A new story! Hope you like it...a little less happy then you're used to read from me...Enjoy!

The hunt for Stevie

The police had just left Drovers Run. Kate walked up and down the driveway and held the phone on her ear.

"We just don't know where she is Tess, I'm so worried. She'll even get herself into more trouble like this..."

A black ute suddenly turned up on the driveway. Alex jumped out.

"Why haven't you called me earlier!?" But then he saw that Kate was on the phone. He put one hand in his hair, out of frustration. And he was pale, from being so concerned.

When Kate hung up the phone she turned to Alex. "I'm sorry, we thought she just needed some time on her own and would come back."

Alex looked not satisfied with her answer, "But tell me, did I really had to hear from Nick that Stevie's missing!?" He started walking to the homestead, Kate followed him.

"Well we were all busy searching for her." She explained.

Alex sighed. "And I should have been a part from that." He felt kind of guilty for being to busy with his own problems and not being able to be there for his best mate.

Alex now decided to be involved and he wasn't going to let the girls keep anything from him from now on. "I saw the police coming from here. What did they say?"

Kate looked worried, she responded late because she had so many thoughts and worries going through her mind. But she knew that he wanted to help. "I don't know, Regan and Moira did the talking. Let's just hope Stevie gets back real soon, for her own good."

Alex didn't respond, he thought about it. Stevie would be sensible enough. And he hoped she would be aware of the fact that she shouldn't be gone this long. It only made him more worried, what happened to her?

They quickly entered the house and found Moira and Regan in the office, who were a bit surprised to see Alex.

"Alex..." Regan said. "We were about to call you."

"A little late isn't it? Nick called me this morning to ask how I was doing and of course to hear about Stevie."

Moira looked at Regan and then at Alex. "We should've called you earlier. But we're happy you are here. You know the whole district with your eyes closed."

Alex shook his head. "Then why do you do a search without me?" He looked straight in Moira's eyes. "And why the hell do I have to here all the way from Argentina that my best friend is missing!?"

Regan got in defense. "Well what a best friend you were to her lately! She needed you Alex! And you weren't there." She sighed, Alex didn't expected her to respond that way. She continued. "Look it was just a search from all of us here. And now we realize we need to organize something bigger."

Alex nodded. "You sure do. I'll see if I can arrange a chopper."

The girls agreed, it was a very good idea.

Regan took the phone. "Then I'll call all the neighbors in the area, to start a search party in a few hours."

Moira looked concerned. "But if we do that the police might find out."

Alex frowned. "You didn't tell them she is missing?"

Moira and Regan shook their heads. Alex got mad. "Something bad might have happened to her and all you do is worry about her case? What is wrong with you!"

Regan snapped. "You make it sound like we don't care, like we're not worried! That is not fair. She's our friend too you know. I'm not asking you where you've been lately."

Alex stared in her eyes, he was mad. "Yeah you've made your point now Regan. Listen, I know I wasn't there for her and I had some damn good reasons for that." He obviously was emotional about this, deep down it really bothered him. "I promise I'll talk to her, but we have to get her back first."

Regan nodded. "Right. I guess were all worried and upset. And yes, you should talk to her." She wanted to tell him about Stevie's feeling towards him, but it was better to leave that up to Stevie. Regan still held the phone and started calling the neighbors.

Alex went home to inform Fiona and then to arrange a chopper from an old friend, he was allowed to pick it up in an hour. Fiona immediately saw how much this effected Alex, but instead of talking and caring, she was being distant towards him, because of her jealousy.

"What time will you be back?" She asked.

Alex got annoyed by her question and sighed. "I don't know."

"Well excuse me, it's just a question."

He felt her jealousy. He had felt it al along, from the beginning. "Fiona? It's not like I'm going to the pub or something! We might be busy searching the whole afternoon and evening. As long as it takes."

Fiona frowned. "But it will be dark by then baby."

"So? Then I'll continue to search on the ground. We just have to find her, she's already gone missing for two days now. This will be the third."

Fiona walked to the kitchen. "You want some coffee first?"

Alex shook his head. "No I don't want coffee."

"Something to eat then?" She walked back to him and pulled a very sweet face.

"No. I want nothing." Alex mumbled while he dialed another phone number.

Fiona came closer and put one hand on his chest and caressed him. "You have to eat and drink, you can't help Stevie if you're feeling weak."

Maybe she did care, it made Alex feel a bit better. "Right. If you make us a quick lunch, then I go and make some calls and after that I'll join you."

And that's what he did. When they sat at outside to eat some sandwiches Fiona asked. "Stevie knows this property very well right?"

Alex nodded.

"Maybe you're to worried and she's just sitting somewhere, to be alone."

Alex quickly swallowed. "She's been missing for two days now, even if she wanted to be by herself she knows she should contact someone to let us know where she is." He was annoyed once again, by his wifes reaction about this.

But, Fiona made it even worse. "But, if something is wrong we would know by now."

Alex' eyes widened and he stood up from the table, not loosing the eyecontact. He sarcastically responded. "Have you ever opened your eyes around here? You must have noticed how huge it is here." He dropped the rest of his sandwich on the table, turned and walked away.

"Alex wait. I'm sorry." Fiona said and called him again.

He turned. "Don't be stupid Fiona."

She walked after him. "I didn't mean it like that." Tears welled up in her eyes.

He turned towards her and saw she almost cried, he couldn't handle that. So he became soft again, as he always was towards her. "It's ok Fi, I know you don't mean it like that." He took her in his arms and held her a few seconds. In his heart he was getting that cold distant feeling again, that bothered him lately. He tried to look calm and kissed her forehead, still trying so hard to pretend.

"I have to go now, ok?"

He left without turning to look at her, he could only think of Stevie and was worried sick. His stomach even hurt which gave him the feeling to throw up that sandwich he just ate.

… … …

"There he is!" Kate yelled, happy to see the helicopter. The girls waved at Alex, this gave them hope, they would find Stevie sooner this way.

Alex landed on the paddock near Drovers, Regan joined him in the helicopter and the rest of the girls continued to search by horse. The neighbours where there and everyone got a transmitter, they all knew what to do and where to search, all in a different area. Jodi and Kate went together. Moira stayed home in case Stevie would call or come home after all.

Alex and Regan talked before they left. He taught her a few things on how to search exactly and where to look.

"Look for any movement, people look different from the sky, even if you see a horse, tell me."

Regan looked surprised. "But she didn't took her horse."

"Just inform me about any movement, so we can go and take a closer look." Then he started the helicopter, he became a bit nervous now that he knew Stevie had left without Banjo.

Jodi and Kate were busy searching their area. Every few minutes they yelled Stevie's name.

"Where do you think she might have gone?" Kate suddenly asked.

"I have no clue Kate, but I'm worried. She was very confused after that fight with Leo, maybe she ran because of that?" Jodi said.

Kate sighed while she looked around her. "Doesn't sound like Stevie. I don't know what's going on Jodes, but it's not good."

"I know squirt. Let's just hope real hard that she's ok, maybe it helps."

They looked at Alex who was circling above them, but no radio contact yet.

… … …

"I see something move Alex. On your right hand." Regan said.

Alex looked, he saw it too. Slowly, but professional he flew the helicopter down. He felt his heart pounding real fast. Unfortunately it was not Stevie, just a kangaroo. He shook his head "Damn it!" and then rubbed his face with one hand to try to focus again.

"You ok?" Regan asked, he put his thumb up.

When Alex already was up in the sky for more then an hour, there hadn't been any radio contact between the searchers. So every one got more worried by the minute.

]Alex contacted Moira.

Moira was hopeful. "Any sign of her?" She asked.

"Nope nothing. Don't you have any visions or something?" He asked a bit sarcastic, but somehow he hoped for one sign, one small sign that she was ok. Anything would relieve him right now, even a vision of Mystic Miranda would help. But there was nothing. He sighed and turned the chopper, to search another paddock. They soon would have to go back home. But Alex found it hard to give up now. After a while Regan had to warn him that they should head back.

"5 more minutes." He strictly answered.

Regan realized he was totally into this. "No, your fuel tank is almost empty. We have to go back! Putting our self into danger won't help Stevie." She was right and he knew it.

Everyone gathered later on at Drovers Run, Moira had tables ready outside with tea and everything. Alex had brought the chopper back to his friend and then came to Drovers again. He didn't great anyone and walked straight to the house. Inside he took a seat and leaned back, his hands folded on the back of his head. After a while his mobile rang, it was Fiona.

"Hey."

"No, no sign of her." His answers were short, Fiona noticed how depressed he sounded and his whole reaction confirmed her feelings, he cared a lot more about Stevie then he would admit. Fiona became afraid to loose him ever since she saw Stevie for the first time. And she always carried a burden, it was that fear, that he might love Stevie more then her. She tried to be as sweet as she could be and calmed him a bit.

After they hung up he stayed in the kitchen, to rest a bit and to be alone. He continuously felt that urge of wanting to find her before dark.

Regan checked up on him, she had noticed how much it effected him and of course she knew more about the story between Alex and Stevie.

"Hey...Are you ok?"

Alex startled, he didn't expect anyone coming inside, he snapped. "Of course I'm not! And you shouldn't be either, you all shouldn't. We should be out there searching for her!"

Regan felt anger coming up, he wasn't being realistic. "Now you listen very carefully! You're not being fair. We've been looking for Stevie for days now, you know that we need a brake. And I think we all do." She stared at him and continued. "We're all worried, just as much as you are Alex. Please. Sort yourself out and then come outside to join us."

He took a deep breath and just stared at her, he couldn't even say sorry. But Regan understood, she blinked her eyes and nodded, then she walked back outside. Alex followed her.

"Wait." He said.

She looked at him and carefully smiled. "Want some tea?"

"Don't you have a beer?" He smiled back.

Regan replied. "We all drink a beer together when we found her, ok?" Alex nodded. They all talked, no one saw anything or found anything. The neighbors offered to continue to search until it would be dark.

… … …

Jodi, Kate, Regan and Moira were all sitting together as Alex picked up there conversation.
"Stevie had a fight with Leo!?"

Kate blurted out. "Yeah it was really bad, he brought back her knife and carried a gun with him."

Alex was flabbergasted! "What?...Why didn't you guys tell me?"

Regan tried to be calm. "Luckily it all turned out good. Nothing serious has happened."

Jodi's mouth fell open. "Oh come on, she almost shot him, you call that nothing?"

Alex walked closer towards them, he looked confused. "Wait. Wait a minute, someone needs to tell me exactly what happened." And so Regan explaned from the start.

"So you all thought you could make him confess in the pub. You really thought he would be that stupid?"

Regan looked down. "Well it was worth a try. There's just to much evidence against Stevie. She felt like she has got no chance."

Alex now was disappointed. "Of course she has a chance! She's innocent! I can't believe this."

He started walking around, thinking of what might have happened to her.

"So Stevie just freaked out. She's scared to death, that's why she left."

Regan looked concerned. "You reckon she might be confused and just ran away?"

Alex replied. "After what she's been through...What would you do?" His breathing got faster, he was restless. "I'm going out there again. Let me take Banjo and search every paddock and old cottage or ruin in the area. I have to find her." He looked determined and did what he said. Kate and Jodi went with Alex.

…. … …

"Stevie!" They yelled for her every now and then.

Jodi was exhausted, she rubbed her eyes.

"You ok?' Kate asked her, Jodi nodded.

Alex was so focused on finding Stevie, he didn't miss one spot. "I just don't get it."

They checked an old dry well, but no sign of her. Alex yelled the longs out of his chest, hoping real hard that he would get a respond. Slowly they approached the Killarney boundary fence, as the sun lowered on the horizon.

Kate warned. "It will get dark soon, we have to go back to Drovers."

Alex turned to look at her. "That's fine, you two go back, I'll continue."

Kate looked worried. "You can't go on by yourself, not in the dark. It's dangerous."

Alex looked mad. "Don't tell me what to do Kate. I was born ont this land, I know exactly what to do."

Kate looked a bit disappointed. "I'm sorry. But I think you would say the same to us."

Alex frowned, he knew she was right. "Look, it's alright. You two go back. I want to check out that old cottage in one of our own paddocks, it's not far from here. Then I'll ride home and bring Banjo to Drovers, first thing in the morning."

Jodi made eye contact with Kate and whispered. "Maybe we should wait for him."

Kate looked amazed. "Are you crazy? We have nothing on us to stay out here. No, this is his own responsibility. And I believe him, I guess he really knows what he does."

They agreed to ride back and Alex continued to search, alone. He wasn't scared, he just wanted to find his best mate. After a while he finally saw the old cottage in the distance that he wanted to reach. The sun gave her last light for this day and Alex knew it would be dark soon. But he was determined not to give up. Not until he found her, so he kept searching and calling her name.