Title: If You Fall...I'll Catch You
Author: Lisa, 
50-50 Credit Content: Monika
Emails: lisacheerio_85@yahoo.com,
mon_khanna@yahoo.com.au 
Disclaimer: Should I really bother. Every single
disclaimer I’ve ever written applies to this one too.
Der!!
Notes: Language, language, and just a tinge of
romance...he he he Also I have no medical knowledge so
I don’t know the exact consequences of certain events.


Pete stood opposite Colette on the stoop of her front
door. They had just finished a comfortable dinner and
Colette once again smiled and said, “Thanks for
coming, Pete.” Pete smiled back and kissed her on the
cheek, before heading off.
After arriving back at his house, Pete decided to take
a walk. It was nearly eight thirty and the streets
were now deserted. Pete remembered watching old movies
where children were out playing until well after nine
at night. 
But everywhere you went, once darkness fell, mothers
whisked their kids off the road, back to the safety of
their locked doors and windows. 
However Pete was avoiding the main issue he wanted to
think about. Something wasn’t right. It had been
months since he and Colette started seeing each other
and they still hadn’t progressed further than dinner
dates and a kiss on the cheek. Pete knew Colette had
Jesse to think about as well, but still, he thought it
was about time they kissed properly.
I mean, Pete thought, by the time Mac and I had been
“going out” for this long, we were well and truly past
the kiss on the cheek! Pete chuckled quietly to
himself. He remembered all the times they’d made up an
excuse to be in the same room alone so they could
organise a time and place. Mostly only one of them
talked, the usual spiel being, “My place, eight
thirty.” And then one day it had just stopped. Pete
hadn’t even had a say in the matter. That fact had
always annoyed him slightly.
But he and Colette were different. Colette was really
just being careful, he supposed, didn’t want to get
hurt again. Or maybe being a single mum never hurt
her. Pete didn’t even know the whole story behind
Jesse’s existence. She kept that close, protecting her
daughter and Pete didn’t hold that against her.
I’m just not happy, he realised, but what would make
me happier? If I was alone? That certainly wasn’t the
solution. 
Pete knew he and Colette weren’t meant to be.
Otherwise he was sure he would’ve felt something more
by this time. When Pete had first met Alice, his
fiancée who was killed years ago in a drive-by
shooting, sparks had flown immediately, and he had
just known. 
When Pete had met Christina Rossi he hadn’t known
things would go the way they had, but deep down he
knew that in some ways that relationship was a
rebound.
A rebound from Mac. 
When Pete had been introduced to Mac, he had thought
she was attractive, and someone who he, if he’d met
under different circumstances, would want to be with
in a second.
But things had not gone his way. One by one, every
relationship he’d ever been in had failed miserably.
Two of the women he had loved had been murdered, and
the other was insistent on carrying on a purely best
friends/coworkers relationship. He had loved Mac, but
he didn’t know if he still did. 
Pete knew he definitely didn’t love Colette, but he
realised that she felt differently. What have I gotten
myself into? He thought hopelessly. 
Pete thought back to the past day that they’d had at
work. It had been interesting, that was for sure.

*

Mac had walked into the office that day sporting a
brand new hair cut. Over the months it had grown long,
back to the length she remembered having a few years
ago, and she had had it all chopped off once again,
into a fashionable, just below chin-length bob. 
“Nice hair, Ellen Mackenzie,” Pete had whistled upon
her arrival. She had turned to him, in an oddly cheeky
mood, and replied, “Had it done just for you, Church,”
before retreating to her office. Danni and Angie had
laughed, Oscar being out setting up a sting. 

*

Mac sat at her desk that night as she had looked over
their files. The sting was to go down tomorrow, and it
had taken a lot of work. Politicians and judges were
involved as targets, so Mac had had to make sure that
she wasn’t breaking any laws by cornering and
arresting them. 
Pete had strolled in casually and plonked himself down
in front of her, grinning as she tried to ignore him.
Finally Mac looked up, a curious smile across her
face.
“What do you want?” she asked nicely.
“Umm...well...You know what Mac? I forget. Oh well.”
He leaned in across the desk and raised his eyebrows. 
“Have a nice night,” he’d told her before walking
confidently out of the room and driving home.

*

Mac held in a laugh as she looked at her watch.
Quarter to nine. God, she thought, I can’t believe
Pete and I flirted like that today. What were they
playing at? Mac herself didn’t even know what had
compelled her to act like such a schoolgirl. Flirting
with unavailable men was strictly out of bounds. As
was flirting with unavailable women, she thought, on
Pete’s behalf. 
Sighing, Mac stood from the couch and looked out of
the window, waiting for Hollister. Mac knew the
relationship was going nowhere. She no longer desired
to have Bill in the least. But still, he came over
every other night, and left early the next morning,
and Mac realised that if she didn’t stop things soon,
Bill would fall in love with her. Hell, he probably
already is, she thought dismally. Bill was a great
friend, who she happened to be having casual and
meaningless sex with, but she still cared about him,
and Mac didn’t want to break his heart again. 
She hadn’t even wanted to be in the relationship to
start with. On some level, she had wanted to be in a
relationship, but not this one. Bill was so sweet and
he brought her flowers all the time, but Mac was
missing the passion. She needed excitement. Bill was
slow and romantic, while the other men Mac had been
with were fast, many of them very unromantic – Mac had
regretted those – all but one. 
The exception was Pete. Mac tried to describe his
style but found that she had trouble, each
characteristic contradicting the next. He held her
tightly yet not roughly. In fact, he was often so
tender, running his hands quickly over the surfaces of
her body, that she melted beneath his touch, moulding
her body into his. It would have confused many women,
but Mac had found herself instantly attracted to this
man, who wasn’t afraid to let his softer side mix with
his masculinity. 
Mac put her head in her hands and blushed. She
couldn’t believe she was reliving making love to Pete.
Had her flirting earlier today been some subconscious
effort to awake him to the fact that she still wanted
him. 
Did she still want him? 
But even if she did, Pete was happy with Colette, and
there was no way that she was going to ruin that one. 
Before she could go any further, Mac saw Bill’s
headlights pull into her driveway, and she opened the
door to greet him, smiling. 

*

“Okay, Oscar are you ready?” Mac asked as she walked
into the office the next morning. She had woken up
alone this morning, Bill having already left before
she woke. 
Pete always used to wake me to say good morning and
goodbye and get one last kiss, she thought briefly,
but banished the thought upon his entrance. Mac was
ashamed to admit that she had thought about Pete the
night just passed, the whole night.
“Please don’t tell me I’m on surveillance,” Pete
begged as he took a seat. 
“You’re on surveillance,” Mac replied flatly, her
voice not betraying her feelings and thoughts. 
Mac turned her attention back to the case. Oscar was
to go in once again as an assistant to a judge, who
was bribing politicians for votes. The politicians
involved were well known in the public eye, and the
case had come with a warning to be discreet. 
Yeah, Mac thought, that’ll happen. 

*

Judge William Farraday stood as his two acquaintances
arrived, unaware of the bug sitting comfortably,
tucked away under the front of the desk. 
“All right, do we have a deal?” Farraday asked. The
deputy premier of Victoria and the treasurer smiled,
the deputy stupidly expanding on the “deal.” 
“Fifty grand, you got my vote.”
“Me too,” the treasurer added. Just as the judge
reached for his black briefcase uniformed and armed
police officers burst in and arrested the three men. 
Mac, standing on the footpath, sighed as she predicted
the ring of her mobile any minute. Someone had leaked
the sting to the press, and camera crews swarmed, all
aiming for a picture of the guilty men.
Pete came up silently behind Mac.
“Shit, eh?” he said. Mac nodded. Pete patted her on
the shoulder.
“Shit happens, darling. See ‘ya back at the factory.”
And with that he had walked away, back to Angie
waiting in the Com-V. 

*

Pete seemed to be bursting with enthusiasm.
“Come on! Let’s celebrate!” he exclaimed as he sat
around in the desk area.
“You’re kidding right?” Danni gasped. “Didn’t you hear
Mac raving about the leak and fielding calls from
every single person in the Commissioner’s office. I
wouldn’t be surprised if even he called her!”
“He didn’t,” Mac admitted as she exited her office and
joined her friends. “What’s this?” 
“Pete wants to take us to Luna Park to celebrate,”
Oscar put in. Mac laughed.
“Celebrate what?” Pete shrugged.
“Well, everyone here doesn’t want to celebrate the
case, so how about we celebrate the fourth of July?”
Danni started laughing her head off. Angie followed.
“It’s the fifth,” she mumbled between chuckles.
“But over in the U.S it’s still the fourth. And we
have a right to celebrate it as much as they do. It’s
a relatively free world.” He grinned as Mac struggled
with the idea. She was free, Hollister deciding to
have a night off. 
“Oh, okay, Pete, let’s go,” she caved, grabbing her
jacket which she’d thrown on Angie’s desk as the
others did the same and made their way to their cars.

*

Considering it was Friday night, the park was crowded
with people. 
“Looks like everyone’s out tonight,” Danni said as
they paid for their entrance.
“Yeah, all celebrating the fourth of July I’m sure,”
Pete replied cheekily as he turned to face everyone.
“What are we gonna go on first?” Angie turned to Mac.
“He’s like a little kid, Mac.” Mac nodded, looking
slyly over at Pete, who was waiting to hear her reply.
“I know, Ang, but we’ll just have to live with it.
After all, he is a cute kid.” Pete put on a little
kid’s puppy-dog face and Mac couldn’t help herself,
she burst out laughing. 
“Okay Pete, I haven’t been here in years, so you can
show me the best rides.” 
“Be glad to,” he said, suddenly very formal in his
manner, stretching out his arm. “Do you want to be
spun, dropped or turned upside down?” Everyone laughed
as they worked out what they wanted to do. 

*

Oh God, Mac thought, no more. She definitely was not
twelve years old anymore. Some of these rides had just
been nauseating. But Mac was on the Ferris wheel at
the moment with Pete, and that wasn’t so bad, as long
as she was close to the ground. 
It was pretty late, and the city lights shone over the
skyline as Mac and Pete’s carriage reached the top.
Mac tried not to look down, focussing on the AMP
building straight ahead of her in the distance.
“You still hate going on this thing?” Pete asked
humorously.
“It’s not funny, Pete. You see all those stories on
the news about accidents. Simple things. And we’re so,
so far off the ground.” She shut her eyes as they
rounded the top and the seat swung on its hinges,
beginning the decline. 
“You’re doing great, Mac. You should’ve told me you
didn’t like the ferris wheel still, I wouldn’t have
brought you on.” Mac shook her head, not knowing where
to look to stay calm.
“No, you should have your fun. I’m okay.” There was a
pause before Pete slowly put a hand on Mac’s, which
was gripping the edge of the seat. 
“Let go, Mac, you’re wobbling the carriage doing
that.” Mac let go cautiously, but Pete scooped her
hand up into his and held it securely.
“You’ll be fine,” he said softly as Mac held his hand
tightly, relaxing as they came to the ground. They
could see Angie, Danni and Oscar watching them and
waved.

“Are they holding hands?” Danni asked. Angie nodded.
“Probably. Mac’s scared of it collapsing on her,
always has been, I think. Anyway, they’ve had it on
before, holding hands wouldn’t worry them now.” Angie
stopped as she realised what she’d revealed to Danni.
She’d forgotten that Danni hadn’t joined the unit when
she had discussed that with Oscar.
“What?” Danni said quietly. Oscar urged the
conversation in another angle.
“So what do you two want to do next?” Danni ignored
him.
“What?” she repeated, to no one in particular, but
through pure amazement.

*

Mac and Pete rounded the top of the ride one last
time. They could feel the wheel stopping and starting
to let people in and out. Mac inhaled heavily as the
seat swung back and forth in mid-air.
“No more high rides for you, Mac,” Pete said.
“Uh-uh, Pete, I do like the view. It’s just that
there’s no safety belt or anything like that. I keep
feeling like I’m going to fall out or something.” Pete
let out a small laugh, but it reassured Mac, and she
began to relax. Not much longer, she thought to
herself. She felt Pete’s fingers gently rubbing her
hand as she held on firmly, and she squeezed in
thanks. 
Pete looked over at Mac, who was looking the other
way. She soon sensed, however, Pete’s eyes on her, and
she turned. His eyes glittered and Mac suddenly felt a
wave of affection. They moved closer together.
“Out ya get, come on! Come on!” Mac turned around in
shock. They were on the ground. The ride was finished.
Mac hadn’t even realised that they’d made it down, the
last few moments had gone so quickly. 
Mac and Pete pulled away and stepped off far apart
from each other. That last couple of minutes had
scared both of them. That they could still react to
each other, a simple look in their eyes, so quickly
and assuredly. 
Angie, Danni and Oscar met them at the bottom.
“You okay Mac?” Angie asked. Mac nodded.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Did you guys have fun at the
sideshows?” Danni nodded, holding up a small teddy
bear. 
“You bet! I whipped these guys’ butts!” Mac laughed as
she cast a nervous glance at Pete, who had somehow
attracted a hotdog, which was half gone already.
“I got if for him,” Oscar added. “Nice Pete?” Pete
nodded, wolfing the rest down. Danni patted him on the
top of the head. 
“Good boy, Petie, good boy.” They all laughed, Pete
just managing to swallow before he too, was caught up
in the atmosphere. 
They really had all relaxed and for the first time in,
well, a very long time, Pete knew they were being
themselves, having fun with each other simply as
friends.
As the five of them walked past all the rides, Mac
marvelled at all sorts of rides that were operating.
Twisting ones, dunking ones, swirling ones. Pete
touched her arm briefly to get her attention and
pointed to a ride called the Pipeline. It was long,
with two back-to-back rows of gleeful riders, and it
tilted and tipped every which way.
“Okay Mac, I dare you to go on that.”
“No way, Pete.”
“Well, I suppose that since you’re so scared of those
sorts of things.”
“I’m not scared.”
“Then go on, get on it!” They eye-balled each other
for a few moments as the others watched on in silence.
“Well,” Oscar said. “I’m going to get a drink while
you two sort this out.”
“I’m coming too,” Angie and Danni said in the same
time. Danni added under her breath, “They should have
some time alone.” Angie hit her on the shoulder
playfully, and they laughed as they walked away.
Mac took Pete’s arm, ignoring their friends. 
“Come on, then.” Pete grinned.
“Oh no, I just ate a hotdog, actually I gulped a
hotdog, and I don’t want to throw up everywhere, Mac.
You can do it, I’ll be right here.” Mac’s eyes begged
Pete to go with her, but he just smiled until she gave
up and walked up to the queue.

*

Mac’s heart pumped blood and adrenaline through her
body triple the normal rate, she could’ve sworn to it.
She shook as the attendant checked her harness, which
was a secure tyre sitting around her whole front.
There was no doubt that she was locked in tightly, at
least that was something. 
The ride started as it was raised into the air. Mac
looked skyward, sending one, quick prayer, just in
case. She closed her eyes as it tilted to the left,
then the right. She held in a scream as it swung
forwards, leaving Mac looking straight into the
concrete below. She soon squeezed her eyes shut again,
but not before seeing Pete give a smug wave from where
he was standing not so far away. 
Mac couldn’t help it, as the ride swung her backward
she let out a scream along with everyone else. But the
ride came upright again, and Mac soon felt herself
relaxing and going with the flow. 
She still had her eyes closed as the ride lifted to
face her to the sky once again. But it tilted strongly
at the same time, which Mac hadn’t expected. She
didn’t have time to think about anything else before
she felt herself free falling toward the ground. The
screams were piercing, but Mac didn’t feel the impact
with the ground, fainting only a few seconds
beforehand.

*

Pete watched in absolute horror as the screams sounded
around him.
Holy shit! F****** Hell! He exclaimed in his head.
Already security officers and paramedics were
gathering, not letting anyone pass. Pete ran up to the
one of them. He looked past his shoulder and saw Mac.
She wasn’t moving, but she had landed facing the sky.
Thank God! Pete refused to look at the scene unfolding
beneath Mac. Almost twenty people had been crushed and
any others standing underneath the ride. 
Pete knew he was crying by now, but he didn’t care one
bit. Paramedics were slowly picking Mac out of the
wreckage, and she looked groggy but okay.
But Pete’s view was soon obstructed by a team of
security guards, who pushed Pete back into the
swarming mass of people wanting to catch a glimpse. He
looked around everywhere but all he saw were people
he’d never met. He wanted to see Mac, to check for
himself that she was okay. 
Pete jumped as he heard his name from a familiar
voice. He turned, seeing Angie, Danni and Oscar
somewhere back in the crowd. They pushed their way
forward assertively, not caring who they pissed off in
the process. Danni caught Pete first, but she didn’t
speak until Angie and Oscar joined them; she didn’t
have to, the three of them had realised as soon as
they’d seen Pete that Mac wasn’t with him.
“Pete...” Danni started, but Pete cut her off. He
tried his best to sound composed.
“She’s okay, I think. They helped her off, but I don’t
know where she is-“ He stopped and turned back to the
ruins as the ride was lifted off the people
underneath. Emergency workers rushed forward, but not
before Angie, who had a perfect view, reeled back in
horror and immediately turned to them.
“Oh God. Oscar...” Oscar took his cue and wrapped his
arms safely around Angie’s back as she threw hers over
his shoulders and hid her head in his chest. Danni
rubbed Ang’s back supportively as Pete looked around
for just a glimpse of Mac, or where they’d taken her.
It had been over half an hour since the ride had
fallen, and the confusion still hadn’t died down.
Hardly anyone had left, the majority wanting to get on
TV or catch a look at the deceased and seriously
injured. Pete and Danni held in tears as they looked
at each other silently. This was not what they had
planned for. Far from it. 
“Excuse me, you’ll have to leave now. We’re clearing
people out.” The stocky security guard loomed over
Pete as he replied.
“Our friend was on the ride. We’re waiting for her.” 
“Did you see the ride fall?” Pete nodded.
“Yeah, but my other friends here didn’t.” 
“Okay then, you and the friend who was on the ride can
stay. The others will have to leave, or wait in the
kiosk eating area until you’ve finished up. The police
want statements from anyone on or watching when it
collapsed.” Pete nodded and the guard left to push
some more people out of the park.

*

Pete stood all alone against the brick wall of the
park. He had moved away so that he could take in
everyone before him. If Mac suddenly appeared, he
wanted to be able to get to her straight away, and not
have to push through all the people before him. Angie,
Oscar and Danni were sitting a fair distance away in
the cafeteria, hardly saying two words to each other.
They were surrounded by others doing the same.
And then Pete saw her. Mac looked dishevelled and, for
once in her life, timid as she emerged from a small
building, probably first aid. She was wrapped in a
hessian blanket and was looking around anxiously for
someone she recognised. 
“Mac!” Pete called to her as he started running. She
looked over and smiled as he met her full on. Once
again Mac was in Pete’s arms, and she started to cry
softly into his shoulder. Pete rocked her gently,
hands running through her knotted hair.
“I’m never going on anything like that ever again,”
she mumbled, and they both laughed as they stood back
for a moment. 

*

Bill walked slowly into the scene that unfolded before
him. In all his years he had never had to work on
such...an accident. But there was talk that a small
mechanical part was removed. The ride wouldn’t
initially react, but soon enough the pressure would be
too much for it.
He looked over to his right at the hundred or so
people sitting and standing in the eating area, and
could’ve sworn he’d seen three of them before. Ellen’s
operatives, he asked himself, but continued to look
around. He was going to have to take statements from
well over a hundred people, and was going to be there
all night. 
Bill’s eyes caught on a couple being interviewed by
police already. As the policeman left, they turned
back to each other and pulled together. 
He watched as Peter Church held a hand to Ellen’s face
and hesitantly drew him to her for a quick kiss.

*

Mac pulled away, but instantly regretted it. 
“Sorry,” Pete started. “I was out of line, Mac. I...” 
“It’s okay,” she paused before looking at the ground
as she spoke. “Pete I don’t want to be alone tonight.”
She looked back up and Pete was filled with
compassion. He hugged her to him again, reassuring
her.
“You won’t be alone, Mac, I promise,” he whispered to
her ear as he kissed her forehead briefly. 

*

After Angie, Danni and Oscar had all been allowed to
meet up with Mac and Pete, they’d returned home. 
Pete and Mac sat a metre apart on the edge of his bed.

“Do you want me to take the couch?” he asked. Mac
looked into his eyes and shook her head slightly. Pete
moved closer to Mac, and looked her in the eye
seriously. He then leant in and hesitantly felt his
lips connect with hers. Mac stayed in the kiss until
Pete pulled away for assurance. They turned to face
each other on the bed and Pete put two hands on her
shoulders.
“Mac, I...have to tell you something-“
“So do I,” she cut in. “I’m...with someone, but I’m
not happy in the relationship, Pete. It’s not going
anywhere.”
“And you think this could?” Mac looked away, nodding
slightly. 
“But I know there’s Colette and if she knew I was
here-“
“She doesn’t and she won’t. Mac, I don’t want to be
with Colette for the rest of my life. I want to be
with you...” Mac looked back up as Pete ran a hand
down the back of her neck and around her collarbone.
She reached over, slowly undoing Pete’s top button on
his shirt. Pete smiled gently at her so she continued,
him doing the same. Their kisses became strong and
passionate as they fell against each other onto the
bed, disappearing under the covers.

*

Mac stirred as she felt Pete’s weight sink into the
bed beside her. His lips lingered on hers and she
opened her eyes and pulled him back.
“I’m off to work,” he whispered, wishing it were his
day off more than anything. Mac, who was curled up,
the sheets pulled tightly around her neck, sat up and
gaped.
“Why didn’t you wake me up earlier. Shit, now I’ll be
late.” Pete laughed.
“First of all, you’re the boss. You can come in
whenever. Secondly, take the day off Mac. Please?” Mac
knelt on the bed and kissed Pete fervently, but pulled
back and shook her head.
“I’m going Pete. And you’ll have to drop me at my
house, if that’s okay?” Pete nodded, resigned to the
fact that Mac was still as tough on the outside as
ever. But she paused amidst her rush to get dressed
into her dirty jeans and shirt.
“Do you regret last night Pete?” she asked. Pete shook
his head. 
“Are you kidding? Of course I don’t, Mac.” Mac nodded.
“Just checking,” she said as she smiled at him and
grabbed her bag. “Ready.” 

*

Bill looked up, surprised that Ellen walked into his
office. He had been expecting Peter Church, second in
charge, but here she was, almost right on time.
“What are you doing here?” he asked. Mac shrugged.
“Working. Why does everyone keep asking me that?
Right, what’ve we got?” Bill handed the file to Mac.
“We have the accident at Luna Park, although it wasn’t
an accident. There was a part missing, and it was
deliberately taken out. One of the safety inspectors
made sure it was in before the park opened last
night.” Mac nodded, reliving the horror of “last
night” in her mind. Only the first half, she thought,
the second was...But Mac couldn’t think of that now.
“Why is it Undercover’s job? Do the detective thing
and investigate.” 
“Because we think we know who it is, and we need to
catch him in the act.” 
“Bill, this isn’t a very good case. What if we screw
up, and we do, you know, we’re not perfect. Another
ride collapses one night? How many more people are
going to die?” The count so far was fifteen; the other
six were in Intensive Care.
“Ellen, calm down. I want a male to go in as a safety
inspector who checks the rides out just before they’re
turned on. It’s not a bad job. Maybe your unit’s a
little too close to it. I could get another one to-“
“No, no, we’ll do it. Okay is that all?” Bill nodded
as Mac strode out of the office. She was being very
short with him, and he thought he knew why.

*

Danni quizzed Pete on the mechanical components of the
rides as Mac listened on with Angie. Oscar was working
on the computers and wiring they were going to use. 
It was late at night, and all they really wanted to do
was to go home. But Pete was going under the next day,
and he was far from ready. 
“Mac, there’s too much to know here. I can’t memorise
all of these parts of all of these rides. It’s
impossible!” Mac nodded.
“Look, let’s just call it a day. Pete, do you know
enough?” Pete’s brow creased as he thought. 
“Uh...I guess so. I won’t know until I get there.” 

*

Mac rested a head on Pete’s chest as she closed her
eyes comfortably. Pete kissed her forehead repeatedly,
snuggling in beside her. 
“I’m going to break up with Colette, Mac. Afterwards,
will you-“ 
“Yes. I’m breaking up with Bill too-“ she paused as
she realised what she had said.
“Hollister?” Pete asked. Mac laughed, burying her head
into his chest and nodding.
“Don’t start, Pete. He was there for me, that’s all, I
don’t love him.” Pete got Mac to look up into his
eyes.
“I’m here for you now, okay? And...I love you.” Mac
reached up and kissed Pete slowly as he took her in
his arms for the second time that night.

*

Pete walked into the deserted theme park at eight the
next morning, feeling confident and excited. He always
got excited at the start of a new case. 
He spotted the target, Safety Adviser Liam Gault, and
approached him. They introduced themselves and shook
hands, and the Liam gave him the low-down.
“Right Clark, all I want you to do is get up on these
rides and check that everything’s there. You’re
familiar with these particular rides?” Pete nodded in
reply.
“Most of them, yeah.” 
“Okay then, you can start on the Gravitron and once
that’s done you can help me with the Oracle.”
“Sure,” Pete said; glad that he knew the parts to
those two, and moved off to make a start.

*

Mac got out of her car and lifted her sunglasses to
rest on the top of her head. The midday sun shone
brightly in her eyes as she looked both ways before
crossing the road. 
Gardens Cafeteria was seated in a busy street, full of
other restaurants and delis, and bustling with all
sorts of people enjoying their lunch. A couple sitting
in one of the inside booths caught Mac’s eye as she
took a seat outside and waited to her lunch date to
arrive. From a distance, they looked exactly like Pete
and herself, and were completely engrossed in each
other. Mac could see them hanging on each other’s
every word. 
I wonder how Pete’s going, Mac thought. She wished she
could be with him at this moment, but more important
business awaited her. 
Bill arrived fashionably late, as usual, and took a
seat opposite Mac.
“Sorry Ellen, I’ve got to eat and run, I’m afraid.
This case is taking up a lot of time. A lot of
pressure, families to deal with, things like that.”
Mac nodded.
“Sure, of course. Look, Bill, I really just wanted to
talk.” Hollister checked his watch.
“Okay, I’ve got five minutes. What’s on your mind?”
Before Mac replied she made sure she had lowered her
voice a little, just in case anyone was listening.
“Us,” she said. “Bill I don’t think this is working
out very well, do you?” Bill looked down at the
tabletop. He knew what was coming, he always did. Bill
really did like Ellen, but he realised that the
feeling was not mutual, she had become distant and
preoccupied of late. He nodded.
“No, I don’t suppose it is...” 
“Look, Bill, I’m really sorry, but I don’t think we
should continue...what we’ve been doing. We can still
be great friends and work mates, and you’re welcome to
have lunch or dinner with me anytime, just...not like
we are now. Do you understand?” Bill stood.
“I better be going, Ellen-“
“Bill,” Mac started, but he cut her off.
“No, don’t talk. I think I’ll pass on the dinner offer
for awhile, if you don’t mind. I am rather busy. Well,
goodbye Ellen.”
“We’re still friends, right?” Mac asked. No matter
what she and Hollister had ended, Mac still considered
their friendship very important to her. He turned.
“I respect you, Ellen, and I enjoy your company. You
can work out whether or not that’s the definition of
someone who you consider a friend.” And with that he
walked away, leaving Mac sitting at the table. She was
approached by a waiter, and decided to order a coffee
anyway. May as well, she thought as she sipped slowly.
Thoughts of Pete ran through her mind. The old ones,
and the more recent ones. Her heart skipped a beat and
Mac knew she was in love with him again. She couldn’t
wait to see him, just to tell him that. Mac smiled to
herself, realising that she was happier than she had
been in a long while.

*

After putting on more sunscreen and drinking another
large glass of water, Pete climbed back into the
centre of the Oracle.
It was a large ride, cylindrical in shape with a
number of small enclosures that seated up to four
people in each. When activated, the ride would move
the enclosures up and down, while spinning them at an
alarmingly fast rate. Even Pete had decided that this
ride wasn’t for him. He, like Mac, didn’t like the
nauseating rides too much, but he felt guilty enough
as it was that he’s practically forced her onto the
Pipeline, without revealing that fact to her as well. 
All through the night of the accident, as he’d held
Mac safely in his arms, he had thanked whomever it was
he regularly did that she hadn’t been seriously hurt.
He didn’t know what he would do if Mac weren’t with
him. A lump formed in his throat as he remembered
exactly how close he’d come, remembered the
overwhelming feeling of holding her gaze as their lips
met for the first time in years. She meant so much to
him, more than anyone ever had before. Pete wasn’t
even game enough to admit to himself that maybe Mac
meant more to him than Alice had. After all, he and
Mac had been through so much more, their experiences
defining the memories they shared and the hundreds of
emotions, which seemed to trigger in their minds
simultaneously in every instance.
Pete continued to observe the parts of the ride, made
sure everything was in place, and stood back for a
second, before deciding to check the working arms. He
climbed onto the lower enclosure, and stepped up to
the higher one. This was going to take forever, he
thought dimly as he flicked off a bit of peeling
paint. 

Liam Gault looked up at Clark, who was busying himself
on the Oracle. He was doing quite a good job, too.
Almost too good of a job. 
“Hey Clark, you want a can of coke or something?” Pete
turned at the sound of his cover name.
“Yeah, that’d be super mate. Thanks.” Liam went into
the small booth that they were using as a back room.
Liam was busy in the fridge when a mobile startled
him. He looked around and realised it was coming from
Clark’s jacket, which he had soon realised he hadn’t
needed. Liam picked it up and answered.
“Yep?” 
“Pete, that you?” 
“Sorry miss, I think you have the wrong number.”
“I’m sure I don’t...”
“Why don’t you try again, then?”
“Fine. Sorry.” 
Liam hung up. Probably a blonde, he thought. God, how
pathetic. You think everyone would be able to dial a
phone number, but nothing surprised him anymore. 
He turned back to the fridge, trying to decide between
coke and pepsi. Was there really any difference? He
thought as the phone rang again. Jesus Christ! He said
to himself as he picked it up again, coughing as he
did so.
“Hello?” 
“Pete, that you?” It was the same woman. Okay, there’s
something going on here, he decided. Liam was going to
have a bit of fun, couldn’t hurt.
“No, he can’t come to the phone at the moment, he’s
working. Can I take a message?” 
“Is this Oscar?” 
“Mmm...” Whatever, Liam thought. 
“Great.” She obviously didn’t realise that it’s the
same guy, Liam thought with a smile. Stupid. “Tell him
it’s Colette, and I know he’s busy working on the Luna
Park case, but that I need to talk to him.” Luna Park
case? Liam thought What the hell is going on here?
“Okay, I’ll tell him to call you back asap.”
“Great thanks, Oscar.”
“Bye.” Liam hung up the phone and looked out at Clark
working the equipment. The superhero cop who was
trying to catch him out was busily going about his
“work.” Well, Liam thought, I wonder how fast Clark
Kent can turn into Superman? He laughed, knowing that,
that was impossible. “Pete,” was mortal, just like
everybody else.

*

Hollister walked into an empty Luna Park and headed
towards the rides. There were a few safety officers
around, but apart from them and other managerial
staff, there was no one in sight. 
He looked up as he passed Peter Church working on a
ride. He seemed to be doing it tough, stretched out on
one of the ride’s arms, fiddling with the metal
reinforcements. He wasn’t that high off the ground, he
could probably jump off and land on his feet and only
twist or maybe fracture an ankle.
Bill kept walking. He hoped that he and Ellen could
still be friends, but he had been upset earlier at
lunch, and hoped that she hadn’t taken anything to
heart. 
Hollister turned at the sound of shifting gears and
ran forward at the scream that followed. The ride had
been switched on, Pete losing his balance and falling,
feet first into the ground, buckling under his own
weight, his head hitting the ground below. 

*

Liam came out of the control booth.
“Hey!” The detective from the other day was running
towards him, holding him down, and cuffing him. Liam
watched it all, as if from a distance, in slow motion.
If Clark was in fact Pete the police officer, then all
was done, and there was no need to fight.
How dare a police officer come here to look at the
equipment, to try to catch him out! 
Oh well, Liam thought, he got what he deserved.

*

Mac, Angie, Danni and Oscar stretched the entire width
of the corridor as they almost ran into the hospital.
They had received the call from Bill almost straight
after it had happened.
Apparently, Pete had been looking over one of the
rides when Gault had caught on and activated the ride,
sending Pete falling to the ground below. 
Mac saw Hollister in the distance and rushed up to
him. 
“How is he? How did Gault know? Bill...” Hollister
could see that she was in a state. Tears began
streaming down her cheeks as the other caught up and
Angie put an arm around her. Bill tried his best to
answer.
“From what Gault told me, laughing as he said it, by
the way, someone called on his mobile, which Gault
answered, and they asked for Pete, and somehow, he
worked out that it wasn’t a wrong number and that he
was in the police.” Mac shook her head.
“But Pete...Bill, is he going to-“ Bill shrugged.
“I don’t know, neither do the doctors. He doesn’t have
spinal damage, but he has a few broken ribs and a
broken leg, and he took a nasty knock to the head.
They said there’s no haemorrhaging, but he is in a
coma. When they brought him in he was bleeding
internally, mainly because one of the ribs had
punctured his aorta, just near the entry to the
heart.” He paused as Mac and her operatives stood
there, too shocked to move.
“Ellen, I have to go back to the station, but I want
you to know that you are one of my best friends,
okay?” Mac looked up at Bill and knew that he
understood why she’d broken things off. He had known
after all that she didn’t want to be with him. Mac
wondered if he knew who it was that she wanted to be
with, but ditched that thought as she hugged Bill
tightly, before he left, walking slowly back down the
hallway. 
Danni had already gotten details from one of the
nurses, and had Pete’s Intensive Care Ward Number, and
they made their way there quickly. 
Mac stopped in her place as they turned into the
hallway. Colette sat in the waiting area, looking
devastated and alone. They walked up to her.
“Colette, how is he?” Oscar asked. Colette looked up,
teary-eyed.
“The doctors are with him now. I can’t believe this,
it’s all my fault. I have to tell you guys
something...” 
“Go ahead,” Oscar spoke softly predicting what was
coming.
“I’m the one who called Pete’s mobile. I didn’t know
it wasn’t someone from work. He said his name was
Oscar and I don’t know Oscar’s voice that well. I told
him I knew Pete was busy working on the Luna Park
case, so to call me back. God,” she put her head in
her hands, expecting sympathy from Pete’s friends and
coworkers. 
“Don’t worry Colette,” Angie said as she sat down
beside her. “We all make mistakes. You love him?”
Colette took a moment before nodding.
This was more than Mac could take. Pete was lying in
that hospital room just a while away and it was all
Colette’s fault. No matter how much she loved him, she
shouldn’t have just told this stranger what Pete did
for a living, not even if she thought it was Oscar.
“This was not a mistake,” Mac said aloud. “Don’t you
know that you never, ever tell anyone that Pete is a
cop? Never. Not even just a cop! And no one discusses
cases outside the office. Escpecially not over the
phone. You never know who’s listening in!” She was
yelling now, too upset to think about anything she was
saying.
“Mac,” Oscar tried. “Come on, don’t do this.” 
“Don’t do what Stone? Don’t tell me you think that
this just happened because it’s one of those things!
This is serious stuff we do and everyone here knows
that!” She would have continued except that Colette
cut in as she stood to meet Mac face to face.
“Listen, okay, you can’t blame me! Yes, I made a
mistake and in some ways I caused this, but it was
that sick maniac who started the ride, not me, so
don’t you go blaming me! I’m sorry, okay? I love Pete
too, more than you would ever be able to love anyone.
Pete’s told me about you, Ellen Mackenzie, you don’t
love anybody-“
“What? You cannot say that I don’t love anybody! I
love my family, my friends. At least I don’t send them
into comas!” She turned to leave but Oscar grabbed her
and spun her back around.
“Mac, lower your voice and settle this, NOW.” Mac
shook him off angrily. She leaned in close to Colette,
her eyes firing in anger as she whispered.
“You don’t know what it’s like to love someone, then
lose him because of something which is out of your
control, and then have another chance with them, only
to have him taken from you by somebody else. So don’t
tell me what love is, Colette, don’t even start to
tell me!” Mac turned abruptly and walked out of the
small room, and into Pete’s. The doctors were just
leaving and looked sympathetically at Mac as she
entered. 
Pete wasn’t hooked up to a life support machine, which
was a good sign, but he was connected to almost
everything else. The volume was on for the ECG, and
Mac concentrated on the slowed heart bleeps to calm
herself down. 
She was just so angry. Pete had never had a chance to
talk to Colette, and now she had to take the back seat
in sitting by him day in day out. Everyone assumed it
was Colette who loved Pete, Colette who would miss him
the most if he died, but it wasn’t. 
Mac took a seat next to him, holding his hand in hers,
just as he had that night on the Ferris Wheel. So many
thoughts and feelings were running through Mac’s mind,
she didn’t know what she was thinking about. She was
angry and upset and worried and scared. So, so,
scared. 
“Please Pete,” she whispered as she broke down into
tears, resting her head into his hand as she shook
uncontrollably. “Please don’t die...”

*

Silence filled the room in which Colette stood facing
Angie, Danni and Oscar. No one said a word. They had
all heard what Mac had whispered to Colette before
storming out, and the possibility of the meaning was
shocking. 
Angie looked over to Oscar, and she knew he was
thinking the same thing. What if we were right? Angie
had never been completely sure that Mac and Pete had
ever been “together.” But maybe they had...
Suddenly Angie felt a wave of empathy for Mac. If she
was thinking right, it meant that Mac and Pete were
more the just considering getting back together? She
had to admit that their conversations had changed a
lot over the past few days, and after the Luna Park
accident, Pete’s arm didn’t leave Mac’s shoulders for
a second. And Mac had seemed completely relaxed with
him. It pieced together, but Angie was only thinking
it through in her head, she needed to ask the one
person who would know. Mac. 
“Colette,” she said. “Maybe it’s best if you came back
later.”
“I have just as much right to be here as anyone else.”
Angie wasn’t going to argue.
“Okay,” she replied as she turned and walked out,
followed by Danni and Oscar. 
They paused outside Pete’s room before entering,
bracing themselves for what they’d be met with. 
All in all, Pete looked okay. He was bruised and
abraded, but he seemed peaceful. Mac was crying as she
held his hand, and looked up as they entered. She
immediately tried to compose herself, but knew that it
was hopeless, and eventually looked back to Pete.
“Sorry guys,” she mumbled. “For before, I just lost
it.” Danni smiled and took a seat next to her.
“Mac, you don’t have to apologise. We’re all really
worried. You’re allowed to lose it, but just this
once.” Mac laughed as the other took a seat as well. 
“Mac,” Angie started. “What you just said to Colette.
About...loving...someone like that...” Mac nodded.
“Wasn’t thinking and it just popped out. You weren’t
meant to ever know.” Oscar decided it was his turn to
say something. 
“Know about your and Pete’s past?” Mac nodded again.
It seemed that she could only manage a few words at a
time without breaking down again. But she decided that
she would do her best to fill her friends in. They
deserved to know.
“We were together, for about a year...but Bernie found
out. He gave me a choice. Transfer or break it off.
I...I couldn’t get a transfer, and I didn’t want Pete
to get a transfer, so I ended it...rather harshly I
suppose.” She took a moment to inhale deeply,
organising her thoughts and trying to stay calm. 
“Then, we were just friends. But something was always
still there, I guess. I wasn’t happy in my
relationships, Pete was, but there was always
something missing, not right. 
When the ride collapsed on me, I suppose something was
triggered, and since then...I’ve been...staying at his
place, so to speak...uh...” Danni saved Mac from
attempting to continue. 
“You’re back together?” Mac nodded as tears rolled
down her cheeks again.
“He never had a chance to break things off with
Colette.” She paused as the others watched her start
to shake. Danni reached out and pulled Mac to her.
They had never seen Mac so upset and so loosely
flaunting the fact. Mac held onto Danni as she cried
into her shoulder.
“It’s okay, Mac,” she tried to comfort. “Hey? It’s
going to be all right.” Mac steadied herself as she
choked on her words.
“I can’t lose him, I can’t. I...I love him, Dan...”
Danni nodded.
“I know, Mac. You’re not going to...lose him...” By
now Danni was crying as well, and Oscar could see it
was getting to Angie as well as himself. He stood.
“Mac, Danni, come on, we’ll get some air, okay?” Mac
and Danni pulled away from each other, nodding as they
wiped their faces. Oscar put his arms around both of
them as he walked them out, fighting back tears
himself.
Angie sat in the room with Pete. She moved forward and
took his hand. 
“Well,” she started; knowing that many doctors said
coma patients could hear the people around them.
“Pete, you got a very good reason to get through this,
you know that? Mac’s a mess, and you have to wake up
and be better so that the two of you can work things
out. She loves you, mate, and I think that’s just
fantastic-“ Angie was cut off by the presence of
someone else in the room. She turned, and saw Colette.
“How long you been standing there?” she asked. Colette
shrugged.
“Long enough to listen to Ellen, I moved around the
corner when she left. Can I at least see him? Please?”
Angie nodded, wiping the tears off her cheeks, and
kissed Pete on the forehead. 
“See you later, Bro.”

*

Colette just sat, thinking. She had left the hospital
room when Oscar, Ellen and Danni had returned, and now
was outside the hospital, on a small bench.
What was she supposed to do? She loved Pete, and she
wanted to talk to him face to face, with him talking
back to her. She wanted to discuss things with him, to
see what he really felt and thought. 
But Ellen, Mac they all called her, just seemed so
devastated. Pete hadn’t even told Colette that Mac had
been on the ride that fell. How could he not? She
asked herself repeatedly. Ellen had still been crying
when she had re-entered the hospital room, yet Colette
had hardly shed a tear. 
Colette knew that Ellen had been serious when she’d
said that she loved Pete, that she couldn’t lose him.
There was no way in the world that Ellen Mackenzie
would let herself go like that, unless it really was
true love. Pete also had neglected to tell her that
they’d had a “past.” 
Colette was having trouble picturing Pete and Mac
together, but their friends weren’t. They were banding
around Ellen, embracing the idea that they had been in
love. Were, in love, Colette corrected. And she knew
that Ellen wouldn’t be lying when she said that since
the incident at the Park, she had been staying at his
place. There was nothing like a near death experience
to open one’s eyes to the truth. 
Just as mine have also been opened, she thought
dismally as she returned to her car and drove home.
She’d be back to see Pete the next day, maybe the day
after. Angie had promised to call if anything
happened, Colette, after all, still wanted and needed,
to be informed of developments. She was not going to
just disappear, if anything, she needed to talk to
Pete himself, to know for sure.

*

Mac sat next to Pete as she talked quietly. Oscar had
taken Angie home, and Danni was begging to take Mac
back to her place, so that she could get some rest.
But Mac was refusing.
“I can stay in my own house, Danni,” she said. Danni
sighed.
“Mac, you can’t be alone, you know that...Please? For
me?” Mac shook her head. 
“Okay, look, do you want to stay here for tonight?”
Mac looked back in surprise. She didn’t think the
doctors would allow it. As if reading her mind, Danni
replied.
“I talked to some people I know ‘round here. They said
it’s okay if you stay with Pete, but he could be in a
coma for a long time, Mac, so tomorrow night you’ll
have to go...” Mac smiled and nodded.
“I know. Thanks, Danni, I’d like that.” Danni came
over and leant down, hugging Mac’s shoulders.
“I’ll see you in the morning then?” she said. Mac
shifted her head in an affirmative response as Danni
continued. “Mac, we’re all going through this too.
Please let us help you?” Mac sniffled and nodded
again. Danni gave her a quick squeeze and left,
leaving Mac and Pete alone.

Mac watched silently as a tear dropped onto Pete’s
hand. One, lonely tear, just as she felt. She put a
hand to Pete’s forehead and ran it down his face as
she burst into tears again. She hid her head in his
arm as she cried, talking to him between sobs, before
finally falling into a restless and unsettling sleep.

ONE MONTH LATER 

Mac stood with her arms folded across her chest as she
looked into the room they now had Pete in. He had
taken a sudden turn for the worse, his heart rate
falling extremely low. Mac hadn’t been there either.
She had been contacted by the hospital just in case.
Pete’s sister and nephew had moved overseas a few
months ago, and Mac hadn’t been able to find anything
in Pete’s house as to where and how they’d be
contacted. Which was a bad thing. She was trying
everything in her power to notify them; it was wrong
that they didn’t know. 
Everyone had gotten a scare at Pete’s slide; even the
doctors had been surprised. 
Mac had organised to take leave, but it had only come
into effect two weeks ago, she had spent most of the
previous weeks at the factory, working her butt off
for a distraction, which never came. 
Ang, Danni and Oscar had been great. Mac was never
alone. She was staying at Danni’s place, had been for
the whole time, and they’d sit up and watch movies
together, before Mac usually drifted off midway. She
was enjoying the company, so was Danni, and they had
become a lot closer. Danni, Oscar and Angie didn’t
seem to mind that their boss had been setting a bad
example by having an office relationship. One night
Mac had put that to Danni, and she had replied
cheerfully.
“Mac, just because you and Pete work together, doesn’t
mean you can’t fall in love, and if you do, it doesn’t
mean you can’t work together. We love both you guys,
and as long as you’re happy, what the hell should we
care about? I mean, you have to make me a bridesmaid.
If you don’t I’ll kill you, but that’s different.” She
and Mac had both been in stitches by the end of that
night, laughing and joking about their old lives, the
ones they hardly remembered. 
But now Mac was terrified. Things had been going so
well. Pete seemed to be improving in every aspect. She
just didn’t know what to do. Angie and Oscar arrived,
followed by Danni five minutes later.
“What’s happened?” they asked as Mac explained
carefully, making sure she got everything right.
“Excuse me, are you Ellen Mackenzie?” Mac turned to
see the doctor. 
“Yes...”
“I’ve discussed this with my colleagues, and I think
we should try to make Mr Church as comfortable as
possible. He’s definitely weakening. What religion is
he?” Angie, Oscar and Danni froze. They guessed what
was coming, and didn’t like it one bit.
“He’s Catholic, but not a strict one, if you get my
drift,” Mac answered, starting to shake. The doctor
nodded. 
“Do you think he would want his last rites read to
him?” Mac felt like she was going to faint, her mind
went blank for a few seconds before she managed to
compose herself, not caring about the tears rolling
down her cheeks. 
“I think that would be good,” she whispered as she
turned and hugged the closest person to her, Oscar. He
nodded to the doctor in affirmation of the question as
he held Mac protectively. Angie and Danni turned to
each other and hugged as well, Danni starting to cry
moments before Angie. 
Instead of the doctor leaving, he stayed.
“Does he like music?” Mac turned back around. Her
knees buckled and she felt like she was going to
collapse, but Oscar held her to him, supporting her
weight as she answered. 
“Yep,” she said sadly. 
“Why don’t you put some music on, then? Just quietly,
but it might make him feel more relaxed and at home.”
Mac nodded as the doctor finally left back down the
hallway. 
“What sort of music?” Danni asked. Mac bit her bottom
lip as she thought.
“He has some CDs at home. I know which ones...” 
“Let’s go get them then,” Oscar said. Mac paused
before turning to Oscar.
“Can I sit down first?” She took a deep breath. “I
just need to rest...I think I’m going to...black
out...” Oscar nodded, trying not to cry himself as he
quickly guided Mac to a nearby chair. She sat down
heavily and put her head in her hands. Oscar knelt in
front of her as Angie and Danni came around. Mac
seemed to have aged over the last month, always sad.
Even when she laughed, they all heard the unsaid fact
that her laugh would be brighter if Pete were by her
side.
“You feeling okay?” he asked quietly after around five
minutes. 
“No,” came Mac’s whispered and teary reply. She looked
up at them. “I feel like shit.” She managed a smile as
Oscar pulled her up. She leant into him as he led her
towards the exit, leaving Danni and Angie there. They
talked to each other awhile before falling into a
comfortable silence, in which both of them only
thought of her friendship with Peter.

*

Mac sat in the room with Pete, Angie, Danni and Oscar.
Quiet music was playing in the background as the
priest began the last rites. 
“...though I walk through the valley in the shadow of
death, I shall hear no evil, see no evil and fear no
evil...” Mac held Pete’s hand in hers as she started
to cry. 
The priest left soon afterward and Mac let the doctor
have some time alone with him. She didn’t say a word
as she sat outside, waiting. Pete couldn’t die; there
was no reason for him to. He had no brain damage.
Everything was functioning perfectly. Except his
heart, which was becoming irregular and weak. Mac had
overheard a doctor explaining the situation to one of
the nurses.
“It’s like he’s just given up,” he’d said. But Pete
couldn’t give up, not now, not yet. 
She took Pete’s hand in hers as the others all sat
around gloomily. She couldn’t believe they,
eventually, were actually just going to watch the ECG
flatline. The volume was off so that the music could
be heard in the room. Oscar started talking.
“Do you remember what he did to you Danni? On your
first day?” Danni nodded, smiling. 
“I could’ve decked him one all right...All that stuff
he said, I should’ve clicked earlier, and I definitely
should’ve realised that Mac was the boss when I
compared their clothes.” Angie took her turn.
“I remember when I got my throat cut by...uh, I think
his name was Tony or something with a T...anyway, the
Com-V got stuck in traffic and Pete jumped out and ran
after me. I almost fainted, but he was always willing
to give me a hug, you know? At the end of the day...”
“Closer than family,” Mac whispered.
Tears came to her eyes as she listened to the song
that was playing. You’re Still the One, Shania Twain.
Mac rubbed Pete’s fingers as she listened to the
words.

*

Looks like we made it
Look how far we’ve come my baby
We mighta took the long way
We knew we’d get there someday

They said, “I’ll bet they’ll never make it” 
But just look at us holding on
We’re still together still going strong.

You’re still the one I run to
The one that I belong to
You’re still the one I want for life...

*

Mac closed her eyes and remembered the first time Pete
had played that song to her, while they were at his
place one night, three years ago. They had danced
almost all night, just being close to each other
enough to satisfy their needs and wants. 
Mac felt a hand on her shoulder as she turned to see
Angie pointing to the ECG. The weak heartbeat started
regulating. The beat was normal, but only for a
second. Their hearts sunk as it once again, returned
to its weak rhythm.

*

You’re still the one that I love
The only one I dream of
You’re still the one I kiss good night. 

*

“Mac, that didn’t look like a bad thing to me...” Mac
looked up at the weakened beat on the screen.
“Get a doctor,” she said quickly, her hopes not rising
in the slightest. She’d heard the stories of people
returning to seemingly fine health in the moments
before they died. This was what it was.
The doctor from earlier entered quickly. He checked
and double checked the paper printout, and left again.
Mac looked back at Pete as she waited for the life to
quietly leave his body. 
On the CD player the next song came on and Mac almost
started crying again, but she held it in, afraid to
even move. 
The doctor returned with another doctor, and he showed
her the reports. They whispered to each other quietly
before turning to Mac and the others. 
“Mr Church...seems to have had a moment of recovery. I
can’t explain it...um...but it’s a very good sign. It
means he’s slowly getting a bit better, although on
the scale of things it’s not a great improvement.” He
smiled courteously as he turned to leave again, but
backed up.
“Just curious, did any of you say anything to him?
That song mean anything? I’m just wondering whether
your presence might have excited him in some way.”
Everyone was silent, until Angie spoke up quietly.
“The song...which just finished...I guess he liked
it.” The doctor nodded, comprehending. Another of the
women spoke at that point. She had been a regular
visitor, for the entire month. Girlfriend, he thought
to himself as she whispered.
“Yeah, Angie that song...it’s, um...ours.” 
“Oh,” Angie mumbled. 
The doctor continued to analyse. The song might not
have been the sole reason Church appeared to recover,
but it would have contributed. No one knew why people
recovered from comas, but they did, and this guy had
every right to. No permanent damage, friends and
family. Let’s just hope he can wake himself up, he
thought as he left the room quickly. 
An hour passed. Ang and Danni had gone home, to get
some rest, and Mac was under strict orders to call
them if anything happened. Oscar was just preparing to
go.
“You sure you’re okay?” he asked. Mac nodded. Pete’s
statistics were getting better; Mac was watching the
monitor carefully, making sure.
“I’ll be fine Oscar. I’ll call you. Just go, okay?” He
nodded, smiled at her and left.
Mac turned to him. She reached over and turned the
music off, and leant up against Pete’s warm body. She
whispered softly to him as she began to fall asleep. 
“Ain’t nothin’ better
We beat the odds together
I’m glad we didn’t listen
Look at what we would be missin’
They said, “I bet they’ll never make it” 
But just look at us holding on
We’re still going strong
I’m so glad we made it
Look how far we’ve come my baby...” Mac drifted off as
she closed her eyes.
“I love you Pete,” she said softly as she felt
pressure on her hand, but she didn’t register it as a
sensation, all of them blending into each other. 

Pete smiled inwardly to himself. He could hear Mac,
he’d heard her all along, and even though he couldn’t
open his eyes yet, he was going to, eventually.
He’d almost given up, he’d been sick of lying there,
people acting like he was dying, when he knew he
wasn’t. But then he’d heard the song, that song that
he and Mac had danced to a million times, that they
had sung softly to each other to reassure them that
they were making the right decision in being together.
That they had kissed to, eventually all the words
mixing into three, simple ones. 
“I love you.” 
He wanted to be able to hold Mac now, feel her lips on
his, but he would just have to wait. For as soon as he
did, he knew that it would be Heaven. Better than any
other Heaven he could comprehend. He’d be with Mac
forever, and he knew that they’d be deliriously happy
for all eternity, wherever they went. 

*

Colette walked into the room. It was two days since
Pete’s tiny improvement. She had popped her head in
every chance she’d had, but someone else was always
with him. Even in the early hours of the morning.
Ellen had been asleep beside him, and Colette didn’t
want to wake her. She still wasn’t completely sure
that Pete felt for Mac what she felt for him, but with
every day that she saw Mac endlessly by his side, her
hope dwindled like a melting candlestick. 
Ellen was asleep beside Peter once again this morning,
but Colette only wanted to hold his hand for a second.
She wouldn’t wake Ellen, and if she did, why should
that be a problem?
Colette tiptoed in and took a seat. She was surprised
to see that Pete’s heart rate was now normal, and his
blood pressure was only slightly higher than expected.
He was getting better, she realised, but she didn’t
realise how much better. 

Pete felt himself wake up from sleep, although anyone
watching him wouldn’t even know, he knew his eyes were
still closed. There was something on his cheek, Pete
knew it was familiar. He had lost track of time, but
he recognised the feeling. Mac was beside him, and her
head was in the curve from his ear to his shoulder.
Her hair fell across his cheeks, the light sensation
pleasant and comforting. 
Today Pete was feeling really good. He could breathe,
no problem, and for once in a long time, he felt
strong. Strong enough to open my eyes? He thought, oh
well, might as well give it a try.

Colette watched as Pete suddenly opened his eyes for a
second, before closing them again quickly. She leant
forward, taking his hand. Ellen didn’t move, unaware
of what was going on beside her. He turned his head
slowly and opened them again.
“Colette?” he mouthed. Colette smiled, whispering to
him. 
“Shh. Ellen’s asleep. How are you feeling?” Pete
nodded.
“Okay. Pretty good, actually.”
“Pete, I need to ask you something.”
“How long have I been here?” 
“A month, but Pete-“
“What? A month? Colette-“
“Pete do you love Ellen?” Pete closed his eyes for a
moment, before looking back to her. 
“Pete, it’s only because she said that the two of you
were together, and that you never got a chance
to...tell me, and Pete if that’s true I want you to
know-“
“It’s true,” he whispered. “I love you too, Colette,
but not like I love Ellen. I...I still want to see you
though, if that’s okay?” Colette smiled.
“I don’t think that’s wise, Pete, but take care of
yourself, okay?” She stood but leaned in closer to him
to whisper words of advice.
“If you and Ellen are really serious, don’t go back to
work, Pete. I don’t think she could handle it if this
happened again. And take her out with you. I know you,
and you would be just as bad, if not worse.” She leant
in and kissed Pete on the cheek before saying goodbye
and walking out as quietly as she had entered. On the
way to her post, she passed the main nurse in charge
of the ward, Maris.
“Peter’s awake, but give him a few moments with his
girlfriend, okay?” The nurse nodded, eyebrows raised. 
“Sure thing, Colette.”

Pete’s heart beat ten to the dozen. He didn’t know how
to do this. Hi Mac, I’ve been asleep for a month, did
you miss me? The idea of waking her seemed absurd. Let
her sleep, he thought, she’ll wake up soon enough. 
But Pete hadn’t talked to Mac in so long. He missed
looking into her eyes, hearing her voice and feeling
her embrace.
Gently he reached over with his free arm and stroked
her hair. She didn’t respond, dead to the world. Pete
continued, just happy to be able to touch her warm,
soft skin, as the door opened.
Angie, Danni and Oscar poked their heads in. They’d
arrived only to be told by the nurse the he was awake,
and having some time with Mac. 
They smiled as they saw Pete, but he put a finger to
his lips, signalling them to be quiet because Mac was
asleep.
“Wake her up!” Danni exclaimed as quietly as possible,
but Pete shook his head, letting Danni lean down and
kiss him on the cheek. Pete looked over at Oscar, who
nodded.
“Go on, Pete, wake her up.” Pete took a deep breath as
he moved his hand to Mac’s cheek, rubbing tenderly.
“Mac,” he spoke in his normal voice for the first time
in a month. Mac shook her head slightly as she
stirred.
“Mmm...” she replied, not realising that it was Pete
who had spoken, instead of one of the others. He
smiled as he tried again.
“Mac.” Mac became aware of the hand resting on her
face. She didn’t have to open her eyes to recognise
the touch. He had held her face to his like that so
many times. Mac squeezed her eyes, fighting tears, as
she changed position to face Pete.
“Hey...” Pete said as he saw Mac’s composure dissolve
in front of him. She put a hand to his chest, feeling
the heart beating strongly beneath the surface.
“You’re okay?” she asked hesitantly. “Pete?” He
nodded. Mac let out a sob and hugged him tightly. Pete
wrapped his arms around her and held her for a long
time. As Mac broke away she grinned, looking back at
Angie, Danni and Oscar. They looked so excited and
happy. Mac felt like that, but she knew she looked
like hell.
The doctor chose that moment to enter, and looked Pete
over thoroughly. Mac and the others were shuffled
outside to wait, and as soon as they got out, they
hugged each other and started laughing and crying with
joy. 

Back in the room, Mac had been given some time alone
with Pete. He was sitting up now, and they kissed
carefully at first, but soon Pete took her face in his
hands and pulled her into him. They shifted to a more
comfortable angle as Mac leant into his chest. 
“Colette’s been here too, Pete,” Mac mumbled as they
parted briefly. Pete kissed her again, and they
continued talking to each other only as they parted
for moments. 
“I know, I talked to her this morning. She was there
when I woke up.”
“What did she say?” 
“Well, I guess we broke up, but she also said...” he
paused, kissing Mac. There had just been too many
words in that sentence and they had a rhythm in
progress.
“She said that if we’re really serious about each
other, that we should both leave and just
be...together.” Pete ran a hand through Mac’s
dishevelled hair as they pressed into each other
lovingly. Pete didn’t care if Mac answered him, didn’t
care if she never did. All Pete cared about was that
Mac was finally in his arms. Whatever happened next
would be a bonus. 
Pete, was in Heaven.

*

I’m so glad we made it
Look how far we’ve come my baby.

***