23

Nick sighed. This wasn't going to be easy. It wasn't as if it were
all bad news, the doctors were optimistic that Maggie would wake up
soon, but getting that through to P.J. was going to be hard work. He
looked over at the man sat next to him. P.J. had shut down. The
strength, the power of the man had left him, and Nick was sitting
beside a man at breaking point.

"Patrick," he began softly, making sure he got P.J.'s
attention, "P.J., Maggie is alive. She has a broken arm, and some
cuts and bruises. The main thing is, well, she's still unconscious,
but the doctors are keeping a very close eye on her and are pretty
sure she'll come out of it soon. Mate, it's just the body's way of
healing itself, she's had a shock, and she's just taking her time.
You know our Margaret, never does things by half. P.J., listen,
she'll wake up soon, and wondering what all the fuss was about. And
then she'll see you and we'll all finally be able to get payback on
the book that we've had running about you two" Nick said, managing
to get a ghost of a smile from P.J.

Hearing voices from the desk, P.J. glanced over at Ben and Carol.
Following his gaze, Nick hung his head again. Why me? He asked
silently, Why me? But he knew the answer. P.J. was his best friend,
and Maggie was like a sister to him. Ben was a friend too, which is
why this was all so difficult.

"P.J., it was an accident. Ben would never hurt her, you know that.
They were at a crossroad, and the elderly lady in the car behind
them had a heart attack, and apparently her foot hit the
accelerator. It was no more her fault than it was Ben's. And he's -
he's hurting too." He said, unsure of quite how far to go.

"He loves her, Nick. Ben loves Maggie."

Maggie. Not Mags, but Maggie. Mags was P.J.'s, his life and soul.
Maggie was a part of everyone, but Mags? Mags was P.J.'s – and his
alone.

"Yes, he does, but not like you, and I think he knows that now. He
doesn't stand a chance Patrick. He really doesn't stand a chance.
Kidding aside, we know how she feels about you. She adores you mate,
the way she looks at you – well, lets just say that Ben was never in
the running. It's you, and it's always been you – and you know it"

And it was as if Ben heard him, because he was coming over to them,
and P.J. stood. For a second the two men stared at each other, and
then Ben understood, really understood, giving up any last hopes he
may have had for Maggie's heart. He'd never been in the running, not
when P.J. felt like he did, and not when Maggie returned those
feelings, as Ben was pretty sure she did.

"I'm sorry P.J. About – everything. It was an accident, mate. There
was nothing I could have done. And – and, well, I'm sorry about the
rest too."

P.J. shook the proffered hand. "It's ok. I know it was an accident,
and I'm sorry about before. It was just – Mags, she, ah, she has
this effect on people. And – and I love her Ben, I love her so much –
and it's killing me knowing she's here and I can't see her" he
said, his blue eyes darting around, desperation beginning to return.
She was here somewhere, and –
"Carol?" Ben said, turning to the nurse who hovered behind
them. "Can we, he, can he see her? Please? They're together, he's
family – Carol, look at him, you can see how much he loves her,
please – "

"Ok!" laughed Carol, Ben's begging raising a smile. "Ok, I'll see
what I can do, but the doctors are in with her at the moment, and it
is outside visiting hours"

"Tell them it's a Police matter" Nick said, opening his jacket and
revealing his shirt – his work shirt, and holding up his
badge. "Tell them we need to – ah, to – "

"View the evidence," said Ben, joining in. "Well?" he said at the
two pairs of raised eyebrows in front of him, "It was the best I
could think of!"

"I just need to see her, Carol, please?" P.J. said, fear and worry
still gripping his soul, but still managing to turn on the Hasham
charm, and letting the blue eyes work their magic.

"You certainly know how to work the charm, young man," Carol said to
P.J., "That young lady of yours is one lucky girl."

P.J. managed a small smile. "I'm the lucky one", he sighed
softly, "Hopefully"

"Definitely, mate" Nick said. "Now, nurse? Lead the way, we have a
patient to see!"

Carol grinned and led them over to a closed door.

24

Knocking gently on the door, Carol pushed it open, only to have a
junior Doctor come over and stand in the way.

"I'm sorry nurse, but we're busy at the moment. Dr. Keneally is
examining this patient."

"I know Tim, " and the Doctor flushed, his green eyes darting back
to the other Doctor in the room.

"Mu-um! What did I - "

"Sorry, Doctor, " Carol grinned, "Son, listen, these people need to
see the patient," she said, gesturing to the men standing behind her.

"But it's after hours, and Dr. Keneally – "

"I know it's after hours, but they NEED to see her."

"Mum, don't, "

"They're the Police, Tim."

"Oh." And then he looked carefully at his mother. "And? I know you
Mum, you wouldn't do this, not even for the Police. Your patient
comes first. So?"

"So – so, well, he's, Tim, he's her boyfriend, and he's only just
got here, and he needs to see her. " she said, pulling P.J. over to
stand next to her.

"So he's not a Policeman?"

"Oh, yes, I am a cop," P.J. said, flashing his badge, "But I also
happen to be in love with your patient, and I need to see her, "

"Dr Roberts? If you could tear yourself away from those people who
should not even be here, I require a moment of your time?" came the
voice of the other Doctor, a voice acquired over many years of being
a senior Doctor and many years of delightedly snubbing junior
Doctors.

"Sorry Doctor," Tim said, hurrying over to the bed.

"Now, this patient is showing signs of waking up, but appears
disorientated. She may be having delusions, and it could be due to
the knock she took." Dr. Keneally said, making notes on Maggie's
chart.

At the door, Carol was trying to shush them out of the way, wanting
Maggie to have the best care possible, and also not wanting to get
her son in any more trouble. Dr. Keneally wasn't an easy one to work
with, and neither mother nor son had been happy when Tim had drawn
that rotation.

P.J., however, was having none of it. He'd heard what the Doctor had
said, and he was going to hear the rest. He needed to know. This was
Maggie they were discussing so clinically – Maggie!

"Come on, mate, please" Nick said gently, "Let them do their job"

"Nick, I'm not going anywhere, not until I know what's going on"
P.J. said calmly, and Nick knew he stood no chance of moving P.J.

"Note this down, Doctor, and then get those people out of the room." Keneally said in his bored, pompous tone. "This patient is showing signs of delusion, and the reason for this
claim is that she is asking for her nightwear, when she is already obviously dressed in such."

25

Nick felt his heart drop into his boots as he took in the senior
Doctor's word. Maggie was delusional, the bump on her head must have
been worse than anyone had thought. And what the hell did it mean
she was asking for her nightwear, and why on earth was P.J. suddenly
grinning like a loon?

"Nick!"

"Come on, please! We have to go," whispered Carol, trying to get
them out of the room. "Please! You'll get Tim into trouble, come on!"

"She wants her nightwear!" said a delighted P.J.

"I heard that!" hissed Nick, "Mate, come on, we need to let the
Doc's do their work" he said, pulling at P.J.'s arm.

"Nick! " he dragged his eyes away from Maggie, "Think about it – she
wants her nightwear."

"And I told you I heard that."

"Nightwear."

"P.J.!" Ben said from behind them "Get out here, or they won't let
us in again!"

"You lot can be so dense," said a hugely grinning P.J.

"Charming! What the hell are you on about?"

"Would you care to tell me exactly who you are and what you are
doing here?" came the arrogant tones of Dr. Algernon Keneally. "And
you can do that outside of this room, my patient needs her rest"

"Oh, I'm not going anywhere" P.J. told him, squaring up to the
Doctor. "That is Senior Constable Margaret Doyle in there, my
girlfriend, and I'm Senior Detective Patrick Joseph Hasham."

"Fantastic, wonderful. Now get out of this room, before I call
security on you, policeman, or no policeman!" ordered Keneally.

"Patrick Joseph Hasham" repeated P.J., and beside him, something
began to occur to Nick. Seeing a grin begin to form, P.J. turned to
him.

"You see?"

"I see!" grinned Nick, happier now than he had been for days.

"Well I don't, so perhaps you'd be good enough to tell us, before we
get slung out of here?" Ben said, glancing over at the angry Doctor.