Smouldering Embers

By Jaye and Sonia

Disclaimer: Okay, let's see if we remember the drill correctly. These
characters aren't ours. We're not making any money off of them, nor are we
using them for any other sort of personal gain. In fact, they're probably
taking up way too much of our time. We're only borrowing them for a bit in
the hopes of scratching that strange writer's itch we've been having
recently and to perhaps provide entertainment for our friends for a short
while.

Summary: If you play with fire, you might get burned or you could end up
with a lot of warm feelings. To catch up on the story so far check out What
do You Do with a Drunken Sailor or Wasted Detective and Playing with Fire.

Rating: R or NC17 (depending on what part of the world you are reading this
in)

Dedication: For Saz, who dared to ask!

Authors notes: [Jaye] Get your brains around this one! Okay, I was bored and
depressed beyond belief with no Internet communications, so I decided to go
and read all the Ratfic that I had written/co-written. After finishing
reading 'Playing with Fire' I thought hmm, I would really like to write some
new fic. After a brief chat with Sonni (well we weren't on the phone for
hours so it was brief) and mentioning a sequel, this is what was basically
sussed out. Are we game? Too bloody right we are!

Author's notes: (Sonia) You know the old saying never say never.. Well this
applies here. Some have asked where do you go after you have written
something like Playing with Fire? The answer's easy - well sort of - you end
up here. Lyrics used in this song are "Nothing Else Matters" by Metallica,
"Heartache Tonight" by the Eagles, "The Look" by Roxette,



~*~*~*~



It had been a rather surreal experience for Rachel finding Jack's bracelet
under her bed. So it *was* true. No matter how much she had tried to
convince herself all day it had all been a rather erotic, alcohol induced
dream, she knew deep down that it wasn't.

Tracing her fingers over the patterned edge of the bracelet she wondered how
the hell she was going to be able to work with them now?

Well, neither of them had made any *direct* comment to her for the morning,
perhaps it would be okay? Perhaps she could continue to pretend with both of
them that she still thought it was a dream?

The next day Rachel casually returned Jack's bracelet to him. Not offering
any explanation as to where she found it. How could she? What would she say?
'Here you go Jack I found this under my bed. By the way Frank did you leave
anything you want me to look for while I was screwing you too?'

Also by the next day, visions of the night were starting to pop into
Rachel's memory bank. It didn't take much to throw glimpses into mind. She
didn't think they knew that she had overheard them. But Jack and Frank
seemed to subtly drop comments between themselves about pizza, pate and
sandalwood, both feeling confident that the whole episode was totally wiped
from Rachel's memory. If only they knew that by the end of the week, Rachel
was fairly certain that she would be able to recount the whole evening with
reasonable detail.

They all seemed to work better together in the ensuing weeks after their
post New Year's private party. With Jack there permanently now, Mick having
transferred to Mosman, there was more of a relaxed atmosphere in the office.
Jack and Frank seemed to be bickering less than before. Maybe it wasn't such
a bad experience after all. Although she had finally allowed herself to
acknowledge the fact that she was in love with both her detective
colleagues, it was something she wanted to make sure was never repeated.
When she drank around the two of them she would stick to beer and in
moderation.

By the end of February everything on the outside appeared to be back to
normal. Work, more work, and Jack and Frank bickering between themselves
over philosophies, which were very different at the best of times. Rachel
felt like she was in the middle of a schoolyard brawl half the time,
although all seemed to be forgotten when they stepped out of the office and
stepped into the Cutter Bar.

Well on the outside everything appeared normal. But that crazy night was
something that Rachel found impossible to forget and eventually it became
fully apparent to her that she could no longer work with either of them. She
loved her job with the water police, but she could hardly ask Jack or Frank
to transfer just so she could stay. So, with a heavy heart Rachel penned her
transfer request and handed it to Jeff.

"Why," questioned Jeff.

"I need a change of scenery," she offered, not overly convincing.

"Is there a problem that I can help you with then?" he asked.

"No, nothing that anyone can help me with," was her reply.



~*~





Rachel was sprawled out on the couch in front of the television feeling ill.
Why was she doing this? Why leave? Why couldn't she just deal with this and
stay where she was? It wasn't as if they were trying to make her choose
between them. By all accounts and purposes they had forgotten the night had
ever occurred. Why couldn't she?

Damn!

She knew why.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. She glanced at the
clock; it was after 9 p.m. Who would be calling around at this time of
night? She hoped it wasn't Frank or Jack. Oh hell if Jeff told them, gone
against her request to keep it quiet and let her find her own way to tell
them.

Jeff had told her that he would hang on to her transfer request until the
end of the week before officially submitting it. Give her a chance to think
about it. He could tell that she really didn't want to do this and he hoped
that she would sort out whatever was bothering her and reconsider.

Rachel opened the door to find Helen. Was this worse than finding either of
the men standing there?

"Helen."

"Rachel. I hear you are planning on leaving us?" she said shortly. She was
annoyed, Rachel could tell. And in a way she didn't blame Helen if she was
more than a bit miffed that, as friends, Rachel hadn't even mentioned her
plans to leave. Jeff obviously hadn't told the detectives, but he had spoken
to the intelligence officer.

Rachel didn't answer, but gestured for Helen to come in.

"Would you like a coffee?" Rachel asked heading into the kitchen.

"I'd prefer an explanation," replied Helen giving Rachel a frown before
following her. "But yes coffee would be good too."

Helen sat down at the kitchen table and watched Rachel. She *had* noticed
that Rachel had been more moody than usual, but she had been so busy herself
with the new officers that she hadn't really found the time to sit and chat
with her. She was used to being Rachel's sounding board, and was feeling
guilty that she had obviously been too caught up in her own world to have
been there when her friend had a problem.

"Aren't you having one?" asked Helen, noticing only one mug on the bench.

"Nah, gone off coffee at the moment, but I can make you one," said Rachel.

"What I can caffeine overload these days and you can't," joked Helen. But
the look on Rachel's face changed.

"You're pregnant aren't you?" asked Helen out of the blue. She didn't know
what made her think of it, she didn't know what made her say it either. It
just slipped out, half joking but having a strong suspicion that it wasn't.
The moods, transfer request, the caffeine abstinence. She was waiting for
Rachel to laugh and tell her to get lost, but she merely bit her bottom lip
and nodded her head.

Even though it was Helen who suggested it, she sat there shocked. Rachel,
pregnant?

"Do I know the father?" Helen continued getting straight to the point,
knowing too well that Rachel would tell her to butt out if she pushed the
questioning too far.

She scoffed, and with an ironic smile on her face, rolled her head around
before again nodding.

"It's all so damn complicated," said Rachel as she handed the coffee to
Helen and sat down at the table opposite her.

"As I hadn't heard you mention that you were seeing anyone outside work, and
you also agree that I know this person, I would therefore draw the
conclusion that it is someone from work?"

"Helen have you ever thought of becoming a detective? I hear there will be a
vacancy at the water police for one in the near future," replied Rachel.

"Does he know?" She asked.

Rachel shook her head.

"So you're not going to tell him, you're just going to run away are you? Do
you really think it will be that easy?"

"Nothing about this is easy," replied Rachel.

"Okay, if I'm out of line just tell me."

Rachel waved her hand in the air, indicating to Helen any question was fair
game.

"Are you going to *have* the baby?" Helen queried.

Rachel sat there for a second or two before answering. She had considered
termination when she first realised that she was pregnant. It would have
been the easy answer to the whole dilemma. Over, done with and forgotten.
Well, over and done with, but she doubted very much if it would be something
that she would ever forget or forgive herself. Taking a human life was
something that she had already done three times and she had enough trouble
dealing with those occasions. So she decided that there was no alternative
other than to go through with it. It might be nice to do it all again she
thought, without Jonathon standing over her or her mothers continual
harassment this time around.

"Yeah, I'm going to," replied Rachel.

"I'm assuming it isn't one of the uniforms. The image of you and Sykes is
not one that I could ever contemplate," said Helen trying to sound jovial.
Rachel was obviously feeling low enough as it was. "So that really only
leaves a couple of detectives who are both more than reasonably fond of you.
And the thought of either of them just letting you up and leave without an
explanation is pretty remote."

"I haven't figured that one out yet," replied Rachel tiredly.

"And then when you tell which ever one it is about the baby, what sort of
atmosphere do you think that is going to leave in the office?"

"That's if I say anything," replied Rachel.

"Rachel come on, so what are you going to risk bumping into them out there
heavily pregnant or with a pram in tow? Do you think that either of them
would just let you disappear into the distance and not keep in contact? It's
not going to happen Rachel, you have to tell him."

"But I can't."

"Okay Rachel, you can tell me. Which one is it.? Jack or Frank?"

"I don't know."

"What do you *mean* you don't know. What, were you sleeping with both of
them?" Helen asked incredulously with a laugh.

There was silence

"Oh hell Rachel you're kidding me? You were seeing *both* of them? Do either
of them know that you were seeing the other as well?"

"Oh yeah. they know. They both know. Shit it was just one night, one bloody
intoxicating night," stated Rachel.

"Sorry, you got drunk with *each* of them and had a one night stand? Hell
Rachel after doing that with one, didn't you sort of have reservations about
doing it again?"

"No," replied Rachel taking a deep breath, "it was only the one night."

"What? One leaves before the other arrives? Sorry Rachel but I am having
difficulty getting my head around this. It didn't look like a revolving door
out the front to me? I couldn't imagine you doing that?"

"No," Rachel scoffed. "You have trouble? Ha! Imagine what I'm going through
then. No one left Helen."

Helen just sat there with a puzzled expression, trying to figure out what
the hell Rachel was saying.

A faint smile spread across Rachel's face.

The penny and Helen's jaw dropped simultaneously.

"Oh my god, you're kidding me," replied Helen.

"Nup."

"Are you trying to say that.."

Rachel interrupted her friend.

"If you think I am trying to tell you that Frank, Jack and myself spent a
extremely amazing night together, then yep."

"Oh my god.."

"You've already said that," replied Rachel. "Hell I can't believe that I've
just told you. I can't believe I *did* it."

Rachel looked at Helen's disbelieving face. Now that she had started the
explanation, she felt she might as well continue.

"Ah look they rocked around here with alcohol to restock the supply they
drank new years eve and well it all just sort of happened. We started
drinking and were well and truly on the way to getting totally wasted
again."

"So you were drunk and had no idea what you were doing and."

"No, Helen, no. It wasn't like that," said Rachel. "Yeah I was drunk, we all
were, but I knew *exactly* what I was doing. So did they. That is the scary
bit. We were all totally aware of what was happening. And they both gave me
plenty of opportunities to change my mind. There was nothing unconsenting
about any of it. I know it probably sounds depraved to you, but I actually
wanted it to happen in the end. I actually think. no, I *know*. I love both
of them."

"Rachel, you have to tell them. Don't you want to know who the father of
your child is?" Helen asked in a concerned tone.

"To be honest? No, I don't. I don't want to have to chose between them
Helen," replied Rachel. "And I know what they're like. They would want me to
make that choice. I can't do it. So I guess this is the only way out."

"Well denial isn't going to get you anywhere," replied Helen. "And if you
think you are going to be able to do this without them finding out, then you
are not depraved, you're delusional. They're detectives for goodness sake,
you think you are going to be able to hide this from them? They will find
out and I could imagine it will be worse than you telling them yourself."

"So what do I do Helen?" asked Rachel standing and starting to pace around
the kitchen. "Invite both of them around. Say hey you know that night that I
have been pretending didn't happen? Well I know it did coz guess what, one
of you is going to be a father? But because I decided to screw with both of
you I don't know which one, so hey why don't we just toss a coin? Or better
still why don't we all just live together and turn say my place into an
inner city commune without the pot but continue the free love aspect. Just
one big happy family together. Or why don't I just leave the water police,
tell them both to piss off whenever they try to contact me until they both
get sick of it and then we can all live happily ever after?"


"You've got to tell them Rachel, soon there will be no way around it.

"Helen, you know the one thing that really pisses me off about you
sometimes?

"What's that?


"You're always right."

~~~~~~~


Jack and Frank looked at each other. Rachel was certainly acting weird these
days. You only had to say good morning to her and she would just about bite
your head off. As much as they loved her, it was getting to the point where
one of them had to take action.

There was only one place where they could decide what to do about getting
Rachel to talk about what was bothering her. Frank entered the men's toilets
first and Jack followed a discreet moment or three later.

"Frank, have you said or done anything to upset Rachel lately?

"Nah, I thought you were the one who pissed her off.

"Okay - so it wasn't either of us, where to now?

"Easy Einstein, we get her out of the office for lunch and ask her straight
out.

"So Jack, is that the sort of skill I need to become a sergeant? Nah,
seriously mate. Good idea, aside from Helen I think we're the ones she'd be
most likely to confide in."


The coffee shop was almost deserted by the time the trio found their way to
a booth towards the rear of the building. Jack and Frank sat opposite
Rachel.

They hadn't talked much in the car on the way over. Two of her favourite men
in the world had something on their minds. Shit, surely they hadn't guessed
she was pregnant. Maybe they wanted her to confess she did remember that
night. Either way her goose was going to be pate.

She suddenly got a strange feeling. This was how the criminals in the
interview room felt.

After placing their orders, Jack leaned forward and held his colleague's
gaze.

"Come on Rachel, drop the bullshit here. What the hell is wrong with you?"

Rachel's throat started to freeze. Hell, should she say something? How about
telling them both to get nicked and that it was none of their goddamn
business?

She could never lie to Jack or Frank. It certainly was their goddamn
business. Time to bite the bullet Goldstein.

"I'm pregnant."

Like a bad movie flashback, newsreel footage of the atomic bomb being
dropped on Hiroshima flooded Rachel's brain.

"You're what? Have you been screwing around behind my back with him?

"Geez, Rachel - I thought you and Holloway were just friends. Looks like I
stuffed that one up big time."

Jack stormed from the coffee shop; the windowpanes still reverberated from
his slam of the door.

"Frank, please believe me. That night when you and Jack came around after
New Years, we all had way too much champagne and pizza and I woke up naked
in my bed the next morning. The only time this baby could have been
conceived was then."

Frank looked at Rachel. There was too many emotions to deal with now. Good
feelings and bad closed in on him like a tidal wave. He had to run. It was
all too much. Rachel's eyes were closed, almost as though she was expecting
an executioner's blow.

He had seen pain in many forms during his career - even inflicted it - but
the sight of his normally with it and in control, feisty partner with her
head bowed, resting in her hands hurt him more than a wound from a hollow
tip bullet.

Frank slid from the booth and silently left the coffee shop. Only the
tinkling of the bell on the door told Rachel he had left.

For one of the few times in Rachel Goldstein's adult life, she cried in
public.

~~~~~~~~~~~
Never opened myself this way
life is ours, we live it our way
all these words I don't just say
and nothing else matters
trust I seek and I find in you
every day for us something new
open mind for a different view
and nothing else matters


~~~~~~

The lights of the Harbour cast a blanket of peace over the city. Jack
thought the tranquil vista mocked him and everything he felt.

He loved Rachel more than life itself. How could she betray him like that?
He killed that looney in the National Park to save her life. To save both
their lives and give them a chance together.

That night after New Years when he arrived on Rachel's doorstep with the
champagne was meant to be a turning point for both of them. He was going to
convince her one way or another they had a future. Instead, it had been an
unforgettable night for Rachel, himself and Frank Holloway.

What had Rachel been trying to tell them with her actions that night?

Shit, this meditating was only making things worse, Jack thought. Alcohol
was the answer. Bugger what the original question was.

A taxi to the Cutter Bar seemed like a good idea. It was the only bloody
idea. Jack got into the cab to be greeted by a non-stop spiel on sports,
politics, how Sydney was meant to cope with the Olympics and Pamela
Anderson's breast reduction.

"Where to mate?"

"The Cutter Bar in Drummoyne"

"How do you want to get there?"

"In silence."

The taxi pulled up at the front of the Cutter Bar. Jack hoped no one else
from the station was going to be around. He wanted and needed to get quietly
hammered.

Frank Holloway could and should have been screaming his lungs out at a
Balmain game. Going to a Tigers game was excellent stress relief. There was
something about the combination of Leichhardt Oval, a sort of warm meat pie,
a cold beer and taking his frustrations out on the referee that would have
been perfect but there were a couple of things stopping him.

One, the game wasn't until tomorrow night and two, was that he needed to be
in a friendly environment. Jogging around his suburb had not helped. He was
physically tired, sure, but the mental demons of Rachel's announcement still
chased him.

He had to find Jack, sort this out and hopefully explain what Rachel had
told him in the coffee shop. His mind with Rachel, Frank barrelled into the
bar, slamming straight into Jack.

"Hey! Watch where you're.. Jack, I've been looking all over for you. We need
to talk about Rachel.

"Yeah, we do. Can I get you a drink?

"Nah, I think alcohol was what got us into this in the first place. How
about coffee? Preferably not the coffee place we were at this morning. I'm
not sure they'd let us back in," Frank winced as he remembered the pain on
Rachel's face when he left the coffee shop.

"Coffee is a good idea and we do need to talk."

The two men found themselves at an all night coffee shop near Circular Quay.
They had decided not to hang around the Balmain-Drummoyne area, as there was
too much of a risk that someone from the station would see them.

For what seemed like an age, the two men cradled their coffee cups and
picked at the plate of nachos the waitress had set in front of them.

"Shit this is like a bad Shakespearean play." Frank looked at the ceiling.

"Frank, I didn't think you were familiar with Shakespeare." Jack nearly
choked on a corn chip.

"You'd be surprised what I've actually read.I thought we were here to talk
about Rachel not the contents of my library.

"I haven't been sleeping with Rachel behind anyone's back. It was that night
after New Years.


"I didn't think she remembered it," Frank remarked.

"Well I think she does remember it - especially now.

"Yeah, talk about a lasting reminder," Frank gave a wry grin as the two men
silently toasted the woman who held both their hearts in her hands.

"Okay, what are we going to do?" Jack muttered, hoping Frank had been able
to come up with a few more answers than he had.

"We both love her to the point of distraction not to mention destruction and
unless Rachel decides to take a DNA test to determine whose child this
really is..and we both know that is the last thing on earth she will do
because it will force her to make a choice between us as I have come to
accept the fact she loves both of us - as equals.."

"Holloway, your knack of stating the mind numbingly obvious is really
beginning to irritate the shit out of me," Jack leant back in his chair
folding his arms behind his head.

"Just get on with it Jack."

"I think we both need to go to her and tell her it doesn't matter whose
child this is as we will both be there for the little one and her."

"No arguments from me."

The two men, united by their love for a good woman, walked into the night.
Ghosts of old hostilities were laid to rest, ultimately by a little
champagne, pizza, some pate and a scrap of black lace.

~~~~~~~~~~


Everybody wants to touch somebody
if it takes all night
Everybody wants to take a little chance
To make it come out right

~~~~~~~~~~


The next morning Frank and Jack walked into the office to find Rachel
packing up her desk. A waterfall of old files hit the floor scattering at
Jack's feet. Casting a glance at Frank, he knew the time had come for them
to put their hearts on the line - not to mention their bodies. Jack had a
strange feeling Rachel was not going to take this well and things could
suddenly get ugly.

"What do you think you're doing?" Jack's tone was quiet but non-threatening.

"I can't work here any more." Rachel meant business and no matter how
persuasive Jack and Frank was they had buckleys of changing her mind.


"You know you don't have to do this Rachel. We can work this out between the
three of us.

Frank moved towards Rachel and started to place a hand on her shoulder.

"Would you guys both get a frigging life! Talking about me behind my back is
not on! Thanks a friggin bunch!"

Rachel unleashed one of her trademark glares at both men. They had no right.
This was her life and they could both pull their heads in.


~*~*~*~


Walking like a man

Hitting like a hammer

She's a juvenile scheme

Never was a quitter

Tasty like a raindrop

She's got the look

~*~*~*~


Jeff reckoned you could have heard the explosion at Blacktown. Everyone in
the station was just about used to Jack, Rachel and Frank letting fly at any
given moment but this latest blast from Rachel pretty much topped the lot.

Most of the time he would leave the trio to their own devices but he really
did have to investigate this time. There was raw fury in Rachel's voice and
someone in there meant business.

He poked his head around the office door to see Jack, Rachel and Frank
glaring at each other - like three bulldogs about to dive on the same piece
of steak.

"Is everything okay in here guys?"

Jack was the first to recover something of his composure. Unfolding himself
from his chair, Jack turned to face his commanding officer.

"Yeah Jeff, everything's fine. Rachel's not feeling too well so Frank and I
will run her home before we go and interview the witnesses to that
aggravated armed robbery the other day.

"Good one guys. Rachel, take it easy and if you need to take time off - do
so. You're not superwoman."

The short journey to Rachel's flat was a silent one, interrupted only by the
chatter of the police radio and the almost moronic babble of the FM radio
station.

Without waiting to be invited, Jack and Frank followed Rachel into the neat
living room.

"Don't expect me to offer either of you alcohol," stated Rachel as she
closed the door behind them.

"Nah coffee would be good," said Frank. "Want me to make it?"

"Don't you always," Rachel replied. "Just not for me. I'm steering clear of
it these days."

"Why?" asked Jack.

"Not good for me at the moment," offered Rachel.

"Oh yeah, I guess, sorry," he replied.

"Okay, come on. You told Jeff you thought you could convince me not to
leave. So, give it your best shot coz I can't think of anything that you can
say to make me change my mind."

"But this is craziness Rachel; there isn't any reason that you would have to
leave. What would be so bad with things staying as they are?" asked Jack.

"Things staying as they are? Jack they can't, don't *either* of you see
that? I don't want to know, but you guys will. It will drive both of you
crazy wanting to know who's baby this is. It's just easier for me to leave,
don't you see that?"

"No we don't actually Rachel," interjected Frank. "We don't see that at all.
What *we* see is that you want to be selfish and deny both of us the chance
to share something special with you. We don't care which one of us it is,
it's yours and that is all that matters."

"Shit Frank, if I thought you two really believed that, then hey I might
reconsider. But it's all theory; you don't know what it's going to be like.
Either of you. I'm not going through that. And do you think it's going to be
a picnic working with everyone at the station after this? Do you two have
any idea of the gossip that is going to spread like wildfire through the
whole office? Do you think I want the junior officers discussing who they
think was involved in creating this whole
mess?"

"It's not a mess," interrupted Jack. "I hate the thought of this kid growing
up thinking that it was the result of an accident or a mistake. In hindsight
that night probably wasn't the smartest thing the three of us have ever
done, but it happened, and I don't know about you Rachel,
but I don't regret one minute of it."

"Yep, I agree with you Jack," replied Frank.

Rachel looked at both of them. She was scared. They were agreeing on
something. It was rare and something that really should be recorded for
posterity. But they both seemed determined.

"I don't regret it either," Rachel replied quietly as she sat down at the
table and rested her head on her hands.

"Well then, what are we going to do about this?" asked Frank walking around
to the table and handing Jack a coffee.

Both men sat down either side of her. She felt trapped, surrounded.


"I don't want to have to chose between the two of you," she started. "I
won't do that."

"But we're not asking you to," replied Jack.

"We're just asking for you to let both of us be there for you," said
Frank.

"And the baby," added Jack.

"Yeah and the baby," repeated Frank.

"Hey, what is this, tag team interrogation or something?" asked Rachel.

"If you don't regret it either Goldie, then don't run away from us now,"
said Frank earnestly as he took her hand. "Okay so we don't know how it's
gonna work out, but hey if we both want to be there for this kid, then it
could only be a good thing couldn't it? There are so many kids in this world
that don't have one father. This little mite has struck it lucky and has two
of us willing to play the role."

"So, what about me then? Have you two decided on that as well?" she asked.

"What do you mean?" asked Jack.

"Ah come on, what you two planning on drawing up a roster or something?
Figure you will take turns? What will it be, weekly or fortnightly?" Rachel
stated.

"Rachel what the hell are you on about?" asked Frank. "If you think.shit I
know that I'm at least speaking for myself but hell, I love you Rachel, I
think you should know that by now. What sort of bloke do you take me for?"

"Yeah Rachel. Christ. What is this," added Jack annoyed. "I love you too,
you know that as well."

"Yeah I know. I know both of you do," she replied sadly. "That's just the
problem, because I love both of you too. I can't choose one of you instead
of the other. I know I can't and I don't see how this is gonna work."

"Rachel, I said before," answered Jack, "we don't want you too chose. What
happened did. We can't change it and obviously there are consequences as a
result of that night that we now have to adjust to. But hey, this is reality
and we want to give it a go."

"Who gives a shit what anyone says," declared Frank. "I've told you before
woman, as long as the people who care about you know who you are and what
you are about, then no one else matters. No one else needs to know."

"Helen knows," replied Rachel.

"Helen knows what? That you're pregnant?" asked Jack.

"Ah no. Helen knows *everything*," replied Rachel with a smile.

"Oh shit," replied Frank with a half grin. "And what did our fearless
intelligence officer have to say about this?"

"Does the expression 'oh my god' sound familiar to either of you?" grinned
Rachel.

"Yeah, I think you muttered it a couple of times that night," replied Frank
cheekily.

"More than a couple of times," added Jack.

"I'm not drinking champagne with either of you again," replied Rachel with a
laugh.

"Not until after you have had the baby," instructed Frank. Alcohol free zone
this place."

"Unless of course we bring the alcohol Frank, but don't think we will be
sharing it Detective."

"Don't start thinking either of you can go bossing me around now," said
Rachel seriously. "I'm gonna do what I want, when I want."

Both men gave each other a glance, Rachel noticed it and wasn't sure what it
was meant to imply. They had almost convinced her that they could work
through this, but suddenly she was having doubts again.

"Nup, I was right in the first place," she snapped looking from one to the
other. "This is not going to work. It *can't* work."

"What?" replied Frank looking confused. "But a second ago.."

"Yeah well I obviously wasn't thinking straight. I can handle this on my
own. I don't need you two smothering me and."

"What makes you think we would smother you?" retaliated Jack.

"You would. I know you two would. I couldn't cope with that. I don't want it
and I don't *need* it. Now come on, go. Get back to work. I don't want to
talk about it anymore. Just rack off!" she ordered wildly.

Frank and Jack gave each other a bewildered look. They thought it was all
going to be okay. They had been pleased with themselves that they had
managed to convince her it would all work out. Well they *thought* they had
convinced her. But now?

They decided to get out of there. No point trying to talk to her when she
was in one of these moods. It would only make the situation worse.

They wandered dejected back into the office building. Helen looked at their
faces and quickly summated that it hadn't gone too well. They headed up to
their office and Helen followed, closing the door as she followed them into
their sanctuary.

"So, what happened?" asked Helen impatiently.

"Buggered if I know," said Frank.

"Yeah. You tell me and we will both know," offered Jack.

"It seemed to be going well," said Frank as he sat on the edge of his desk.
"I thought we had done a good job and she was going to stay."

"So did I," continued Jack. "But I dunno. One minute she was joking with us
and then the next minute she got all hot headed and told us to bugger off."

"I just can't figure her out at the moment," added Frank.

"What are you trying to tell me you could once?" asked Helen.

"Nah probably not," Frank replied. "But I've never seen her like this
before."

"Well you tell me the last time she found herself in *this* sort of
situation?" asked Helen dryly. "I don't even want to *try* and figure out
what the hell you three thought you were doing that night."

"And you think we understand it any better?" Jack responded.

"No, probably not," she replied looking at both of them. They both looked
miserable. "Okay, looks like it's all up to me *once again*. Why is it that
I seem to be the one who has to always fix things around here? You'd think I
had nothing better to do."

"If you can give it a shot," started Jack.

"Yeah. yeah. I will go see her. But you both owe me bigtime for this one,"
Helen replied as she opened the door. "Just don't go getting into this sort
of mess again will you?"

"Ha! Can't see you needing to worry about it happening again," scoffed
Frank.

"Yes, but I would never have dreamed it happening in the first place," she
replied heading out the door.

"And you think we did?" Jack called after her.

Helen looked at them through the window in the corridor and shook her head
before heading back downstairs.

~*~*~*~

"RACHEL!" Helen called as she pounded heavily on Rachel's front door.

"Yeah, yeah," Rachel called hearing her friend's voice. Rachel trudged her
way downstairs, when would this all end she thought.

Rachel opened the front door and Helen walked right in, without speaking and
headed to the kitchen. Rachel stood there for a second looking from the
empty doorway to Helen disappearing to the kitchen. She felt like just
walking out the door herself, she didn't want to deal with this again.

"Hello Helen," offered Rachel following Helen into the kitchen. "Want a
cuppa?"

"I don't have time for this!" stated Helen abruptly.

"What for a cuppa?" said Rachel trying to play innocent. She doubted that it
would work.

"Rachel you damn well know what I mean. I've got enough on my plate trying
to keep the uniforms under control and out of Jeff's way. All the crap in
preparation for the Olympics. I don't have time to worry about you stuffing
up your life as well as Frank and Jack's."

"Well don't then!" snapped Rachel in defense. "No one asked you to worry."

"But I'm the one who always has to pick up the bloody pieces in the end. And
I am not going to stand by while you make a total mess of this," Helen
replied. "You're acting like a spoilt child who has to have her own way all
the time. Well enough Rachel. Stop running - now!"

"But what if." started Rachel, but Helen wasn't about to let her offer any
excuses.

"Rachel. please. Think about this. There are two guys back at the station
who are absolutely *crazy* about you. They know neither of them will ever be
*the one* in your life, but they have resigned themselves to that fact and
stupidly enough they accept it. There aren't too many guys who would do that
Rachel. You can't push them away. You have friends down at the office.
Running away is not going to change the situation and you will find yourself
surrounded with strangers. Stay with us. We can help you through this. Stop
being so damn selfish and pigheaded and let us help you. That is what
friends are supposed to be for, remember?"

"Ah shit Helen, it all just seems so damn.."

"Hard?" she queried.

Rachel nodded. "Yeah. I mean, what the hell did I ever do to deserve all of
this?"

"What? To deserve two men who are so desperately in love with you that
neither of them is willing to walk away and let the other have you? To have
one pretty terrific kid in David already, and now find yourself fortunate to
be healthy enough to have the chance to do it again? To have friends who
give a damn about you? A job that you are damn good at and.."

"Okay, enough already," interrupted Rachel laughing. "I get the point. I
just got a bit scared I think. This is all just so damn crazy but perhaps
life isn't as bad as it seems."

"Perhaps?" Helen asked before walking over and putting her hand on Rachel's
shoulder. "It would be illegal if things were any better for you and then
you'd have to arrest yourself. Now, have a quiet afternoon and I expect to
see you in the office bright and early tomorrow morning. I will inform Jeff
that he can turf your transfer request shall I?"

"Nah it's okay, I will tell him. I can't veg. out anyway. I've got my
ultrasound appointment this afternoon," Rachel replied as she went to the
sink and filled a glass with water. "That should be fun. I have to drink
bloody litres of this stuff. I know I'm gonna feel like I could explode by
the time it is over."

"Yeah, but it's going to be pretty special. I mean I guess it would be, you
know."

"Yep, seeing it moving, hearing the heart beat and stuff," grinned Rachel.

"I would think that perhaps there are a couple of other people that might be
interested in sharing that with you," offered Helen.

Rachel stopped and thought about it as she refilled her glass with more
water. "Well, I guess. I suppose. yeah, why not. What is the worst that can
happen with them there?" she asked looking at Helen.

"Oh please, those two? You dare to even ask? Just ring them. I think they
will be pretty happy about hearing from you," she replied with a laugh and
headed for the door.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



"Water Police Holloway."

"Frank, is Jack in the office with you? Can you close the door and put me on
speaker please?" Rachel hoped her voice didn't betray the nervousness she
felt.

As Frank pushed the button on the phone, he gestured to Jack to shut the
door and move closer to the phone.

"Okay you pair, listen up and listen good because I am only going to say
this once. If you two are still keen on playing daddies of the year, I've
got an appointment that I would like you to escort me to."

Frank and Jack looked at each other and shrugged as if to make some profound
social commentary on understanding women.

Rachel rattled off the address of her medical clinic and told the loves of
her life she would meet them there.

The door of the clinic almost broke from its hinges as Jack and Frank
ploughed through the doorway half an hour later. Rachel wasn't in the
waiting room.

This was not a good sign. Were they too late and she had left already? Were
they too early?

While Jack often thought finesse was an appropriate quality to use in some
situations, Frank thought the direct approach was best.

"Hi, we're Detectives Holloway and Christey from Sydney Water Police.
Where's Rachel Goldstein?"

"You can't see her. She's already in with the technician and the test is
underway. The only other person who can be in there with her is the father."
The receptionist was beginning to feel slightly overwhelmed, even more so
after Jack unleashed a half smile in her direction.


"Trust us, we're both meant to be in there with her," Jack tossed the remark
over his shoulder as he followed Frank through the doorway.

At the sight of Frank and Jack barging through the doorway, Rachel thought
about glaring at them and letting them have it. She decided against it -
this was too special a moment to be ruined by past insecurities.

"So glad you could make it guys. Your senses of timing almost left a hell of
a lot to be desired. This little one was just about to say hello to us."

The images came into view on the screen. First a little out of focus, then
everything became as sharp as jumping into icy water on a summer's day. Jack
looked at Frank and both of them looked at Rachel - her eyes focused on the
screen, suddenly comprehending her life in six months time.

"Twins? Oh shiiiittttt." Rachel started to shake her head. She was never
going to so much as look at a glass of champagne again in her life. As for
the merits of black lace, well, the jury was still out on that one.

Rachel looked around. Frank and Jack had gone. Rachel glad she was lying
down already as the nurse had also disappeared.

The nurse was trying to work out how to revive two grown men who had fainted
simultaneously.

Rachel looked down at her stomach, which in her eyes was beginning to look a
little rounder already, and smiled.

"As long as you pair continue my tradition of keeping both of those blokes
on their toes and not letting them get their own way all the time, then the
five of us are going to get along just fine."

~Finis~

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