled herself from his hold and gazed into his eyes. They were as red and puffy as her own, yet she could still see that deep, undying love for her burning inside him. She wanted to feel his love now more than ever.

"I don't know if I can get through this without you," she sobbed, "I need you". Evan lifted her chin gently and drew closer, "I love you Tess. It hurts me so much to see you in this pain, but I know we can get through this together if you let me into your life". He leaned in closer and kissed her, ever so softly. It was filled with so much love and tenderness that for one short moment, she forgot all her troubles and only felt his love.

As soon as the kiss was over though, the pain flooded back and overwhelmed her. She grabbed Evan in a tight hug and whispered in his ear, "I love you so much. Hold me and don't ever let me go". Evan brushed a strand of hair from her tearstained face and smiled weakly, "don't worry. I won't".


It's over. Wow that took me a while. I started it a year ago, and only now have I actually finished it! I'm so glad it's done though, such a feeling of accomplishment! Sorry about the ending PJo fans, I'm a die hard T/J fan so I guess I got carried away. I have found it difficult to write about both couples so I think from now on I will just stick to T/J stories. Anyway, for now, that's it. Hope you enjoyed.