Here's another update! Now that I'm back (temporarily!) I'm going to try get back into regular updates.
I got back into Perth yesterday after the Bathurst 1000. Go Holden! Was a very good result and I'm currently waiting for the boys to get the team and their cars home from Bathurst. I was a very happy girl.
In the meantime, very unhappy with the lack of both Rachel and Jake in PTTR last night. Rachel was a useless character, as if they only brought her in because they had to have her make an appearance. And Jake was seen for the first time in the final 10 seconds. Disappointing...
Welcome back to aussiebabe290, and thankyou to both her and quonoeye for reviewing my previous chapter.
"Have you seen my scarf?" Rachel was walking back and forth, picking up and looking under items for her own missing item. "You know, the cream one."
"Ah, no, I haven't," Jake replied, racking his brain to see if he could remember seeing the scarf anywhere. "Does it matter?" He continued watching her hurry around. He thought he'd be used to it; she'd been like it for two whole days now. It was her method of distraction.
"Does it matter?" Rachel snapped her head up to look at him. "Does it matter? Of course it matters! It's my favourite, and it is what I planned to wear with this dress!"
"Rach, it's a scarf." It was as if Jake was pointing out the world's most obvious thing, and it's when Rachel realised.
"I'm sorry," she said, collapsing down onto the lounge chair. "I'm being silly. I must be the most frustrating girlfriend." Jake chuckled.
"You are…" Jake told her, sitting down on the arm of the chair. "But I wouldn't take you any other way." He put his arm around her back, and his other arm rubbed her arm. "You're just nervous baby."
"I just want it to be all over and done with," said Rachel, her face falling further.
"And it will be. Tomorrow," Jake cut in soothingly. "The scary part anyway."
"Yeah, I suppose." Both fell silent.
It was several moments before there was any sign of life from the pair. Rachel suddenly jumped up, startling Jake before turning back to him.
"Come on. We're meant to be going to my parents." Rachel pulled him up before rushing off to the bedroom, leaving Jake to laugh at her bouncy antics.
Rafter Backyard
Dave and Jake stood next to the barbeque, Dave with the tongs in one hand and a beer in the other.
"These will be ready soon!" Dave called out over his back, to where the others were all standing. "Jake, I think it's your turn to cook." Dave smiled and handed him the tongs.
"Oh, that's alright mate," Jake backed away slightly, knowing the barbeque was Dave's 'area' at a barbeque. He'd been to enough of the Rafter barbeques to know that.
"And I'm handing over to today's duties to you." Dave shoved the tongs into his worker's hands, moving away and leaving Jake to continue the cooking. He only returned a minute later with another beer for Jake.
"How is my daughter." Jake turned to eye Dave, before throwing a quick glance over his shoulder at Rachel, who was sitting with Melissa and Julie at the table, laughing over something apparently funny.
"Ready for it to be over," Jake replied, looking back at his girlfriend's father. "But she's taking it as you'd expect; rushing around like a worry." Dave laughed and nodded. "And are you still right with me taking tomorrow off?"
"No one's working tomorrow. Nathan's looking after Ruby and Jules and I are going to the hospital," Dave told him. "And I'm presuming you'll be there too?" Jake nodded.
"Too right."
Meanwhile, over at the table, Rachel looked up from her conversation with her mother and sister-in-law, noticing her father and boyfriend talking.
"Is that food nearly ready Dad? Rachel's not going to make it to surgery because she's going to have died of starvation!" Ben called out from where he was sitting with Chel, Nathan and Carbo.
"Don't use me as your excuse!" Rachel retorted, but smiling nonetheless. As the banter between her family, and extended family continued, Rachel considered her surgery the following day. She knew Chel had spent the previous day sorting out her affairs, and knew she should probably do something similar. But she couldn't bring herself to write or talk to each person individually.
"Dinner is served!" Jake announced as Dave placed the tray of cooked steaks and sausages down on the table, alongside the platter of nibbles, the potato salad and the regular garden salad.
"Rachel will have one of each," Julie declared, handing Jake a plate. "Actually, make it two of the snags."
"Mum! You're going to make me explode," Rachel said in surprise.
"You've got to eat up; you're not allowed to eat from midnight."
As everyone laughed, ate and drank, Rachel felt so lucky to have her family around her. They had their differences, they had their laughs. But most of all, they were there as a support web. Anytime, anywhere, they'd be there.
Chel's gaze caught Rachel's eye, and the pair smiled at each other. Rachel knew that Chel was leaving shortly to check into hospital to prepare for the next day's surgery. With one final smile, Chel turned back to the conversation Ted was having with Chel and Melissa.
Rachel turned back when she felt Jake squeeze her hand comfortingly underneath the table. She smiled and laid her head down on this chest temporarily, sitting back up a moment later and re-joining the family conversation.
Outside the Rafter House
The family were saying goodbye to Chel, who was leaving with Dave and Ted to the hospital. Rachel reached forward to hug Chel tightly.
"I guess I'll see you tomorrow," Rachel whispered in Chel's ear as they hugged.
"No second thoughts?" asked Chel quietly. "You know I'm not..."
"No second thoughts," Rachel interrupted and confirmed. "You're not getting out of this family that easily." The grandmother and granddaughter duo smiled at each other, as Chel left and climbed into the passenger seat of Ted's Camry.
Rachel leaned back and Jake put his arms around her waist as they waved goodbye, the car pulling into the street.
"I should go too," Jake whispered in her ear as the car became out of sight.
"You're not staying?" Rachel asked, her tone almost desperate.
"I assumed you'd want to spend the night on your own?"
"Not tonight," Rachel told him as she turned to see him fully. She knew she sounded whiny, but she couldn't care less. "Please," she added when Jake didn't say anything.
"Of course, yeah," Jake nodded. "I'll be here whenever you want."
Rachel's bedroom
Next morning
Rachel was awake well before the sun had risen. In fact, she wasn't even sure she'd gone to sleep at all.
"Do you know what time it is?" Jake asked, sitting up and rubbing his eyes.
"Just before five," Rachel responded, bending down to kiss his forehead. "Go back to sleep."
"It's alright. I haven't been asleep long; you thumped me with your elbow about an hour ago," Jake told her with a laugh, which earned him another elbow. "Hey!"
"I'm going to go have a shower," Rachel told him, throwing back the covers and climbing out of the bed. She shrugged on her dressing room from the back of her door.
"Mmm, 'kay," Jake mumbled, rolling over. Rachel looked back to see he had his eyes closed again, laughing quietly to herself before closing the door quietly behind her.
Julie and Dave's bedroom
"She's awake," Julie told Dave quietly, hearing the shower running.
"I'm betting she has been that way for most of the night," Dave replied to his wife as Julie sat up in the bed.
"It's a big day, and you know what Rachel's like if she's stressed or nervous," Julie told Dave. Dave mumbled in agreement.
"That's my little girl," he said quietly, sitting up next to Julie. "Ruby may be younger, but Rachel's still my little girl."
"I know," Julie told him with a smile, snuggling up to him.
Bathroom
Rachel stood under the warm spray of the water, wiping at her face and running her fingers through her hair. Slowly, she slunk down to the shower floor, curling herself up and enjoying the warmth of the water whilst digesting all her thoughts. There was oh so many.
Get over yourself Rachel, she told herself. You're being ridiculous.
Kitchen
Rachel hadn't been surprised to find Jake back fast asleep when she returned from her shower. A little over an hour later, those currently under the Rafter roof were up and about. Julie was in the kitchen with Ted, Ruby was in her bouncer on the floor, Dave was in the bedroom and Jake had just re-entered from Rachel's bedroom, stopping to poke Ruby on the way. Rachel was sitting on the couch, groaning as her stomach lurched.
"Jake, have some breakfast," Julie stopped him on his way over to Rachel, holding up her own piece of toast to emphasize her point.
"I'll pass Jules, thanks. Don't want to make this one jealous," he replied with a smile, leaning down on the back of couch over Rachel's shoulder. Rachel herself flicked her hand around half-heartedly, still staring straight ahead as she fidgeted.
"Eat something, please. Eat for me if you want," Rachel groaned.
"Are you alright?" asked Jake curiously, noting her discomfort.
"I'm starving!" declared Rachel. "Who knows when I get to eat next." Jake shook his head and moved away.
"Morning!" called out Ben as he and Nathan came through to the kitchen from outside. "Reporting for babysitting duty!"
"About time you got here," Dave said as he entered the kitchen, fixing his shirt sleeve. Nathan looked over to where Rachel was sitting on the couch and headed over.
"Hey, you all set?" he said, sitting down on the neighbouring couch.
"No," Rachel said, looking at her little brother. "Yes." Nathan smiled and nodded.
"You'll be fine. And we'll see you after, okay?" Rachel nodded as Julie spoke up.
"We've got to get moving and get you checked in."
"I don't have to check in until eight thirty," groaned Rachel.
"And it's... quarter past seven," Julie replied with a glance to the kitchen clock. By the time we get there..."
"Is she being serious?" Rachel asked Nathan, who laughed.
"I heard that!" Julie told her daughter.
Forty-five minutes later
Hospital
Like the busy body that she was, Julie had made them all get moving, leaving them arrive at the hospital half an hour ahead of Rachel's check in time. Ruby had been left to Nathan, Ben and Ted, whilst Julie and Dave had accompanied their daughter to the hospital. Jake has left with the Rafters.
"I told you we shouldn't have left so early," Rachel whispered to her mother as the came up the hospital corridor.
"Oh rubbish. I'm sure they'll let you check in early," Julie disregarded her daughter's words. Rachel rolled her eyes, before moving up to the desk.
"Hi, I'm ah, meant to be checking in at 8.30am but my mother here insisted we leave early," Rachel told the admin lady sarcastically, to which she laughed.
"Of course. And what was your name?" Rachel answered the questions while her parents and Jake stood a few meters back. A few minutes later Rachel stepped away from the desk.
"She's checking on beds now."
"Why don't we go see Chel then?" Julie suggested. "I'm sure she's going crazy in here already."
"I've got to wait for them," Rachel apologised, pointing towards the desk. Julie and Dave nodded, before they left to go towards Chel's ward, leaving Rachel and Jake on the waiting room chairs.
"Over-bearing mother much?" Rachel said to Jake as she took a seat next to him. Jake laughed and patted her hand.
Rachel's Hospital Room
Not long later, Rachel had been moved towards the room she'd be staying in. Currently, the room was empty giving her complete privacy. With reports that the doctor would be in 'within the hour', Rachel sat on the bed while Jake stood by the window.
"For a hospital room, it's not too bad," he announced, stepping back from the window. "You're window looks out onto a park." Rachel shook her head at Jake's point of view, before a nurse came in.
"Rachel Rafter?" Both Jake and Rachel turned at her name.
"That'd be me," agreed Rachel, turning to the women in a nurse's uniform.
"Great, I'm Saskia and I'll be your nurse, for this shift anyway. I've got to get you started on your IV fluids if you'd like to get changed." Saskia pointed. "The bathroom's just through there." Rachel nodded and slid off the bed, turning to Jake.
"Why don't you go and see Chel for me whilst I do this? And you can tell Mum and Dad that I'm checked in." Rachel smiled, whilst Jake paused before nodding and leaving the room, headed left. Rachel took to offered hospital gown and made for the bathroom.
Several hours later
Rachel was in her bed, knowing that time was ticking and that she was getting closer to being taken upstairs to theatre. By now, Julie and Dave were back with Jake and were all sitting in her room when another lady in a nurse's uniform entered.
"Rachel Rafter?" Rachel looked up and nodded. "These were just delivered." The nurse held out a large bunch of flowers. Rachel reached out and accepted them from the nurse.
"Thank you." The nurse nodded and left, whilst Rachel opened the card.
"They're gorgeous, who are they from?" Julie asked curiously.
"Libby and George," replied Rachel, that slight bit teary. A moment later, Saskia and another female entered the room.
"Rachel, hello. I'm Dr. Natasha Bennett. How are you feeling?" the confident doctor asked.
"Fine," Rachel replied, unsure of what else could be said.
"Okay then, so you're aware of the procedure?" Rachel nodded. "Do you need me to run anything else by you?" Rachel shook her head.
"Sorry, how long is this going to take?" Julie piped up from her spot on Rachel's right. Rachel turned to her Mum.
"As with all surgeries, time can vary. But generally we expect to have you out of there in four to five hours," replied Dr Bennett. "Any other queries?" When no one replied, she continued. "I'll give you a few minutes or so before the nurses will move you. See you soon Rachel." Dr Bennett smiled and left.
"I guess this is it," Rachel replied shakily. With Julie and Dave standing to her right, Julie holding her hand, and Jake on her left holding her other hand, Rachel was getting teary.
"We'll see you soon sweetheart," Julie told Rachel, bending down to kiss her forehead. Dave did the same, squeezing her hand as he did so.
"We'll be here when you wake up." Rachel wiped a tear from her cheek and nodded in response to her father. They then stepped back to allow Rachel and Jake some space.
"A few weeks ago this was just an idea," Jake told her as he looked down, still gripping her hand.
"And now it's a reality," Rachel finished.
"You're going to be fine," Jake told her. "I'll be here when you wake up." Rachel nodded as he bent down and kissed her gently. He stood by her side for another moment before Saskia and another nurse came in.
"We're ready to go Rachel," said Saskia. Rachel nodded as the sides to her bed were put up and her IV line moved. Jake held her hand as the bed was wheeled out of the room, only letting their grasp slide as the bed left the door and into the hallway.
Dave had his arm around Julie who had her mouth covered. Jake simply watched as Rachel was wheeled away.
And she's off! Will Rachel be okay? Will Chel be okay? Will there be any complications?
That was a lot longer than expected. Not overly thrilled with these chapters. I get the feeling I'm perhaps dragging it out. Would love to hear a review from those reading with your thoughts. I'm open to anything you care to say!
In the meantime, the weeks ahead are making me nervous in regards to Jake/Rachel. We've seen this storyline coming for a while. Hope it's nothing too explosive.
I'll be attempting an update as soon as I can. Fingers crossed that life doesn't act like life and throw itself in the way.