A week later Alice was in the surgery pouring out another bucket of water. She was scrubbing the walls using an extendable squeegee. It had been extremely slow going. All of the surgery needed to be completely sterilised so she had started with the floor which had taken a few days then the pens which had taken a few days and now she was doing the walls. She and Danny avoided each other. Rosie meanwhile refused to even look at her she seemed to be warming to Charlotte though. The older Charlotte got the more she was reminded her of the Rosie she knew. She wished she knew the adult Rosie, then she would know how to go about at least trying to mend bridges.

She poured a liberal amount of antiseptic in the bucket then began to fill it with hot water.

There was a loud pop and the light bulb blew - again.

"Not again, this is well rubbish!" she grabbed a towel and wiped her hands quickly and grabbed a bulb. Placed the step ladders underneath the bulb and removed it as she reached up and placed the new bulb in the holder she yanked her hand away as a electric shock went up her arm.

"Ow!" she hissed. Must be an electrical surge. Best tell Danny. She succeeded in getting the bulb in and returned to her bucket.

Looked around remembering the last time she was here. She'd spent 8 months here, funny it had seemed to much shorter. Those 8 months had been the happiest in her life. The final four weeks had been indescribable, some time in those last four weeks Danny had gave her their daughter and she was thankful for that but she still knew she couldn't tell him about her. She and Danny barely got along as it was. He hadn't twigged yet and if he did then she wouldn't deny it but she wasn't gonna come outright and tell him either. She refused to have that kind of relationship around her daughter.

She turned the tap off and picked up her bucket, she had filled it a little too much and the water was sloshing around. She took it to the nearest wall, didn't notice water splash over the side. She was too lost in her old memories of being in here. Actually being able to talk to Danny without shouting or seeing nasty things to each other. She retrieved her mop and took it over to her bucket, was just about to dunk her mop when her foot skidded across the floor... she found herself falling. She put her arm out to catch herself and saw it begin to disappear under the scalding water in the bucket.

She yanked it out immediately swearing profusely. She used every curse word she could think of twice. She pulled off her jacket and was removing the rubber glove as her hand burned. This is what happens when you aren't paying attention Alice! She told herself angrily. She ran to the sink and submerged her hand under the cold tap, felt some relief immediately. It still throbbed.

Danny meanwhile had heard the commotion and walked from his office. "Alice? I heard you swearing."

She ignored him turning her hand under the water.

"Are you ok?" he asked walking towards her. "You never swear and that was pretty colourful."

"I'm fine." she said trying to show him she wasn't hurt.

He looked and saw her rubber glove and jacket lain in a heap on the floor. Glanced at her face and saw it was pained. "What happened?" he finally asked.

"It's not a big deal." she finally said on a exhale. "I slipped and my hand fell in the water, it's hot."

Danny went to the bucket and dipped his finger in it. "Ow!" he exclaimed pulling it back.. "Alice that isn't hot it's scalding!" went to her and took her hand looked at it under the water.

Right Alice thought, her hand had started tingling beneath his touch, just like it always had before…..but that was because it was sensitive because of the water. He didn't affect her in that way anymore.

"This might blister." he murmured.

"Charlotte is gonna mother me to death now. She is like an old woman at times." she whispered her voice faltering.

He smiled softly and released her hand. "Rosie was the same at her age. I remember I cut myself once. A tiny little thing and she made this big show of fixing it like she had just stitched me up. Doctor Rosie."

Alice looked up at him and smiled. "Kids huh?"

He smiled in reply. "Yeah." he breathed. Then shook his head. Went to his cupboard and removed the first aid kit. They were both overcome by a memory, of him and her at the operating table after a blade had come off a saw. That memory also reminded them of the feelings that had existed between them too. They were both suddenly uncomfortable.

"I will sort this." she said taking the first aid kit.

"It'll be difficult seeing as your right handed."

She looked down frowning at her hand.

"Just let me help." he coaxed leading her over to the table.

She nodded reluctantly walked to the table and sat on it. They were soon face to face, on eye level.

He examined her hand frowning slightly.

"Look Danny I know we'll never be friends…." Alice began.

He froze and raised his head looking at her.

"There is too much water under the bridge." she carried on. "But can we at least try to get along? Avoiding you….it has me on edge." it was exactly like last time, without the feelings but still it was a little close to home.

"Me too." he admitted. "It's like being on eggshells." he murmured wrapping up her arm.

She winced.

"You ok?" he asked looking in her eyes.

She nodded. "So a truce?"

He cocked his head to the side and gave her a half smile. "Truce."

They were silent once again.

"Were you ok?" he asked, almost on a whisper. "When you left…and after. Your life?"

"Yeah I was ok." Barely, she was in pieces missing him so much.

"I worried about you." he admitted hesitantly. "If you were hurt somewhere, if you were scared, unhappy." he exhaled.

"I thought about this place a lot too. Rosie, Caroline and Dupe." she was silent for a moment. "You…" she trailed off.

"We were all fine."

"So was I." she replied.

He finished putting the bandage on her arm. "I haven't lost my touch in the last year then." he said trying to get back onto neutral conversation.

She looked at it turning her arm. "You haven't." she needed to ask him something that was bothering her. "Why did you close the surgery?"

"I just did." he walked towards his surgery.

"Danny." she pleaded.

He stopped and turned. "I was ill."

"Ill?" she squeaked. "Like seriously ill?"

"Pretty serious." he replied turning back towards his office.

She took a step towards him. "How serious?" fighting to keep the tremor from her voice.

"About as serious as it gets." he finally admitted.

She felt the air being stolen from her body. "You could have died?" ok Alice breathe! She told herself.

He exhaled. "I had kidney disease. Renal failure actually. I was on dialysis, I had symptoms for a while but I ignored them thinking they'd go away. The surgery was closed because it got so bad that I was physically unable to work it anymore."

Alice was pale felt her head light. "Did you nearly…"

He smiled though it held not an ounce of humour. "If the kidney didn't come when it did the doctor didn't like my chances. Rosie of course wanted to donate but I wouldn't even let her be tested." he looked down at the floor. "Let's just say I had my affairs I order."

Alice took a step backwards and grabbed the table to steady herself. She was glad his back was to her so he wouldn't see her almost fall on her face. "God Danny…."

"I'm getting better now, I still suffer from the migraines I used to get, problem is I'm on some pretty strong meds which make me ill."

"O."

"There are other ones which are better but I spaced out on them. Didn't even recognise my own daughter. I don't know what happened but when I came down from them Rosie was terrified. I can't put he through that." he looked back at her for a moment knowing she understood.

She nodded.

"Don't take what she says to heart. She was hurt when you left….losing you affected her more than losing her mum. I was worried about her for a while. She loved you." she heard the silent we both did he tacked on the end.

"I never meant to hurt her Danny, I couldn't stay."

He shrugged and turned. "Yeah well we survived and so did you. Your daughter is charming by the way. Very confident, nothing like you when we first met. I knew you'd be a brilliant mum."

"Charlotte is nothing like me, she is a carbon copy of y…..her dad."

"He must be very proud." he surmised sadly.

"Um…"

"Anyway I have work to do." he said quickly not allowing her to finish. "It was nice speaking to you."

"I'm glad your ok, for Rosie if nothing else."

He nodded. "Thanks."

Alice exhaled as Danny re-entered his office. Wow Danny had been ill! So ill he'd actually sorted out his affairs. She had thought of him often in the last 7 years not once had she imagined him dead! A pain shafted across her chest and again almost stopped her breathing. It just wasn't worth thinking about. Poor Rosie too, knowing her dad was ill, dying and having to deal with that alone! Good the poor kid! She had to find a way to make this right before she left again. To try and let Rosie know she was sorry. And now she knew she needed to find a way to tell Danny that Charlotte was his daughter. He deserved to know, they'd find a way to get along - for her at least. He nearly died thinking he only had one child and that wasn't fair. To him or to Charlotte.

A/N ah so a truce, they are definately still aware of each other and an attraction is hidden beneath the surface, will it blossom or will it come to a standstill IF he finds out about Charlotte? x