Just a quick note to say this chapter is going to start at the same time as the last one.
(12:22pm) 3 minutes later…
In the Middle of the Bush – Crash Site
Bianca and Colby were stood on one side while both Ryan and Xavier on the other, with the other three just stood watching them argue about whether to stay with the wreckage or go and look for help themselves.
"And what do you think the searchers are going to be looking for?" Ryan asks Colby.
"Well, like I said before they could be searching in completely the wrong place." Colby reminds him.
Pointing at the chopper, Ryan goes on to say: "The wreckage, that's what."
"Ryan's right." Xavier decides to say as he feels like someone needs to stick up for the pilot "They'll probably be searching for us by air. This is our best chance of being spotted."
"Don't you get it?" Bianca replies "No one is gonna spot us by air because no one is searching for us."
"And the longer we stay here, the weaker we get." Colby starts saying as he looks at the other three stood off to the side "The harder it is for us to go when we do decide to actually go."
"Hey and you mean if we do decide to go."
"No, I mean when." Colby said moving closer to Ryan then points at his head "It's the smart thing to do. Even you're going to get that eventually."
"And what is that supposed to mean?"
"Listen Ryan, I reckon when it comes to how people search, I have a bit more experience than you do." Colby points out to him.
"Yeah well, you could've fooled me." Ryan laughs at him.
"Oh, stop it!" Belle automatically tells them, reminding the other four to the fact they were still there "Stop it! Just stop it!"
Grabbing the others' attention, Kyle starts to speak: "She's right, just stop the arguing. How is this meant to help? Aren't we meant to be in this together?"
Everyone listens to that last bit when Xavier comes up with an idea: "Ok then, there's a way we can solve all of this."
"How?" Rocco quickly asks.
"Simple, we vote." Xavier tells him "Majority rules. So, whoever thinks we should leave put up your hand."
With that Colby and Bianca suddenly put up their hands and watch what the others do.
Belle also raises her hand, saying: "I want to go home and this solution of staying here isn't working."
"We've been here for days and nothing's changed, so maybe the best thing is to try something different." Kyle also says as he too puts his hand up.
"I'm sorry Xav, but I wanna go home too." Rocco finally says as he raises his hand.
Xavier shakes his head at his friends' decisions and looks away from them.
"Ok then." Colby starts to speak "Let's get our gear together and get going."
With that they all disperse to grab their stuff including Ryan and Xavier but only under protest as they would much prefer to stay where they were.
(2:54pm) 1 hour and 32 minutes later…
Summer Bay – Tony and Rachel's House – Living Room/Kitchen
Rachel was currently stood in the kitchen once again pouring herself another glass of wine, when Tony came back in with the washing from the garden.
"Do you want one?" Rachel asks her husband as she walks over to the fridge to put the bottle away.
"No and I don't think you should be having one either." Tony tells her as he places the washing basket on the table "Rachel it's the middle of the afternoon, what's going on?"
"Well, it sounds like your giving me another lecture."
"Do you think I want to have to say something?"
"I don't know, it seems like you're making a habit of it."
"Rachel as your husband, I'm worried about you."
"Ugh, don't be." Rachel says as she walks away from Tony.
Following his wife, Tony continues: "Well, how can I not be when I don't think you're dealing with this situation very well."
"How should I be dealing with it?"
"I don't know."
"Yeah, that's right you don't know. Last time I checked; I was the only one between us with a degree in psychiatry."
"Well, it's obviously not doing you much good though is it?"
"Oh sorry, is that in your professional opinion is it, doctor?" Rachel asks him "Wh what is it? What am I doing? Is it transference? Projection? Dissociation? You know what I think? I would be dealing with this a whole lot better if I had a little bit of support and understanding from you."
"Hey, hang on. I am supporting you."
"Then why doesn't it feel like you are?"
"Because your angry."
"Yeah and why shouldn't I be angry? Every time, you've needed me I have been there for you and the one time I need something back from you, you're too busy judging me and telling me what to do!" Rachel shouts at him.
"I'm sorry if it sounds like that…" Tony starts to say but gets cut off by Rachel leaving the room.
Meanwhile…
Summer Bay – Path on the way to the Dinner
"Do you think Rachel is going to be ok?" Cassie asks Sally as they walk beside each other.
"Yeah Cass, I do." Sally replies as she puts her hair behind her ear "I just think she needs a little bit of time. What about you?"
"Yeah, I'm okay." Cassie says which earns her a look "I've got to be for him."
Sally smiles and put her arm around Cassie before placing a kiss on her forehead.
Noticing Brax sitting on a bench looking lost in thought, Cassie breaks away from Sally's comforting arm and approaches him: "Hey Brax, how's Heath?"
Brax is pulled from his train of thought by the teen's voice. Looking up at her, Brax doesn't say anything straight away.
After a couple of mins he starts telling them exactly what is going on with his brother.
(3:19pm) 25 minutes later…
Summer Bay – Braxton House – The Flat
Heath was sat on the sofa watching his and Bianca's wedding video. He was currently at the part where Alf had walked her down the aisle.
Cassie stands in the doorway and notice the tears on the man's face as she spots what he was watching on the tv.
Entering the flat, she goes and sits down beside him then before she has a chance to stay anything, Heath breaks down and she pulls him into a gentle hug.
(3:23pm) 4 minutes later…
Summer Bay – Tony and Rachel's House – Living Room/Kitchen
Tony is doing the dishes, when Rachel walks in behind him.
"Hey, I can finish that." Rachel says as she walks over to the sink.
"Aren't you overqualified, Doctor?" Tony snaps at her.
"Tony, I'm so sorry."
"I've heard it all before Rach."
"Yeah, I know…"
"I know you've been there for me but just because I'm telling you things that you don't want to hear doesn't mean I'm not there for you." Tony reminds her thinking back on every time she's helped him.
"I know that. I know." Rachel sighs "I should never have spoken to you like that, and your my husband and I am exhausted. I need to sleep and that's exactly what I'm going to do after you know how sorry I am."
"Do you want me to make you a cup of your favourite chamomile tea?" Tony asks her knowing that she normally drinks it after a night shift so she can get to sleep quicker.
"No, that's alright but thank you. You've helped me so much." Rachel informs him then suggests "Why don't you go hang out with Lucas for a bit? You don't have to worry about me anymore."
Tony sighs and says ok hoping that what his wife was telling him was the truth.
After a quick hug Tony goes and grabs Lucas then they head off to the beach with their surfboards.
Making sure he was gone; Rachel puts her hand in her pocket and pulls out a bottle of sleeping pills and takes one in hopes it will help her sleep then washes it down with the last of the wine in the glass.