>From: "Suzie =)" Title: Call From the Distance Author: Suz [suzie@standard.net.au] Date: 17-Oct-99 - 18-Oct-99 Disclaimer: Well, considering that the two main characters aren't there anymore and several more are leaving I've decided to officially lay a claim to all those departed and about to depart [these include Frank Holloway, Rachel Goldstein, Tommy Tavita, Tayler Johnson, Dave McCall - kay so maybe someone can have Dave... I'm not in desperate need for him... yet anyways]. But until then other ppl own them, you know, just the regular lay abouts like Channel Nine, Hal McElroy... and I'm sure there are others but, hey, everyone knows who they are right?? But basically... DON'T SUE ME... PLEASE?? I have nothing, really... Dedication: well definitely not ness, cause she messes with my mind... and I still can't believe you did that! ~*~*~* Summary: He's been gone for 6 months, then a phone call comes... ~*~*~* ~Call From the Distance~ By Suz 'Sydney Water Police, Constable Johnson speaking,' Tayler sighed as she picked up the phone. She'd much rather be out on the water with Tommy... and Gav... 'Tayler, is answering the phone really that boring?' 'Um, do I know you?' 'I haven't been gone that long, you forgotten me already?' 'Frank?' This stopped Helen dead in her tracks as she was walking past. Reaching over the counter she grabbed the phone from Tayler who just gaped at her. 'Frank Holloway' 'Helen Blakemore.' There was a short silence. 'So Frank, um, where exactly are you?' 'What's been happening?' They both spoke at once. 'Who replaced me?' 'Um... Christey.' Helen was hesitant at answering. 'That useless bastard? Rachel'd love that, she decked him yet?' 'No, um,' 'What?' 'Nothing, you want to speak to her? I'll just go grab her.' Helen put him on hold and dashed up the stairs bumping into Rachel at the top. 'Shit Helen, who died?' 'Ah, Rachel, just the person I was looking for.' 'Can it wait? Jack & I were just about to head out?' 'Probably not, no.' 'Well, what is it then?' Rachel looked behind her to see if Jack was coming. 'Frank.' Her head snapped back around instantly. 'What about Frank?' she spoke slowly trying to comprehend it all. 'He's on the phone, & wants to speak to you.' She froze. 'Do you want to speak to him?' 'Shit Helen, I don't know.' 'He's your *best* friend.' '*He* left me.' 'I know he did and he probably hates himself for that.' 'He left me *crying*' 'Yeah, he did, but he had to do it.' 'I don't know that I want to speak to him.' 'You have to decide, he's on the phone, now, waiting. Probably costing him a fortune.' 'I know that but...' Rachel ran her hand through her hair as Jack appeared. 'What's the hold-up?' 'Franks on the phone,' replied Helen. 'Oh,' he looked at Rachel. 'You going to talk to him?' She shrugged. 'I dunno. Helen *you* go and talk to him for a few minutes will you?' Rachel turned around and headed back toward the office leaving Helen and Jack standing there. ~*~*~ I can hear you know You walk a lonely mile By yourself to the other side And you still think of me ~*~*~ Rachel sat at her desk. 'Why now?' she thought. Six months had past, six long months with nothing, not even a postcard, hell a blank postcard could have done. But there was nothing. And now this. Of course she missed him like crazy, for a while. She still did in fact. Every day. Just little things. How he would have interviewed someone. Or a smart-ass comment he would have given. Yeah, sure, Jack was a smart-ass too, but it wasn't the same. It was a different world with Frank. ~*~*~ It's not the way of my world It's just they way you and I work these Things out so girl Do you still think of me ~*~*~ What would she say to him if she did speak to him? She had a thousand questions to ask him. Questions she wanted to ask him in person, not over a damn phone line. There were the obvious questions of how he was doing, and where he was. But then there were the more important ones, of them. Their... relationship. ~*~*~ Cause chances are as they began It's something special in the eyes of this girl and man If you still think of me ~*~*~ When he left it was so quickly, in such bedlam, confusion, such, uncertainty. So many unanswered questions. What they felt for each other. Was there anything? At all? Did he know how he felt? God knows that she had no idea. And Jack just bloody complicated the matter. I mean, sure there *was* something happening. But Frank was always... ~*~*~ Because I'm here right now I put together heart and mind Body soul I'll show you how If you still think of me ~*~*~ Rachel looked up as Mick walked in. 'I thought you and Jack were heading out.' 'Yeah, we ah, we were but Frank's on the phone.' Mick raised his eyebrows. 'Frank? Well why aren't you speaking to him?' It was such an obvious question. One that she couldn't really answer. 'I dunno Mick.' 'Rachel, you've *got* to speak to him. You'll regret it if you don't. He's your best friend, and is probably paying a fortune for a phone call just to speak to you, and you're not even on the other end of the phone. He'd do anything for you.' 'Yeah, I know. But what do I say to him?' She shook her head and Mick took it as a sign to leave. ~*~*~ I hear your name ring out one thousand times I cross the mountain tops and I walk that line Push me down and kick me round I'm scared of nothing I build a tower for you ~*~*~ She had to speak to him, she just had to. Apart from the fact it was rude *not* to. But what to say? What would he say? What if he asked her about Jack, was it worth getting him worked up? Should she lie? Or just ignore it. Frank was her friend. Her best friend. And he had been for a long time. And would be for hopefully, and even longer time. But was it enough anymore? Or was it... ~*~*~ You are my friend right now You place the bet I roll the dice and we see just how If you still think of me I build a tower for you I should your name across the roof tops I'm a stranger here ~*~*~ She had to speak to him, she just had to. Sighing as she stood up, and walked out of the office. There was still the fact of what she was going to say to him. How she was going say it. And what was he going to say? She picked up the phone. 'Hello Frank, its Rachel...' ~*~*~ Do you still think of me ~*~*~ THE END!! feedback would rock: suzie@standard.net.au Authors Notes: I know you're all prolly thinking OMG - she wrote a Frank/Rachel fic... but don't worry I still think she loved Jack! Oh and the song isn't mine, it's "I Call You Out" from the funky Water Rats soundtrack...