Disclaimer: still not mine, don't sue.
A/N: this is what I wanted to see in this episode, only thing that could have made me love it more. And I think I'm improving!
Summary: when Rose has run off with Leo, Stevie calls in the help of her best mate.
This story is dedicated to no milk left because she reviewed my first two MD stories. Thanks!

It Scares Me How Much I Love You

When Alex picked up the phone, he could hear the rushing noise that told him the caller was outside, and, considering how loud the noise was, probably moving fast. Then Regan's hurried tones carried over the line, talking so fast he could hardly understand her.

'Wait, Regan, what? What happened to Rose?' he tried to cut in. Regan's faded away as he heard some confusion on the other side of the line. A moment later Stevie's voice came over the line, sounding like she was shouting from a bit away.

'Alex, just meet us at Selkirk's. And hurry, Leo's got Rose!' he heard her shout. Then she continued on to say something about calling the police, but Alex wasn't listening anymore. After a moment of shock, he'd jumped into action, slamming down the phone and rushing outside to his jute. With his heart racing, he didn't know who he was more worried about; Rose or Stevie.

-xxx-

As he pulled into Selkirk's property, Alex noticed Stevie's jute was already there. A moment later he saw Stevie sprinting away around the house. He quickly parked his jute, though his action was hardly worth the name, and got out. As he slammed the door shut, he heard a scream erupting from the direction Stevie had just vanished in. A burst of fear-induced adrenaline filled his veins as he rushed after the sound. The scene that greeted his eyes when he turned the corner wasn't pretty. He could see Stevie wrestling from underneath Leo as he pinned her to the ground and Rose looking on, seemingly frozen by the tree. A red haze flooded his senses and without any conscious thought he ran, launching himself at Leo and knocking him off Stevie. He didn't even see Regan running up to them just a few seconds after he'd reached them, a pipe held at the ready. Everything was a blur as he kept pummelling his fists into Leo's stomach. He didn't know how long it took before he heard Regan's shouts and noticed her attempts to stop him.

'Alex! Alex, stop! Stop, he's out cold!' Only then did he realize Leo wasn't fighting back anymore. Still slightly dazed, he let him go, and with some effort moved away from him, only half aware of Regan rushing past him to check Leo for a pulse. His gaze instinctively went to Stevie and Rose, anxious to see if they were okay. Stevie was hugging a still bewildered-looking Rose close to her, but thankfully both of them seemed okay. He staggered a bit as he got up, but quickly regained his footing. He walked over to them.

'Are you okay?' he asked.

Stevie's gaze left Leo's inert body and focused on him.

'Yeah,' she said, a bit unsteadily, 'we're fine. We're both fine.' A grateful smile flew over her face, though her eyes still looked a bit dazed from the shock. Rose hadn't responded at all, but merely kept clinging to her mother, her breathing irregular. Stevie seemed to have noticed this too and gently shook her.

'Rose. Rose, it's over. Rose honey, are you okay?' Rose lifted her head up from her mother's chest and stared up at her, her gaze unfocused. It visibly took a few seconds for Stevie's words to penetrate her mind. Then she awoke as if out of a trance.

'Huh, what?' she finally asked. 'Oh, yeah, I'm okay. I'm ah… I'm gonna go get my stuff.' Still slightly in a haze she started walking towards the house. Before Stevie could follow her, Regan jumped up and said she'd take care of it, quickly vanishing after the girl. Stevie stared after them.

'So, are you really okay?' Alex said after a few seconds of silence, looking at Stevie. She took her eyes of the spot her daughter had disappeared in with a bit of difficulty and glanced at him, smiling as he caught her eye.

'Yeah, I am,' she confirmed softly, still smiling at him. 'And thanks for helping.'

Alex smiled back at her affectionately. 'Anytime. I'm just glad you're both okay.' They shared a fond look.

'We should go; they're probably waiting for us.' Stevie said, starting to walk back to the house.

'Stevie-' Alex started, obviously thinking she was avoiding the subject of their relationship again.

'Oh and Alex,' she interrupted him, smiling at him from over her shoulder, 'when we get back to Drovers, let me just look after Rose and then I think we need to have a talk.' She didn't wait for a response before taking off with big strides.

Alex grinned to himself and quickly followed her.