Chapter 3 – Try

Danny placed the phone back down, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. He'd finally broken a barrier, he'd smiled. Yes, it sounds a natural thing, something easy to do, but for Danny it wasn't... he'd lost Sarah, he'd had no reason to smile until that phone call. How could he not smile? Her attitude, her accent in particular and the fact Leopards Den was going to be left in good hands. That's when his thoughts returned to their melancholy state.

Sarah had held Leopards Den in good hands; she'd looked after it, promoted it, ran it. She knew what made it work and what it made it feel. All he did was look after animals... it was Sarah who made it perfect, now she was gone...

That smile had disappeared; it was now replaced by the weepy eyes, downcast look and lifeless eyes. The once green diamonds that had shone like emeralds now bottomless grey pits, only a hint of his natural eye colour still remained.

With one deep breath, Danny stood up; he had to tell Rosie and Max. They knew he was going, of course they did, but they had more pressing matters to worry about, their wedding, and university, what the hell they were going to do. It didn't take him long to find them... although half of him did wish he'd gone to speak to Dupe first.

They were stood... making out far to passionately for any father to ever see near the back of the house. Danny rolled his eyes before feeling a wave of self pity. He'd never do that with Sarah again. He'd never feel her lips again. He sighed and as he watched them pull away finally made his move forward.

"Rosie." Danny called pretending to the oblivious and loved up pair he had not just seen that embrace. He smiled as she and Max turned to face him. "I've got us a new vet."

"That's great dad." Rosie admitted; a hint of sadness in her voice. She didn't want to leave this place, no way did she want to do that, but she didn't want her dad to either.

"Yeh, she's called Alice, has a daughter too." Danny enthused.

"Cool, so when's she getting here?" Max asked, his arm causally placed around Rosie's shoulder.

"Two days... oh and Rosie..." Danny looked down.

"Yes dad?" Rosie replied, she knew he was going to tell her, tell her when he was going.

"Tickets are booked for three days times." Danny spoke so quietly they strained to hear him.

Rosie just nodded before excusing herself. Max patted Danny's shoulder before running off after Rosie.

Danny sighed and kicked the dust angrily before settling down on the steps. He knew he was upsetting Rosie, and it wasn't intentional. But he just could not stay. No way, I mean what was keeping him here? Nothing, that was it, nothing. N-O-T-H-I-N-G.

"Sup man? You shouldn't be here sulking."

Danny turned round and saw Dupe settle beside him, two beers in his hand. He handed one to Danny who took a large mouthful before sighing.

"Tickets booked, vet sorted. I go in three days Dupe." Danny announced.

"Why can't you stay?" Dupe asked, he knew that staying was best for Danny.

"Because nothing holds me here, there's nothing for me... not now, not yet. I need time Dupe!"

"No you need to stay, you've just convinced yourself there's nothing." Dupe argued staring into Danny's eyes.

"You can't make me! You don't understand!" Danny shouted back, his hurt talking rather than his sense.

"What about your daughter? What about the animal hospital?" Dupe countered.

"VET SORTED!" Danny shouted, his voice softened slightly after the outburst, "And Rosie, she has Max, someone who loves and cares for her. I have no one Dupe... not now."

"You have us." Dupe replied softly.

"Yeh but I doubt you're going to kiss me, lie next to me, share those personal jokes, hug until you fall asleep, hold my hand, raise me when I fall... you're my friends... and I need my wife." Danny's voice had reduced to nothing more than a whisper as a lone tear slid down his cheek.

Dupe said nothing but walked off.

"You could just try you know." Dupe said turning round before he was out of sight. "Try and stay."

Danny shook his head as Dupe walked off. Yeh, he'd never lost his wife in a damn bush fire! It wasn't his fault was it? Try? Try? How could anyone have the nerve to ask him to try? Try and stay in the place he killed his wife?

There was no chance... he was leaving and that was that, and no one was going to stop him!

A/N – I know depressing chapter but it's a depressing day!