32
"Daddy's phone" Josh Stewart said, grabbing Ben's phone before Ben
could. "Hello Sergeant Tom, how are you?" he continued politely, at
the same time wriggling out of his father's reach. "Yes, Daddy's
here, and he and Mummy and Emma are arguing about Maggie and P.J.
and Daddy being the Prince for Maggie, but I want P.J. to be the
Prince - "
"Boss!" came Ben's stressed voice, as Tom just about managed to
stifle his laughter "Boss, ah, sorry about that, it's way past his
bedtime and - yes Joshua, it is, - now PLEASE be quiet, Maddy,
grab him, please!"
"Ben?" Tom said, now unable to contain his laughter. "Ben, are you
there?"
"Boss, I'm sorry about that" Ben finally said, having ensured his
son was safely entertained – within sight in the queue for dessert
with Maddy carefully clutching a twenty dollar note. "Rachel's taken
Emma to the ladies, and Josh is just over tired. I think I've just
signed my own death warrant by sending them off for dessert, but –
well, tonight isn't a usual kind of night." He sighed, amazed that
for a while he had forgotten about the reason they were all there,
the bruises and cuts he had suffered – and the fact that Maggie
Doyle was lying in the hospital.
"That's ok, but someone needs to give me the number for the
hospital, or at least the ward that Doyle's on. I've had a long talk
with the ever perceptive Pat Doyle, and had to tell him about
Maggie, and I wanted to warn you – but none of you were obtainable!"
Tom said.
"Too late Boss, he's here, torturing P.J." Ben said, unable to
resist a small smile at the thought of P.J. being grilled by the
ever efficient Pat Doyle. "He wanted to know why it took you to tell
him, all the way from Mount Thomas, when we were all here in
Melbourne, just around the corner from him."
"So he's there? Talking to P.J.?"
Ben nodded tiredly, the stress of the day finally beginning to catch
up with him. "Ben?" Tom said, when he heard no reply.
"Wh – oh, sorry Boss, yeah, he's here."
"With P.J."
"Yep."
"And how's P.J. taking that? Is he ok?"
"He's doing ok considering the circumstances. He's holding his own
with Pat, anyway"
"And Pat? Does he know?"
"Know what?" Ben said, trying to focus on the conversation, while at
the same time watching his son and daughter in the line for some
more sugar-stacked fast food. He sighed with relief when he saw
Rachel returning with Emma, smiling at them as they wormed their way
into the queue where Josh was just about to order the biggest,
gloopiest dessert he could find. Dragging his attention back to Tom,
he paused, finding himself waiting for the Boss's reply.
"About them?"
There was a long pause as Ben truly heard Tom's words.
"About them? You knew?"
"Ben, it was obvious when we found out about her being hurt. P.J. –
well, let's just say that he totally gave himself away. I'm more
worried about Maggie than I am about the two of them being together,
that's just something we'll have to sort out once they get back.
Anyway, Ben – about Pat?"
"Well, all I know" Ben said after a pause, " Is that P.J. had gone
into Maggie's room as I left, and Pat was following after him.
Whether he knows that they are……….together, is anyone's guess.
Although, seeing how P.J. was totally focussed on Maggie, I should
think that Pat knows all to well by now."
"That could be interesting!" Tom said, his voice tailing off. "I
mean, he's always had high hopes for her, and I don't imagine her
hooking up with her partner were anywhere in there with them. Oh
well, it's happened now, and I don't think there's anything that
will split those two up, do you?" Tom asked, never once suspecting
that Ben may have held a torch for Maggie. "I mean, you could see
the sparks between them, couldn't you, but they never acted on them
until now"
"Boss, are you ok? I mean this IS an office romance we're talking
about." Ben said, almost hiding the surprise in his voice. As far as
he knew, P.J. had suppressed his feelings for years now, Ben himself
surely had. And all because the Rules and Regulations – and Tom
Croydon – had thoroughly disapproved of office romances.
"Ben, I may be against office romances, and for good reason, but
this is Maggie and P.J. we're talking about. The day those two met
you could see there was something there. I'm just surprised they
managed to resist until now. " He gave a short laugh. "Listen to me.
I must be tired, waffling on like this. Anyway, it's all out in the
open now, and whatever I'm supposed to feel officially, and however
I feel personally, you can't deny that those two belong together"
"I guess not" Ben said, knowing that it was true, however he felt
about Maggie. P.J. and Maggie fitted together, like a two piece
jigsaw, something that she and Ben never would. He sighed to
himself, still trying to give her up one hundred percent. He was
almost there – almost.
"Stewart? Everything ok?" Tom said into the silence.
"Mm? Oh, ah, yeah. Everything's fine Boss. Listen, the troops are on
their way back, with three tonnes of sugar filled goodies – goodness
know what Rachel thinks she's up to letting them have that – I'll
have to go now, but I'll keep you up to date. I'll call you tomorrow
and let you know if there are any changes." Ben said, hanging up on
Tom, distracted by the excited yelps of his son.
At the other end of the line, Tom Croydon was left staring at a
humming phone line, somewhat surprised, before a tired smile worked
his way across his face. Stewart was in for one heck of a night if
his kids were pumped up on sugar. There was no way that Rachel would
put up with the three of them when they were high as kites, no, that
honour was going to have to be shared. And, faced with that, he
could forgive Ben for hanging up like that – he actually even
doubted that Ben quite knew that he'd even done it!
Grabbing his jacket, Tom finally left the Police Station, locking
the doors and hoping like crazy that tomorrow would be a quiet day.
If the criminal element in Mount Thomas found out that half of the
station was in Melbourne, then all hell could break loose. Thinking
about it, Nick should be back as soon as possible, not only were
there criminals to entertain, but Zoe was also still very, very
pregnant. And Ben could be brought back soon, he only had bumps and
bruises, and although they would both be worried about Maggie,
neither would be as worried as P.J. was.
P.J. and Maggie. You had to smile at the thought. It was so obvious
really. They just fitted together, unlike, say Maggie and Ben, Tom
thought. Those two may look good together, but they didn't have that
spark, that connection that P.J. and Maggie had. And that was enough
of that, Tom told himself, P.J. and Maggie was something that would
have to be sorted once they got back to Mount Thomas – and somehow,
Tom didn't see it posing much of a problem.
No, the real problem would be if Chris Riley had shut the pub and
Tom couldn't get that relaxing wind down drink and friendly chat he
had been looking forward to ever since he'd talked to Pat Doyle.
33
"So she hasn't told you that she loves you, at least not properly,
not yet?" Pat said again, his voice invading P.J.'s thoughts, and
P.J. sighed, forced to shake his head in defeat.
"And would it be such a bad thing if she did?" Nick asked from the
doorway, having caught the last few words
"What? Oh, it's ah, Shell, ah – "
"Schultz." Nick said, "Nick Schultz. I work with Maggie and P.J., Mr
Doyle."
"Yes, well, anyway, what's it got to do with you?" Pat demanded,
worry for his daughter making his tone sharper than usual.
"Ah, Nick, P.J., I just need to do my check-up, if you don't mind"
Tim said from beside Nick. P.J. stood slowly, moving over to the
door, but not before gently kissing Maggie.
"I love you Mags" he whispered tiredly. "I'll be back in a few
minutes"
Pat stayed where he was. "I'm not going anywhere" he said stubbornly.
"Ah, sir – "Tim began, before tailing off when he got the full blast
of the Doyle look' "Ok then. But I really would prefer it if you –
ok" With a glance at P.J., who nodded, Tim gave up.
Out in the corridor, Nick placed a comforting hand on P.J.'s
shoulder. "She's going to be fine mate. "
"I know," P.J. said. "I know she is, " and he managed a tired
smile, "but having Pat Doyle second guess my every move – and then
doubt that Maggie loves me – it's not helping things Nick. She does
love me – she said she did. So what if she was half asleep – have
you ever known her say anything she doesn't mean? She loves me and I
love her and that's all there is too it."
Inside the hospital room, Tim was busy checking on Maggie. Pat Doyle
stood off to one side, watching carefully. He wasn't at all sure
about this Tim character, he seemed much too young to be a Doctor.
"She's going to be all right then? That's what Croydon told me, but –
Doctor – I'd prefer to hear it from you" he said.
"She'll be fine. She just needs to rest, and then she needs to go
home with P.J. He'll look after her fine. He loves her very much,
and from what I've seen of Maggie here, she seems to react to him
just as much. She's not really woken up properly yet, but she seems
to know when he's here, you know? It's like they have this
connection or something. She certainly seems to care for him a great
deal – or at least that's the impression I get."
"From her while she's asleep. You think that she cares that much
about him – from seeing her while she's asleep."
"Sir, you get to know people. You get to watch a lot of people in
this job, and you get to know when people should be together. And
these two should be together. P.J. really does love your friend
here, sir – "
"My daughter" Pat said
"Oh. Ok. Well, he loves her sir, and it's my belief that she loves
him just as much." Tim said, suddenly understanding the whole
situation. "Anyway, I'm all done, and she's doing fine. The
sedatives I gave her should help her to sleep through the rest of
the night, so you can go home and get some rest if you want."
"Is Hasham going?"
"P.J.? I doubt it. He's already asked me to set up a bed in here
with her so he can stay. I – er – I take it you'll be wanting to
stay too then?"
"You really think she cares about him as much as he cares about her?"
"Sir I – yes. Yes I do. It's not just from the way she reacts to
him, but the way he reacts to her as well. Look, can I – "
"Just talk to me, young man" Pat said, going back over to the bed,
and taking Maggie's hand.
"Well, it's just that – well, if there wasn't something between
them, if they weren't together, and so completely and utterly
together, well, would he have reacted so openly? Would P.J. be so
open about being so upset if she didn't feel the same way? Surely if
she didn't love him, he wouldn't have been so open about being so
upset? D'you know what I mean? "
Pat just stared at his daughter as Tim waffled, his tired eyes
taking in her every feature.
"Ok, and I'll shut up now. Listen, she's going to be absolutely
fine. A bit sore for a while, but with the right care, she'll be
fine, Mr Doyle. Anyway, I've got to finish my rounds, but I'll check
in on Maggie again later, before I go off duty" he said, shaking
Pat's hand and leaving Pat alone with Maggie.
"She's fine P.J." he said and he passed P.J. and Nick in the
corridor. "So is her Dad. P.J., I think it might help if you give
them some time together. As far as I could tell from the few minutes
I met Mr. Doyle, he adores his daughter, and only wants the best for
her. Did he know about you two?"
P.J. shook his head.
"Didn't think so. Look, it's probably come as a bit of a surprise to
him, but I think he'll be ok with you. It's obvious how you feel
about her – and it's pretty obvious how she feels about you, even in
her sleep. You just need to give him a bit of time to come to terms
with it all."
Inside the room, Pat smiled down at his daughter. "So girly, what
have you gone and done this time? Honestly, I can't leave you alone
for a minute without you getting into one scrape or another." He
sighed as he watched her sleep. "And what's this with Hasham? He
says he loves you, and that you love him as well. Maggie – what did
I always tell you? You can't be in a relationship with a fellow
member, not from your own team. Then again, you never did listen to
me, did you? He's a good bloke I suppose. And it's pretty damn
obvious that he's in love with you, you can see it in the way he is
around you, let alone from what he said. But what I need to know, is
whether you love him as well. "
Pat reached over and straightened the blankets as he watched Maggie
sleep.
"You know I only ever want the best for you, love. And until now, I
thought that we'd agreed that you were going to get straight to the
top. But maybe – well, maybe we forgot – ok, I forgot about you
having a life as well. " He gave a small laugh. "I mean, look at me.
So determined to be the best I could that I managed to get all of
you off side. And after your Mum went, it was never the same. Work
was everything, and home – well, without you lot, home wasn't really
worth that much. And I don't want that for you. I want you to be the
best, but to be happy with it. And if he makes you happy, then maybe
Hasham isn't that bad a choice. Not who I'd choose, but if you like
him – ok, if you love him, then that's good enough for me. I just
want to hear it from you, Maggie. That's all I ask. So you need to
hurry up and rest, so you can tell me how you really feel," he said,
reaching over and kissing her gently.
A soft knock at the door made him turn to see P.J.'s tired smile
peer around the door.
"Ok?"
"Yeah, everything's fine. Listen P.J., it's nothing against you,
it's just that I love my daughter, and only want what's best for
her. If she says you're what she wants, then I'll be fine with that.
But I need to hear it from her, can you understand that?"
"Sure Pat. Whatever you want is fine. I just want to sit with her
again," P.J. said, coming over and taking his place beside her
again. "I take it you'll be staying here tonight?"
Pat was silent for a moment, watching P.J. as he smiled at Maggie,
their hands entwined. For the first time, he saw P.J., really saw
him, and began to understand the bond between him and Maggie.
"I was, but I think I'll go home, and come back again in the
morning. What about Nick and the other one? Do they need a place to
stay? Because they're welcome to stay at my place" Pat offered.
For a second there, P.J. considered it, knowing all to well what Ben
and Nick's reactions would be, but then he shook his head. "It's all
right, Ben's ex lives in Melbourne, and she's said they can stay
there tonight"
"Ok. Well, I'm off then. I'll be back first thing, and you'll call
if – "
"Of course. Don't worry Pat, she's fine. I just need to stay with
her tonight" P.J. said, glancing over at Pat, before his gaze was
drawn back to the woman he loved.
"I know you do. " Pat said softly. "Ok then, I'll, ah, I'll be off
then."
"Night Pat, " P.J. said.
"Night" Pat said, and with another quick kiss for his daughter, he
left P.J. and Maggie alone.
34
"Mr. Doyle? Are you all right?" Carol said, having watched Pat come
out of Maggie's room and shut the door gently. He'd stood there for
a while, before finally running a tired hand over his face.
"Hm? Oh, ah, Carol isn't it? Yeah, I'm fine. It's just all catching
up with me, and I guess I'm pretty tired too. Listen, you know what
happened, can you tell me how my daughter ended up in that bed?"
"I – well, I'm sorry Mr Doyle – "
"Pat" Pat smiled.
"Pat then, but I can't. You'll have to ask one of them, it's not my
place to say." Carol said apologetically, restricted by rules.
"Carol, look around you. Who am I going to ask? Nick and the other
one have gone home, P.J. won't leave Maggie's side and he's half
asleep as it is, - you're all I have. Please? I won't tell anyone,
but I just have to know. She's my baby, Carol. I won't sleep tonight
as it is, but I might feel a bit better if I know how it all
happened."
Carol sighed as Lucy Walters strolled slowly down the
corridor. "Look, my shift is almost over anyway. Go downstairs to
the cafeteria. Give me ten minutes to get Lucy up to speed and then
I'll meet you down there" she said, with a small smile. She could
understand what Pat Doyle was saying, after all, if it had been Tim
in there, lying in that bed…………………
OOO
Inside Maggie's room, both Maggie and P.J. were sound asleep, Maggie
in the bed, and P.J. perched on the chair beside her, uncomfortable,
but unwilling to let go of her hand.
OOO
Across town, Nick Shultz once again cursed his size as he fell off
the couch for the eighth time (yes, he WAS counting). Rubbing his
back, he delved under the blankets to see what he'd landed on, only
to come across his mobile phone. Dialling, he smiled as he heard the
voice at the other end.
"Hey you!"
"Hi" Zoe grinned, happy to hear Nick's voice.
"Didn't wake you did I?"
"You know you didn't, Nicholas. Your son is doing cartwheels again.
I'm really looking forward to this one being born so as I can get a
good night's sleep afterwards." She grinned, waiting.
"But everyone says that that's when you get even less sleep,
because – "
"Your responsibility Schultz. You got me this way, you can deal with
it!"
"Don't think I can't hear the grin in your voice!" Nick said after a
pause. "You – you are joking, aren't you?"
"It's SO easy!" Zoe sighed dramatically. "You might at least put
some effort into it!"
"Not after the day I've had!" Nick said tiredly, and Zoe heard him
sigh.
"Sweetheart, I'm sorry" she said, all traces of teasing gone. "How
is Maggie?"
"She's going to be fine. She's a bit battered and bruised, and she
didn't seem to want to wake up for a while, but she appears to be
sleeping by herself now, and should be back with us tomorrow. P.J.'s
with her now, and Pat's checked in on her. "
"Pat? Pat Doyle? How did that go? I shouldn't imagine he'd be too
pleased to see P.J. with Maggie like that." Zoe said softly.
"He wasn't, but nothing was going to move P.J. and Pat had to put up
with it. I think it's ok, but until I hear Maggie say it, I'm not a
hundred percent sure. All I know is that Pat knows P.J. is in love
with his daughter." He said, yawning.
Zoe smiled at the sound, imagining how he looked. "Nicky, listen to
me. Where are you?" she asked, knowing he'd be safe wherever he was.
"I'm on a tiny couch at Ben's ex's. Rachel brought the kids down to
see their Dad, and they invited me to stay. I'm sorry I couldn't
come back, Zo, but I'm absolutely shattered."
"It's all right, sweetheart. I understand. And this one, " she said,
reaching down and stroking her huge stomach, "isn't going to show up
for a day or two longer. Anyway, I want you to look around and grab
as many cushions as you can, and make up a bed on the floor. You
know you never fit on couches, and always feel like hell the day
after. Go on – that's it" she said as she heard him moving around
the room. "Now, lie down and get warm, and go to sleep. I love you
Nick, I love you very, very much." She said softly, knowing that he
was almost asleep.
"Love you too Zo," Nick mumbled, "Night baby"
"Night Daddy, " Zoe told him on behalf of her stomach, as she heard
the phone close off. "Love you too Nick"
OOO
"So from what Ben told me, the lady in the car behind them had a
heart attack, fell onto the accelerator and into the back of Ben and
Maggie, who were then shunted into oncoming traffic. No-one's fault
really," Carol told Pat as they sat nursing a mug of coffee each.
"And P.J.? When did he arrive?
"I think Ben phoned him after he was looked at in the Emergency
room, and P.J. and Nick got here as soon as they could. That boy
loves her, Pat. He really does love her. You have to admit that"
Carol said.
"Oh, I don't doubt that," Pat said tiredly. "Anyone with half a
brain can see that. He loves my baby very, very much. What I need to
know is how she feels about him. Carol, they can't be together and
stay in the job. Not at the same station, and the nearest
alternative station to Mount Thomas is St David's, and they're a
bunch of idiots! One of them will have to move if they want to stay
together, that or they break up and keep working where they are."
"Pat, that's not going to happen. Not now they know how they feel.
What they have, it's too strong – "
"But we don't know that, Maggie might not – " he sighed as he felt
Carol looking at him. "I know. She does, doesn't she? She loves that
boy just as much as he loves her," he admitted to himself.
"Yes she does." Carol said gently. "Pat, you know she does. P.J.
wouldn't be like this if she didn't. He wouldn't react this openly
if she didn't love him too, you know it and I know it. He'd stay
back, he'd still make sure she go the best, but he wouldn't be so
open about the way he felt. I know I only met him today, but you can
tell."
Pat swooshed the dregs of the coffee around in the bottom of his
mug. "Thanks for that Carol. Look, I'm going to make a move, but
I'll be back first thing in the morning. You'll call me if – "
"I'm off too, but I've given Lucy your number, and she'll call if
she needs to, but she won't have to. Maggie's fine now. Just
sleeping it all off, and she'll be up and about tomorrow, I promise
you. " she said, reaching over to take Pat's hand, giving it a
comforting squeeze. "Ok?"
Pat smiled. "Ok. Thank-you."
"You already said that. Look, I've got to go and ring a taxi now,
but how about I walk you to the front entrance first?"
"I'll top that" Pat said, "How about I give you a lift home?"
"Really? It's not out of your way? "
"No idea where IT is, but I want to. As a thank-you for everything,"
he said, smiling at her, suddenly noticing how spectacularly green
her eyes were.
"Well, than-you! That would be lovely. I'll have to make it up to
you somehow" she said, smiling right back at him.