As always I own all the characters, except all the ones you recognise from Blue Heelers on Channel Seven - i.e. Maggie, PJ, Dash, Tom, Chris, Nick, Adam and I think there's a few others.
Any comments to pmjca32@vicnet.net.au
**************
"You do realise he has 8 month twins at home?" Tom said as he spoke on the phone
"Yes, we do" the man said, "But we really need he's help with this case. We suspect the same being who have operated in Mt. Thomas before"
"How long will you need him for?"
"He'll have to get here tonight to be briefed, and I'm estimating he'll have to be here for about 2 weeks?"
"2 weeks?" Tom raised he's voice, "What about his kids?"
"I'm sure he's wife will be able to come down with them a few times?"
"He is not married, and it is a 2 hour drive, with two babies"
"I understand where you coming from but .... "
"He's partner is back at work"
"As I said I understand .... "
***
"Maggie?" PJ called coming into the house that same morning
"What are you doing home?" Maggie asked, "You only left 40 minutes ago"
"Bad News" PJ said walking over to Maggie who was changing Mark, "I have to go to Melbourne and help with a case"
"What" she asked, "How long for?"
"They estimate 2 weeks"
"2 weeks?" Maggie asked, "PJ"
"I'm sorry. The boss tried to get me out of it. Everyone at the station has offered to help out"
"Where will you be staying?"
"Some motel they've booked me in too"
"When are you going?"
"I have to be there by 7 tonight"
"Tonight?"
"Yeah, but that does mean I have the next 3 hours to spend with you guys"
"I wish you didn't have to go"
"Me too Maggs"
***
"Coming" Maggie said at about 9 O'clock that night when the door bell rang
"It's only me, Maggs" Dash said from the other side of the door
"Hey Dash" Maggie said opening the door
Maggie and Dash walked into the lounge room together. A rug was spread out on the floor and the twins were lying happily on it together. They can now crawl.
"They like that" Dash said sitting on the couch
"Yeah" Maggie said, "You want anything?"
"No" she said, "I just came from the Imperial"
"Okay"
"You annoyed at PJ. You're not yourself"
"Not at PJ" Maggie said, "The force"
"But your still annoyed at PJ for still going"
"Not really. Well a little"
"You have every right to be"
"I guess"
"But it's not his fault he has to go. Follow him down there" Dash suggested
"Stay where?"
"Your dad's"
"Robbie's there at the moment" Maggie said, "He was let out 3 weeks ago"
"I didn't know that"
"He knows I don't want to see him"
"That's not like the Maggie I know - he's your brother"
"He nearly tore me and PJ apart"
"But he didn't - he got you together"
"Your right Dash, but he's done too much"
"If you say so", Dash said
"I might go down for the weekend to see PJ though"
"It's Monday, sure you can last that long?"
***
Maggie woke up on Wednesday morning to the sound of both the twins crying. She rubbed her eyes and pulled her dressing gown on before walking into their room. Both of the twins were sitting up in there cots. She quickly picked Mark up, before carefully picking her other child up and they both stopped crying.
She carried them into the lounge room, where she put them on the floor. Began to crawl around the room. Maggie sat down on the lounge room chair for a short time before deciding what she was going to be doing for the day. Normally she would be at work and she had forgotten to ring Heather, who babysat the twins and tell her not to come. Tom had told Maggie she could have the time off while PJ was in Melbourne.
There was a knock at the door. "Stay there" she told the twins but the only reply she received was a small baby laugh.
"Maggie?" the person at the door let her self it. They met at the hallway
"Heather" Maggie replied, "I forgot to ring you"
"What's the matter?"
"PJ's in Melbourne, so I've got the time off" she said, "You don't really need to mind the twins"
Maggie was looking very tied. Bags could be seen under her eyes. To top this all of her hair was a mess - after all she had just got up. Maggie and Heather had became very good friends within the last few months
"Since when" Heather asked
"He left Monday afternoon, he didn't have any notice"
"Look" Heather said picking up Mark, "Why don't you go and shower, get dressed, I'll look after these guys"
"You sure"
"Then, as it's now Wednesday so I'm guessing you haven't been out of the house since he left?" Maggie smiled, "So we'll go out to lunch together"
Maggie quickly left the room after thanking Heather and did what she suggested.
Meanwhile Heather took the twins into the Kitchen and put them in their highchairs.
She did a general tidy up of the kitchen before feeding the twins. As Heather was taking the twins out of their chairs Maggie walked into the kitchen. She was wearing her green jumper with her jeans.
***
"Hello" Maggie said answering the phone the Thursday morning, still in bed
"Hey Maggie" PJ said, "I miss you"
"I'm not missing you" she joked, "No, I miss you too"
"How are the twins?"
"Sleeping next to me"
"They took my place last night?"
"Yeah"
"Don't let them fall off the bed"
"PJ" Maggie laughed, "I'm not about to let that happen, there's pillows stopping them"
"Give them a kiss for me?" he asked
"I will"
"Listen Maggs" PJ said, "I better go, but why don't you come and stay with my mother with the twins?"
"That's not fair on your mother"
"I'll come down on the weekend"
"But it's Tuesday Maggs"
"Friday night"
"Okay, I love you" PJ said
"I love you too" Maggie said and hanged up, "So what are we going to do today?"
***
"I've missed you" PJ said opening the door to Maggie's car. The twins were both asleep in their car seats in the back seat.
"Me too" she said wrapping her arms around his waist. PJ leant forward, and kissed her
"I've missed that!" PJ laughed, "And those little things!"
PJ opened the back door and reached out to undo one of the car seats belts. He then picked up Mark and bounced him a little, to wake him up. He smiled at the sight of his dad. PJ passed him to Maggie, before reaching in for Claire. PJ and his family then walked to PJ's motel room.
"They said they would bring some cots up sometime today" PJ told Maggie
"What?" she asked placing Mark on the floor. He stayed there, sitting up
"You didn't think I was going to let you go home today, did you?"
"What?" she repeated
"I've got the rest of today off, unless a manger development in the case happens, and I won't turn up tomorrow unless they call me"
***
"Are you sure you thought of this all by your self?" Maggie asked as they entered the Melbourne Zoo, PJ pushing the twins pusher
"Sure I did" he laughed, "Where do we go first?"
"I've always liked the elephants"
"Elephants?"
"Yeah!"
"Lets just start here, and follow the path, and signs around"
"Providing we don't go near the reptiles"
"Why?" PJ asked, interested
"Because I hate them!"
"Maggie Doyle, scared of reptiles?"
"Watch it!"
After a while they finally got to the elephants. About 20 minutes had passed since they first arrived. Maggie was happy just looking at them, and trying to amuse the twins by telling them about the animals, but PJ demanded a photo. He picked up both babies out of the pusher and gave them to Maggie. He held them both as PJ took he's time to get the perfect photo. Maggie then decided that PJ would also have to get a picture so the twins were handed to him, and Maggie took her time to take a
photo.
"Where to now?" PJ asked as he put Mark back into the pusher with Claire
"Seals" Maggie ordered, walking off
"Hey, wait up" he caught up,
Maggie and PJ continued to look at the animals but soon they decided that they should stop for lunch. They had packed a picnic lunch for the two of them, as well as some baby food for their children. They laid a red rug on the grass of one of the provided picnic areas and let the twins out of the pram. They crawled around for a little bit, but they didn't get very far. PJ chased them back onto the rug,
where Maggie and PJ succeeded in feeding the twins as they ate their own simple lunch.
***
"You've reached Pat Doyle but I am unable to speak to you at present, please leave a message after the beep"
"Hey Dad" Maggie said, "It's Maggie - I just wanted to see if you wanted to see your grandchildren,
either tonight, or tomorrow as I'm in Melbourne"
Robbie was sitting on the couch as Maggie left the message from PJ's motel room. The twins were asleep in the cots that were brought up, and PJ was out getting some dinner. Robbie was finishing a cigarette. You could see in he's face he wanted to pick up and speak to he's sister, but he knew that Maggie didn't want to contact him. Robbie wanted Maggie to know that he had changed for the better.
"Anyway dad, you can call me here, at PJ's Hotel room, on 9495 9332 or just turn up."
As Maggie said the address of the hotel down Robbie quickly took a pen and wrote the address down. He had to see her - to prove to her he had changed, and he was sorry. He collected his father's car keys and left. Pat was in the back yard. He went to the back door. "Dad" he yelled, "I'm just going out for a while"
***
PJ and Maggie had now finished their dinner. The twins were still asleep and the take- away boxes could be seen on the table. There was a knock at the door, and PJ went to get it.
"PJ" the man said
"Rob.." PJ was surprised and didn't know how to react, "Robbie"
"Hi" he replied, "How have you been?"
"Good, ah you want to come in?"
PJ showed him and they both sat down. Maggie saw Robbie at the door, and ignored him when he came in. She was also shocked but she had the chance to get away - she went into the bathroom.
"So who's this?" Robbie asked. He was different. He had a different attitude
"This is you niece, Claire" he said, pointing to the sleeping baby in a cot
"Dad was telling me about her" Robbie said, "Where's Mark?"
"In the other cot, asleep" PJ replied as a cry was heard, "But it looks like I've spoken too soon"
"Hey buddy" he whispered, "What's the matter?" He picked Mark up and he stopped crying straight away. PJ went back to Robbie and reluctantly passed Mark to him after he asked. Robbie started to play 'Peak-a-boo' with him. "You really have changed" PJ thought to him self.
Time passed and PJ tried to conduct a conversation with Robbie but it didn't really work. They had nothing to really talk about.
Maggie surfaced from the bathroom and walked over to where PJ and Robbie were sitting. It was a sight she always use to want to see - PJ and Robbie getting along but she wasn't sure how she should react.
"Robbie?" Maggie asked, softly, "What are you doing here?"
Robbie stood up and placed he's hands in he's pocket after passing Mark back to PJ.
PJ leant back in he's seat before deciding to go into the bathroom, himself. On his way he put Mark on the floor.
"Your looking good" Robbie stated.
"Thanks" Maggie quickly replied, "What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to come and see my sister and her family"
"But.."
"I know what you said Maggie, but I had to get you to see me. See, I've changed, I stopped using, it's over 1 year since I've used. Dad forgave me"
"Dad's different" Maggie snapped, "You didn't nearly finish he's career"
"It wouldn't have gone that far"
"It could have" Maggie said, as Mark reached he's arms out meaning he wanted to be picked up. "Look"
Maggie picked her son up, "Just give me some time"
Meanwhile, PJ had been in the bathroom doing nothing when he heard the door close.
He went back into the family room and found Maggie on the couch, holding Mark with tears running down her face.
"Didn't go well?" he asked
"No" she replied, placing Mark back on the floor.
"Where's he gone?" PJ sat on the couch pulling Maggie close to him
"I don't him to give me some time" she wiped her tears away, "I wasn't expecting him turning up on the door step"
"He's changed"
"Wait" Maggie turned, "Are you sticking up for him"
"He's completed his detox, and his attitude is different"
"Your sticking up for him, before you wouldn't have given him the time of day" she walked out the door, leaving PJ with the twins
***
It was over 2 hours since Maggie had walked out. Her car, and PJ's were still in the motel car park so PJ knew she couldn't have gone far. He wanted to go after her, but he couldn't with the twins. Finally he had, had enough and decided he had to go and find Maggie. He set the pusher up out side the door and then woke Claire up. He dressed her up warmly and sat her back in her cot. Then PJ dressed Mark up warmly after waking him. PJ put him in the pusher, then got Claire and place her next to Mark. Finally he placed a rug over both of his kids, locked the door, left the key at the reception and went to find Maggie.
***
Maggie came back to the motel to find PJ's room locked, and the lights off. She was tear stained. Knowing that the management would have a spare key she went done to reception only to find that PJ had left the key there.
***
Meanwhile PJ had been walking around for at least a half an hour but he had not found her. He knew it wasn't right for the twins to be out it the cold but it was worried that something would happen to Maggie. But he decided he had to get the twins back to the motel
***
She unlocked the door as the phone began to ring. She rang to pick it up.
"Hello" she said, "PJ Hasham's room"
"Hello?" the caller inquired, "Who's this"
"I'm Maggie Doyle, can I ask who's calling"
"Sure" the man said, "I'm Constable Jones, Sergeant Dickinson wanted me to contact PJ as there has been a major development in the case"
"You need him?"
"Yes" the constable replied, bluntly
"Well his not here at the moment" Maggie said, "He's taken his children out on a walk, they wouldn't go to sleep" She lied
"He was telling us about them - anyway, can you just tell him to come down to the station as soon as he gets back"
"Okay" she hang up as PJ walked through the door with the twins in hand
"Maggie" PJ said, "I'm sorry!"
"That was Constable Jones - he said something about the case - Sergeant Dickinson wants you to down to the station"
PJ wasn't sure what to do. The look Maggie had on her face, he didn't want to leave her. PJ went to place the twins in the cots and went over to Maggie. She was now sitting on the bed.
"Maggs?" Maggie looks up, "I'll be back as soon as I can, okay?"
"Yeah, okay"
***
PJ arrived back at the motel 3am the next morning. It turned out that nothing major had really happened. It was just misunderstanding. He had the key and as he turned the lock he turned back to see that Maggie's car wasn't there. He went into the room and Maggie's suitcase was gone - as was the twins bag.
He looked on the bed and found a piece of paper with "PJ" written on it, and underline. He picked it up and read it. The note said that Maggie needed time to think. Robbie had mixed up her feeling completely.
PJ got the phone and rang Mt. Thomas. He knew it was late, but he wanted to make sure Maggie was okay. The phone kept ringing, and ringing. Finally the answer machine answered even through Maggie was sitting on the couch right next to the phone. "Maggs, it's me, pick up, please" Maggie didn't attempt to answer, "Look when you get this message ring me straight away, either at the station, or here,
what ever time it is - Please!"
***
"Mt Thomas Police Station, Constable Wing Speaking" Sarah said answering the phone the next morning - Saturday. She had been flirting with Adam for the past few months. Everyone had been able to see it except for Tom, and Adam. Dash was getting extremely annoyed and Adam could see this, but didn't understand why.
"Hi Sarah" Maggie said, "Is Dash around?"
"Sure" she said, "I'll get her for you"
"Hey Maggie" Dash said, "What's the matter?"
"Nothing" she said, "I just wanted to ask you what you're doing tonight?"
"Nothing - Imperial with everyone, why?"
"I need to do the shopping and I need some help. PJ normally stays home with the twins or comes to help"
"I'll come and help you then. Why don't we all go to the Imperial for tea first, then we'll go from there"
"Sure then, I'll pick you up around 6 then"
"Sure, just beep when you get out the front of my place"
** *
"I think you've had enough"
"Come on Chris, just one more, then I'll go back up stairs"
"One" Chris said and handing him another beer as Dash and Maggie came in with the twins.
"Hey Maggie" Chris said, "I haven't seen you in a while"
"Too hard to get here without PJ" Maggie replied
"Which is why I am her helpful helper for the night" Dash said
Maggie and Dash went over to the corner table of the dinning room. After a few minutes Sarah, Adam and Nick came and joined them. Chris bought Dash and Maggie's meals over a few minutes after that.
"I'll just go and get a drink" Maggie said standing up with Mark after she finished her meal
"You want me to hold Mark?" Adam asked
"Nah, he's okay"
"I'll come over with you" Sarah said, smiling at Adam. Dash gave her one of her 'looks'
"Please Chris" John nagged from the bar, "Just one more"
"That what you said before"
"Chris" Sarah called, "Can we get two drinks?"
"Sure Sarah" Chris said as she walked over to them
"That's right, serve her, and not ME" John yelled, "I'll teach her" John picked up his glass and bought his arm back and threw it.
"Watch out!" Sarah yelled as she ducked seeing the glass being thrown. Chris did the same but Maggie didn't here, she was concentrating on Mark. The glass hit Maggie's head and she automatically fell, still holding Mark.
Maggie knocked her head on one of the chairs and lost conciseness. The glass cut Maggie's head and she had a bad cut on her forehead. Mark also knocked his head and started crying.
"Maggie" Dash yelled. She gave Claire to Nick and ran to her side, "Maggs" she repeated, picking up Mark "Haley, call an Ambulance!" Dash passed Mark onto Chris and tried to wake Maggie, "Maggs?"
The paramedics came and took Maggie to the hospital. She had still not woken up and it was over 6 minutes but she was breathing. Nick and Tom charged the man who was called John at the Imperial with assault and took him back to the station for processing before some boys from St. David's took him to their lock up. Tom travelled with Maggie in the ambulance while Dash took the twins to the hospital
in Maggie's car. Sarah went in her own car to the hospital.
***
"Put him in the Interview room" Nick told Adam, "I'll just try an get onto PJ"
"Do you have the number?"
"The boss does" Nick said,
"I hope you know what's you've done" Adam told John as he closed the door on him
"Got it" Nick said, "PJ ..... yeah it's Nick ....... Yeah, something has happened, no it's not the twins, yeah, Maggie, she fell at the Imperial... knocked her head .... She hasn't woken up ... No we don't know .... Okay ..... see you in a few hours"
"He's on his way?" Adam asked
***
Dash and Adam waited outside Maggie's hospital room with the twins. Tom was with Maggie while Sarah and Nick were talking to Zoe. She had still not regained consciousness. Suddenly PJ ran through the doors.
"How is she?" he ran up to Dash, "Where is she?"
"The boss is with her, just in there PJ. She'll be alright"
"What happened?"
"Some guy threw a glass at Sarah in the Imperial"
"But he missed me" Sarah said, "I'm so sorry"
"No, it's not your fault" PJ said thinking the complete opposite, "I'll just go in to see her"
***
"Boss" PJ said entering the room, "Nick called me"
"He told me that" Tom said, "I'm sure she'll be okay"
Maggie was lying on the hospital bed, in a hospital gown. It looked like she was just sleeping.
"Hey Maggs" PJ said, "I'm here" PJ sat on the chair by her bed. He picked up one of her hands and kissed it. He stayed there for a while before going out to the others.
"Would one of you mind looking after the twins tonight?" PJ asked, "I want to stay here in case she wakes up"
"Sure" Dash said, "Adam and I will stay at your place"
"Thanks " PJ said and went back into the room
"I didn't think he's take it like this" Sarah said, "He's so quite"
"I guess you haven't been here long enough. There's a lot more to learn about him"
Dash said, "Anyway, we'll get the twins back home"
***
Dash and Adam finally settled on the couch when one of the twins cried out from their cot. "We just put them to bed" Adam complained
***
"PJ?" Maggie asked softly waking up that morning at about 5am
"Maggs" PJ jumped, "Maggie"
"I thought you were meant to be in Melbourne" she whispered
"I couldn't be in Melbourne while you were here"
"Where am I?"
"You're in the hospital"
"What happened?"
"You had an accident at the Imperial" he said, pushing her hair behind her ears
"Where are the twins?"
"Dash and Adam, you okay?"
"I'm fine" she said, "When do you have to be back in Melbourne?"
"Forget Melbourne"
***
PJ stayed and watched Maggie sleep for another hour and a half before heading back home to collect the twins. Maggie wanted him to being them into the hospital to see her as Zoe said that she had to stay in the hospital for another 24 hours observation.
He walked through the door to find Dash and Adam a sleep on the couch, each holding one of the babies. The twins were awake and making little bubbly noises to one another. PJ went moved the twins onto the floor to roll around causing Dash and Adam to wake up themselves
"PJ" Adam said
"How's Maggie?" Dash asked
"She's awake. She wants to see the twins so I'm taking them in later"
"That's good" Dash said
"PJ?" Adam asked, "How do you cope. They keep you up ALL night"
"You didn't do that to Uncle Adam and Auntie Dash did you guys?" PJ asked the twins bending down to them but the only response giving was a gurgle, "What time are you both on today?" he asked turning back
***
"Look guys" PJ said, "There's Mummy"
PJ was carrying the baby bag with some spare nappies and other things over his shoulder as her pushed the twins pusher into Maggie's room. PJ gave Mark to Maggie.
He had a bad bruise on his head which PJ had asked Dash about earlier that morning and found out how it happened, but Maggie didn't know that. She couldn't remember anything from the night before.
"What happened to him?" Maggie asked, placing her hand on Mark's bruise
"It happened last night at the Imperial" he said, sitting on the side of the bed with Claire
"How?" Maggie asked
"When you fell you were holding him" PJ said, "He knocked his head as well"
Maggie looked down at her son before kissing he's bruise.
"Sorry baby" she said
"Hey" PJ interrupted, "It's not your fault, accidents happen"
***
"Hi" Dash said entering the station with Adam, tied
"Hi" Sarah said, "Do you know how Maggie is?"
"She's awake. PJ just took the twins to see her"
"That's good" she breathed, "I'd feel so bad if anything happened to her"
"Yeah" Dash replied, "Hey Nick, what happened to John?"
"The boys from St. David's came and got it. He's been let out on bail"
***
Dash knocked on the door of Maggie and PJ's house the Monday morning. PJ went to answer it. He was wearing his jeans and black, long sleeved T-shirt.
"Thanks for coming Dash" PJ said
"No problem, least I could do"
PJ showed Dash into the lounge room. Once again the twins were lying on the floor playing with some of their toys including their rattles and teddy bears.
"I shouldn't be gone long" PJ said, "I've already feed the twins so they shouldn't need anything"
"PJ, they'll be fine" Dash said, "You go and get Maggie"
"Yeah, okay" PJ said
***
Maggie and PJ were seeing Dash out, both holding one of the twins. Dash moved off on her bike before Maggie and PJ went back into the house.
"Maggs" PJ said, "About Melbourne"
"PJ" Maggie turned, "I'm sorry, it's just Robbie, and everything, I didn't expect him ...
"To turn up"
"Sorry"
"Maggs" PJ said, "I need to" he stopped, "Why don't you go and have a shower"
"What do you need to do?"
"It's nothing" PJ lied. He thought of something he wanted to do, "Well actually, I need to go out for a while. Do you mind?"
"Taking the twins?"
"If you want, what suits you?"
***
"How can I help you sir?" the man at the counter asked PJ. He was within a shop on the main street of Mt. Thomas
"I'm just looking" PJ looked up from the cabinet, "Can I look at this one?" PJ was pointing at a gold ring, with about 5 tiny diamonds on it"
"Yes, you can"
PJ walked out of the store with a huge smile on his face. He was also carrying a small blue box in his hand. PJ wanted to tell someone what he just did. He got into his car and went to the Imperial.
***
"PJ" Chris said turning towards PJ after serving another customer, "Why are you here?"
"Came to say hello"
"Wasn't Maggie coming home from the hospital today?"
"Yeah" PJ smiled, "She's at home with Claire and Mark"
"Then why are you here?"
PJ reached in his back pocket for the box he had just purchased. He opened it to reveal a gold ring to Chris.
"PJ!" Chris gasp, "For Maggie?" PJ nodded. "She'll love it - I take it your going to pop the question?"
PJ nodded again, "How? When?"
"I don't know, but very soon"
***
NEXT BIT COMING SOON!