Return to the Bay

[vikkysmile]

Keep up the good work. The story is fantastic.

[Jazer]

Oh cool, I almost forgot about this great fanfic sorry SKYKAT!!!!!!

I'm so glad they found Selina and that her baby is okay. Poor Rachel why would the police think she killed Dr Helpmann as she is not the type of person who would murder someone.

Overall another great chapter!!!!

Thanks,

Jarad

[I love music]

I wouldn't be surprised if H&A start poaching some of your ideas! That was another great chapter and I love the fast flowing dialogue. )

[Skykat]

A bit of a filler chapter really but I have a couple of big storylines in mind and want to take my time building them up. Thanks for everyone's patience and thanks to Jess for reading and listening.xxx

CHAPTER THIRTY NINE

“I don’t know what you mean,” Peter replied.

“Yes you do, and I want answers Peter.” She took a seat and looked him straight in the eye.

“It’s not what you think,” Peter began, unsure of how exactly to explain the phone call.

“Well what is it then Peter, because you’re all over her,” Leah demanded.

“What?” Peter was floored.

“Angel, you’re all over her all the time and I want to know what’s going on.”

“Nothing is going on,” Peter replied, his laughter a mixture of surprise and relief.

“Don’t laugh at me Peter,” Leah warned him.

“I’m not. It’s really none of your business what’s going on between Angel and I; not that anything is going on,” Peter told her.

“Don’t lie to me, you’re all over each other. For God’s sake Peter you picked her up and spun her round today. I mean, you were in public!” Leah told him.

“Leah just what has it got to do with you?” Peter demanded.

“It’s just not you Peter, you’re never usually like that,” Leah protested.

“Maybe Angel is a good influence on me,” Peter replied, his voice barely able to contain the smile in it.

“She has two practically grown up children and an ex-husband she left on the other side of the world. She’s bad news Peter,” Leah warned.

“Pot calling kettle Leah! Dan took you on when you already had a child and a not-so-dead husband in witness protection somewhere. You kissed me while you had all this plus Dan on the go! Besides there’s nothing going on between Angel and me, we’re just friends,” Peter insisted.

“Yeah looks that way,” Leah retorted.

“Like I said Leah it’s none of your business. Why are you so concerned?” Peter demanded.

“Because you’re family and I don’t want to see you get hurt,” Leah replied.

“Pull the other one Leah, this is because you’re jealous,” Peter told her.

“I am not jealous!” Leah protested.

“Of course not, one week you’re kissing me and the next you’re quizzing me about Angel, not jealousy at all,” Peter told her sarcastically.

“Do you know what Peter I’m not even having this argument with you. I came here because I was concerned about you but I don’t know why I bothered!” With that Leah stormed off from the station and Peter sat back in his chair and smiled to himself. So Leah was angry with him, but all in all that had been a good exchange; he was relieved she hadn’t heard his phone conversation and no matter how firmly she denied it she was obviously jealous which meant that she did still have feelings for him. With that on his mind Peter could not stop grinning as he went back to work.

“Well who wants a cuppa?” Irene asked as she finally returned to the kitchen of the beach house.

“I’ll make it,” Kirsty offered, “you sit yourself down, you must be exhausted.”

“Yeah I am. Tell you what though girlie, it’s such a relief,” Irene remarked.

“For you maybe, but not for me. Tasha’s still missing or had you forgotten that?” Josie snapped.

“Of course I flamin’ haven’t! God save us woman just because I’m happy to have one of my girls back doesn’t mean I don’t care about the other!” Irene fumed.

“Doesn’t sound like it!” Josie retorted.

“Well that just shows you know absolutely nothing woman!” Irene shot back.

“I know plenty Irene, like that Tasha shouldn’t be living here with you. If she was staying with me in the city none of this would ever have happened,” Josie replied.

“You reckon do yer? Where do you think Tash met this flamin loon because it wasn’t here in the Bay, it was in the city visiting you and Dylan. So what do yer say to that?” Irene demanded.

“She might have met him there, but it’s living here that she moved out from, she obviously prefered the camp to here,” Josie retorted.

“You’ve got a flamin nerve woman! You…” Irene began but Barry cut her off.

“Ladies this isn’t helping anybody, least of all Tash. It’s nobody’s fault this happened and we’ll get her back safe. Now that Selina’s back the chances of finding Tasha are greatly increased and we now know that the Believers have no intention of hurting her, so it’s good news. We need to stay positive,” Barry urged.

“Hard to do that with her around!” Irene chipped in.

“Just because I care…” Josie responded.

“Enough! We’re all on edge here and you two arguing isn’t helping anyone so you either both cool down or you stay away from each other, understood?” Barry insisted.

“I’m sorry Irene, I’m just worried, I don’t mean to take it out on you,” Josie apologised guiltily.

“Nah me neither and I’m sorry it seems I’m more pleased about Sel but I’m not. I love Tash and I won’t rest until she’s back here with me,” Irene insisted.

“I know, I’m sorry,” Josie replied and the two women shared a hug.

“And peace prevails,” Barry whispered with a smile to Kirsty.

“For now. I can’t see Josie and Irene ever fully seeing eye to eye though,” Kirsty remarked.

“I wouldn’t want them to, it’s better than turning the tv on,” Kane commented and received an angry glare from Barry and a punch from Kirsty for his efforts.

Rachel what’s going on?” Sutty, who had been previously sat in front of the television with a bottle of beer and Dan for company, jumped up and questioned her as she entered the room.

“I’ve been suspended,” Rachel whispered.

“Suspended, why?” Dan asked.

“Doctor Helpman’s dead and it looks like he’s been murdered. They think it was me,” Rachel explained sinking wearily to the couch.

“You’re joking! They can’t honestly believe you’re capable of that Rach,” Dan reassured her.

“Well they do.”

“Do they have any proof?” Sutty demanded.

“Of course they don’t because I didn’t do it, but I’m still prime suspect!” Rachel replied.

“If they’ve got no proof surely they can’t suspend you?” Sutty asked.

“That’s not why they suspended me. They asked me to provide an alibi for where I was yesterday afternoon and I was with Kim, so that’s why they’ve suspended me,” Rachel explained.

“Kim? The kid from the gym? What’s he got to do with anything?” Sutty quizzed.

“He was my patient but we got involved with each other. Doctor Helpman was blackmailing me over it. As far as the hospital are concerned I told them there was nothing going on with Kim and me, so I shouldn’t be anywhere near him.”

“So why where you?” Sutty asked.

“I was just talking to him, he’s the only one who understood about the Doctor Helpman situation,” Rachel explained.

“And you’ve been suspended because of that? Seems a bit harsh,” Dan remarked.

“It’s because I’m under investigation for Helpman’s murder as well, you should have seen the hospital director smirking at me,” Rachel replied.

“I’m sure it’ll blow over Rach. Once the police realise you couldn’t have killed Helpman you’ll be cleared for that and if everyone sees you and me together they’ll know there’s nothing going on between you and that kid,” Sutty told him.

“Jay don’t call him a kid,” Rachel scolded.

“Sorry. Listen I was going to see if you wanted to go out tonight, I was going to treat you,” Sutty offered.

“Actually I’m shattered. I wouldn’t mind a quiet night in, sorry,” Rachel replied.

“No problem, we’ll have a nice night in then. How about I run you a bath and then I’ll nip out and get takeaway and a bottle of wine, maybe a movie and we’ll sit in front of the telly. Dan and Leah can join us of course,” he added as an afterthought.

“You’re so romantic!” Dan teased.

“I know, I can’t help it, so what do you say Rach?” Sutty asked.

“That sounds lovely,” Rachel replied, smiling at him.

“It’s a date then, I’ll go run that bath,” Sutty said.

“Jay, just one thing, you don’t have to try this hard you know,” Rachel told him.

“Actually I do, I’ve got an awful lot to make up for and I’m going to do it. I want you to trust me again Rach, I’ll do anything to make you happy, absolutely anything,” Sutty told her, ‘and you don’t know the half of it’ he added silently to himself.

“Well in that case how can a girl resist?” Rachel replied grinning at him and Sutty grinned back and headed to the bathroom to run her bath for her.

“Detective Baker,” Peter answered the phone.

“You sound pleased with yourself,” Kane remarked.

“Just pleased we got Selina back,” Peter replied, only half lying, he was pleased Selina was safe.

“Yeah, me too. Any news of Tash or the crazy woman?” Kane asked.

“Not as yet. So what can I do for you?” Peter asked.

“Well I saw Gus yesterday,” Kane replied.

“Oh God yeah, I forgot, sorry Kane. What did he say?” Peter asked.

“He has money in a safety deposit box which has been obtained illegally and he thinks the Police are going to start investigating him soon so he wants it moved. Apparently he put conditions on it so the box can only be opened by a Philips, that’s why he needs me,” Kane explained.

“Seems almost too simple,” Peter remarked.

“I thought that but apparently the police might already be onto it so it’d be me who’d get arrested, which I think is what he’s counting on,” Kane replied.

“He doesn’t know I’m working with you then?” Peter asked.

“Nope. He wouldn’t tell me any more than that except that I’ll receive a letter with instructions hidden in it,” Kane explained.

“Guess we’ll just have to wait then,” Peter replied.

“Yeah I know,” Kane replied sounding incredibly bitter about the fact.

“Let me know when you hear something.”

“Will do.” Peter hung up the phone and sat back in his chair but almost instantly there was a knock on the door and Lara burst in.

“This better be good,” Peter warned.

“It is Sir, you know how we were looking at traffic cameras and CCTVon roads leaving the area? Well by mistake I put the wrong tape in and you’d better call it my lucky day because there it was. In the early hours of the morning Mamma Rose and Jonah driving not out of town but into it,” Lara explained.

“You mean Tasha’s been in town all along?” Peter demanded.

“It appears so,” Lara replied.

“But where?” Peter asked, confused.

“The farm. It has to be, it’s the last place we’d think to look for them,” Lara explained.

“Of course, how obvious! Will you get on the phone to District and get us a warrant faxed over while I see Bellmore about getting bodies, we need to overturn that camp and find Tasha,” Peter instructed.

“Yes Sir,” Lara headed out of the office and Peter headed to Bellmore’s office.

[Gypsy & Will Fan]

Fantastic, Skykat more soon please!

[sevenpuddings]

You're welcome Loved it again, a million times more.

Can I request more Angel/Peter, pretty please?

[ldscott]

Brilliant!

Can't wait to read more!

[sevenpuddings]

Hi people. Yes, I do realise I'm not SKYKAT, but she asked me to post the next chapter for her. So on her behalf, here is Chapter Forty, and I hope you enjoy!

CHAPTER FORTY

“So you can confirm that you were with Rachel Armstrong all day in Noah’s Bar?” Jack asked Kim.

“Yeah. I’d say that from about midday onwards we were in here together. Then she left but returned about half an hour later with Alf and that friend of hers, Jamie is it?” Kim confirmed.

“Right well that ties in with what Alf and James Sutton have told us, so it appears Rachel is in the clear,” Jack replied.

“You should probably go tell her that then,” Kim urged.

“Don’t worry I intend to. Thanks Kim,” Jack told him.

“No worries. Jack mate, is there any news on Tash?” Kim asked suddenly.

“Not that I know of, sorry,” Jack replied.

“No worries.” Jack left the Surf Club and Kim turned to Kit who had stayed quiet as Jack had questioned him.

“So you were with Rachel all yesterday afternoon?” she demanded.

“Yeah, why is that a problem?” Kim responded.

“I left you about twenty missed calls on your phone yesterday, Robbie was going out of his mind over Tash and you were sitting here all day with your ex. Yeah it’s a problem,” Kit confirmed.

“Come on Kit, we were just talking. Rachel needed someone to confide in,” Kim explained.

“So did Robbie but you weren’t there for him, or me. I could really have done with you yesterday,” Kit told him.

“Look I’m sorry, I didn’t realise,” Kim protested.

“Yeah well it’s not good enough Kim, I’m obviously not good enough for you. I don’t think this is going to work,” Kit fumed.

“What do you mean? Of course you’re good enough for me, I love you,” Kim told her.

“I’m not. Obviously it’s Doctors that get you going, not mere students and if you can’t stay away from other women while I’m in the Bay what are you going to be like when I go back to the city?” Kit demanded.

“Hang on, you’re going back to the city?” Kim asked, surprised.

“Uh yeah. A little thing called a degree I need to finish,” Kit confirmed.

“But I thought…”

“You thought what? That just because you clicked your fingers I’d drop my whole life for you?” Kit snarled.

“No, I just, I didn’t realise,” Kim protested.

“Well now you do, so you’ll be free to pursue Rachel when I leave next week.” Turning on her heel Kit stormed angrily from the building but she had not gone far when Kim came after her.

“I won’t be going after Rachel at all Kit, stop being ridiculous,” Kim told her.

“Oh so now I’m ridiculous!” Kit shot back angrily and to her surprise Kim started to laugh. “Don’t you dare laugh at me!”

“Oh Kit, do you have any idea how attractive you are when you’re mad?” Kim asked her, he planted a kiss on her lips that stopped Kit firmly in her tracks. “I have no intention of going after Rachel, we’re just friends and besides I’m not going to see much of her from the city.”

“From the what?” Kit was shocked.

“The city. You really think I’m going to let you leave town alone? I said I wanted to be with you and I do, I love you and I’m coming with you,” Kim told her.

“Seriously? You’re not winding me up? You’d do that?” Kit’s head was whirling.

“Of course I would and I will, I love you,” Kim repeated.

“I love you too.” This time Kit was the instigator of the kiss and Kim reciprocated it wholeheartedly.

“Right. Mamma Rose and Jonah Mitchell are to be placed under arrest, but our priority is to find Tasha Andrews, is that clear?” Peter asked down the radio to his colleagues and received several affirmative responses. “Okay go,” he instructed. The police officers turned down the lane sirens blazing and drove straight into the camp.

“What do you want from us? Why are you still bothering us?” Mamma Rose approached them, Jonah at her side.

“Mamma Rose, or whatever your real name is, we’re arresting you on suspicion of drugging and holding Martha McKenzie, Selina Matheson and Tasha Andrews against their will. You do not have to say anything but anything you do say will be given in evidence.” Peter handcuffed her and passed her over to another officer who led her away, quickly followed by a handcuffed and protesting Jonah.

“We haven’t done anything! You have no proof!” he argued.

“Really? We know for a fact you drugged and held Martha McKenzie, that you paid Josh West to cover it up and we have a witness that you drugged and held Selina and Tasha against their will,” Peter supplied.

“What about me?” a voice asked and Peter turned in astonishment to see a tired but otherwise perfectly well Tasha facing him.

“Tasha, it’s okay, you’re safe now,” Peter soothed taking her arm.

“What’s going on? I know I’m safe. Why are you taking Jonah, he hasn’t done anything!” Tasha protested.

“Are you serious Tash? He’s been drugging you, holding you against your will,” Peter told her.

“You’re lying, Jonah wouldn’t do that,” Tasha protested.

“Tash we have a witness. You and Selina were drugged and held as hostages for days, we’ve had search parties looking for you for weeks,” Peter explained.

“No, you’re wrong. I’ve been here all along. I’ve only met Selina once, well twice. She came for dinner here but I got sick and passed out so she left,” Tash argued.

“No Tash, you were both drugged and held captive. We’ve searched the farm three times looking for you. You were only bought back here on Sunday,” Peter told her.

“Sunday? It’s only Thursday,” Tasha protested.

“No Tash, it’s Tuesday, you were missing for just over a week. We found Selina earlier this morning. The tests we did on her prove that she was drugged and held against her will, and we have proof that Mamma Rose and Jonah were involved. They drugged you too Tasha, that’s why you can’t remember anything,” Peter explained.

“No, they wouldn’t do that.” Peter thought Tasha looked like a cornered animal, frightened and disbelieving.

“They did Tash. We’ve been looking for you for over a week. Everyone’s been so worried, Irene, Robbie, Martha, even Josie has come back to the Bay,” Peter explained.

“Josie?”

“Yes. We arrested Josh West for corruption and found evidence that he was paid by Jonah to alter Martha’s drug test results so it looked like she hadn’t been drugged when in fact she had.” Peter replied.

“No, I don’t believe this, I can’t believe it. Tell me this isn’t true!”

“I’m sorry Tasha, but it is true, these people have been drugging you. We need to take you the hospital to be sure they’ve not harmed you and when you get your test results back you’ll see that I’m telling the truth,” Peter told her. Tasha merely looked at him stunned, but she did not protest when he gently took her arm and led her to the waiting police car, which would take her to the hospital.

“Jack, have you heard anything?” Josie was the first to spot him at the door of the Beach House but it only took a second for rest of the occupants of the house to catch on.

“Yes, I’ve just heard from Peter and it’s good news. They’ve found Tash, she’s alive and well,” Jack confirmed.

“Halle ****ing lullia!” Irene exclaimed.

“Where is she?” Josie demanded.

“Have they picked up Mamma Rose and Jonah?” Barry asked at the same time.

“Where was she being held?” Kane asked.

“Believe it or not she was at the farm. It appears when they took her away in the middle of the night they took her back to the farm and she’s been there ever since. She doesn’t remember a thing. Apparently it took a lot of convincing from Peter before she believed that anything had gone on. They told her she was sick while Selina was at dinner and she thinks she had been recovering ever since,” Jack explained.

“You’re kidding?” Irene remarked.

“No. She’s at the hospital now being checked over and having tests done to prove to her that she was drugged. Mamma Rose and Jonah are being questioned,” Jack replied.

“Can we see her?” Josie demanded.

“You can but go gently, all this has come as a huge surprise to her,” Jack cautioned.

“They’ve flipping well brainwashed her!” Irene snapped.

“It appears that way, yes. She’s still defending Jonah,” Jack confirmed.

“At least she’s safe Irene and those two are locked up,” Kirsty soothed.

“Safe but how well is she? Defending that nutcase!” Irene fumed.

“See it from her point of view Irene, she didn’t know any of this had been going on,” Kirsty remarked.

“From her point of view! The girlie took off with a bunch of flaming hoolies who drugged and brainwashed her,” Irene commented.

“Tasha’s naive Irene. We both know that and she made a mistake, but she did it because she’s a good girl and a trusting one, surely you can’t blame her for that?” Josie demanded.

“No of course I don’t, I was just saying. For God’s sake can we get going before I go out of me mind?” Irene declared.

“You’re the one holding us up,” Josie shot back.

“Now listen here…” Irene began but Barry was pushing her gently towards the door.

“Reckon those two will ever see eye to eye?” Kirsty asked of Kane after the three had departed for the hospital.

“I doubt it but at least Tasha’s safe, nothing else really matters does it?” Kane replied.

“No, I guess it doesn’t.” Kirsty smiled contentedly at her husband and allowed him to pull her into a firm hug.

“Peter, you look dead on your feet, come in,” Angel greeted the exhausted, pale faced man on her doorstep.

“Sorry landing on you like this but I’ve just finally gone back to the flat to find there’s no water or heating and this.” He held a letter out to her, which Angel quickly read.

“They’re evicting you?” she asked, surprised.

“Yeah, apparently they’re knocking the whole block down and we were given notice to leave months ago but I’ve been too busy to read my mail properly. Unless it was a bill I’ve just been binning it,” Peter explained.

“That sounds like the sort of excuse I get from Dylan,” Angel remarked shaking her head.

“I know, pathetic aren’t I? Anyway can I throw myself on your mercy for tonight and I’ll see about getting a new place in the morning,” Peter asked.

“Of course you can, stay as long as you need. I’ve got a casserole in the oven and it won’t be too long, there’s plenty left over so I guess you’re in luck. Park yourself on the sofa,” Angel offered.

“Thanks,” Peter replied, gratefully sinking into the couch.

“I can’t believe you’re being evicted and you didn’t know anything about it,” Angel remarked from the kitchen.

“You’re being evicted?” Dylan had come down the stairs and took a seat opposite Peter.

“Hiya mate, yeah it looks like I’m officially homeless,” Peter replied.

“Well why don’t you just move in here then?” Dylan suggested.

“Thanks for the offer mate but I don’t think it’s a very good idea,” Peter replied.

“Why not. We have plenty of room, even when Don’s around there’s a spare room and when he goes back you’ll be good company for Mum. We all like having you around and lets face it, you spend all your time here anyway,” Dylan told him, matter of factly.

“Yeah but that’s very different to moving in,” Peter replied.

“How is it? You don’t mind if Peter moves in with us do you Mum?” Dylan asked.

“Dylan don’t be putting pressure on Peter like that,” Angel warned shooting her son a look that said she knew exactly what he was up to.

“But he’s homeless, he needs somewhere to live, we’ve got the room and you know you’d enjoy having him around,” Dylan spoke up.

“Peter might not want to live with us,” Angel protested.

“You do don’t you Pete?” Dylan asked.

“Well it’d be nice but…” Peter trailed off embarrassed that he’d overstepped the mark with Angel. “What about Shane?” Angel protested.

“Shane! Do you mind if Peter moves in with us?!” Dylan bellowed up the stairs and was answered by footsteps thundering down them.

“Peter’s moving in with us?” she asked.

“If you say yes,” Dylan replied.

“Yes, that’s wicked,” Shane replied, “When are you moving in?”

“Well…er…” Peter looked at Angel embarrassed and unsure. For her part Angel noted his embarrassment and felt sorry for him.

“You’re welcome to move in with us, only if you’d like to though. Don’t let these guys pressure you,” she offered feeling as if she had no choice but to offer, half wanting him to decline but the other half of her wanted him to say yes. It might be nice to have another adult, a male around the house again and they did get on well.

“If you’re sure you don’t mind, I’d love to,” Peter replied, his eyes searching Angel’s for a signal that she really wanted him to move in and to his relief she smiled warmly.

“Well that’s settled then.” Still smiling she returned to the kitchen leaving Peter grinning away to an excited Dylan and Shane.

[Jazer]

Finally Tasha has been find. It great that she is now safe and doesn't need to worry about The Believers anymore.

I can't believe Leah is jealous of Peter & Angel. I feel so sorry for Dan as it looks like Leah still loves Peter.

I wonder if Zoe will appear in the bay any time soon??

Well done SKYKAT!!!!

Thanks,

Jarad

[I love music]

Another intriguing chapter. Glad to see the Gus/Kane storyline hasn't been forgotten, that's my favourite part. You've got Irene's character exactly right BTW, her conversation is Irene to a T.