Chapter Twenty Five – Best Interests

Nick scratched the back of his head, still unsure of how to break the news to Emma about his temporary leave, but then he brightened and realized there was a way to satisfy everyone at the same time. He walked into the garage just in time to see Sam walk out, the pilot was looking rather unpleased while Emma waved him off with a grin on her face. The young mechanic frowned as the pilot, clad in his uniform trousers and a T-shirt with Cooper's Crossing garage's logo printed on it, nodded at him as a way of greeting and headed off in the direction of the base.

"You're looking good, Sam!" Emma hollered after him with a bright smile on her face.

Nick shook his head and walked up to her.

"Long story," she said amusedly. "Are you ready for a new day?"

He glanced away for a moment and then turned to look at her again. "Actually, I was wondering if I could have a few days off. I know it might not be the best of times but I have a proposition for you."

Emma frowned suspiciously and crossed her arms over her chest.

"I promised Annie to go for a ride a while back and, well, with everything that's been going on around here, the storm, the accident,-" he trailed off. "I was thinking, if you don't mind, that we could head out to your place. Feed the animals, borrow your horses and set camp out there. That way we get to ride, you can be here at the garage and the horses will get some exercise at the same time," he suggested.

Her lips curled slightly upwards in a sly smile. "You know, you have your bright moments, Nick," she said.

He looked at her somewhat uncertain at first but then nodded. "It's a yes then," he asked for confirmation.

Emma nodded.

"Great, I'll go and fetch Annie and then we'll be on our way," he added jovially.

OOOOOO

DJ gave a low whistle as Sam walked into the duty room clad in his uniform trousers and a yellow T-shirt with a red print that read 'Cooper's Crossing Garage, the best in town' at the front. "I do love your new uniform shirt, mate," he said cheerfully.

The pilot sighed and narrowed his eyes at the radio operator. "Don't say too much, DJ or I'll give it to you at the end of the day," he replied sourly.

The Greek chuckled and shook his head. "I would love to have one," he said seriously. "I just didn't expect that combination that's all."

Sam rolled his eyes as he made his way over to the desk he was usually occupying when at the base and gingerly sat down.

DJ got up from his position behind the radio and followed the pilot. He took in the appearance of his friend, his eyes drawn to the bandage on his upper right arm. "Are you okay, mate," he asked with concern.

"I'm still in one piece," he said with a tight smile.

DJ angrily crossed his arms over his chest. "Don't joke about that, it isn't funny, Sam," he admonished. "He could have blown you to bits."

The pilot shrugged. "What can I say? I didn't think he was going to adapt the place with explosives and blow himself sky high now did I?"

"I'm sorry, Sam I just-" DJ trailed off, not sure how to voice what was on his mind. "I was a bit shocked last night, you know, when I first got to know, that's all. We all were actually. I mean it was bad enough when we thought the mine itself had collapsed on top of you."

Geoff stopped in his tracks as he spotted the pilot in the duty room and narrowed his eyes as he crossed his arms over his chest. "And just what are you doing here?" he asked sternly.

Sam shrugged casually. "Not much," he offered lightly. "I was trying to finish off some paper work from yesterday."

The doctor huffed as he walked up to him. "And that can't wait?" he questioned kindly.

Sam chuckled. "All it requires now is a few signatures and the last time I checked I knew how to use my right hand," he said softly. "By the way, can you certify me fit for flying? I want to take the aircraft home."

"Sam," Geoff began carefully as he studied his colleague and friend. "I really think you should take it easy for a few days. What you and David have been through-," he trailed off as if contemplating which words he'd chose. "I mean you could have been buried underneath that rock."

The pilot pursed his lips into a thin line of displeasure. "Thanks for reminding me, now you can join Emma, DJ and Paula's club," he said sarcastically and then held up his hands in a gesture of surrender as he felt he'd gone too far. "I'm sorry, Geoff."

The doctor placed an encouraging and comforting hand on his shoulder. "Get out of here for a while," he suggested. "Come back tomorrow and I'll see what I can do."

OOOOOO

Vic closed the door behind the last two regulars, turned the sign from open to close outside and went in again. He whistled lightly as he walked up to the counter and retrieved the ukulele.

"Vic," Nancy whined lightly as she came around the corner with a large bag of balloons, a garland around her shoulders. "Do you have to bring that thing with you?"

He glanced at her indignantly as he began to tune it. "Someone has to make a stand for culture around here," he muttered.

"DJ was going to bring his stereo with him," Paula said with a bright smile as she came from the kitchen, looking for Nancy. "Look, I better fix the balloons. I've never been good with food," she let on.

"Love, I only need for you to warm it up a bit," Nancy said.

"Still," Paula insisted. "I'd better finish up the decorations in here."

Vic smiled as Nancy handed over the garlands to Paula and left for the kitchen. He was just about to take tone when there was a knock on the door. "We're closed!" he hollered in annoyance.

"It's me, Vic!" Jack hollered back.

Paula quickly made her way over and let the policeman in. "Jack," she said in delight and handed him a bunch of balloons, eliciting a wry look on the officer's face.

"Come on over here, mate," Vic suggested as he began to fill up a pint. "You look like you need one."

Jack sighed. "Yeah, I had a phone call from Betty Logan, she told me Larry's passed away," he said solemnly.

"May he rest in peace," Vic said in a subdued voice. "How's the young boy taking it?"

"Joshua's- I don't know, Vic," he said slowly. "George is breathing down his neck, trying to get his hands on the farm. Doesn't the man have a conscience?"

"Good old Baxter, he's always been a businessman, you know that, Jack. What else is new?" he asked.

The policeman shook his head. "Betty and Bart is going to help him out and look after him, to see that he stays out of trouble and take care of himself," he said.

"Then it's going to be fine, Jack," Vic reassured him. "You know Betty, she's going to make life hard for George and she's going to enjoy every minute of it."

They shared a laugh.

"What about that Dibsey chap? Did you get anything out of him?" Vic asked curiously.

"Not much. Not yet anyway. The guy is pretty banged up and in poor shape. He's been mumbling a bit incoherently but Geoff told me I should wait a few days at least to hear him out about where he's been and also if he's been seeing anything in relation to the cattle thefts," he informed.

A moment of silence passed between them as Jack took a sip of his beer.

"Now it's just a matter getting rid of my house guests," the policeman drawled. "A couple of officers from Broken Hill are on their way as we speak. They should arrive in about an hour."

"You're going to be missing out on the party then, mate" Vic said.

Jack shook his head. "I'll just sign a few papers and send them on their way. It won't take more than ten minutes," he said.

OOOOOO

DJ clasped his hands together, looking smug, as he reached for the phone to call the pub.

"Majestic Hotel," Nancy's sweet voice came over the line.

"Nance, it's DJ," he clarified cheerfully. "Tom and Chris are bringing David over now, is everything set?"

She glanced around the decorated restaurant and took in the balloons and garlands. "We're ready DJ, I'll go and fetch Emma and Sam right away," she assured him.

The radio operator grinned. "Terrific!" he commended. "We'll be there shortly."

Geoff frowned at him as he came out of his office to have a glass of water.

"It's time," Kate said softly with a large grin as she reached out for her husband's arm, to guide him toward the exit.

The clinical department head huffed sourly. "I should be reading them the riot for positioning themselves in that situation in the first place," he muttered.

OOOOOO

The atmosphere at the Majestic hotel was jovial and cheerful. Sam and Emma came walking close together, their arms sneaking around each other's middle, both of them wearing a careful yet satisfied smile. David seemed to enjoy himself as well when he'd gotten over the fact that his two colleagues had been luring him there, muttering something about how he hadn't done anything to deserve such a party.

Molly watched with delight as the gathering in the room continued to grow and she marveled about how many people that had been involved in the search and rescue and how many had wished her uncle well after the incident in the mine. She and Pete leaned on each other for support, it was the first day for Pete to be out of the wheelchair. Molly had wished for her uncle to enjoy the celebration too but he was far too weak at the moment and resided in a hospital bed across the street.

A sharp whistle carried over the room, effectively silencing the chatter. "All right!" Jack Carruthers said as he stepped out on the scene. "First of all I'd like to thank everyone here for the time, the patience and, most of all, the effort that's been put into this search and rescue mission!"

"Hear hear!" someone shouted and a cheer went through the crowd.

"I'm proud of you all," Jack added and raised his glass, then he added solemnly. "As you all know, Larry Winters has passed away, may he rest in peace. As for Joel Dibsey, he'll have a long load of recovery ahead of him but at least he's finally found he's not alone. Praise to Molly for not giving up on him, for continuing to search for him across the country, may he finally find peace."

"Well said, Jack!" Tom encouraged.

"Yeah, well I'm no speaker but-" he began humbly.

Geoff placed his hands in front of his mouth to form a megaphone. "Liar!" he interjected in a teasing tone.

The officer waved at him lazily, somewhat annoyed. "Anyway, I don't think anyone in here have missed what transpired in the mine. I would like to thank our local heroes, I know they're here-" he glanced around the gathering until he spotted both the pilot and the doctor in question. "Sam and David!"

"Get on the stage!" DJ shouted happily.

"Speech!" Kate and Chris said in unison as they gave David a gentle show towards Jack.

The pair of them glanced at each other, none of them really wanting the attention.

Sam chuckled and shook his head as he stepped up on the stage next to Jack with David not too far behind. The pilot scratched the back of his head absentmindedly, trying to find something to say, then he smiled and glanced at the policeman. "As a friend of mine said not too long ago, I'm no speaker-"

Emma laughed and then started to hoot.

"Look," David began humbly and glanced at the pilot standing next to him. "We were just doing our jobs."

"A bit modest, are you?" DJ shouted.

Sam shrugged and then laughed and added in a serious voice. "I think I speak for both of us when I tell you that I'm glad everything turned out okay, for everyone."

"Let's crank up the beer, Vic," David suggested kindly.

OOOOOO

"Well, here we go again," Chris said in a soft teasing voice as she stepped out on the balcony at the hotel where Tom was waiting for her.

"I kind of liked our little get together yesterday," he replied mischievously. "A repeat can't hurt."

"I've missed you, Tom," Chris finally said. It had taken her almost a year to give in to her feelings but now she couldn't deny them any longer. Life was too short to bear grudges.

He looked at her over the candle lit dinner, his dark eyes sparkling.

"I was so angry with you, why did you have to leave?" she whispered solemnly.

He hesitated for a moment then leveled his eyes to look her in the eye. "I've asked myself that question many times over," he answered hollowly. "I've regretted it many times but I couldn't afford to look back. If I had I would never have made it."

She smirked as she stabbed her fork forcefully into the food. "I respected your choice then and I still do," she replied. "You're wrong about one thing though."

He cocked a curious eyebrow at her.

"When we brought you back with us in the plane you said the caring and gentle Doctor Tom Callaghan didn't exist anymore. But ever since you reapplied to work for the service-" she trailed off with a sly grin and then added softly. "-I've seen him on many occasions lately."

Tom huffed lightly as he gently cut the stew on his plate. "Well," he let on enigmatically. "Maybe it's you who brings him back?"

OOOOOO

Kate sighed happily as she sat down in the sofa in their living room. She'd had a wonderful time at the pub, everyone had been smiling and drinking together, celebrating that Dibsey had been found. The town had really gotten together and it seemed even old mistakes and terrible accidents was slowly being forgotten. She was glad for Dibsey's sake and Molly and Pete's but most of all for Sam and David, that they'd found the old man and made it out of the mine alive.

Geoff smiled at his wife as he appeared in the doorway to their living room with two cup in his hand. "Tired already?" he teased mischievously. "If I didn't know better I'd think you're starting to get old."

She made an indignant snort and threw a pillow at him. "It's been a long day," she replied smartly as he handed her the cup. "Actually, it's been a long week. I think everything is finally starting to get to me."

The doctor gently placed a comforting hand on his wife's shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. "It's over now, Kate, all of it."

She sighed wearily. "Is it?" she asked. "Emma told me she and Sam are planning to sell the farm."

Geoff nodded with a smile. "Would that be so bad?" he asked softly. "There's always hell to pay when I phone to head office and request a relied pilot," he said with a twinkle in his eyes.

Kate chuckled and shook her head. "I don't know about that," she teased. "Of what I've heard you're pretty well when it comes to outmaneuvering the poor man in charge of such things."

He gave her an indignant look but didn't comment instead he said, "I'd be happy for them to come back to town. I mean I'd like to have Sam here on full-time again and Emma is needed at the garage."

"At least we've been in luck lately as Debbie's in the neighborhood," Kate added.

Geoff nodded solemnly. "Yeah. I know you like her, she's a good pilot but she's not like Sam."

"I know what you mean," the nurse said. "Sam and I grew up together. And I'm not sure I can even imagine the garage without Emma."

"You sound like it's the end of the world. I mean the fact that they're planning on selling their property doesn't necessarily mean they're going to leave the area altogether," he suggested lightly. "Like I said I'd be happy for them to move back into town."

"I think Emma is ready to leave and with that I mean everything, including the garage. Sam's been working a lot in Sydney lately and Emma is a city girl, remember?" Kate reasoned.

"I don't think she is, not really, not anymore," he said in a subdued voice. "I'm not a city boy any longer, remember?"

Kate brightened and leaned into him. "No, but it took a long time for you to realize that," she teased lightly. "It's much more exciting out here."

"Definitely, especially marrying on long-distance radio," he replied cunningly.

She rolled her eyes. "You didn't have to go on that particular call, David had control of everything."

Geoff chuckled and shook his head. "I'll always remember that day, Kate," he said softly. "When we got back and you came to me in your wedding dress. It was one of the finest moments in my life."

"Emma showed up at my door early and helped me fix everything," Kate let on.

Geoff nodded. "And if I remember correctly Sam was smiling all the way back home. He knew something was up."

Kate laughed at the look on her husband's face. "It was one of the brightest moments in my life too," she said. "Geoff, I'm going to miss them terribly if they leave."

"It's their decision to make, Kate, and you can't keep them if they don't want to," he said solemnly.

OOOOOO

To be continued