A/N: This is set mid series 4, and is alternate reality, as there is no storm! enjoy! and please review! L x

-x-

Alice yawned quietly as she slipped her feet out from under the duvet and placed them silently against the cool wooden floor. Her loose cotton pyjamas were rolled up to her knees, and the collar on the pale pink t-shirt was turned up against her neck. The buttons along the v-neck collar were all undone, her tanned skin an obvious contrast to the plunging pale pink fabric.

She ran a hand quietly through her long hair, feeling it cling to the clammy skin on the back of her neck and tickle her back as it swayed. She exhaled slowly, fanning herself with her hand. She glanced at the clock before throwing the duvet from herself completely, stifling another yawn in the process.

It was exactly 2:37am, and she was STILL awake.

Not to mention she was absolutely roasting.

Sighing in frustration, Alice pushed herself from her bed, and the old oak pannels creaked under her feet as she did so. She paused, listening intently for any indication that she may have woken someone. All that could be heard was Dup's gentle snoring from next door, and so, satisfied that it was safe to move, Alice crept slowly towards her door.

The cool metalic handle was a pleasant bonus, and after Alice had grasped it and pulled her door open quietly, the skin on her right had felt significantly cooler. Creeping along the hallway towards the kitchen, she rested her right hand against her cheek, feeling it flushed against her now cool fingertips. The cool wooden floor changed to an even colder marble as she reached the kitchen, and Alice let out a content sigh as her overheated body welcomed the cold temperature of the ground. She paused as she placed her hands on the back of one of the dining chairs, her toes curling up against the marble. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end at the dramatic change and contrast in temperatures, and Alice wiped the clammy skin on her forehead.

Although her body being still very warm and her feet now very cold wasn't a particulary enjoyable feeling, Alice remained where she was, glad that at least she was beginning to cool off. After a moment, she crept to the fridge, opening the door and allowing the light to spill out around the room, casting large shadows on the walls. She took a sip of water from a bottle slotted in the door and turned to look back along the hallway, the light from the fridge casting a dull light into her room through the still ajar door. The whole time, she listened intently and her eyes searched quietly as she made sure not to wake any member of the sleeping household. Although her body temperature was now regulating itself and she was considerably cooler, she was now wide awake, and knew going back to bed would be useless and would just frustrate her.

Sighing, she placed the bottle back in the fridge and closed the door, plunging her back into darkness. Taking care while making her way to her bedroom as her eyes adjusted to the dark, she felt her way along the hall and stood just inside her door, reaching around it to the hook on the back and pulled her zip-up hoodie from it. Pulling it on and shoving her feet into her boots, Alice picked up a torch from her chest of drawers and set off back along the corridor.

She was restless, and couldn't shake the feeling that she had far too much on her mind. As she crept slowly through the house - now considerably harder as she was in her boots - she felt her mind wander to...Danny.

In previous weeks, every time she had began to daydream or think about him she had stopped herself, not allowing herself to get too caught up in something she knew would never happen. But these days, it was harder. Her feelings had seemed to intensify and she really struggled to not think about him. She knew she was falling for him and she knew it was fruitless and unrequited - and yet she couldn't stop herself. He was always on her mind, no matter what she was doing, and try as she might, she just couldn't get him out of her head.

After stumbling out of the front door and nearly crashing down the front steps as she was deep in thought, Alice brought herself back to the present, glancing back to the house to see if there were any signs of anyone being awake - and thankfully, there were none. Evan was to be up early in the morning for school - something which he struggled with at the best of times - and Danny had been stressed after Rosie had left for University. Everyone needed and deserved all the sleep they could get.

She set off across the lawn to the animal hospital, now not bothering to keep quiet as her untied boots scuffed along a track that had been walked across more times than she knew. The animal hopsital was silhouted against the moonlight, and as Alice shone her torch against it, it cast massive shaddows across the small dirt road, illuminating it shockingly against the dark night.

In one of the pens, a lion grumbled quietly as Alice approached, and its eyes glinted as the light from the torch caught them. The rest seemed to be asleep.

Seeing the lioness highlighted to Alice how actually being up at this time wasn't a bad thing. The cub Danny and herself had been caring for had been struggling the days before, but was a little fighter, and there had been promising signs that he would pull through after his surgery. Checking on him - and the rest of the animals in the hospital - during the night was never a bad thing. And so, Alice trudged on, mentally going through everything that would be needing checked on inside the hospital. Just as she climbed the stone steps and outstretched her hand towards the handle, she heard a clang from inside. She froze completely, her breathing hitched in her chest as she felt completely silent, and she instinctively turned her torch off.

She heard another clang, and what sounded like the gates to one of the pens inside being closed. Another bang, and the sliding of metal.

Faint footsteps, and then a rustling in a cupboard. Something dropped onto the floor, the sound of plastic softly coliding with the ground.

Alice's eyes travelled down the door. Between the bottom of the door and the concrete floor, the faintest of lights could be made out, a dim glow seeping through the gap.

Someone was inside.

Alice's already active mind went into overdrive.

Were they being robbed?

She stayed absolutely still, unsure what to do.

Should she go wake Danny?

But there might not be time - they could have left by the time she returned with help. She didn't even know who 'they' were. They could be dangerous, they could be after animals and drugs to sell on to make money. There were at least a dozen animals in the animal hospital at that point. Only the lion club was seriously ill, the rest had only minor injuries and illnessess - meaning if the robbers were there for the animals, they would have just found a pot of gold. 11 almost healthy animals, ready in cages to be transported out of there. They would make plenty money out of it.

Alice hadn't moved. Her hand was still outstretched towards the handle, her head beginning to thud as she desperately tried to control and silence her breathing.

If she was going to stop whoever they were, she needed to act now.

Throwing her shoulder against the door as she grasped the handle violently and turned, Alice flew through the door, turing her torch on and furiously shining it around the room. The door clattered open with a bang. She tried to call out something, anything remotely threatening but her voice failed her. She was too terrified. The most noise she made was a small gasp for breath and loud, sharp intake of breath.

And then her torch glinted off their eyes.

They stood crouched over the operating table with different vials of medicine in front of them.

But it certainly wasn't who she thought it had been.

'What the...?'. His voice was completely baffled and his eyes wide.

It was Danny.

They stared at each other for a moment, Danny's eyes becoming much more screwed up against the harsh light of Alice's torch.

Danny broke the silence first. 'Alice! What's wrong?'.

Alice couldn't reply. She couldn't find any words - her mouth just comically dropped open as she stared at him. She dropped her arm to her side and turned off her torch, so the desk lamp in the corner was the only dull light illuminating the room.

And then she laughed.

She closed her eyes and put her hand to her head, facepalming as Danny watched her, completely confused as to what had just happened. Her laughter grew and her shoulders began to shake. She imagined what she must have looked like, flying in in her rolled up jammies, her terrified expression and her torch pointed at him threateningly. It was quite a hilarious thing to imagine, and she found that she just couldn't stop laughing.

The tears were streaming down her face, and she heard Danny join in in her laughter, completely bemused.

'I can't believe - I - just - did - that!' Alice said in between laughter, wiping her eyes and crouching over, leaning on her knees as her hearty laughter continued.

'What an idiot!' she stated, and she met Danny's eyes. 'I thought you were a burglar!' she told him, her laughter dying down but a large smile still on her face.

'A burglar?' Danny asked, smiling. 'Why?' he laughed, confused.

Alice shook her head, holding her cheek in embarrassment. 'Oh god,' she started 'I don't know! The noises at quarter to 3 in the morning, the dull light' - she guestured to the desk lamp - 'the quiet footsteps - it all sounds so stupid now! But I thought you were up in the house asleep. Why are you here?' She laughed, walking closer, and haphazardly tying her hair in a messy bun with one of the bobbles she always had on her wrist.

As she approached the opperating table, she was suddenly very aware that she was standing in her pyjamas. Pyjamas that she had rolled up to her knees and that had a very low neckline. She caught Danny's eyes taking her appearance in and she blushed, crossing her arms and pulling her hoodie tighter around her.

'I couldn't sleep!' he laughed, 'so I came down here. It helps me relax. What are you doing here?'

'Pretty much the same as you, in that case!' Alice answered. 'Couldn't sleep, figured it couldn't hurt to come down here to check up on these guys.' Alice nodded with her head towards the animal pen. 'How's our cub doing?'

'Not bad.' Danny replied with a smile. 'He has good people looking after him I'm sure he will be fine.' he laughed, puffing out his chest sarcastically, his eyes twinkling humourously. Alice felt herself gazing into his eyes but couldn't stop herself, and she blushed slightly and smiled stupidly. She couldn't help it. She loved seeing him when he was happy, the way he was with the animals.

Alice struggled for something to say, very aware that he had been looking into her eyes in return.

'...More medicine for him then?' she asked, pointing to the operating table and the different forms of medication lying out on it.

Danny nodded. 'Yep. It's all sorted.' He flashed a smile at Alice again, and she felt her stomach flip. Surely he knew the affect he had on her? He must have seen it in her eyes a thousand times.

'Well then...I guess I have no work here.' Alice smiled, turning to leave.

'Oh, wait then and I'll walk up with you.' he suggested, and scooped up the medicine into his large hands.

'Eh, yeah okay.' Alice smiled, and moved out of the way. As he walked away from her, she properly took in his appearance. He was in a loose fitting navy t-shirt and grey tracksuit bottoms, which trailed along the floor as he walked in his flip flops. She couldn't help her mind from wandering as he bent down to place some of the medicine into a cupboard, and when he stood again his shirt was crumped at the back, showing off his tanned skin.

Alice bit her lip.

What a run in with the burglar this had turned out to be.

-x-

The next morning, Alice wandered out to the veranda as Nomsa was serving breakfast, smiling as she spotted Dup and Danny both sitting with their morning cups of coffee. Georgina was pottering about helping Nomsa, and Evan wasn't yet up.

'Ahhhh, morning!' Danny smiled, as he pushed a fresh cup of coffee towards Alice as she took her place around the table.

'Morning.' She smiled. She turned to look at Dup, who was watching her. She was surprised at how concentrated and deep in thought he seemed to be as he looked deep into her eyes. She raised her eyebrows at him and laughed. 'Good morning Dup.' she stated simply as she looked back at him. What on earth was his thinking?

His eyes narrowed, and then he smiled. He smiled wider and wider until he was positively beaming at her, looking deep into her eyes. Alice suddenly felt very self concious.

'Morning.' He beamed, before taking a large swig of his coffee. His eyes finally left Alice's, and he stood up, the chair scraping against the floor as it was pushed backwards. He took one last look between Danny and Alice before he wandered off, chuckling to himself.

'What the hell was that all about?' Alice asked, completely confused. She crossed her arms as she watched Dup wander slowly down to the animal hospital. She felt as though he had just seen straight into her soul, and honestly it had slightly unnerved her.

'I don't have a clue.' Danny said, and when Alice turned to look and him he laughed slightly. His eyes twinkled as he did so and suddenly Dup was the last thing on Alice's mind.

Danny laughed again quietly, shaking his head before he took a sip of his coffee.

'So...' Alice started, 'did you sleep well? When you finally did drop off?'

Danny smiled. 'I did actually. Could have easily went back to sleep this morning when my alarm went off though. Was really quite tired. That's why I'm on my second cup of this!' he laughed, as he lifted his mug, showing it to Alice before taking another sip. 'How about you?' he enquired, and he leant forward on the table, the strong muscles on his forearms outlined as they tensed.

Alice had to remember to answer his question.

'I did too. But same, I'm knackered.' She smiled at him. For whatever reason, she seemed to be so much more infatuated with him that normal that particular morning, and she had no idea why. She almost forgot to breathe as he shot her a dazzling smile from across the table.

'Come on then. We've not got much to do today, lets just get it over and done with.' He finished his coffee and stood from the table, stretching as he did so. Alice laughed and groaned quietly, placing her head in her hands and closing her eyes, protesting jokingly.

She heard Danny laugh and his footsteps approach her, so she lifted her head to look at him. He was standing right next to her, with his hand outstretched.

'Come on Miss Collins, let's go!' he smiled.

Alice laughed. 'Okay, okay!' she reached out and her small hand fit perfectly into his, and he playfully pulled her to her feet.

-x-

Dup lingered around the animal hospital most of the morning. Alice caught him watching both herself and Danny from time to time, and she wondered what he was up to. Just before lunch time, she got the chance to ask him.

'Dup?'

He turned when he heard her call him name.

'Come give me a hand a second!'

Dup clambered up through the large open double doors at the front of the hospital and joined Alice at the operating table.

'What is it?' he asked, resting his hands against the cool metal table.

Alice glanced outside and saw Danny was still in the furthest away outside pen with one of the baby elephants. When she looked back at Dup, he had the same knowing smile on his face.

'What did you want me for?' he asked, unable to keep the smile off his face.

'I don't need you for anything. But I wanted to talk to you. Why do you keep smiling at me like you know the world's biggest secret? And you keep watching Danny too - it all started this morning. What are you up to Du Plessis?'

The smile on his face widened ever further.

'That smile right there!' Alice pointed, and quickly glanced outside to locate Danny. He hadn't moved. 'Why do you keep doing that?'

Dup laughed.

'You know,' Dup started, 'you've never been very good at hiding your feelings Alice Collins,' he stated. 'Not to me, anyway.'

'What do you mean?' she asked him, puzzled. As far as she had been aware, she had always been good at keeping her feelings and emotions under control.

'I may not look it, but I've been on this Earth quite a long time.' Dup stated, and Alice snorted. 'I can see things that other people can't. You're quite a complicated character, but I can read you like a book.' he laughed gently.

'Will you stop talking in bloody riddles and tell me what you're on about Dup?' Alice asked, keeping her voice low.

He paused, and the grin on his face was now a gentle, warm smile. 'I've seen the way you look at him.' he told her. He never had to mention any names, but they both knew who he was talking about.

Alice was taken aback, and glanced outside to see Danny closing the door to the pen. Her heart suddenly started racing and she turned back to Dup, knowing it would be pointless to tell him otherwise. He knew his stuff, Anders Du Plessis.

'How can you possibly know?'

'I just do. I told you, I can see things that others don't. And I know what love is.'

Alice spluttered as Danny approached.

'No, Dup. I don't love him. I like him, okay? I don't love him.'

'Yes, you do. You just don't know it yet.'

'...Where did all this come from? Why are you telling me this today?'

'Because there was something different between you two this morning. The way you were looking at each other was different than before. Something has changed, some boundary has been crossed. Something happened last night, didn't it?'

'What? No! Dup No! Nothing happened, I-'

'What are you two gossiping about?' Danny asked, hoisting a bucket into the animal hospital and placing some medicine on the surface by the open double doors.

'I was asking Alice for help on what to get Caroline for her birthday.' Dup lied, seemingly effortlessly.

'Oh!' Danny smiled, wiping his brow. 'I thought...Caroline's birthday was like 6 months away?' Danny asked, suddenly remembering.

Alice's heart beat furiously as Dup hesitated.

'Yeah, well I need to start thinking about it now, you know what I'm like.' Dup said, waving his hands around anxiously.

Danny laughed. 'Okay then!' Was all he replied. 'Oh, Nomsa just called, she's got some lunch ready. Coming?'

'Yeah, sure.' Alice replied with a smile, as Dup nodded. The pair lingered as Danny jumped down onto the grass and began walking to the house.

'We'll continue this conversation later.' Dup smiled, before wandering away, whistling a tune that was almost in time with the birdsong outside.

-x-

The next time Alice managed to catch up with Dup was later that night, just as everyone was heading to bed.

He was sat at the kitchen table with a small dram of whisky in front of him, swirling it around in the glass.

'Night everyone.' Danny yawned, shuffling off towards his room.

'Goodnight!' Alice called, and he flashed her a sleepy smile before disappearing through his door.

'Nothing happened Dup.' Was the first thing Alice whispered to him.

Dup chuckled softly, and indicated for her to follow him.

They wandered out onto the veranda together, leaning against the frame and looking out across the lawn. Dup took a sip of his whisky.

'So did I, or did I not, hear you sneak out of the house last night?' Dup asked, raising his eyebrows with a smirk.

Alice's mouth popped open in surprise. 'You heard me?'

Dup laughed softly. 'Heard you walking out the front door. Sounded like you fell through it actually.'

Alice blushed when she remembered stumbling through the door as she thinking about Danny. 'Okay, yes, I sneaked out. That doesn't mean anything Dup.'

'Maybe not. Well, it wouldn't have if I had heard Danny sneak out about half an hour before you.' Dup answered. He seemed certain he was onto something.

'No Dup, you've got this all wrong. I went down to the animal hospital because I couldn't sleep. I heard someone in there, didn't know who it was and burst in thinking I was about to be confronted by a burglar, and it was Danny. We had a little joke about it, and then that was it. We came back up to the house, and went to bed. Separately!' she added when she saw Dup raise his eyebrows. 'I was sure I heard you snoring when I was heading to the kitchen?' Alice asked, puzzled.

'You might well have done.' Dup smiled. 'I don't remember much between 10 past 2 and about quarter to 3. I think I dozed off. You woke me up with all your stumbling around.' Dup said, waving his hands around and smiling.

Alice was quiet. She was looking out into the night sky, when Dup interrupted her thoughts.

'I meant what I said earlier. About you loving him.' Dup said quietly, before taking another sip of his whisky, draining the glass. He turned to look at her, and Alice remained silent, looking into his eyes.

'Thing is,' he added, 'I think he loves you too.'

Without another word, Dup patted Alice on the shoulder, and shuffled off to his bed, leaving her standing alone on the balcony with Dup's last words spinning around her head at a dizzying speed.