Just a quick warning to say I probably have the length of search time off from would happen in real life but to make it fit with the story I've just had to go with it.
(4:13pm) 7 minutes later…
Summer Bay – Surf Club – Main Area
Johnny was sat at a table when Alf walked over with his drink.
Placing the juice down on the table, Alf said: "I hear young Heath gave you a bit of an ear full."
"Here to finish are yeh?" Johnny asks the man "Or are you just going to wait till I'm back home sitting on the sofa?"
"No, nothing like that. I just want to let you know not to take it too seriously. He's been like that with everyone lately, even got stuck into Brax."
"He's right to hate me though Alf, everyone is for that matter."
"It wasn't your fault; I don't know how many times we all need to tell you that. That fella knew exactly what he was doing and there was nothing anyone could have said or done to change that. So, stop blaming yourself."
"Really because the way I see it is, if I hadn't been in that stupid gang then Tyson wouldn't have done anything that he did. Adrienne would still be here and so would Peter. Not to mention the fact that my little brother and the others would all still be here."
"Look, you did a good job at getting everyone out of that fire after what happened, you know and that includes Heath. He'll see that eventually." Alf tells him.
"I doubt it." Johnny sighs.
Not knowing what else to say, Alf heads towards the office just as a police officer enters the building.
"Alf Stewart?" the man asks.
"Yeah?" Alf replies at the sound of his name.
"Walt Middleton, Police headquarters." Walt says offering Alf his hand so they could shake.
"Oh, good day Walt. Yeah, we've spoken on the phone. What's happening?" Alf asks just as Ricky comes down the stairs from checking on the restaurant.
"Yeah, is there somewhere we can talk?"
"Here's as good as anywhere."
"Have they found something?" Ricky asks as both her and Johnny approach the man.
"Walt?" Johnny asks.
"Johnny, I didn't notice you there."
"That's ok. Oh, this is Ricky Sharpe, her boyfriend's sister-in-law and baby brother are missing." Johnny points out to the man who is a sort of boss to him.
"I'm sorry, this is never easy." Walt says to all three of them "Em, that's why I wanted to come and tell you personally."
"Tell us what?"
"The search has been underway for nearly five days now and there's been no sighting of wreckage or survivors. The fires down near the border have escalated and they need all available emergency personal and police."
"Well none of us are getting any younger, so can you get to the point." Alf tells the man.
Johnny who had been listening to what Walt was saying to them already know what was going to be said next.
"We've reluctantly come to the conclusion that a positive outcome here is unlikely. We've therefore decided officially to call off the search from nightfall tonight." Walt sadly tells the three of them.
"Mate, you and I both know that it hasn't even been a week yet so there's still every chance we could find them."
"Johnny, I'm sorry but the decision has already been made."
"My little brother is out there."
"I know and I'm sorry but there's nothing more we can do when the emergency personal are needed else were."
"That's bull and you know it." Johnny tells him "You can't just give up."
"Look Johnny I hate to say it but the chances of finding them alive is quickly becoming nil. We can't just keep searching."
"One of our own is out there." Johnny reminds the man.
"I know that too but that still doesn't change anything I'm afraid."
"You read about people surviving in the bush much longer than this, even a week for god sake." Ricky says after reading it somewhere.
"Look, I'm sorry that this is very distressing and believe me it's not an easy decision to have to make."
"Well, what do you need to keep the search going? Is it money? Because we can find some if it is."
"No, it doesn't work like that Miss Sharpe. The emergency services aren't for hire, we're instructable to the Government."
"Walt's right, we can't expect for the search to just keep going on forever particularly with the bush fires down south." Alf points out them.
"Alf." Ricky says not liking what the man is saying "We can't just give up."
"Hang on, hang on a minute." Alf says to her before turning to look at Walt "What if you were to point us in the right direction? You know with advice, contacts. What would be to stop us from continuing the search as a community, you know with private funding?"
"Well, in theory nothing but it would be pretty expensive." Walt informs the man.
"How expensive?" Ricky asks.
"Well, for a private search and rescue your looking at fifty grand a day."
"£50,000?" They all say with shocked faces.
"I'm really sorry folks, this is out of my hands as there's nothing I can do to help." Walt finally tells them all.
Not liking what Walt had just told them, Johnny kicks the nearby chair infustration.
Meanwhile…
In the Middle of the Bush
The people who had all been on the chopper were unaware of the recent announcement and were currently walking through the bush looking and hoping for some sign of help.
"We should be able to see something from up here." Colby says as they get to the top of ridge.
Looking around all he can see are more trees, while he did that Kyle walked over to a rock and sat down.
"Oh yeah? Like what?" Ryan says as he approaches Colby "More trees? Come on, we've been walking for hours and we are no way better off than we were before."
"Yeah, well we certainly aren't worse off." Colby points out to him.
"Well yes, like I keep saying how is the search party even going to spot us when there's so much scrub everywhere?" Ryan asks the cop knowing that they shouldn't have listened to him.
"The bush does seem to be getting thicker." Rocco agrees as he looks around them.
"Exactly! If we go the way I said before we would have come to an area with more openings, I'm sure of it. And a chopper is bound to come over sooner or later and then they'll be able to see us."
"Yeah and what if your wrong?"
"I'm not." Ryan says.
Colby then looks at everyone and says: "Yeah fine, we'll go your way for a while. See how far that gets us."
"Good." Ryan says but before he has a chance to move Kyle stands up.
Everyone looks at him as he suddenly goes as white as a sheet.
"Kyle?" Bianca worryingly said, "Are you ok?"
"Yeah, I'm fin…" Kyle starts to say but before he has a chance to finish his eyes roll into the back of his head and he collapses to the ground…