Kirsty's head spins, fear gripping hold of her. She didn't know what to do. She was all alone and it was a long walk from the caravan park along to the Bayside villas to get help. She glanced at her phone on the sideboard. She didn't like to call the police, just in case it was a false alarm. She picked up the phone and dialled out to Kane's mobile.
KANE'S HOUSE
Kane's mobile rings, the loud ringing tone cutting through the silence of the night and piercing through Kane's head as he slept. He raises his head off his pillow, glancing at the digital clock on his bedside table and rubbing his eyes to correct his blurred vision. Almost midnight. He swore under his breath and reluctantly climbed out of bed, locating his phone in his jacket pocket. He was intending to switch it off, but upon seeing Kirsty's number on the display he answered. What was going on?
"Kirst?"
"Kane, thank God"
She sound distressed. He was exhausted but the sound of her voice woke him up. He spoke with genuine concern, forgetting his tiredness.
"Kirst... are you alright? What's happened?"
"Kane, I think there's someone in the house... I didn't know who to call... I don't know what to do..."
Her voice became shakier with each word. He tried to reassure her.
"It's alright Babe, calm down - I'll be over there real soon, yeah?"
....................................
Kane's car skidded up the road toward the caravan park and pulled to a sudden halt. He swung himself out of the car and ran up the path towards the house. He knocks on the door and raises his voice.
"Kirst? It's me"
The door clicks open and Kane steps in. Kirsty is pale and shaky but overcome with relief to see him.
"Are you alright Babe?"
"I'm fine now... I just heard noises upstairs..."
She glances around helplessly and he places his hand on her cheek, stroking her hair back, trying to reassure her. His voice is steady and comforting.
"I'll go and take a look... you wait here, yeah?"
She nods weakly and he walks towards the hallway cautiously.
"Kane"
He turns back.
"Be careful"
He nods and passes her a loving smile. At the bottom of the stairs, a baseball bat leans against the wall. He grasps it in his hand and slowly edges his way upstairs.
Kirsty hears his footsteps getting higher, further away. Her heart is thumping and her body is shaking. She listens carefully for any sign of trouble, her phone gripped in her hand. She can hear Kane moving about above, doors opening, lights flicking on. A creak echoes around the house as Kane makes his way up the next flight of stairs to the attic until she can no longer hear him. She can hear a voice from upstairs, Kane's, and she moves towards the staircase nervously. She can hear him murmuring, but no other voice. His footsteps get closer until he appears at the top of the stairs.
"Here's your intruder"
He holds a black cat in his arms as he descends the stairs. Kirsty blushes, embarrassment as well as relief sweeping over her. He takes the cat outside and releases it before returning inside.
"I'm sorry for calling you like that"
He smiled. He didn't seem to mind.
"No worries... at least it wasn't anything serious. A cat's better than a mass murderer"
He steps towards her, putting his arms around her, pulling her in close and kissing the top of her head.
"Are you alright now?"
She nods weakly.
"Can you stay a bit longer?"
She didn't want to be left alone again. Him being there made her feel secure. She knew he would do anything for her. To protect her. She withdraws from his arms and he nods at her. They sit down on the sofa together, Kirsty leaning on Kane, her head resting comfortably on his shoulder, his arm wrapped around her.
....................................
An hour later and Kirsty had drifted off to sleep in his arms. He considered leaving. If Dani returned home in the morning and found him in the house there would be hell to pay. She didn't even know he was back and he wanted to put it off as long as possible. Not only would he be public enemy number one again, he would most likely be out of a job as well. Scott wouldn't tolerate working with him and he couldn't work somewhere where he wasn't wanted. Kirsty looked so peaceful and he was unwilling to wake her. He gently eased his body away from hers and scooped her up in his arms, gently lifting her upwards. He walks slowly towards the stairs, trying hard not to wake her. It reminded him of that time in the bush when he had found her unconscious and had carried her to the water. She had been petrified when she awoke and he didn't blame her. He had been leaning over her, half naked. He could only imagine what she had been thinking and it had torn him up inside. Things had changed so much. Now she trusted him and if it wasn't for that disaster in the bush he'd never have found the love of his life. He'd still be alone in the world, not believing in love. He pushed the door to Kirsty's room open and carefully descended the few steps. He laid her down on her bed and slipped the covers over her, gazing down on her, a content smile on his face. She stirred and her eyes opened slowly, a smile spreading over her face as she saw him.
"I'm going to get off now Babe"
She shook her head. She didn't want him to leave her side. She never did. She couldn't bear being apart from him.
"No... it's too late. You can't drive, you're exhausted"
He bends down and kisses her on the forehead, speaking reassuringly.
"I'll be fine... I'll see you tomorrow"
"No..."
She shifted over in the bed and indicated for him to lie next to her. Taking his jacket off and draping it over a chair he lay down gingerly, feeling a bit out of place. She cuddled up to him, raising her head to allow him to slip his arm around her. She rested her head on his chest and closed her eyes, comforted by his presence, his familiar scent.
....................................
CARAVAN PARK
Morning
Kane awakes to hear a noise downstairs. He narrows his eyes, trying to make out what it is. He is sure he can hear someone.
"Kirst?"
He shakes her gently and she reluctantly raises her head out of his body. She can hear someone as well and her eyes click open, looking at him in horror. Jade's urgent voice floats up.
"Kirsty?"
She climbs the stairs, her footsteps getting terrifyingly closer. Kane rolls off the side of the bed onto the floor behind, landing with a dull thud on the floor. Kirsty climbs off the bed as the door opens and Jade looks in. Her voice is hurried and distressed.
"Kirsty, it's Seb - there's been an accident"
KANE'S HOUSE
Kane's mobile rings, the loud ringing tone cutting through the silence of the night and piercing through Kane's head as he slept. He raises his head off his pillow, glancing at the digital clock on his bedside table and rubbing his eyes to correct his blurred vision. Almost midnight. He swore under his breath and reluctantly climbed out of bed, locating his phone in his jacket pocket. He was intending to switch it off, but upon seeing Kirsty's number on the display he answered. What was going on?
"Kirst?"
"Kane, thank God"
She sound distressed. He was exhausted but the sound of her voice woke him up. He spoke with genuine concern, forgetting his tiredness.
"Kirst... are you alright? What's happened?"
"Kane, I think there's someone in the house... I didn't know who to call... I don't know what to do..."
Her voice became shakier with each word. He tried to reassure her.
"It's alright Babe, calm down - I'll be over there real soon, yeah?"
....................................
Kane's car skidded up the road toward the caravan park and pulled to a sudden halt. He swung himself out of the car and ran up the path towards the house. He knocks on the door and raises his voice.
"Kirst? It's me"
The door clicks open and Kane steps in. Kirsty is pale and shaky but overcome with relief to see him.
"Are you alright Babe?"
"I'm fine now... I just heard noises upstairs..."
She glances around helplessly and he places his hand on her cheek, stroking her hair back, trying to reassure her. His voice is steady and comforting.
"I'll go and take a look... you wait here, yeah?"
She nods weakly and he walks towards the hallway cautiously.
"Kane"
He turns back.
"Be careful"
He nods and passes her a loving smile. At the bottom of the stairs, a baseball bat leans against the wall. He grasps it in his hand and slowly edges his way upstairs.
Kirsty hears his footsteps getting higher, further away. Her heart is thumping and her body is shaking. She listens carefully for any sign of trouble, her phone gripped in her hand. She can hear Kane moving about above, doors opening, lights flicking on. A creak echoes around the house as Kane makes his way up the next flight of stairs to the attic until she can no longer hear him. She can hear a voice from upstairs, Kane's, and she moves towards the staircase nervously. She can hear him murmuring, but no other voice. His footsteps get closer until he appears at the top of the stairs.
"Here's your intruder"
He holds a black cat in his arms as he descends the stairs. Kirsty blushes, embarrassment as well as relief sweeping over her. He takes the cat outside and releases it before returning inside.
"I'm sorry for calling you like that"
He smiled. He didn't seem to mind.
"No worries... at least it wasn't anything serious. A cat's better than a mass murderer"
He steps towards her, putting his arms around her, pulling her in close and kissing the top of her head.
"Are you alright now?"
She nods weakly.
"Can you stay a bit longer?"
She didn't want to be left alone again. Him being there made her feel secure. She knew he would do anything for her. To protect her. She withdraws from his arms and he nods at her. They sit down on the sofa together, Kirsty leaning on Kane, her head resting comfortably on his shoulder, his arm wrapped around her.
....................................
An hour later and Kirsty had drifted off to sleep in his arms. He considered leaving. If Dani returned home in the morning and found him in the house there would be hell to pay. She didn't even know he was back and he wanted to put it off as long as possible. Not only would he be public enemy number one again, he would most likely be out of a job as well. Scott wouldn't tolerate working with him and he couldn't work somewhere where he wasn't wanted. Kirsty looked so peaceful and he was unwilling to wake her. He gently eased his body away from hers and scooped her up in his arms, gently lifting her upwards. He walks slowly towards the stairs, trying hard not to wake her. It reminded him of that time in the bush when he had found her unconscious and had carried her to the water. She had been petrified when she awoke and he didn't blame her. He had been leaning over her, half naked. He could only imagine what she had been thinking and it had torn him up inside. Things had changed so much. Now she trusted him and if it wasn't for that disaster in the bush he'd never have found the love of his life. He'd still be alone in the world, not believing in love. He pushed the door to Kirsty's room open and carefully descended the few steps. He laid her down on her bed and slipped the covers over her, gazing down on her, a content smile on his face. She stirred and her eyes opened slowly, a smile spreading over her face as she saw him.
"I'm going to get off now Babe"
She shook her head. She didn't want him to leave her side. She never did. She couldn't bear being apart from him.
"No... it's too late. You can't drive, you're exhausted"
He bends down and kisses her on the forehead, speaking reassuringly.
"I'll be fine... I'll see you tomorrow"
"No..."
She shifted over in the bed and indicated for him to lie next to her. Taking his jacket off and draping it over a chair he lay down gingerly, feeling a bit out of place. She cuddled up to him, raising her head to allow him to slip his arm around her. She rested her head on his chest and closed her eyes, comforted by his presence, his familiar scent.
....................................
CARAVAN PARK
Morning
Kane awakes to hear a noise downstairs. He narrows his eyes, trying to make out what it is. He is sure he can hear someone.
"Kirst?"
He shakes her gently and she reluctantly raises her head out of his body. She can hear someone as well and her eyes click open, looking at him in horror. Jade's urgent voice floats up.
"Kirsty?"
She climbs the stairs, her footsteps getting terrifyingly closer. Kane rolls off the side of the bed onto the floor behind, landing with a dull thud on the floor. Kirsty climbs off the bed as the door opens and Jade looks in. Her voice is hurried and distressed.
"Kirsty, it's Seb - there's been an accident"