"I don't know what is it about that lot out there, Tom. They're much to friendly for the efficient running of a Police Station – and yet they tend to get some of the best solve rates in the state. I've always believed in discipline and not becoming too close to workmates – you know, friends are friends and work-mates stay at work, but your lot constantly turn that view on it's head. I mean, just look at Doyle and Hasham. They seem to know each other inside out, and still get the figures. " Mark Falcon –Price said, watching as Maggie made her way out of the station, pausing at the door as P.J. moved over to her.

"It's good to see Doyle back, as well. I've no doubt that everyone was a bit worried about her for a while, but she seems fit enough, and – " he stopped as he watched P.J.'s head dip and place a gentle kiss on Maggie's lips. She smiled up at him, reaching up to run a finger down his face. Even from the office it wasn't too hard to figure out what it was she said to him, and, seeing his smile, to work out what his return comment was. Shutting the door behind her, P.J. turned, as if to go back to his office – only to come face to face with the stony gaze of the Inspector inside Tom's office.

Freezing for a moment, P.J. was in the middle of a maelstrom of confusion as Falcon-Price turned away. Inside the office, Tom stood aside as he watched his Boss' reaction.

"I take it that was what you wanted to talk to me about."

"Sir, I – "

"How long?"

Tom took a breath.

"I said, how long has that been going on?" Falcon-Price demanded.

"Not long sir. But it's the real thing. They're in love sir, and they're getting married. The reason I wanted to talk to you was, well, I want to find a way to keep them both here." Tom said, laying it all on the line.

"You know the rules, Tom. It can't happen. If they want to get married, they have to work in different stations. That's how it works."

Tom sat down, inviting his boss to do the same. "Listen. They're my best team. They get the results, they catch the crims and they do the work. The fact that they've fallen in love, that they want to get married – let me re-phrase that, that they ARE getting married, that's by the wayside, sir. You yourself just told them that they are the best in the State, that paperwork proves it"

"Yes, but that was before I knew about all of this" Mark said, gesturing back to the Squad Room. "I should have seen it coming though, I suppose. I mean, he always was protective of her, and she seemed to be able to put up with anything from him. I just – Tom, they can't be in the same team if they're married, they just can't"

"But why not? " Tom took a breath, he might as well push the boat out, it couldn't hurt – he was probably going to lose one of them anyway, but he'd go down trying.

"Well, think about it. What if she's in danger, or – "

"Already happened. Remember the fiasco with Donovan Cook? Maggie was held hostage, for two days, and it was Hasham that talked Cook round. It was Hasham and Shultz that sorted that all out, and it was Hasham that got her out – got them all out alive."

"Ok, I'll give you that one. I'm not denying they're good together. That's obvious to everyone. But – "

"Look. I'm going to lay it all out in the open. Your research, your precious paperwork says that Maggie Doyle and P.J. Hasham are two of the best coppers this State has. They have the highest catch rate, the best solve rate and are the best team we've had in Mount Thomas for many years. They also happen to be in love." Tom said bluntly. " Now I know these two, and if I'm honest, that love, that emotion, it's been there for ages. Probably as long as they've known each other. Mark, listen, the reason they work so well is BECAUSE of the way they feel about each other. They get their results despite the way they feel, they work with it, use it. Mark, you won't get a better team than Doyle and Hasham, and I'm willing to stake my career on it."

Tom reached over to a pile of papers on his desk, handing a letter to the Inspector. Mark glanced over it, before catching Tom's eye.

"You're that certain that they can work together."

"I am." Tom said, his voice strong.

" And that mob out there, they're willing to work with Doyle and Hasham as a couple?"

"That mob out there, as you put it, were the ones that drafted the letter. They believe in Maggie and P.J. and they can see what it is that those two have. It's been there for so long that, well them admitting that they were in love was nothing new to anyone. And still they were willing to work with Maggie and P.J., to lay their lives on the line in this station. Each and every member in this station is willing to work either with Maggie, or with P.J. and also with them as partners. That's just how it is, and that's what I'm going to put down on paper –and then do my level best to make sure they both stay right here in Mount Thomas."

Falcon-Price sighed, his hawklike eyes fixing on Tom as he stared over the top of the letter. "I can make the decision, Tom. And I'm prepared to, but first I want to talk to them, together and by themselves. You're sure?"

"I'm sure." Tom said, hope beginning to build as he watched his boss.

"Reckon I might be too, but I'll still have to talk to them. Set it up, Tom," he said, before standing and walking out of the office, and out of the station.