Family Dues - Part 1
By Maree Barnes
A lady comes into the station with a two month old baby.Adam and Nick are at 
their desks.Maggie and P.J are in P.J's office and Tom is in his office.Dash 
goes up to the lady.
DASH: Can I help you?
SARAH: I'm looking for a constable Maggie Doyle.
Dash goes to P.J's office and knocks his door then tells Maggie that there is a 
lady looking for her.Maggie goes out to the main patr of the station followed by 
P.J Maggie goes up to the counter.
MAGGIE: I'm constable Doyle how can I help you?
P.J is making coffee for both himself and Maggie and hears what the lady is 
saying.
SARAH: My name is Sarah Morrison I'm looking for your brother Robbie.I was told 
by a friend that he was staying with you.
MAGGIE: He was but hasn't been being with me since just before Christmas.
SARAH: Do you know where he went?
MAGGIE: Yes,why do you want to know?
SARAH: I'm his ex-girlfriend and this is his daughter.
Maggie looks at Sarah shocked.
MAGGIE: Perhaps you'd better come through and I'll explain.
Maggie openes the gate for Sarah then takes her into the interview room and 
shuts the door.
MAGGIE: Robbie never told us he had a daughter.
SARAH: He didn't know.I found out I was pregnant after we'd broken up and 
thought it was better he didn't know about it.
MAGGIE: So why decide to tell him now?
SARAH: Because I have to go away and I don't know when I'll be back and was 
hoping he could look after her whilst I've gone.
MAGGIE: Can't you take her with you?
SARAH: No,I've been charged with posession of heroin and are being sentanced in 
a few days in Melbourne.
MAGGIE: You wern't using whilst you were pregnant were you?
SARAH: No I was clean and had been for a while before that,I only started again 
after Victoria was born.
MAGGIE: Was Robbie?
SARAH: No he was clean as well,why do you ask?
MAGGIE: Is ther anyone else you know that can take care of her for you,family 
maybe.
SARAH: There isn't anyone else you that I know of I'm an only child and both my 
parents died in a car accident a few years ago,why?
MAGGIE: Robbie can't look after her for you because he's in Jail.
SARAH: What for?
MAGGIE: He stole some paintings to support his heroin addiction. There arn't any 
friends you can think of?
SARAH: No.(Pauses for a while) I know this is putting you on the spot but would 
you be able to look after her for me after all she is your niece.
They get up out of thier seats and head towards the door.
MAGGIE: When do you have to be back in Melbourne?
SARAH: On Wednesday.
Maggie opens the door and they walk out of the interview room and Maggie sees 
her out.
MAGGIE: I'll think about it and let you know before you go back to Melbourne,are 
you staying at the pub?
SARAH: Yes.
The rest of the day Maggie was quiet and P.J noticed that something was wrong 
but because they were both busy he didn't get the chance to talk to her until 
they were in the car going to a job.
P.J: Maggie what's wrong You've been quiet all day.
MAGGIE: Nothing P.J I'm fine.
P.J: Come on Maggs there's something worriyng you,what is it?
MAGGIE: I can't tell you now but I will tell you tonight when you come over.You 
are still coming over arn't you?
P.J: Of course I am.
That night at about 7:00 there was a knock on Maggie's door and she went to 
answer it to find P.J standing there.
MAGGIE: You're early.How did you get away so soon?
P.J: I told them that I was tired.
They went into the lounge room and sat down on the lounge.P.J had his arm around 
Maggie and Maggie was resting her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes.P.J 
kissed the top of her head and she opened her eyes and lookes up at him and he 
looks down at her.
P.J: Come on Maggs,what's wrong has this got something to do with the woman who 
came in and asked about Robbie?
MAGGIE: Yeah it does,the baby she had with her,Robbie is the father. She wanted 
Robbie to look after it,but when I told her he was unable to do so,she asked me 
if I could look after it for her.But I don't know if I'm able to.I don't have 
any baby things and with work how can I look after her.Then she is my niece and 
I don't want her put into the system,that's not fair on her it's not her fault.
Maggie stars crying and P.J gives her a comforting hug.
P.J: I think you'd make a great mum Maggs.
MAGGIE: Why did this have to happen now,I've only just gotten over everything I 
went through last year.Almost dying,being traped in a mine with you and having 
to get over my fear and us getting together then spliting,Almost being attacked, 
being suspended from the force and almost being fired,then to top it all off 
having to deal with Robbie's drug problem and having to arrest him,then you and 
I getting back together and now this.
P.J puts his hands on Maggie's shoulders and looks into her eyes.
P.J: Maggie I think you should ring the boss and see if he has any of the baby 
things left from when he was looking after Sam.
MAGGIE: and what do I do when I'm at work P.J?
P.J: I don't know but we will work something out and I'll help you out with her 
when I can and I'm sure the boss would as well.
MAGGIE: Okay I'll do it for now.(Maggie kisses P.J)Thanks P.J.
Maggie gets up and goes over to the phone and dials Tom's number.
Maggie is about to hang up thinking Tom is still at the pub when Tom answers the 
phone.
TOM: Hello.
MAGGIE: Hi boss it's Maggie.
TOM: Maggie what's up?
P.J comes up behind Maggie and puts his arms around her waist and Maggie leans 
against him.
MAGGIE: I was woundering if you had any of the baby things left from when you 
were looking after Sam like the cot,car seat,high chair or change table.
TOM: I still have the cot and change table but Anna took the other things with 
her when she took Sam,Why,your not pregnant are you Maggie?
Maggie laughs.
MAGGIE: No boss I'm not,could I borrow them for a while?
TOM: Sure but why?
MAGGIE: It's a longs story I'll tell you all about it when I come and get the 
things,would tonight be alright?
TOM: That would be fine,but your not going to move the things all by yourself 
are you?
MAGGIE: I can manage.
TOM:Maggie call one of the others to help you please.
MAGGIE: Okay I'll call P.J.
TOM: He might be asleep he left the pub early tonight because he was tired.
MAGGIE: He won't mind.
Maggie looks up at P.J and smiles.
MAGGIE: See you in about half an hour.Thanks boss bye.
Maggie hangs up the phone.Maggie and P.J then go to the pub and Maggie tells 
Sarah that she will look after Victoria for her.They discuss what they are going 
to do and after a while it was decided that they would go to Tom's house and get 
the things that he had. Then would go back to Maggie's house then back to the 
pub to get Victoria.They leave the pub and go round to TOm's house where Maggie 
explains the situation to Tom.
TOM: Maggie if you need a few days off to sought things out you can take them.
MAGGIE: Thanks boss but I'll be Okay,but I might have her with me tomorrow till 
I can make some arrangments for her whilst I'm at work.
TOM: That's fine.
They then contuine to talk about various things whilst putting the things in 
Maggie's car.
MAGGIE: Thanks boss see you tomorrow.
They then go back to Maggie's and set the cot up and make the cot up.They then 
go back to the pub to get Victoria.Maggie takes Victoria and P.J puts the baby 
seat in the car they then get the other baby things off Sarah and once Sarah has 
said good-bye to Victoria they go back to Maggie's stopping to get dinner on the 
way home.P.J unlocks the front door and Maggie gets the remaining baby 
things.Once inside Maggie puts Victoria to bed whilst P.J serves the 
dinner.Maggie comes into the lounge room and goes and sits on the lounge where 
P.J is sitting with their dinners.After dinner Maggie rings the only long day 
care center in Mt.Thomas to get the home phone number of the director.After 
talking to the director for a while Maggie books Victoria in and agrees to go in 
and fill out the required forms tomorrow and go and look at the center.
P.J: How did you go Maggs?
MAGGIE:They're full tomorrow but she can start next week and I've got the 
weekend off.I also tried some people to see if they could look after her 
tomorrow but they're all busy so it looks like she'll be coming to work with me 
tomorrow.
Maggie then goes over to the lounge and sits down next to P.J and looks up at 
him and he kisses her and she returns the kiss they then get up and go into the 
bedroom.At 2:00 in the morning they are woken up by Victoria.Maggie goes and 
makes a bottle then goes and gets Victoria and brings her out to the lounge room 
and gives her the bottle.P.J comes out and stands watching Maggie with Victoria. 
Maggie then turns her head and sees P.J standing there.
MAGGIE: Hi,how long have you been standing there?
P.J: Only a few minutes.I was thinking what a wounderful mother your going to be 
for Vicky.
The next day Maggie comes into the station with Victoria and the baby bag,Tom 
has explained the situation to the others so no one makes any comments about 
it.Tom comes out of his office and asks to talk to Maggie,they then go into 
Tom's office and shut the door.
TOM: You couldn't find anyone to look after her for you?
MAGGIE: No.But she starts with Josephine on Monday.
TOM: You have the weekend off don't you?
MAGGIE: Yes I do.
TOM: Well let's see her.
Maggie gets Victoria out of the stroler and hands her over to Tom.
MAGGIE: Victoria this is your uncle Tom.Boss I have to go to the center today 
and fill out the necessary forms and I don't want to be treated any differently 
just because I'm looking after Victoria,I still want the same shifts and still 
want to be on night call.
Tom talks to Maggie for a while about it.
TOM: Maggie if you want or need to talk about anything about Victoria you can 
come to me.
MAGGIE: Thanks boss.
Maggie leaves his office and signs herself on.The rest of the morning is 
quiet.Then at lunch time Maggie and P.J are called out to an accident and don't 
get back to the station until about 4:00pm. Whilst Maggie and P.J were at the 
accident Tom looked after Victoria.When they got back Maggie signed herself off 
as her shift was finished she said good-bye to everyone and told them she would 
see them Monday then took Victoria from Tom and then went to the center.
A month later Maggie and P.J are at Maggie's and Maggie and P.J are sitting on 
the lounge and Maggie is giving Tori her bottle.Once Maggie has finished giving 
Tori her bottle she puts her to bed and comes back and lies down grabbing a 
coushion and putting it in his lap lies on it P.J starts playing with her hair.
P.J: You have done such a great job with Vicky in the past month.
MAGGIE: Well everyone has been great about it and have helped when they 
could.P.J there's something I want to tell you.
P.J: What is it Maggs?
Maggie sits up and faces P.J.
MAGGIE: I'm thinking about adopting Tori,because I don't think it's fair on her 
to have her mum come back into her life after being in jail and taking her back.
P.J: Not fair on who Maggs,you or her?
MAGGIE: Both I guess but mainly Tori because she won't know who she is by that 
time I'll have been the only mother she will have known and then being taken 
away by a stranger that's not fairon her P.J.I also don't think that Robbie and 
Sarah could manage to take propper care of her even if they got married and I 
don't think you should get married for the sake of a child.You should marry 
someone because you love them and want to spend the rest of your life with them 
besides I doubt they could stay clean.Don't you think I should adopt Tori?
P.J: Of course I do,you'd make a great mum for her Maggs.I just wanted to make 
sure you were doing it for the right reasons that's all.
MAGGIE: And am I?
P.J: I think so.
MAGGIE: I don't think your going to like the next bit,tomorrow on my day off I'm 
going to go and see Sarah and Robbie and talk to them about wanting to adopt 
Tori.
P.J: You're right I don't like it but I know it has to be done.
Maggie then kisses P.J.
The next night Maggie and P.J were eating dinner and Tori is asleep.
P.J: So how did you go today Maggs?
MAGGIE: Good Robbie was shocked that he was a father but doesn't want anything 
to do with her so he said yes and Sarah argeed straight away so they both signed 
the papers so now I have to fill them in and sign them then give them to my 
lawer then wait.
A few months later.Everyone now knows about Maggie and P.J's relationship.Maggie 
has arranged with Josephine for her to look after Tori on the weekends that she 
works.As they are close in age Maggie and Josephine have become good friends.The 
other Heelers are in the pub one day after work and Maggie has had the day 
off.Maggie walks into the pub with Victoria she goes up to P.J and kisses him 
then sits down next to him with Victoia on her knee.Maggie then gets some papers 
out of her bag and hands them to P.J.
P.J: What is this?
MAGGIE: Open them and find out.
P.J opens the papers and can't believe what he sees in front of him.
P.J: This is great Maggs.
P.J then hugs Maggie.
DASH: What is it?
MAGGIE: It's the adoption papers I'm now officaly Tori's mum.
DASH: Congratulations Maggie.
MAGGIE: Thanks Dash.
A few weeks later and Maggie is dropping Tori as Maggie now calls her off at the 
center at around lunch time and talking to Josephine for a while.
MAGGIE: I'm going to be late tonight because I'm on the late shift.
JOSEPHINE: I'll be here till seven then after that I'll take her back to my 
place.
MAGGIE: Thanks Josie,bye.
JOSEPHINE: No problem,I'll see you after work,bye.
At the Police station at about 3:30 the phone rings and Nick answers it.
NICK: Mt.Thomas police station senior constable Shultz speaking.
JOSEPHINE: Hi it's Josephine here are either Maggie or P.J in?
NICK: No they're both out at the moment.Can I get Maggie to call you when she 
gets back into the station?
JOSEPHINE: Is there any way you can get hold of her for me it's important?
NICK: What's wrong you sound upset?
JOSEPHINE: We just had two people come in with guns and take Tori.
NICK: Alright we'll send someone out right away and we will let Maggie what has 
happened.
Nick then hangs up the phone and goes and knocks on Tom's door then enters.
NICK: Boss we have a bit of a problem,Josephine just rang and said that two 
people with guns came in and took Tori.I told her we would send someone out 
right away and we would tell Maggie.
TOM: Okay Nick,send McKinley and Cooper out and you ring St.Davids and tell them 
to send some dectives over and I'll try to find out where Maggie and P.J 
are.Then ring Zoe and ask her to come in.
Nick then goes out and fills Dash and Adam in on the situation then sends them 
to the center.They leave the station and Tom comes out of his office and goes 
over to the radio.
TOM: Mt.Thomas station to Mt.Thomas 508.
MAGGIE: Mt.Thomas 508 go ahead boss.
TOM: Maggie how are you going with the suspect?
MAGGIE: We're finished and where on our way back we will be about 20 minutes.
TOM: Okay,(Maggie looks at P.J.) Mt.Thomas back on channel.
At the center Dash and Adam are talking to Josephine.
DASH: What happened Jo?
JOSEPHINE: I was over here reading a story to the other older children when two 
people just came in with guns drawn. They came up to me and pointed the gun at 
me and demanded Tori.
ADAM: What did they look like?
JOSEPHINE: They had balaclavars over thier faces but one was a male and the 
other was a female.
ADAM: What height and build were they?
JOSHPHINE: The male would have been about 6 foot and medium build and the female 
would have been about 5.4" and slim build.
DASH: What were they wearing?
JOSEPHINE: They were both wearing jeans and the man was wearing a black T-Shirt 
and the woman was wearing a navey blue short sleeved body suite or a tight 
fitted T-Shirt.
DASH: What did they say when they came in?
JOSEPHINE: They said hand over the cop's baby.Then I said we don't have any 
babies that belong to any cops,they then said don't lie to us one then put the 
gun to my head and said get it or I'll kill you,so I got her and gave her to 
them then they left and I rang you.
ADAM: Where was Kate?
JOSEPHINE: She was having her lunch because the younger children were asleep.
Dash and adam then look around and talk to Kate to see if she saw anything.Back 
at the station Zoe walks in whilst Nick is hanging up the phone then goes to 
Tom's office.
NICK: Boss St.Davids are sending two dectives over to the center then they will 
come to the station and Zoe has just walked in.
TOM: Thanks Nick,put Zoe in P.J's office.
Nick then leaves Tom's office.
NICK: Hi Zoe,sorry about that come through and wait in P.J's office.
Nick takes her through to P.J's office and explains the situation to her.As Nick 
walking out of P.J's office Maggie and P.J walk into the station.Maggie puts her 
hat and folder on her desk.Tom comes out of his office.
TOM: P.J can I see you first please.
P.J follows Tom into his office and P.J shuts the door.Tom explains the 
situation to P.J.In the main part of the station Maggie is sitting at her desk 
and keeps looking into Tom's office.
MAGGIE: What is going on,where are Dash and Adam?
Maggie becomes worried because Nick doesn't say anything.
MAGGIE: What is going on Nick,do you know?
NICK: Yes,but I can't say Maggie.
Just then Dash and Adam walk into the station. 
ADAM: The dectives arrived just as we were leaving.
MAGGIE: Leaving from where?
Dash and Adam then relaise that Maggie doesn't know yet.
DASH: Just from the job we were at.
MAGGIE: Why wasn't P.J called out to investergate it then?
No-one says anything.
MAGGIE: (Shouting) What is going on?
Tom and P.J hear Maggie shouting and Tom opens the door of his 
office.
TOM: Maggie can I see you now please.
Maggie goes into Tom's office and shuts the door.
TOM: Sit down Maggie.
Maggie sits down and looks at Tom.
MAGGIE: What's going on boss?
Tom doesn't answer so Maggie looks at P.J.
MAGGIE: P.J.
P.J then walks over to Maggie and crouches down beside her and takes her hand.
MAGGIE: (Almost crying) What's wrong?
P.J: Maggs while we where out doing the job...
TOM: There isn't any easy way to tell you this Maggie.
MAGGIE: (Upset and worried) Tell me what?
Maggie then looks at P.J.
TOM: Josephine rang whilst you were out.
MAGGIE: Is Tori alright?
TOM: We don't know.
MAGGIE: Why don't you know,why did she ring?
Maggie starts shouting at Tom and P.J tries to calm her down by putting his arm 
around her.
TOM: A couple came into the center and demanded Tori.
Maggie sits there saying nothing then starts shaking and P.J hugs her trying to 
keep her warm whilst Tom comes out of his office.
DASH: How is she boss?
TOM: McKinley take Maggie's jacket into my office and give it to P.J. Tom then 
goes and gets a blanket out from the storage cupboard whilst Dash takes the 
jacket off the back of Maggie's chair and takes into Tom's office.
DASH: (Handing P.J the jacket) How is she?
P.J: In shock.
Tom then enters with the blanket and puts it around Maggie and Zoe then comes 
into the room and sends Tom,P.J and Dash out whilst she examins Maggie.A few 
minutes later she comes out.
P.J: How is she?
ZOE: She is suffering from mild shock.
Zoe then gives P.J something for her to take if she gets worse.
P.J: I'll take her home now boss and stay with her.
P.J then goes into Tom's office and gently pulls Maggie up and takes off her gun 
belt and they walk out of Tom's office P.J has his arm around Maggie's 
shoulder.P.J hands Tom Maggie's gun belt and they walk out of the station and 
get into Maggie's car.P.J drives them home,in the car P.J is telling Maggie that 
everything will be alright when Maggie interupts him.
MAGGIE: It's a mistake P.J they took someone else's baby and not Tori.
P.J takes her hand and drives the rest of the way holding Maggie's hand.When 
they arrive at Maggie's they get out of the car and walk to the front door P.J 
has his arm around Maggie who still has the blanket wrapped around her.P.J then 
opens the door but finds it unlocked they then enter to find Maggie's things all 
over the place.
When Maggie see this she starts crying and P.J hugs her.Once Maggie has stopped 
crying P.J decides to give her one of the tablets that Zoe gave him for 
her.After giving the tablet to Maggie he goes over to the phone and rings Tom 
and Maggie goes into Tori's room.
P.J: Boss can you send someone over to Maggie's place because when we arrived 
here the door was unlocked and we entered to find Maggie's things all over the 
place.
TOM: Okay I'll come over with Nick,We'll be there soon.
P.J: Thanks boss.
P.J then hangs up the phone and goes into Maggie's room to find Maggie lying on 
the bed holding one of Tori's soft toys.P.J goes over and lies next to her and 
pulls her into him.Just as Tom and Nick are about to leave the station Josephine 
walks in.
JOSEPHINE: I'm here to give my statement I thought you would also like to know 
that I thought of something else.When they came in and asked for the cop's baby 
and I said we didn't have ny babies that belonged to any cops they then said 
don't lie to us the blonde cop's baby so they knew that Tori belonged to Maggie.
TOM: Thanks,Cooper go and and the dectives that Jo is here to give her 
statement.We're going now Cooper your in charge.
ADAM: Righto boss.
Nick and Tom leave the station and Adam goes and gets the dectives. They come 
out of P.J's office and take her through to the interview room and take her 
statement.When Tom and Nick arrive at Maggie's Maggie is asleep so P.J lets them 
in.
NICK: They did a really good job didn't they?
TOM: Where's Maggie?
P.J: She's asleep she was very upset when she saw this.
TOM: Understandable.
P.J: Yeah,so I gave her one of the tablets that Zoe gave me for her.
TOM: I don't supose that she checked to see if anything's missing?
P.J: No sorry but she wasn't in any sought of state to do that boss, but I 
looked around and as far as I can tell it doesn't look like anything has been 
taken.
TOM: Okay.
NICK: Just before we left Jo came in to give her statement and she told us that 
whoever took Tori knew she belonged to Maggie.
P.J: So you think this could be linked to Vicky being taken.
TOM: Possibly that's why I want to put Maggie on 24hour protection till we get 
them.
P.J: She won't like it boss.
TOM: I know but it's for her own saftey.
P.J: Okay,I'll talk to her about it.
Tom then helps Nick with the fingerprinting the house and taking some photos.
P.J: Boss Maggie and I might not be in tomorrow,I'll see how she is.
TOM: Take as much time as you need P.J.
P.J: Thanks boss.Did you find anything?
NICK: No nothing,sorry mate.
P.J: Can I start cleaning up now or are you going to send the dectives over to 
go through the place?
TOM: No,you start cleaning up we have the photos for them.Just when Maggie's up 
to it get her to go through her things and see if anything's missing,and they 
will want to talk to both you and Maggie within the next day or so as you know.
P.J: Okay thanks boss for coming so soon.
TOM: No problem,let's go Nick.
Tom and Nick then leave and P.J starts tyding up the place starting with the 
kitchen.Whilst P.J is cleaning the lounge room their is a knock on the door P.J 
goes and answers it to find Josephine standing there.
P.J: Josie.
JOSEPHINE: Hi P.J is Maggie in?
P.J: Yeah but she's asleep at the moment.
JOSEPHINE: How is she?
P.J: Upset but not to bad.How are you?
JOSEPHINE: I'm okay now.Can I give you this,I thought Maggie might want it back.
Josephine hands P.J Tori's baby bag.
JOSEPHINE: Can you also tell her that I'm so sorry and I had no choice and if 
she wants to talk to me about she can ring me.
P.J: Okay I'll let her know.
JOSEPHINE: Thanks bye P.J.
P.J: Bye Josie.
P.J gets back to tiding the lounge room then once he has finished the other 
rooms he starts to tidy Maggie's room and is almost finished when Maggie wakes 
up screaming out Tori's name and sits up.
P.J goes over to her and hugs her.
P.J: It's going to be alright Maggs.They will find her even if I have to find 
Vicky myself we will find her and who ever took her Maggs.
Maggie puts her arms around P.J and rests against him.
THE END.
I'm curently working on a sequel to this.
Let me know what you think of it at mareebarnes@hotmail.com