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Things in Life that Mean too Much to One's Self


By Nadine Maraldo



This fanfic is concerning PJ and Maggie.

These storylines could be used in future episodes. Or I would like to see them be used.

This fanfic is sometimes from Maggie's point of view. So whenever it says I, it is from Maggie.



Maggie has decided to accept an offer to move to Melbourne. It means she will be working in a new department and she'll also be close to her family.

Maggie is looking around the house, all that is left is Dash's stuff. It looks so empty without her stuff in there. On top of the fireplace, she sees a rose with a letter. It
is from PJ. She opens it and reads what is inside:

Dear Maggie,

I wish you all the best with your new job in Melbourne. Just hope you won't forget our times together in Mount Thomas and I will always love you.

Love from your best friend.

Patrick Joseph "PJ" Hasham.

XXOO

Maggie thought, PJ, how could I leave without talking to PJ, all the times I've shared in Mount Thomas with him.

She remembers on her entrance into Mount Thomas, being pulled over for a breathaliser test. She was pulled over by a tall dark handsome detective with sparkling
blue eyes, by the name of Detective PJ Hasham and his colleague Senior Constable Nick Shultz. PJ hit on her because he thought she was just a woman until she
showed him her badge. He said to her, he'd buy her a drink at the pub.

When she found out her ex-boyfriend Wayne Patterson, was also posted in Mount Thomas, she was shocked. Especially that he was married.

How could she forget that night at the pub. The idea of the drink at the pub, is on a new constable's first night it is usual for her colleagues to try and get them drunk.
So she made a deal with Chris the owner of the Imperial, that she would ask for Vodka's but actually serve her water. She sculled every drink and PJ and Nick's
reaction was of shock. When PJ realised what was going on he made Chris actually serve her a real double vodka. When Maggie drank it, she spat it in PJ's face
and this was the start of their mixed times together at Mount Thomas.

Then there was the time when Adam Cooper was recruited and posted in Mount Thomas. PJ like the others didn't like him around, so PJ wouldn't take him on any
cases, he would always take Maggie or Wayne. Maggie pulled PJ into his office and talked to him about Adam. After the talk, PJ then took Adam on one of his
cases and Maggie cracked a small smile on her face.

When Maggie was with Detective Senior-Constable Sean Neal, PJ had heard on the grapevine that he liked to gamble and after an undercover operation went
wrong he believed the tip off came from Sean. PJ confronted Maggie about her boyfriend, this lead to them having a major fight. In the end it wasn't Sean, but PJ
was still suspicious about him. Tom believed that PJ was trying to live Maggie's life for her. Maggie told Sean about PJ, that in the end PJ only cares and thinks about
PJ.

In the end, PJ turned out to be correct and Sean was caught and this marked the end to Maggie and Sean's relationship. PJ was the one who found out that Sean
and also Peter Grantham (who was PJ's superior) were involved with illegal operations concernig gambling. Grantham came back to haunt PJ later down the track.

When Wayne was being sued for sexual harassment by a woman he had an affair with, PJ and Maggie had to go undercover as lovers. This lead to them dressing up
as two Jews, PJ and Maggie had to act as if they were lovers, so when Maggie all of the sudden started kissing PJ and he said to her what did you do that for and
said to make it look relalistic. At the end of the case, they were going to go and grab something to eat for dinner but Maggie was the one who said you would prefer
to eat at a nice restaurant than have fish and chips at the Imperial. She also remembered Wayne and the Joe Kenny would be coming back to the station shortly so
they didn't. They ended up having a cup of tea together.

The famous and big-shot lawyer Brady Jackson came into town and when the prosecutor was rushed to hospital, Maggie was the one who had to fill in for her. PJ
was there to give her support in her efforts but was also critical when it came to Maggie wanting to know more facts about the case. When Brady invited Maggie up
to his room after he had bought a bottle of the most expensive Irish Whiskey that Chris sold, PJ told Chris to tell him that Maggie wasn't interested. Maggie ended
up accepting his offer and Chris told PJ if she hadn't known better she would have swore he was jealous.

After the case was over, Brady this time asked Maggie out to dinner, but she declined because she already had a previous engagement with PJ. PJ bought a bottle of
the Irish Whiskey to celebrate with Maggie. They toasted on the success of Maggie's first case and this is when she announces to PJ that she is considering studying
Law and PJ tells her she wouldn't be good at it (she seemed disappointed) and then he says to her she would be very good.

A few months later, Maggie pulled a beautiful white porsche over for speeding, she was shocked when she found out it was PJ who was driving it. He was acting
different and he told Maggie he had been offered a job with the detectives in Melbourne because of his Lebanese background. He also told Maggie that she realises
they are only friends this comes up when he tells her there is nothing keeping him in Mount Thomas (Maggie was a bit upset).

PJ was then set up and suspended after being accused for bribing a man. Maggie goes to all lengths to prove that he wasn't part of it. She asked Tom who to call in
to help PJ, he said there was only one person who he knows who would be able to crack Grantham. It turns out to be Patrick Doyle a retired cop and also Maggie's
father. He doesn't want to help her when he finds out it is Grantham he has to find guilty (it is because he and Grantham are old friends). It is only when Tom tells him
that Maggie is about to get herself into so much trouble that I can't help her and it could also cost her the job and after Pat says just for helping a friend Tom answers
a chip off the old block.)

It was found that Peter Grantham (PJ's former boss) was the person behind the setup. Maggie saved PJ yet again. When PJ was cleared he got a phone call from
Bridget who was calling about whether PJ was going to accept the undercover job, when he told Maggie he would be staying around, he says to Bridget "about that
job". Maggie remembers that he turned down a job so he could stay in Mount Thomas to be with Maggie. She also remembers hearing her dad tell PJ to watch after
his daughter and not to try anything funny (PJ was laughing at this).

Later on Wayne was doing a raffle for a charity dance with the church and PJ bribed Wayne so he could be paired up with the new school teacher that just came
into Mount Thomas. In the end, Wayne pocketed the extra cash and he paired himself with Wayne, while who did PJ get stuck with? Maggie of course. They talked
but didn't dance together like the others.

The moment which Maggie remembers vividly was Christmas 1995. This was when she had to go undercover to attract a rapist who had already raped a few
women including Maggie's roommate Gina. Since it didn't look like the rapist was going to come out the night of the operation, Maggie returned home, only to find
the rapist there. PJ was speaking to Monica Draper and said If I was the rapist I would wait till they got home, his expression said it all and he said to call backup.
Gina arrived home and because she remembered him she hit him with the firerod. He was charged with rape and other offences.

The next day, PJ and Maggie were sitting around and PJ admitted to her it was always one of his fantasies to come in and rescue her. She then asked him about his
lip (it was bruised after Nick smashed him into a locker), he said it was fine. Maggie then leant towards him and kissed him, Nick then interrupted them. They wished
each other Merry Christmas and then left.

In 1996, she and PJ had many ups and downs together.

It all started when in February they decided to be friends and nothing more.

Then, tragedy struck when Wayne died and Maggie helped PJ deal with the situation. He later turned his back on her when he slept with Gina, her roommate and on
all days but the night of Maggie's birthday. Maggie gave PJ the cold shoulder after this.

They were back on speaking terms when Gina broke up with him because she realised he was in love with Maggie.

Right when PJ thought he had a chance he made the stupid suggestion to Maggie, that she should get a tutor to help her with criminology for the degree. He didn't
expect her to fall for Roman Kellerman her professor.

Maggie remembers the shocked look she had on her face when PJ told her Roman was married. This was after she told PJ she was going to move in with Roman.
She and Roman ended up splitting and when PJ said he thought he had the right to tell her Roman was married, she had a major fight with him and ended up hitting
him in the ribs. To make things worse, when Maggie went the next morning to apologise, PJ was gone on his annual leave a week early.

For the next three weeks, Maggie was contacting everybody to find out where PJ was to apologise to him. She was unsuccessful, then when he returned she had
written him a welcome back card. He didn't notice it until he finished working on a case. Doesn't she remember that well. Being called into his office and they were
talking about what had happened and then when they were about to kiss Tom walked in. Great, Maggie thought, why did he have to walk in?

When PJ had shot Raelene Darcy dead, it was Maggie who helped him recover from the shooting. Though she is the first to admit, it was a bad idea to go to his
house hoping for something to happen when PJ was most vulnerable. He told her to get out and she apologised the next morning for trying to take advantage of him.

After they have cleared PJ's name, PJ was the one who offered more than friends, but Maggie turned him down.

Then PJ had his coronial inquest to deal with and it didn't help when an old case resurfaced. It was up to Maggie to prove he got the right man, many years ago.
When she manages to prove he was right she got an official warning for her actions. PJ said to her why did you do it. She replied, "I didn't want to think what it
would be like around here without you. I don't want to lose you."

The week later, Maggie and PJ were supposed to go on their first date but due to misinterpretations it never happened. Damn, Maggie thought after all this time we
still haven't been on that first date.

Maggie can't help forgetting this year when she was seriously ill in hospital and when she awoke PJ was sitting by her bed and then he didn't leave until he knew she
was ok. Maggie wondered, if PJ cared so much, why didn't he admit that it was him who said I love you when I told him about the dream I had when I almost died.
But hey, he did kiss me on my forehead so I suppose that could mean something.

What about when PJ went undercover this year to crack the dating agency fraud. Why did I get so jealous when he pulled the plug on the investigation? And then
when PJ said to me I thought you didn't care, I should have told him the truth. Damn, is it to late to tell him how I feel? Maggie said to herself, get it out of your head
it will never happen.

Yeah, but it did happen, when we were stuck in the mine. It definitely happened. It was the first time I opened up to PJ and he helped me overcome my
claustrophobia. Don't I remember those 48 hours in the cave. That was the time PJ and I consumated our relationship. After 3 years we finally got it right for those
short hours anyway.

But the fun changed when we got out of the cave and when we were tracking down the suspect PJ was more concerned for me than the suspect and it caused us to
lose her. That is when I made the decision that we couldn't be together. And when PJ and I were in his office, he asked me if I loved him. I answered, "Yes I do,
very much."

Ever since that moment, PJ and I haven't had the same relationship as before. When we were working on a case together which was very close to Tom's heart, PJ
was looking at some photos and when I asked him what he noticed about them, he said it looked like the man fancied her. At that moment we looked in each other's
eyes, but quickly dismissed any personal feelings towards each other.

At the end of the case, I was talking to Father Brian and Dash asked me if I was getting romantic in my old age. I said to her, "I just don't think two people who love
each other as much as Walter and Alice should be separated." While I said that I was looking straight at PJ. We stared at each other but then stopped, I meant what
I said to Dash, I was also thinking of PJ and myself when I said it.

Then, how could I forget the best moment since then between PJ and myself. It was when I went to PJ's office to thank him for saving me from the stalker who came
into my house. That moment when he reached out his hand to me and I said to him, "Do you really think this is a good idea?" and he said "Yes I do", was the first
time PJ actually took control of our relationship personally and professionally.

Because it was me who said no to continuing the relationship after the mine incident and also when he shot Raelene Darcy dead. But that hug was what I really had
been waiting for, since the mine. It was nice to be in PJ's arms again. Even though nick then interrupted us, it was good to share a hug with the man I loved.

Damn, there I go again saying the man I love, I don't love him and that is why I took the job in Melbourne to get PJ out of my mind.

Maggie is cut from her daydreaming when suddenly someone shouts out Maggie's name. It is Pat Doyle, her father. "Are you ready to go?"

Maggie: "Yes, but can we pass through someone's house before I go."
Pat: "Who?"
Maggie: "PJ's."
Pat: "I thought you were over him."
Maggie: "I just need to talk to him."
Pat: "Can't you just ring him?"
Maggie: "No. I need to speak to him in person."
Pat: "OK."

Pat and Maggie pack her last bags into the car, before Maggie closes the door, she looks back in for one last time.

Then she shuts the door and gets into the car.

A few minutes later, they pull up at PJ's house. Maggie knocks on the door. Nobody answers, she knocks again. Still nobody there.

Pat: "Maggie, cmon we have to go."
Maggie: "Let me try one more time."

She knocks on the door, one last time. Still no answer. Maggie knew PJ was angry with her for deciding to take the job in Melbourne, before consulting with him
about it.

Maggie: "Ok, dad. I'm coming now."
Pat: "Ok."

Maggie goes to the car and while Pat drives off, Maggie is looking at PJ's house one last time.

PJ's house is almost out of sight, when they pass a car which catches Maggie's attention.

Maggie: "Stop the car dad, quick."
Pat: "Why?"
Maggie: "That was him in the car that just passed us."
Pat: "Oh, ok."

Pat turns the car around and when they reach PJ's house, in the driveway is the blue car which was the same one they had passed earlier.

Maggie gets out of the car and runs to PJ's front door. She knocks. This time, PJ answers the door.

PJ is a bit shocked to see Maggie.

PJ: "Maggie, what are you doing here?"
Maggie: "I couldn't go without saying goodbye."
PJ: "Ok. Goodbye." (about to shut the door)
Maggie: "That's it, just goodbye?"
PJ: "I thought you made it clear when you decided to go before asking me for my opinion."
Maggie: "I am so sorry, I only realised when I got your note what stupid mistake I had made."
PJ: "So, you're still going?"
Maggie: "Yeah, how could I possibly turn down an offer with the homicide department in Melbourne?"
PJ: "I did."
Maggie: "Yeah but, but that, was different."
PJ: "How's it different?"
Maggie: (nervously) "Well, you already, lost that opportunity when you were almost suspended."
PJ: "No, I still had the opportunity, but turned it down. Do you know why I turned it down?"
Maggie: (comicly) "Because you loved Mount Thomas so much?"
PJ: "No, because of you."
Maggie: "I sort of knew that, but was hoping that wasn't the reason. PJ, I told you ages ago. I loved you very much, but I realised I can't turn down this opportunity
and I'd also be close to my dad."
PJ: "Ah, good old Pat"

PJ waves to Pat who is sitting in the car, waiting anxiously for Maggie to come back.

Maggie: "I have to go PJ. I just wanted to say goodbye to you and to tell you I love you.

Maggie leans forward and kisses him. It was a long and passionate kiss, very much like the one they shared in the goldmine.

She pulled away and then headed off. PJ was standing there crying as was Maggie, who was walking towards the car.

PJ shouted out, "I love you Mags."

Maggie smiled and got into the car. Before they drove off, PJ thought to himself, I can't let her do this. He ran down to the car and shouted to Maggie, "I love you.
Isn't there some way we can stay together?"

Maggie: "PJ, please leave it."
PJ: "Maggie will you marry me?"

Maggie and Pat are shocked, Maggie doesn't know what to say.

Maggie: "What are you talking about PJ?
PJ: (repeats himself) "Margaret Doyle, will you marry me?"
Maggie: "I can't. It would never work."
PJ: "How do you know it would never work.

PJ is looking at Maggie who is sitting in the car.

Maggie: "It just wouldn't work."
PJ: "Didn't you once say, you couldn't live without me and you didn't want to lose me?"
Maggie: (not looking at him) "Ah, oh, yes I did."
PJ: "Well, I don't want to lose you. Please marry me. I could get transferred to Melbourne or you could stay in Mount Thomas."
Maggie: "You would get transferred just to be with me?"
PJ: "Yes, I would, so what do you say. Will you marry me?"
Maggie: "Yes, I'll marry you."

PJ leans through the open car window and kisses Maggie. She then gets out of the car and they kiss again.

Pat: "If you ever and I mean ever hurt my daughter, I will kill you, Hasham. You better look after my little girl."
PJ: (smiling) "OK. I'll make sure, I'll take good care of her."
Maggie asks PJ: "So are you going to transfer or am I staying in Mount Thomas?"

THE END