"I'll be glad when the Boss gets back," PJ said, with a sigh. It was all very well for Tom to be suddenly called away, family did come first, and it sounded like Susan was just about to pop, the baby was due any day now. Honestly, it seemed like babies were popping out all over the place, Zoe still wasn't back, and Nick was starting to get edgy without her. PJ smiled. Zoe really did have Nick wrapped around her little finger, the big lug was so obviously missing her, staying up late every night, having 'deep and meaningful' chats about the footy, about country versus city, about – hell, about anything, just so that he didn't have to think about how much he was missing his wife. Just like me, PJ thought. Just like I am, doing anything and everything in my power not to think about her. Not to drown in the memories that were there surrounding him every single second of the day. Memories that he had to force himself to lock away – memories that most of the time flat out refused to be hidden.

Forcing himself to his feet, and making a conscious effort NOT to look at the picture that sat on his desk, PJ wandered out of his office, surprised to find himself standing in front of a certain best mate, who was currently on the phone.

"Yes, Mrs Kawalski, it IS me, no, I've not moved back here, I'm on loan, yes, I'm still married, no, she's not here at the moment, she's – " Nick caught sight of a highly amused PJ. Giving his trademark sardonic smile, Nick turned back to the phone," She'll be back soon, something about delivering a baby, I'm sure she'll be happy to update you. Now, what can I do to help you? What do you need our most esteemed police force for, Mrs Kawalski?" he listened for a few moments, 'aha-ing' and 'mmhm-ing' now and then, before turning back to PJ.

PJ's grin faded at the look Nick was giving him. Faded fast. A feeling of dread built up at the look in Nicholas' eye. Before he knew it, PJ was vehemently shaking his head. Whatever it was, that look meant only one thing. Whatever Nick was getting him into would most definitely make Nick laugh for days, and would make PJ wasn't to be anywhere else in the entire world.

"He'd love to. Absolutely love to. Bonnie Babes?"

PJ's eyebrows shot into orbit. Bonnie Babes? Please, oh please let it be anything but that. Anything but babies. Anything but small screaming infants, who spent their lives plotting how to either be sick all over him, or how to release the most foul noxious smells with the cutest smile they could manage.

"Thursday morning? 11 am? He'll be there with bells on. Righty-ho. Bye then Mrs K " Nick hung up with a smile, ducking as a pen flew through the air, narrowly missing his head.

"I – " PJ paused to make sure he had Nick's attention, before speaking very slowly and clearly. "I. Am. Going. To. Kill. You.. There is NO WAY I am doing it. Babies hate me Nick, they either throw up on me, or worse. Much, much worse." PJ shook his head in horror, as Nick gave up hiding his enjoyment of it all. "Shut up Schultz. If I have to do it, you're coming too. You said you were on loan here, so that makes you part of the station again, so I hereby make you my second in command, and therefore you have to come too. Makes sense to me anyway, and that's all that matters"

Nick sighed, and nodded. "Ok, I'll come. Be worth it if only to see your face."

"Where's Tom when you need him? " PJ complained. "Can't we get Susan down here? Mount Thomas is a fabulous place for a baby, just ask Mrs K, she'll tell him. And Zoe too, when's she back? Surely that baby she's looking after must have been born by now? Honestly, the two most suited people for this disaster have escaped town. I'm thinking of putting an APB out on them. Or a missing person's notice. " PJ sighed, resting on Nick's desk, running a hand thorough his short hair. "Have you heard from her? From Zoe?"

"I – ah, she, she sent me a text message before. Any day now apparently" Nick lied, the paperwork in front of him suddenly very interesting. "Yeah, ah, the baby, he likes it in there apparently"

"No comment," PJ said, before a thought occurred to him. "What's this about you being on loan here? The city finally seen the light and shipped you back to us poor schmucks in the country?" he grinned.

"Nah mate, 's just that now I've finally knocked them into shape, they saw the light and realised that you mob might need another dose of the Schultz Genius" Nick grinned right back. Of course, that wasn't quite true, and it had taken a considerable amount of wrangling to get the Powers That Be to accept a short term transfer until Tom and Zoe had - well, had done whatever it was that needed to be done. Nick wasn't going to think about HOW it had happened, he was just grateful that he was here to cope with the fall out from however it ended up. "Zo sends her love, and she, ah, she hopes she'll be back soon." His smile faltered for a moment as it hit home exactly how much he was missing his wife.

PJ sighed, then a smile wound its way across his face. "You're a lucky man Nick. Zoe's obviously lost the plot, because that woman loves you, mate. Thinks you hung the sun. Can't see why, myself, but you hold on to her, mate. Hold on tight. Because you never know – " he stopped, standing up and stopping himself from going there. "So, Thursday?"

000000

"I'm not sure I should – what would your doctor – " Tom ground to a halt, not knowing quite what he should say.

"I don't care what the doctors would say, Tom. I want to know what you know. You obviously know me, and I want to know how. Did you know Rick? Do you know how we met? Where we met? Do you know my family? My parents? You have to tell me, Tom, please!" Mel said, her eyes boring into Tom's heart. She was sitting next to him, quite unaware that she held his hand tightly in hers. She didn't care that she was pleading, that she was laying everything she thought she had remembered out in the open. Quite simply, she didn't care.

This Tom, he knew her. KNEW her. He had answers, he could clear things up. He could help. Mel was sick and tired of living a half life. Sure, the half life she was living had it's upsides, she had some wonderful friends, she had a good job – even if it did drive her mad at times.

And the boys, her boys. She needed to know for them. Needed to know about their father, so they could get to know him.

"Boss, please, you have to tell me'" Mel said, and Tom froze.

Zoe looked between the two of them, Tom was pale, and Mel quite obviously had no idea what she had just said.

"Maggie, " she said gently, deliberately using Mel's real name. After - to Tom – a noticeable pause, Mel turned to look at her. "My name is Zoe Schultz, and this is Tom Croydon. I'm a doctor, and as such, I'm not really sure we should be doing this – " she held up a hand to ward off Mel's response – " but I'm going to go ahead and do it. Gently though. I'm only going to tell you as much as I think you can cope with, and nothing will get me – or Tom – to go any further. So, if you agree to that, then – well, are you sitting comfortably?"

Mel nodded, leaning back into the couch. "Ok, but please, I'll be fine, honestly."

"All right. So, your name is Maggie. Maggie Doyle." Zoe began.