Alex and Stevie have a fight but end up on the same side...
"Hey baby where have you been?" Fiona gushes.
Alex doesn't react.
"Alex!" She pushes.
Looking up he says "Sorry Fi were you talking to me?"
All smiles she offers. "I just asked where you have been."
"What?'
"Where have you been?'
"Oh sorry Fi I was just talking to Dave and he was telling me something that I'm worried about."He explains.
...
"Can I help?" She asks then adds "You know I'm a good listener."
He smiles at her and says "No, thanks for the offer though, but I really need to speak to Stevie."
"Oh but you just saw her." Fiona offers.
He looks deep in thought but doesn't reply.
She pushes. "Alex are we leaving now?"
Inhaling he asks. "Fi I really need to speak to Stevie would you mind just hanging around here for an hour or so?'
Sandra sniggers.
Alex gives her a filthy look and then looking at Fiona says. "I'll be as quick as I can Fi .Ok?"
...
Harry growls. "Don't go running over there to her Alex and don't leave this one here with us."
Alex snarls "Would it kill you to be nice now and again you rotten old bastard."
"Watch your mouth Alex." Harry warns.
"Or what, you'll disinherit me? Hit me? Give it your best shot old man."
Fiona feels very uncomfortable until Sandra says. "Harry I'll take care of Fiona we can have a cuppa and a chat and you can go and see to King Harold."
Harry huffs off at a slow pace towards the yards.
...
Alex feels uneasy about leaving Fiona in Sandra's clutches but is desperate to see Stevie so he kisses Fiona and whispers "Watch her she's a rattlesnake while you're watching her rattle she'll bite you."
Fiona giggles at his description.
"Thanks Sandra." Alex calls as he runs across the yard.
Watching him Sandra says. "You'd best get used to this Fiona he runs to her every time she calls."
Fiona feels her gut knot and decides Stevie is the enemy and the sooner she gets rid of her the better.
...
Driving into Drover's Alex runs inside and finds Tess sitting at the table shelling peas.
"Hi Tess where's Stevie?"Alex asks.
Tess tries to divert him and says "Umm... she... Arghh..., she's in the shower Alex."
She watches as his shoulders slump.
The back screen door closes and they both look at the door as Stevie enters, she looks pale and upset.
...
Alex looks at Tess and wonders why she has lied to him.
"Hey Stevie." Alex greets her.
"G'Day "She replies as she hurries over to the sink.
"Tess said you were in the shower." He offers.
Stevie turns, drinking her water from the glass and Alex notices the exchange between the two women.
"Um yeah I was going to but I had a couple of jobs to do first." She answers not holding eye contact and he instantly knows she's lying.
...
"Can we talk Stevie?" He asks.
"What about?" She asks sounding annoyed.
'The day of the fire."
"No, I'm busy Alex and you didn't want to talk about it then and I have nothing to say now."She snaps back and moves to walk away.
Panic rises in him and he blurts. "I was talking to Dave."
Stevie glares at him and says. "Yeah so what gossip did he tell you?"
Tess tries not to laugh and excuses herself before she does.
...
Tess leaves the room and Alex is unsure of how to start this conversation so leads with. "What did you think of Fiona?"
He notices she looks really annoyed and she replies. "You like her."
He tries not to grin and says "That's not what I asked."
She moves to walk passed him and he grabs her arm and says "Stevie what's wrong with you? Are you jealous?"
"Ha." She scoffs. "Of what?'
"Fiona?" He states.
Shaking her head she quips. "You've known her for five days and you've asked her to marry you. She doesn't know anything about you and she hasn't met Harry. That tells me she's either stupid, a gold digger or awfully good in bed."
He lets her arm go wounded by the venom in her words.
He thinks quickly, she isn't stupid and she isn't that good in bed and Harry's words ring in his ears. He said the same thing... gold digger...
Anger rises in him.
"So you are jealous .You don't even know her."He snarls.
"Neither do you." She spits at him.
...
"It might be nice if you could get along with her Stevie.' He says hopefully.
"Why Alex?" Stevie argues.
"Because you're my best friend." He states.
Shrugging her shoulders she quips. "Shouldn't Miss Fancy pants be your best friend?"
He looks at her and thinks why she doesn't like her?
...
Maybe Dave is right.
"Are you in love with me Stevie? Is that what it is?" He slams the words at her.
He's disgusted with himself but he wants the truth.
Briefly he sees the wounded look in her eyes and then she comes out fighting. "Don't flatter yourself Alex. She's just like all the others, weaselled her way into your heart through your pants."
He doesn't respond.
She flicks him on the chest and says "Maybe just maybe if you listened to this instead of that." Pointing to his groin she continues her vicious attack. "You might actually find someone to love you the way you should be loved and I don't just mean sex. It's not just about sex Alex."
"Oh and you're such an authority on that aren't you." He growls.
Again he sees the pain he's inflicting but he pushes on. "What should I look for Stevie?'
"What am I your bloody guidance counsellor?" She snarls.
"Come on tell me what should I be looking for?" He yells and he's shocked when she jumps.
She stands defeated and he can see it but he wants to hear it from her.
Tess walks into the room.
Alex is about to yell at Stevie but she turns and her face drops.
...
"Tess...What's wrong?" Stevie enquires walking towards her.
"Nick's plane is missing..."
Alex feels like he's been hit in the chest by a sledge hammer.
Stevie hugs Tess and says. "He'll be fine Tess it's a mistake. You'd feel it in your heart if it was true."
Tess smiles and says "I would Stevie wouldn't I."
Hugging her friend tightly she says. "You feel true love in your heart and if anything bad had happened you would be the first to know."
Tess says "You are one hundred percent right Stevie. He wouldn't leave me not like this."
Stevie sits Tess down and says "I'll put the kettle on."
...
Alex is standing stock still he hasn't moved or spoken.
Stevie is aware of him and moves over and wraps her arms around his waist and says. "He'll be fine Alex... We have to be positive."
He hugs her and nods, so close to tears he even surprises himself.
As he hugs her he feels calmness, his tears dissipate and thinking clearly he says. "I'll go and find him Tess. I'll bring him back for you."
Stevie looks up at him and smiling says. "That's it Alex positive thinking and action."
Tess stands and hugs him and says. "Alex I can always rely on you. Thank you."
...
Alex stays for awhile and has a cuppa with the girls then heads back over to tell Harry the news.
Reaching Kilarney he has lost track of time.
Fiona meets him at the gate and is furious. "Where have you been? You said an hour I've been stuck here for three hours!"
He looks at her and says "I needed to speak with Stevie and then I had tea with Tess."
"I'm glad you had a nice afternoon." She growls.
...
He feels anger rise and he spits. "Nick's plane is missing."
"What do you mean?" She asks.
"His plane took off, there was a storm and it didn't land." He states.
"Oh I'm sorry have they found his body?" She asks.
He glares at her. "We don't know he's dead Fiona! Tess doesn't think he's dead.'
...
After Alex tells Harry and Sandra he's very upset and hugs Fiona, she hugs him back and he still feels upset and is unsure why.
Fiona says. "What will we do now?"
Looking at her he says "I'm going to buy two tickets, one for you to go home and one for me to Argentina so I can see if I can find him."
"Why would you do that?"Fiona asks.
"To be positive and take action." He tells her.
"Well that's just silly Alex, it will be like looking for a needle in a hay stack plus we're supposed to be together and you're going to leave me."She whines.
"Tess thinks if Nick was dead she'd feel it, she'd know." He offers.
"You're kidding aren't you?" She hisses.
"No I'm serious and so is Tess." He says and decides he'll throw in what Stevie said to see what Fiona's reaction is.
"You feel true love in your heart Fiona and if something bad had happened she'd be the first to know." He tells her.
"She's in shock Alex she doesn't know what she's saying." Fiona scoffs then adds "I can't believe you are doing this."
...
Still standing in his arms she runs her hand up his back, then down and across his backside squeezing one cheek she says."Want to go into the pub, maybe have a few drinks, and book a room?"
Pushing back he looks at her and says "No that's the last thing on my mind.'
Stevie's words rush at him...It's not just about sex...
...
Early the next morning Alex takes Fiona to the airport and she is very unhappy but his thoughts are on Tess and Nick.
"Make sure you ring me every night Alex!" Fiona tells him.
"Yeah I'll see how I go but it will depend on where I am." He promises absentmindedly.
As the plane takes off he heads for Drover's Run.
...
Stevie meets him at the gate and says. "Have you heard anything Alex?"
He shakes his head and looks sad so she moves forward and hugging him says "It'll be alright Alex. Nick will be fine, it can't end like this not with the baby..."
Her voice catches.
He hugs her tightly and feels calm.
"I'll find him Stevie I promise." He soothes.
She steps back and wiping tears from her cheeks says "Yeah I know you will. He's your brother and your love will find him."
He smiles at her and placing his arm around her shoulder says. "How's Tess?"
She grins up at him and says. "She's being really positive and strong Alex, I'm so proud of her."
"Yeah she's a lot tougher than she looks." He states.
Stevie stops him and he looks down at her and she says. "I know you are going to be busy and may not have phone access but if you can will you ring Tess please. The not knowing each day will eat away at her resolve and we need to keep her as positive as possible because of the baby."
He hugs her and says. "Every chance I get I'll ring ok?"
She nods and isn't expecting. "I'll need to hear your voice too Stevie."
He heart rolls over and she wants to say...I'll need to hear yours too...But she just hugs him tightly hoping he understands.
He does.
...