Okay - this is episode 7 but you might find parts of it are different or added.

Alice's POV

It's been exactly one week to the very day that… God, I can't even bring myself to say it anymore. It just hurts too much. It had been hard telling Charlotte, she was of course upset, but she was strong, and her kind hearted ways led her to worrying more about me and than herself. She was such a sweet kid… but I'd taken away her home and her only real dad. I was selfish, Rowan had been right, I do always run from my problems, but that's all I've ever known, but then again, I've never met anyone quite so amazing as Danny is.

As I brush my hair back into it's usual ponytail I hear a gentle knock at the door, a hint of elegance in the knock, most obviously Vanessa.

"Alice?" She asked as she opened the door.

"Hey." I said pushing a fake smile to my lips, it was evidently unconvincing but she carried on regardless.

"I think you need to come and see to one of the animals, he's got barbed wire round his foot."

"Okay" I reply, grabbing my vet bag and Jeep keys. I sigh, it's not that great working on my own anymore. I don't like it anymore. I miss Danny.

As we drive over the bumpy terrain, Vanessa tries to keep the conversation lively, but my lack of interest in the world at the minute begins to show, as my simple one word answers bore her. Eventually we sit in silence, only communicating for the essential directions. My mind was consumed with thoughts of Danny. I felt so guilty, so stupid… so… heartbroken.

I soon sorted the animal out, he was the least of my worries right now, and began the drive back to L… no… the drive back to Mara. Tears sting my eyes but I refuse to let them fall, suddenly Vanessa breaks the silence.

"How've you been?" She asks me, I realise she's asking about Danny. God, what kind of question is that? I'm heartbroken, I can't function without him, I miss him, I'm… nothing without him. I can't tell Vanessa this, I fob her off with some stuff about animals, but of course she see's right through me, and says she meant about Danny. I sigh, keeping my eyes firmly fixed upon the road.

"You just get by don't you?" I said sadly… yeh, you just get by if you can get by. The truth was I couldn't get by… and I was struggling to come to terms with the fact, I would probably never feel his beautiful lips upon my own again.

Danny's POV

Yet another hang over, yet another 400 rand down the drain. Poker and drinking - it's become my lifestyle since Alice left. She kept me together, she kept me strong, without her I'm broken - but she's not coming back, and it is all my fault.

I know I'm not helping anyone, least of all myself, but at least when I'm drunk I can't remember anything, well not when I've passed out anyway.

Liv came over and sat beside me, I think I'm scaring her. It's just a vicious circle of guilt! I hate it! Why do I have to be some damn stupid.

Nomsa isn't happy either. She tells us the place is falling apart, and it's true. But how can I get over this heart break? As Liv wanders off, well I say wander, more like stomps off in a mood to feed the elephants, Dupe awakes, as he asks me about last night all I can do is raise my eyebrows. I can't actually remember that much… it seems all this drinking isn't working… Alice is still in my mind, and Alice is still in my heart. I love her so much, but well… it's pretty much unrequited love now. I slowly drag myself up, to see the elephants annoying Liv, they throw her to the floor, stealing the bucket. I don't know why, but it sort of amused me. Well yes, I do know why, but it upsets me to much to think about it.

"They were never like that with Alice." Liv moans, I cringe… Alice, she was the memory. I feel my heart plummet, Liv's innocent sentence is like a thousand daggers piercing my skin, ripping through my heart, tearing it apart, allowing the emotions inside me to spill out.

"Well she's not here anymore is she?" I say in a sour manner, although I tried to stay strong, I could hear the emotion was thick in my voice, it sounded like a frog croaking. I caught Liv's eye, it had a look of hurt, guilt, sorrow and fear, before I could say a word she walked off leaving me alone with the elephants, as I got on with Alice's job.

Alice's POV

On our way back, Rowan had radioed us, apparently the leopard owned by Mr Cox was ill. He said it was urgent, but I was so far out in the bush I knew I wouldn't get back. I sighed, there's only one other vet who could get there… Danny. I told him to give Danny a call, Rowan's voice had sounded unsure but he'd assured me he would and therefore I left it that.

Vanessa seemed to be watching me all the way back, every now and then I felt tears cloud my eyes, I blamed the dust rising up from the dusty sand tracks, but she knew better. I was just worried about seeing Danny. How awkward was this going to be? I loved him yes, I wanted to see those gorgeous green eyes once more, but I'd also been an idiot, a bitch and a downright cow. I wanted to be back in his arms, but the likelihood we would even want to be near me is virtually none. Who would want me? I'm not pretty or intelligent, I'm just plain, boring Alice.

As I walked into the surgery, my heart skipped a beat as I set my eyes upon Danny, god I still fancied him something rotten. I had a horrible feeling of sickness, one that refused to budge, unsure of what to say I come out with the first thing that pops into my mind.

"Danny." I squeak, I punch myself internally, I sounded so stupid.

"Alice." He replied quietly. Oh god, he hates me. As he informs me about the leopard I can't help but stare at him… cautiously I ask if he needs my help but he refuses. I feel my heart plummet as I take a step back. Danny evidently wants nothing to do with me, he probably wonders what the hell he ever saw in me.

As he turns round he walks straight into the glistening silver tray, I grimace slightly. He was so distracted, he was hungover, I'd know after all. He turns round clearly embarrassed. I'm automatically worried for him by this point, it's just natural. No Alice, it's not. It was but now it's not your place to care. But why shouldn't you care if you love him. I close my eyes, trying to blink the internal argument inside me away.

Danny's POV

I was waiting for the drugs to work… I'd just walked into the tray like the idiot I was. God, it was so hard being in the same room as Alice. I felt so uneasy, I loved her so damn much. But of course, she didn't love me anymore did she. I tried to make idle talk but it just failed, coming out as timid awkwardness. I sighed, why, I asked myself, just why?

Suddenly the monitor began to bleep. Confusion filled my mind, without realising it both Alice and I got to walk. It was automatic. I forgot all about the heartbreak I was feeling, it was like how it used to be, as we worked together in perfect harmony. Alice listening to me, and me listening to Alice. Both assisting each other with no verbal communication. It felt so right.

The leopard was going further and further downhill, he was dying, Alice started CPR as we frantically tried to save the Leopard. Alice gave up first, she always did have better judgement than me. I continued though, I couldn't let him die. He couldn't die, there was nothing so seriously wrong with him! Plus if he died, what implications would it cause for Alice. Then it hit me, Alice and I didn't work together anymore did we? We weren't together. She didn't love me.

I continued despite Alice's attempts to stop me, I could hear Rowan shouting, no screaming at us, but it was all a blur as my mind focused on the leopard. All of a sudden I felt Alice's smooth small hand upon my own. The old familiar feelings set in, the feeling of safeness, security, love and admiration.

Alice stood behind me as I leant on her shiny, clean cabinets, she spoke to me in her usual caring voice, the beauty of her Scottish accent melting my mind and my heart. All I wanted was her back, back in my arms.

Alice's POV

Danny had killed the leopard it seemed. I couldn't quite believe it. It all seemed so fine. As we worked together I'd forgotten we were… separated. I dwell on the word for a moment before waking back up. Mr Cox flies in evidently distressed, asking if his leopard is okay.

Danny took a deep breath, my natural worry and concern for him grew once more. Mr Cox just was not forgiving at all, Danny excused himself. I didn't know what to do. I loved him so much, I wanted to run after him but Cox was all mouth, and I had to hear him out it seemed.

"Now are you ringing the vet institute or am I?" The words rang through the air. Rowan's face turned white, I frowned why was he so bothered? I felt my own heart break further for Danny, I felt tears nipping at my eyes, and so I ran after Danny. He must have heard Tom Cox, he's not even got out the hospital.

"Danny!" I called running down the stairs to where he was walking round to the driver's side of his Jeep. "We don't know for a fact it was your fault!" I yelled, trying to comfort him with whatever cheap line I could find.

"Alice, I'm hungover, probably still have alcohol in my system." Danny spits out his words, I can sense how terrible he's feeling, and how heart broken he is. He knows the consequences just as I do, he always knows the likelihood of there being an alternative explanation is very slim.

"Are you okay?" I ask, through genuine concern and affection for him. I tried to prolong the time I had with him. I wanted to talk to him, I wanted to… to tell him I'm sorry, to tell him I love him, to tell him I want to try again.

"I'm not your problem anymore." He growls spitefully. I feel my heart grow heavy, I shudder with nerves, I feel like I'm a diver about to dive off a 60ft board.

"Whatever happened between us recently…" I start but Danny cuts me off as he drives away.

"We were a mistake." Danny snarled. I felt my heart plummet, it had just jumped off the board, and the diver had hit his head on the way down. His words tore me apart, my heart split in two leaving an emptiness. My worst fears confirmed… Danny did not love me.

I stood alone outside for another ten minutes, I couldn't go in, not when I was crying like this. I hated crying, and I hated people seeing me cry even more. Danny was the only person who saw me cry, no one else. When I had finally pulled myself together I walked back into the clinic. Rowan took one look at me and walked over to hug me but I turned away, under the pretence that I was fine. Vanessa took his hand as they walked away, still trying to coax Tom Cox away from the vet institute. I sighed. I felt so guilty, I'd broken Danny's heart with my stupidity and selfishness, and now he was getting it broken further, he was going to lose him job… and it was all my fault. If it wasn't for me, he wouldn't have been drunk, or distracted.

It wasn't long after Maggie Martinez arrived. She was going to be investigating him. She knew him quite well, he'd told me a while back about how they knew each other but right now I found it irrelevant. She commented on how he was a good vet, I felt an ultimate pride when someone said that about Danny. I was proud of him, even now, despite the fact we're not together. She began to explain what would happen, well she tried to, Cox kept constantly interrupting. His remarks about Danny annoying me, as he called him every name under the sun, I struggled to keep my temper under control. He didn't even know Danny! Danny was an amazing vet! He was amazing full stop.

Vanessa being Vanessa agreed we'd co-operate however we can. Pfft. Yeh right, I thought in my mind. I'll co-operate to save Danny not that arrogant man who kept moaning every 5 minutes. Maggie explained how Danny would be suspended and how if he was found guilty of negligence, he may be struck off. I looked down, it would kill Danny to be struck off - he'd break in two.

Liv's POV

Danny was doing nothing but sitting in his room all day or drinking himself so drunk that he'd pass out. It has been like a ritual since Alice left.

Alice. I feel guilty now. A part of me feels this is all my fault, a part of me knows that I contributed to this. I didn't need to be so vulgar to Alice, or so rude to her. It caused strain, I can see it now I look back. My remarks must have hurt Alice, but then she always put on a brave face and bore the brunt of it. I suppose it was just hard, to see Danny love someone other than my mum… especially when it seemed he loved her more he'd loved mum. It's only now she's gone, I can see just how much he needs her, just how much he loves her. Without Alice, he's… he's nothing.

I see him storming up to the house, he heads as usual straight into his room, slamming the door shut. He hasn't changed the room… there's still Alice's mascara on the side, and there's still the pictures of Danny and Alice all over the room. I don't think he can bring himself to move anything, he won't even make the bed, he's left it just how Alice left it. The only thing that moves is her pillow. I think he sleeps with it but I'm not sure. Danny's not Danny anymore. He's a broken man. His voice is monotone. His eyes have lost that glint. His face is unshaven, his clothes are just piled all over the room. He has no interest in life. And now he's not even got the animals. I kick myself, I feel so guilty. Why did I have to be so cruel, why did I hurt Alice? Why did I get her so stressed, causing Danny stress? Why did my big mouth lead them to heart break? Because I'm a fool.

I knock timidly on Danny's door, I want to talk to him, apologize to him… but he's just pushing everyone who tries away. I ask him if he's okay, if he needs anything. My fingers touch the door handle but I pull away, I can't invade his privacy, what if he's crying or something? I sigh and walk away. I'm so worried for him.

Danny's not getting through it… there's only one person who can make him get through it, and only one person who can mend him…Alice.

Alice's POV

As we walked outside with Cox and Maggie, I could hear the gentle rumbling of Dupe's jeep. I sigh, of course. Dupe would of course come to save Danny. The thing was this time he couldn't, could he?

He announced he was here to sort the Danny mess out. I sighed, he was so stubborn!

It seemed Cox and Dupe went back a long way. Both men were bitter, brutal to each other. Dupe branded him Foxy Coxy, as Cox asked him what it had to do with him. Rowan being Rowan, explained Dupe was his business partner, adding fuel to the fire raging inside Cox, his engine speed increasing, the power of his blows getting stronger.

"So Trevanion's a fool as well as a lousy vet." He spurted out. I bit my tongue as my mouth opened to protect Danny. Danny was the best. I hated this Tom Cox, but it seemed my hatred was just not on the level of DuPlessis'

I had to usher him away as he began to go on about Tom to Maggie. As we walked around the back, Dupe began to explain about his involvement with Cox. Apparently he stole his girlfriend. I rolled my eyes. This had nothing to do with Dupe, this was about Danny!

Dupe said it was the principal… I just sighed, Dupe for all his idiotic ways could be right sometimes, and if it could save Danny, then I'd give it a go.

Dupe then hinted at the whole me and Danny situation.

"What men say and what men mean are two very different things." He stated. I looked down, avoiding Dupe's eyes.

"I've tried talking to him okay but me and Danny we're over." I admitted, finally managing to face the truth, I'd have to get used to it. The words ripped me apart, they broke me. I walked away quickly as I felt the tears begin to gather, my throat constrict tighter than Fatani's pocket.

I stopped as Dupe began to speak about Danny. I was intrigued to what he had to say.

"This is Danny we're talking about." He began as he walked to meet me. "He's not himself, he needs you right now."

I tilted my head at Dupe. Danny didn't need me at all. I just made things worse.

"What I mean is you complete Danny, you make him whole, without you he is nothing and without you he is lost."

The words meant so much to me, but they weren't true. I didn't make Danny whole, I tore him apart. Without me Danny wouldn't be in this position and Danny is certainly more lost with me.

"And without me, he wouldn't of killed a leopard. I'm just as responsible for that Leopards death as Danny is." I mumbled allowing my guilt to override my usual harsh shell.

I watched him walk off, he was apparently going to prove our innocence. I took a deep breath. I was going to try too, even if it was in vain, water samples, droppings anything that could indicate an alternative solution. I might not be Danny's girlfriend any more, but it doesn't mean I don't love him.

Danny's POV

I stood on the veranda, looking over Leopards Den, Jana at my feet. She didn't seem quite right, but at the moment she was the least of my worries. I'd pushed Alice away, I was suspended, how much worse can it get.

Liv walked over to me, asking how Jana was. I gave her the honest answer, before realising she was full of muck. She grinned at me.

"Someone had to clean the elephant pen out." She smiled at me comfortingly, but I felt guilt.

"I forgot." I mumbled. She smiled saying I'd been busy but I still felt the need to apologize.

Her voice became small, and frightened. She asked me what the worse could happen was. I looked down before taking a deep breath, looking at the floor. I told her how I could be suspended, banned, for 2 years or for good. My heart fell. I was losing everything.

"It's just a job." I said quickly, not allowing Liv to see me break down. But it wasn't, it was a passion, a life style. It was how I'd met Alice. Alice… she'd know what to do… but I've pushed her away again, now she'll defiantly not want to come back.

I decided to go the bar. Why not go and get drunk. Then I wouldn't remember it all, til tomorrow anyway.

Vanessa's POV

I could tell neither Danny or Alice were doing well. Alice was constantly busying herself, or hiding away, she was constantly wiping her eyes as well, and when she finished work, she'd lock herself in her room and stay there, only really talking to Charlotte. She was putting on a brave face, but I could see right through it. Danny and Alice belonged together.

I walked into the clinic to see Alice. She had her head down in work. She looked so lost. I asked her whether Danny could mess up. She could barely answer me, her voice became hoarse as she said it was possible. I gave her shoulder a pat before walking outside, Rowan was calling me. Alice walked off in the opposite direction, going out the back way to see something or other.

Alice's POV

Why did every conversation head towards Danny? As if it wasn't bad enough that I kept having random spurts of tears, everyone kept bringing him up. Vanessa the latest culprit, but then again, she's had practise in doing that hasn't she? Okay, maybe that's a bit harsh, but my mind is so plagued with fear, hurt and loneliness, I can't help but feel resentment. I walked up and saw Liv in the leopards pen. I sighed, this had to be Dupe. I made an idle statement, Liv of course took it the wrong way, thankfully Dupe's loud mouth distracted the pair of us.

She handed Dupe the faeces as she stormed off after I'd announced I'd already checked it. I'd checked everything with no joy. I needed to be sure, I wanted Danny off the hook too. I knew how this would affect him. God, it was affecting me enough!

Dupe suddenly went off to Fatani's apparently he had news on Cox for him. He left Liv, who gave me a dagger look of death. I sighed, offering her a lift home. I gathered it was the least I could do, besides, maybe I could talk to Danny?

As I drove up, I felt sick. Seeing that sign. It was just so wrong. Where was Danny?

As I asked these questions out loud, Liv turned to me, her vindictive words cutting through me.

"What do you care? You're a mara now." She spat the words at me, like I was dirt on her shoe. That's probably what everyone thought of me. That's probably what Danny thinks. I threw myself back in the seat of the Jeep. I had nothing left to do at Mara, maybe I should just go the bar… drink the problems away. At least when I'm passed out I won't remember them.

This chapters really long and that's only half of e7! But I thought I didn't want to blag to much, so here it is for now J xx