Brax pulled up in an unfamiliar duel cab.
"Where'd you get the wheels?" Ash asked.
"Andy sorted it." Ash let that go. At least this truck would be up for some bush bashing and the good thing about these older models was that they still had ashtrays. Ash chucked his bag in the back.
"Brax, don't do this." Ricky had just walked outside. Ash wandered around to the passenger's side to give them some semblance of privacy. He didn't want Brax to give into her though, so he didn't go too far.
"It's done," Brax said. "We'll be back in a few days."
"I don't like it," she said.
"You don't have to," he told her, "just accept it. Nothing's gonna happen."
"You don't know that."
"I won't let it," Ash chimed in, having made is way around the front of the vehicle. They didn't have time to muck around, they were staring down the barrel of a fourteen hour drive as it was. She gave him an unimpressed look. Again they didn't have time for it. Brax sensed that too and climbed in the vehicle. Ash followed suit.
"See you in a few days," Brax told her as he pulled out onto the street. She glared after them, but Ash couldn't feel guilty. So she was going to be without her boyfriend for a few days. Billie had been without anyone who cared about her for six years. She had to be his priority.
xxx
They'd been on the road for hours now. Ash had told Brax about every car he'd ever done up because he was building up the courage to ask what he really wanted to, and he'd finally reached the point where he'd run out of cars.
"Tell me if I'm outta line here mate," Ash ventured, "but what's the deal with Kyle?"
"The deal?"
"Denny said something about an old girlfriend?"
"Phoebe? She was a mad rat of a thing. I don't think she ever listened to a word he said. She blew into town demanding to be his girlfriend and then pissed off back to Melbourne as soon as the going got tough. I think they dated when they were kids or something..."
"And since then?"
"What's this about?"
"You really gonna make me say it?" Ash groaned.
"No way," Brax grinned, "you've got a thing for Kyle?"
"Well you're smiling, so I'll take that as a sign it's okay to say yes?"
"Yeah mate, I trust ya. But good luck with that."
"What d'ya mean?"
"I heard he's got a big brother that packs a mean punch. Better not do anything to piss him off, yeah?"
"Hurting him is the last thing I wanna do."
"Just as long as you keep that in mind it should be sweet then." Ash was pretty sure that was an approval, but also Brax's way of making him think before he tried anything. It worked.
xxx
It was close enough to midnight when they rolled into town. They hit the first pub they came across and the second. It was on their way into the third one that Ash was really starting to get sick of everything.
"Can't we just ask?"
"No," Brax said firmly. "We get a feel for the place first. You don't know how many mates he's got here." That was true enough, so Ash continued to follow Brax's lead.
This pub was much like the first two. Blokes drinking beer and sport on TV. But Brax? Well he reacted differently this time. He made a beeline straight for a bloke at the bar. Ash followed.
"Hey Doc. How are ya?" The bloke sat his beer down and turned towards them.
"Brax!" The bloke beamed at him, sticking his hand out in greeting. Brax shook the offered hand.
"This is my mate Ash," Brax said, indicating towards him. Ash shook his hand.
"Nice to meet ya."
"This is Sid Walker," Brax explained, "he used to be the doctor in Yabbie Creek. His daughter owned the gym. How is Indi?"
"Yeah, she's good mate. All settled in at her new job. I was sorry to hear about Casey, my condolences." Brax nodded. "What brings you blokes all the way out here?"
"We're looking for someone," Ash cut in, taking the opportunity to actually ask the question. "My sister Billie. She kicks around with a nasty piece of work called Dean. You heard of them?" The doctor thought for a moment.
"You mean Billie Ashford? She had a bad habit of walking into doors. I patched her up more than once. Never could get her to report it though."
"That's her," Ash said quickly, desperate for more information.
"I haven't seen her in a while. I think I heard they left town." He turned and called to the red-haired bartender. "Hey Bluey? You seen Dean & Billie around lately?"
"Na mate," the bartender answered, "they shot through to White Cliffs."
"There you go," Sid said. "The bush telegraph..." He took a swig of his beer.
"How long will it take us to get there?" Ash questioned.
"Three hours. But you can't go now. No one drives around after dark here, the roos are a nightmare." Ash couldn't accept that, they were so close. Brax must've seen it on his face.
"He's right mate," Brax said. "Besides we've already been in the car all day. Better to get some sleep and start fresh in the morning." He turned to the bartender. "Hey Bluey? Got a couple of rooms for the night?"
AN: Couldn't resist a Doctor Sid cameo ;) Wish the H&A writers had felt the same. Thanks for reading :)