Danny's POV

"Danny come in, Danny come in!!" I heard the voice of Rowan from my radio. He sounded scared and urgent.

"Rowan, Rowan, what is it, please tell me your okay, please tell me Alice is okay." I panted down the radio.

There was an awkward silence.

"Rowan!"

"Danny, you need to get here and quick. The zebra attacked Alice, she's breathing but she's totally blacked out."

I dropped everything, and ran straight towards my Jeep, I yelled at Dupe to get a move on. If Alice was in trouble, I needed someone to be there with me, even if they wouldn't help at all.

Dupe in confusion jumped in my Jeep next to me.

"What is it man?" moaned Dupe.

"Alice." I choked, as my eyes filled with water. I was scared, I couldn't lost her, not Alice.

Dupe and I were silent all the way there. When we arrived, I jumped straight out the Jeep, and sprinted to where Alice was. She looked a complete mess, blood dripped from her back and head.

I knelt by her head and rested it in my lap. I looked at her... it broke my heart to see her led there, not moving. I was scared. It was simple; I was scared and didn't know what to do. I needed to think, think what to do.

"Alice... please wake up. I'm scared, but I'm here. You... you have to." I begged as I thought what to do.

Rowan and Vanessa stood silent, they were close together, and Rowan's arm was snaked around Vanessa's waist. I sighed, only this morning I was doing that with Alice, only an hour ago I had been chasing her around a field, feeling her lips upon my own, in a magical and mystical embrace.

Suddenly, I came to my senses, I couldn't survive without Alice, it was up to me to save her. I sprung into action, checking her over, talking to her all the time. I felt the back of her head, she had a huge gash where she'd landed on a stone, but apart from that her head was fine. I realised she needed stitches, but for now, I stopped the bleeding, and covered it up. I ran my hand down her neck, she'd be in pain later with that but she wasn't under direct threat.

It was when I came to her ribs that everything felt strange. I must have looked rather strange to Rowan as he stared at me sinically as I ran my hand around her chest. I sighed, it wasn't as if I'd never been there before... but none the less I carried on. That's when I felt it... a bone... sticking out. This could either be simple or serious. Whether it was or it wasn't, it needed operating on. I looked straight at Dupe who had his gun ready to shoot, he had a worried look upon his face as he concentrated on keeping us safe.

"Dupe, get me my box please." As he ran to get it, I looked straight at Vanessa. "How long until the doctor arrives?"

"He said he'd be over an hour, he's stuck in Jo'burg." She timidly replied.

"She need's operating on, she won't last an hour. I... I... I'm going to have to." I stopped mid-sentence, I'm a vet not a doctor. What if... what if... what if I failed?

"Are you crazy? You could make it worse! She's my sister..." Rowan screamed... he seemed to trail off, as though he wanted to say something else.

"Yes, I am, crazy about your sister. She's the one I love Rowan. I'm not gonna lose her. True I could make it worse, but..." I couldn't say it. "But, there's worse things that could happen okay? Thanks Dupe"

As I set everything up, I knew this was risky. But I had to concentrate, as I cleaned the area, and swabbed the area I was going to work, I got my scalpel out. I stared at... before looking at Alice. I was going to do this, I was going to save her.

"I love you Alice, if this doesn't work I'm sorry... I love you." I said kissing her gently on her forehead.

I cut into her skin, I cringed slightly but carried on. I put my gloved hand in, and felt the bone. I followed the broken bone straight down to the point. It was a simple procedure, it hadn't gone into any of the organs. I whispered thank god as I replaced the bone. Alice was going to be okay.

"Sorted." I smiled, as I pulled my hand out. I stared at my red hands, they were covered in blood Alice's blood. A single tear fell from my eye... I'd done it. Alice would be fine now as long as I finished my procedure.

I quickly stitched her wounds and cleaned her up. I ran to the first aid box and grabbed an oxygen mask. Alice had been the stubborn one who had forced me to include the oxygen... if I hadn't... it wasn't worth thinking about.

As I sat back, resting Alice's head yet again in my lap, I thanked everyone for their help. I looked at Alice... she lay peacefully in my lap. I just hoped she would wake up soon.

"That was pretty amazing Trevanion" Du Plessis said as he gently looked at me.

"I have to say... Listen, I'm sorry I doubted you Danny. You've saved her life. I can't thank you enough. It's my fault anyway." Rowan interrupted.

"Thanks guys, Rowan, it's not your fault, it's no one's this stuff, it happens. Now let's just stay here, on guard for the zebra herd returning. When the doctor comes he'll know more."

They all nodded, it was silent now. I looked over at the horizon. I could see Leopard's Den, Alice's giraffe, the lions, and the animal hospital. It all seemed picture perfect. It would be perfect, if Alice wasn't lying unconscious.

I looked at her, I loved her, more than anything. She had to get better, she had to wake up. She would.

"Come on Alice, you can't get off work forever you know!" I whispered into her ear. It was a desperate attempt, using Alice's feistiness might work.

I looked at her, okay so feistiness hadn't worked, but what if I finished it with some soppy doppy stuff?

"Come on, You Scottish beaut! Wakey wakey, I love you Alice. Please, I love you." I looked into her eyes. That's when I thought I saw her twitch.

"Alice?!" I said, looking at her.

Her eyes began to move, A huge smile broke across my face. She was waking up! She slowly opened her eyes. Their blue twinkle looked straight at me, tears filled my eyes.

"Danny? What... where... the zebra?" she mumbled as she tried to sit up. As she sat up she clinched her chest. "Ouch... what?"

She looked at her chest before looking around. My eyes were upon her's... "You, you saved me." She whispered hoarsely as she collapsed into my chest. I felt my shirt gradually get wetter as she cried.

"Alice, The zebra's going to Leopard's Den, I'll deal with her later. Yes, I didn't... I was scared Alice, I was really scared, but I was here." I choked through my tears.

She looked straight at me, she winced in pain but didn't break her gaze. "I love you Danny... thank you... thank you."

I kissed her gently, before wrapping my arms around her, I held her close to me as her head rested against my chest, I soothed her and whispered gently into her ear.

"I love you."

As I said those final words, I heard a car approaching swiftly, it had a green light flashing, the doctor. As he arrived, Vanessa and Rowan waved and pointed, before leaving. They seemed distant, scared, worried, happy and proud all in one feeling.

The doctor jumped out his car, and came to Alice's side. When he asked about the injuries, I explained what I had done. He stared at me, I didn't know if it was anger or bewilderment. But I was soon to find out.

"It was bloody stupid that, but you saved her life. And to be honest, I can't believe you managed it. This stitching is perfect. Well done. Now, I would like to do a mobile scan here and now. Then I order that you rest for the rest of today, and sleep until you wake up tomorrow. No strenuous work, and your arm must be kept in a sling until I am satisfied that rib is fixed up. I'll come back every week for scans and progress check up's. Here's a sheet, take it, and if anything on that sheet happens, you ring me, and I come straight away." The doctor grinned... "I won't confine you to your bed tomorrow, but no running, playing games, just relax. A hot bath may be what the doctor orders." He winked at us, and after many thanks and handshakes. He walked away.

"Well, seems like you're the regular hero these days." Alice teased as I carried her to the Jeep. Dupe got the zebra into a trailer that had been brought down, before sitting in the drivers seat of The jeep. I kept Alice close to me, all the way back.

"You scared me you know." Dupe started. "I thought we were gonna lose you." He looked at Alice before patting her knee gently. He seemed quiet, thoughtful almost.

"Honestly, you boys! You're such worriers. I'll be fine, you heard the doctor!!! But on a more serious note, thank you. Without you, well, I would have died."

" I wouldn't of let you" I cut in. "And you know why Alice?" I asked as she shook her head. "Because I love you, and without you, my life isn't worth living. Without you, I have nothing, with you, the world is mine and yours. I will never let you down. No matter how scared I am, no matter how scared you are, I will be here... Don't forget that."

Alice began to cry once again but through it all were tears. I leant down and kissed her, before pulling her even closer to me.

"That's the nicest thing I've ever been told. I love you too Danny, and I'm here for you too. I won't ever leave you... "

I stopped her mid sentence with a passionate kiss. As we arrived at Leopard's Den, everyone was out in force. Stood in a line all but Charlotte, who was at school, unaware of the going's on.

I smiled, I'd saved Alice, she was going to be okay, now all I had to do was nurse her back to health. As I lifted Alice out of the car and to our room, everyone patted my shoulder. I smiled, but carried on.

Alice draped her arms round my neck and kissed me as I eased my way through the door. I set her down on the bed.

"Rest!" I grinned excitedly as she sat up.

"But... but it's boring." She moaned, as I stood up.

"Well, if you're good, and stay in bed. I might just come and nurse you better, stay with you, and be your slave, do anything you want." Seeing her mischievous smile I added "Within reason."

She laughed as she slid under the covers, outside, I had animals to treat and feed, and a whole family to deal with... but what scared me the most, was Charlotte – she hadn't a clue what was happening. But it would be fine, she'd understand. And so, I set off, and as quickly as I could, I would do all my chores, spill the gossip, and then spend the time with the woman I love.