A few months later..lot's of things have happened. As always, time goes fast, especially because of the several big happenings that have happened recently: Nick and Tess' wedding, the visite of Tess' cousin; Jasmine, Sally's come-back and Kane's -very short- comeback. But even trough al that, is seems like the friendship between Alex and Stevie is stronger then ever. Allthough they both have had some tough and weak moments...
Stevie had a rough time when Jasmine made her entrance at Drovers Run. She saw her best mate, her Alex, fall in love with a McLeod again. For a moment there, she was scared he found some sort of replace-women for Claire – the love of his life-
At that same time Alex had a rough time too..He never thought he would fel in love with a woman like that, so quickly. But Jasmine is a special, beautiful woman..Who desperately needed some help. Alex is a caring person and he could give her exactly what she wanted, that's why they got themselves in a romantic atmosphere, very quickly. Jasmine had to many problems at that time and let herself fal into Alex his strong arms, for a short time..Luckily she left, because she would never love him the way he deserves, at least, that's how Stevie thinks about it..
But when Kane came back, she had a very confusing time..She forgot about the romantic night she had with her best mate..And because of that weak spot she had for Kane, she went straight back into the arms of her lying ex-boyfriend. Alex hated to see that, he almost felt sick, because he knew he's so wrong for her...But he's a strong man and so he decided to try and let it go..He suddenly was so aware of the fact that he can't decide what's best for Stevie, although it was hard not to interfere.
Thank God everything is back to normal now and a to a more peaceful life now..and Kane is long gone..It's still early when Stevie and Alex are doing some fencing together, between Killarney and Drovers Run. The fence broke down and some of the cattle got mixed up last night, that problem was easily solved by the two best friends. Although they haven't forgot about everything that has happened for the last few months, there's a relaxed atmosphere between them, kind of cosey too. They have a good time, laughing together, talking together and working together...Until Alex suddenly brings something up.
"So you thought about Kane lately?"
Stevie laughs a bit at first, but then she gets a bit frightened. "No..why? Should I worry? Is he around or something?"
Alex laughs and stops working, he walks towards Stevie "Hey, eas up wil yah, the coast is clear, ok?" He gently puts his hand on her back, when he stands next to her.
Stevie looks a bit confused and sighs "Right, so tell me, why do you ask me something like that? I'm happy he's not around anymore."
"So you can't fall for him any more.." Alex nags.
Stevie feels annoyed. "What's with you .."
"What's with you? I'm just joking around, ok?"
"Well then do it without me." She says, kind of disappointed and walks away from him.
He follows her "Hey, I didn't knew 'the Kane subject' still hurt yah."
She turns around and clearly looks him in the eye. "It's not. It's you.."
Their eyes are locked on to each other. "Me?" He shyly smiles a bit.
"Yeah, you mentioning it. Mentioning him. I knew you didn't approve it when I went straight back into his arms." She turns away from him, feeling a bit embarrassed about it.
He slowly comes closer towards her and says with a soft voice "It was your choice Stevie.. And you must have felt the same when I started to feel something for Jasmine, right?"
She nods, but keeps quiet. He touches her shoulder, to get her full attention. "So you still think I'm irresistible.."
They both laugh.."Yeah..it's hard to keep my hands of you."
Alex shakes his head, while he puts on a playful smile "Why didn't you tell me?" He winks.
"'Cause I know where that might lead us.." She winks back, very self-confident.
He shakes his head once more and continues the fencing again. Every now and then they look at each other, still smiling about what's just been said.
After a while Stevie suddenly feels a sharp pain going trough her stomach..It surprises her so much, she almost sinks onto the ground. She heavily sighs and moans and holds her hand on her belly.
Alex jumps up when he sees her like that. "Stevie?" He puts one arm around her "Hey Stevie.." But she doesn't respond, because of the pain. "Come on mate, what's going on."
Stevie sighs. "I don't know.." She moves her hand and Alex grabs it to take a look at it. There seems to be blood everywhere, it looks very bad.
"Bloody hell, you cut yourself Steves, look..You should lie down now..Come on." He puts his shirt out, so she can lie on it, he carefully helps her. Then he takes a better look at Stevie's wounds. He lifts up her shirt and says with a painful look. "What the hell were you doing? That stupid steel-wire broke. It must have hit yah hard mate, you need some help." He stands up and looks around him.
Stevie is shocked to hear that and has no idea how bad it is. "Well..How bad is it?"
Alex kneels down again and holds her face, he gently puts one lock of hair behind her ear. "I'm not a doc, ok? Come on, I help you get up."
Stevie starts to cry when they finally manage to get up. "Now we have to get to your ute."
"Right, you reckon you can do that?" He asks.
She tries to smile somehow "Yeah I think so, but I don't think you can get me in it.."
He smiles and winks "I guess that will be the easy part, huh. You watch me, I can manage, even if I have to throw you in..Come on, we can do this."
His sweet way of being funny helps Stevie to hold on..But when they're almost there, Stevie gives up, the pain gets worse. "You go. You go by yourself..go and get some help."
But Alex doesn't hesitate one second. "No. I'm not gonna leave you here. You need some medical care, to get that wound fixed. Come on Stevie. We'll get there before you know it."
With a lot of struggling and pain they finally manage to get Stevie in Alex' ute.
In hospital, when Stevie gets the medical care she needs, Alex calls the girls, to let them know what's going on. After that he waits, very impatient, in the hallway. He moves up and down and nervously walks around.
"Hello, Mr..?" Suddenly a doctor looks at him very seriously.
He coughs a little bit before he answers "Alex, Alex Ryan..How is she?"
"You're allowed to see her Mr Ryan. She probable wants to tell you how she feels herself. I was about to check up on her, and noticed you're still waiting."
Alex looks relieved and can't wait to see Stevie, he follows the doctor. Alex feels even more relieved when he sees her..She looks pain free and happy.
"Hey you.." She says, she doesn't even notice the doctor at first. Alex winks and stays in the back of the room a bit. Although he wants to come closer, but the doctor needs to check up on her first.
"Ms Hall, I'm doctor Johnson, how are you feeling?"
She looks a bit shy. "I'm fine.."
"Good to hear that.." He looks at Alex "Are you her fiancée?"
Stevie and Alex look at each other and laugh about it. "No, I'm not."
"Boyfriend? Family?" The doctor still looks serious.
"Actually, he's my best friend." Stevie says.
The doctor sighs and turns to Alex again "I'm afraid I have to ask you to leave.."
Alex pulls Stevie a face, she can't hide her smile.."We almost know everything about each other." She says to the doctor.
"I prefer to have this conversation first with you ms Hall. It's kind of personal."
"What could be so personal..I'm wounded because of some fencing..And you can call me Stevie by the way."
Alex laughs "Righto. You're feeling much better..I'm out of here..Talk to ya later." And he walks out.
"Ms Hall..*ugh* Stevie. The wound shoud heal very soon. It needed quit some stitches. But it looked much worse then it was. It was on the surface and not as deep as we thought at first. Theese kind of wounds easily bleed a lot. We have also took some blood samples and we found out something.." He still looks very serious. Stevie looks awaiting and a bit nervous.
"Ms Hall, I presume you don't know..otherwise you would have told us when you got in."
Stevie sighs.."I don't know what..?"
"I have to congratulate you, you're pregnant."
Stevie is shocked and is unable to talk for a while. The doctor sits down by the bed and understands it's not an expected pregnancy.
"Can I do anything for you? Or you want me to call you best friend?"
Stevie suddenly looks straight at him, with big eyes. "No..don't call him. Oh God.." She starts to cry when she realises Alex is waiting outside, she can't face him now.
"There's always someone from the staff who you can talk to, ok? If you want me to call someone, family, just let me know."
Stevie gets even more upset when she thinks about Rose. This is the second time she gets pregnant like that. Rose would get so mad at her, for being so stupid once more.
"No thank you doctor, I just need some time alone. Can you tell Alex I need some rest now?"
"Sure, I will. I'll stop by later on, to see if you're ready to go home, ok?"
Alex doesn't get it when the doctor informs her about Stevie. "But I have to see her, al I do is wait around here."
But the doctor doesn't allow him to go in. Luckily after a short time Tess shows up.
"Hey..How is she..How are you?"
Alex shakes his head. "She's fine, but I can't go in, because she needs some rest.".
Tess looks a bit weird. "You just waited here all this time? Come on. Lets see her."
"Tess. We're not allowed."
"Do I look like I care about that?" She laughs and grabs Alex by his coat, forcing him to go with her.
"Right, stuff it, we'll go in." He winks.
When he goes in there for a second time, he suddenly sees a different Stevie.
"Hey you..You looked so happy a while ago." He stands next to her and gently touches her hand. Tess stands on the other side of the bed. Stevie can barely look at Alex.
"I guess the anaesthetic isn't working any more..I'm having much more pain now." She lies.
Alex looks worried. He thinks about what happened and gets quiet, Tess does most of the talking, as usually. Stevie avoids Alex a bit, but he doesn't notice.
When Alex gets a call from Killarney, he has to leave. "I'll see ya soon, ok? If you need me, you've got my number.." He winks and carefully strokes her cheek when he leaves. Stevie barely can say something, but when he's almost walking through the door, she says. "Alex..? Thanks..for everything."
He turns "Yeah, you owe me one." He smiles before he really leaves.
"He's was such a hero today. I think it's great, he will do anything for you Stevie."
Stevie looks a bit pale when Tess praises about Alex like that. She doesn't say a word. It's odd, she is obviously not herself. Tess doesn't pay any attention to that behaviour, she waits and talks to her, until she's allowed to take Stevie home.
A review would be nice..and it helps to continue..