-1Alex returned quickly with the supplies from the hospital that Rebacca requested. Stevie was still sleeping. Rebecca assured him that it was normal for her to sleep so long and so deeply, that it would help her recover. So Alex tried not to worry. He sat by her side that night, watching over her. He stopped to wonder how it could be that he had never before noticed her beauty? He longed to look into her deep eyes, and to see her radiant mischevious smile. He recalled his memories of her. So full of life, so happy, so carefree. Or it always seemed that way. He longed to see her like that again. He swore to himself that he would make life like that for her again.

When the others weren't looking he gently stroked her hair, whispering to her that it would be ok, he would take care of her, he wouldn't let her get hurt again. He just wanted her to be ok, to have his best mate back. He could really do with a mate right about now. And he missed her. More than he realised was possible.

He refused to leave her side, not wanting her to wake up alone. Regan and Rebecca alternated between sitting with him, and spending time with Rose. Rose must be so scared, so confused and so bored cooped up here like this. But she was strong and brave, like her mother. He wondered what had become of Jeremy, and knew that his mother must be wondering the same.

He knew the pain it cause Stevie being seperated from Rose. He saw it in her eyes when she spoke of Rose. At times when he would find her staring off into the distance silently, he knew she was thinking of her daughter, longing for her to be close. Rose seemed to adore Stevie also. Rose hadn't wanted to go back to Michelle, and Alex wondered what he would have done if she had. It must be hard for Rose hearing the news of her true parentage, and having neither Stevie nor Michelle to talk about things with. Rose did spend long hours talking with Rebecca which seemed to help. Alex was curious about the connection between Rebecca and Stevie, but Rebecca clammed up everytime he asked her about it. He'd wait and ask Stevie, he finally decided.

As Stevie finally stirred, Alex was right by her side.

"Hey cowgirl." He said gently as she struggled to open her eyes.

"Alex?" She mumbled, trying to sit up but groaning in pain.

"Its ok, stay still" He told her.

She lay back down. "What happened?" She finally asked. "Where are we?"

"Its ok, there was an accident, but you're gonna be ok. I'll make sure of it. Just rest." He told her, not sure how to even begin to explain things to her.

She smiled at him and closed her eyes. That's when he looked up and noticed that Rebecca had slipped out of the room.

Regan entered a few minutes later "How is she?" Regan asked. "Rebecca said she was awake."

"She was awake a few minutes ago. I told her to rest." Alex replied softly as not to wake her.

Regan nodded, handing something to Alex.

"What's this?" He asked.

"Its an injection. For pain. Rebecca said you can give it to Stevie if she wakes up again."

"I can give it? She's the bloody nurse, where the hell is she?" Alex responded.

"Shhh" Regan reminded him looking to Stevie, but she hadnt stirred. "Rebecca is busy with Rose, she said you can do it, that you probably gave injections to cows and sheep all the time." Regan explained.

"It's a little bit different Regan." Alex protested. He really hated needles.

He would have shouted for Rebecca but that would wake Stevie. He would have gone and got Rebecca and dragged her in there, but he would have had to leave Stevie's side, and that was the last thing he wanted to do. He put the injection on the table shaking his head. There was something strange going on with that nurse.

"Look I ain't no nurse. Now please go and get Rebacca, you look after Rose ok?" Alex said.

Regan shook her head "No. Trust me, its better this way." And with those words she left the room.

Carrie looked down to Rose sleeping. Poor kid. She remineded her so much of Stevie. Aside from seeing Stevie again, the greatest gift of all had been spending this time with her niece. Carrie was glad she could be there for Rose at this time. Maybe it would be a start in making up for all that she'd missed out on along the years. She was glad Steve had woken tonight. It was a good sign. She felt bad slipping out, she wanted so much to talk to Stevie. But Regan was right, it would be a shock and Stevie wasn't yet strong enough for it. She was sure there would be explaining to do to Alex when the time came too. But for now she pushed Alex out of her mind and she played over and over the words she would say to Stevie when she saw her; how she would explain things; what Stevie's reaction would be.

Regan wasn't sure what to say to Alex about Rebecca. It wasn't her place to say anything, she'd already opened her mouth to Rose when she shouldn't have. She lay down and tried to sleep, but could only think of her little boy. He was scared of the dark. And she wondered if someone was holding him and making him feel safe tonight.

Regan hadn't slept much over night. When she went to check on Stevie the following morning she was happy to see her sitting up and talking with Alex.

Stevie looked to Regan as she entered the room.

"Regan?" She looked surprised "What are you doing here?"

Before she could answer Stevie continued "This is my mate from the rodeo, Alex" She introduced him.

"Yeah we already met" Alex told her.

Stevie looked confused. "Guess I have been out of it for a while."

"You've been sleeping for days" Regan told her as she sat beside her on the bed. "We were worried about you. Its good to see you feeling better."

"Good to see you too." Stevie told her, then turned to Alex "Don't you think she looks like Claire?"
Alex stiffened at that name, and even Regan seemed uncomfortable at that comment. He tried so hard not to think of Claire. Though he did recall once finding a reslemblance between the two of them.

Stevie often thought Regan and Claire would get along. Regan was Carrie's best friend from school. Stevie remembered the hundreds and hundreds of times she and Carrie had invited Regan to Drovers Run and Regan had flatly refused every time. Stevie was so frustrated with her for that, thinking of all the fun the four of them could have had. Since neither Alex nor Regan replied, Stevie contined "How is Claire, I dont think I've seen her since the Rodeo last year, in Leigh Creek. When I beat her in the barrell race. She was so mad, remember that Alex?"

Alex remembered that rodeo well. But it wasn't last year, it would have been nearly 10 years ago.

"I haven't seen her lately either." He mumbled in reply not wanting to talk about Claire, and not certain how much Stevie remembered about the past 10 years. Rebecca warned him that Stevie might not remember the accident, and might have some temporary memory loss. But he hadn't expected she would forget 10 years just like that. But he was flattered she would think he still looked the same as he did ten years ago. And he was glad. Stevie seemed so happy, and perhaps it was better for her to stay unaware of the recent events for a while. Deep in thought he only partly heard the conversation between Stevie and Regan.

"I guess my invitation got lost in the mail" Stevie said to Regan.

Regan looked confused for a moment.

"Your wedding, last month, to Daniel." Stevie reminded her, hoping that the Daniel that had married Regan was the Daniel she remembered from her childhood, not the monster he seemed to have become.

Regan looked over to Alex who shrugged his shoulders. Not knowing how to explain the things that had happened, Regan played along for the moment.

"Well, we didnt know where you were." Regan answered thinking back almost 10 years ago to her wedding day. She had wanted Stevie to be there.

"Its ok" Stevie told her "He wouldn't have wanted me there."

Regan thoght back to that time in her life. Stevie had tried to warn her once, about Daniel. She hadn't listened. She told Steviee to stay out of it. And Stevie had done so for the sake of their friendship. Regan didn't know what to reply, and the moment was interrupted as Alex phone rang, and he stepped out of the room.

Moments later he entered again announcing "That was Dave." Receiving blank stares from Stevie and Regan he realised neither one knew who Dave was. Alex had sent Dave to find Michelle, and Dave had done it. Even better was that Jeremy was with her. He was going to get him and bring him back to his mother. Then there was no one left to worry about. No one but Claire. But he forced that thought away from his mind. Nick would look after Tess, Charlotte and Claire.

"Dave?" Stevie asked "Yeah sure Alex, it was a girl wasn't it? You cant fool me. Who was it? Melissa? Stacey? Tina?" Stevie teased him.

"You leaving?" Regan asked alarmed.

"It's important" he told her. He hadn't wanted to tell her it was Jeremy, he didn't want to get her hopes up incase something went wrong. But she read it in her eyes

"Jeremy" Regan whispered, a statement not a question.

"Jeremy? Dave? Are you into blokes now Alex?" Stevie asked him. He didn't answer, which surpised Stevie as she expected a smart reply from him.

"I'm coming." Regan announced.

"No you need to stay here. Look after Stevie for me." Alex told her firmly. She would only be in the way, and he wasn't so sure anymore that he would trust Rebecca.

"I'm not a child, I don't need looking after." Stevie protested.

"You've been through a lot." He told her

"You never told me what happened? Was it an accident? The rodeo?" Stevie asked.

"Something like that cowgirl. I'll explain everything later I promise." To Regan he said "Rebeca is around if you need anything"

"Rebecca?" Asked Stevie

Alex wondered how it was she remembered him and Regan and Claire but not Rebecca. She can't be that much of an old friend.

"Just a nurse" Regan mumbled as Alex left the room.

"So, where is my brother?" Stevie asked Regan after Alex had gone.