Hit and Miss.
By Jaye Reid.
[Complications of Life series]
Story Number Eight.
Written: 27/12/1999 – 01/01/2000
Disclaimer: Okay… In this story Hal. and the Southern Star/Channel Nine people own the recognisable Water Rats characters. I own some here at least. Samuel, Gabrielle, Daniel and Jen., are all mine!!
Authors notes: WARNING: Drama and swearing so be prepared.
SUMMARY: Time line moves forward once again and yet another little complication turns up in the lives of Frank and Rachel. (NO not *another* baby).
~*~*~*~
"Bloody uncomfortable things," complained Rachel as she pulled her bullet proof jacket over her head.
"Well they're not *meant* to be a fashion statement, " replied Frank.
"I'm bloody glad of that," added Donna, "because if that was all they were, I wouldn't be caught *dead* in one."
"Yes, well… that *is* the idea," replied Frank in his usual sarcastic tone. "Now that you are *both* ready for the next Vogue fashion parade, how about we do some work?"
The three Detectives from the Sydney Water Police took up their positions. They knew that there were a dozen or so S.P.G. officers with a breath of them, despite the fact that they couldn't be seen.
This operation had been planned for weeks.
They had only needed to wait for the right time to pounce.
The signal was given, everyone moved and within a few frantic minutes… yes, another drug importation ring was broken.
They joked at the ease of the operation as they walked back.
"I could handle one of these a week," said Donna as they reached the car.
"Yeah," replied Rachel, as she opened the boot of the car. She ripped the tabs on the jacket and threw it in the boot. "We could clean some serious scum of the streets. Hey Frank what do ya reckon… we've finished a bit earlier than planned…"
"Let me guess," he said as he opened the passenger front door, "Pub… drinks?"
"I'll be in that," replied Donna with a laugh. "As long as *you* are buyin' the first round," she said poking Frank in the arm.
"Me? Me… why should…"
Then a shot rang out.
"Where the friggin' hell did…." Started Frank.
But he never finished his sentence.
At that moment he watched Rachel's shoulder explode in a sea of blood, and her body spiralling to the ground from the impact.
She was screaming in pain…. and screaming…. and screaming…..
Frank went numb, and Donna dragged him to the ground.
"O F F I C E R D O W N!" she screamed, "O F F I C E R D O W N!"
They were words that turned any Coppers stomach.
This isn't happening thought Frank, not happening…
By now everyone was on the ground. Another shot rang out. This one tore a hole in the side of the Detectives car.
Then Frank heard a third shot. But this was from another direction.
This was one of theirs.
"H E 'S DOWN!" Frank heard one of the S.P.G.'s yell.
It had all unfolded in a matter of five maybe ten seconds, from Rachel going down to the lone gunman being taken out.
But it felt longer.
It felt like a lifetime.
"Rachel," Frank whispered and then yelled as he scrambled from the dirt and ran the few metres to where Rachel was rolling in agony.
"Rachel… honey… you're gonna be fine…"
"Fucking hell Frank, it hurts… it burns….Awww gees… the bastard…"
Frank pressed down on the hole in her shoulder to try and stop the blood flow.
"ARRRGGHHHH…. F R A N K …"
"Sorry gotta slow this down Rachel. Come on…you're tough… I don't remember you making this much noise when you had the kids. You reckoned you'd never feel pain like *that* again… You can do this… piece of cake."
Rachel continued to find every swear word she could remember, and then some, to yell loudly and often.
"D O N N A…get me somthin' here will ya," he called. He looked at his hands covered in Rachel's blood.
Donna dived into the car and grabbed her jumper.
"Here," she said as she ran around to the back of the car.
Frank quickly placed it over the cavity created by the bullet and pressed hard again.
Another tirade of abuse was hurled at Frank, but she was conscious which was all that he cared about.
Two S.P.G. officers appeared from nowhere, as they always did.
"Ambulance is on it's way," said one, "should only be a coupla minutes. Are you right there?"
"Yep," replied Frank, "Ya see Rachie, hang in there. Help's coming."
"Awww… hell Frank, shit it HURTS. Where was the bastard? I'm not sharing an ambulance with the friggin' bastard who did this to me… I'll rip his balls out…."
"Nah.. you won't have to," said the other officer, "the only place he's goin' is to the morgue in a body bag."
Rachel turned her attention back to Frank.
"Frank… this really REALLY burns… S H I T …shit… shiiiiitttt…." Rachel started to drift off.
"N A H… RACHEL,' he yelled, "DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOIN' ANYWHERE!"
"Hmmmm…"
"RACHEL! COME ON… What are we havin' for dinner tonight? Rachel… can you hear me… dinner… what?"
Keep her talking his mind kept saying to him. Anything… about anything, just keep her talking. Frank could hear the sirens in the distance. About bloody time he thought.
"RACHEL… RACHEL… COME ON… AMBULANCE IS COMING… HEAR THE SIREN?"
"Siren?" she muttered. "Siren… yeah… dinner… dunno… siren… yeah I can hear 'em."
"Good… okay come on stay awake Rachel. Stay awake until they get here. Come on… can you do that? What sort of Detective are you if you can't stay awake eh?? Come on Rachel… talk to me."
"Hmmm… you're a bastard Francis… I want to sleep… hmmm dinner… your turn." she drifted.
"I'm not cooking… that's woman's work…." he replied as he could hear the sirens getting closer. He was baiting her… anything to get her arguing.
Any think to try and kept her conscious.
"Nah…. You're turn….Don't try…. Hmmm sleep I want sleep… where's my bed… my soft…"
The ambulance screeched to a halt beside were Rachel lay.
They basically pushed Frank out of the way. He didn't mind… they were going to help his Rachel.
"Okay can you hear me?" asked one of the Ambo's as his partner took over applying the pressure to the wound from Frank.
"It's Rachel," chipped in Frank.
"Okay, Rachel can you hear me?"
"Hmmm… not time to get up yet… sleep in… Gabby turn that music down," she rambled.
"Okay Rachel if you can hear me," the ambo continued. "We're just going to give you something for the pain… You will feel so much better really soon."
"Pain… pain… it hurts… Frank… make it go away…"
Frank stood back and watched them stabilise her enough to load her into the back of the ambulance.
"We're taking her to Royal North Shore. It's the closest," said the Ambo. "you can follow us if you like."
"Nah bugger following," said Frank, "I'm going with you."
"Now look pal…"
"I'm also her husband," said Frank.
"Ahhh yeah…? Okay then, come on hurry up. Get in."
"Donna?"
"Yeah see ya when I see ya Frank."
~*~*~*~
There was a knock at the classroom door. The teacher stopped his monologue about the rainfall in India and went over to speak to someone who had come from the office.
"Gabrielle, you are wanted at the office," he said as the other teacher departed.
"Yesssss!" she replied with a happy cheer. Anything to get out of geography.
She got up from her desk.
"And take your books with you," he added.
"Oh okay," she said, and then began wondering why she had been summoned in the first place. What the hell had she done now? Gabby folded up her books, put her scattered pens in her pencil case and headed out the door.
As she approached the office she saw David standing there.
A sick feeling came over her.
The look on his face.
"David? What are you doing here?" she asked timidly.
He turned and looked at her. He had been a million miles away.
"There's been a shooting," he said, and then wished he hadn't been so damn blunt. "Got a phone call from Dad – Frank – at the hospital, she's in surgery."
"What Mum?… Mum's been shot?… What happened… what happened?" she cried frantically.
At point Sam and Daniel turned up at the office as well.
They had been laughing. Wondering what they could have done to be called to the office. They couldn't recall doing anything *too* bad that week
They saw their sister, in tears, in David's arms.
"No… no… this isn't happening," said Daniel, "no.. what… what…"
"It's okay… it's okay… she's alive," David said looking over the top of his sobbing sister.
"Mum?" said Sam. "Mum…? David what's happened, WHAT THE HELL HAS HAPPENED?"
"Come on," said David, "get your bags hurry up I'll take you to the hospital."
"David?" persisted Sam.
"Look, she's been shot. Dad said they think she will be okay. Now hurry up, get your bags," David instructed once again.
The three Musketeers ran off in different directions.
David stood there alone, feeling sick. This was something he'd never gone through before and something that he hoped he'd never go through again.
His father had died a couple of years before, heart attack, just as sudden. Although they didn't always see eye to eye, he still missed him. The possibility of losing his mother as well terrified him.
~*~*~*~
They arrived at the hospital to find Frank sitting in a lonely hallway, on hard plastic chair, head in hands and looking like hell.
"Daddy," called Gabrielle.
He looked up.
"Hey there you guys," he said standing up.
Gabrielle was soon sobbing in his arms.
"Hey sweetheart.. it's okay it's okay… she's gonna be fine. You know she's gonna be fine… made of tougher stuff that mother of yours."
They stood around Frank. Gabby still sobbing, the three boys trying hard to act like 'men' and not cry themselves. They were fighting the urge and losing the battle.
"Hey come here you guys," said Frank reaching out an arm to them. Tears welled up in Davids eyes.
"Aw shit…" said David sniffing, "hell I need to get some air… I'll be back in a tic, okay?"
"Yep, go on Davy. Hey why don't you take these guys with ya," said Frank.
Sam. and Daniel nodded.
"I want to stay with you Daddy," sobbed Gabrielle as she clung to her Father.
"Yeah okay… you can stay with me," Frank replied hugging her tightly.
"Come on guys," said David to his brothers, "let's find an exit."
Frank and Gabby sat back down. She lent into his shoulder, tears still trickling but the sobbing subsided.
"What happened Daddy?" she asked after a long silence. "Why weren't you there?"
"I was there," he replied.
"Then how did Mum get shot? I thought you guys covered for each other?"
"We do angel… it's just… there was someone there that we all didn't see. Even the 'Men in Black' missed him. Well they got him in the end."
"You mean he's….."
"Yep."
"I don't *want* her to a cop anymore. I don't want *you* to be one either. Tell her she has to stop. She's got to stop. Tell her…. Pleaaassseee?" Gabby pleaded.
"It doesn't work like that," replied Frank as he put his arm around her. "She's a cop, we're both cops and we wouldn't know what else to do if we weren't."
"But it's too dangerous. What if she dies…"
"She's *not* going to die. You *hear* me? She's gonna be okay. Being a cop is who your Mother is. It's part of her…. take that from her and she just wouldn't be the same person. I don't know… it's hard to explain, but it is just who we *both* are. Who we *have* to be."
A doctor appeared from a room and approached Frank.
"Mr. Holloway?"
"How is she?" he said standing to face the Doctor.
"Your wife is a very lucky woman," she began. "If that bullet had have gone anywhere else in that area, or had been fired from a closer range…. the bullet went in just above the clavicle – the collarbone. It missed the main three branches of the sternocleidomastoid muscle *and* somehow the main arteries in the neck as well."
"So… it didn't hit anything major?" he asked, trying to get his mind around all the doctor speak.
"There is a very small window and it appears the bullet found it. It however lodged next to the brachial plexus, that's the bundle of nerves in the shoulder. What this has done is created a lot of localised swelling and inflammation which *may* have caused some nerve damage. She will find that she has a loss of sensation and movement down her arm for a little while, but as the swelling goes this should improve."
"So it will be okay?" said Frank almost afraid to ask
"We won't know if there is any permanent damage until all the swelling has gone down. She *should* make a full recovery, all things being well. We've also started her on some antibiotics as a precautionary measure, just in case there is any infection from the bullet."
"Okay… thanks Doc. Can I…," said Frank nodding towards her room.
"Yeah sure," she replied, "but only a few minutes… she's still pretty grogy."
"Sweetie… you wanta wait here okay? I'll be back in a tic," said Frank.
Gabrielle nodded at her father.
~*~
Frank walked into Rachel's room. Machines beeping rhymically. She was hooked up to wires everywhere.
"Just to keep an eye on her. She *is* out of danger," said the doctor.
Frank walked over to Rachel and took her hand. She looked at him as though she was looking through a fog.
"Frank.. that you?"
"Yeah course its me," he said. "God... you gave me a scare today. The kids are outside…"
"Kids? What are they… doing here?"
"Ah you know…thought I'd give them a call. Any excuse to cut class. David brought them around."
"What is David doing here… should be at work?"
"Yeah well…"
"Ahhhhh…." She rolled her head back over to one side.
Frank smiled. She'd fallen back to sleep.
He gave her a kiss on the forehead before leaving her their to rest.
~*~
Returning to the hallway Frank found the kids outside her room and Jen standing with them.
"Jen? what are you…?"
"Mick heard.. told me…pulled a few strings got me out of the rest of my shift.
Thought I'd come down here, be with you guys," she replied.
David had his arm around Jen.
Frank could see that he needed her.
And Jen knew it too.
"Ah she's crashed back to sleep guys. How about we go and get something to eat? Come back when she's awake again?" suggested Frank.
They all just nodded. They were happy to follow anything that Frank said. They weren't really interested in thinking about anything for themselves.
~*~
They headed down to the hospital cafeteria, it was fairly crowded, but people seemed to make room when they saw Jen in uniform and Frank realised that his gun was not exactly inconspicuous in its holster.
They grabbed a couple of rounds of sandwiches to share and managed to find a table to themselves to sit and talk and eat.
"Being a cop certainly has bloody whiskers on it," said David as he attacked his sandwich.
"Ah you know," said Jen, "you get used to it, these things … all part of the job. Isn't that right Frank?"
"Yeah... all part of the job."
"Well I don't know… something I'll have to get used to if I marry a cop I suppose," said David.
"Who said anything about being married to a cop?" asked Jen.
Frank look at Jen and then looked at David.
"Think that might have been his way of proposing there Jen."
"Is it?" Jen asked.
David looked at her.
"Yeah…could be," he replied.
"Well you could have at least done it properly and not in front of your whole damn family," she laughed.
"Nah.. honorary Holloway," said Frank, "this is how we do things."
"And your timing could be better," said Gabby glaring at David. "You forgetting Mum nearly *died* today?"
"Hey… don't talk to *me* as if I don't care… I've *lived* with the fear of losing her to some bloody psycho. hell bent on killin' a copper, for a bloody sight longer than you!" David retaliated.
"Shove it David!" she yelled as she got up and hurled her chair back into the table.
"Gabby…" pleaded Frank. But she was already running out of the cafeteria.
"Shit. Look I'll be back…." He said as he started to stand up.
"No," said Jen. stopping him, "I'll go…"
"You sure?"
"Yeah…. I will see you back upstairs."
She lent over and kissed David on the cheek. "And yes… I will."
~*~
Frank and the boys sat and finished eating.
"So you think you can put up with Jen. full-time do you?" asked Frank.
"How hard can it be?" David asked. "If it works out half as well as you guys then we will be fine."
"Just remember, she's a cop David," said Frank. "Don't ever ask her to change that. I nearly lost everything by making that mistake with your mother. Your father made that mistake with her. I'm glad he did, but you gotta remember ya can't change who they are."
"But you and Mum got through it," said David.
"Yeah… but that was because *I* realised that I couldn't take the job away from her. And well, there was a couple of other extenuating circumstances," he grinned.
"Being?"
"Ah… well," started Frank.
"Hmm wouldn't have been a couple of additions to the household?" asked David with a smile. "Actually I remember coming around once, years ago before you guys got married, and Mum said that you were staying on the 'Footloose' for some reason. I don't remember why… she just said that you were. And it wasn't long after that when you guys said she was going to have another baby. Which turned out to be double trouble."
"Yep, that would be about then," Frank replied. "You'd remember there was that siege and your Mother and Sam. were caught in the middle of it. I was stupid, after it was all over I questioned whether she should leave instead of going back."
"I was in the middle of a siege?" asked Sam. surprised. "Why haven't I heard about *this* before?"
"It wasn't something we wanted to think about," replied Frank. "You were only a few months old. And then well… I convinced her to take leave instead of resigning. We sorted things out. But the moral to this story, is that if you think you can change her from being a cop, don't bother getting' married in the first place."
~*~*~*~
They went back upstairs. The Doctor was just leaving Rachel's room.
"Can we go in?" asked David.
"Yes," said the Doctor, "but only for a few minutes. We don't want to over do it."
"You guys go in," said Frank. "I'll wait out here for Gabby and Jen."
The other 'men' in Rachel's life apprehensively walked into her room. A few minutes was all they could handle anyway. They were too used to seeing their Mother as the strong woman who knocked their heads together frequently. This side of their Mother troubled them. She wasn't meant to be vulnerable, and dependant on anything but her own wits and skill.
"I think I will take the guys home," said David as they came back out to the hallway.
Rachel had been asleep the whole time they were in there.
It suited them actually.
She couldn't see how upset they were.
"Yeah good idea. I will…."
Frank could see Jen and Gabby walking down the hall.
"Hey there," he said.
"Yeah… you guys going are you?" asked Jen. "How is she?"
"Ah… no change. Sleeping it off. She's gonna be bloody sore tomorrow though," replied Frank.
"Ah they will have her drugged up on heaps of painkillers. She'll be flying for awhile I suspect," Jen. replied.
"Yeah… anyway, the guys are heading home. Oh hell actually I came in the Ambulance," started Frank.
"Here," said David, pulling his keys out of his pocket. It is parked down stairs, umm its… Gabby you remember where I parked it don't you?"
"Yeah… so…"
"Well, we can head over home with Jen. then? You can take Gabby home with you after you've been in," said David.
"I can't go in," said Gabby. Her eyes still red from crying.
"Yeah of course you can," said Frank. "I will be with you. She's not that bad. Hey you can give her as much cheek as you like and she won't have a go at you!"
Gabby couldn't help but smile at her Fathers words.
"Only if you come with me?" she said.
"Yeah… of course. Hey you guys… um… pick up a couple of pizza's or something on the way home," said Frank.
"Sure," said Jen.
David put his arms around his little sister and gave her a hug. "Be brave my little Musketeer, she's going to be fine."
Gabby gave her big brother a half smile. "Yeah… okay… I will. Just for you! Look I'm sorry about…."
"Nah that's okay. Come on then," David said, turning to the others. "Let's get you home."
~*~
Gabby held her breath as she walked into the room with her Father.
"Oh shit.." she muttered under her breath.
"Dad I don't think I …." She tried to turn to leave.
"Frank?…." Rachel said softly.
"Yep," he replied moving over to her bedside with Gabby.
"Oh I think I have to sit down," said Gabby. She had turned pale and now looked rather sickly after seeing her Mother lying there.
"Hey baby… you here too…?" questioned Rachel, blinking, trying to focus on them. Her brain was unwilling to join the pictures from her eyes to the images in her brain.
"Sorry," she said closing her eyes, admitting defeat, "eyes don't want to work. I know what you guys look like… doesn't matter."
Frank had pulled up a chair beside the bed for Gabby. She sat there and rested her head on the bed. Rachel could feel the weight against her side, and moved her hand down gently tangling her fingers through Gabrielle's curls.
"Hey Gabby… you tired?"
Silence.
"Gabby?"
"No," she said. She was fighting the urge, the need to cry again.
Such a short word. But Rachel, even in her sedated state, could sense the pain in her daughters voice.
"Hey…. honey… Doc. says it's gonna be fine. Come on….. take more than a… than a *bullet* to stop me. It was only one… wasn't it Frank?"
Rachel tried opening her eyes again. She could see him a bit clearer this time. "I sorta remember more… three?"
"Ah don't worry about it now," he replied. "Save it for tomorrow. They will want a damn report on it from *me* tomorrow, in bloody triplicate. Trust *you* to create paperwork for me Rachel. You *know* how much I hate paperwork."
"Sorry, I will remember… next time… someone takes pot shots at me," she replied. "Hmm, shoulder. Got me in the shoulder. It's all a bit numb, can't feel anything. At least it is my left, not my friggin' right. Would have trouble drawing my gun… if my arm is a bit dodgy."
"Mum, how can you think about the job already?" Gabby sniffed.
"Hmmm? I'm a cop sweetheart… Detective… can't be much of a Detective without my gun," she replied. "Frank come on… three right? Only one got me?"
"Oh okay… stubborn woman! Yeah three. The one that hit you…. ah… one put a bloody hole in the side of the car and one….."
"Yeah… the third?" she asked, almost demanding.
"The third was one of ours, B1 or B2."
Hmmm yeah… now that you mention it… body bag… one of the bananas said. They got him didn't they?"
"Yep, they got him. Hey look, you rest. We're gonna go and let you rest," said Frank as he kissed her. "You sleep and I will see you in the morning. Come on Gabby, time to go home."
"I love you Mum," said Gabby as she lifted her head from the bed.
Rachel could see Gabrielle's face, the tears. "Hey love you too," she replied reaching out to try and wipe tears from her daughters face. "Hmmm, and where are my boys?" she asked.
"Ah they were in earlier, but you were asleep. Thought we would let you rest," said Frank.
"Oh.. okay… sleep. I need sleep," she mumbled.
"Night," said Frank. And he led Gabby out of the room and home.
~*~*~*~
Over the next few days there was a procession of friends wandering in to see how Rachel was doing. Her shoulder was heavily strapped to prevent any movement and the arm was trusted up in a sling.
She was bored.
She hated being bored.
Her room had started to resemble a florist shop. Flowers from everyone at work. Word travelled fast she thought, and far. Even flowers and a card from Alex. and Jack. They were up in Pt. Macquarie now. Tommy had even phoned. They hadn't seen him for six months or so. Always busy… damn workaholic that he was.
"Hey Woman!" came a bright, bubbly voice.
Rachel had just throwing another glossy magazine to the floor.
"Tayler? Hey what are you doing here?"
"Hey yourself. Heard you'd been having a bit of fun out there," she replied. "I was going to apologise for not bring you any flowers but I see you don't really have any room for more anyway."
"Yeah… ta for the thought, but I am glad you didn't. So I am guessing Helen told you?" asked Rachel.
"Yeah, I thought I would come and pay you a visit… how you feelin'?"
"Ah you know not too bad considering," Rachel replied.
"Yeah, I heard it was a close call?" stated Tayler.
"Nah….would have been a close call if he'd got me in the head. But yeah… you know what it's like. You've been here," smiled Rachel.
"Yes I have…" Tayler answered. "And I remember it wasn't much fun. And God it was boring!"
"Tell me about it," laughed Rachel. "So where is junior."
"Ah over playing with Great Auntie Helen, she's got the day off… I've seen you looking better Rach.," said Tayler sitting down on the chair beside her bed.
"Oh great… thanks," said Rachel.
"Yeah well things like this," Tayler continued, "that remind me why I got out."
"So… do you miss it?" asked Rachel.
"Sometimes… but then when I hear about my friends winding up in hospital because some dickhead's gone and shot 'em…. Nah…I don't miss it at all."
"Ah I don't know Tayler... I think I'm getting too friggin' old for this," said Rachel trying to get comfortable but failing dismally.
"You…? You wouldn't know what else to do with yourself," she laughed. "The kids off at school.. what the twins.. what are they…thirteen???"
"Fourteen, nearly fifteen," actually Rachel replied.
"Hell, already? So what would you do... sit at *home* all day… do housework and wait for them to come home from school? Nah… can't see it as being part of *your* picture Rachel."
"So how have *you* been Tayler? We haven't seen much of you since Gavin transferred," asked Rachel.
"Oh you know," said Tayler, "Jed keeps me on my toes now that he is crawling everywhere… God he's quick… Oscar has almost finished grade 2."
"Quick? Tell me about kids being quick," said Rachel. "I remember with the twins and Samuel... God I thought I was going to go crazy trying to keep up with them. No sooner would you get *one* of them out of mischief one of the *others* would be into something."
"Yeah. Well I had better not stay too long. Jed. will be driving Helen around the twist. That place of hers is just not kid proof," she laughed.
"Hey don't be a stranger," said Rachel as Tayler stood to leave, "come around one day when I get home. I think I will be off for awhile."
"I will," she smiled. "It will be good to catch up. See ya Rach."
~*~*~*~
"Frank if you continue to treat me like a bloody invalid I am going to kill you, do you understand?" chided Rachel as she walked in the front door.
"Well I don't care *what* you say. You are going to lie down woman, you've hardly been up all week. You need to rest from the drive here, so BED MOVE IT!"
"Arggghh, wait until I have two good arms again Francis, hell you're going to cop it."
"Promises promises," he grinned.
"Shit," she said as she surveyed their bedroom, "did anyone get the rego of the truck that hit this place?"
"Ah… yeah… well I didn't get much of a chance to tidy up," said Frank sheepishly.
"Much chance?" questioned Rachel, "Shit Frank I think those socks were lying there on the floor the morning we went out on that operation. That's well over a week ago."
"Just don't worry about anything… I have a couple of days off, everything will look perfect. You have a lie down… David is coming around with tea. Got him to pick up Chinese… sound good?"
"Ah… *real* food," laughed Rachel.
"You don't want?" asked Frank.
"No.. no… I mean yes I want Chinese.. but I was being serious," said Rachel sitting on the bed, "I've had enough meat and three veg. to last me a lifetime in that hospital."
Frank threw all the pillows to the centre.
"Come on, lie down… NOW!" he instructed.
"Yeah okay, just until David gets here." She screwed her face up with pain as she lay back on the pillows.
"Pain?" asked Frank.
"Nah… it tickles…. Shit what do *you* think?" she asked. "can you get my bag? There are some painkillers in it."
Frank picked up her bag and fished around in it.
"I didn't say for *you* to get them, I said to give me my bag. What is this, a damn Police search or something?" she snapped. "You won't find anything else in there Detective!"
"Gee Rachel, don't be so damn touchie. And here was me looking forward to you getting' home. Here," he said handing her the bag. "I'll go and get you something to drink."
"I don't need…." She started, but he was gone.
She found the tablets and swallowed them without the liquid. "Damn man," she muttered. "As if he missed me!" But she knew that he would have. She had missed him. Just when *did* she get so damn used to having him there?
David had arrived, and by the time Frank returned to Rachel with a glass of water, she was already asleep. He threw a rug over her and left her there.
~*~
Rachel blinked and panicked for a second. Where was she? After waking up in hospital for over a week it took her a few seconds to realise she was in her own bed. But it was dark. Why was it dark? Hmm, maybe it was night she told herself. Gees where had that brain of hers gone!
Rachel swung her feet to the floor and stood up. She gave herself a minute to get used to standing before tentatively heading out of the room. Bet they didn't leave me any food, she thought.
She wandered into the lounge room. Frank was asleep on the couch. Why was he asleep already? She looked over at the clock, 1.45 a.m. Shit she'd *really* had a nap. Why was he out here with a pillow and blanket and not come to bed? She walked over to him and smiled.
"FREEZE HOLLOWAY!"
Frank jumped about two foot off the couch.
Rachel laughed.
"Shit Rachel," he said as he pulled the rug off himself and sat up, "I *hate* it when you do that. You *know* how much I hate that."
"Sorry dear," she scoffed as she gingerly sat down beside him, "Just couldn't resist."
"One of these days…."
"Oh yeah Francis, I'm *so* scared," she laughed again. "So I guess there's no food left?"
"Well actually we *saved* some for you. But after that… well I wish I'd eaten it," he retaliated.
She smiled.
Frank gave in, as he always did when she smiled at him like that.
It was a real smile. Not one of those she saved for people who annoyed the hell out of her.
*He* knew the difference.
Well, most of the time.
"I'll go zap it in the microwave," he said and disappeared into the kitchen.
A few minutes later he returned with the steaming food. Zapped a little too long! He put the plate on the coffee table in front of them.
"Might want to give it a minute," he said, "you know… to cool down a bit."
"Hmm surprise me!" she said. "Anyway, what are you doing out here? Why didn't you come to bed?"
"Ah well, you were sleepin'. Anyway, I thought I would camp out here until that arm of yours was a bit better. I wouldn't want to knock it, I reckon you'd knock me!"
"Won't you get a bit lonely out here?" she questioned softly.
"Oh hell, don't go talkin' like *that* Rachel. Don't tease me when we *both* know…. You with your arm in that sling. You wanta know just how *much* I've missed you sleeping beside me?"
"Some how I don't think it was the *sleeping* you missed Francis," she grinned.
"Well let's just put it this way," he replied, " when that bloody arm of yours is better, we're packing up for a week and going off somewhere on the 'Footloose'. I want you all to myself. NO interruptions."
"Hmm… sounds good, I'm glad we decided to keep the boat," said Rachel.
"Yeah, so am I," grinned Frank "Now… do you want to eat? How would you like me to *feed* it to you?"
"Only if you want to *wear* it Francis James Holloway!"
THE END.