Danny smiled to himself as he signed his final piece of paperwork before glancing across at the clock; only half an hour left in the hell hole before he got to go home to his wife. Sadness overcame him as he thought of her; his poor, poor Alice. The way she had to battle that most horrid disease and then of course they had to break it to Charlotte. He had a feeling she suspected something was wrong but he doubted anything could prepare her for this sort of news; his reaction had proved how, even as an adult, such news was unwelcome and hard to digest. Even this morning, he'd still been in shock and had felt himself latching onto her a little; holding her hand, hugging her, kissing her, doing things for her. She didn't seem to mind though, she appeared to quite enjoy his fussing actually.
"Danny?"
He turned, smiling at the receptionist who had entered his office.
"Could you come and look at one of the horses down at Pets Corner?" She asked him, "It's looking a little sorry for itself apparently."
"Yeh, I'll go now." Danny replied standing up, "Here, your paperwork."
"Thanks."
Danny rushed off in the direction of pets corner; just another day as an English vet!
(x)
Alice let herself into Rowan's flat after knocking once. She still had a key and since it took him an age to do anything she figured walking in was the safer option. She smiled as heard his moaning coming from the kitchen and pots and pans clattering together. He was most obviously cleaning up, something which had never been his strong point. She was about to save him though she wasn't in doubt that he'd rather clean for a millennium than hear her news.
"Hey Rowan." Alice said entering the kitchen.
"Hey... cleaning up. How do you do this domestic stuff?" Rowan asked her as he placed his rubber gloves on the side.
"With great difficulty! Trust me, there's no one I miss more than Nomsa!" Alice chuckled, "How are you?"
"Good, nurse said I'm looking good too." He winked, wiggling his eyebrows telling Alice unspoken that he had had his way with her. She shook her head smiling to herself.
"You're a bad man." Alice told him, "Honestly, your nurse?"
"I can't help it if she fancies me!" Rowan protested, "Besides, she was leaving the NHS to join a private firm... it was a parting gift." He beamed.
"You're definitely better!" Alice laughed, "Come on, sit down, I'll prepare us some tea. There's something I need to speak to you about."
Rowan nodded, whizzing past her on his one crutch for support as she set about making them both tea. She gathered Rowan would need more than tea mind!
"So, come on, spill the beans." Rowan grinned as Alice seated herself opposite him,
"Rowan... I've been to the doctors and..."
"You're not pregnant again." Rowan drawled.
Alice remained silent, looking down, oh how she wished she was or could ever be pregnant again. She took one deep breath before shaking her head.
"I'm not going to be able to have any more children." Alice told her brother.
"Why?" Rowan asked softly, leaning forward, "You and Danny were discussing children at one point..."
"Rowan..." Alice's voice broke slightly, "I have the early stages of cervical cancer. I have to have a hysterectomy to halt it. It's too late for anything else and if I don't have it... I contract the cancer and it's likely I'll die."
"Oh my god..." Rowan whispered, "Alice, I'm so sorry." He stood up and moved to sit next to his sister, hugging her tightly, "Still, your gonna have the op right? We lost Mum to that and I don't want to lose you to it."
"Yeh... I offered Danny the chance to have one more kid but he told me absolutely not... I think if he could frog march me down there he would and have it done instantly." Alice smiled, "You know what he's like..."
"I do... how did he take it?" Rowan asked softly,
"Not good." Alice admitted, "He was really upset... couldn't really accept it at first." She leaned further into Rowan as he squeezed her shoulder, "Then he held me all night; let me cry into him and tell him everything."
"I'm here too you know." Rowan promised her, "You need anything and I mean anything, you tell me. You have been my saviour Alice and so... I want to return the favour."
"You don't have too... but thanks." Alice smiled, "You might get a few babysitting duties... starting with my Doctor's appointment?" She said sweetly, fluttering her eyelashes.
"Of course." Rowan promised, "Is this why you didn't go back to Africa then... healthcare better here and stuff."
"Yeh... I mean, I didn't tell Danny why, I just lied to him, got him over here but yes." Alice finished confusing herself in the process. "Anyway, tonight we're telling Charlotte and then well I suppose we'll tell everyone at Leopards Den..."
"You'll be ok though won't you sis?" Rowan asked her timidly,
"I'll be fine." Alice promised, "Listen, do you want to come over one day, have your tea with us?"
"Sure, if it won't..."
"I'm not an invalid yet Rowan." Alice drawled standing up, "Although I do need to get a move on... Danny'll be home just after three and then Charlie just after four. I need to go do some manning up..."
Rowan stood up and pulled her close for a tight hug, "I love you." He murmured, "I don't tell you very often but you're the best little sister a man could ask for."
"I love you too... and when you're like this you can be the best big brother a girl could ask for." She teased as she pulled away, "I'll text you later... that's if your nurse isn't coming over..."
"Alice Trevanion." Rowan gasped, "How dare you suggest such!"
"You are a terrible liar."
"And you're nosey." Rowan teased, "See you later Alice."
"Seeya Rowan." Alice replied before walking away. She sighed, feeling lighter that she had finally told her brother, but the biggest task was still to come... she still had her daughter's heart to break.
A/N – Filler but stick with it!
So, she's gonna be telling Charlotte next chapter... oooer.
