Stevie glances at the door as she hears it open and is surprised to see Bryce. " Hello Stevie !" She smiles and says " Hello Bryce you're a long way from home." He smiles at her as he walks towards her and says " I heard you were trying to get out of work so I thought I should investigate."
He leans down and kisses her cheek and quips "It's not the prettiest I've seen you." She laughs and says " Oh don't make me laugh that hurts." She's surprised at how concerned he looks when he says " Stevie I'm so very sorry I didn't mean to hurt you." She smiles and says " Yes you're a dreadful man making me laugh.
He grins at her and says " Should I ask you how you are?" She grins and says " Well I'm better than yesterday, so that's a start." Bryce says " Yes Alex said you were a mess."She looks at him and says " A mess!" Bryce smiles raises and eyebrow and says " A gorgeous mess." She laughs again and holds her ribs and grimaces." Oh Stevie I'm sorry Id better go." He muses.
"No it's alright Bryce don't go. It's a long day just laying here with my own thoughts" He smiles at her. Stevie says "So you've seen Alex?" Bryce says "Yes I was out at Kilarney earlier. I'm guessing Alex told you about Marcus?" Stevie nods and Bryce continues to speak. " I went to apologize to Alex and to ask him to forgive me."
Stevie grins and says " I'm glad Bryce that's a nice place to start with him. The tricky part will be gaining his trust and that won't be easy for you." Bryce replies " I don't expect him to call be Dad overnight I just want to be a part of his life and if he'll let me do that I'll be more than happy."
Stevie says " Bryce don't lie to him, tell him the truth. He'll be angry but he'll deal with it but if you lie to him he'll cut you off quickly." Bryce looks at her and asks "Is that what happened between the two of you?'
She stares into space and says " Not really Fiona lied to him and said she was pregnant and I suspected she wasn't so at Fiona's hens night we played truth or dare. She chose truth and I said have you ever lied to someone you love and she just about fainted and couldn't look at me. So I knew. I fronted her later and she confessed but she knew I was in love with him so she kind of had me over a barrel but I said if she didn't tell him I would and she promised she would."
Bryce says "They married earlier." Stevie nods "I rode out to stop it but they'd already said I do!" Later when she faked the miscarriage and he found out there was no baby he came to Drovers' to have a beer with me and talk." Bryce says "Like you've always done." She smiles and nods then says " When he told me he could tell by my expression that I knew but I couldn't explain to him at the time and then we just went from one misunderstanding to another." Bryce looks at her and says " You'd do anything for him wouldn't you." She smiles and says " Bryce he's my best friend."
"Rose what's going on?" Michelle asks. Rose stop sand says " Alex just rang to tell me Mum's got a broken Ankle and a broken wrist." Michelle says " How'd she do that?" Rose replies a horse crushed her up against a fence. Michelle scoffs. " I don't know why she bothers trying to tame wild animals she lives such a rough and tumble life."
Rose is annoyed and says " She lives a great life and she's brilliant with animals it was an accident, Alex slammed the float door to hard and the horse spooked and she was caught between the fence and the horse Alex says it was all his fault Mum did nothing wrong!" She moves into her room to pack her bag.
Michelle follows her and says "What are you doing?" Rose says " Alex asked if I'd like to visit Mum and then stay on to help the girls on Drover's." Michelle says " I thought we were going to spend some time together these holidays ?' Rose looks at her and says " I've spent my entire life with you. Mum needs me and I would have thought you'd understand that ! Don't you dare try to manipulate me into not going, she's hurt and needs me and that's it."
Stevie is sleeping when Alex arrives. Quietly he moves over to the bed and places one hand on either side of her, leans down and kisses her very softly. She sleeps on and he smiles knowing she's obviously had her pain killers. Leaning back in the arm chair he nods off quickly and is woken by the nurses doing the evening rounds.
" Oh Hello you're back." They both smile at him. He stands and stretches , yawning. One of the nurses says " We'll bring a cot in for you tonight it might be a bit more comfortable." He smiles and replies " Unless you've got a king size one I wouldn't bother I'd only be uncomfortable."
The other nurse says " We'll just bring the mattress then." " Righto sounds good ." He replies. He asks "When can Stevie come home?" " Not for a few more days I'd say. We have to get her moving first." Standing at the bed he looks at Stevie. The nurses are still checking the med charts.
Stevie opens her eyes, grins and says " Alex !" Smiling he replies " Hello Beautiful." He leans down and kisses her gently she reaches up her hand and holds his face. The two nurses grin at each other. Alex lets the kiss linger then gently finishes with two quick soft kisses and says " God I've missed you." She smiles and says " Oh I feel better already." He laughs and moves back to let the nurses finish their work.
Finally alone they chatter away about the day they had one in hospital, one on two farms . Stevie is keen for news of home and is thankful to Alex for his help. " Stevie we need to talk about what we're doing in the next few weeks."
She quips "Well not much for me I don't know about yourself?" He tells her about Moira helping and himself and Riley and then asks " Stevie I want you to come back to Kilarney while you recuperate so I can look after you."
She grins and says. " Alex how are you going to do that?" He bites his lip and says " Well I thought I could shower you and stuff." She laughs and then says "Ow now that hurt. I'm sure you'd like to shower me but you have a farm to run." He leans over and kisses her and says " Please let me take care of you even if it's just for a couple of weeks. If you're on Drover's the girls will worry all day at least on Kilarney when I'm out Rhonda will be there if you need anything."
She smiles and says "Alex it sounds so very tempting but what if the girls need to contact me?" He grins and says " I bought two new sat phones that they can carry and they can reach you from just about the entire property." She smiles and says " Boy you really want to shower me don't you." He chuckles and then exclaims. " Oh I nearly forgot! Rhonda sent these for you." He hands her a tin.
As she opens it she giggles and says " Anzac biscuits oh yum. Tell Rhonda Thank you Alex I love em'" He smiles at her and thinks how much he loves how she appreciates the little things people do and the simpler things in life. " So Alex two days in hospital and two huge bouquets from you. If Id known you'd do that I would have hurt myself years ago." Rising he leans over her and kisses her and as he whispers his voice falters. "I will never hurt you ever again. I'm so sorry." She holds him tightly knowing he's upset, tears trickle down her cheeks too.
Early the next morning Alex is at the airfield as Rose's plane lands. As she reaches him he hugs her and says "Thanks for coming Rose your Mum will be thrilled to see you." Rose grins and says " Thank you for paying for my airfare. Flying is so much better than the bus it takes hours off the trip. How's Mum?" In the car Alex explains everything to Rose and as they reach the hospital door Alex says " I'll give the two of you some time alone and I'll go and get a coffee." Rose hugs him and says " Thanks Alex." Half an hour later Alex knocks and walks into Stevie's room. Stevie says" Rose can you give us a minute alone please?' Rose grins and says " Yes I'm off to the cafeteria I'm starving." Alex moves over beside Stevie and she says " Come here." He grins and leans over her. " Alex I'd love to come home to Kilarney and have you look after me." He grins and says " Really?' She kisses him softly and says " Really."
