Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with McLeod's Daughters. I'm just a big fan and in my free time I'm writing a story about them. Non profit is made.

Feedback: Yes, please. Constructive criticism is always appreciated.

Author's note: I think that I've forgotten to mention that this story is a little different to the series. I also forgot to mention that Claire never existed because I have never seen any episodes with her since I only started watching McLeod's daughters in fourth season.

Maybe I should mention, too, that this (if I'm able to finish it) is gonna be a StevieAlex story.

So…I guess that's it for now.

I hope you enjoy reading and plz plz plz review!

Chapter 2

She arrived in Fisher in the late afternoon. She hardly had any money left, though. After she had bought the bus ticket to Fisher she had only so much money left to buy herself something to eat and a bottle of water at a petrol station there.

She was now sitting on a bench eating her sandwich and wondering if it was the right move to run and search for that woman instead of staying by her mother while she was watching the cars coming to tank up and leaving again.

She thought of her mom. About the moment she found her unconsious in the kitchen and about the lies she had told the medics.

Is she alright? I shouldn't have left. She needs me. I odn't even have money to phone her.

She took a sip of water from her bottle.

I'm never gonna find this McLeod woman here in the outback! I should try to get a ride back…

Almost at tears she started to pack the rest of her sandwich in her rucksack as she suddenly noticed it.

A white truck had stopped in front of one of the petrol pumps while she had been lost I thoughts. The truck was nothing special. Just a normal truck. She usually wouldn't have noticed it. However, the label on this very truck aroused her attention: DROVER'S RUN. T.C. MCLEOD

McLeod! She had to find a McLeod. This was just like an omen! Where is the driver? She looked around and immediately saw a tall man who was walking straight towards the truck. He seemed to just have paid for the gasoline.

"Excuse me!" She grabbed her stuff and was running towards him as he turned around curious.

" Where you just talking to me?"She looked at him nervously.

"Ähm…yes. I couldn't miss the label on your truck…" He looked at her but didn't say a word. "I…I'm looking for a woman called Theresa McLeod and…and I was wondering if you by chance…ah…know her."

He looked over his shoulder to his truck as if he didn't know what the writing on it said and then looked back to the girl. "Theresa McLeod, hu?"

She nodded.

"You're lucky. I'm her neighbour as luck would have it." He gave her a bright smile. "What do you want from her?"

" I…I…I just need to find her."

"Oookay." The man said a little disappointed because she wouldn't say more. If she doesn't want to say more… I ain't gonna ask.

"It's about my mother." she whispered hardly to be heard. "Can you take me to her?"

Usually he didn't take stranger girls with him in his truck but this girl seemed so desperate to find Tess McLeod so he thought he could make an exception in her case. "Sure." She seemed somehow familiar as well, too. Where have I seen her before? he thought as they went to his truck together.

As he drove onto the street again he said: "By the way, I'm Alex Ryan. You can call me Alex, though."

She had been staring out of the window, deep in thought, but as he started to talk she turned her head to face him. She didn't smile, though. Alex thought she even seemed more desperate than before. The way she hold her rucksack close to her chest told him that she wasn't sure if she could trust him and how her journey's gonna end. Right so, kiddo.

After a minute of awkward silence she suddenly replied: "My name is Rose. Rose Hall."