DISCLAIMER: So okay, we all know that I don't own any of the 
characters from Stingers; they belong to the legendary Roger Simpson 
and Beyond Simpson Le Mesurier. Please don't sue me because I have 
little (if any) money to my name. Feedback, PLEASE!! This is my first 
attempt at Stingers fics, and I'd like to know how good/bad (but 
hopefully the first option) my writing is! Sorry if anything is a bit 
wrong, I've only watched since season five.

This is just a short piece, my first Stingers fic actually. My 
interpretation of the scenario at hand. I'm in a study period and 
bored, so here we go.

Past Regrets, Future Fears
By Casey

      "What have I done?" I ask myself as I enter my house. My 
bachelor pad. Only it wouldn't be that way for much longer. I made 
such a brash decision today. Who'd have thought I'd go out one day 
and buy a house, just like that? I grabbed a beer from the fridge, 
and returned to my couch. I'm so confused! But all the thinking (and 
beer) in the world won't solve my problems.

I know I'm doing the right thing by Danni, but I can't help feeling 
as though I'm letting Mac down. We had a good thing going; things 
were only going to improve. Then that one foolish night with Danni. 
How could only one night cause such uproar? I mean I love the idea of 
being a dad, and a kid should have a mum and a dad. A kid had to have 
a backyard to mess around in. A kid needed to have everything they 
possibly could. But there's just something inside me that won't stop 
nagging.

I love Mac. I loved her so much that some nights I lay awake just 
thinking of her. The way she dresses, her smell, her smile (however 
rare it was). But I feel compelled to stick by Danni. After all, it's 
half my responsibility. I love Danni too, but not in the same way as 
I love Mac. There was something about Mac, something I don't 
understand, but there is just something about Mac that I adore. That 
day, sitting in the car with her, watching for the serial train 
spotter/serial killer. I desperately wanted to tell her how I feel, 
but just couldn't.

I'm going to tell her. I'll tell her, first thing tomorrow morning. 
If only I could turn back time and give myself the commonsense I 
needed that night, that one foolish night.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I can't believe he didn't tell me. I thought we had something 
happening between us, a little bit of chemistry. But I was so wrong! 
I thought we had a good friendship, I honestly did. Pete used to 
confide in me whenever there were problems, but now, it seems those 
days are gone. I could tell he wanted to talk while we were in the 
car today. I could just sense it. Yet Pete, the man who is incapable 
of swallowing his pride for just one second, wouldn't tell me. Life 
is so unfair!

I still don't understand how Pete ended up in such a compromising 
position with Danni. Pete and Danni? Why her, of all people? Why did 
it have to be someone who I work with, someone that would make 
everything so awkward between everyone! I know it's not her fault, 
but even still, I thought that she had enough sense not to…to…I 
didn't even know that she would even consider him as a partner!

So now they're going to play happy families, even though he doesn't 
love her. I mean, sure, Pete does have some sort of affection for 
Danni, but it's only because he's knocked her up and feels 
responsible. Although I have to admire him for sticking by her. Most 
men would do a runner, or claim it couldn't possibly be theirs. But 
Pete, he's knows when to take responsibility. So I guess I'm being 
jealous now. Pete's taken, Mac!! Hello in there, you can't have him 
anymore; he's Danni's.

No! I can have him if I want! Just because he's got a kid with her 
doesn't mean that he has to stay with her! Lots of people have kids 
without being married (or being a couple) these days. Ugh, too much 
wine for one night. I'm going to bed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's strange, the whole pregnancy thing. I'd never really thought 
about having kids, and I always thought I'd be married beforehand. I 
was so shocked at first; I really didn't know what to do. I'd 
considered an abortion, and now it makes me sick to think that I had 
given such an idea a second thought. It seems unlikely now that I'll 
ever meet the right person. I'm not exactly wife material anymore. No 
one wants the extra baggage I'll have soon.

Pete's okay. He's tremendously supportive, and I know that he's being 
sincere. But I don't really love him, not in that way anyway. I know 
he feels so obliged to stay by my side, he seems to think he owes me 
that much. But really, I don't care if he doesn't want to stay. I can 
do this on my own, I mean it's not like I'd be the only single mother 
in the world. Though I do love the idea of having a man around. I did 
feel something, when he hugged me today. It was nice, to have his 
arms around me, to feel loved.

The thing is, I can't help but feel as though Pete is doing all this, 
the house buying, the committed father thing, just because feels he 
has to. I know that Mac is annoyed with me. She's more than annoyed 
with me. She's infuriated with me. And I do feel sorry for her. I 
know that I've caused so much heartache for her, and I do feel 
guilty. But if Pete doesn't want to do this, he can back out, he can 
have Mac. I really, really don't mind.

I can do this on my own, with or without Pete's support. I have 
friends, I work with great people. I can do this.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

      "Mac, can I have a word with you?" Pete asked anxiously, 
knowing that if he didn't say anything now he never would.
      "Sure, Pete" Mac replied. Assuming he meant in her office, 
she was surprised when he took off in the other direction.
The pair entered the locker room. "I didn't want to have the prying 
ears of Angie and Oscar listening in" Pete joked.
      "Okay then, Pete, what is it?" Mac asked curiously.
      " I know that we haven't been spending a lot of time together 
lately, what with Danni and the baby and everything else" Pete began, 
his voice hesitant. "But I just want you to know that…that, well Mac, 
I still love you" Pete blurted out.
Mac certainly was taken aback. "Pete" she stated, tenderness in her 
voice. "I still love you too. I just want you to be happy, and if 
being with Danni means that, I'll be fully supportive of you"

      "No, Mac, you're missing the point" Pete interrupted. "I want 
to be with you," he insisted in a hushed voice. "I know things have 
been awkward in the past, but I don't want to let go of you" Pete 
said.
      "I want you too, Pete" Mac's emotional barriers were 
destroyed. To know that Pete wanted her was all that mattered in the 
world.
      "I just want to see what could be, you know, between us," 
Pete said casually. "Lately it seems like there could be something, 
and I don't really want to live the rest of my life thinking 'what 
if?' you know?"
      "I know, Pete. I know" Mac smiled. 'My thoughts exactly'. The 
pair held in a tight embrace, which steadily turned into a short 
lived, yet passionate kiss.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She angrily wiped away the tears that fell. Why was she crying? If 
Pete wanted Mac, he could have her. 'I know I can do this on my own'. 
She didn't really need him, didn't really need his help, or his 
company, or his compassion. 'He doesn't want you, he wants Mac' her 
mind screamed. 'You weren't even meant to hear this little confession'
      "I thought you cared, Pete" she angrily said. Wiping away her 
tears, she grabbed her bag, and stormed out of the locker room.

FINIS!!
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