Home – Alone.
By Jaye Reid.
Written: 22.10.1999.
Disclaimer: Again, Hal and Southern Star own them. I just want to have Frank for a little while……. I promise I won't hurt him g. Please Hal? Can I play?
Author's notes: This short piece was inspired by the Water Rats CD.
I had forgotten how much I cried as Frank sailed out into the deep blue yonder, leaving Rachel stand on the dock…. Until I heard "I'll Dream of You" and then it all came back to me… It is such a haunting song, and this piece was created from it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He walked into the offices.
He could hear laughing.
How could anyone be laughing?
Frank knew.
He had been half way back; he'd had enough of ocean.
He had sent a note.
It read simply "Coming home to you. Had enough of being alone."
He didn't even know if she received it.
Then the message came through.
At first he thought perhaps it had been some sick practical joke.
Schemed up by Rachel herself.
Teasing him that she wouldn't be there when he got back.
But it wasn't a joke.
She was gone.
The door swung closed with a faint click in the lock.
Dave stopped laughing and looked around.
Helen saw Dave's face drain of colour.
She stopped laughing and turned around too.
She felt as if someone had sucked all the air from her lungs.
"Frank!"
"Helen."
Frank couldn't blame them for their laughter.
It had been nearly two months.
He knew that the pain would still be there.
But they had to move on.
They had each other to help them get through.
He, on the other hand, had bore the pain alone.
And it was still a sharp edge sword in his heart.
His Rachel was gone.
He remembered telling her, that he wanted to be told if she met someone before he got back.
He forgot to tell her not to get herself killed.
He was barely inside the doorway.
They were all around him now.
Their pain and anguish rekindled by his arrival.
Helen had her arms around his shoulders. Hugging him and crying uncontrollably.
Jeff came down the stairs, two at a time, to see what all the commotion was about.
He stopped when he saw Frank.
"Jeff."
"Frank. You're back…"
"Yep, I'm back. Can I see you in a tick?" he asked.
Helen pulled away, wiping her tears. She ran her hand down his cheek.
"It's so good to see you Frank."
Frank looked at all of them before following Jeff up the stairs.
He met Jack at the top of the stairs.
The two men looked at each other.
The pain evident on both faces. The reminder of the woman they both loved.
"Frank."
"Jack."
"Are you going to be here for awhile?" Jack asked.
"For a bit," he replied.
"Can I catch up with you before you go then?"
"Sure," Frank replied.
"There is something I want to tell you," said Jack.
"Sure."
Frank walked past *their* office.
Her desk.
Someone else in her chair.
He stopped and starred.
"Can I help you?" she asked looking at him.
"No, I don't think you can," he replied and walked to Jeff's office.
Frank pulled up a chair and slumped into it.
He thought he was ready to come here.
He wanted answers.
Someone had to give him answers.
How could she be gone?
The End.