A call to home...
Alex follows as the Doctor opens the door.
The room is spacious and two French doors open onto a small patio.
Nick is lying on his back with a small bandage across his forehead and one around his left wrist other than he looks like he's sleeping.
"Mr Ryan your brother is a lucky man, he should recover fully.
Each time we have reduced his medication he shows good signs in all of our tests." Dr Sanchez explains.
Alex nods as he places his hand on his brother's face.
"When will you wake him again?"Alex asks.
...
"He can wake at anytime now Mr Ryan you can try calling him if you like. I will leave you and if would like to talk to him about what is happening at home he may come around by the sound of your voice."Doctor Sanchez tells him.
"Do you have a phone I could use? I would like to ring his wife." Alex asks.
"Yes of course. I will have one of the girls bring one in and set it up for you Mr Ryan."
"You can call me Alex."
The Doctor smiles and says "And my name is Emilio."
...
Alex pulls a chair over and sits beside his brother.
"Hey mate you've had us all worried especially Tess. Harry has dropped his bundle and he's tossed Sandra out which is great. Stevie broke her leg coming off Banjo so she's laid up and can't work. It's all happening mate and you've missed it all."
Alex looks at Nick and he hasn't opened his eyes.
He feels so very sad and just wants him to open them and say ...G'Day what are you doing here...
Reaching over he takes his hand and says. "You've got city boy hands Nick you need to get back to Drover's Run and do some real work instead of sitting in an office all day."
Alex chuckles to himself thinking if Nick was awake he'd fire up at that comment.
Alex looks quickly at Nick's face, his eyes are still closed but he felt Nick squeeze his hand.
...
Nearing the house Jodi quips. "Hey Squirt isn't that Dave's car?"
Tess grins.
Kate replies. "You know perfectly well it is Stretch. I wonder what he's doing here so early"
"Maybe he came to see you Squirt." Jodi teases.
Kate pokes her tongue out at her and clicks her horse to a trot and moves off.
"Great Harry's car is here too. Perfect way to start the day." Jodi grumbles.
Tess looks at Jodi and says "Poor Stevie a broken ankle and having to entertain Harry."
"She will not be happy." Jodi quips.
"They're probably sitting glaring at each other without a word between them."
They both chuckle.
...
As Tess and Jodi round the side of the house they glance at each other.
Jodi whispers. "Is that Harry laughing?"
Tess chuckles and says softly. "I'm not sure I haven't heard it that often myself."
...
Dave, Harry, Stevie and Kate are sitting smiling as the girls join them.
"Morning Tess how are you?" Harry asks.
"I'm good thanks Harry all things considered and yourself?" She replies.
"Well I was a bit grumpy when I got here but Dave and Stevie have kept me entertained so I'm good thanks." Harry replies almost smiling.
"Right! Good to hear." Tess says glancing at Jodi.
Jodi tries not to grin and turns away saying. "I'll make a fresh pot of coffee."
Harry stands and says. "Here Tess take my seat."
...
Tess says. "Whose flowers?"
"Mine." Stevie grins.
"Who from?" Tess inquires knowing full well who they'd be from.
"They're a Get Well from Alex." Stevie offers.
"But you're not sick!" Tess teases.
Grinning she replies. "Yes but it won't take long until I'm sick of sitting around here!"
Harry listens to the banter.
"Oh Tess! Harry said we can use his Ute so I can drive, it's an automatic. So I'll be able to do the supply runs and help out with stuff around the farm." Stevie enthuses.
Tess looks at Harry and says " Thank you Harry that will be a huge help to us.'
...
Jodi walks out onto the veranda and hands Tess the phone.
"It's Alex" Jodi says softly.
"Alex how are you? I'm good thanks ...Yes she's doing really well... She's wheeling and dealing to help around the place already... Yeah Harry is lending us his Ute ...yes ...an auto...Yes he's here now having coffee with Dave and Stevie..." She laughs then says. "You sound happy, what? Oh did you really ...Nick..."Her voice falters barely audible but her smile bright...
Everyone quietens down.
"Oh Nick." She whispers tears streaming down her face.
"Nick it's so good to hear your voice...hmm...yes...Oh I love you too... What happened? Alex where's Nick gone?...Ok...Yes...Thank you so much I owe you a huge hug when you come home...yes..." She says softly.
"Yes hang on." Placing her hand over the phone she says to Harry. "Alex found him, he didn't even get on the plane he was mugged and has been in hospital and they've just brought him out of sedation and Alex turned up with a photo of him and as he had no ID they didn't know who he was.."
"Why was he looking in Hospitals?' Harry asks.
"Alex what made you search the hospitals?"Tess asks.
She reaches over and squeezes Stevie's hand.
Harry watches wondering why.
"Ok I'll put him on." She states.
"Nick wants to talk to you Harry." Tess says handing the phone on.
...
"Hi Dad...yes I'm glad to hear your voice too. I'm not sure, yes a few bumps and bruises but I've lost two weeks and I think I'll be a bit wobbly at standing...yes I will... Yes I'll tell him you said so. ...Dad I'm pretty tired but we'll ring tomorrow ok? ...Yes ... I will and can you give the phone to Stevie please Alex wants to talk to her... Yes I will bye..." Nick says as he hands the phone to Alex.
"Hello...Yes I am, thanks to you and your ideas...Yes ...did you get your flowers? Yeah you did and did you like them." He laughs and asks "So you can't talk? Righto. I'll ring later tonight... Hey how did you get on with your dream...?" He whispers something and then says. "Can you give the phone back to Tess? Ok I'll talk to you after. Bye."
...
On Drover's Run the mood is a happy one.
Stevie is just finishing talking to Alex. "Ummm... Yes they're beautiful thank you... Yes...No...Yes that would be nice...Yes I did dream a lot actually...Yes... Perhaps... Yes...Ok Bye."
As she hands the phone to Tess, Jodi teases. "What did he say Stevie you've blushed? Not much makes you blush."
Stevie grins and says "Well as it was a private conversation Jodi I'm not going to tell you."
They all laugh.
...
Harry's phone rings. "Hello Harry Ryan speaking ...Oh hello ... ...Yes I have spoken to him ...Well he's been busy... I think you should wait for him to ring you Fiona...he's been looking for his brother, you're probably the last person he's thought of...Don't take that tone with me!...you've known him a week he's known his brother his entire life! I don't think there is any comparison... So did he send you flowers?... No! Oh I was just wondering... Yes goodbye."
Stevie glances at Harry and he winks at her.
She's unsure if she should smile or be afraid...Harry has been nice to her all morning .
Harry is only nice when he's up to something and she wonders what it is and where she fits into his plan.
For now she just smiles at him.
...