Homeward Bound

Authors note: G'day everyone, sorry I haven't been about, still not well. Here's the next bit, apologies for the garbage of the previous chapter-must've been the medication. Anyway, we pick up the story, Heath is in Tibooburra, in the North Western corner of New South Wales after the plane crash. Claire is getting released from Fisher Hospital, so it is from there that the journey continues.

Fisher Hospital-Outside the main entrance.

Claire stepped out into the sunshine, she smiled broadly as its warmth spread across her face. Tess stood beside her, carrying her bag.

"Right to go?" Tess questioned, her eyes examining her sisters face.

"Yep, let's go home." Claire said matter of factly. Still no word from Heath, Alex had promised to find out what had happened, he would drop into Drovers that night he had promised.

As Tess and Claire walked towards the Merc, Jodi and Kate both appeared, hugging Claire and welcoming her back. Claire couldn't help but smile.

'Thanks." She had said, her eyes gleaming with tears. She wanted Heath, to hear his voice, see his smile, to smell him, to feel his stubble brush against her cheek. She so badly wanted to hear his raspy voice, even smell his tobacco.

"Alex is on it, he will find him." Tess said, reading her thoughts.

Claire smiled. "I hope so."

At Tibooburra-Northern New South Wales

"Steady on mate." The nurse admonished as Heath stood up. "At least let the Doc look you over."

"I'll be fine." Heath replied quietly.

"I think I'll make that choice." A voice said from the doorway. Heath turned, he was greeted by a tall bearded man in jeans and a black shirt.

"Now sit." He said. "I'm Doctor Allen McFalane, Ill check you over, and then if you want to, you can move on."

"Okay." Heath said, sitting down.

It was over an hour and they did this and that, eventually, they let Heath go. He walked to the pub and asked if there was anyone 'headed South.' Luck was back in, he was able to get a lift to Packsaddle, where he then hitched with a road train full of cattle headed for the Northern Territory, across the border as far as Peterborough. He spent the night sleeping rough until he managed to get a lift right the way to Gungellan. By the time he reached town, he was filthy, he stank terribly. Finding a public phone, he dialled Drovers Run, his heart was in his throat.

"Claire McLeod."

"Hi Beautiful, sorry, I've just made it to Gungellan."

"Where the bloody hell have you been? You were supposed to get a plane, Alex organised one for you! You never turned up!" She spat.

"Hang on." Heath started, but Claire cut him off.

"No, you hang on, I can't be waiting around for some bloke that's not even reliable! Keep moving Heath! We are done!" She snapped, before slamming down the phone.

Heath hung the receiver up, he couldn't believe what she had said.

"Hey Drover Boy! My money and flights not good enough? You look terrible mate, ya smell feral too. How have ya been?" Alex said in a smart manner as he walked past.

"Your flights? Mate, some flight, the bastard crashed in Tibooburra, I've had to hitch the rest of the way, and Claire thinks I didn't take the flight! She's just dumped me after I've crossed half the country. SO WHAT THE HELL DO YOU RECKON?" His voice thundered, echoing off the buildings.

Alex stopped and looked, disbelieving. "You what?" He asked

"Yeah, rich boy, I made the flight, it was a wonder the plane got off the ground, it crash landed in Tibooburra, I had to get patched up, and thumbed down three lifts to get here. All to have Claire dump me on the phone! Now, if you'll excuse me, I need a shower, and a barrel of rum."

"What are you going to do?" Alex called out.

Heath didn't reply as he headed for the pub.

At Drovers Run…..

Claire sat on the verandah with a cup of tea. She felt good about telling Heath off.

"Anyone home?" Nicks voice called out.

"Yeah." Claire replied back.

"Hey, all safe?" Nick asked as he walked "I've just been talking to Alex."

Claire looked at him, a puzzled expression on her face.

"Alex saw Heath." He added.

"Ah. " Was all she said.

"Are you ok?" he pressed.

"I will be."

"Alex was saying that he looked like hell, had be hitching rides to get here."

"Haha oh of course, playing the poor me card." Claire scoffed.

"Alex also said he caught the plane."

"That's bullshit." Claire said.

"No, he checked it out, they crash landed just like Heath said." Nick replied quietly.

"You what?" Claire exploded. "Why didn't he tell me?" She said, feeling sick.

Nick stood up, "Probably because you cut him down before he could, I guess after his life, you can't blame him for being that way, I mean, why throw good effort after bad if someone's not going to believe you?"

Claire looked at him open mouthed. "What am I going to do now?"

"If you love him, then find him." Nick paused. "He's at the pub." He added. Claire leapt up, hugged Nick and bolted for the Merc, she flew to town as fast as she dared drive.

Gungellan-At the truckstop

Terry leaned on the counter, looking at Heath as he leant on the bus stop sign, now showered and clean, a cigarette burning in his fingers. He had told Terry he was going back North, "to finish the job."

"So, you'll be back again then?" Terry had asked good naturedly.

"Maybe, probably not, but, you'll never know." Heath had replied with a grin as he shook Terry's hand.

Terry heard the bus arrive, a few people got off, including the driver that bolted in to use the toilet. Heath picked up his bag and stood, finishing his smoke as the driver came back and shut compartment door.

"All aboard!" He yelled. "Next Stop-Adelaide!"

Heath flicked the butt into the gutter, exhaling smoke from his nostrils as he took one last look around.

The door swung shut on the bus with a quiet hiss and it began to pick up speed as it rolled out of town.

Tyres screeched on the road as Claire flew to a stop at the kerb and ran inside the truck stop.

"Terry!" She called breathlessly.

"Claire! What's wrong?" He asked. "Hurrying from the workshop, wiping his hands on a rag.

"Heath, have you seen him?" He was out the front last I seen him love, waiting for the bus." He replied sadly.

"Oh no." Claire said as she sank into one of the chairs, tears beginning to flow. "I've lost him."

Terry wasn't sure what to do or say. Claire accepted the clean hankerchief that she was handed. "Thanks Terry" she murmured quietly as she wiped her tears away.

"Is my name Terry now?" a husky voice answered. Claire's eyes few open as she looked up.

"Heath!" She squealed as she leapt into his arms. They kissed.

"Sorry I wasn't there. I've been through hell just to get back here." Heath said looking her in the eyes.

She blinked back her tears, "I know. Nick told me." She replied as they kissed again.

Heath pulled her closer, she breathed deeply, inhaling his scent, "Don't ever go anywhere again. Please." She whispered.

"I won't be, I'm where I want to be Claire, with you, finally after all these years, I've come home."