Routine

Drovers Run….Claire's bedroom

Claire woke, the sun streamed in through the curtains and a warm breeze fluttered through the open window, bringing with it the scent of eucalyptus. She smiled and inhaled it. Looking over she saw Heath, flat on his back, dead to the world. She looked at his weathered face. She noticed the hint of facial hair, broken capillaries traced their dark red lines across the points of his cheeks. She noticed the wrinkle lines appearing around his eyes. She touched his face, it was great to have him back. He needed rest though, as did she. They had both basically collapsed into bed the night before and were out faster than light globes.

Claire was jerked from her thoughts by a quiet knock at the door.

"Yes." She said quietly, the door swung open to reveal Meg with a tray loaded down with tea and toast.

"Breakfast." She said with her usual smile.

"Thanks Meg." Claire said as she picked up a cup of tea.

"How is he?" She asked, wiping her hands on a tea towel.

Claire glanced down at him. "I think he'll be sleeping for a while, the plane crash knocked him around more than he realised."

"Probably a good thing, both of you need time, Ill leave you to it. Don't panic, we have everything covered." Meg said as she swept from the room, closing the door behind her. Claire put the cup down and lay down with her cheek resting on Heath's chest. He gave a quiet murmur and his arm soon snaked around her shoulders, pulling her in. Her lip brushed against his skin, goose bumps appeared, Claire grinned wickedly, somethings weren't broken that's for sure, plenty of time for that though as she reached up and again touched Heath's face. She breathed deeply, taking in his scent, a faint hint of aftershave, cigarette smoke and rum. She frowned, she would have to get him to quit smoking. That was no good at all, her eyes shut as she drifted off back to sleep with his heart rhythm beating steadily in her ears.

Drovers Run… At the yards

Stevie was counting the claves as Kate was packing the injector away.

"That's lunch." Stevie called.

"Wonder if those two lazy people are up yet?" Jodi mused, she had been dirty all morning, not getting a sleep in herself.

"Stretch, give it up." Kate snapped. "They have both been through hell, they need to rest. Stop whinging because I've had it!"

"Well said." Stevie added.

Jodi huffed as she stomped off towards the stables.

Claire's bedroom…..hours later

Claire woke, she felt even better, the tray had been removed, Heath still slept on, he hadn't moved from before, she slipped out from under his arm and went to the bathroom. After a shower she felt a lot better. Getting dressed she noticed Heath still dozed on, she put her fingers on his neck, his pulse was regular and strong. She smiled down at him, and headed downstairs.

Meg looked up as she stood at the tyable, she smiled as Claire walked in.

"You're certainly looking better." She observed.

"Yeah I feel it too." Claire replied.

"How's Heath?"

"Still out to it."

"Might be concussion." Meg observed. "Better keep an eye on him."

"Yeah, let him sleep today, make sure he's up tomorrow."

"Sounds good. Tea?" Meg offered.

"No thanks, I'll go and see how the others are getting on."

"Okay."

Claire walked over to the shed, Stevie looked up from the back of her ute.

"Hey, how are you feeling?"

"Good, a lot better, Heath's still out cold though." Claire replied.

"Not good, maybe he needs to be seen to." Stevie said thoughtfully.

"Maybe, but I doubt they'd find anything." A raspy voice came from behind them.

Claire turned, Heath stood there, barefoot and jeans with his trail jacket, which was open, revealing some nasty looking scars. "Stevie." Heath said, nodding at her.

"How ya feeling?" She asked.

"Still rough, but I'll manage." He replied. Claire stepped into his side, planting a kiss on his cheek, "good to see you alive. Tea?" she asked.

"Please." Came the croaky reply.

"Me too please." Stevie called out.

"Okay." Claire called over her shoulder as she walked to the house.

"Quite a tale of woe, just to get here, you must really think she's worth it." Stevie said.

"You got that damn well right." Heath replied. "That beautiful woman's my world. I couldn't imagine life without her." He added.

Stevie grinned back at him. "Yeah she's one of my best friends that's for sure."

"I won't let anything happen to her Stevie." He said, sensing where the conversation was going.

"Good." Stevie replied.

Claire reappeared with a couple of mugs full of steaming hot tea. She couldn't stop her smile as she saw Heath smile at her. His face creased like leather when he smiled, weather-beaten yet kind, the roughness of his appearance didn't overshadow his kindness. Claire passed a mug to Stevie, she then passed one to Heath. She turned back to talk to Stevie and the both of them didn't notice the expression on Heath's face suddenly change. Black spots suddenly appeared in his eyesight, his head began to spin as he reached for the pole of the shed. He missed, the cup smashed loudly, shattering into a million tiny shards and hot tea flew everywhere as Heath hit the ground. He never heard Claire scream his name, nor did he feel Claire and Stevie's hands as they tried to wake him up. He didn't feel the ride to Fisher.

Claire sat on the chairs in the waiting room as Heath was taken down the corridor. Tears ran down her face as Stevie sat holding her hand.

"I can't lose him Stevie. I just can't." Claire sobbed onto her shoulder as Stevie did what she could to comfort her. She also hoped that Heath would make it. She could see a lot of good in him.