After Regan leaves Alex moves over beside the bed. Gazing down at Stevie his stomach churns she's bruised and he knows they'll get worse before they get better and some are already deep black and purple, her foot is uncovered and isn't plastered he's surprised by that. Her wrist looks like it has plaster at the back but bandages at the front he's unsure why that is. Her face is bruised too especially her forehead. He feels sick her beautiful face and he's responsible for her being here like this.
He leans over and kisses her very softly, she sleeps. He lifts a chair from the corner and places it beside the bed and sits down. He places his arms on the bed and rests his head on them. Within minutes he's asleep.
Sometime later he's woken by two nurses doing their rounds "Oh Hello we didn't think anyone stayed." Alex stands and says "Oh sorry was I supposed to tell you I was here?' She smiles up at him and says "No, no, that's fine we would have brought you a stretcher in to sleep on." Alex runs his fingers through his hair and says "No I'm fine thanks. What time is it?' "Just after midnight."
The entire time she's talking the nurse has been checking Stevie's vital signs and then together the two women check the dosage and administer something into the tube in Stevie's arm. "What's that? "Alex asks. They explain it's to guard against infection and pain relief. "Why isn't she plastered?" Alex asks. They explain about swelling and stitches, so they can't seal it completely in plaster. Alex nods and thanks them for explaining.
As they walk out the door one whispers "Oh my god isn't he gorgeous." The other one says "He's huge I almost got neck strain looking up at him." The first one giggles and says "Be nice waking up with him beside you." They both agree and move off.
Alex walks over to the bedside table and pours himself a small amount of water. As he's about to put the cup down a voice says "Hey you." He smiles and leans over her and replies "Hey you." Gently he rubs his hand across her forehead, smiles and says "How are you?" "I've been better." She replies.
"Stevie I'm so sorry if I hadn't slammed the float door, the horse wouldn't have spooked." She smiles and says "Alex I'm as much to blame I was pissed off wondering why you were angry with me and I wasn't paying proper attention. Why were you angry with me?"
He looks away and then back and says "Anger isn't probably the right word. Jealousy best describes it I guess." She looks puzzled and says "Jealously of what?" He answers. "Not what who?" She looks at him and says "Alex I'm full of drugs and I'm a bit fuzzy I don't understand are we talking about Drew?"
Alex looks at her and says "No Marcus." "Marcus!" She says and laughs "Ow that hurt." Alex says "Sorry." "What for?" She asks. "Making you laugh Regan told me not too because it would hurt." "Oh" she answers and asks "Why?" Alex says "Why what?' Stevie offers "Why were you jealous."
Alex looks at her and says "Now you're confusing me and I'm not on drugs, of Drew." Stevie repeats "No Marcus?" "Oh" Alex says and adds. "He told me he'd kissed you." She looks at him and says "Oh." Alex says "He said when he kissed you he thought you responded for a second or two and he liked it." "Oh" She says and continues "It was weird, he took me by surprise and there was something so familiar about his lips." "Oh "He says. " Like it was you." She offers. "Oh." He says and adds "He likes you Stevie." She says "I like him too but not like that. These drugs are amazing Alex I feel like I'm outside myself."
He laughs and says." I wonder if you'll remember talking to me tomorrow." She says." I remember every word you've ever said to me and where we were when you said it." He grins thinking Regan was right she's talking as if she's drunk very straight forward and truthful, he might learn something. "So when did you work out you were in love with me?" He asks. Straight away she replies without hesitation" I've always loved you Alex I just didn't realize it until you went missing when your Ute got bogged."
"How did you feel when I came back with Fiona?" He asks. Again she replies without hesitation. "Crushed I finally worked up the courage to tell you and you brought that bitch back with you." He's shocked by the confession and the venom in her words. "Why didn't you tell me maybe I wouldn't have married her?"
"Ha she was a snake in the grass made me sick listening to you both. Baby this and Baby that and every time I was near you she'd make a point of touching your shirt buttons and your abs, letting me know that was her territory and you got sucked right in, once again not thinking. I fronted her about the fake pregnancy and she was supposed to tell you before you married her but she took off and conned you. I figured out where you'd be a rode out but it was too late you'd already said I do." He pushes "You're just making that up." She giggles and he smiles "You think I'm fibbing but I saw ya." She describes where they were and who was there and he's shocked and saddened.
"Why did you cry when I was leaving the reception?" She breathes and sounds like a small child when she says "That's what happens when your heart breaks, tears fall down your face." He feels so sad hearing her answer but presses on. "Did you sleep with Drew?" Her breathing is getting slower and he realizes the drugs are knocking her out. So he repeats the question and she answers. "Na he's a nice bloke, he kissed me though nice bloke." He smiles and says "Stevie?" "Mmm" "Stevie?" "Yes." "Do you still love me?" "Mmm yep." He smiles and says "How much?" Stevie "How much?" "Alex it hurts." He looks shocked and says "Stevie what hurts? Will I get the nurse?" "No nurse." "What hurts?" he asks. "Stevie what hurts?"He repeats. "Hurts love you." He smiles and says. "It hurts how much you love me?" "Mmm" she mumbles. He rises up and leans over her and kisses her lips and says "Me too."
Early the next morning Alex is fast asleep leaning his head on the bed when Stevie wakes up. "Alex "She whispers. " Alex." She smiles as she touches his face he needs a shave his whiskers are prickly. "Alex." She whispers. He moves and she knows he's waking up when he stretches and yawns. Opening his eyes he smiles and says "Good Morning" He rises and leans over to her. Smiling he runs his hand across her face and says "How are you feeling this morning?" She smiles back at him and says. "Well I'm full of drugs but I'm hungry so I guess that's a good sign. When did you get here?"
He looks at her and says "About eight o'clock last night. Don't you remember talking to me around midnight?" She shakes her head and says "No. What did I say?" He grins and says "You were very cute and very honest." She says "Oh God what did I say?" He chuckles and says." Fiona was a snake and a bitch." Stevie bites her lip and says "I didn't Alex you're making it up." He looks at her and shakes his head. "I asked you why you cried at my reception." She looks startled and says "Did I answer that? What did I say?" He replies "That's what happens when you heart breaks, tears fall down your face." Tears well in her eyes and she says "Please don't make me cry. I don't want to cry anymore." The door opens and the nurses come back in" Good Morning.' "Morning" "Are you alright?"One of them asks Stevie. She wipes her eyes and says." Yes I'm fine Alex was just telling me some things I said to him last night but I don't remember the conversation at all." "Just the drugs talking, nothing to worry about." One of them replies.
After the nurses leave the room Alex says "Stevie I'm sorry for hurting you." She smiles and says "It was just an accident Alex I should have been paying attention." He looks at her and says "No I mean all the hurt I caused you. I want to make it up to you" She smiles and says. "Alex you don't have to do that, just having you talking to me again without hating me or yelling at me is enough." Stevie touches his face and says "You've got bruises on your face Alex what have you been doing?" He replies "Fighting with Marcus." She looks shocked and says "What fist fighting?" He nods and she says "How old are you? When are you going to stop using your fists Alex?" He grins at her chastisement.
He looks at her and says "We talked about Marcus last night too." Stevie says "What did I have to say about that?" Alex grins and says "That when he kissed you for a minute it felt like me." She's shocked but laughs and says "I think you're pulling my leg Alex I didn't really say that." He answers." Yes you did Stevie but the weird part is I've just found out he's Bryce's son."
Stevie's mouth drops open and she says "Marcus is your brother?" Alex nods. She looks at him and teases. "So instead of fighting Fiona for you I could have just had Marcus. Bloody hell I wish I'd known, I could have saved myself a lot of trouble." He chuckles and says "Why go for a copy when you can have the original." He reaches to kiss her she feels her heart thumping. Regan and Jodie have arrived and as Regan opens the door she backs out into Jodie. "Regan what are you doing?" Regan smiles and says as she puts her finger up to her mouth gesturing for Jodie to be quiet "Alex is in with her." Jodie says quietly "So we can have more than one in the room." Regan whispers "He was kissing her Jodie." Jodie grins and says "Oh it's about bloody time."
The two girls wait outside for a couple of minutes then knock and walk in. " Hi How are you today?" Jodie asks . Stevie smiles broadly and says " All things considered I'm pretty good." Regan says " We've been up early and done some of the work so we can only stay a couple of hours and then we have to head back and finish up." Alex says "Well I'll get going and I'll come back later. If you girls need a hand with anything let me know and I'll get Riley and Nat to come over."
Regan smiles and says " Thank you Alex." He looks at her and says " Well it's my fault you're down a worker." Jodie says "Well shouldn't you be the one working on Drover's?" Alex looks at her and says " Well I didn't think I'd be welcome Jodie." She looks at him and says " Well if you're going to be a dickhead you're not but if you can find our old Alex he'd be more than welcome." Before she has a chance to move he hugs her and says " Already found him Jodes, I'll see you later and it's your shout." Quickly he steps over beside the bed gently placing one hand on either side of Stevie and says " I'll come and keep you company tonight? "Stevie smiles and he leans down and kisses her so very softly, he lets the kiss linger and lifts his lips then kisses her lips once , twice , three times and stands back up Looks at Regan and says. "I'll be over at Drover's asap."