SONG LYRIC CREDITS SONG LYRIC CREDITS 11: Angel (Aerosmith).

Chapter 11

Months passed, and the baby book was gradually filled in. Every milestone was both a joy and a sorrow to Rachel, who couldn't help but regret that Frank wasn't there to share it with her. Her only consolation was that Ali was too young to notice his absence. Perhaps she wasn't really missing out on so much after all.

Letters came less and less often; he was still sailing around, sweetly oblivious to everything that was now so much a part of Rachel's life. He'd finally made it to Venezuela, but he hadn't stayed long. He'd decided to, as he put it, "Keep sailing forward until I run into you again". However, each letter was more depressing than the last. He still said he missed her, and she knew it was true, but he was starting to convince himself she wouldn't wait for him. As she had no way to reassure him, she hoped he wouldn't lose faith.

He had to come back.

~~ * ~~

Eventually, the time came for Rachel to return to work. She was in two minds about it, herself. She missed the day to day company dreadfully, but she couldn't help but feel she was abandoning her daughter. It was the finance situation, however, that finally decided her on the matter. Her paid leave was about to run out, and a single parent payment didn't look particularly appealing.

Surprisingly enough, it was David who convinced her it was the right thing to do. "You went back to work after I was born, didn't you Mum?" he reminded her. "I managed okay."

Rachel ruffled his hair affectionately, "Yeah, you did."

~~ * ~~

Surprised to find her old suits fit her again, Rachel dressed for work, whilst seven-month-old Ali lay on her stomach on the bed, supervising.

"What do you think, kiddo?" Rachel asked, doing a little twirl.

"Bah," the infant replied.

Her mother grinned. "Come on, munchkin, let's get you dressed."

Twenty minutes later, Rachel pulled up in front of the day-care centre recommended by Jeff Hawker. Inviting as it looked, and despite the high praise Jeff had given it, it was still a wrench leaving Ali there. There were more than a few tears in Rachel's eyes that morning.

When she arrived at the station, she found the whole crew of senior officers waiting to welcome her back. Jeff even stood on the stairs and made a speech, before brusquely shooing everybody off to their respective posts to get back to work.

Upstairs, her desk was cleaned out, waiting for her to move back into it. She'd met the detective who'd replaced her after Alex; he wasn't a bad bloke, if a little dim. He'd let Jack get away with too much, she was sure.

Helen made her customary early morning appearance, waving a police report printout. Rachel grabbed the car keys, and she and Jack set off to investigate a boat break-in.

~~ * ~~

The day dribbled along, there were a few simple cases, but nothing major. At the end of the day, instead of heading off to the pub, Rachel invited her fellow detectives to her place.

"Sorry, Rachel, you'll have to count me out," Mick apologised. "I got a date."

"Oh, yeah, who is she?" Rachel asked, sensing an opportunity to stir.

"No one you know," he told her firmly.

Rachel pouted. "You'll come, though, won't you Jack?" she asked.

"Yeah, I got nothing better to do."

"Thanks a lot!"

Jack smiled, "You know I'm only kidding, Rach."

~~ * ~~

Ali had enjoyed her day, although she was very happy to see her mother arrive to pick her up. She fell asleep in the baby seat in the car, and only woke for a few minutes when she was carried inside the house.

She was well and truly asleep by the time Jack showed up sporting a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc.

"You didn't have to bring your own, Jack," Rachel admonished. "I've got a six-pack in the fridge."

He shrugged, "Oh well, I figured it'd be nice, you know, to celebrate your first day back at work."

Rachel smiled, giving in. "Thanks, Jack," she told him, stepping aside to let him in. "I suppose I'm gonna have to get some glasses out, then," she grumbled.

Jack grinned. "We could always drink it out of the bottle if you want to save the washing up," he suggested.

Rachel shook her head, "I'm not that crass, Jack," she protested. She pulled two wine glasses out of her cupboard, and rinsed them under the tap. "They don't get used very much," she explained. Wiping them dry with a tea towel, she put them both on the counter for Jack to pour the wine, which he did.

The two of them sat opposite each other on Rachel's lounge chairs. Jack started off by relaying a few amusing stories of her predecessor's minor botch-ups of various cases. "I tell you, I can't figure out how that bloke made it to detective senior connie," he finished.

"Well, it's nice to hear my job was never in jeopardy, anyway," Rachel grinned.

"Oh, no way!" Jack assured her, "We couldn't wait! Fair dinkum, this guy made the boat crew look almost competent."

Rachel managed to put down her almost empty glass on the table before collapsing in a fit of giggles.

Jack frowned, "You right there, Rach? I didn't think it was *that* funny!"

Rachel shook her head, trying to get her breath back. "Sorry," she finally managed, "I think this wine went straight to my head. Bloody hell, you go dry for a year, and look what happens!" Then she began giggling again.

Jack shook his head disbelievingly and refilled his glass for the fourth time. He figured he'd leave hers as it was.

It was ten o'clock before Jack noticed the time. "Shit, is it that late? I'd better get going."

Rachel walked with him to the front door. "Thanks for coming, Jack," she told him. "I appreciated the company."

He smiled, "So did I."

They embraced, but both found themselves holding on for a second longer than was natural for a friendly hug. They drew apart, the spirit of camaraderie replaced by something a little more serious.

Neither could remember later who had initiated it, but all of a sudden they were kissing. It had been a long time for both of them, and both found themselves responding without thinking. It was comfortable and familiar, and it had been so long... Rachel found herself surrendering to it, needing a release.

Ali's cry brought both back to the present with a thud.

"I'm sorry," Jack apologised.

Rachel shook her head. "It was as much me as it was you."

"Well, I'd better go, I'll see you tomorrow," Jack said, and quickly left.

After her nappy had been changed, Ali went back to sleep easily. Rachel went to bed herself, but she was unable to sleep, thinking about what had happened between her and Jack. It had been a mistake, most definitely. Jack was still grieving for Alex, and she was waiting for Frank. Ali's interruption had been more than timely. Rachel cried herself to sleep that night for the first time in months.

I'm alone, yeah I don't know if I can face the night
I'm in tears, and the crying that I do is for you
~~ * ~~

The next morning at the office there was an inevitable coolness between Rachel and Jack. In Mick's presence, they spoke to one another only when it was necessary, and alone, they even avoided looking at each other.

Rachel had had enough of this by lunchtime, and when she saw Jack sitting by himself in the corner of the meal room, she saw her chance and took it.

Jack looked up, surprised, as Rachel sat opposite him. "Hi," he said softly.

Rachel sighed. "We're not going to let this drive a wedge between us, are we? I mean, there's no point both of us feeling sorry and uncomfortable all the time."

Jack shook his head, "I guess not."

"It's just something that happened, right? It won't happen again, we both agree on that, don't we?"

Jack took a second in answering. "Yeah, we agree," he answered.

Rachel took a gulp of coffee before venturing, "You know, in another lifetime we were probably a really hot couple," she smiled.

Jack couldn't help but smile back. "Yeah, probably," he agreed.

~~ * ~~

"Hey, Mum, quick!" David's call echoed through Rachel's small house.

Rachel left the spaghetti on the stove, and ran to see what was so urgent.

When she entered the living room, she saw David's face first. He was grinning ear to ear. "Look Mum, she can stand up by herself!"

Rachel looked at Ali, who was standing, if a little shakily, using the coffee table to balance. "Well, aren't you clever?" Rachel cooed to her daughter.

Ali stopped looking bewildered and smiled at the praise, as her mother knelt down and gave her a hug.

Rachel kissed her daughter, and turned to her son, "Dinner's going to boil over in a minute, you two stay out of trouble," she told him, ruffling his hair affectionately. David grinned. "Want me to get the camera?" he asked, hopefully.

"Oh, all right, go on," Rachel capitulated, "But be quick, unless you want to go hungry!"

David scampered out of the room and returned with Rachel's camera. "Can I take the picture, Mum?" he asked.

Rachel nodded, and David snapped the picture.

"Would you mind going and turning the stove off for me, David?"

"Okay, Mum," David grinned, and ran off again.

Rachel lifted Ali's t-shirt and blew a raspberry on her belly. Ali giggled hysterically; this was her favourite game. Scooping her daughter up into her arms, Rachel headed for the kitchen to dish up spaghetti for two and something-or-other-puree for one.

~~ * ~~

Next up: Chapter 12

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