"For the last time, Deeeeerdre," Nick told Dash, "I am not wearing a cummerbund, or whatever it is they're called."
"But – ouch!" the scrunched up ball of paper pinged off her head and she bent down to retrieve it, her tirade of a moment ago forgotten in her quest to perfect her aim.
"Steeeerike One!" laughed PJ. "I have to say though, Dash, that I agree with Schultzy here. I'm not wearing one either. No way, not even if you paid me. Mags and I have talked and I'm wearing my black suit, and for some odd reason, she wants me to wear my blue shirt. Something about my eyes" he grinned, knowing full well how much Maggie loved his blue eyes.
Tom Croydon walked back into the station in time to catch the last part of PJ's comment.
"Those'd be the eyes that have finished going over that overdue paperwork of yours, wouldn't they?" he asked with raised eyebrows and a barely concealed smirk. "And this wouldn't be more wedding talk, either, would it McKinley?"
"No Boss, of course not Boss" Dash grinned, wheeling herself back over to her desk, while Nick buried his nose in his own reports.
PJ grinned as he saw who had followed the Boss through the door. Maggie had been back at work for nearly three weeks now, and just as they had promised, they were keeping it out of the station. Well, almost. There had been that time in the office when she had just looked so damn gorgeous he couldn't help himself, and then there had been that stolen kiss in the locker room this morning – but they were doing their best, and it was being noticed.
"So Doyley," PJ grinned. "Stolen cows. Moo?"
"Shut up you. Yes, stolen cows. Big, black and white vanished cows. Seems that eight cows have vanished into thin air from Donnelly's farm, and he's not at all impressed." Maggie said with a grin.
"A CI matter for me and Mags, I should imagine," PJ asked with a grin, his blue eyes darting between the Boss and Maggie.
"Most definitely not. Can't have you two disappearing off on a gorgeous day like today, who know when we'd get you back, if ever – and I dread to think what sort of state you'd be in," Tom grinned at the blush that stole over the two officer's faces. Caught them! "Doyle, you get started, ring around the locals and see what you find, Nick, contact St David's, they've got that auction coming up, Dash, you go and talk to Kev Marlin, he and Donnelly are always having words, and we should count him out first really. And PJ – those reports aren't going to be done by themselves – and NO Doyle, that wasn't an invite for you to go and help him!"
PJ grinned, knowing full well that that had been his next request, and Maggie grinned right back at him. PJ swung his legs off her desk, pulling the chair out to let her take a seat. And if his fingers ran a featherlight touch up her arms, and if he happened to have to bend down next to her to pick up one of the aforesaid notes – completely accidentally whispering that he loved her in her ear as he did so – well, that couldn't be helped, now could it?
Tom sighed, and with a shake of his head, he retreated back into his office.
Outside, the busy hum returned to the office as they actually did as Tom had asked. Things had been running smoothly, it was almost like the balance had been redressed. PJ and Maggie were closer than ever before, and for the first few days it had been palpably obvious how hard they were working to make sure that the right decision had been made, that it was possible for them to work in the same station and achieve the right results.
They had relaxed a bit over the last two weeks, back to their old selves, and the whole situation had been accepted and become part to the life of the station. Maggie and PJ still worked together, but maybe not quite as much, and Nick was proving himself to be just as good a Detective trainee as he was Sergeant. Tom was all too aware of the effort that everyone was putting into making this work, and he was proud of them.
"So, Maggie Moo," Dash grinned, "No wandering off under the blue skies and into yonder isolated fields with our dashing Detective then"
"You can shut up you idiot, that's for tomorrow" Maggie grinned right back, eyebrows waggling suggestively (and heroically ignoring the blush that stole across her cheeks at the thought). She grabbed her phone as it shrieked into life next to her. "Oh, ah, Good afternoon, Mount Thomas Police, Constable Doyle speaking" she told the person at the other end of the line. "I beg your pardon? You've found what?"
PJ came out of his office, smiling as he saw Maggie's eyebrows shoot through the roof. He really couldn't help smiling when he saw her, it was a natural reaction. He just loved her so much, the way her eyes danced with suppressed laughter, her golden hair caught the sunlight, the way she smiled when she caught sight of her fiancée. That and the fact that in less than twenty-four hours she would be his wife.
Nick looked up from the fax machine, which had beeped irritatingly and then gone back into hibernation. "Sucker" he grinned.
PJ glanced over at him. "Can't help it mate. I love her" and he grinned as Dash and Adam both placed their hands over their hearts and sighed over dramatically. "You shut up, just wait until it happens to you two." He teased, before his gaze was drawn back to Maggie.
Hanging up, Maggie got to her feet. "This town is incredible. Ok, that was Elsa Doherty. Seems a strange truck drew up outside the café, and is mooing loudly. Anyone want to come investigate?"
"CI work, methinks," Nick said, noting with a grin that PJ had already grabbed his jacket and was standing next to Maggie. "Off you go"
Tom heard the door shut and wandered out into the office. "Where are they going?" he asked, he should have known better to try to keep them apart – that and to try to get PJ to finish his paperwork before the wedding tomorrow.
"Mooing Van" Nick told him,with a grin.
"Moving Van? I thought they were already living together?" Tom said, a confused look on his face.
"No Boss, MOO ing van" Dash enunciated. "The missing cows have tried to hi-jack a truck and make it out onto the open road" she laughed.
"Do I want to know?" Tom asked Nick, who shook his head, unsuccessfully hiding his own grin. Tom shut his office door behind him.
OOO
"For the last time, I am not telling you" PJ grinned as he turned the engine off, grinning over at Maggie. "Not until tomorrow."
"But PJ, how do I know what to pack, or – " she peered over at him, the air warm as he opened the door and got out of the car. Following his lead, she too got out, moving over to his side of the car and batting her eyelashes at him. "PJ, - "
"Mrs Doherty, how are you!" PJ smiled as the elderly lady came over, a cake in her hands. "This looks delicious, doesn't it Doyle?"
"You'll keep" Maggie muttered with a grin.
"Forever, I hope," He grinned right back.
Mrs Doherty smiled at the two of them. "I bet you're both excited then?"
"Certainly am," PJ smiled, both at the woman he loved and at the woman holding the cake.
"Shut up you. And yes, Elsa, I am too," Maggie said. "So, this Mooing Van?"
OOO
Back at the station, a kind of industrious hum had overtaken the local police. Well, as industrious as it ever got in Mount Thomas Police Station. Tom watched them out of his window. They really were a good bunch, however juvenile they were. The work was done efficiently and carefully, and with the care and attention it deserved. The downtime was just as good, they were friends – good friends, and they cared about each other as a family.
Nick leant over and straightened a photo on his desktop. Young James was almost a month old now, and growing more and more each day. He was going to be tall, like his Dad, and they had already gone through two sets of clothes. Zoe was at this very minute shopping in Melbourne for his little wedding outfit, and Tom just KNEW that that wouldn't be all she came home with. Honestly, he'd never have picked her as a shopaholic.
Then there was Dash. Energy in a bottle Dash. That girl was scatty, insanely irritating at times – and Tom wouldn't have her any other way. He'd been a bit unsure about her when she'd first arrived, but now – well now she was like a daughter to him – well, a niece maybe. Dash glanced over to Adam, and when the glance lasted a little longer than need be, Tom's heart fell, and he shook his head in resignation. Not again….
And as for Adam, well, the boy had turned out well. Again a little over eager, or rough around the edges to start with, but he was shaping up to be a good officer. One for the girls, well, for the attention from the girls anyway, but he hadn't let it affect his work. Got on well with Dash, and they got good results. Adam looked up, feeling Dash's gaze, and gave her a small smile back in return, and it was all Tom could do not to clap his hand to his forehead in exasperation. Honestly, what was it with this place? Had Cupid taken up residence or something?
The front door opened and Ben Stewart arrived back at the Station, arms full of wriggling child, another following in his wake. "Dad, put me down!" Josh yelped. "She started it!"
And so, Ben. The Ben who - at one time - Tom was quite sure had harboured some rather intense feelings for Maggie. The sometimes temperamental, but excellent former Detective. A good copper, hard worker, and he too was fitting in nicely. Do him well to get a girlfriend, though, Tom thought – his eyes widening as he heard exactly what it was that Ben's daughter was telling him.
"Daddy, she did! I showed her your photo, and she gave me her number for you! Her name's Cate, and she's pretty, and she said you looked really handsome, and – "
Good Grief.
Mind you, he loved them all, they were his team, his unit. His family. Not that he'd ever EVER admit to that particular fact.
Behind Ben, the door opened again, and Ben's eldest daughter arrived, talking animatedly to someone behind her.
"Yes, it's tomorrow, and you should see them, PJ loves her so much, and the wedding is going to be gorgeous, and Dad says I can have some champagne, and – "
"I did not say any such thing, young lady," Ben said, turning to his daughter, and catching sight of exactly whom it was she was talking to. "Oh! Ah, hello Sir"
Inspector Falcon-Price stepped further into sight, and Tom's heart dropped.
What now?