[DISCLAIMER: I do not own Home & Away or their characters, but I do own any plots or characters I have made up]

As Brax placed his fingers on the side of Ella's neck to check her pulse; Indi stared down in disbelief at what was unfolding in front of her. Her best friend was being held up by her ex boyfriend, and Indi could see her lips were blue and her skin was pale. The only thing Indi could do at that moment was say Ella's name, as if what she was seeing wasn't real life. Nothing was happening, Ella lied as still as ever with her eyes closed shut. Brax placed her on her side, in the recovery position
"She's breathing but barely. Stay here and keep talking to her, I'll call 000"
From the moment Brax left Indi alone with Ella, she stood with her arms around her body, not knowing what to do. Sure, Indi had been in tough situations before and so had Ella, but nothing like this.

It seemed like hours had gone by since Brax had left but when Indi looked up expecting to see his face, Heath appeared, frantically looking from Ella to Indi and to the syringe beside her body.
"Ella, Ella can you hear me?" He said leaning over her, he then told Indi to get a cold shower running right now. Without hesitation, Indi obeyed running into the bathroom as Heath picked Ella up in his arms.
"Come on, come on!" He frantically said, as he placed Ella's head under the shower "Come on baby!" he said, lightly slapping her cheeks "Wake up!, open your eyes!"
Right then and there, it finally hit Indi what was happening - it was a life or death situation. Everything was moving in slow motion, and all Indi could do was stand in shock, tears beginning to run down her face.
"Please don't let her die" Indi said, not really at Heath but more so to herself, she could not lose Ella.
"OPEN YOUR EYES!" Heath continued to say, as his slaps got harder and harder "PLEASE WAKE UP!"
Brax came running into the bathroom after hearing the commotion from outside the room. He hadn't been able to get reception so he'd had to run down to the Manager's office and called from there.
"HEATH!" he yelled "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" he pushed past Indi, making her collide with the door frame accidently. When he got to them, Brax looked into his younger brothers distraught eyes, ready to grab Ella from his arms but before he did, Ella coughed up some water and slightly opened her eyes.

Brax took her from Heaths arms, bringing her back into the bed room leaving Heath to catch his breath. Indi helped Brax cover Ella's cold body with warm blankets as he continued to hold her in his arms. Heath came back into the room, his clothes drenched from the water and all three looked up as the ambulance siren got closer.
"It's gonna be okay Ella, your gonna be alright" Brax said, leaning closer to her. Heath heard the ambulance stop outside the steps leading up to the room and quickly ran to where the syringe was lying on the floor and chucked in under the bed where it couldn't be seen. Indi gave him one look which said What the hell?
"If they see the syringe, they'll have to call the police" he said as if it was second nature to him. When the ambo's arrived, they checked her pulse again but it was still slow so they administered Ella with a drug.
"What are you giving her?" Indi demanded to know. As the Ambo's put Ella on one of the stretchers they quickly explained
"Its Narcan, it helps her to breathe. But we have to get her to the hospital because if there's still heroin in her system she could overdose all over again"

Once Brax, Indi and Heath had made it to the hospital after following the ambulance, Indi ran off to find her Dad while the brothers waited anxiously together in the Emergency room.
"What was that Heath? You know not to put someone in a cold shower after they've overdosed!" Brax said, putting his hands on his hips with a stern look upon his face. Heath knew what he'd done was wrong, but he wasn't in the right state of mind. He kicked the wall, trying to release his anger
"I panicked..." Heath finally said, putting his hands over his head and kept them there for a while as he looked at his older brother in defeat.
Brax sighed, calming himself down before having another go at Heath, walked over and patted him thoughtfully on the back.
Dr Sid Walker came from around the corner, walking straight towards the brothers "How is she Doc?" Heath said, taking his hands down.
Sid took a breath before answering him "She's stable now, but we have to wait and see until the Narcan wears off. We're monitoring her while she sleeps, Ella's not out of the woods just yet"
Brax and Heath both let out a laugh of relief, just happy to not hear anything worst. Sid told them that Indi had gone to ring Romeo and a few other people, then his face turned serious once again.
"Which one of you put Ella in the cold shower?" he asked, seeing that both of their clothes were still wet. Heath looked down at the ground, ready to say it was him but Brax got in before.
"It was me" Brax answered. Heath went to protest but Brax shook his head at him. Sid nodded, as he gripped onto the file he was holding.
"You do know you're not meant to do that with someone who has overdosed Brax. It can actually harm them more that do them good. I thought you would have known better" Sid left it to that, shaking his head a little bit at the oldest Braxton, whom he'd thought would have had more sense to do that.

Indi watched on from outside the hospital room as her father checked Ella, to make sure the medicine was taking effect. As she stared at her friend's fragile body, Indi couldn't help but think about the last time they'd spoken and what a mess it had been. Ella had slapped Indi for trying to help her, and now she had gone and done something so stupid that could have ended her life. Indi was fed up with Ella's behaviour and wasn't going to stick around to watch her go downhill. Sid came out of the room, holding Ella's chart in his hand but could tell by the look on Indi's face, that something wasn't right.
"Ella's going to be fine, we just need to watch over her for the next couple of hours to make sure." He said, thinking Indi was just concerned for her friend's safety.
But instead, Indi scoffed and rolled her eyes "It's so typical of her to do something like this". She said shaking her head "It's always about Ella and I know this sounds horrible but I can't help but think sometimes she does stuff like this on purpose".
Sid could see hurt and pain in his daughters eyes but had never heard her speak like this about anyone, especially her best friend.
"Indi, listen to me carefully. Ella's been through more than anyone can imagine over the past couple of months, we all know that. But sometimes unfortunately people like Ella with a troubled past, indulging in drugs; they give up. Addicts can't help themselves, that's why there an addict. It's our job, the people who care for Ella to help her back on her feet even though she may not want it".
Indi let her father's words sink in for a moment before responding to him but when she finally did, it seemed as though his words played no effect on her.

Instead Indi left for the exit, walking past Heath and Brax who looked up at Sid with confused expressions. Sid shrugged his shoulders, but Brax wasn't going to let Ella's best friend give up on her. Brax caught up to her, just before Indi got into her car
"Where are ya goin?" he said, slamming the door shut when she'd opened it. Indi's hand was shaking as she held onto the door handle, she couldn't look at him
"I'm not watching her throw her life away again. I can't and I won't, It hurts me too much" Brax sarcastically laughed, as he folded his arms over his chest
"You've got to be kiddin' me right? Correct me if I'm wrong, but Ella's your best mate right? You's would do anythin' for eachother. I thought thats what mates do, be there for one an other. See, I rekon if the tables were turned, Ella wouldn't leave your side for a minute and yet, here you are, givin up on her"
Indi was sick to death of Brax, he had no idea what he was talking about. He hasn't known Ella for as long as Indi has, he has no RIGHT to tell Indi what to do.
"Brax, I know you have this weird love thing going on with Ella, but keep your opinions to yourself. I've had to put up with so much from her and I am sick of cleaning up her mess. You seem to care for her, so how about you look after her and leave me the hell alone".

Meanwhile back inside the hospital, Casey had just arrived with Dex and Bianca who had gone to find Sid.
After Heath had told Casey he'd stashed the drugs because if they ambo's saw it, they'd be obliged to ring the Cops and Ella would get in trouble for possession.
"Why were you at Ella's anyway?" Casey asked, curiously as Brax came over to join them.
Heath looked over into the distance at Ella's room where she was asleep, then back to his little brother
"I went round' to have one last talk to her, to try and make her see clearly."
Brax interrupted
"And thats when you saw me runnin' from her apartment" He stated, Heath nodded "Obviously somethin' was wrong, so I headed up to her room and thats when I saw her lyin' on the ground with Indi".
Casey hit his brother on the back, sympathetic to his situation, well to both of his brothers actually. They had both found Ella unconscious on the floor and he could not comprehend how that would feel, seeing someone you love like that and not knowing if they'd survive. Then a question popped into Casey's head
"Where did Ella get the drugs from anyway?" it was a fair enough question because Heath wouldn't be stupid enough to give Ella anything after everything they'd been through, including her colourful past experiences with drugs. He could tell by both looks of Brax and Heath, none of them had actually thought about where Ella had gotten the drugs. Then it hit Heath "Tallis, I'm gonna kill him"

Heath was in his Ute in a matter of minutes, ready to get his hands on that Bikie's neck and teach him a lesson, once and for all. Brax came after him, telling Casey to stay here and keep an eye on Ella for them.
As Brax ran to the driver's side window, he pounded on it for Heath to stop what he was doing
"Heath, stop what your doin' mate" but he could see his brother was in so state to be bargained with.
"He's gotta pay for what he's done to Ella, they've all gotta pay" those were the final words Heath spoke to Brax before he sped off out of the hospital car park. Brax quickly phoned Casey to tell him that he was going after Heath while he ran to his own car, trying to catch up to him.

When Heath pulled up infront of one of the homes of the Bandido's, he pounded on the front door, yelling out for Tallis.
"Get out here ya mongrel, your gonna pay for what you've done!"
a few seconds later, Tallis opened the door and immediately, Heath had him the by the collar of his shirt up against the doorframe
"WHY THE HELL WOULD YOU GIVE ELLA ALL THOSE DRUGS? ITS YOUR FAULT SHE NEARLY DIED!"
Brax got out of the car, running to his brothers side "Heath, c'mon" Brax said, trying to get him to loosen his grip.
"What the hell are you talkin' bout? Whats happened to Ella?"
Both Brax and Heath looked at each other then back to Tallis, who actually looked sincere - he had no idea what had happened.

After explaining Ella's overdose, Tallis's friend Bandit came out from a room, after hearing the commotion.
"Arghh yes. She's a wild one, ain't she? By the way, do you guys have the money she owes me then?" Bandit said with a wide grin. Heath lost it, punching him across the jaw which made him fall straight to the ground. Brax held him back, as Tallis leant down to help him up "You know, I told her she could keep her money, and repay me in other ways" He said winking and rubbing his jaw.
Tallis got in between Heath and Bandit, putting his hands up to stop Heath from punching him again. Heath backed off finally, walking away with Brax to their cars and driving off.
Once they were gone, Bandit started to laugh, and patted Tallis on the back
"Man..." he began to say but Tallis had turned around too quick for Bandit to react and Tallis clocked him across the same jaw. Bandit was on the floor again, cradling his face while Tallis simply walked past him back into the house.
Once Bandit had gotten up, he got out his mobile and dialled a number "It's time we took care of these River boys. Lets knock em down a notch..."

Indi had driven around town for the past couple of hours, wondering what on earth she was doing. She'd listened to a voice message from her father, saying Ella was awake and was asking for her. Indi had gotten out of her car, and sat down on the beach, watching the sunset and thinking to herself...

Indi's POV
"You know how in movies at the intense moment when the two friends get into a huge fight? Then one of them gets into a life or death situation and then it gives everyone a wakeup call about how stupid and insignificant their fighting was and then they go back to being friends.
Some people may find that predictable and boring, I used to be one of them. But in real life, hearing that news of one of your best friends nearly died - it brings you down to Earth. Life is too short for that sort of thing, cherish every moment as if it were your last and let the ones you love know you care about them. Because you never know what might just happen tomorrow… they could be out of your life forever and they could never know how much they meant to you.

Even though sometimes friends may annoy you and piss you off, but in the end their your friend and you'll be there for them whenever they need it, as they would for you. Even through all the bitchiness and fights, that's what friends are for.

Indi walked past her Dad, into the doorway of the hospital room. Ella opened her eyes and a smile appeared over her face faintly.
"Hey" she whispered, trying to get up but Indi sat down next to her. The two friends stared at each other for a long while, without saying a word, not needing too. They both knew how much they meant to each other, and that nothing could tear them apart.

After getting an urgent call from Casey to come down to Angelo's, Heath and Brax got there as soon as they could. Once they had, it was too late – the grass in front of the surf club had been pulled up by motorbikes and it was just mud, the windows to the Diner had been broken into and Angelo's restaurant had been completely trashed. Colleen was talking to Sergeant Buckton about the ordeal while Irene and Leah had already started the clean up. While the brothers took in what they were seeing, all of a sudden they could see smoke in the distance heading up towards The Sands hotel.
Brax ran over to Charlie once he'd seen her get a call on her mobile "Whats happened Charlie?" he asked.
"Someone's set fire to the Sands hotel, there's nothing left of it" Was all she could say before she had to leave to investigate.
Brax turned to Heath and Casey, thinking to himself. Heath couldn't hold it in anymore, they all knew who were responsible for this
"We're the River boys Brax, we need to teach them a lesson. They can't mess with us" Brax turned to Casey, who was nodding in agreement. Brax turned back around, looking from the Diner, to Angelos and up towards the Sands hotel, where he and Ella used to live. Heath was right, they needed to fight back and it was either now or never.
"Rally the boys Heath, we've got work to do"

Next time – It's the big showdown between the River boys and the Bandido's, who will make it out alive?

Tallis comes to Ella with a proposition, but will she take it?

Authors Note - I took my time writing this chapter because I've felt the past couple of chapters haven't been that good. The next chapter will be a big one with a few shocks which I hope you'll enjoy.
Let me know what you think will happen!
You knw the dirll, review and I'll send you a sneak peak or the next chapter :)