Disclaimer: No earthquake, they're still CBS's & Channel 9's. Oh well...
A/N: Thanks a million for the couple of reviews, nice things being said (wouldn't mind if they were bad as long as they're justified) and wouldn't mind some more either ;o)
Since it's more of a WaT orientated story : Madigan used to be the bad guy in Water Rats, before he got killed by another bad guy, Frank and him were really mad at each other, so to speak.
Oh and I hadn't said it but English isn't my native tongue so pardon me if there are any mistakes.

2. A Missing Son

Missing Person Unit, FBI, 6:24PM, New-York

Apparently his second phone call had paid off thought Danny as he looked at the fax the phone company had just send in.
Tim had called his ex-girlfriend once in the past week. According to what she had said he'd left a message saying he was sorry if he'd hurt her and that he needed to do "it". Nothing that made her a suspect. Samantha and Vivian had actually heard the message.
Then a few friends and a travel agency which Danny phoned at once to find out why he'd phone them. Unfortunately the guy there was only working for the agency for a couple of days and Tim hadn't register as a client. Which meant he hadn't bought any ticket.
Further along he found Celia's phone number a couple of time.
In fact the most peculiar fact was a phone number Tim had phone twice in two weeks. Danny phone the company again to have Tim's record of the past two months.
In the mean time he phoned Jack to keep him informed. It seemed he'd just woken his boss. Nevertheless Jack congratulated Danny for his good work and asked to be kept informed. But as they were saying goodbye the fax beeped and Jack waited for Danny to check it.
"Jack? You still there?"
"Yeah, go on" said the voice on the line.
"He's called that Australian phone number every week these past two months."
"Right I'm sure it's something new. Can you see when it begun ?"
"No it's not there." Danny hoped Jack wouldn't ask more phone company record, he somehow had a feeling they wouldn't find that very funny.
"Uh huh. Hang on a bit." Jack checked his watch. "Look it must be morning over there so why don't you call them, I'm on my way to the office."
"Yo!" said a relieved Danny.

He then dialled the phone number awaiting the answer. He hoped Jack was right about the time lag. He didn't want to be waking up anybody else tonight. Especially not someone who'd need to testify.
"Holloway!" said the voice on the phone.
Uh Huh thought Danny, he seems hopeful. Well I suppose it won't last.
"Mr Holloway, Special Agent Taylor speaking, FBI. I'd like to ask you a few question to clarify the matter at hands." He'd taken his most official tone.
"Em. Yes, of course" said the man.
"We have checked some phone record. Have you been in contact this past couple of months with a boy named Tim Mykes?" asked Danny, straight to the point.
"Yes" simply answered the man.
"Mr Holloway may I ask you why?" said Danny, still in his official tone.

Sydney Water Police Head quarter, 9:06AM

Frank was going through his memory to try and remember anything he could have seen or heard about Tim recently. He decided against it. He'd have noticed.
"Mr Holloway?" asked the FBI guy.
Frank could see Rachel was concerned about him. He hadn't told her. He hadn't told anyone, the situation still seemed so unreal. Though he enjoyed talking with Tim a lot.
He still didn't know what to say to this guy. Was he really a FBI agent or someone sent by who knows what villain held a revenge against Frank? Even if that seemed a little crazy. This guy had had his phone record in hand!
"Yes, yes."
"Mr Holloway, you don't seem to understand, this is a federal investigation if you..."
That was it!
"Oh stuff it, I've been with the FBI I know how it works. I need a proof you're not working for some Madigan followers!"
"Now look Mr Holloway, I don't know who the hell is Madigan and I don't fuckin' care. Tim Mykes has gone missing since yesterday night and if you don't answer my question I'm gonna assume you're implied in his disappearance."
Frank's face fell. Tim going missing. What the...?
"What? What do you mean he's gone missing? He called me this weekend!"
"Well that was two days ago." Taylor replied coldly.

Frank thought over it for a minute and then his heart got the better of him. This guy was a FBI agent and he was looking for his Tim.
"Tim's my son." He said. In the corner of his eyes he saw Rachel gasped. He felt bad about it but he couldn't have told her.

Missing Person Unit, FBI, 7:14PM

Danny was taking the information in : that Aussie guy was Tim's father. That was explaining why he was calling him so often. But Celia had said Tim didn't know his father, so what was going on there?

"Tim phoned me five months ago" the Aussie began again "He introduced himself and said he believed I was his Dad.
I don't have children Agent Taylor. So after a little month of reflection I asked him to send a blood specimen for a DNA test." The man paused.
Danny was wondering how he had done that. He had to have some serious medical contacts.
"See I'm a cop, Detective Senior Constable at the Water Police here in Sydney so I asked our pathologist and he did that in the blink of an eye.
I don't know how Tim found me but the test said I was indeed his Dad. So... I called Tim to confirm his deduction and we started talking regularly on the phone. I said I wanted to talk to his Mother... I haven't seen Celia in ages and I wanted to know how she was and why she hadn't told me but he refused. Said she'd hate both of us. I didn't want to disappoint him. I had been a disappointment all his life."
There was an uncomfortable silence for a minute or two. Then Danny resumed his questioning.
"So does Mrs Mykes know that you and Tim are in contact?"
"No. Tim's afraid of her reaction."
"Right uh.. " Danny was lost for words.
"Look I'll come over."
"What? Yeah. Right, well you can check in the FBI Missing Unit. Ask for Special Agent Malone, he's my boss."
"I'll be there tomorrow, first thing in the morning."
"Uh... okay, see you then." Danny was shocked by this man's decision. Then he guessed he'd probably do the same if he had a son going missing in Sydney.
Especially when it was his job to find people gone missing.
He was reflecting over it when Jack arrived.
"So that Aussie?"
"Hey, it's Tim's Father."
"What?"
"He's a cop, Detective Holloway, he said Tim had found him a few months ago and they had kept in touch since."
"Is he a suspect?" Jack frowned... Tim's Dad?
"No he's in Sydney and I don't think he could do anything, he's never seen Tim as far as I know."
"He never told me about his Dad... What about Celia?"
"He said it was a secret : Tim was afraid of his mother's reaction."
"Makes sense." Agreed Jack.
The silence settled between the two men. Jack looked toward the white board.
"He said he'd come over."
Jack nodded.
"I hope he'll be able to help us."
"Yeah" It was Danny's turn to agree. Jack frowned.
"I don't want an Australian cop hanging around here. It's complicated enough as it is... You should go home."
"Yeah, you too." And Danny got his coat and walked to the elevator.
"Good job tonight" greeted Jack before the door closed upon his agent.
Danny smiled.

Sydney Water Police Head quarter, 9:21AM

Frank hung up and cast a cautious look at Rachel. She was looking at him, he didn't know what to do. She was his best friend, his kindred soul and he had kept the biggest shock of his life to himself.
All her anger from their previous argument was gone but he knew better. She was going to bite his head off. He had a child!
He got up.

"Where d'ya think you're going?" she said bitterly.
"Hawker's office" he said casually.
"Frank..." she tried to stop him. He turned around, seeing the look in his eyes all sign of her bitterness, loneliness died away. He just looked so... lost and sorry. Suddenly it made sense. Over the past couple of month he had change. He had a son and that changed a man and he was afraid to let it show.
He looked a bit like a child caught in the act.
"Before you go... I think we could use a talk." She smiled.
"Yeah... I'd just, not here. Let's go out."
She followed him on the balcony, never letting him out of her sight, afraid he might slip away.

"Frank you should have told me."
He had rarely seemed so fragile.
"I know, I know... I wanted to... but I couldn't Rachel"

"What would I have done?"
He smiled a bit.
"Laugh at me right after having told the whole station."
"Right you've got a point. But Frank it's so... big!"
"I know, I know."
"Do I know his Mum?"
"Nah... it was long ago, before we knew each other, she was on holiday and I thought it might work. It was after my first marriage. I'd forgotten about her – hey don't tell that to Tim – then he brought her back."
"Miss her?"
"What? No it's over, she's moved on and so have I. You know she's a pleasant memory... but she's changed surely : New-Yorkers" he winked.
"So... Tim – that Right?" Frank nodded " – Tim's from NYC."
"Yup." He nodded again.
"And he's gone missing?"
Frank looked down.

"Yeah." When he looked up again the pain had come back in his eyes.
"And you're going there?"
"I can't stay and sit around here!"
"Yeah I know... Frank what I wanna say is... you know when you'll be in New-York you'll feel lonely and lost probably" he shrugged it off "come on don't be so blokey about that, you will I know it. But if ya need to talk to someone, you know, New-Yorkers have phones" and she smiled.
"Yeah, ta Rach."
"Hey" she smiled "I've been there"
"Yeah I know"

This was getting too hot. He could feel he was loosing it. He loved Rachel, God knows, he loved her but he didn't want to crack in front of her. So he went inside and excused himself by saying he had to talk to Jeff.

Jack Malone's apartment, 8:01PM

Jack went home. He decided against visiting Celia, he did however slip a note about Tim's father under her door.
He was sipping his drink silently when a light knock resonated on his door. He got up and opened it.

"Jack, what's up?"
It was Celia and she was nervous as ever.
"It's okay, it's nothing. Just another lead for now..."
"No, Jack, you wrote about Timmy's Dad"
He smiled he hadn't heard her call him Timmy in a long time.
"Come in, sit down."
He closed the door behind her and put a glass of water in front of her.
"Who is Tim's Father and where does he live?" He asked straight to the point.
"I told you I was on holiday..."
"I need a name now Celia."
She seemed to ponder over it for a few minute then she talked with an even voice.
"His names's Francis Holloway, Frank, he used to be a cop when I met him. Homicide in Sydney."
Jack sighed in relief : at least Tim hadn't been wrong.
"Celia... did you ever mention his name in front of your son?"
"No!" she replied, visibly hurt Jack was asking again.
"Well... I don't know how he did it but Tim found him. He had regular contact with his Father."
Celia's jaw dropped.
"But...but Frank didn't know!" she said defensibly.
"He did a DNA test." Jack replied calmly.
"Has he got anything to do with this?" she inquired, doubtful.
"No... he didn't know Tim had gone. But it's possible Tim set off to Sydney to confront him in reality."
"God..." Celia took her face in her hands and Jack placed a hand upon her shoulder.
"Go get some sleep. Frank's coming to the FBI office tomorrow. We'll find Tim." He tried to reassure her.
She went home, leaving Jack more unsure than ever. Tim had probably set off to Australia but had never got as far as the airport... or even the tickets. So where was he?
He fell asleep as his mind was swirling past Tim and Celia and slowly drifting to a blonde girl he happened to be working with.

Sydney Airport, 11AM

Rachel was walking Frank to the boarding gate. She wasn't sure what to say. Everything had gone so fast.
She knew Jeff hadn't believe Frank's story at first. That's why she decided to come in and confirm it.
Facing his two annoyed and annoying Detectives, Jeff surrendered and gave Frank two weeks. Rachel was pleased with herself but her insides were turned around. In a five minutes conversation she had learned Frank had a son in New-York and that his son had disappeared. What a day, and it was only morning!

"I'll call you soon" said Frank as he turned to face her. She pinched him in the arm and then rose her finger in front of his face.
"You better."
They both smiled and fell in each other's arms. A simple and gentle hug that meant so much to them. Frank let go.
"Take care of Jeff and Helen for me will ya!"
"Yeah, if they don't take care of me."
"Right, be good." And he turned to go.
"In your dreams Holloway!" and she saw him chuckle as he went through the gate. Then he was gone and she hoped everything was going to be okay. It had to be okay. It felt so wrong seeing him like that. He certainly wouldn't get anywhere that way.


TBC... and the next one's gonna be the big one (yes the exams are exhaustive but going fine).