Chapter 25 Don't

It was the next morning and when Stevie saw Riley she immediately noticed the bruises on his jaw and the spot on his lower lip. 'What happened to you?' He could see the concern in her eyes right away and he liked it. Riley knew he had drunk a bit too much last night and probably had crossed the line with his words towards Alex, but if he could take advantage of it he would.

'Just hit a door post I guess.' He looked away and she had touched his face gently to study it. Stevie knew he wasn't telling her the truth. 'Really? What happened.' Riley figured it wasn't a bad idea to tell her about Alex. He just wanted to protect her from getting hurt and if this would lead to make her see and realize Alex wasn't worth the hurt it would be a good thing.

'Alex'. It was only one word but it shocked Stevie. 'Alex? How, what?' She hardly could find the words, but her straight glare said enough. 'We just got into an argument and he decided it had to get physical.' 'He hit you?' It only took Riley a nod.

'What did you say to him?' She hoped to get a clear answer. How could Alex just hit him? There had to be a good reason for that. He had been a fighter when he was younger, but the last years she hardly had noticed a thing about his temper. 'I just don't want you to get hurt', Riley said, hoping that it would have a good effect on her, but she looked puzzled. 'I know you didn't go with us yesterday cause of him, and it's not the first time Stevie. Someone just needed to tell him to rack off.'

She stared into the distance, letting his words sink in. 'Riley ... that's not up to you. I can take care of myself.' She had said it without looking at him, and he took her chin in his fingers to make sure she did watch him. 'It doesn't look like it, you know that.' She forced her face away and turned around. Of course this was confronting and deep inside she knew he had a point. She walked away.

'Stevie? Is it just right for him to hit me?', he shouted at her. She turned her face for a moment. 'No, but I don't wanna get involved in a fight between you two'. She didn't really know what to think of it, Riley had meant it well, but this was something between her and Alex. And Alex? How could he just think violence would be a solution? She didn't want to be in this position and she felt anger and disappointment towards him.

Alex went to Drovers. He wasn't too sure, but guessed it was better to talk to Stevie. Riley probably would have opened his big mouth by now and he didn't want to be portrayed as the bad guy. Of course it wasn't a good thing to hit him, but he deserved it.

In front of Drovers Regan, Kate and Stevie talked about the incident. 'So he just hit him?' Kate asked, seeing her friend just shrug her shoulders. 'I don't know what's going on, but he better has a good reason.' 'Talking about the devil', Regan said while she pointed her head towards Alex' black Ute entering the homestead.

Kate and Regan decided it would be best to head off to do some work at the stables, while Stevie didn't feel the need to talk to him. 'Hey', Alex said when he walked up to her but she turned away to make her statement. 'I bet yah now?', he asked, not sure what the best approach was. 'That you hit Riley? Yeah I know, you're here to apologize to him? He's at the back'. She didn't look at him, just walked away, followed by Alex.

Don't fight, don't argue
Give me the chance to say that I'm sorry
Just let me love you
Don't turn me away
Don't tell me to go

'Stevie, wait, just let me explain.' She turned around, indignation all over her face, not willing to look straight in his eyes. It better be good, she thought again. 'I'm not here to apologize to Riley, I'm here to talk to you.' Nice start, she thought sarcastically. She gave him a stare. 'You didn't have the right to hit him!'

'No I don't, not really ...' What was the best way to formulate it? 'He said some stuff. He was crossing my boundaries. I couldn't just let him talk like that.' 'There's always just a way to ignore it Alex!' She wasn't satisfied with any of his words, so she turned away again. He grabbed her hand. 'Please Stevie, let me finish.' His touch made her freeze for a second; she glared at his hand before looking into his eyes again.

'He's just worried about me, Alex. What's wrong with that?' 'Nothing', Alex mumbled, but he couldn't stand another man around her. 'It's just ... he said stuff about Fiona ...' with a deep breath he finished his sentence, 'you ... Claire'. She was dazed by it, what did he say? 'Why did you tell him about Claire!' It had definitely annoyed him that Riley seemed to know pretty much about him. Cause he had knew his exact weakness.

'What? I didn't tell him anything. Why on earth would I tell him about that?' She was upset by his suggestion. 'I don't know'. He could see she was edgy and the fact the conversation went the exact opposite direction he had wanted it to go made him give a bad response. 'Maybe cause you share the bed with him, you share stuff like that too.'

'What?' She couldn't believe it. It sounded so harsh. Alex glared at her. They both were stunned. 'I didn't mean ...', he said it softly as he could see her face, her upset eyes. Maybe Riley was right; maybe he was only hurting her. The thought of him made his expression change into something sad. Stevie breathed heavy and noticed it.

No don't ... don't let your anger grow
Just tell me what you need me to know
Please talk to me, don't close the door

Alex glared in front of him, his eyes got teary. 'He's right, is he?' It was in a very soft tone he spoke. '... that I keep hurting you?' She couldn't really answer it with words, but Alex knew what she meant with the look in her eyes. 'I just, I just wanna know the truth.' Their gazes were intense, and Stevie could feel this was the moment to be honest. To tell him why he hurt her so much, but she felt her heart sink seeing him like this and she couldn't bring up the courage. 'What does it matter anyway', she said remarkable powerful with a touch of upset meekness, looking down, intending to leave defeated.

Don't... don't you wish we tried?
Do you feel what I feel inside?
You know our love is stronger than pride

'It does matter to me!' Alex swallowed seeing her face return again. He continued in a softer way. 'It really does, a lot, please ...' She saw his loving red eyes; she felt his hand which was touching her arm again. The pleading look made her feel so weak. 'Is it true ... is it you?' She wetted her lips, looking almost desperate at him, eyes filled with tears, not capable of saying a word.

Cause I wanna hear you
I wanna be near you

'When I was in a coma did you say you love me. I was the only man you ever loved?' He almost stuttered it, his guards down. It was so hard to ask it and see her like this, but he had to know. 'Please? I lived a lie for too long.' His heartbeat was quick, breathing deep and intense as he looked at her. She bitted her lip, as a tear rolled of her eye. The only thing she could do was nod.

They both were so vulnerable, in need of each other, that a moment later he had drawn her close to him, holding her tightly. She had buried her face into his chest, her hands holding on to his back. Crying ... The embrace made him recover and he softly took his right hand of her back to brush away some of her curly red locks. He placed a kiss on her hair, whispering; 'It's okay.' She looked up at him for just one single moment. The quick glance they shared told her enough. He knew. And there was something in his eyes that showed her he felt it too.

Don't!
Don't give up on trust
Don't give up on me, on us
If we could just hold on long enough

We can do it
We'll get through it

Shania Twain – Don't