Chapter 2.
"Rachel!" A voice shouted down the street. Rachel turned to see her best friend come running down the street after her.
"What is it Lucy?" Rachel said slightly annoyed. "I'm late as it is and Mum's going to kill me when I get home," The other young girl smiled at her.
"Well a couple of minutes won't make any difference then," She said. She caught Rachel's arm and stopped her from walking away. "Tommy just phoned," Rachel groaned.
"What did he want now?" Rachel knew that her friend had a major crush on the boy that was a year ahead of them at school.
"He asked me out on Friday," Rachel groaned again she knew what was coming. "But mum won't let me go out with him on my own;" She put on a winsome expression.
"And you want me to say I'm going with you," The other girl nodded. Rachel sighed.
"Okay, okay," She said." Now let me get home," The other girl ran back down the street.
Rachel got home a few minutes later. She noticed her father's car outside and gave a groan that was all she needed now dad would be on her case as well. As she got in she threw her bag on to the kitchen table. She went to the fridge and got herself a drink of orange juice.
"Mum, dad," She called. Wondering why there was no answer; she walked through to the main living room. The glass dropped from her hand as she saw her mother laying on the floor not far away her father to lay his glass eyed look speaking louder than words that he was dead.
"Rachel," The sound came from her mother. Rachel dropped down to knees at her side.
" Mum?" Tears ran down her face. The woman looked up at her daughter.
"Never trust them honey," The words were forced. Then the woman's eyes closed.
"Mum?" Rachel looked at her and she knew that she was dead, "Mum!" The sound was of unbearable pain.
Steve sat up in bed he knew that something had woke him. It was only when he looked at his wife he knew what had done it. Curled into ball Rachel lay still sleeping but crying like a little girl,
"Rachel," He said to her. Gently shaking her to wake her. "Rachel wake up,"
Her eyes opened. Suddenly she opened her eyes, looking slightly dazed.
" You where having a nightmare again," He told her softly. Ever since meeting Elizabeth Weston three weeks ago, Rachel had been bothered by nightmares, It was the same one over and over again.
"Sorry!" She said softly, running her hand up through her hair.
"You've nothing to be sorry for," He told her softly, running his hand down the side of her face. Steve gave a quick glance across at his packed holdall and began to wonder if going away to this convention was a good idea after all.
"I'm fine," She said softly when she had followed his glance. He looked at her worried.
" Just I'm not sure about leaving you," He had not been sure even when the convention had first become known. But the captain had put on the pressure a little bit over it, so in the end he had agreed to go. But he wasn't happy about it.
"I'll be fine," She told him with a smile. "I've been through these times before. It'll stop soon. And I've managed to get through them alone," Steve's eyes narrowed at her then she realised she had used the wrong words.
"You shouldn't have to now," He said to her. Rachel sighed and reached up to him and pulled him against her.
"Steve, make love to me," She smoothly diverted him. His kiss had moved down to her neck before he realised what she had done and he gave a growl.
"That was unfair," He stated. Rachel gave a throaty laugh that gave way to a moan.
In the morning Steve was finishing getting ready for the convention. Rachel sat on the bed watching him. She was feeling a mixture of feelings as she did, wanting him to stay, but also not wanting him to miss any opportunity. These nightmares had been part of her life ever since her parents had died. She knew that meeting Elizabeth Weston had been the trigger for it this time. Mark had been shocked to find out that she was related to the Weston's, but not surprised that they were involved. He had known Edward fairly well and could see him cutting his daughter out of his life and never mentioning her again. Steve had finished packing and came and sat down at his wife's side.
"Rachel," He said softly. Rachel smiled at him pushing her fears to the back of her mind.
"I told you last night I'll be fine," Steve sighed.
"Are you sure?" She nodded.
"Mark's here," She told him. "So I won't be all alone," Her hand wrapped its way around the back of his neck and her fingers began to thread their way through his hair.
"Keep that up," He told her with a smile." And I'll not be going anywhere," Rachel laughed.
"Its just something to remember me by," Steve tipped her back on the bed.
Mark sat on the deck reading the daily paper when Steve came up stairs, he could tell by the look on his face that he was worried about something and he guessed that it was Rachel.
"Another nightmare?" He asked. Steve nodded.
"Yeah," He sat down on one of the chairs. "I just keep getting a bad feeling about all of it," Mark put down the paper and looked across at his son.
"If there is a problem I'll be here," He told him. "And I'll phone you if I think that you should come back," Steve gave a smile.
"Thanks dad," He said gratefully.
Many people had made comment about their decision to live with his father. But it held the best of both worlds for both them and his father. If they wanted privacy they could stay downstairs much the same as Steve had always done, but if Steve was working late on a case he knew that his father was company for Rachel and when Rachel worked late he could still go up to his father as well if he wanted. They had all settled down and where happy with the arrangement.
Rachel drove Steve to airport,
"I'll phone as soon as I know the hotel number;" He stood waiting for the flight to be called. He had pulled Rachel to him and rapped his arms tightly around her and he kissed her. "I'll miss you," He told her.
"I'll miss you to," She said softly. It was then they heard the announcement for his flight. He kissed her again then let her go and moved to check in. Rachel watched him, just before he left her sight he turned and waved and she waved back. With a sigh she watched him out of sight, telling herself that it was only going to be four days until he was back.
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A/N,
I know things are a bit slow, but there was certain things that needed to be in place before I could continue.
Please review.
Alison
