The Greatest Sacrifice

[Red Ranger 1]

I found myself frustrated by the intrusiveness of the random neighbours and disappointed by Tony's lack of sympathy.I was worried when Rachel disappeared but fortunately she didn't go far.Hope she and Tony manage to find a way to adjust together.

[Sabrina]

Fantastic chapters!

- I'm so glad Rachel is free. I hope she is able to adapt to life on the outside.

- I can't believe how Tony reacted to Rachel, she didn't need to be got at like that. I loved the ending.

Looking forward to the next chapter.

[Zetti]

I actually wanted to hit Tony, I thought he was really insensitive and horrible to Rachel! I mean, of course it is going to be strange for her after so long behind bars, what is she expected to do? Just change completely? Its not possible. I am glad she is out though and that even whilst she is struggling, she has a support network.

Looking forward to reading more soon

[Barbara]

#131: I like Barbara and Rachel’s chat. It’s so nice to know Rachel found someone to talk to and Barbara cares about her well being. Rachel is very loved in the Summer Bay community. Her friends will do anything to get her out of prison and numerous people she has helped are signing a petition. I hope her inmates won’t hurt her.

Unlike her daughter, Rose is thankful for everything Rachel has done. Hopefully, her testimony will help Rachel. I don’t want Tony to get his hopes up for nothing. He’s had enough to deal with already.

I wasn’t expecting Irene to be the one to go and see Rachel but it makes sense as she knows what it is like to be in jail for something you haven’t done. I’m happy Irene managed to talk her into writing Tony a letter. Hopefully, Rachel will get an appeal soon so she can get away from her inmates.

#136: Poor Barbara! Poor Savannah! Let’s just hope she’ll find a nice caretaker.

Maybe Rachel could take care of her if she gets out of jail after the appeal.

Good on Rachel for standing up to the other inmates!

I like the way you described how Rachel is feeling.

Go Morag! That man was despicable. He had planned it all. I’m glad Rose didn’t back out and told the truth. I just pray the judge will take this new information into account.

Yay! Rachel is free and can go back to Tony and her friends!

#140: That neighbor is a pain in the butt. You don’t ask someone who just got out of jail (for something they didn’t even do) how it felt in there. That’s the last thing Rachel wants to talk about and I’m sure she’d rather forget about it instead of talking about it with someone she doesn’t even know. Surely, people should realise this may be overwhelming for Rachel after being alone in her cell for six months. I was disappointed with Tony’s reaction too. Of course, Rachel is very grateful for everything her friends have done for her but after a long day and all she’s been through, maybe she just needs some space. I was a bit worried when Tony couldn’t find Rachel anywhere but thankfully, she was asleep at Jack and Martha’s. The end of that last chapter was very sweet!

More please.

[HighwayUnicorn]

I was concerned as to how Tony treated Rachel in that chapter ... and I feel so sorry for Rachel and having to adapt again ... it must be hard for her.

I look forward to more though. Really well written and I enjoyed that update!

Carina xxx

[charmed60]

Wow I had to really dig to find this fic again; can't believe it's been nearly a month since I updated! I'm so sorry, life has been hectic. Thank you so much to Red Ranger, Sabrina, Zetti, Barbara and Carina for taking the time to read and review each chapter. I'm not sure how much interest there is for Tony/Rachel fics anymore but I'll keep going until I've finished this one as I hate leaving things half finished Plus I'm being nagged by another reader - you know who you are Hopefully this chapter will go someway to explaining Tony's behaviour in the last chapter!

Rachel closed her eyes and sipped the steaming hot coffee; relishing the taste which she thought she’d long forgotten. Sure she’d had coffee in prison, but it resembled mud far more than what it was meant to. Her heart sunk as her mind turned to the conversation she’d had with Tony last night; she had not expected him to react like that and it had left her wondering whether things were going to be the same after everything that had happened. Whether their relationship could be the same.

“Hey” she beamed as Martha tiptoed in to the living room, balancing a wide awake and excitable baby on her hip.

“Oh no, she didn’t wake you up did she? I tried to pick her up as soon as she cried” Martha cringed, gratefully receiving a mug from Rachel.

“No not at all” she replied truthfully, “I didn’t hear her actually. What I did hear though was the sound of a prison alarm in my head at 6.30am; I think it’s imprinted in my brain.”

“Oh poor you, that sucks, your first chance of a lie in” Martha frowned, placing a bottle in Jessica’s hungry mouth. “I hope everything’s okay with you and Tony” she hesitated; unsure whether Rachel needed someone to talk to. “Did he stay last night?”

“Yeah he did, although we didn’t get a chance to talk much” she replied before her cheeks turned red as she became aware of how it might have sounded. “I didn’t mean like that” she quickly interjected, placing her face in her hands as Martha laughed hysterically.

“It’s okay Rach, I’ve not long had a baby, sex is the last thing on my mind; even in innuendo form” Martha reassured her before glancing down at her daughter whose grinning face was covered in formula milk. “Jessica thought it was funny though.”

“You little one will never do what we’re talking about. You stay away from men” Rachel warned, tickling her under the chin. “In all seriousness though I fell asleep straight away” she emphasised “so I guess we’ll talk today.”

“Tony really loves you Rach, you’ll work it out. What happened yesterday is understandable after what you’ve been through, just don’t try to rush yourself okay” Martha reassured, placing her hand over her friend’s.

“Thank you so much” Rachel smiled gratefully, starting to feel a little bit more at home already. “I just hope Tony thinks the same…”

“The same about what?” Tony’s voice boomed as he appeared from the bedroom, his hair dishevelled. He gave Rachel a shy smile, hesitating as he realised he’d interrupted their conversation. “Sorry…”

“No it’s okay, I think it’s time to wake Daddy up and make him do his fair share of nappy changing and bathing” Martha cooed to Jessica before quickly escaping to her bedroom.

“Morning” Rachel smiled hesitantly as she poured him a cup of coffee, noticing how he was lingering by the door as if he was afraid of being alone with her.

“Did you sleep well?” he questioned, running his hand through his hair as he gratefully took the steaming mug of coffee and gently sat down next to her.

“Not bad” she replied, aware that they were both trying to small talk around what had happened yesterday. It made her feel so nervous.

“Rach I wanted to apologise for yesterday, I acted really out of line and I wondered if you would give me a chance to explain why I reacted the way that I did” he rambled, the guilt eating away at him as it had been all night.

“It’s okay” Rachel brushed off, unsure how to handle the conflict between them. They’d never so much as said a bad word to each other and so a full blown confrontation had left her even more overwhelmed.

“No it’s not okay. All you needed yesterday was my support and I didn’t give it to you” he began, wrapping his hand around her fingers. “I should have cared more about your feelings than upsetting the neighbours and I do, I just didn’t show it in the right way. I was thinking maybe we could go for a walk and I could explain why…” Tony stopped as he felt her grip tighten and her body froze. “Rach I know you’re scared about being outside…”

“How do you” she interrupted, feeling embarrassed and utterly ridiculous.

“Because I saw how afraid you were yesterday when we got out of the car. Plus you squeezed my hand hard enough” he smiled sadly, noticing the flicker of fear in her eyes. “You need to get some fresh air though, you’ve been cooped up inside for long enough. Plus I’ll be with you the whole time, I won’t let anything happen to you.”

“Okay” Rachel shuddered, knowing deep down that he was right. She just had to force herself to do it so she could stop feeling so ridiculous. “I’ll go get ready” she

breathed, pulling her hand away.

******

"I hate fighting with you” Tony whispered, as only the sound of the cool breeze fell between them.

“So do I” Rachel smiled sadly, her arms crossed tightly in front of her as she walked closely to his side. “This wasn’t how I expected things to be between us when I got out.”

“It’s my fault” Tony gloomily replied, “I was a complete jerk last night. You didn’t need it at all.”

“I was rude though, to our neighbours. That part I deserved.”

“No, please don’t justify what I said to you” Tony begged, her sincerity making him feel even more guilty and ashamed. “We both know that most of people who turned up yesterday were more interested in the gossip than welcoming you home. I wish I’d have protected you from that.”

“Did you mean it when you said that...our relationship isn’t going to work anymore?” Rachel hesitated, holding her breath as she feared his response. Tears caught in her throat and a lump developed as vivid flashbacks of his voice saying those words echoed in her mind.

“I was afraid” Tony sighed heavily, “afraid that it was true.” He noticed a flicker in her eyes as she instantly looked away and down at the floor. “Not from my point of view Rach; but from yours” he quickly explained, reaching his hands out and placing them gently on her arm. “I would do absolutely anything for you. Being apart from you these past six months has been absolute torture and I never want to go through that again. But I can’t deny that you pushing me away did make me really worried for our relationship. If you can’t trust me to be there for you when you’re at your lowest then I can’t help but wonder if deep down you didn’t want me there because, maybe your feelings for me aren’t as deep as mine are for you. And I think that’s why I reacted the way that I did yesterday; because I’m really afraid that I’m going to lose you. The minute you started talking about not feeling at home I just freaked out. I can’t bear to be without you.”

“I didn’t realise you felt like that” Rachel paused; “why didn’t you just say so yesterday?”

“I don’t know” Tony shrugged, as he tentatively looked at her. “I guess I was just scared.”

“Tony, I have never trusted anybody as much as I trust you” Rachel replied, her heart breaking at the fear she saw in his eyes. “The reason I pushed you away was not because I didn’t want you there; it’s because I wanted to try and protect you. I didn’t want you to put your life on hold for me for seven years; that wouldn’t be fair. So I thought if I stopped you coming to visit then and didn’t reply to your letters then you would be able to forget about me and find somebody else who was going to make you happy.”

“It didn’t work though did it?” Tony smirked, relief washing over him.

“No it didn’t because you’re stubborn” she playfully poked him in the chest.

“So are you” he exclaimed, holding his hand to his chest in feigned offence.

“True” Rachel laughed before her expression turned serious again. “I’m glad you didn’t stop writing to me” she admitted. “Your letters are the only thing that got me through and the pictures you sent me; I can’t tell you how much that meant to me. It was the only thing that was able to distract me from what was going on with the other girls. I just kept thinking of you every time they’d come after me and it did, it got me through.”

“What do you mean when they came after you? What exactly happened in there?” Tony lowered his voice, his eyes widening in surprise.

“I thought, that Irene would have told you” Rachel stuttered, hoping that he wouldn’t ask too many questions.

“No she didn’t” he seethed, taking her hands in his. He watched as her composure changed dramatically; her shoulders sunken and her eyes directed sadly at the floor.

“How bad was it?”

Rachel hesitated, desperate to brush it off but she knew that she needed to be honest with Tony for their relationship to work. “Pretty bad” she tearily replied, looking slowly up at him.

“Come here” he choked, wincing as images of her being beaten forced themselves into his mind. He reached out and pulled her fragile body towards him; wrapping his arms tightly around her. He couldn’t imagine ever letting her out of his sight again. All he wanted to do was wrap her in bubble wrap and lock her inside so that no-one could ever hurt her again. Plus he’d noticed the local newspaper had done an unfair and misrepresented article on the front page about her release; something which he was desperate to hide from her. He knew already how much she hated people knowing her business, but he wasn’t sure how long he would be able to keep her away from the media’s interest.

“You know what I think you need” he whispered, “what we need, is to spend some time away from Summer Bay, just you and me; away from all the interfering neighbours. It’ll give us a chance to spend some time together just to get back to where we were before and then when we come home it’ll be a fresh start and you can start looking into getting back to work. Plus things will have calmed down and returned to normal again.”

“As amazing as that sounds” Rachel gushed, “I can’t leave the country”

“Well Australia’s a big place love” Tony smiled; “there’s plenty of places we can go that won’t know about what you’ve been through.”

“Haven’t you taken enough time off of work?” she asked him.

“That’s the benefit of being the boss of your own business; I can take off as much time as I want” he shrugged, “what do you say?”

“I say that you’re amazing” she beamed “and I’m so lucky to have you. I missed you.” She placed her hand on his cheek before reaching up and kissing him; something she’d wanted to do for so long.

“I love you” he whispered in between kisses before taking her hand as they walked back to their home.

[Red Ranger 1]

Good to have this fic back again!I'm glad Tony and Rachel talked things over and they seem to be back on an even keel, going away for a while could do them good.

[Zetti]

I am glad that they managed to sort themselves out.

Really well written

[HighwayUnicorn]

Deleted.

[suzannelgnz]

Sorry for not commenting Laura.

I am so glad Tony explained his actions and that him and Rachel are getting somewhere