07/06/2004 06:30 AM

Dear Diary,

Alex is still asleep. I don't know what to think. It was so devastating. What's going to happen to me? How will this change my life? What's going on with David? There are so many questions and I have so little answers. And Clover, how is Alex going to help?

Alex shrieks when she notices she isn't in her own bed and when she remembers why and where she is, even shrieks louder. Mandy comes running out of the bathroom.

"Alex are you alright?" she quickly takes Alex in her arms.

"Mandy? "

"Yes Alex?"

"We're friends, aren't we"

A smile forms on Mandy's lips and she gives Alex a peck on her nude shoulder. "Yes friend we are" she states, "will you join me on my morning run, Alex?"

"If you have a spare set of clothes and running shoes."

Mandy walks to a cupboard and opens it. Behind it is a full dressing chamber with all the clothes she could dream off. "Take your pick Alex."

After showering the girls are ready to go. Chitchatting they leave the house. They start with a few warming up exercises n the driveway to the garage. Alex is surprised that Mandy seems up to her condition.

"Whew Mandy, you're in one fine condition" she says admiringly.

"Old school adagio: Mens sana in corpore sano, a healthy mind in a healthy body" replies Mandy looking over at Alex.

"ALEX, watch out." But to no avail, David's baseball bat hits the Latino girl without mercy. Alex goes down and a constant blood flow emerges from the wound.

David charges at Mandy, the bat held high for a mind-blowing strike, when shrieking tyres divert his attention. Sam drives her car up the driveway and before it comes to a full stop she jumps out. With one big leap she's next to David. "Attacking unarmed and unsuspecting girls are you!" she cries out giving him a karate chop in the neck. He goes out cold.

Mandy is sitting on her knees. Alex's head lies on her lap, which is quickly turning crimson from the Latino's girl blood. Sam is already on speed dial with Jerry, who promises to send the medical urgency team from Whoop.

"Mandy, can a helicopter land nearby?" Sam asks.

Mandy is to startled to even know somebody is addressing her. Sam takes her shoulders and gives her a good shaking. "Can a helicopter land nearby, Mandy?"

"There's a landing spot in the backyard." She manages to say in between sobs.

Sam gives the information to Jerry.

Sirens are heard in the distance as the Whoop helicopter lands in the backyard. Before the skids touch the ground, the medics and doctor are out of the helicopter. Sam beckons them up front.

When the doctor sees Alex and the blood loss, he expertly cuts up her sleeve. Sticks the intravenous needle in her arm and takes the plasma pack from the medic. The pack reads clearly Alexandra Valdez. The doctor sees that all works well and slowly and gently takes her in his arms. The medic slips a collar on Alex.

Mandy is clueless. These guys are clearly professionals yet they have personalised blood packs.

Professionally the medics lift Alex on the stretcher and the doctor sees that there is a constant flow of the plasma. They file quickly to the helicopter.