Disclaimer: Hey Aqui, quick, hit the light switch, and we'll steal Hal's characters while he can't see!!!

Author's Note: Cam.. in a dark house filled with boxes with just a little light, all ready to move.. feels like writing.. and who does she call? The amazing, the spectacular, the totally awesome.. Aquiel!!

Author''s Note 2: Woohoo! I love Water Rats!! Does that scare ya?...yeah I know..scares me too! Anyhow, enjoy the story, as always, it's been a blast writing with Cam!

A Hand To Hold On To

Camilla Sandman & Aquiel

Pitch dark, was Frank Holloway's first impulse. Pitch bloody dark. He couldn't even see a hand in front of him. But with no light, his other senses seems to grown. He could hear, smell even feel better.

Not that he needed the extra hearing to hear his partner Rachel Goldstein. She was cursing quite loudly.

"Damn! Damn!"

They had intended to head over to the Cutter bar, just stopping by her place when suddenly, it turned pitch black. Not even a dim light anywhere, the whole of Sydney had to be out. The only thing he could see was some faraway stars that funkled down to him, as if saying "your lights may fail, but never ours."

"Shit!!" Rachel seemed to have taken the blackout personally.

"Rach?"

"I tripped over the damn table!"

He fought an urge to laugh in the dark. And she couldn't see his smile. Instead he went towards the sound and..

"Ooof!!" he tripped over a leg, and fell head down towards the floor. He caught the fall with his hands, but that wasn't the only thing he caught.

"Ooops!"

"Francis!!"

"It was an accident, I swear!!"

"Alright, I forgive you!"

There was a slight pause.

"Frank, you can move your hands off my breasts now."

"Oh yeah."

"Like, sometime this century."

"Sorry."

He finally managed to regain his balance, getting unsteadily on his feet. He heard Rachel do the same, cursing slightly. He was glad the lights were out, if she had seen the smirk on his face, he would be in grave bodily harm.

"I think the couch is that a way," she said, and he grabbed her arm, letting her lead. They made their way slowly through the dark, bumping into a few hard objects on the way.

"The electricity should probably come back any minute," she said as she popped down on the couch. Frank joined her after only a moments hesitation.

"Yeah."

They waited. It was so quiet, all they could hear was each others breathing. A sharp breath in, a long, slow out. Without even noticing it, they began breathing alike. In, out, in, out.

"Must have been a big blackout," Frank remarked after a while.

"Yep."

Silence ensued. He could almost make out her features in the dark, but his inner eye seemed to have woken to life and he just knew she'd be having that half annoyed, half impatient look on her face, like she couldn't decide which emotion to focus on.

She felt awfully close in the dark. They were sitting so close their knees nearly touches, just a millimetre movement to the right, and they would. He was tempted.

"Big blackout alright," she noted after another long silence. He nodded, then realised the gesture was lost on her.

"Uh huh."

She strained too see him in the dark, she could feel his presence but more than anything she wanted to see the look in his deep brown eyes. Why, she wasn't quite sure. And she wanted him to touch her, so she would know he was really there.

"Want a beer?" she suddenly asked, searching for any way to break this strange mood that seemed to have settled.

"Hmm?"

"A beer," she repeated, "I have some in the fridge.. I'll be right back."

"Hope ya have plenty, in case we're stranded here," he joked. Her thought he heard a faint chuckle and light footsteps. Then she was gone.

He waited, trying to sense or hear where she was, but he registered nothing but darkness. And silence. Until..

"Boo!" He jumped out of the couch at the sound of her voice, bumping hard into her and sending them both crashing to the floor.

"Aw shit!" he exclaimed.

"I'll say.. I lost the bottles.. wait, here's one."

"That's not a bottle."

"Ooops."

"Yeah, now that we have cleared that up, you mind moving your hand?" He blushed fiercely, hoping she didn't notice….

The way she removed her hand like she had been burned, he figured she had. They untangled themselves, Rachel picking up some of the bottles on the way.

"To power," he suggested, after finally managing to open the bottle.

"To light," she countered, and they toasted. Their eyes seemed to have got used to the dark, instead of pit dark, it was now.. dark grey.

"This is one hell of a blackout," he commented, "I hope the hospitals manage okay."

"Probably. They have emergency power."

"Yeah." He took another sip of beer. "Good thing we were here, and not somewhere crowded."

"I dunno.." He could almost see her teasing smile.

"Ya don't like the company?" he managed to sneak in a bit of hurt in his voice.

"And you do?"

"No one I would rather spend my blackout with.. well, maybe with that tall, blonde-haired one from vice…"

She decked him, her aim was good even in the dark, he noted.

"Don't be such a jerk Holloway, or I'll wander off and leave ya here all alone in the dark."

"You wouldn't!"

"I would!"

Opening another bottled, he grinned just a bit. "Yeah, you're right, you would. You'd get lonely though. You wouldn't have anyone to hold your hand."

"In your dreams Francis!"

"My dreams.. Oh yeah.. in those you wear this really tight leather outfit…."

They leaned forward at the same time, she to tap him on the head and make a comment on how it sounded hollow, him to whisper the rest of the dream in her ear.

Their noses banged together and their lips met just for a brief second before both retreated in pain.

"Ouch!"

"God, Goldie, what's your nose made of? Steel?"

"And yours? Concrete?"

Both of them rubbed their noses, quite startled at the sudden contact. Trying to forget the feeling, however brief at the touch of his lips, Rachel reached for another bottle. Her nose felt a bit sore, she hoped it wouldn't bruise.. how was she gonna explain that? Especially if Frank's bruised too. She could just see the smirk on their co-worker's faces.

What a rumour that would be, she thought.

"So..." Frank began, hoping to persuade her to begin talking. No such luck.

Rachel answered him in the same manner, "so..." The silence stretched on between them. It wasn't entirely uncomfortable, she noted, just a bit unusual. It's only Frank, she thought to herself. *Just be thankful it isn't Jeff you're stuck with.* She laughed slightly at the thought.

"What?" Frank asked, having heard her giggle.

Rachel waved him off, her gesture reminiscent of what she would of done, had they been able to see. "Oh nothing. Just thinking out loud." she said.

"Un huh." he answered, and took another swig of his drink. "I wonder if the guys all made it to the bar?" he asked.

"Probably." she answered, "they left a bit before we did. And knowing them, they're probably all taking bets on how many pool balls they can get in the holes." she smiled faintly. "without cracking their heads." she added after a moment.

Frank laughed. "I don't know. I reckon they could all use a good crack in the noggin." His partner giggled in response, but didn't speak. Frank's smile slowly faded from his lips, and he reclined a bit on the sofa.

"Comfy?" she asked, mockingly.

"yup." he answered and sighed ruefully. Once again he could hear her breathing, and he began to concentrate only on that sound. it wasn't long before their breathing coincided with one another, and he smiled thoughtfully. "Hey Rach, gimme your hand." he said, his voice seemed somehow attracting in the dark room.

"What?" came her slightly confused reply.

"Here." he said and began groping for her hand. Finally, he found it, and held it up in the dark. Staring straight ahead, he held his palm open, and hers rested atop his. "You know what they say, when you loose one sense." he began.

"Yeah." she replied softly.

He continued. "It's as if the others take over to compensate for what's been lost." he began tracing small intricate designs on the underside of her hand. She squirmed. "That tickles Frank."

He slowed his ministrations and covered her hand with his larger one. Slowly he began to caress the side with his thumb. "You can feel it can't you?" he asked.

She tensed. "Feel what?'

"This." he said, and moved further up along her arm. "You can feel it when I touch you like this. You can't see what I'm doing, but you can feel it here." he said, as he reached her shoulder. "and here." he continued slowly, until he made contact with her chest. He could feel the rise and fall os her breathing; that combined with the beating of her heart, was all he needed to know. "You know what they say Rach." he whispered, and moved closer. "The heart sees more clearly in the dark."

And suddenly nothing else mattered anymore. It was only Frank and Rachel, and the darkness surrounding them only served to heighten this feeling of exclusion. It was only a matter of time before something happened, and when it did, there would be no turning back.

But was she ready for it to happen tonight? The truth was, she didn't know. Frank was only inches away, but for what it was worth, he might as well have been a world away. "Frank, wait.." she began, pulling away.

He paused, and caught her eye. "Rach...I think.."

But she cut him off. "I think we've both had too much to drink." she whispered, and looked away.

Frank stared back at her, unsure as what had just happened. Somewhere along the way, he must have misunderstood her intentions. Or maybe, he thought, maybe it was just the beer. Whatever the reason, he moved back to the end of the sofa, his heart still pounding. The air around them was thick with emotion, and for the first time that night, their silence felt awkward.

"Hey Rach..do you want something to eat?" Frank asked suddenly, if for no other reason than to break the silence.

She nodded, and then immediately realized he couldn't see her. "Oh, yeah." she responded finally, "I'll get us something."

Frank shook his head, unbeknownst to her, and waved her off. "Nah., don't worry, I can manage." he assured her, and stood up.

Rachel laughed nervously. "Frank," she said sarcastically, "You can hardly find your way around in the light. How in hell are you going to find the kitchen in the dark?" she asked.

But by this time Frank was already making his way to the kitchen; albeit slowly. And then suddenly he was sprawled out on the floor, his hip throbbing something fierce.

"Geez Frank, don't kill yourself." Rachel spoke, her voice holding only a hint of sympathy.

But Frank, on the other hand, was busy wrestling with his unknown assailant, and muttering a string of curse words. "Where in bloody hell did that come from?" he spat angrily, gently nursing his wound.

Rachel tried unsuccessfully to suppress a giggle.

Frank grimaced. "Thanks for your sympathy." he muttered.

"What!" she responded innocently, and turned in the direction of his voice. "How about I get the food eh?" she asked, and moved his way.

"He, watch where you're...ow! Bloody hell!." he yelled, as his partner's foot made contact with his already throbbing hip.

Rachel stumbled and reached out, grabbing the wall on either side of him. "Aw, sorry Frank. Didn't see ya there." she joked, and continued on to the kitchen.

When she returned, she called out his name; she was sure he wouldn't appreciate being stepped on twice.

"I'm on the sofa." he answered, and shifted to make room.

Placing the bag of pretzels, or at least, what she assumed to be pretzels on the table before them, Rachel once again curled herself in the corner of the sofa. "Hey Frank, you want..." she began, but was interrupted by a sudden flash.

"Hey, the lights!" Frank exclaimed, and then covered his eyes. "I can't see anything anyway." he managed, and Rachel laughed; the tension between them suddenly seemed to vanish.

Once their eyes adjusted to the sudden onslaught of light, Frank checked his watch. "I'd best be on my way." he said standing. But he apparently had forgotten about his earlier wrestling match on the floor, and as he shifter his weight to his right foot, he stumbled and yelled out in pain.

Rachel moved quickly and grabbed his arms, steadying him.

"Thanks." he said gratefully. And they both stood there, his grip still on her upper arms. "Hey Rach," he said, moving his hand to her face. "You've got a little bruise up there." he said softly, and touched the bridge of her nose.

Her face lit up in a smile, and she moved closer. "Yeah, so do you." she whispered, and mimicked his earlier motions.

"There ought to be rumours about this one." he said, unwilling to break the trance that held them there.

But Rachel only laughed. "Let 'em talk."she said, and brushed a light kiss across the tip of his nose. Stepping out of his hold, she backed away, allowing him to move.

"Well, I'll see ya tomorrow." he said and walked to the door.

She nodded. "Yeah."

As he stepped outside, he turned to wave.

"Hey Frank?"

"Yeah?"

She paused slightly, and for a moment he thought she'd forgotten what to say. "Thanks...for holding my hand." she whispered, with a smile.

Frank Holloway grinned and walked to his car, turning back only to wave. Maybe Frank was right, and the heart did see more clearly in the dark. She had gotten a glimpse of something... and she wasn't sure how to handle it. Only time would tell. In the meantime.. she would always have his hand to hold on to.

The End