Seeking

Set after the bush fire. Danny's heart is broken, he's lost his wife and he so, he decides to return to England to work out whether he can ever return. The question is, what will happen to Leopards Den? Who will turn up? But the biggest question? Will he still meet Alice Collins, the one woman who can fix him?

Chapter 1 – I can't do it

Danny Trevanion sat on the veranda staring... staring out into the ruins of the bush, all burnt to the ground. The dead decaying trees, all now black like charcoal, the stench of rot and death consuming the air, hanging in it, stagnant.

That's where he'd lost her, his wife, Sarah, his second wife. He looked down, squeezing his eyes close in a desperate and half hearted attempt to stop the flow of tears that were threatening his green eyes. He sighed.

"Look after her Miranda." He whispered into the air, before pushing himself up. He had to tell Dupe.

Dupe, alias Anders DuPlessis, was Danny's best friend and of course business partner. A grumpy, drunken Africana, whose hygiene was not down to win any prizes yet, but all the same the man who Danny trusted.

Danny found him where he'd always find him, in the study; glass of whiskey in hand, bush hat on his head and paperwork he was meant to be signing completely unsigned.

"Dupe we need to talk." Danny started quietly sitting down opposite his friend.

"I'm here." Dupe said, his voice was also quiet, his eyes set on a photo. Danny knew the photo, Caroline and Sarah. He grimaced, Sarah...

"I've made my decision Dupe, I'm going back to England." Danny announced, he watched his friend, but he just remained blank faced. "The kids have gone and I don't know if I can make it through Dupe."

"We'll help you through." Dupe argued referring to himself and Nomsa.

"I know you would, and you will, but I need time away from here." Danny explained. "I need to think, and to do that I need to be somewhere where I can have a clear head."

"I understand." Dupe nodded. "You'll be coming back though?"

Danny remained quiet. In all truth be known, he hadn't even thought about if he would come back. He wasn't sure he could, would. Yes, Leopards Den got underneath your skin, but so did losing your wife in a bush fire. He couldn't be somewhere where he would be reminded of that fact every five minutes.

"Danny?" Dupe squeaked.

"I... I don't know." Danny finally whispered.

Dupe remained silent, lulling over the thought of never seeing Danny again. His best friend was leaving, possibly for good. Dupe fought back tears, he wasn't best known for his sensitivity, but he loved Danny as his son, he wanted him to be happy.

"I'll help sort out here first, get a vet here, get paperwork sorted, banks." Danny offered, Dupe just nodded his silent spell increasing. "I'm sorry Dupe."

"No, I understand." Dupe croaked. "But it doesn't make it any easier."

With that sentence Dupe walked away leaving Danny to think about his sentence.

"I can't do it." Danny whispered into thin air. "I can't stay."

Danny quickly retrieved his normal voice as he slowly reached for his veterinary magazine, Sarah always brought him this, but she'd never bring it him again.

He flicked through the pages until he found the State Vet. He sighed, worth a try.

"Hello, State Vet." A voice answered on the other end of the line.

"Hi, It's Danny Trevanion. I need a long term vet to fill in at Leopards Den. You couldn't give me any ideas on someone good?" Danny said into the phone.

"Oh Danny, we heard and we are so sorry. Just let me have a look." The secretary said as she scrolled down. "Got a couple, but one's completely opposite end of Africa."

"Give us the other one then... where they?" Danny asked.

"100 miles away. Good vet though, but she has a daughter."

"It's no problem." Danny announced.

"Okay well, I'll fax it through." The secretary smiled.

"Thanks." Danny mumbled before putting the phone down, he wandered over to the clamped out old fax machine, the one Sarah had used so many times. He groaned, this was why he couldn't stay here! Every little thing reminded him of Sarah!

He pulled the paper off and began to read the details.

He looked at the name, Alice Collins, MRCVS, CertCHP.

Danny slowly punched the numbers into the clattered and well knocked about Leopards Den telephone.

"Hello, Alice Collins?" The voice answered.

So she was Scottish...

A/N – A bit of a short start, please let me know what you think :) x