Compromises
By Jaye Reid.
Commenced: 04.11.1999
Completed: 24.11.1999
Disclaimer: Seriously, how much do you think Hal. & Co. would want for the likes of our favourite Water Rats? Especially the ones he doesn't play with anymore? I say we pool our money and buy them so we can all do away with the disclaimer that says we don't own them.
~*~*~*~
Rachel walked into the offices, cool and confident as always.
Helen was the only person at work who knew where she had spent her week off.
"Rachel, hello. How was the holiday?" she enquired as they passed each other on the stairs.
Rachel stopped, "Fine,".
"Fine? Nothing else?" quizzed Helen.
Rachel broke into a broad grin that spoke more than a thousand words. "Yeah, it was fine."
Helen smiled back.
"Good, glad to hear it. So you'll be going to talk to Jeff then?"
Rachel started to head up the stairs again, "Not just yet," she replied.
"Rachel!"
"Helen, I will soon, promise," she said reluctantly.
"Just see that you do. Or you know I will. You shouldn't be out on the job."
"Who, Rachel?" asked Jack coming up the stairs behind Rachel. "Morning. Why not?" he stated and then asked again.
Neither spoke.
"Why shouldn't Rachel be out on the job? Is there something I need to know?" he persisted.
"No," said Rachel confidently, "nothing at all."
"Nah, come on, really," he kept going as he followed her to their office. "What gives? Why doesn't Helen think you should be out on the job? If there is a problem, I'd like to know about it."
Jack was persistent, if nothing else. But in this case he was the Terrier going up against a bloody great Rottweiler.
"No problem at all," she replied as she walked into the office, "Shit! Who's been sitting at my desk?"
Mick, who was already in the office, turned around.
"Oh it was me, Mumma Bear!" he laughed.
"Say what?" she glared at him.
He couldn't know.
*How* could Mick know?
"Ha! You could be either," he laughed.
"Mick, what the hell are you talking about?" asked Rachel. She wasn't in the mood for games and she was already annoyed after the twenty questions from Jack.
"Oh, sorry, hmm, shouldn't laugh at my own jokes I suppose. You know, 'Goldi'…locks and the three bears… Who's been sitting in my chair?… ah, oh well, doesn't matter… it was funny at the time," he said, turning back to his desk.
Rachel was relieved. Mick didn't know at all.
"So, Rachel, where'd ya go for the week?" Jack asked starting at her again
*Yap, yap, yap* thought Rachel.
"Ah, Melbourne," she lied skilfully.
"Gee, must have had some seriously good weather down there for this time of year, you've got a great tan," he replied sarcastically.
"Yeah, I found a great nude beach and lay in the sun starkers for the whole week," she retaliated.
Shit he was annoying thought Rachel. He would have had a pretty good idea that she went to see Frank.
Rachel had almost perfected the art of not mentioning Frank. Well, not comparing his working styles to Jack. At first she hadn't noticed that she was even doing it. It had been a simple passing comment of "…well Frank and I would have thought this way, investigated it like that…"
Until one day Jack snapped. Said that he didn't give a shit how or what Frank did or thought.
For all the time Frank had been gone, she had missed him the most the day Jack said that. It really hit her that he was gone, and not there to tell Jack what a jerk he was.
But she tried to stop mentioning Frank, unless if course she just wanted to annoy the hell out of Jack. But Jack always like to pry into whether her and Frank kept in touch. He just couldn't get it through his head that Rachel wasn't interested in him. His ego wouldn't allow it.
~*~*~*~
Jeff stuck his head around the doorway.
"I've got a job for you guys. Helen has all the details downstairs," he said to them and then disappeared back to his office.
"Let's go," said Mick standing up. He was keen to get out of the office.
"Nah, hang on. I'm not going anywhere with *her* until I know what the problem is," said Jack.
Mick stopped and looked from Rachel to Jack. This was going to be a conversation he *didn't* want to hear or see.
"Ah I think I will wait downstairs. I just remembered something I have to check on."
And Mick left the room quickly.
"Look Jack, there is nothing you need to know," she said preparing to leave the office. "You can sit here by yourself for all I care. Mick and I can handle it."
"No. Now I don't want to have to worry about relying on you if you aren't totally focussed on the job," he snapped. "If there's a problem I need to know!"
"Ha! Listen to yourself *mate*. I'm the one focussed on the job here, you should go and take a look in the mirror. You're too busy trying to focus on what I do outside working hours if you ask me!" Rachel stated, starting to raise her voice.
"Well no one was bloody asking you Rachel," Jack yell back. "And don't get any notions in your head that I *care* in the least *what* or *who* you do on your own time!"
Now Rachel was really mad.
"Jack you know, you can go and get well and truly….."
"Hey!" yelled Jeff appearing in the doorway. "We can hear you both from downstairs. What the hell is going on in here?"
"Nothing," they said in unison, still glaring at each other.
"Goldstein, my office, NOW!"
"What? Why…?" started Rachel. Shit, he'd damn well started it she thought to herself.
"Look," said Jeff. "I don't know what it is, but you're the common denominator all the time. You and Frank used to have slanging matches in here, and I thought with him gone we might finally get some peace around here. But now you and …."
Rachel burst into tears.
Jeff and Jack both just looked at her.
Was this really Rachel? Rachel Goldstein didn't cry? This had to be an imposter.
But for Rachel, the only words she really heard Jeff say were "… with him finally gone…" It hit her again how much she missed Frank.
She ran from the room and headed for the toilets.
Jeff and Jack just stood there.
Dumbfounded. Not sure of what to say or think.
Jeff spoke first.
"Ah Jack, you and Mick better head out. Forget Goldstein for the time being. We will continue this issue at a later date."
Jack nodded and headed downstairs.
Mick was at the front desk talking to Helen.
"Got the info?" Jack asked Mick.
"Yeah, ready when you guys are," he replied. "Where's Rachel?"
"Ah, she is busy. Let's go." said Jack.
Mick didn't ask, and headed for the door.
Jack stopped at the desk.
"Helen. I think Rachel is in the loo's. Um, she's crying or *something*, you might want to check on her."
Helen gave Jack a faint smile and nodded. She had been waiting for Rachel to totally lose it.
Jack headed out and Helen headed for the toilets.
Jeff stopped her on her way.
"Ah Helen, Rachel…"
"Yeah, I know. Just going there," she said pre-empting his question.
"Is there a problem?" he asked.
"I think I will get Rachel to talk to you," Helen replied. And she was going to make sure that Rachel did.
"Yes, good." He replied and headed for his office again.
~*~*~*~
Helen pushed the main door open. Rachel was sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall. Her knees drawn up to her body; her head resting on her arms that were folded across her knees. She didn't look up. She knew it was Helen. She knew the sound of her walk.
"God, I blew it, didn't I?" It wasn't really a question more of a statement.
"Ah, yeah, you could say that. But you know, pregnancy with all those hormones racing around in unfamiliar places, you're likely to do crazy things," offered Helen as she leaned back against the wall.
"Yeah, like burst into tears when someone mentions Frank not being here."
"Oh, so that's what this is about?" asked Helen.
"Yeah, I guess so," replied Rachel. "Pathetic isn't it. Fancy being upset that he isn't here. God he is a pain in the arse even when he's not here."
"Well you know. You've been pregnant before," said Helen. "People will excuse mood swings. That's if anyone knew of course that you *were* pregnant. They can't take your mood swings into consideration if they don't know."
"Shit Helen, if pregnancy was the cause of my mood swings, then I've been in a constant state of pregnancy for about the last fifteen years," Rachel laughed.
Helen was glad she was laughing.
"Yeah, well I am sure you will get through it unscathed. The rest of us might be a bit worse for wear, by the end of it though," Helen laughed back.
"I will try and not be a complete bitch," Rachel offered.
"Ha! You wouldn't know how! Come on, dry your eyes. You had better go and talk to Jeff."
"Nah, Helen…"
"No! No 'nah Helen' me! You are going to do it now or I will."
"But Helen. I've got to go out on a case. Jack and Mick will be waiting for…."
"No," Helen interrupted. "they are long gone. Left without you."
"Damn bastards! See Helen. I want to be out there. I will go stir crazy here with you."
"Aw thanks Rachel…"
"No, I didn't mean it like that… you know. I am too used to being out there," replied Rachel.
"Just ask yourself these questions then Rachel. Do you want this baby?"
Rachel looked up at her and smiled, "Yes."
"Okay, does Frank want this baby?" she asked.
"Yeah, well he says he does."
"So," continued Helen. "are you willing to risk this baby to go tag along with the 'Jack and Mick' travelling show?"
Rachel looked up at Helen with tear stained cheeks and shook her head.
"Yeah, I know Helen. You are right, once again, you're right. I have to tell Jeff."
"Yes," replied Helen.
"And," continued Rachel, "it's now or never I suppose..?"
"Yes again," said Helen.
Rachel sniffed and reached up and grabbed the paper towel hanging from the dispenser. It rolled out a three foot long piece of hand towel before stopping. Rachel laughed.
"Shit, didn't need that much," she said using one end to dry here eyes before throwing the lot in the waste paper bin beside her.
Helen held out her hand, "Come on, get up. It can't be good for you to sit on the cold floor."
Rachel took her hand and got to her feet.
"Jeff's office now," commanded Helen. "Do you want me to come along to hold your hand?"
Rachel chuckled.
"Nah, better not. People are going to talk enough as it is without *that* rumour doing the rounds too!"
~*~*~*~
Helen followed Rachel out and headed back to the front desk while Rachel took the journey, slowly and deliberate up the stairs to Jeff's office.
She knocked twice, firmly, on the door.
"Yes, come in," he called.
Rachel opened the door, stepped inside and closed it again.
She heard the faint click of the latch, she knew this was it, no backing out now.
"Rachel, take a seat," Jeff offered. He had decided to save his judgement on the argument and the outburst until after her explanation.
"So, what is the problem, Goldstein. Let's sort this out now so it doesn't continue to create problems."
She laughed softly to herself, as if it were that simple. "Ah, no this is something that won't just go away. Ah hell, I guess there is no easy way out of this Jeff… I'm pregnant."
There, it was said.
Out in the open for public scrutiny.
"Pregnant?" repeated Jeff, more than a little shocked by the news.
"Yeah, you know… I'm having a baby," she added with a touch of sarcasm.
"Um, well, this is… do I say congratulations?" he asked.
"Yeah, you can," she replied with a dimpled smile.
"Well then, congratulations. We will be sorry to lose you, I …"
"Hang on… hang on… I'm not planning on going anywhere Jeff," she interrupted. "I've got a job here last time I checked and I plan to continue with it. Okay, I know that my days of stakeouts and police chases are over for awhile, but I'm not leaving."
"Oh… well alright then," he said. He realised that he should have known this would be the way she wanted it. "I can't make you leave, but yeah, you obviously realise that your capabilities out in the field will be reduced to virtually zero. And that will leave us one short out on the ground so to speak."
"Well Frank was hoping to return to the job when he gets back," offered Rachel.
"Frank?"
"Yeah, he's on his way back."
"Why?"
Jeff realised the second he asked the question, that the answer was now obviously sitting in front of him, and he didn't wait for the reply.
"Oh, okay. Well we will have to see," he said. "I had enough of the slanging matches between you two before… but I guess this will change things won't it."
"Probably not," said Rachel with a grin, "but I will promise to keep it down to a dull roar."
"Look, I will consider it when he gets back. If we try this Rachel and it doesn't work out…"
"Yeah, look I know," she replied.
"Tell him to come and see me. I assume you will be talking to him before then?"
Rachel nodded.
"So, how long before he gets back?" Jeff asked.
"Well, he should be back late tomorrow actually. We sailed back down the coast last week. I got off in Brissie, he had a couple of things to do there he said. But he thought he'd be back late Tuesday arvo."
"Fine well, that will be all, and again Rachel, congratulations."
"Thanks Jeff. And I am sorry about before, it won't happen again."
"Well I will believe *that* when I see it," he replied.
~*~*~*~
Rachel left Jeff's office and headed downstairs to see Helen.
Rachel was grinning. It was such a relief that she didn't have to deny that this was happening. She could actually start enjoying it.
"So," said Helen seeing her broad smile, "I gather everything is okay with the world?"
"Perfectly thank you," replied Rachel in a semi-official tone.
Helen reached across the counter and patted her hand on Rachel's shoulder.
"See, I told you it would be okay. When are you going to start listening to me?" she said.
"Yeah, I know, thanks."
"What's the problem?" asked Tommy deciding to be nosy as he leaned on the inside of the counter.
Oh well, thought Rachel. Helen knew, Jeff knew and with Frank due back the next day….
"I'm having a baby," said Rachel.
"What? You? Pregnant?" asked Tommy, shocked.
"Yeah," said Helen turning to him, "didn't you do biology at school?. It's when…"
"Alright Helen," laughed Rachel, "I don't think he needs the mechanics of it!"
"Nah, I don't." he grinned. "Can I have permission to hug the Detective?"
"Why certainly," laughed Rachel.
Tommy didn't go around the counter. He jumped over it!
Jack and Mick arrived back to the office in time to witness the official Tommy hug. They were more than a little curious as to what the hell was going on.
"What are you up to their Tommy?" asked Mick with a cheeky grin.
"Just offering my congratulations," said Tommy standing back and giving Rachel a friendly punch on the arm. "Good one Goldie," he added before heading down the hallway, shaking his head. He had to go and find the rest of the boat crew. They were never going to guess. He wondered how much money he could make on this one!
"Congratulations for what?" asked Mick.
"I'm pregnant," said Rachel. She was getting to like the sound of that statement.
"What?" said Jack shocked, "just now?"
Rachel screwed up her face at him. God, he could say some dumb things.
"No, it doesn't happen just like that Jack," she added sarcastically. "I'm about sixteen – seventeen weeks."
Jack stood there and did the sums and quickly figured out when he arrived and Frank left.
"This is great," said Mick walking over and deciding to give her a hug too."
"Thanks," she replied almost breathless. All this hugging was getting a bit overwhelming.
"Um, yeah… congratulations," offered Jack, still obviously stunned. "You a mother…?"
"Hey, I already am, remember?" said Rachel, "my son… David?"
"Oh, yeah, but this… a *baby*…" he continued.
"Hell, its not like I haven't done it before, he was a baby once you know. He didn't turn up as a ten year old," remarked Rachel.
"Bloody hell," offered Helen dryly, "now *that* would be painful."
"Yeah, well," continued Rachel, "it wasn't a picnic anyway. You know how they liken giving birth to pushing a watermelon out…"
"I don't think I need to hear this," said Jack. "I've got work to do. You coming upstairs or what Mick?"
"I'll be there in a tick too," said Rachel.
Jack gave her a look. "What the hell for? Your Detective days are numbered now."
He continued up the stairs before she could reply.
"Pig!" said Rachel.
Helen shook her head. "Now come on, you have to make an extra effort to work with him or Jeff will have you outa here so fast…"
"Yeah, I know. God I can't wait for Frank to get back…"
Mick was still standing there. "Frank? He's coming back?"
"Yep," said Rachel.
"Here?" quizzed Mick again.
"Yeah probably," said Rachel, "why? Will you have a problem with that?"
"Nah, not me," said Mick with a grin, "but I can see that someone might."
"Oh this *will* be entertaining if nothing else," offered Helen with a laugh, "Jack pulling rank over Frank. Hey that rhymes!"
"Well, you know Francis. Jack wouldn't want to pull *too* many stunts," said Rachel.
"Well, I don't think we will have to wait until New Years Eve for a fireworks display. I think that we…"
"WHAT!"
Mick was stopped in mid sentence by the sound of Jack bellowing from upstairs.
"Oh, trouble in Paradise," grinned Helen.
"NO BLOODY WAY JEFF!"
Came the next instalment.
"I think," offered Rachel, "that Jeff may have just mentioned to Jack that Frank was planning on coming back."
"You think?" asked Helen with a wry grin.
"Whatever gives you that idea Rachel?" asked Mick, also grinning.
"Ah, well I'm a Detective, and we just have a way of figuring out these sort of things," she replied dryly. "It's the experience you develop after years out on the job."
"CHRIST JEFF WHAT IS THIS A BLOODY CONSPIRACY? IT'S BAD ENOUGH TRYING TO WORK WITH *HER*!"
"Yep, think you are right," said Mick. "I'm not going up there."
"Nah, lunchtime," said Rachel looking at her watch. "How about you and I go get some?"
"Yeah, good idea," said Mick.
"Helen, if anyone wants us, tell them to give us a buzz on the mobile will ya?"
"Not a problem Rach," smiled Helen. "Ya pair of chickens!"
~*~*~*~
Mick and Rachel stayed out at lunch for an hour or so. They figured it was safer that way. Perhaps it would give Jack time to calm down.
But it was shaping up to be a bitch of an afternoon. Mick and Rachel had returned to find Jack still boiling.
Rachel had a tonne of paperwork, as they all did, so she decide to busy herself in that and ignore Jack as much as possible.
The afternoon was dragging slowly.
"Hey good lookin'. You got writers cramp yet?"
Rachel looked around to the doorway, that voice!
"You bastard," she said, "you're not supposed to be back until tomorrow!"
"Well, I can go again if you want…."
"Yeah, right!" Rachel replied.
"Hey Frank," said Mick, "congratulations."
Frank short a glance at Rachel.
"It's okay, they know," she said.
"Ah, well, in that case, thanks mate," he replied, stepping into the office and shaking hands with Mick.
"Hey there Jack," said Frank.
"Frank," he replied, not bothering to even turn around.
Frank looked at Rachel and nodded questioningly towards Jack.
Rachel shrugged her shoulders and rolled her eyes.
"Mick?" she said, "if anyone's looking for me, I'll be just out on the balcony."
"Yep, I'm not going anywhere, sure thing," he replied.
"Yeah," said Jack, "some of us have work to do."
Rachel resisted the temptation to mouth back at him. He just wasn't worth wasting the breath on today.
~*~*~*~
Frank followed Rachel outside. Once on the balcony he grabbed her around the waist and pulled her body into his. He kissed her firmly on the lips. As if they had not seen each other in months rather than days.
"Hey, come on Frank, not here," she protested.
"What? Aw, come on Rachel, it's been how long?' he complained.
"Hell all of about four full days, I suppose," she laughed.
"Gee, that long really?" he replied still not letting go.
"Come on Frank. NOT here!' she repeated, trying to get free.
"Hmm, your no fun Goldstein," he said, pretending to sulk and releasing her from his grip.
"Really?" she questioned mischievously.
"Nah, actually you can be a lot of fun…" he replied.
"Yeah, okay. Just when I am *off* duty. You have to behave here. I know it's a big ask. I spoke to Jeff about you coming back," she said "I think he will agree if we promise not to kill each other."
"Ha! I think we could manage that," he replied as he made a grab for her again but missing.
"Frank! Will you focus for half a second! It won't be a picnic, not everyone is happy about the thought of you coming back."
"Ah, so *that's* what is up his nose," laughed Frank.
"What? Jack? Nah, that's just his usual warm, generous, happy-go-lucky personality. Hell, you should see him when he's *really* pissed off!" she replied with a smile.
"I'll look forward to seeing it," he said mockingly.
"Bullshit! You'll look forward to *causing* it!" Rachel laughed. "But seriously, he's gonna have rank over you. Over both of us. One false move….."
"And we can both be found at the bottom of the Harbour?" joked Frank.
"Yeah, something like that. Our jobs here anyway," replied Rachel.
"Okay, I can do this. Well I can try," Frank offered.
"Well you go and see Jeff. I told him you wouldn't be back until tomorrow. So this will be another nice surprise for him," grinned Rachel.
"Oh yeah, great. Ha! He thought he'd got rid of me!" Frank smirked.
"Well, I'd better get back to it. Jack's been in a filthy mood since…" she stopped.
"Since what?"
"Ah, nothin', I'll tell you later," she said. "Go and see Jeff."
"Jeff knows too I take it?" Frank asked.
"Well they all probably know by now. I didn't however say who I had been playing around with though. They have all made the assumption that it was you, which I find rather interesting."
"Well they *are* all Coppers. You'd hope they'd put two and two together and not get five."
"Yeah, I reckon. Anyway, go. I will see you at home tonight?" asked Rachel.
"Who's home, mine?" queried Frank.
"Nah mine."
"Aww, I was looking forward to going back to my place," said Frank.
"Well I just want to have a nice warm bath and fall into my bed," replied Rachel.
"What's wrong with my bed?" asked Frank in an offended tone.
"Well I prefer mine."
"Well I *prefer* mine!
"Well no one said you were invited to stay!" snapped Rachel.
"Well no one said I wanted to!" he barked back.
Stand off. They both stood there staring at each other. Neither willing to back down.
Frank was the first to speak.
"Well I'm gonna go see Jeff," said Frank heading back inside.
"Yeah, you just do that Frank. I've got work to do."
They went their separate ways.
~*~*~*~
Rachel sat at her desk. Trying to do paperwork. The case wasn't really that complex, just time consuming. And it didn't help matters with Jack being such a bastard. And Frank…
Maybe it was just the fact that she had psyched herself up for tomorrow. He wasn't going to be back until tomorrow. She liked routines.
Over two hours had passed, and Frank hadn't called back.
Rachel stood up from her desk.
"Back in a tic," she said, "have to see Helen about something."
"Yeah," said Jack not looking up.
Rachel walked past Jeff's office. The door was open, but there was no – one inside. She headed downstairs.
"Helen?" she asked her friend as she approached the front desk, "Um, have you seen Frank by any chance?"
"Ah, yeah, he left about an hour ago," she replied. "Why?"
"Oh nothing. We said we would catch up later anyway," Rachel replied, trying to cover her disappointment.
The day ended and Rachel went home. She waited up and eventually fell asleep on the couch wondering if he would call.
He didn't.
Bastard!
~*~*~*~
Frank knocked purposefully on Rachel's front door.
It was early. He wanted to catch her before she left for work.
He wanted to apologise.
He wasn't fully sure what he was apologising for, but it seemed like the right thing to do. And hell, if it kept her happy, he'd let this one slide.
He'd even picked up a bunch of flowers from a flower stall vendor on the side of the road. Looking at them now, he wondered if they were going overboard a bit. Seemed like a good idea at the time. Now he wondered if he would look like he was sucking up too much. She'd probably give him a mouthful of abuse for it.
But it didn't matter. She wasn't answering the door. Damn! Well he figured he might as well leave the flowers for her anyway.
He hunted around in one of the potted shrubs near her front door, hoping he could remember which one hid her spare key. He found it easily. Too easily he thought. Gees, he would have to have a word with her about security. Hmm, perhaps that chat could wait considering the mood she was in yesterday afternoon.
Frank let himself in and headed for the kitchen to find something to put the flowers in. He was a little surprised that she had gone to work so damn early. Perhaps there was a big case that they were working on. He still had a few days before he was returning. He hoped he wouldn't miss out on all the action.
Now where would she keep a vase? He looked through the cupboards in the kitchen but couldn't find anything. Oh well, he thought as he grabbed a saucepan from the cupboard, as long as it held water it would make do until she got home.
He noticed a slip of paper on the bench. It was a note about an appointment.
He looked at the date on the paper and then to the date on his watch.
Today.
The time?
Hell, in twenty minutes.
That's where she was.
He remembered Rachel mentioning an appointment for a x-ray... no hang on, that wasn't what they were called... um, ultrasound! That was it. She had told him about it when she had dropped the bombshell on him last week out on the boat. That day had been information overload, and he had forgotten that they had decided to go along together. Damn that woman! Why hadn't she told him yesterday? He remembered the 'discussion', and answered his own question.
He picked up the paper and looked at the address. If he hurried he might just make it.
He quickly locked her front door, and shoved the key into his pocket. He could return it to its hiding spot later.
He thought about the early morning traffic, and decided on a way to get there. This was something that he wasn't going to miss just because of bloody Sydney peak hour traffic. The problem would be whether she wanted him there once he arrived anyway.
~*~*~*~
He walked into the foyer of the building and followed the signs to a waiting room. He looked around at the people sitting there; Rachel wasn't one of them.
The receptionist smiled at him as he approached the desk.
"Um, I'm looking for Rachel Goldstein?" he said in almost a whispered tone. He didn't know why he was whispering. It just seemed so.... Hospital like in there. "She had an appointment? For an ultrasound?"
The young woman looked down at her list.
Not bad looking thought Frank.
Then an alarm when off in his head. Shit Frank, what are you doing having thoughts like that? Christ Rachel is in there somewhere and she's gonna have your kid.
This was going to take awhile to get used to he decided.
"She's already gone through, but I don't think they have started yet. I can buzz them if you like?" she said.
"Ah yeah, that would be great, thanks," he replied.
"And you are?" she asked.
"Yeah, I'm going to be the Dad," he said.
"Oh yes, but I mean, your name please," she grinned as she reached for the phone, "I need to check if I can let you through."
"Holloway, Frank Holloway."
Frank could have kicked himself. God he must have sounded stupid. He didn't like sounding stupid. Shit, what was Rachel doing to him?
"Okay, hang on."
She picked up the phone and punched a couple of numbers.
"Hello Pete... Yeah Amy... I have a Frank Holloway here? He wants to see Ms. Goldstein?... Ah yes..." She paused then looked up at Frank with a smile, "Yeah, that's him... okay... thanks."
She put the phone down. "Pete. will be here in a sec., to take you through."
"Ta," said Frank.
Frank stood around and waited.
'Pete' what sort of name was that for someone working in this sort of job? Almost every bloke named Pete. he'd met was six foot tall, build like a Rugby fullback and had the personality to boot. And this 'Pete' was looking after his Rachel? Oh hell, now he was claiming ownership? 'his Rachel?' This wasn't a good sign. God if Rachel had any idea of the thoughts that were rattling through his brain that morning she'd darn near kill him.
A door opened and a middle aged woman walked in.
"Mr. Holloway?" she said looking at Frank.
"Ah, yeah?" he replied.
"You can come through if you like," she said with a smile.
"Ah, Pete?" asked Frank with a puzzled expression.
"Yes, Peta. Rachel is waiting."
Frank followed 'Peta' down the hallway and into a room. Rachel was lying on an examination table, surrounded by monitors and equipment. It all looked fairly ominous.
"Hey there Rach," said Frank trying to be cheerful. Who knows what sort of mood she was in?
"Hey yourself Holloway," she replied abruptly.
Oh, okay he thought, still a bit stormy. Have to watch himself. Was she always this bad he wondered?
Had he just been too busy to notice?
"Okay are we ready to begin?" Peta asked Rachel.
"Yep, sure," Rachel replied.
At least Rachel was being nice to someone thought Frank.
"You already have one child? So you remember how the ultrasound works?" Peta asked as she lifted Rachel's shirt to expose her stomach.
"Ah, well it was a few years ago," she replied.
"Oh, okay. Well we will just put this gel on your stomach, it will be cold," she warned.
Cold wasn't the word. Rachel did her very best not to swear. Frank grinned to himself, he knew that look on her face when she was trying to be really self-controlled.
Frank pulled up a chair on the other side of Rachel and sat back and watched in awe of the images that were being flickered around on the screen. With each swift movement of the probe across Rachel's stomach, another image of their child bounced before them.
Images were held in freeze frame and noted. The foetal heart beat echoing in their ears.
"I've done all the measurements," Peta offered. "Your dates seem to be pretty exact to what is already written on your file."
Frank grinned at Rachel.
"Yeah, well," Rachel offered, "we were fairly certain about the dates."
Frank lent over and whispered in Rachel's ear, "We could probably give her estimated times too if she really wanted."
Rachel shot him a look. Then smiled.
Thank goodness, he thought, the storm may be over.
Well today's storm perhaps.
"Yes, well," continued Peta, "if you don't mind me saying, most 'older' couples like yourselves, who are trying to have kids, seem to be… let's say 'active' so often, that their dates can be way out."
Rachel and Frank looked at each other. Rachel could see that the same thought was running through his mind too.
Three words stuck out in her head.
'Older', 'couples' and 'trying'. Shit they weren't old, they hadn't been a couple and they certainly hadn't been trying! Rachel wondered if they really knew what they had gotten themselves into.
Frank looked at her and she smiled.
She didn't even realise that he had been holding her hand until she felt him gently squeeze her fingers.
~*~*~*~
They stood together out in the morning sunshine. The video of their miracle was firmly held in her hands.
"I have to get to work," she finally said.
"Yeah, I guess you should," he offered. "Ah look Rachel, what I said yesterday… shit I didn't mean it …you know what a bloody hot head I can be…"
"Let's forget about it Frank. I've got to get to work. I'll see ya tonight."
"Yep, your place," he replied.
She gave him a polite peck on the cheek before disappearing down the footpath.
~*~*~*~
It was just after six o'clock and getting dark when Frank arrived on Rachel's doorstep, Chinese takeaway in hand.
He knocked, no answer.
He tried the door, locked.
Frank remembered the door key that he had stashed into his pocket that morning. Retrieving it, he unlocked the door and let himself in.
"Rachel?… Rachel?…"
He could hear the static of the television in the lounge. That was where he found her, curled up on the couch sound asleep.
The video player had switched off, and a tape stuck out from the machine. Obviously she had fallen asleep and the unit had automatically rewound at the end and in turn switched itself off.
He recognised the tape, and gently pushed it back into the machine, before dumping the food on the table and sitting down on the floor in front of the couch.
He watched the images of their child again.
The sound of the heart beat on the video made Rachel stir from her slumber.
"Hey there sleepy head," Frank said as he leaned his head back into her.
"Frank, what the…? how did you…? Oh, I must have fallen asleep. What time is it?" she asked sitting up.
"Just after six. I brought some Chinese for us. Are you hungry, ready to eat?" he asked.
Rachel ran her fingers through her hair, rubbing the back of her head. She looked at the ultrasound pictures on the television.
"Nah, I don't think so. I don't think I am ready at all."
Frank looked at Rachel's face. "We're not talking about the Chinese takeaway here are we?" he asked.
"Gees Frank, what made us think that this was gonna work?" said Rachel leaning back on the couch..
"I still reckon it can work. Why do you have this idea in your head that we'll stuff it up?" he asked confused.
Rachel looked up at the ceiling. "Oh, I don't know. Me… us… It just seems all we have done since last week is argue or…"
Frank cut in, "well you have to admit Rachel, the 'or' has been pretty good. I mean we make up from those arguments pretty well."
"Shit Frank, stop trying to be so bloody nice! Nice doesn't suit you. I much prefer you being an arrogant, pigheaded bastard. You see, that's just what you and I are about. You being a smart arse and me putting you back in your place."
"You reckon that's what we are about?"
"Yeah, that's what I reckon." replied Rachel.
"You know what your problem is Rachel?" started Frank.
"No, but I guess you're about to tell me?" she said annoyed.
"Yeah, I am. It's a control thing Rachel. You gotta have control, and right now you don't," said Frank getting up from the couch.
"You're full of shit as usual Francis James Holloway," rebuked Rachel.
"Am I? I don't think I could be any *more* right," he replied accusingly as he paced around the room. "You see Rachel you are a control freak. And at the moment everything is happening around you and you can't control it. You've got this baby growing inside you and it is doin' what it wants. Making you crook or happy or whatever. You are stuck in the office and can't go out and get the bad guys like you want to. And then you've got me here, trying to make things right. But you don't want that. I'm the only part of all of this that you still can try and control. You want me to act the way *you* want me to. Well I ain't playin' this game Rachel. So, you just push me away as much as you want, coz I'm not goin' anywhere."
"Ah piss off Frank, you don't really want to be here," said Rachel.
"See, there you go again, tryin' to tell me what I want and don't want," he replied shaking his head and then sitting back down on the couch next to Rachel.
"But ya don't," repeated Rachel. "Shit Frank, if I hadn't come to see you last week, you would have been happily sailing your way towards Venezuela and tryin' to bed as many of those Miss. Universe's as you could get."
"Sailin' yeah, sure, but happily?" he questioned as he put his arm around her shoulder. She tried to push him away, but he persisted. "Christ Rachel do you think there was a day that went by out there that I didn't think about ya? That I didn't wish you'd changed your mind? That I didn't change mine? Hell after that night we spent together before I left, all these years just seemed to make sense. We made sense."
"But what if it doesn't work Frank? What if we mess this up? Look at everything we'll lose," she protested.
"Yeah," he replied as he ran the back of his hand down her cheek, resting his fingers under her chin. Forcing her to look at him "But what might we be missing out on? I say we've got nothing to lose."
"Frank…"
"Ssshhhh…. Hell Rachel, this could be the best thing that's ever happened to me. You… a kid… the chance of a 'normal' life whatever that is. You've got to at least give it a go. Give us a chance."
"Ah shit Frank, don't expect me to be the good little woman who will have your dinner ready for you every night," said Rachel.
Frank smiled.
"Don't grin Francis. I don't starch shirt collars and I won't clean up after ya if you drink yourself stupid and spew up everywhere."
"Wouldn't expect you to," he replied trying to conceal his grin.
"And I don't take any shit either, you know that," she continued.
"Oh yeah, I think I know that one by now," he replied as he moved his body closer to hers and holding her in his arms. "What else?"
"What else? Um, okay… I want *my* bed," she added.
"Your bed?" he queried.
"Yep, my bed," she replied. "I like my bed."
"Well what is your bed like? I haven't tried it," he asked trying to sound serious.
"Want to then?" she asked with a wry smile.
"Want to what then?"
"Try it," she replied.
"What, the bed?"
"Yeah the bed."
"Is that an invitation is it?" he asked with his best mischievous grin.
"Might be…"
Well what are you waiting for?" he replied standing up and taking her hand.
"Are we crazy Frank?" she asked as she stood.
"Yeah, probably," he laughed pulling her body close into his before whispering in her ear, "but who cares. Come on, let's try that bed!"
The End.