Title: Given Time Author: Mon Disclaimer: I do not own Stingers or any of its characters and any resemblance to any future scripts is purely coincidental. "In light of the testimonies given and evidence received I have no further duty to do than to find the defendant guilty of manslaughter in the second degree" the judge said. Mac looked over at Pete, his head just seemed to fall like a tonne of bricks. Angie took Mac's hand and gripped it tight, but it wasn't enough as tears started rolling down Mac's face. "What did I do?" was all that Mac was able to say. Outside the courthouse Church's lawyer was talking to Mac and Angie. " Is there anything we can do?" Angie asked. "Not really, sentencing will be tomorrow until we know that we cannot do anything." Mac just nodded at this unable to speak. "Thank you' Angie said to the lawyer before leading Mac back to the car. "How'd it go?" Oscar asked as Angie and Mac got out of the car. Angie shook her head and Mac headed straight for her office, tears streaming down her face. "Hey! How'd it go?" Danni asked as she emerged from the kitchen. "No good" Angie told them. "Pete was found guilty of manslaughter in the second, he'll be sentenced tomorrow....he's looking at a minimum of 15 years." Angie got out before she started to cry. Danni knocked on Mac's door and opened it slightly. "...Yes I under... no... okay fine, thank you." Mac finished as she hung up the telephone, gesturing for Danni to enter. "What is it Danni?" "I just wanted to know how you were holding up, and whether you wanted a friend?" Mac smiled at this gesture. "Thanks Danni, but I'm alright." Danni gave her a look that told Mac she knew she was not fine. "Really, I'm fine" "Okay, but come to me anytime you hear, you cannot keep your feelings locked away." "Thanks Danni, but I am fine." Mac said as Danni stood and left her office. "How is she?" Oscar asked as Danni emerged. "Well you know Mac, she's not one to show any emotions, but she really needs someone to talk to...and I guess that would normally be Church." Oscar shook his head knowing how close Mac and Pete were. "She must be feeling terrible." Oscar stated as Angie came up to them. "What's happening? Where's Mac?" she asked. Oscar and Danni both pointed towards Mac's office as Angie sat down. "Says she's coping...but you know Mac" Danni said. "Yeah, maybe I should try to talk to her.... it's got to be tough though, the other lawyer really ate her up, in the end her testimony would have been pretty damaging." Angie said with a croaky voice. Courtroom the next day Mac and Angie sat at the back of the room where they felt their presence could not be felt. Mac's eyes were glued on Pete as he was brought into the room. He glanced over at Mac and Angie with a blank expression on his face, Mac just kept her eyes on him, neither wanting to look away. "All rise" the clerk said as the judge entered the courtroom. "Would the guilty please rise...Mr. Church on the charge of manslaughter in the second degree, and after hearing numerous witnesses I sentence you to 18 years with a parole hearing after 10 pending good behaviour." Mac gasped as Angie quickly put an arm around her in an attempt to keep her calm, but it didn't work and Mac got up and left the room with Angie quickly behind her. "Mac!" she called after her, Mac didn't turn back as she ran out of the courthouse One month later "Have you spoken to Mac Ange?" Oscar inquired. "She won't open up... she's drowning herself in work to try and not think about it....she's totally blaming herself." "That's ridiculous" Oscar replied. 'What's ridiculous?" Danni asked entering the room. "Mac blaming herself for what happened to Church" Angie told her. "Yeah, I heard her in her office last night crying, I was going to go in but you know Mac she doesn't open up easily." Danni said. "Yeah well Mac and Church were pretty close, it's not easy for her." Oscar added. The three of them sat in silence for the next few minutes until Angie broke it, 'I'm going to see him." She said standing and heading towards her car, "Don't tell Mac." Next day Angie knocked on Mac's office door and entered taking a seat opposite her at her desk. "Yes Angie, what is it?" "Nothing, just thought you might want to talk" "About what?" Mac inquired, wandering where this was going. "Oh I don't know just things." Mac looked up from her paperwork with a curious look on her face, Angie had never wanted to talk about 'things' before Mac thought to herself. But Angie gave into Mac's curiosity, "Oh okay, I saw Church yesterday." "Oh" Mac replied with no expression. "Why haven't you gone to see him Mac?" Angie asked. "Angie...please don't do this." But Angie wasn't leaving until she sorted this out. "Mac come on he's your best friend" "Was my best friend" Mac quickly put in. "Is your best friend" Angie replied getting frustrated. "Angie I sent him to jail why would he want to see me.... He hates me." "Mac stop feeling sorry for yourself, as if he hates you, he wants to see you so much I know he does... go and see him." "I can't, I wouldn't know what to say, 18 years is a long time.... I just cannot do it." "Fine." Angie said standing. "But he wants to see you." She said leaving Mac's office. Mac's eyes started welling up with tears, but she quickly blinked them away. 'No.' she said to herself. 'I'm not going to let this consume me anymore, it's been a month for heaven's sake move on with your life.' Next day Mac sat in her car in the car park of the prison trying to decide what to do. Over a bottle of wine last night she decided that seeing Pete was the right thing to do, but now she was there she wasn't so sure. Mac sat in her car for an hour before getting out. "Hi, I'm detective Senior Sergeant Ellen Mackenzie..." She started saying to the guard at the front gates. "... I am here to see ....' Mac took a long pause before saying, "Ah.... Robert Johnson." 'You coward' Mac said to herself, 'now you have to think of a reason to see Robert Johnson.' But Mac knew that she couldn't face Pete, not now she felt like she'd left it too long and now it would just be awkward. Mac was led by a guard into the common interview room, where she took a seat and waited for Johnson. Mac stood up from her chair a few moments later and walked over to the window where there was a view of the yard, it was empty and she could just imagine Pete's life for the next 18 years. "Where have you been?" Danni inquired as Mac finally arrived at the factory. "Meeting at HQ." Mac lied to her as she walked quickly to her office. Danni looked over at Angie and Oscar who had been watching. "I think she went and saw Church." Angie stated as she headed towards Mac's office. "So did you see him?" Angie questioned as she entered the room. Mac sat down and sighed, "I couldn't Angie... I tried, but I can't see him." 11 years later "Mackenzie can you please come into my office." The commissioner said over the intercom. Mac had been promoted to Deputy Commissioner after she left undercover 5 years ago. Danni and Oscar were still there, but Angie was now in Sydney working with organised crime. "Yes sir?" Mac said as she entered the commissioner's office. "Take a seat" he began, "There are some parole hearings today that I would like you to sit in on. The public seem to have this fear that we are just letting anyone out, so I would like you to attend a few just to make sure that the proper procedures are taking place." Mac sat there without an expression on her face. "Any questions?" he asked her. "No sir." "Fine then, I'd like a report by next Wednesday if there's no problem." Mac replied "None at all Sir" and got up and left. Just what I need she thought, more paperwork and a week at parole hearings, fantastic. Mac sat at her desk later that night doing paper work she would not have time to do over the next week. She jumped when she heard her phone ring, "Ellen Mackenzie" she answered in a formal manor. "Hi...yeah sorry, working late...yeah be home soon....me too...Bye" she hung up gathered her things together and left her office, the paper work can wait, she thought to herself. "Parole hearing one, David Trainer." Mac took her seat opposite the offender who'd spent 15 years in prison for drug trafficking. The hearing lasted 30 minutes in which time numerous were asked, which had Mac counting the seconds until the day was over. "Parole hearing two" the clerk said as Mac picked up her file and opened it. "Peter Church." Mac froze, she didn't know what to do, or where to go, she just sat there in pure shock as Church was brought into the room, not noticing Mac sitting up the back. Questions began but Mac just sat back with her head buried, not knowing what to do. "Deputy Commissioner?" The judge asked, Mac looked up startled. "Yes...um" Mac said standing up and rustling some papers. She looked up at Pete who just sat there looking more stunned than she had. "Mr. Church" Mac began, in her formal manor. "What do you think you have gained from spending the last..." Mac stopped as she looked through her file, "...The last 11 years in prison?" She said slowly, shocked by how the time had past from what seemed like another life. "I've gained a good many things from being inside" Pete started. "I've learnt to stay on the right side of people.... I've learnt who my friends are..." Mac looked Pete directly in the eye after this statement. "Right" she said, moving onto the next question as if the last answer meant nothing to her. "Your trial was based on self defense, and you were convicted of manslaughter," Mac went on, "...Do you feel any remorse towards anyone?" "Remorse?" Church questioned, Mac nodded. "No... any remorse I had I got rid of a long time ago." Mac looked up at him smiling in her professional manor, "Thank you Mr. Church." She said sitting down taking a deep breath 'Oh my God' she said to herself looking down at the next file, she was not game to look up because she new Pete's eyes were fixed on her. 'This is unbelievable' Pete thought to himself, 'I cannot believe she's hear.... I cannot believe she's the deputy commissioner.' Pete started getting a nervous, sick feeling in his stomach as feelings from long ago started to re-surface. Pete's gaze did not shift off Mac, he just wanted her to look up once, but she never did. Mac arrived late home that night after sitting in the park for hours, unfamiliar feelings getting the better of her. "Where have you been?" Mark asked as Mac opened the front door to her house. "Ah..." Mac thought for a moment, not wanting to go into it. "Working late." She replied heading straight for the shower. Mark and Mac have been going out for the last 2 years, and living together for 6 months. They met at a mutual friends wedding and hit it off, for the first time in years Mac was feeling content and stable with her life. That is until today. 'How am I going to handle this?' Mac thought to herself. 'Just seeing Pete today brought back good memories and feelings.... But it's been 11 years since I've seen and spoken to him what positive thing can come of this?' Mac stood with her head resting on the glass of the shower, letting the water run over her back. "Ellen?" Mark said suddenly causing Mac to jump in fright. "Yes?" she replied sounding startled. "You okay?" he asked worryingly. "Yeah fine... why?" "You've been in there for half an hour is all." "Oh" Mac replied turning the shower off and grabbing a towel. "Tough day?" Mark asked, wrapping the towel around her. "Ah ha" Mac replied going into the bedroom and sitting on the bed, "The worst." "So what are we waiting for?" Church asked the depole officer, just as Church finished his sentence the door opened and Mac walked confidently into the room letting out a small smile, "Sorry I'm late." She apologised to both men. Pete's heart sank, 'What is she doing here?' He asked himself. 'She didn't need to be present for this.' "So then we can start?" The dipole officer looked at Mac who nodded whilst looking through her files. "Right then, Mr. Church in light of your work prior to conviction it is standard procedure that your identity be changed." Church nodded, his gaze was fixed on Mac where it had been since she entered the room. "Okay, there are a number of ways we can go about this..." "Can we just stop for a moment?" Mac said suddenly. "What's the problem?" The dipole officer asked. "I'd like a moment alone with Mr. Church if you don't mind." "Not at all." The dipole officer said standing and leaving the room, which all of a sudden had become very tense. "Why didn't you come to see me?" Pete asked after a few moments of silence. Mac looked up from her hands, which were clenched. "I tried" she responded half-heartedly. "Good effort" Pete shot back at her, he was getting angry. "Pete.... Don't do this, please... don't make this harder than it already is." "For who Mac? You or me?" "For both of us" Mac replied pausing "....it's been a long time, for both of us." Mac said slowly. They sat in silence again both staring at each other, neither wanting to be the first to look away. "It took me a long time to get over you." Mac started. "Seeing you again isn't easy.... It really shook me up" They sat in silence again before Mac stood up and left the room. 'If it's forgiveness she wants, she's not getting it' Church said to himself. 'She was my best friend, and she couldn't even come to see me.' Church finished this thought as the door opened and Mac re-entered the room alone. "Where's what's his name?" Church inquired. "Because of your past I have to take care of the details." Mac replied, "So we can do this two ways," she continued professionally, "One, you can go back to your original identity, the one you had before your joined undercover, or we can come up with a new I.D... it's up to you." Church contemplated his two options for a moment. "Any suggestions?" He asked. "Depends on what you want to do with your life... do you want to start again, .... Do you want to see your family?" Pete didn't have any real family; he hadn't seen his sister even before he went to prison. "I don't have any real family Mac, you know that." Mac looked up at him and smiled remembering the old days; none of them really had any contact with their families, except Oscar, Mac and Church didn't really have any contact with their families at all. "Yeah...I know." Mac replied to his statement sympathetically. "So..." Church said, "Looks like it's a new I.D." "You're okay with that?" Mac asked. "Well I can't be Peter Church because of undercover, and Mike Fisher was dead a few years back now... so I guess it's a new I.D" Mac just sat there looking at him with a blank expression on her face, or at least an expression that Church had never seen before. "I'm sorry I didn't visit you." Mac said slowly. Pete looked at her forgivingly, 'How can I stay mad at her?' He asked himself, 'I used to be in love with this woman.... She was my best friend.' "Mac...." "Pete, you don't have to say anything..." "No Mac," Pete said quickly, cutting her off, "I want too.... I know why you didn't come and visit me." Mac looked at him curiously, "Angie used to visit" Pete continued, Mac just kept her eyes focused on her hands. "This wasn't your doing Mac, ... I screwed up" "Yeah..." Mac said with a croaky voice, 'Would've thought my testimony was pretty damaging." "You told it how you saw it Mac, you couldn't have done anything else." "I could've lied" Mac's eyes were still focused on her hands. Pete got up form his chair and went over to her and bent down beside Mac's chair, he could see the tears she was holding back, as he put his hand on her knee. Mac turned towards him slowly and seeing that Pete was battling his own tears as she let hers go, falling into his shoulder, "I am so sorry Pete," "Shh... don't talk, I know." Pete whispered quietly into her ear. After a few minutes Mac sat up wiping her eyes. "We should finish this." She said looking at the papers on the desk. Pete put his hand on her check to wipe away her tears, "Yeah, okay" He replied. Mac lay in bed that night angry with herself for getting personal again with Pete. 'Get a grip Ellen, you've moved on with your life, don't go back.' She said to herself. But Mac was already back, and she was worried what was going to happen because of it. 'This is just super.' Pete thought to himself, 'So much for a new start...how can that happen when I've been thrown back into the past.' Church started thinking back to the old undercover days, he knew Angie was in Sydney, she was the only one who kept in contact with him; he wandered what Danni and Oscar were up to. One of the conditions of Pete's parole was that he move away from Melbourne so that his life would not be in danger, considering that half of the guys he locked up were in prison with him. Pete's parole officer had already lined him up with a job in Wodonga and Pete knew he needed a change, he also knew he wanted to sort things out with Mac before he left. A few days later Church waited outside the courthouse for Mac to come out. He knew he needed to speak to her, but privately, so he hired a car and followed her home. It took him an hour to work up enough courage to get out of the car and walk across the road to Mac's house; it took him another five minutes to knock on the door. "I'll get it," said a man's voice. 'This was a bad idea,' Pete thought to himself as he realised Mac wasn't at home by herself. "Hi, can I help you?" Mark said as he opened the door. "Ah.... Yeah, is Mac home?" Pete said nervously, but Mark looked at him blankly and Pete caught on why, "I mean Ellen... is she home?" "Oh yeah, sure thing, come in." Pete followed Mark into a very well designed home; he always knew Mac had great taste.. "Ellen?" Mark yelled up the stairs, "You have a visitor.... I'm sorry I didn't catch your name." "Peter." Pete replied, "I'm an old friend." "I'm Mark, nice to meet..." "Pete." Mac said coming down the stairs, 'What are you doing here?" Pete knew this was a bad idea and the tone in Mac's voice confirmed it, she sounded nervous to have him there. "Can we talk?" Pete asked her. Mark sensed it was personal, "I'll leave you two," he said heading upstairs. "We might go for a walk Mark," "Okay." He replied as Mac grabbed her jumper and ushered Pete out the door. "What are you doing here Pete... Come to think of it how did you know where I lived?" "I followed you." Pete replied smiling. "We need to talk Mac." "About what?" Mac said even though she knew what needed to be said. "Everything... I'm not leaving until we do." They walk in silence for the next for minutes until they came to the park where Mac was the other night. They both took a seat on the park bench, neither of them looking at each other. "So... how long have you and Mark..." Mac looked over at him, "Two years." She said quickly. "No ring?" Pete said stirring. "No... and don't go there." Mac replied, wanting the conversation to change direction. "What did you want to talk about?" Mac finally asked. "I want to talk about us Mac." Pete replied. "Us?" Mac questioned sounding confused, "What about us, I haven't seen you in over 10 years how could you possibly expect there to be an us after this long?" Church just sat there taking in what Mac had said, 'She's right' he thought to himself, 'It has been a long time.' "In the room the other day you cannot tell me that I was the only one that felt something?" Church asked her. Mac knew what he was saying because she did feel something - an old feeling. "You can't do this..." Mac said as tears fell slowly down her cheeks, "10 years... I've moved on.... I'm with someone else, you can't do this to me." "Tell me you didn't feel anything and I'll go Mac." Church demanded. The problem was Mac knew she felt something, and was scared to admit to herself that Pete still meant something to her and always will, she knew that he was the one person she could open up to. "Mac.... Say something" "How can you be so selfish?" Mac asked him in a tone that was unfamiliar to him. "It has taken me a very long time to be able to look at myself in the mirror without thinking of what I did to you... I'm sorry Pete I didn't feel anything." Mac said firmly before standing and leaving Pete sitting n the park bench by himself. "That's it." Pete said to himself. "At least I know I tried." 'This is madness.' Mac thought to herself as she lay in bed that night. "So what's the story with this Peter bloke?" Mark asked as he emerged from the bathroom. Mac sat up and shrugged, "Just an old friend... bit of a complicated story really." Mark didn't know about Mac's life when she was in undercover, Mac only told him details she thought he needed to know, and that's the way she was going to keep it. 3 months later It was 11 o'clock at night and Mac was sitting alone in her office. She had been there by herself for a few hours now doing nothing in particular, but knowing that she did not want to go home. Things were quite rocky with Mark, and the only way of communicating lately was by yelling. Mac told Mark about Church and how she used to be an undercover cop, he was surprised to say the least, but thought that it explained a lot about Mac's character and personality; Mac stopped short however of telling Mark about her relationship with Church, she thought best left in the past; but the truth was Mac didn't like to be reminded of how much happier she was with Pete and how she was starting to realise that she would never be quite that content with someone again. The next morning when Mac was sitting at her desk her phone rang, "Deputy Commissioner Mackenzie." She answered in her professional voice. "Mac, it's Pete." The familiar voice on the other end stated. "Pete!" Mac said sounding shocked to hear his voice. "What's going on why are you calling?" "Is that any way to greet and old friend?" Pete asked keeping the happy tone in his voice, "I just wanted to see how you were." "I'm alright thanks.... How are you Pete?" She asked in a concerned voice. Mac was shocked to hear from Pete just out of the blue like this and she had to admit to herself that her heart skipped a beat when she first heard his voice. "I'm doing well Mac, are you sure that you're okay?" "I'm fine Pete.... A little shocked to hear from you ... what are you up too?" Mac asked "Well I have to come to Melbourne next week ... I'd like to see you." There was a long pause before Mac spoke, "I don't know Pete..." "Come on Mac, old friends ...right?" Church said pushing. "Yeah, old friends... I just don't..." "What's wrong Mac?" He asked, now the one sounding concerned, Mac could never pull anything over him. "What do you mean?" Mac replied trying to sound convincing that there was nothing wrong, but the truth was she didn't want to see Pete because she knew she'd been thinking of him lately and she was scared about what might happen if they were to see each other. "Come on Mac, you know that you cannot hide anything from me.... I know you." "Used to know me Pete." "No, people don't change Mac." "Nothing's wrong Pete.... I'm just swamped at work and I don't think I'll have time." Fine Church thought, she hasn't changed at all; she still hides behind her job. "Okay Mac; I'm down next weekend.... Call me if you have time." "Sure, I will." Mac replied. "Bye" she said hanging up. 'Damn you Church, why can't you just be out of my life?' Mac asked herself feeling frustrated, yet at the same time content, she knew that she wanted Church in her life more than anything. For Mac the rest of the week went slowly and she buried herself in work so that she wouldn't think about what she should do in regards to Pete; and then there was Mark, two years is a long time. Mac had doubts however if she really did love him. She sat at her desk for a long time, thinking before she came to the conclusion 'what if...' 'What if Pete is the one person I'm supposed to be with.... My soul mate, and I never gave it a chance.' Mac finished this thought as she picked up her phone and dialed Pete's number. Mac sat in her car outside Church's hotel, she'd left home abruptly after she and Mark had another fight. These fights were always over nothing in particular and always ended with someone slamming the front door. Mac wiped her tear stained face that had blotches of mascara that went noticed to her. "Mac!" Church said as he opened the door. "What's wrong?" Mac looked at him with a confused look on her face. "You've been crying." He stated. Mac just stood there looking at him, 'How does he know that?' she thought, just as Pete raised his hand to her check and wiped away the mascara. "Your make-up was running." He said to her. Mac's heart skipped a beat as Pete touched her; they locked eyes for a split second before they entered Pete's hotel room. "So what happened?" Church asked. "Oh you know the usual... you're a workaholic... why are we avoiding each other..." "You and Mark?" Church asked concerning, Mac let a small smile indicating yes. "Being this way for a while now." She said rather matter-of-factly. "Then why?" Church questioned. Mac shrugged... "I don't know... two years is a long time." "And you think that that's important?" Church asked. "I don't know Pete... fear of being alone. I don't know." Mac's voice was beginning to break as she spoke and Pete noticed she was getting upset again and went and sat next to her on the bed. "Mac, you will never be alone." With this Mac broke down, Church quickly put his arm around her. Both of them sat there for a while before Mac eventually cried herself to sleep in Pete's arms. She had spent the last few weeks at the office until all hours and was absolutely exhausted. Mac awoke to Church playing with her hair and turned around to face him. "You alright?" Church asked her. Mac nodded slightly. "Who would've thought this would be happening after so long!" Church just sat there smiling at her. "Are you going to go home?" He asked. "Have to eventually" "Then what?" "I don't know" Mac replied, "I've been with Mark for two years, I can't just walk away from that." Both of them sat in silence, Church still content playing with Mac's hair and Mac content letting him. After a few moments of avoiding eye contact Mac and Pete locked eyes, neither of them wanting to look away. Church's hand moved slowly thru Mac's hair and down her face resting on her cheek. Mac smiled as Church leant down next to her. "How long was I asleep for?" Mac asked. "An hour" "And you were here the whole time?" "What do you think?" With that Mac's hands went to the back of Pete's neck as she pulled him to her. Hundreds of emotions ran through both of them as their lips locked. They broke away after a few minutes, both looking into each other's eyes. "That was..." "Too much." Mac said finishing Church's sentence. "I was heading for unbelievable, but. ...Okay...you okay Mac?" He asked, with his hands still securely around her waist. 'I don't know... I don't think so." She said as she turned away from him. "I don't know." "You know where I stand where I stand with things." "Yeah Pete I know... I just don't know how I'm feeling at this time." "I'll be here for you whatever you decide, friends right?" "Yeah... friends." "Where have you been?" Mark questioned as Mac finally returned home. "No where in particular, just around." She said dumping her jacket and bag on the table and heading to the fridge for a drink. "Well I would've appreciated knowing, you've been gone for over six hours." Mac looked at the clock not realising that she had been gone for that long. "Sorry... I didn't realise..." "I was ringing everyone looking for you..." "Well I didn't want to be found." Mac said angrily, as she slammed the fridge door closed and ran up the stairs to the bedroom and slamming that door shut as well. 'I can't do this anymore' Mac said to herself. 'He doesn't even want to be pleasant or reasonable anymore.' "Are you sure you don't want to come with me?" Church asked Mac as they lay in bed together. "It's not that I don't want too, it's just that I can't." Mac replied. "Mac you need to start living for what you want." "I am Pete and that is why I can't go." "Oh thanks." Church said laughing, but knowing that Mac didn't mean it as a personal insult. Mac had left Mark the morning after she first saw Pete, who was more than surprised to see her the next morning with a bag in her hand. "I've missed this." Mac said to Church after sitting up. "What the...." Church said sounding surprised. "No, the talking." Mac said slapping his chest. "I could always talk to you easily." Mac sat there in silence looking down on Church. 'What is so tough about this?' Mac asked herself, 'If I love him why can't I go with him?' Just as she finished that thought Church sat up next to her, "Come with me Mac." Church said to her seriously. Mac looked him in the eyes before replying, "I can't ...please don't ask me." "Mac live your own life for once would you... stop thinking about everyone else." Church was getting angry with her. "I am living my own life Church and that is why I am no going." Mac said standing and finding her clothes. "What are you doing?" "I don't want to fight... I have to go." She said quickly as she gathered her belongings and left abruptly, but not before Church was able to get to the door and stop her. "What is wrong with you...? Your mood changes every five minutes!" Church asked in a harsh tone. "There is nothing wrong with me, I'm just sick of fighting with everyone... I need to start living my life for myself and that is what I am going to do." Mac said pushing Pete aside and leaving. "Mac!" Church yelled after her, but she didn't turn around and like that she was out of his life again. One month later "The proposal has been done and everything is in order Sir." Mac said to the Commissioner "Right thank you Ellen. "Just one other thing Sir" Mac said hesitantly, before handing the Commissioner an envelope. "What is this...? I don't understand." He said to Mac's letter of resignation. "I know it seems sudden but I have put a lot of thought into this and it's what I want." Mac said strongly, knowing that she was making the right decision. "Well... I don't quite know what to say... what will you do?" "I have a lot of decisions to make about my future and I want to make sure that they are the right ones.... I should be up to date with all of my work by next Friday," 'If that's what you want, I guess there is no point in arguing about it." The commissioner said, trying to make light of the fact that he losing his most efficient deputy. 'Thank you Sir." Mac said as she left the room. Mac retreated to her office where she sat at her desk and sighed. For once in her life she was doing what her heart told her to do and was feeling good about the decision that she had made . "So you're just leaving?" Danni asked Mac later that night. "Yep handed in my resignation today, leave at the end of next week." Mac had been staying with Danni after she left Mark, which was probably a good thing because Danni made her open up and helped Mac make some important decisions. "Does he know what your plans are?" Danni asked "No, I haven't spoken to him." Mac replied. "Then how do you know...?" "Danni... I know" Mac said in a satisfying voice. Mac had never been able to say that about anyone before and she knew she could say it about Pete. "Well for your sake I hope so cause that could be embarrassing." Mac gave her this look that told Danni to shut up, which she did. "I know what he wants, because it is what I want ...I love him ... I feel complete when we're together and I feel empty when we're apart." Mac looked up at Danni, 'What?" She asked. "Nothing" Danni replied. "That's just about the most romantic thing I've heard." "Yeah well let's hope that it turns out that way." Mac said with a small smile, indicating that she was nervous about what she was going to do. Danni picked up on this and went and sat down beside her on the couch. "You are making the right decision Mac." She said putting an arm around her, "I hope so." Mac replied half-heartedly. Mac arrived at Church's house at four in the afternoon on Saturday afternoon to find that he was not at home. 'This was a bad idea.' Mac thought to herself as she sat on the doorstep. 'What if he has gone away for the weekend?' Mac thought suddenly 'I knew I should have phoned.' Mac sat on Church's doorstep for half an hour before Church arrived home. As he pulled into the driveway Mac stood slowly watching his face as he got out of the car. Firstly it was shock, 'This is very uncharacteristic of Mac.' He thought 'She was never one for spontaneity.' Church stood on the driveway watching Mac; she didn't quite know what to do with herself at this point so she just stood there looking at him with no expression on her face. "You know I got his phone call about half an hour ago telling me that I had a delivery and that I have to be home when it arrives." Church said, slowly walking towards Mac, who let out a smile. 'That would've been Danni.' She replied, as she started to walk towards Pete. "So do I have to sign something?" He asked with a smile. "Yep...and tip the driver" Mac answered stopping a metre away from him. "You quit your job?" Pete asked in a serious voice. Mac nodded slightly. "Well..." he started, "Maybe people can change." With that they stepped into each other and kissed passionately. "Can we get it right this time?" Mac said pulling away. "I think it's about time we got it right." Church said as he held Mac tight never letting her go.