Title: The Cruise
Disclaimer: I own Alissa and the doctor.
Summary: Five Heelers go on a romantic Cruise…what will happen???

Chapter 3 – Returning Home

"So…" Jo asked the next morning at breakfast. Her and Susie had taken another early morning run and were now sitting in one of the many buffet bars of the ship eating pancakes.

"So what?" Susie asked shoving a forkful of pancake into her mouth.

"Did you tell him yet?"

"Well…you know the song I sang?"

"Yeah. The one you had to sing because you lost some bet?" Jo asked.

"That one. Well I think that kind of did all the talking for me."

"What do you mean?"

"Well when we got back to the room last night Jonesy kissed me."

"Finally." Jo replied, "It's been how long now?"

"Shut up."

Jo laughed and Susie pretended to hit her.

"Wow what's with the ring? Did PJ pop the question?" She asked when she saw Jo's hand.

"Shit!" Jo just realised that she had left the ring on her finger. "Ah…well…"

"Hey you can tell me."

"We were trying to keep it a secret. You have to promise not to tell anyone!" Jo said.

"Ok I promise. How did he do it?"

"I was sitting on his lap out on the balcony watching the sunset and he just sort of…asked me."

"Aww that's so sweet." Susie commented. "You guys are so perfect together."

"Thanks. But I'm a bit worried."

"Why?"

"Well he just did it so suddenly. And well after the false alarm about the baby he's been acting really strangely."

"Strange how?" Susie asked.

"Well he's been really edgy and especially since the cruise started. I'm just scared he's having second thoughts about asking me."

"Don't be stupid. Of course he's not. He loves you and that's all there is to it."

"You're right. Maybe I'm just being paranoid." She pushed the thought to the back of her mind and concentrated on eating her breakfast.

Three days later the ship docked at Port Melbourne and there was a rush as everyone headed back onto the land. However there were 6 people who were waiting for the rest of the passengers to leave. They were in no rush to get home and get back to work after a weeks vacation.

"Man that was so great. I want to do it again." Jo said as she and the others grabbed their bags and headed to the stairs.

"Same. I don't think I've had a vacation that relaxing in ages." Susie commented.

"Me either." Alissa sighed. "Too bad it's over though. I really don't want to go back to work."

"Where do you work?" Jo asked.

"I'm a forensic scientist. I work in the Chemistry lab at Melbourne University tutoring med students."

"Wow that must be fun."

"Well it can be interesting. Occasionally we get students who are smarter than the professors but then sometimes we get some students who don't understand much at all."

"How could they have gotten into Uni if they don't understand?"

"Well the things studied in High school are different to what we do at Uni. The course I run is different to most of the other courses. It is mainly focused on the Chemistry side of things. I run the lab for the Melbourne CSI's."

"What sort of things do you do there?" Jonesy asked. He had decided to join in the girl's conversation rather than listen to the guys going on about politics.

"Well we process the DNA found at crime scenes and we try to find a match."

"So you're the people we send our evidence and things to. You're in forensics?" Susie asked.

"Something like that." She said and she stepped off the ramp and onto the dock. "Wow. It feels so different to be standing on land."

"Yeah. I can still feel the movement of the back and forth, back and forth. It's enough to make you sick."

"Not really. I'm used to it. I used to travel all the time across seas."

"Really. What did you used to do?"

"I used to be a co-captain on a cruise ship like this one."

"What made you decide to change your mind? I mean with your career?"

"Well ever since I was a teenager I always wanted to be a forensic scientist. But Dad wanted me to follow in his footsteps and become a captain. So I did both. I tried out a little of each and I decided I liked science more than the sea."

"Well this is it. I guess we'll see you guys back home." Ben said when he got to his car.

"Yeah sure. Bye Alissa. It was great meeting you."

"You too." Alissa said as she climbed into the car.

BHBHBHBH

The next day when they got back to work they were all unenthused. They had thoroughly enjoyed their vacation and it just didn't seem right to be back at work.

"So are we going to tell them yet?" Jo asked. She had been bursting to tell everyone the news since they got back.

"Not just yet. Wait until tonight when we're at the pub. That way we can tell Chrissie as well." PJ suggested.

"That's a good idea. But it's not as if she couldn't already tell. When we were dropping Jonesy off last night she asked me if something had happened because I looked different."

"Yes you do. You're glowing."

"I know. But it's just so hard not too. I'm going to marry the best man I've ever met. The man I am totally, completely and utterly in love with."

"Don't they all mean the same thing?" PJ teased.

"Shut up and kiss me." She said and the pair shared a passionate kiss.

"Ahem." Ben said when he walked into PJ's office.

"Sorry." Jo and PJ sprung apart.

"Jo there's a cold burg out at the local chemist. Could you go with Susie to check it out please?"

"Sure." Jo replied. She gave PJ one last kiss before she walked out to join Susie in the car.

BHBHBHBH

"Hey what's up? You look a little pale." Jo asked. They were on their way back form the robbery. It was a false alarm.

"Yeah. I've been feeling a bit off for a few days. Maybe I ate something that didn't agree with me."

"Yeah. Maybe." Jo turned back to look at her. "You really don't look so good."

"I don't feel so good either." Susie said. "Pull over PULL OVER!" She cried. Jo pulled the car over to the side of the road and Susie jumped out. She ran to the nearest bush and puked. Jo walked up to he and put hr arm on her shoulder.

"You really don't look so good. We'd better get you to the hospital."

"No really it's ok. I'm fine." Susie said before puking once again.

"Come on." Jo led Susie back to the car and drove her to the hospital.

BHBHBHBH

"Man what's taking so long?" Jo asked. Susie had been taken in to see a doctor and now Jo was waiting to see what was wrong. "Ben is going to kill me." Jo said. Then she noticed Susie walking out with her arms tucked together and she was crying.

"Suse what's up?" Jo asked. "What did they tell you?"

"Nothing. Just an allergic reaction to something that's all."

"Oh." Jo could tell there was something else but she didn't want to push Susie. Especially if she was already feeling bad.

"I'll take you home."

"But I've got work."

"Don't worry. I'll explain it to Ben. Everything's going to be fine."

Susie burst into tears as Jo led her out to the car.

"Hey. Shhh. It'll be all right. Everything's going to be fine. You'll see."

"No it won't."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because…I…I'm pregnant."

"But isn't that a good thing?"

"I don't know. I mean we only slept together once. And we used protection."

"Hey. Suse it's ok. We'll get through this. I promise. And I'll be there for you every step of the way."

"It's not that simple Jo. I can't just push this away like any other thing. This is serious. This is going to affect the rest of my life. And Jonesy's life too. Jo we're too young to have kids. We're not married, and we're not even going out. We just slept together once."

"Susie calm down. Let's get you home and make you a nice cup of coffee."

"Thanks Jo."

"No problem."

Back at the station…

"What is taking them so long?" Ben thought. He had tried radioing but Jo wasn't answering. And her mobile was still turned off. Ben was just about ready to scream when Jo walked back into the station.

"Finally. What took you so long…where's Susie?" He asked when he noticed she wasn't there.

"She…err…she's at home."

"What? Why?" Ben asked.

"Well there was a bit of a problem." Jo said hesitantly. She had promised she wouldn't tell anyone.

"What kind of problem?" Jonesy asked in a panic.

"I had to take her to the hospital. She err…had an allergic reaction to something she ate." Jo said remembering the excuse Susie had given her.

"Is she ok?"

"She's fine. She just needs some time to rest. She'll be back at work tomorrow."

"Ok. How did you go out at the chemist?" Ben asked changing the subject.

"False alarm."

"Another one." Ben cried. "That's the third one this week. If you get another one make sure you keep the caller on the line long enough to trace the call." Ben said then he made his way into PJ's office.

"Is Susie ok?" Jonesy asked. He was deeply concerned for his best friend/lover.

"She'll be fine. All I can tell you is…you have to talk to her."

"Well I'll go now."

"No." Jo stopped him. "Just leave her for now. See her tonight after work."

And that's exactly what he did. Later that night once his shift had finished he went straight to Susie's place.

"Jonesy. What are you doing here?" Susie asked when she opened the door.

"Jo said you had something to tell me."

"Jonesy…there's something you should know."

"Before you tell me anything there' something I have to do." He leant in and kissed Susie passionately. Susie started crying.

"What's wrong?" Susie cried even more.

"I…I…"

"Whatever it is you can tell me."

"I'm…Pregnant." She swallowed hard.

Hmmmm…what will happen next? Feedback please and you'll find out.