"Maggs could I speak to you in my office as soon as possible?" asked PJ sticking his head through the door to the C.I office. 
"Yep, hang on a sec," she replied from her desk. 

About two minutes later Maggie was inside his office and they were kissing. ***Knock, Knock, Knock*** The second PJ and Maggie heard someone knocking on the door they separated and Cooper came calmly strolling in. 

"Um, Tony Spencer just called to report a disturbance next door to him. He said it sounded like the newlywed couple had started throwing plates at each other." 
"Thanks Cooper, did you get an address, by any chance?" 
"Of course, it's 117 Dolphin Court." 
"Thanks mate," replied PJ. 
"Come on Doyley," he said grabbing his jacket, clipboard and keys. 

***IN THE CAR*** 

"Gee, that was a bit of a close one," commented PJ from the drivers seat. 
"Yeah. You know we'd better stop doing that, it's a bit risky." 
"yeah, I guess you're right. Oh well, here we are Miss Doyle, after you!" 

Maggie and PJ arrived at 117 Dolphin Court within a few minutes. It didn't take them long to sort out, but it seemed like hours to PJ- he didn't like domestics very
much. 

"I hope we're not like that," Maggs said, "Sorry, me" correcting herself. 
"What do you mean?" PJ asked. 
"Well I have always imagined the first few months- or even year of my married life blissful, with no disagreements or fights." Maggie informed. 
"Yeah," PJ smiled, "I suppose so." 
"What are you smiling about," she asked. 
"Just how happy you look," he replied as  he stopped the C.I car. 
"Really?" she asked as she leant forward to kiss him. 
"Mt. Thomas station to Mt. Thomas 608," Tom's voice yelled over the radio. 
"Just wondering when you'll be back at the station." 
"Why, why does he always have to interrupt," PJ asked- annoyed. 
"Mt. Tomas 608- we're on our way- ETA 3 minutes," Maggie said. 
"So?" PJ asked, again. 
"It's because..." Maggie began, "To tell you the truth, I don't know!" 

When Maggie and PJ arrived back at the station Dash and Adam were collecing the lunches and Nick was on patrol- Maggie and PJ were called into Tom's office. 

"How did the domestic go?" he asked PJ and Maggie as they walked into his office. "Um, ok, they've only been married two months and already they're fighting and
yelling," PJ said. 
"Ah, why are people so stupid when it comes to love and relationships, they should sort out their real feelings like me and Nell. Anyway, I was wondering if you let
them know that they can get counciling if they want it." "Um, yeah we did," said Maggie a bit confused.  "Well off you go then," said Tom opening the door. As they
walked out PJ turned to Maggie, "God, what the hell is up with him?" "I know, he's in a really weird mood, maybe he's finally getting somewhere with Sally." "Well
yeah or he could just have a few screws loose," he laughed. "Could be that too," she joined in. 

About five minutes later Nick got back from patrol and ten minutes after that Dash and Adam came back with the lunches. As soon as they got their lunch Maggie
and PJ went back into the C.I office to eat it as usual. 

As they sat on the desk and fed each other they started to kiss. "Ah PJ...." Said Tom walking in. "What the bloody hell is going on here?" he yelled at the top of his
lungs. PJ and Maggie both looked at each other and then at Tom. "You two my office NOW!" 

Tom then stormed out of the C.I office leaving the door open - expecting Maggie and PJ to follow but they didn't. Instead PJ went to close the door and then turned
around to face Maggie who was now crying. PJ went up to her and pulled her close to him 

"What's the matter?" PJ asked, softly 
"What do you think?" Maggie said, pulling away 
"The Boss?" PJ said, knowing that he was the problem was. 
"Yeah" she admitted, "I just know that he'll spilt us up" 
"No he won't" he assured her, offering his hand, "His probably just acting out of shock - think about it - all his seen us do is really fight" 
"Yeah, I guess so" Maggie smiled, taking PJ hand, "So I guess we should get this over with?" 
"Not just yet" he said before kissing Maggie 

Before long they were in Tom's office.  Tom was siting in his chair, holding his glasses and Maggie went to sit in one of the chair's on the opposite side of the desk.
Before PJ had the chance to sit down next to Maggie he was directed to the window by Tom so he went to pull down the blinds.  Then he went to sit next to Maggie
- seeing that she was very worried he put his hand out and Maggie took held of it with both of hers. 

The air was very tense - Tom didn't want to do anything but he had to. PJ was annoyed and Maggie was upset - both Maggie and PJ were waiting for Tom to start. 

"Okay" Tom began, "You know why you're in here - how long has it been going on?" 
"A while" Maggie said, calmly 
"Yes Doyle, but how long is a while?" Tom asked, raising his voice 
"3 months" Maggie admitted, softly 
"3 months!" Tom yelled, "It's just not allowed in my station!" 
"Why?" PJ asked, basically yelling 
"PJ!" Maggie warned 
"I just don't allow it PJ - it doesn't mix" Tom said, lowering his voice 
"How do you know it doesn't mix?" PJ asked, speaking calmly - for Maggie's sake 
"I know" Tom said, "PJ, I just know" 
"Have you seen anything wrong with our performance at work?" PJ asked 
"No - but PJ I am not going to allow you and Maggie to have a romantic relationship - it doesn't mix!" Tom began, focusing on PJ "One of you will have to get a
transfer." 
"Have you too forgotten that I am in this room as well?" Maggie asked, loudly, "I don't think we would be in here if I wasn't part of this - PJ and I love it other boss!"

Meanwhile Dash, Nick and Adam are out side Tom's office trying to figure out what was going on. They could hear most of what is going on. The three were shell
shocked when they heard - 'transfer' , 'love' and 'romantic relationship'. As they are all thinking they can hear Maggie's voice, "Nothing you do is going to change
that! You the one this morning that said something like,  'people being stupid when it comes to love and relationships, and they should sort out their real feelings like
you and Nell' " 

Maggie then stormed out of Tom's office, collected the keys to her car and ran out of the station. She was shortly followed by PJ who raced out after her. Another
minute past and Tom retreated out of his office to get a cup of coffee but before doing so everyone looked up at him, 

"What are you all looking at, get back to work!" he said 

"Maggs, Maggs wait!" yelled PJ as Maggie ran out the door. As he saw her drive off, he ran back inside and yelled at Tom, "Thanks, thanks a lot, now look what
you've done!" He quickly grabbed the keys to the C.I car and drove after her. 

"What's going on there?" asked Dash. 
"That's none of your business Constable. Now get back to work, the lot of you," he yelled returning to his office. 

After checking Maggie's house and the pub PJ drove around for another half an hour or so ten he went to his own house. As he walked in and looked around he
saw a small envelope on the mantelpiece.  As soon as he recognized the writing to be that of Maggie's, he began to cry. As he opened it and pulled out the letter he
saw in the envelope the gold chain that he had give her for Christmas and the spare key to his house he had also given her. With these things tightly in one hand he
read the letter: 

To dear PJ, 
I'm so sorry that it had to end this way, I had a strong feeling it would, but I always prayed that we could keep our love a secret. You know I love you, and that is
why I am doing this, for you were prepared to risk your job for me and now I'm simply doing the same for you. I know this will be hard for both of us, so I wrote
you a short poem to remember me by, 

I am alone but at least I am free 
and I wiil be laughing when you next see me 
I will be melting in someone elses arms, 
somebody somewhere to protect me from harm. 
I'll tell them about you and maybe i'll cry 
and then they can love me, 
but i can just try 
And that somebody somewhere 
which i thought was you 
will hold me and hate you for what I've been through. 
But then one day I'll smile again 
when someone speaks you name 
and when they say how they knew you 
I can say the same 
But I won't cry about it 
Although it has been hard 
And I know in time the hurt will pass 
and I willl walk away unscarred. 

I love you Patrick Joseph Hasham, please forgive me for ending it this way. 

Remember me always, as I will you. 

ALL my love and best wishes 

Maggie  ~ Margaret Doyle xxx 

PJ slipped the note, necklace and key into his pocket and drove back to the station with tears coming from his eyes. As he walked through those familiar doors, he
started to yell at Tom who was standing behind the main counter. 

"You bastard, I hate you!" As PJ moved closer to Tom, Adam and Nick jumped up to hold him back. "I can't believe you could be so cruel. Why, why did you do
it? She's gone you realise, she's left me forever, and it's all you fault!" He yelled moving forward again to get to Tom. Nick pulled him back and yelled, 
"Oy, mate stop it, settle down or I'll arrest you." PJ looked at him with hot, furious yet sad tears streaming down his face. 
"But I loved her, I loved her more than anything in the world and now he's taken her away from me forever." 
"I know mate, I know," replied Nick giving his friend a reassuring hug. 
"Mate, Maggs might be gone, but she's going to have to come back at some stage, you'll see her again I promise." 

PJ suddenly broke down crying, sitting on the station floor leaning against the desk he started saying "Maggie. I have to find Maggie," Dash and Adam were totally
confused, as Tom knew all about it and Nick always had feeling there was something going on. Seeing PJ so sad Dash started to cry and went over to comfort him. 

Meanwhile Maggie was driving around the streets of St. Davids - she had no where to go. She knew PJ would be trying to find her - she also knew that he was
hurting as much as she was - but she is to blame for his hurt, not Tom. 'Maybe I should of stayed' she thought to her self, 'maybe?'. She quickly threw these thoughts
out of her head and drove to Melbourne. She had nothing but her police uniform. 

"Pat?"  PJ asked 
"Who's this?" Maggie's father replied 
"PJ" 
"What do you want?" 
"Is Maggie there?" 
"Maggie?" Pat asked, "Why? - What's happened" 
"It's not up to me to tell you - it's not my fault but if she comes to you - please tell her to ring me" PJ cried 
"What?" Pat asked, anxiously 
"Look, Pat - I have to go" PJ said, "I ring you latter" 

PJ retreated out of his office. No body else was at the station for it was relly 11 O'Clock but he couldn't do anything else. He could not go to the Imperial - he
couldn't look Tom in the face and he couldn't go home - everything there reminded him of Maggie as she had been there most nights for the past few moths -
sneeking out of her own house, in to his, and out again. He smiled as he remembered. 

At the same time Maggie was remembering all the same things, aswell as the first time they met, theit first kiss at the Christmas party, everything. She had to call PJ
to tell him that she was okay - she owed him that much. 

"Hi - you've called "P.J" but I'm not home so leave a message after the beep!" the answering machine said 
"Hi" Maggie cried, "I just had to call to tell you I'm alright - please don't be angry but 'm sure it's for the best" 

The next day everyone came to work as ussual but none of them could focus - not even Tom. PJ did everything in his power to find Maggie but it did not work.
Even if he did what was he to say? 
He had to find her - but where was he to start? He also had to get Tom on side. 

"Boss?" PJ said coming out of his office 
"PJ" Dash said, "His said he wouldn't be back to tomorrow - something urgent to do" 
"Yeah" PJ said, sadly, "That's what he would do - can I have a word with you?" 
"Sure" 

They both went back into the C.I office. Dash sat comfterbly in the chair across from PJ's. She didn't know what PJ wanted and she didn't know what to say. She
knew about Maggie and PJ, and she knew that Maggie had ran off. Nick filled Chris, Adam and herself in after talking to PJ. She herself didn't know if Maggie
would come back. 

"Do you know any places, friends Maggie would of gone?" 
"Sorry PJ" 
"Can you at least think about it?!" 
"PJ, what do you think I've been doing since yesterday - she's my friend too!" 
"Sorry" PJ said, "It's just" 
"PJ you don't have to explain" 

* * * * * * * * * 

"Tom?" Pat asked opening the front door to his house 
"Pat" Tom replied, "Long tome - no see" 
"Yeah - I suppose so. What do you want?" 
"I just wanted to know if Maggie was here?" Tom asked 
"Why?" Pat asked, "What's the matter?" 
"She ran off out of work, um, yesterday - after .... " 
"Well she's not here" 
"Dad" a woman called from the back of the house, "Who's at the door?" 
"Maggie?" Tom yelled 
"Boss?" 

* * * * * * * * * 

The woman was clearly Maggie - but she was not her usual self. Her hair was  wet, and down and she was wearing some old tracksuit pants and a black long sleeve
T-shirt. 

* * * * * * * * 

"What do you want?" Maggie asked 
"I am sure you know Maggie" Tom replied, "I guess she told you what's happened?" 
"Yes" Pat said, "I leave you to alone" 
"Thanks Dad" Maggie said, "So?" 
"Look" Tom began, "I want you to come back" 
"I can't" 
"Why?" Tom asked, "You and PJ - we could all at least try" 
"But what you said yesterday?" 
"Nothing about what I said yesterday" Tom stated, "I made a mistake - I'm sorry" 
"I couldn't face PJ" Maggie said 
"Neither can I for as a matter as fact - he has't looked at me and he's not the kind of PJ I want to be working with - Please?" 
"Um, yeah, ok, just hang on a sec, oh and thanks boss." 

********* 

Tom and Maggie drove from Melbourne to Mt Thomas in near to silence only talking about Pat and other family members. 

As Maggie walked into the station she saw PJ sitting at her desk head in hands. She walked over to him and gently rested her hand on his shoulder. He turned and
looked at her and as he did Maggie noticed that he was still wearing the same clothes as the day before and it looked like he hadn't shaved or slept in a week or so.
As she looked into his deep blue eyes that were filled with tears. 

"PJ I'm so sorry." He looked at her with a sweet smile and stood up to kiss her. 
"Never do that to me again," he said gently. 

As they pulled apart he looked at Tom like a naughty schoolboy. 

"I've told Maggie that we'll work on it. But no more kissing in the station or while your on duty, I've only let that one slip because of what has happened,
understand?" 
"100%," replied PJ smiling.
 
 

Comments criticism welcome to: 

Anna - [email protected] 

And/or 

Sarah - [email protected]