Sometime later Stevie is finally being loaded into the ambulance Regan looks at Jodie and says "Which of us will go with her." Jodie's about to answer when Alex says "I'll go with her." Jodie turns on him and says "Piss off Alex you think one little kiss and your pissy little apology will make up for the heart ache you've caused her." He turns quickly, gets into this Ute and spinning the wheels drives off.
Regan says "Jodie what do you think you're doing you need to butt out of this." Jodie glares at her and says "Regan she told me what's been going on, he doesn't deserve her." Regan can see Jodie is too angry to be reasonable so she drops the subject and says you go with Stevie I'll grab some of her gear and follow on." Jodie jumps into the back with Stevie and they pull away.
Marcus is standing speechless and for that matter carless and says "Well this has been an education, certainly explains a lot." Regan looks at him and says "In case you've got the wrong idea there was no affair Marcus." He laughs and says "Yeah right." Regan says angrily. "If you knew Stevie you wouldn't even question that."
Marcus says "You expect me to believe that he divorced his wife and Stevie wasn't involved in that at all." Regan looks at him and says "Do you know anything about either of them or their situations." "Not really." He replies. Regan says "Has Stevie been honest and open with you when you've tried to take her out?" He looks at her and then kicks the dirt at his feet and says. "She told me straight up how she felt."
Regan says" Well you're lucky because she was in love with Alex before he married Fiona and didn't have the courage to tell him. He got engaged after five days to Fiona you really think that was love or a knee jerk reaction to wanting someone he thought only wanted to be his friend. Stevie watched him marry Fiona because she just wanted her best friend to be happy and if letting him go meant that's what she had to do then that's what she'd do." Marcus looks stunned and says "Oh." Regan says "Yes Oh. I'll just grab some of Stevie's gear and I'll drop you off."
Pulling into Kilarney Regan gets out of the car and begins to look for Alex and finds him down at the shed. "Hi Alex are you alright?" He turns and says "No not really but it's all I deserve isn't it." Regan moves over to him and placing her hand on his arm she says "Alex don't take any notice of Jodie she was scared and angry about her friend being hurt."
Alex looks at her and says "Well I always thought Jodie was my friend too but I don't think that's the case now." Regan smiles and says "Alex, Jodie didn't know until the day Marcus sent the flowers and she sat with Stevie and held her while she cried." Alex feels his heart twist at the thought of her crying.
Regan continues. "Jodie's anger is all fresh and new she doesn't know all the details just enough to know you hurt her friend." Alex nods his head. Regan says "Would you like to come with me to the hospital?" Alex shakes his head and says. "No I'll drive in later thanks Regan. But will you tell Stevie I'm coming to see her after I finish up here."
She smiles and says "Alex I want to tell you something that I think you should know." He looks at her and says "What that I'm an idiot and thoughtless and insensitive." She laughs and says "Well yes and that too."
Her expression changes and she says "Stevie never slept with Drew." Alex stares at her and says "Regan I saw her kiss him."
Regan shakes her head and says "No you saw him kiss her and if you'd waited one more minute you would have heard her tell him she wasn't interested and he left. You got it wrong Alex really wrong." She turns and walks back to the car.
Alex walks inside deep in thought. Marcus says "Here he is the man of the moment." Alex walks over to the computer and sits down. Marcus follows him and says "Well any wonder you were so sure I wouldn't get anywhere with Stevie. " Alex doesn't raise his head but says "Shut up Marcus it's none of your business." Marcus says "Bryce wouldn't agree Alex." Alex sneers "Marcus why don't you f*** off and leave me alone." Alex pulls his wallet from his back pocket and draws the credit card out. Looking at the screen he types in the numbers. Marcus continues to berate him. Finally he pushes pay on the computer and says "Marcus go." Marcus says. "Make me Alex." Alex looks at him and says "What are ya five years old! Piss off." Alex is furious and really would like to hit him but that will only get him in more trouble. "Right" Marcus says and walks outside. Alex picks up the phone and calls the hospital "Hello its Alex Ryan here. I'm just enquiring about Stevie Hall...Stephanie Jane Hall she was brought in by ambulance, she was crushed by a horse. Yes that's right." He hesitates and says "Yes I'm family yes oh How long will she be there for? When can I come and visit? Yes ok Thank you." He hangs up the phone and breaths deeply. Standing he strolls upstairs changes into his shorts and heads out to the shed.
Fifteen minutes later he's a ball of sweat as he hits the punching bag, all the anger and hatred he has for his himself culminates into his clenched fists. He's angry with his past and Harry who shaped who he was and had kept him from Stevie and Bryce because of the way he made him believe he'd still have control of Kilarney and Marcus because he's challenging him and pushing him and Alex wishes he'd bugger off but mostly he's angry at himself for all the stupid mistakes he's made so he hits harder and harder trying to free himself of the hostility he holds in every cell in his body.
Marcus appears at the door and says "I was wondering where you we hiding." Alex doesn't answer just continues hitting the bag. A conversation ensures and Marcus challenges Alex to a boxing match Alex declines but Marcus persists. They walk to the round yard and begin punching each other time after time they hit dodge and weave until finally Alex knocks Marcus to the ground. Both men are exhausted and covered in sweat, dirt and bruises. Marcus makes to stand and Alex tells him to stay down he's done. "Why do you care so much Bryce is just your Boss?" Alex yells at him and begins to walk away. Alex stops dead in his tracks when Marcus yells after him." And my Father. I'm your Brother Alex."
Back at the house Alex climbs the stairs every muscle is aching; standing under the shower he lets the hot water run over his face and body. More mess, now he has to contend with Bryce's son. Alex leans against the shower wall and lets the hot water run down his back and thinks to himself not one area of his life is right there is turmoil, sadness and anger at every turn when will it change? Will it ever change?
At the hospital Regan and Jodie have waited for hours while Stevie was in surgery she's had pins put in her ankle and wrist on the left side that hit the round fence she also has stitches in her forehead and major bruising down her left side. She's dozed on and off throughout the last hour or so and Regan and Jodie are about to head home. The nurses have told them she'll sleep most of the night and they'd best go home but it's up to them if one of them wishes to stay they'll bring in a cot.
It's almost dark by the time Alex arrives at the hospital as he walks through the door he spots Jodie and wonders if he should just turn around and go home. Courage rises in him and he decides he needs to see Stevie more than his hesitation and discomfort of being abused by Jodie again. Walking forward she looks at him but doesn't smile and proceeds to tell him where Stevie is.
Opening the door to her room he enters and spots Regan. She smiles and says "Hi Alex." He smiles and answers "Hi Regan how is she?" Regan proceeds to tell him she has a broken foot, wrist and major bruising the staff are hoping to have her up moving in the next few days. Alex asks "How will they get her walking if she has broken bones in her foot and wrist?" Regan responds "I have no idea. The flowers are beautiful Alex." He looks at her and says "I should have sent them to her a long time ago."
Regan grins and adds "Better late than never." He smiles and offers "I saw Jodie and she didn't hit me this time." Regan says "She's still not happy with you Alex." "I'm not happy with myself Regan." She asks "What happened to your face Alex?" He replies "Long story Regan I'll tell you one day." She doesn't push but ads" Jodie and I were trying to work out if we'd stay the night." Alex offers "I'd really like to Regan if you don't mind." Regan says "I don't mind but please don't upset her Alex she's very bruised and even though she's full of pain killers she's still extremely sore. She's quite amusing when she comes around it's almost like she's drunk." He nods and asks "What about Jodie?" Regan rises and places her hand on his arm and says. "I'll smooth that over Alex."