All That You Can't Leave Behind

[Adia]

Thanks for your comments guys! Very appreciated. I will have an update ready by tomorrow...

and yes, with Rocco and perhaps Martha...

Disappointed there was no Nina/Johnny tho. Guess you can’t please all of the people all of the time.

ps Why is Ash called “Chooka”?

1. I have no idea why Ash is called "Chooka" but it was something Jack called him when he first came into the show.

2. I'm glad you like Nina/Johnny. Things are only just starting to heat up with them...

[beckyboo]

I thought you had updated them you

Update soon and yes with Martha and Jack

[Adia]

^Sorry Becky!

This chapter wasn't really planned, but I felt the urge to stay up till the early hours of the morning and write something. I think because this is the only time I can get on the computer... lol. (The computer hog is asleep finally!) So I have no idea if this even really fits in, but oh well... Now I'm rambling so I really must be tired...

ChapterOneHundredThree:

Matilda sat down on the couch and clutched one of the pillows tightly against her chest. She shivered from the loneliness that surrounded her as she sat in the darkly lit caravan park house, before lying down and wishing that everything was just a dream.

Rocco crept down the stairs with his backpack fully loaded. All of his life’s belongings compacted and compressed into the bag like he had done so many times before.

“Rocco?” Matilda said sitting up. “What are you doing?”

“Maddie, I didn’t know you were here…” he said apologetically.

Despair took over as she realised what Rocco was doing with his bags. She jumped up and ran over to the doorway to block him from going out.

“Maddie, please don’t make this harder than it already is…” he pleaded.

“Rocco, what are doing?” she cried. “Where are you going?”

“Matilda I never wanted to hurt you…”

“So don’t leave!” she shouted at him trying to take the bag. “What’s happened? Why are you doing this?”

Rocco sighed and chucked his bags on the ground before leaning back against the wall. “Everywhere I go, people get hurt and I can’t do that to you, or to Sal or anyone here. It’s better if I just go…”

“No, Rocco, whatever it is you’re running from, we can face it together,” she told him. “I love you and I’m always going to be here for you…”

He wiped the tears that were starting to stream out of his eyes. “You love me?” he said in disbelief.

“Yes,” she whispered. “Yes I love you Rocco Cooper. And if you walk out the door you will be breaking my heart, and you already said that you never wanted to hurt me…”

“You don’t get it Maddie. Johnny and…”

“I don’t care about Johnny and neither should you…” She grabbed his hands and held them tightly. “I’m not scared of him, he can’t come between us…”

“You should be scared, you don’t know what he’s capable of,” Rocco warned her. “What Johnny wants, Johnny gets…”

“You can’t keep letting him control you like this…” she said starting to get teary. “Now’s the time you need to stand up for yourself.”

Rocco looked deep into her eyes. The tears that draped the surface of them made them shimmer like the distant stars in the night sky. No one had ever told him that they loved him, and the fact that he could see it in her eyes, suddenly made him a better man.

“You’re right,” he croaked. “I need to just get him and the rest of the gang out of my life…”

“I might go out again this avo,” Johnny said looking out over the water. “The swell doesn’t look great now, but maybe it’ll pick up later…”

The guys all nodded and grunted in agreement like a reflex as they stood gathered aimlessly around the park.

“Johnny I wanna talk to you,” a voice piped up from behind them.

“Oh look everyone it’s Roc. It’s about time you came crawling back little brother…” he sneered.

“I’m serious Johnny.” Rocco said, his voice becoming stronger. “We need to talk NOW.”

Johnny glared at him. “Okay, speak up then.”

“Alone…”

“Say whatever you need to say… nothing the boys can’t handle…”

Rocco grabbed the collar of Johnny’s shirt and pulled his brother close to him. “Even if it’s about you and Nina?” he whispered.

Stunned, Johnny pushed Rocco away. “Over there,” he motioned with his eyes, before shoving Rocco away from the gang.

“What the hell are you on about?” Johnny interrogated.

“There’s a rumour going around…” Rocco started. “There’s something going on between you and Nina.” As he looked at his brother, he couldn’t help but feel scared. Every time he’d tried to stand up to Johnny he’d come out of it with broken bones or bruises.

“Will you keep your voice down,” Johnny said anxiously. “Her brother is just over there.”

“So there is something going on?” Rocco asked.

“I never said that. Who the hell told you…?”

“It doesn’t matter.” Rocco said gaining some courage. “I’m here to tell you to stay the hell away from me… Me, Matilda, Sally, Nina… You stay away from all of us…”

“Are you on something?” Johnny said bemused. “You tripping or what?”

“I mean it Johnny…” he warned. “I have so much dirt on you it’s not funny, and I’d be happy to go to the cops about everything if it got you off my back…”

“I’m your brother you ungrateful little punk, you do that to me, and you’ll regret you ever took a breath in this god forsaken world… We’re blood, you don’t just sell me out…”

“I’m sick of running Johnny, and you can’t threaten me anymore. The people here care about me more than you ever did, and for once you’re not going to take that away from me…”

Johnny put his arm around his little brother. Only Johnny could make a sign of affection hint of violence.

“You run off and play happy families then Roc,” he said threateningly. “See if I care. Soon enough you’ll come crawling back, you always do.”

“Whatever.” Rocco spat. “And, you stop seeing Nina, I’m not going to let you ruin her life as well…” Rocco warned him. "She deserves better than a loser like you..."

“Well I like her and she happens to like me,” he whispered in a menacing tone. “She likes me a lot… and the only reason I haven’t been on your case lately is because I promised her that I wouldn’t. So what does that tell ya? Put it this way, you stay out my love life and I’ll stay out of yours. You come mouthing off to me again, and that girlfriend of yours won’t be too pretty for much longer… you got me?”

He shoved Rocco so hard that the boy fell backwards onto the ground.

Johnny looked at him as he struggled to pull himself together. Rocco looked up at him pleadingly, but tried hard to grit his teeth to stop the tears from coming. In that moment Johnny almost felt sorry for him. After years of both of them yearning to be loved, they finally were, and yet they still couldn’t show it towards each other. Not for anything.

Johnny held out his hand, frowning warningly. As Rocco grabbed it, he pulled him up close to him and hugged him tightly.

“I love her Roc,” he whispered in the boys ear. “You do anything to jeopardise that, and I will kill you…”

[beckyboo]

No JnM

Well it was still a great chapter lol

Update soon with you no what i want in it

[I love music]

That was, seriously, an EXCELLENT chapter. I can understand why you felt you just had to write it even tho it was the early hours of the morning!

I could easily picture the scene where Rocco is planning to leave and Matilda talks him out of it and the dialogue sounded exactly like an actual H&A script.

Rocco looked deep into her eyes. The tears that draped the surface of them made them shimmer like the distant stars in the night sky. No one had ever told him that they loved him, and the fact that he could see it in her eyes, suddenly made him a better man.

That was a really sweet description.

The guys all nodded and grunted in agreement like a reflex as they stood gathered aimlessly around the park.

They do that in H&A a lot, don’t they? I keep wondering if the H&A director is ever going to let any of them speak or if they’re always going to be the strong, silent type so that TPTB don’t have to pay them any more money!

Again, the Rocco/Johnny scene was fantastic with great dialogue. Really enjoyed reading it.

In that moment Johnny almost felt sorry for him. After years of both of them yearning to be loved, they finally were, and yet they still couldn’t show it towards each other.

Fantastic insight!

ps Thanks for your lovely review of SC. I thought the name Janet Frame seemed familiar so I checked it out on Google. I saw the movie “An Angel at my Table” a few years back tho I haven’t read anything else written by her. Flattered!

[Roccoluver]

I love this update.

NO

I really loved this update.

The Rocco and Johnny scene was so... they so cute, excellent writing as usual and I love Rocco and Matilda, Yay Matilda for not letting Rocco leave.

More soon (even if theres no JNM )

[Liska]

Great update!

[sazcaz89]

That update was amazing!!!

Please update soon!

[Adia]

Awww, you guys are sooo nice. Thankies!

ChapterOneHundredFour:

“Oh no, I don’t think we have that on the menu today…” Colleen said afraid to look directly at the girl. “Umm, perhaps you might try another establishment. One that serves criminals and the like…”

Nina rolled her dark eyes and shook her head. “So you’re saying you’re not going to serve me, even though I’m a paying customer?”

“Well I really can’t guarantee that you’ll pay…” the old woman said staring at the lines on her notepad. “The things that I’ve heard…”

“That’s discrimination you know…” the girl said sharply.

“Colleen! Will you just get the girl what she wants!” Irene said standing behind her, hands on her hips. She turned to Nina and flashed her an apology with her eyes. “Sorry love, some people around her are just so absent minded.”

“It’s okay,” Nina said politely. “I’m not really hungry anyway, I might just go…”

“Love it’s fine…” Irene said placing a menu in front of her. “Order anything you like and it’ll be on the house…”

“No really… I think I should just…”

“Darl, it’s no problem at all…”

“Well I knew she wasn’t going to pay…” Colleen muttered walking away.

“Look I’ll just have a chicken salad and a juice, and I insist on paying you for it.” She searched her bag and handed Irene some notes.

“You are an angel,” Irene told her taking the cash. “I’ll get your order straight away…”

As Irene walked away, she yawned and leant her head against the back of the booth, trying to clear her head and focus…

“Stressful day is it?”

She looked up and smiled as Macca slid into the seat opposite her.

“Well at least you’re happy to see me…” she grinned.

“Yeah, the locals here sure know how to hold a grudge,” he told her. “I’m only just getting back on track after the whole Cassie/Ric thing… how are you holding up?”

“Yeah, fine,” she yawned. “Things have become a bit complicated since we got here… and this place is boring as hell. All there is to do is go to the surf club or the beach or the diner. Blah!”

Macca sighed and frowned. “Listen, I might have some news for you,” he said in a hushed tone.

Her face suddenly turned serious and she leant in towards him to try and conceal their conversation.

“Macca, I told you to stay out of it…” she whispered.

“I know,” he nodded, “and I am. But it’s something that’s making the rounds on the grapevine… about you.”

Irene walked over and placed the salad in front of her. “It’s all yours darl,” she said cheerfully.

“Thanks,” Nina smiled. “Well?” she said as Irene walked away.

“Okay, well some of the drivers I work with… you know how a few of them…”

“Buy drugs…”

“Yeah well one of the dealers is looking for you. I heard a couple of guys talking. He’s pretty big. He’s been asking about you all over the show.”

She leant back and crossed her arms, pondering the things that Macca had just told her.

“What’s his name?” she finally asked.

“The guys call him Chopper,” Macca said quietly. “Some of his crew got busted about a month ago and he’s short on cooks. He heard you were pretty good, and at the moment, he can’t meet demand… I mean… if you need the extra cash…”

She smiled, her eyes widening in excitement, itching to hear more.

“All I know is that he hangs out at a place called the Rocket Club in Yabbie Creek.” Macca continued. “He’s always there on Friday nights because that’s when a lot of the drivers go in to get their stuff for the weekend…”

She laughed to herself, rubbing her hands together gleefully.

“What’s so funny?” Macca asked.

“That my friend…” she grinned, “is check... mate…”

Macca smiled and nodded in agreement. “So do I get anything for giving you that info?” he teased.

“We’ll you’re in my good books… that’s something…” Before she could take a bite of her salad, her phone vibrated like mad on the table. She flipped open her phone and read the message.

“Rocco knows about us…”

Martha clutched her stomach as she walked along the beach. She was so angry about not being able to tell Jack her news, but the more she thought about it, the more she realised that she had more time to make her announcement to him even more special. She couldn’t stop thinking about the future... about their baby that was growing inside of her.

She wondered how silly she must’ve looked to the people around her, walking along the beach with a huge grin on her face. It was then she realised that she was alone, there was no one else around. She rubbed her stomach again, before sitting down and breathing in the fresh breeze that drifted in off the sea.

As she sat and contemplated, the wind gently swirled around her, bringing with it a sad and lonely song that rang lightly in her ears. The more she concentrated on it, the more she realised that it wasn’t just the wind. She stood up and tracked the sobs further up the beach and behind some of the scrub that decorated the sand dunes. She was so close that she could almost feel their pain.

When she finally got to them, she saw a bloodied and bruised body curled up in a fetal position, trying to shield themselves from harm.

“Oh my god Rocco,” she gasped trying to comfort him. “What happened?”

[Roccoluver]

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!

My poor Rocco! what happened to him

Is he going to be okay? Thank god Martha was there

Great update, evil cliffhanger