His breathing got faster and Alex carefully squeezed his arms around her to tighten their embrace. Then he cried with her, he couldn't hold the tears anymore. He tightly closed his eyes. Inside he was screaming and his blood was boiling. How could Leo have gone this far!? Stevie felt safe in the arms of her best friend and when she heard him cry it touched her deep down. She felt supported and understood. But physichally she felt extremely weak and completely defeated. Alex couldn't say anything in response on the horrifying news she had just told him, everything just blocked inside, right now all he could do is comfort her.
Stevie had been a bit frightened for his reaction to all of this, she knew he could explode.
Alex suddenly pulled away from their embrace, when he realised that she might find it threatening to be so close to each other. Now he understood why she was acting so distant towards him. He quickly dried his tears because he wanted to stay strong for her. And after a while he looked into her eyes, it wasn't until now that he noticed her eyes had lost that spark that was always there before.
It came straight from his heart when he softly said
"I am so sorry Stevie".
Stevie still cried, but seemed a bit calmer somehow. Relieved that she got it off her chest.
"Oh Alex, I wish it was all a nightmare." She looked at him, her eyes begging for him to tell her it was a nightmare and that everything would be ok.
She softly cried "I don't want you to stop holding me" He was unsure of touching her, but did what she asked for, very gently and soft, as he could be.
She tightly wrapped her arms around him and grabbed a piece of his shirt on his back. "I'm so scared."
He caressed her hair and whispered while he held her. "Shhh...You're safe now. I'm right here."
Stevie looked up, while she didn't let go of him. "But he said he was going to come after me."
Alex looked confused, Stevie explained. "I mannaged to escape when he fell asleep, but then he woke up when I opened the door. So I ran into the dark and hid in the bush. I heard him scream and fire his gun right behind me. He said that he was...that he was the one to decide how this would end, not me."
Alex responded. "Freaking crazy bastard. He's scared that he won't get away with this. And he won't, I promise...If I ever get him in my hands, I'll finish him."
Through her wet cheeks a tiny smile appeared on Stevie's face "Then we go to jail together."
He shook his head and tried not to smile. "That will be nice, but I don't think they'll serve beer in there." He said while caressing her back. "I'm right here Stevie and nothing will happen to you, I promise."
She was touched by his promise, but still scared as hell. "But, he has a gun."
Now he looked mad. "I don't care, I'm not scared of him. Listen, it's all over ok? Your nightmare ends right here."
… … …
After a while Alex said. "You need some rest, try to get some sleep, I'll be right back." He stood up from the bed and walked to the door. He desperately needed some fresh air and took his sat-phone with him.
"Where are you going?" Stevie said kind of disappointed, she didn't want to be alone.
He wasn't aware that she would mind. "I have to check up on Banjo and call the girls."
She stood up. "No please don't call them."
He stayed calm and walked a few steps back to her. "Hey, I have to let them know that I've found you."
She understood, but wasn't happy about it. "Right, but not a word about what happened, just tell them I'm fine."
He forced a tiny smile on his face. "Right."
Stevie added. "This has to stay between us."
Alex grabbed the door handle and looked behind him. "If that's what you want."
But Alex wasn't ready to call yet. All this time he stayed strong for Stevie, but inside his heart ached for what she went through and the whole story made him feel sick. When he closed the door behind him he started walking towards the trees nearby, walking faster and faster and had to catch his breath. Alex was still so shocked about what happened to Stevie, it really hurt him. When he tried to catch his breath again it got worse and he almost hyperventilated. Then he grabbed onto a tree and leaned against it, he closed his eyes and had his hand on his chest. It all felt so unfair and horrible and he wanted to scream. Tears ran down his cheek.
After a few minutes Alex managed to get himself together and he went to check up on Banjo. The horse rubbed his big head on Alex his chest and then softly pushed his master on the cheek with his soft nose, like he knew what was going on. Alex petted him on his neck as an answer, but Banjo got a bit skittish.
"Wooh, it's ok mate." He said to calm the horse. The horse made a few sounds to let him know he didn't agree with just that.
Alex softly petted him and guided him to stand still. "Wooh boy, stand stil Banjo, it's alright. Stevie's fine, she'll be giving you hugs and kisses in the morning." He saw the horse calmed down, but he was still pushing him softly with his nose. Alex caressed the soft skin on his nose and smiled. "There you go, that's better...No, I don't have any food for ya, sorry mate." Then he tied him loose to put him behind the cottage, so he wouldn't be to much in sight. "Come on, you'll be fine. Yeah that's it. Good boy." Being in the presence of a horse always worked out good for him, it made him feel calmer and emotionally stronger, like the horse gave him new energy.
When he felt strong enough for it, he took the phone to call the girls. Alex kept his promise and didn't mention anything more then he found Stevie. The girls were thrilled and happy she was safe and sound, there was a great relieve on the other side of the line. Lucky for Alex he got no further questions.
After the call he went inside again to sit down next to Stevie on the bed. Stevie did what Alex suggested and was lying on the bed. She didn't even had a choice, she could barely stand on her feet. After a few minutes of just sitting there -thinking and keeping an eye on her- he placed his hand on the bed and gestured her to give her hand.
So she put her hand in his and after a while she said. "Please don't leave me."
"I won't." He assured her. "I'll stay awake and I'm right here beside you Stevie. Now, you make sure you get some rest, ok?"
Stevie nodded and closed her eyes.
… … …
Early in the morning, at the first light, Alex' eyes got so heavy that he couldn't keep them open. He watched over her all night and hadn't had any sleep at all. So he leaned against the wall to rest, but dazed away. Stevie slept very well and started to wake up at that time. She blinked her eyes and had to get used to where she was. Suddenly she jumped up and nervously looked around.
Alex startled and struggled with his back against the wall to sit up straight. It was funny to watch him having trouble with that.
Stevie's nervousness faded away and she even laughed when she saw him struggle to get up.
He said kind of sleepy "Good to see you smile, but what's so funny?"
Stevie shook her head, still smiling she teased. "You're one hell of a guard, what if something had happened, you can't even get up."
Alex smiled and ignored what she said. "How are you feeling?"
She rubbed her face and said. "Oh I slept like a baby."
"Good." Alex stood up and walked to the door. Stevie frowned "Where are you going?"
Alex looked surprised "I have to pee." He shook his head when he went through the door.
Stevie felt embarrassed and just stayed where she was, sitting on the bed.
When Alex came back she noticed how tired he really was. "You don't look to well."
"That's because I don't feel well. Haven't had much sleep lately."
Stevie looked concerned. "I guess that's because of me."
"Good guess." He gently smiled and walked up to her to sit beside her. "Listen." He started, when he tried to make eye-contact. "Don't you worry about me. You've got other things on your mind right now. Let's focus on that."
Stevie seemed unhappy about what he said. "Well that's exactly what I don't want. I want to forget what happened and get on with life."
Now Alex didn't understand her. "You can't just forget. Besides, we've got a few things to do before I'll get you home."
Stevie got irritated. "I told you I can't go home."
Alex got confused. "Then what do you want? You can't stay here."
She deeply sighed. "Maybe for a few days."
"Stevie? You need to go to the police to report what happened. And to the hospital."
Stevie panicked. "No, I'm not going anywhere! You go to the police and then when Leo is behind bars it's safe enough to go home."
"They can't put him behind bars without your statement." He sighed. "Just be realistic Stevie..." It was quiet for a moment, but they kept looking at each other.
Stevie stated. "I'm not going anywhere and you can't make me come with you."
Then Alex strictly assured her. "And I'm not leaving you alone."
That really touched her, she felt so safe with him. Finally he was there for her again, like he always was before he was involved with Fiona. Alex looked at his wedding ring and thought of Fiona and of what he just said, he realized that he didn't just say that.
Stevie was vulnerable and knew that all she had to was to just trust him. "Ok. So what's your plan?"
He sighed and smiled. "Finally."
"What?"
"I thought I'd never get through to you... You know they always call me stubborn, but you're even worse." He teased.
"What? I am not." She defended, he carefully smiled.
… … …
They took Banjo and rode back to Killarney, Stevie tightly held on to Alex. At Killarney Alex his mood suddenly changed, he even seemed grumpy. Nad and the other workers came to see Stevie and asked all kinds of questions, they where also involved in the search party. But Alex was harsh and send them right back to work, Nad took care of Banjo after Stevie had a quick goodbye.
Finally Fiona showed up. She jumped in Alex his arms.
"Oh Alex, I was so worried about you."
"Hey" He wrapped his arms around her "I'm ok Fi." But Alex didn't care, all he worried about was Stevie, who already seemed weaker after their ride.
"I missed you so much." Fiona said, squeezed her arms around him and pushed her head against his chest.
"Yeah I missed you too baby." He said, but the embrace felt cold and empty and he let go of her.
"Stevie." Fiona said, happy but with a disappointed sound in her voice. Of course she was happy that Stevie had been found, but she rather saw someone else had saved her, instead of her husband. Fiona set up an act to be in sympathy for Stevie and she offered her some tea and a blanket inside.
Stevie looked at Alex, she knew they had to leave soon.
He let his wife standing there and walked up to Stevie, he put one arm around her and guided her inside. "It's ok, we both can use some hot tea." he said very sweet.
Fiona was unbelievably jealous to see her man being so concerned and caring towards Stevie. That look he had in his eyes when he looked at Stevie, it was different from te way that he looked at her.
When they entered the house the phone rang, Alex answered the phone, it was Regan.
"Hey Regan...
...Yeah she's pretty warned out, but she's ok..
….I don't know what's gotten into her, she seemed confused...
...No I'm not bringing her home yet, we're going to the hospital for a checkup..." He lied, to keep his promise.
It didn't worry Regan, she thought it was a good idea they went for a checkup. But Regan had something else to tell him.
"Leo was here."
