Thank you again for some more reviews. If you read my other fanfics i just want to let you all know i haven't forgotten about them, i'm just planning on getting this up to the same amount of chapters as Level's of tragedy that way i can have the same amount chapters posted until i finish one of the other then slot the one-shots in as well.
(7:46pm) 5 hours and 9 minutes later…
Summer Bay – Surf Club – Main Area
Everyone who had gone down to Richland Falls earlier that morning where now back at the Surf Club due to getting dark.
"How did it look out there, mate?" Alf asks Brax as he walks over to him.
Placing his equipment on the pool table, Brax replies: "Well, we didn't make much progress. It's pretty rough terrain to be honest with you Alf. Anyway, first light tomorrow we will be going back out again, but I'll fill you on that later as right now I just need to get to the hospital and check on Heath."
Just then, Marilyn who had gathered to listen to what Brax was saying, suggested: "Brax, I'm heading there now to see how Cassie is doing as Sally was with Johnny last time I checked, if you want a lift?"
Brax replies with a relieved look and two thumbs up as Marilyn had saved him a trip back to the house to grab the Ute.
"I might come with you too, if that's alright?" Leah asks as she also wants to check on Cassie.
Marilyn says that's fine, then turns to Alf: "What about you Alf? How long are you going to hang around for? As I know John has booked into a hotel near Richland Falls, so he'll be close by if anything happens."
"I know there's not a lot we can do here, but if anyone feels like hanging around, you're more than welcome." Alf tells everyone who was still stood there.
"I might stay for a bit." Charlie says to Alf "I can see Matilda tomorrow or something."
"Are you sure?" Tony checks with him "Because she'd be happy to see you."
"Yeah, I think I need a beer and food to be honest." Charlie says to his adoptive dad.
"Actually, I might do that first." Tony says as he thinks about "Want to join us upstairs, Alf?"
Alf nods his head in agreement knowing he could probably do with some food and beer as well.
"I'll stay too if you don't mind." Irene asks them just as Dan goes to ask too.
With that Alf goes to walk towards the staircase but Morag stops him: "Why don't you go home and get some rest first then you can eat?"
"I'm fine. Now I'm going to go upstairs." Alf tells his sister then walks away leaving her to follow.
It's at this point Amanda comes walking back into the club after being at home on her on thinking about Belle.
Spotting Irene about to go upstairs, she rushes over and asks: "What's happening? Is there any news?"
"Err, they've called off the search for the night." Irene tells the younger woman while Dan approaches them.
"So that's another night that they're out there by themselves." Amanda snaps, looking at their faces "Sorry, I didn't mean to snap."
"It's alright love, we know your worried we all are." Irene tells her then walks upstairs leaving Dan to talk with Amanda.
"Some of us are going to head upstairs for food and some drinks, why don't you join us?" Dan suggests to her "I mean there's not much we can do but it's better than being alone."
"No, I should go home."
"I think you should stay it might be good."
"Ok." Amanda says caving into Dan's suggestion.
"Good now let's go eat." He replies pushing her towards the stairs.
(8:11pm) 25 minutes later…
Summer Bay – Yabbie Creek – Northern Districts Hospital – Cassie's Room
Marilyn was now sat in Cassie's room along with Sally, Leah, Brax, Casey and Heath.
"How can there be no sign of anything." Cassie asks as Sally sits beside her on the bed "There must be some wreckage or something."
Everyone looks at Brax as he was the only one who had actually been out there searching.
"Well Cassie, we did our best out there, but the bush is pretty dense." Brax says walking closer to the teen "It's pretty tough going."
"Yeah but you know so are the people who were searching for." Sally says, "They are all pretty tough in their own ways. That's what we've got to keep telling ourselves. I mean Rocco, Bianca, Kyle, Xavier, Belle and Colby are not gonna throw in the towel. They're not gonna give up on us and we can't give up on them."
Everyone just nods in agreement at what Sally said as they all know it's true.
It's then that Marilyn comes up with an idea: "Why don't we all say a prayer?"
"I'm not religious but it sounds like a great idea." Brax responds to his neighbour.
With that they all take each other's hands and listen as Marilyn says a prayer for their loved ones.
"Well, it's been a while since I've been at church but em, they always spoke about god's will and how things happen for a reason. Lord, we don't know the reason for this maybe it's a test of our strength but whatever the reason, please help us too get through this. Please keep us strong."
It's at this point that Rachel, Ricky and Dean appear in the doorway and just decide to stand there and listen to Marilyn's prayer.
Continuing, Marilyn says: "Help us to believe but more than anything else, please keep the ones that we love safe. Lord, you gave us these wonderful lives so please don't take them from us so soon. Bring them back to us in one piece. Amen."
With that they all say a collective Amen including the three in the doorway.
Then once they had finished, Rachel walks further into the room.
"Hey, you should have joined us." Leah said as she spots not only Rachel but the other two as well.
"We were ok listening from the doorway." Ricky says as she walks over to Brax.
Looking at them all, Rachel says: "I agree with Ricky we were ok listening however; I hate to do this but it's time you got back to your own room Heath."
"I'd like to stay with Cassie if that's ok?" Heath tells the doctor.
"Yeah, I'd kind of don't like the idea of being here by myself." Cassie replies "Can he stay a bit longer?"
Brax comes up with a suggestion: "Can't we maybe just get another bed and squeeze it in or? I know it's a big hassle."
"No, I'll take to them and see what we can do." Rachel informs them all.
"Thank you." Cassie tells her "And thank you for the prayer Sal. It was beautiful."
Giving her daughter a kiss, Sally says: "You welcome."
"God's going to keep them safe, I know it." Cassie replies giving her a hug.
Not wanting to stay in the room much longer as she wanted to check on Matilda as well, Rachel says: "I'll and see about that bed."
With that she turns on her heel and leaves the room.