13. Stevie and Tess mended the fences. Tess hadn't realized while she was gone just how much she had missed Drovers, and simple things like fixing fences. Tess was curious beyond belief about everything that had been going on while she was gone. But she knew better than to question Stevie about it right now. It would just cause Stevie to run off. Stevie would tell her if and when she wanted to. And not before. So they mended the fence, talking about he sheep, the cattle, the tractor. And Tess waited and hoped for Stevie to open up to her.

Alex and Nick headed over to Wilgul. Alex was certain that he wouldn't be welcome at Drovers any time soon. Alex offered Nick a beer. Nick thought it was a bit early in the day, but could see that Alex was stressed out and joined him for a beer. Nick too was curious about things, but didn't have any luck getting any information out of Alex. So Nick teased Alex about how the place had fallen apart without him here. This got no reaction out of Alex though.

Nick phoned Drovers in the late afternoon and invited the gang out to dinner in Gungellan with him and Alex. It didn't surprise anyone that Stevie declined the invitation. Kate and Jodi did too. Tess sighed and thought to herself it was going to be one incredibly long week if Stevie and Alex were continuing to avoid each other. Still, she got dressed and waited out the front for the Ryan boys to collect her.

The Gungellan pub hadn't changed much. But Tess had missed this place also. Alex hardly spoke two words all night, and Tess thought to herself she may as well just be on a date with Nick. So after dinner they decided to head home. It was on the way home that Stevie's name came up in conversation. The car had a flat tyre, and the boys got out to change it. Although Nick was the only one working on the car. Alex's mind was elsewhere. It was then that Alex took the opportunity to talk to Tess.

"Is she really mad Tess?"

"Who?" Tess asked. Although she had a pretty good idea who he was talking about.

"Stevie." Alex continued. "I swear I didn't mean to say that, I just wasn't thinking, and I thought everyone knew, I just thought everyone knew." Alex tried to explain.

"Nah she's not that mad." Tess told him, and it was true. Stevie sure wasn't happy that everyone found out, but she didn't seem that angry at Alex.

"She will think I did it deliberately, to get back at her, but I swear I just didn't think."

"Maybe you should explain that to Stevie." Tess suggested to him

"Did she say anything to you?"

"About….?" Tess asked

"Nothing…." And that ended the conversation as Nick had changed the tyre and they were ready to get back on the road.

"Thanks for the help with the tyre" Nick teased his brother, but Alex hadn't heard him.

Alex dropped Nick and Tess back at Drovers. Despite the fact that dinner had been brief, the flat tyre on the way had held them up and it was late when they returned. They stood on the verandah, Tess invited Alex in for a coffee, but he declined.

"You can't avoid Stevie forever, and besides it's late, I'm sure everyone's asleep." Tess told him.

Alex seemed to consider this for a moment. It was then that they heard the screaming. Alex had heard that sound before, and he knew it was Stevie screaming in her sleep.

Tess rushed into the house, Nick and Alex close behind her. Jodi and Kate were sitting on the top of the stair case in their PJ's.

"Don't Tess." Jodi began as Tess headed for Stevis's room. "She hates it when we wake her up."

Alex didn't hear Jodi, or if he did he didn't pay any attention. He didn't stop to think that perhaps he was the last person Stevie wanted to see after he spilled her secret to everyone. He didn't stop to remember that Stevie told him she didn't need or want him in her life. All he heard was Stevie screaming, and nothing could have stopped him from going to her. He ran up the stairs stepping over Kate and Jodi and entered Stevie's room.

Tess looked to Kate and Jodi questioningly as she sat on the stairs with the others.

"We used to wake her up at first. But she hates it when we do that. She didn't speak to us for days, she would hardly look at us. And she asked us to stop. Told us to ignore it, so now we just sit here and wait for her to stop screaming. She will eventually, and then she will go back to sleep soon."

"Every night?" Tess asked.

"Pretty much." Jodi nodded.

"Come on squirt" Jodi and Kate decided they should head for bed now. Nick led Tess away also. Tess hesitated…"Alex will look after her." Nick assured her. Tess didn't doubt that. But what on earth was going on with those two?