TITLE: All For Believing Part 5 DISCLAIMER: see other parts…they'll explain RATING: MA! Contains many adult themes and a sex scene which *I* don't think is too bad, but if you think you might be offended by such material, drop me a line at ella_bella55@yahoo.com.au and I'll send you an edited version. Contains the usual language too… (part 5) "Well, if Ellen Mackenzie won't cooperate with us, then we have no choice but to treat her as a suspect also." Harris concluded before locking himself away in his office. Angie raised her eyebrows, sighing heavily as she returned her focus to her computer screen. She smiled briefly upon feeling Pete's chair sidle up beside hers, her eyes automatically scanning the empty office for any onlookers. She relaxed, leaning back into her chair as Pete rested his chin on her shoulder. "Why is Mac making this so difficult for herself?" She asked, to which Pete shrugged. "Do you think there's any chance she'll come around?" He shrugged again. "Dunno. You never can tell with Mac." Pete commented vaguely. He hadn't told Angie about the near-happenings between himself and Mac in the park, and had no intention to do so either. Taking Angie's hand in his, Pete allowed their fingers to intertwine. "Can I see you tonight?" She tilted her head back as his lips grazed her jawline. "Oh, I can't get anyone to look after Josh. You can pop around if you like, though." She added, sitting up straight. Pete grinned. "Yeah, I might do that." * * * Mac hesitated in the doorway to Mike's home office. Not once had she ventured in there without his presence also; not once had she ever felt the need. But now, she wasn't sure who to trust. She had always been able to rely on Peter, whose rabid concern for her well-being was never feigned, nor without good reason. Yet Mike was her life, her everything. Mac wasn't sure whether she could bear it if Peter was right and Mike had in fact been lying to her all this time. But she also couldn't bear the unknown. Leaning her head against the doorframe, Mac's eyes glanced over the tidy room. Nothing seemed suss, she decided. There was probably nothing even there. "What's the harm?" She wondered aloud to herself before entering. * * * Angie faltered as Pete's lips ran across her neck and collarbone, his hands gently easing open the buttons on her shirt. "Mm.." She mumbled beneath his weight on her couch, her hands moving from his face to lay flat on his chest. But Pete assumed a moan of pleasure instead of concern, smiling as he returned his lips to hers, kissing her deeply. Lost in his kisses, Angie let herself relax and just go with it, toying with the top button of his shirt. But it was when he began to actually remove her shirt that Angie felt everything escaping beyond her control again. "Mm, Pete.." She began, ducking her head to break apart their lips. "What?" He whispered, his voice low and husky as he continued to kiss her eagerly before she even had a chance to respond. Angie pulled away again, this time turning her head to the side. "Pete, no." She said clearly, trying to catch her breath. His head rested between her neck and the back of the couch, his lips resuming their work on her neck as he mumbled. "What do you mean?" "Not now." Pete exhaled loudly, his head sinking onto her shoulder for moments before he raised it slightly as he spoke. "I don't get it Ange." "There's nothing to get. Just not now." "What, not now, not ever?" He questioned, still unable to see her face. "Just leave it, Pete." Angie stated plainly, sliding out from underneath him and re-buttoning her shirt. "Christ Angie," Pete mumbled into the cushions. "You know how much I care about you!" "Yeah, I know." She whispered, standing with her arms folded across her chest. Pete stood to meet her, his hands creeping around her waist. "Let me show you…" He said earnestly, his lips grazing hers lightly, running a hand up under her shirt. She pulled back immediately. "Not tonight, Pete. I'm not…" "…ready?" He finished, taking a step back in sudden exasperation. "Jesus, Ange! We're both adults, you know. You're not sixteen anymore!" "*I* know we're adults, Peter! *You're* the one carrying on like some sex-crazed sixteen year old boy!" She fired back angrily. Pete hung his head. "I'm sorry, Ange. I didn't mean that, I-" "I think you should go, Pete." "Angie, please..." Pete reached his hand out to hers, but she pushed it away. "Just go." * * * "Shit," Mac mumbled, her breath catching in her throat as she read the words again and again. The flimsy fax paper in her hands began to tremble in front of her and tears stung her eyes. It didn't matter how many times she read it – it didn't make it any less true. The fax contained details of a shipment for Mike. A drug shipment, she knew, as well as records of his distributors. Peter and Angie were right. Mike was a criminal. "Shit." Mac slumped into a ball in the corner of the office, allowing tears to stream freely down her cheeks as the realisation set in further and further. She was torn, conflicted as to what she should do next. Would she listen to her heart as she had once before with Gene and simply turn a blind eye to Mike's underworld activities? Yet that hadn't been successful last time – who was to say it would turn out this time? Or should she obey her niggling, ever-present cop instinct and report him straight away? Mac grabbed her car keys, not yet aware of her destination, but knowing she would eventually wind up in the right place with the right decision made. * * * "Mac?" Pete asked, shocked to see the last person he ever imagined to be standing at his front door. He had initially been hoping that it would be Angie, who he still hadn't heard from since their argument the previous night. Pete couldn't work out why he was just as happy, if not happier to see Mac there instead. Mac shifted awkwardly in front of him. "Can I come in?" She asked, remaining still until he opened the door fully, extending his arm by means of invitation. "Of course." Mac hovered in the entrance, not sure how comfortable she should act in his house. She followed Pete into the living area, pausing as he entered the kitchen. "You want a beer?" He asked as he opened the fridge. Mac nodded slowly, folding her arms across her chest. "Yeah, ta." He handed her a crownie, leading her over to the couch. Pete sunk into the lounge while Mac sat on its edge gingerly, sipping her beer nervously as silence loomed upon them. Pete sighed and leaned forward. "What's up, Mac?" Mac sighed also, staring into her bottle and then staring straight ahead – anything to avoid Pete's eyes. "I've been thinking about what you said," She began after moments of silence. "About Mike…I didn't want to believe it, but…" She trailed off, not sure how to put it. "But?" Pete urged. "But, I had to prove it wasn't him. To you guys…and to myself." Mac paused, sneaking a glance over at Pete who was watching her with his undivided attention. "So I had a look around in his office yesterday." Pete sat up straighter. "Did you find any files? Any documents, financials records-" Mac shook her head, cutting him off. "Nothing. Everything was squeaky clean." Pete nodded slowly as she continued. "Then I noticed something in the corner. A fax machine… with another phone point. Mike kept it covered up, I'd never seen it there before." Mac paused, reaching into her bag. "These were in the tray." She handed him the papers. Pete's eyes skimmed over them and widened as he realised what they revealed. "Holy shit…" "Will they be enough to convict him?" "Should be. I'll have to check but Mac, he's gonna notice this is missing." She shook her head. "It's a copy. He, uh, shredded the original when he got home from work." Mac sighed, placing her head in her hands. "Oh, I shouldn't be doing this…" "You've done the right thing, Mac." Pete reassured, his hand involuntarily finding her back in subtle support. He found it confusing, yet strangely heartening, the ease and comfort at which they could still relate after all these years, as did Mac. "How can it be the right thing, Pete? I'm implicating my fiancé –" "He broke the law Mac. That prick's been lying to you, he tried to use you and Eve to cover his arse, he –" "I know all that Pete, but I still…I still can't believe he did it. How could he betray me like that?" "I don't know." "I mean, I should have expected it. It was too good to be true. Why on earth did I think it would last? Men either die on me or betray me." Pete shook his head. "You don't really believe that, Mac." "Believe it? Pete, that's my history." "When did I betray you?" "Huh?" "Well, I'm a man. I'm your history and I'm alive, last time I checked. So when did I betray you?" The names `Christina Rossi' and `Danni Mayo' immediately sprung to his mind, but Pete didn't dare mention them. He didn't want to dig his hole any deeper. But Mac sighed instead. "Don't mock me, Peter." She said softly, her eyes cast downwards. "I'm not mocking you, Mac." He replied, just as softly, guiding her gaze to meet his again. "Mike's still my fiancé Pete. I still love him and I'm the one locking him up and throwing away the key." "He might not be inside for *that* long." Mac raised her eyebrows at him. "The only time that'd happen is if the judge at the trial is deaf dumb and blind, and even then, he's still going to hate me." "And drunk." Pete added. "What?" "The judge would have to be drunk too." He contributed, grinning as he succeeded in cracking a smile from Mac. "Right." "See, you haven't lost your sense of humour yet." "Yeah, but I'm going to lose just about everything else." "No you're not." "No? I'll lose Mike, our house, my car, the photography business will suffer no doubt…what's left, Pete?" "Me. You won't lose me." He said, suddenly earnest; their blue eyes never ceasing contact as silence filled the room. *~*~*~*~* `Cos what if what we see is all, Is all we've got? *~*~*~*~* "I never knew I had you." Mac replied cautiously, waiting as Pete's hand found hers in her lap, caressing it gently. "You've always had me, Mac. Right from the beginning." They inched closer together; their _expressions silent and serious until Mac smiled suddenly. "That's bullshit." "Maybe." Pete chuckled lightly. "Mm, but it's good bullshit." She slid her hand out from under his, leaving his hand resting on her upper thigh. Pete watched her, their faces now only centimetres apart. "Yeah?" "Yeah." Their lips met hesitantly at first, gaining more confidence as they got used to the feel of each other again. Pete stroked Mac's cheek with the back of his hand gently as she traced the nape of his neck with her fingertips. His lips caressed hers slowly, their age-old connection now alive again, picking up right where they left off. Their kisses became more fervent, needing, and before Mac even realised what she was doing, she found herself shifting positions on the couch. Lost in Pete's kisses, she boldly moved to straddle him, pressing her body up against his as he held her close to him. Pete pulled away slightly, only slightly, slowing to look into her eyes. He smiled, brushing a stray piece of hair from her face and tucking it behind her ear before speaking softly. "Mac, are you-" "Shh," Mac silenced him, gently placing her finger over his lips. She half smiled, "Just don't…think." She mumbled, leaning in to kiss him deeply. Pete banished any thoughts of his failing relationship with Angie to the back of his mind, sinking further with Mac into the couch cushions. *~*~*~*~* Say you've kept some fire aside To set light to me some surprising night *~*~*~*~* Pete ran his hands eagerly up and under Mac's skirt, pushing it around her hips. He leaned his head back against the couch, groaning lightly as her lips traced his jawline and neck. She reached down to unbutton his jeans as his hands wandered underneath her top, loosening her bra but not bothering to remove either garment. Pete gently guided her head towards his again, kissing her so tenderly that they each shivered. Their gentle moans became more and more audible as their rhythm quickened; heated breathing increasing along with their pace. Mac arched her back slightly as Pete's hands resumed their position on the smooth skin of her thighs, pulling them closer and closer together, further and further inside as the afternoon's events came to a climax. Urgent desire began to subside as they relaxed against each other, their foreheads touching. Pete caught Mac's lips momentarily with his own; a long, lingering kiss ensuing. He felt a whispered moan pass her lips as they broke away; their faces barely millimeters apart. Mac smiled into his eyes, moving her head so that their cheeks touched lightly. Pete kissed the side of her neck softly as he smiled, holding her close to him. *~*~*~*~* And say you've locked some fire away To set light to me some surprising day Any day now *~*~*~*~* * * * Angie drove along the familiar roads leading to Pete's house, welcoming the darkening skies. She glanced down at the bottle of wine beside her, a peace offering and key tool in demonstrating her level of commitment to him. Angie knew she had overreacted the night before, yet smiled at the decision that had resulted after her outburst. This was Peter: her best friend; her confidant. She trusted him with her life, and had done so successfully on many occasions. So why was she so hesitant to commit herself fully to him? Angie still couldn't understand her irrational reasoning of the evening past, but was confident in her decision at that very moment and knew she would be for the rest of her life also. She turned into his street, pulling up on the opposite side of the road, several doors down from his house and pausing as she noted a familiar car in Pete's driveway. Mac's car. Angie watched as the porch light switched on. She watched as Pete and Mac emerged through his front door; as their heads tilted towards the other's amidst deep conversation; and as he held her hand all the way to her car. Angie watched as Pete kissed Mac tenderly goodbye, a lowly tear trickling down her cheek as she did so. *~*~*~*~* `Cos finger by finger we're losing grasp And I'm questioning the reasons Why nothing beautiful does last… *~*~*~*~* TBC...