"You okay?", Claire asked, trying not to sound concerned, but she was. She was frightened that Stevie wouldn't make it. And no matter what, Claire didn't want Stevie to die. Claire placed her jacket around her friend.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to drop dead or anything. Not that it would matter to you since you told me already that I am dead to you." Stevie answered her. Stevie realized she wasn't being particularly friendly, especially as Claire had just given her the jacket to keep warm. But she was cold and tired and in pain, and she suddenly remembered those words Clare spoke to her. And they hurt her more than Daniel ever could.

Claire felt anger rising inside her. "Well, I never thought that you would betray me like that", she said, not really believing it herself, but there was so much evidence. She saw the photo of Stevie and Michael. As for Alex...she shook her head, deciding not to think about him. It hurt too much. "I could stand it if Sandra Kinsella did that to me", Claire got up and went toward the window. Staring outside, she said "But, not from you...I thought that you are my friend...Guess I was wrong, huh?", she said, trying her voice to be cold.

Stevie was confused. "What are you talking about mate?" She could see Claire was upset, and she really didn't know why. She tried to stand up and walk over to her friend, but she couldn't do it, it hurt her to much, she groaned in pain and sat back down gasping for breath "Claire, tell me what you are talking about." She demanded as tears formed in her eyes. She didn't know if she was crying from the pain of her injuries, or because her dearest friend was speaking so coldly to her. She was so scared she lost Claire forever. First she lost Carrie, then Rosie, and now Claire.

Claire flinched at Stevie's groan in pain and quickly rushed toward her. She lifted her jacket a bit and saw blood on Stevie's hospital-nightgown. "Shit", she mumbled. "Stop moving Hall", she said, as she pressed the clean napkin on Stevie's body to stop the bleeding.

"Stop swearing at me McLeod, and tell me what you are talking about." Stevie demanded.

Claire looked at her, tears forming in her eyes. She questioned herself. Was it really possible that Stevie could do that?

"I saw your photo with Michael", she said quietly. "And I know about you and Alex", as she said 'you and Alex', tear roll down her cheek, but she tried to focus on stopping the bleeding from Stevie's injury.

"Michael?" Stevie repeated confused. "Who the heck is Michael, And what the hell do you mean 'you and Alex'. There is no me and Alex. And what's it to you, he caught you kissing my brother. So why do you care about Alex all of a sudden." Stevie knew that Claire did care about Alex, and her words were harsh. She realized Daniel probably had some hold over Claire. But still, how could Claire be together with Daniel, again. It made Stevie sick to her stomach.

"Who the hell is Daniel", frowned Claire. "What are ya talking about?"

"Daniel. My brother" Stevie explained annoyed. Why was Claire playing games like this "You remember him, the bloke you were kissing at the lookout the other day, Alex told me about it, he was shattered." Stevie said quietly
Claire frowned. "It was stupid mistake, damn, and who the hell is Daniel? his name is Michael", her eyes met Stevie's eyes "Stevie, what the hell is going on here?"

"Michael?" Stevie repeated again. Her head was starting to hurt. "I think I know my own brother Claire, and his name is DANIEL. Surely you remember him. 5 years ago, Just before Jack died. You were quite close with him. And his little boy Jeremy. Does any of this ring a bell for you. The other day, you called him, asked him to come to Drovers. I was there when he got the call Claire, don't deny it."

Claire's mouth went wide open. "Yes, that's him But...but he told me that his name is Michael", she put hand on her forehead. "Oh, my God"

Stevie groaned in pain again. "Well, I guess that's no surprise. My brother isn't known for his honesty. So what the hell do you mean "Me and Alex" Stevie continued, determined to get to the bottom if this. It was suddenly the most important thing to her, to sort this mess out, and to have Claire back by her side. If only that could happen, then she would be strong enough to face everything else.

Claire stared at Stevie, blinking tears away "He didn't come back", she whispered. "He never came back. He took the chopper and went away with you, I know, Harry told me", than another memory ran through her mind and she flinched at the thought of it. "Michael...Daniel...what ever his name bloody is, he told me...ummm...he told me", she mumbled, choking in tears.

"Went away with me?" Stevie repeated disbelievingly. Get real McLeod! What the bloody hell did you think we were doing for crying out loud! He took the chopper to take me to the hospital. I told him not to bother, but he wouldn't listen. You know what he's like...and what did Daniel tell you?" Stevie asked. But she knew the answer before Clare spoke it.

Claire felt like an idiot. How could she really trust to Michael He proved with locking them here that he is a monster. Claire looked straight in Stevie's eyes "He said something awful..., he accused you of something...But, it doesn't make any sense", Claire wiped her tears away and than blood trailed away from her face. "Oh, my God He killed my father", she exclaimed in shock.

"Claire" Stevie began "What happened to Jack is very complicated. I know I should have told you all along. I was so scared you would turn against me. I couldn't stand to lose you after losing everyone else in my life. So I kept quiet. But it is my fault that Jack is dead." Stevie looked away from Claire, afraid to see her reaction.

Claire stood up, not thinking clearly and she started to pace around the room. She looked back at Stevie. "You better start to talk, Stevie. Now. What do ya mean that you are responsible for my Dads death!"

If Stevie had the energy she would have slapped herself in the head. She had kept quiet for so many years, why did she have to bring it up now. But she couldn't keep it secret any longer. If her friendship with Claire was to survive, she had to start being truthful. She gave Claire a moment to digest the information, realizing that talking about Jack had upset her.

Claire took few deep breaths to calm down, but she couldn't. She couldn't. Tears rushed down her cheeks as she thought about her father. The man full of life, stubborn and proud, as she hoped that she is...And, now her best friend was telling her that she killed him
"DAMN YOU, STEVIE, START TALKING", she exclaimed, totally loosing control. Stevie shuddered as Claire yelled at her. She was expecting it, and she deserved it, but it still startled her. "Alright. I will tell you. But please sit down first." Stevie asked her to sit partly because it looked like Claire was about to faint any minute. And partly because she wanted to look her in the eyes and she didn't have the strength to stand up.

"Sit? SIT! You just told me that you killed my father and you expect me to sit!", tears broke Claire down and she fell on her knees, sobbing, holding her fingers in her hair. It was a shock. She stared at Stevie. "You better start talking. And don't you dare to lie to me. Not anymore", she said, her voice broken.

Stevie got up and made her way over to Claire. It hurt every muscle in her body to move like that. But she had to do it. She had been gutless enough to keep this from Claire all this time, and she was determined to look her in the eye as she said it. She put her hand on Claire's shoulder and tried to think of something comforting to say. But under the circumstances there really were no words

"I'm ..so sorry Claire. You know I loved Jack like he was my father too. I want you to know that none of this was supposed to happen." She began.

Claire flinched at Stevies touch, but didn't pulled away. She didn't felt anything anymore. Only pain...only betrayal...

Receiving no response from Claire, Stevie continued. She owed this much to Claire. The truth.

"The day Jack died. " Stevie stopped to wipe a tear from her eye. She had never told anyone this before. She to a deep breath and continued "The day Jack died, I was there, at Drovers Run...

Claire looked at her, still in shock, but a little bit more aware of her surroundings. She watched Stevie as she continued to talk.

"...And Daniel was there too. My brother. And Jeremy. But I guess you know that much..." Stevie's voice trailed off

"Just get to the point", Claire barely spoke.

"I'm trying. I told you it's complicated." Stevie told her

"Well, simplify it", Claire exclaimed frustrated.

"I didn't even know Daniel and Jeremy were there. I came to see you because...well that doesn't matter really...so I came to see you. And I saw them there." Stevie stopped to catch her breath. How could she find the words to explain this? No matter how she tried to justify it, there was no excuse for what she had done.

Claire's voice snapped her back from her trance. "Go on", she said, her voice emotionless.
"I don't know what you know about my brother Claire, you don't even know his name. So please believe me when I tell you that he is not a nice guy. Not anymore." A tear fell down Stevie's cheek as she remembered her big brother, her childhood hero, and how he had turned against her.

Claire was watching Stevie carefully. It hurt her to see tears in those brown eyes..."Go on", she said, but now Stevie could hear concern in her voice.

"His wife left him and took Jeremy. She had a restraining order out against him. But he kidnapped Jeremy. His mother was distraught. Imagine if Peter to BOM like that, except this is a lot worse because Daniel is nasty and violent and he shouldn't be let near any child. Anyway, so the point is this. I saw them. And instead of coming to see you like I planned, I hid for a while, waiting for my chance to get Jeremy and take him to his mother. I saw him playing one day in the fields. Daniel was distracted, talking to your father, and I just picked him up, just like that. And then I got scared. I hid in the shed with Jeremy. Outside I could hear Daniel and Jack yelling at each other. Then suddenly Jack got quiet...Then I heard Daniel calling for Jeremy. I was so scared Jeremy would answer him, and I had my hand over his mouth, I told him it was a game, and we had to be quiet like little mice. I realized that I had dropped my hat outside. It had my name on it. Daniel must have found it because he started calling my name...but I stayed hidden in the shed, with Jeremy. Then he stated to call out that Jack needed help. I didn't believe him at first, I thought he was trying to trap me so he can take Jeremy. But then I realized that jack had gone quiet and I wondered if something had happened to him. But I never moved. I was so scared. What Daniel would do to me and to Jeremy, and I stayed there for a long time. Even after Daniel stopped yelling, because I wasn't sure if he had really gone. Jeremy fell asleep, and then eventually I heard the sound of the horse, and it was you, and I guess you know the rest." Stevie finished finally.

Claire stared at Stevie, tears were now rolling down her cheeks freely. As Stevie continued to repeat "I could have saved him, I could have saved him", Claire remembered her father's lifeless body lying there in the grass, and she remembered her screaming and how she ran there...But, this didn't make any sense...Claire looked at Stevie,

"And why are you saying that it is your fault", she whispered

" I should have done something, I should have come out from hiding, I should have called an ambulance, maybe I could have saved him. I did nothing. I just sat there, and waited, as Jack died. I'm so sorry Claire"

Claire sat closer to Stevie and hugged her, surprising her totally. She gently kissed top of her hair, as she whispered: "You couldn't do anything. Doctors told me that he couldn't be saved, not even if someone gave him first aid", she breathed out in relief. She remembered how frightened she was, thinking that Stevie betrayed her.

"But I should have done something. There isn't a day I don't feel sorry about what I did that day, if I could change it I would" Stevie said through her sobs. It was such relief to finally tell this to Clare, it had been hanging over her head for way too long. And to have Claire hug her was like a dream come true

Claire hugged her friend more tightly. "Oh, Stevie", she wiped her tears away. "Shut up, Hall, stop crying otherwise your mascara will be gone", she gently teased her, she was so happy to have her friend back.

Stevie smiled despite the pain. And replied to Claire "You know I don't need mascara McLeod, I have natural beauty. Don't you like my stunning hospital gown?"

Stevie almost forgot they were imprisoned by Daniel, it was so good to have her friend back in her life.

Claire chuckled. "Yeah, righto", she looked at Stevie. "I've missed ya, Hall", she whispered. "There hasn't been a day that I didn't think about you...", she said, feeling tears in her eyes.

"Well. How are we going to get out of this mess McLeod?" Stevie asked her.

Claire stood up. She was again Claire of action - she got to the window with intention to open it and than she remembered the person that she saw today. Gasping in shock that she still hadn't told Stevie about Carrie! She turned around.

"Stevie, I...ummm...I've got something to tell you."