2nd chapter :D

Danny's POV

I looked at Alice, she looked so scared – only I knew why she was so scared of hospitals, she'd trusted me with one of her deepest fears. I wanted to sit her on my knee, hug her, comfort her, tell her it was okay, but driving with a woman on my knee would no doubt end in my arrest. I decided the best thing I could do was sit silently, but I stroked her knee gently. Alice had admitted to me before that this comforted her... I wanted her to know that I was there, that I wasn't going to let anything happen to her.

We pulled into the hospital car park. Alice grew more and more tense, I gripped her hand tightly, reassuringly squeezing it every now and then. She stepped forward apprehensively. Her hand held mine so tightly, it began to hurt, but I didn't mind, I'd take the pain from her, she wasn't doing it purposefully... it was fear, gripping her body.

"Come on Alice, don't worry, I'm here okay, no-ones going to hurt you." I tried to sooth her... she settled slightly but still had a face fixed with fear.

"I know... thanks Danny." She muttered, the words coming slowly. I sighed... poor Alice, it was torture for her to set foot in a hospital... then again, I don't blame her.

I walked up to the desk. The lady behind seemed more interested in her nails.

"Yes?" She asked, barely looking up.

"My fiancée has hurt herself, we need to see a doctor." I said, looking down at the small woman.

"Name?"

"Alice Collins." Alice croaked.

"Take a seat." The receptionist bared us a smile.

I sat down with Alice... she shook slightly, I opened my arm up, and took her in it, I felt her head get heavier against my chest. I put my arm around her, whilst holding her hand in my other hand. I held her protectively – I wanted her to know that I was there no matter what.

--

It had been hours now. I was bored, Alice was bored, trembling with fear. I still held her closely. We'd talked quietly about the wedding. It had lifted Alice's spirits and taken her mind off the hospital, but the minute we stopped talking it all came back.

"I love you Alice." I whispered, as she leaned even more on me.

"I love you too, you're the best." She smiled slightly.

I was about to reply when I heard the calling...

"Alice Collins please?"

Alice and I stood up, I clutched Alice's hand. She shuddered with fright.

"Its okay Alice, I'm here, I'll look after you." I soothed as we walked slowly towards the doctor. He wore a smile, he seemed very polite. I was glad, we seemed to have a nice doctor, it would defiantly settle Alice.

Alice didn't reply verbally but gave my hand a tight squeeze. This was enough for me, I understood.

"Right Alice, I'm Dr Smithson, can you explain to me what the problem is and how you obtained your injury?"

"Hi, Yes, I tripped up, and fell down a small flight of stairs, landed on concrete and hurt my shoulder, arm and particularly my neck." I squeezed Alice's hand, I admired her for her bravery.

"Okay, well we'll X-Ray you, but I think you've got just a general injury, it'll need some pain killing gel. The thing that concerns me most is your neck, but after having a feel it doesn't seem to serious, I think I will refer you to physio. Now, you can have physio in your own home if you prefer?"

Alice nodded, she defiantly did.

"That would be better for us." I said, as Alice got X-Rayed.

"Great stuff! I'll get the physio to ring you Mr Trevanion.

He looked at the X-rays. "I'm right. Now Alice, for 1 week, I don't want you doing any strenuous activites. The physio will give you more information. Bye!"

We both shook his hand and thanked him. Alice breathed a huge sigh of relief.

I waited until we were outside, before giving Alice a huge hug, and kissing her proudly.

"You did brilliant! Well done. I'm so proud of you!" I exclaimed as I held her tight.

"It's all thanks to you Danny... you gave me the confidence to do it!" She replied, returning my hug.

I smiled. "Alice, it was you who did the most, not me... honestly, I know what happened and, if it was me... well... I don't know if I could have done it so courageously"

"I had you." She replied , jumping into the Jeep.

I couldn't help the smile that slowly spread across my face. Alice also had a grin plastered to her face. She was excited to be going home. Despite the fact she'd just faced her fears, Alice still, and would always hate hospitals.

--

Alice's POV

I watched Danny, he was concentrating on the road, both hands firmly on the wheel. We were nearly at Leopards Den now – I was pleased, I wanted to be at home. The hospital had brought back the memories I didn't want bringing back.

When we arrived Leopards Den, everybody came out to greet us. Olivia stood back slightly, as Dupe and Caroline began to make a fuss. I emphasised that I was fine, as Rowan and Vanessa appeared with Fatani and Buhle. Rowan gave me a questioning look, Rowan knew I hated hospitals, he didn't know the full reason why, I suppose I never trusted him enough... Danny was the only person who knew... I trusted Danny – I loved Danny.

"I'm fine, stop fussing!" I laughed, as Charlotte came up to me, giving me a placid hug. Danny took my hand lightly, and led the way up into the main house, I looked back at the animal hospital as everyone went their separate ways.

Danny led me to the study. We were behind on the paperwork... the recent events had put a halt to it all. I knew that Danny would be overly strict on following doctor's orders, I guessed this was my work for the next week.

"Where do I start?" I asked, half down-hearted.

"What do you mean?" Danny asked taking my other hand as well, his emerald eyes looking straight at me.

"Well, you're strict on Doctor's orders so..."

"It doesn't mean you have to do the paperwork Alice, it just means you can't do any operating, or mucking out!" Danny interrupted, giving me a comforting hug. He kissed the top of my head gently, his fingers played with my hair.

"Then why?" I started...

"We have the student vet coming tomorrow, Matt Dillon, we have to fill in some of the forms, and it requires two signatures. Plus I thought I'd do the paperwork..." Danny was very softly spoken – he was still holding me in a close embrace but gentle so that he didn't hurt me.

"Of course!" I suddenly remembered. "But you are not doing the paperwork on your own Mr Trevanion... I remember the last time!!!"

We both laughed as we thought of Danny's last attempt at paperwork. He'd ended up ordering over 100,000 rand worth of antibiotics, and nearly closed the bank account down. I'd been in charge of the accounts since.

"Hmm, might be for the best." Danny agreed, sitting down in the big leather armchair, big enough for both of us to sit on comfortably.

--

(It is later on, Danny and Alice have completed their paperwork, and it's 11pm at night. Everyone is in bed, except for Dupe and Caroline who are watching a film. Danny and Alice are trying to get to sleep.)

Danny's POV

Alice seemed restless. I felt uneasy. Something was bothering her, and I didn't like it. I looked at her, from where I was led, she looked beautiful, she always did. I took her in my arms, she turned round to face me, that's when I noticed the build up of tears in her beautiful blue eyes.

"Alice, what's wrong?" I asked, concerned.

"I can't get it out my head Danny!" She cried, clutching me tightly. "The flashbacks." She continued... before stopping. I held her protectively – I knew what that was like, to have flash backs... and it didn't surprise me that Alice was having them too.

"Every time I close my eyes, I see him, coming at me with that needle, hitting me around the head, forcing me down, jamming the..." She paused, I stroked her hair, it wasn't easy for her, Alice's fear of hospitals was mainly due to an accident as a child, but we rarely talked about it, in fact we never spoke of it. "And then... then I see my mum, led on the bed, dying... and the same doctor there, smiling, as though it pleased him. I know it's different, and the whole place is different but it's the same smell."

I tried to sooth her, I stroked her hair, and whispered quietly into her ear. She seemed to relax as I held her powerfully, I wanted her to know she wasn't alone. People never saw this side to Alice, she confided in me... she told me her deepest fears, and she also told me that I was the only one who knew them.

Alice eventually began to fall asleep in my arms. I was glad, she needed her rest. As she finally drifted off into a deep slumber I moved her so she was lying properly, before putting my arms around her, ready to protect her from anything that might come her way.

"I love you." I whispered quietly, before closing my own eyes, falling into a sleep, that would no doubt be filled of dreams of Alice.