On Kilarney as the the storm rages...
On Kilarney everything that can be done to secure the homestead and the out buildings has been done.
Harry is not happy.
Alex should be here not on Drover's Run.
Harry decides he'll have and early night and hopefully sleep through the worst of the storm.
As night falls he climbs the stairs , showers and heads off to bed to read for awhile.
...
Drover's Run as the storm builds...
Over on Drover's Run they've had a great night playing cards , laughing and joking.
Nick had insisted Kate come up and sleep at the main house so they'd know she was safe .
Jodie and Kate have grabbed chips and chocolate and headed up to bed.
Kate has her mattress on the floor.
" Time for a pyjama party Squirt." Jodi enthused.
Kate laughed and says . "Just like boarding school Stretch."
...
Nick asks Alex to help him with a shed door that's banging outside.
Tess and Stevie head upstairs.
Kate and Jodi's laughter reaches out and drags them into Jodi's room.
The four women sit and eat chocolate and chips and laugh and joke for over an hour .
Finally Stevie says . " I'm really tired guys I'm heading off to bed. I'll see you in the morning."
As she stands , there's a knock at the door.
" Yeah?" Jodi replies.
" It's just me Jodes . Is Stevie there?' Alex voice asks.
Stevie opens the door.
" Oh geez Alex ! What happened to your head?" Stevie asks.
" A branch came off and grazed it. I'm fine but I thought you could clean it up for me."He asks.
She looks concerned but replies . " Yeah sure no worries. Come into the bathroom."
Tess , Jodi and Kate follow.
All offering advice.
...
" Did you lose consciousness Alex?" Kate asks.
He grins and says . "No Kate like I said I'm fine."
" How hard did it hit you Alex? You might have a fracture." Jodi offers.
" Go to bed girls I'm fine. It's just a scratch." He tells them.
Finally Stevie finishes cleaning him up and they convince the girls to go to bed.
Alone in Stevie's room she asks . " Alex are you sure you're ok because I think we should take a spin into the hospital just to get you checked out especially because it was your head."
He laughs and says. " Nick said I'd be ok because it was my head."
She laughs with him and jokes . " Well he's known you longer than me so we'll trust his judgement."
...
Everyone has a restless night as throughout the district the storm howls around them.
Gales force winds tear up trees and the iron roofing off homes and shedding.
Around four am the storm dissipates and everyone falls into a deep exhausted sleep.
At six am Stevie wakes to Alex calling her name loudly.
She sits up startled and he's not in bed .
" Stevie !" He yells and she can hear panic rising in his voice.
Grabbing her robe she scurries out into the hall.
She smiles at him .
He's standing in the middle of the landing with a breakfast tray in his hands.
...
Laughing she quips. " If I'm getting breakfast in bed shouldn't I be in bed?"
He doesn't smile but stands stock still and says . " Stevie take the tray please."
She does as he asks and places it on the hall table sensing something is wrong.
"Alex are you alright?" She asks.
"No I'm not Stevie I can't see." He says panic oozing from him.
" Alex don't say things like that." She chastises him.
" Stevie, I can't see you please help me? Get Nick..." He whispers.
" Nick!" She screams...
...