RECAP - Danice had a child together long ago, after some bad stuff went down they lost him and split up, 15 years later the boys adopted parents died and Alice got custody, Danny found out and wasn't happy and moved to S/A with his partners kids who died (Sarah) where they argued but when Thomas almost got hurt they decided to put aside their differences and work together for their son. Alice also cared for her kid sister who's dad is currently tormenting Alice.
Danice went to a party and Alice had her drink spiked by Rosie's dad who tried to abduct her because he has a grudge against Alice, he was apprehended at Mara but managed to escape. whilst under the influence Alice kissed Danny and ended up in hospital unable to remember what happened. Thomas is starting to see Alice as a mum. when Alice is home from hospital Danny turned up at her house and kissed her and they went to Alice's bedroom. they are now a couple, but keeping it to themselves at the moment having a rare moment alone someone called Alice regarding Thomas, Danny picked up the phone, heard something about Thomas and walked out...
(The bit below was supposed to be at the end of the last chapter but it wasn't added for some reason.)
Alice was left looking at the back door where Danny had recently departed and sighed. She couldn't believe this! He made her care about him and told her everything was going to be ok and then does this! What a surprise! A leopard never changes their spots and he hadn't changed at all!
Danny stayed out all day, he had initially tried to head to Mara to escape to his room and disappear, he didn't want to have to deal with anyone right now, he couldn't order his thoughts. The locum was there so it wasn't like he was needed in the surgery, it was probably for the best, he couldn't seem to muster a rational thought never mind do intricate surgery! Another reason he couldn't go to Mara was he didn't want to have to answer Vanessa's many questions. She had her suspicions about him and Alice. He hadn't confirmed nor denied them, but she'd simply gave him a knowing smiled and said IF they were a couple she was happy for them. She then went on to comment about how happy they both seemed recently, how settled, tranquil was a word she used. He felt anything but that right now!
He was sat in some dive of a bar on the edge of town that that he knew Alice never frequented wondering what the hell had happened. How his life just imploded right in his face. He had no idea why he was hiding, Alice would know what this was about, he had written the contact details on the pad by the phone. He just couldn't face going home yet, not until he had the details straight in his head. He kept on asking himself the same thing over and over, did it change anything? Did it change the way he felt? About Alice? about Thomas? Feeling down he tossed some money on the bar and walked towards the exit. As he left chilly air hit him in the face making his head swim a little, when his eyes cleared he saw a murky blue sky and depression washed over him. Shoving his hands in his pockets he began to walk towards home. To what? He didn't know.
Thomas sat in his room with the door open, she could see Alice sat at the desk in the study poring over paperwork. She and Danny must have argued, in the time he lived here he had learned that Alice hated paperwork and avoided it like the plague. He watched as she picked up her coffee cup took a sip then scratched her head with the end of her pen, maybe he should speak to her. Shuffling across his bed he left his room and walked to the study, coming to a stop and slouching against the doorframe.
"Hey." He said to get her attention, and without beating around the bust announced, "Where's Danny?"
Alice looked up at him and forced a smile onto her face, "He's busy, at Mara I think. I'm not sure."
Thomas looked at her face and withheld a sigh, he could tell she wasn't telling him something, that smile was one he had seen often in the beginning when he was pushing her and she was trying to pretend like he wasn't getting to her.
"I thought you had a day off." He told her motioning to the papers strewn across the table.
She looked down and smiled wider, this one a little less fake, "Mums don't get days off."
Liv had chosen that moment to walk from the bedroom she shared with Rosie, she was heading to Mara for a few days to have a visit with her dad. As she passed Alice saw both Thomas and Liv shared a small smile. The sight of it made her stomach plummet. She shuffled a few papers which caused Thomas attention to be back on her, "You and Liv seem to be getting along." Alice began gingerly, sorting her paperwork into piles, careful not to look him his eyes in case he bolted.
When Alice glanced she saw him shrug and push his hands into his pockets. Thomas had no idea he had more than answered her question without saying a word, "Just be careful ok?" she requested softly.
Thomas nodded and took in her tired expression, "If you're tired you should go to bed."
"I need to wait up and discuss stuff with Danny." She replied sounding weary.
A frown creased his brow at her tone, "Is he going back to Mara?" If he was going so was Liv…
At this moment Alice had no idea. He had been hiding from her all day, typical Danny! "You'll be the first to know." She told him brightly.
He nodded. "I better be getting to bed."
"You took the words right out of my mouth. Goodnight son. Love you."
"Night mum." He had to admit it still made him pause saying that and at times he still felt a pang of guilt, but he knew his other mum would be happy he was getting on here, that was all she wanted for him. He went over to Alice and kissed her cheek, she ruffled his styled hair and he mock grimaced at her.
As he headed for his bedroom he glanced back at her and saw her rubbing her tired face, looking fed up and he shook his head feeling his annoyance at Danny increase, he knew he would hurt her again!
Alice rubbed her tired face thinking of Thomas's smiling face, thinking of how he was settled he was, thinking of him and Liv's shy smiles, then thinking of what she heard on the phone. Everything could be changing very soon, and it hurt her to think that he might revert back to the angry mixed up boy he'd been when he first moved here.
Rosie sat in her room at Leopards Den staring out of the window lost in thought unable to sleep. Something was going on with Danny and Alice! She was sure of it! Danny had been spending a lot of time here recently, and that bathroom thing, she was certain she had saw Danny go in there! She turned onto her back and studied the ceiling. Maybe they were sleeping together, she grimaced feeling a bit sick. She was happy enough for them to be together and yeah she knew that stuff went on, they were still both young, well youngish, she didn't really need to know about it though! How was Thomas going to take if they did get together? Assuming they were, I mean like she thought before she could be a friends with benefits kind of thing. Her eyes popped open at the thought, Alice wouldn't! Not after all the preaching to her about waiting and being careful and all the rest! Why were adults so two faced? Yeah just coz she was young didn't mean she didn't know what she felt! It was the adults who obviously needed help! I mean she wasn't the one with the messed up relationship! What a total…..her phone flashed in the darkness and the thought immediately ended when a text from Max was waiting for her.
'U awake?' he'd sent.
'Yeah, totally bored, cnt sleep. Thinking bout stuff.' Put a love heart emoji at the end.
'Can I ring you? I need to tell you something.'
Rosie felt acid pool in her stomach, 'do u want to break up?'
'Don't be daft!' popped up a second later.
She almost collapsed in relief and she was lain down! She liked having a boyfriend and Max was unbelievably fit!
'I heard something important you need to know.' He messaged again.
Rosie read that, hopped out of bed and opened the door to her bedroom a crack to check the coast was clear, she glanced down the hallway and saw it empty and silent. Alice must be in bed so closing the door soundlessly she went back to her bed and tapped her phone until she heard the ringing.
"Hey." She whispered when he picked up.
"I said I'd ring you." He told her.
"It's no problem I have minutes, what's up?"
"Well," he started. "I went to the kitchen to grab a sandwich and some porters were there talking, I don't think they noticed me so I hid and listened coz I heard Derek's name."
"Ok." Rosie said softly.
"Well they were saying that he hadn't been found yet and the kids in Leopard's Den were in danger. They were saying its why Danny is living there."
Rosie was silent absorbing his words, then she shook her head. "No, Alice would have told me." She finally said.
"What if they didn't want to worry you?" he asked urgently.
Rosie was sat on her bed looking at the floor frowning, it did explain a lot, especially the Danny being here with them.
"They were saying that after what happened the boy is in big trouble, Derek was apparently ranting saying he was gonna kill him!"
"Thomas." She said a little too loudly and stood up, "He'll go after him! He could be out there right now!"
"It'll be ok Rosie." Max told her. "You need to calm down what if someone hears you."
"No! This is MY fault, if I had never came here this would never have happened!" she said making a decision. She spoke in low urgent tones, "Were you serious about running away together?"
"Rosie…." He began.
"Were you?" she repeated.
"Yeah." Not quite as sure as he had been, it had seemed so easy before, but now…
"Well let's do it. I'll pack some stuff, you do the same. Meet me here early, before dawn. We'll bike out so pack plenty of water."
"Are you sure…"
"I refuse to ruin any more lives here Max."
"Rosie just think about it yeah?"
"I have. See you in a few hours Max. Love you." And she disconnected the call. Slipping out of her room she grabbed the biggest backpack she could find from the storage cupboard went back to her room, flung open her wardrobe and began to pack.
Alice had lain awake for far too long, she had slept for a little while, snoozed really, and woke up feeling anything but refreshed. After tossing and turning she reached across her night stand and picked up her phone, squinted at the time in the darkness. 4:32 am, she snorted when she saw no calls or messages from Danny. See this was why you don't get close to people! You slowly start to trust them and believe that maybe things could go somewhere but nope, they chew you up and spit you out! Yawning she rose from bed feeling her muscles protest, rubbing the back of her neck she left her room and was sure she heard movement coming from Rosie's bedroom. Frowning she wondered whether or not she check it out, then shook her head dismissing the thought. Rosie didn't know what 4am looked like!
Padding into the kitchen on soundless feet she started the coffee maker brewing and stood enjoying the silence. In a few hours the kids would be up, Nom, Dupe, Caroline, Danny…. Danny. She understood, she did but disappearing wasn't the way to handle what he'd heard. It wasn't going to go away! She liked to think that they could have handled this together. She sighed and opened the cupboard picking up her favourite mug, lost in thought when a voice startled her.
"Got a cup for me?"
Alice jumped and looked in the direction of the voice, and her hand shot to her chest in shock. She saw Danny stood at the door, eyes bloodshot, wearing the same clothes from when she last saw him but far more rumpled. He looked weary. "Have you even slept?" she asked, trying but failing to keep an accusation from her voice.
He shook his head, looked at the floor, "I couldn't."
Alice couldn't help her heart hurting for him at his tone, "It's understandable." She replied, coffee maker bubbling.
"You know?" he asked then shook his head, "Of course you do." He sighed and Alice could see how broken he seemed. On impulse she went to him and wrapped her arms around him, immediately she felt some of the tension melt from him and he buried his face in her shoulder. Her eyes drifted closed and she felt a weird sort of contentment wash over her. A loud bang broken the moment. Danny pulled away and walked to the front door, saw it ajar. He must have left it open…but he wouldn't. He motioned for Alice to stay where she was and walked down the hallway. After walking the perimeter if the house twice to look for anything suspicious he returned inside and this time made sure he locked the door behind him. While heading back for the kitchen he popped his head into Thomas room and saw him sprawled face down on the bed, mouth open slightly obviously sound asleep. He was about to check Rosie's when Alice appeared and halted him, "If you wake her at this time she will kill you."
"I know…."
"I heard her in there earlier, if there's no one around then maybe the door didn't latch properly. I'll ask Dupe to take a look at it tomorrow." She saw his expression. "But if you are so worried I'll check." She walked past him and popped her head into the bedroom. Rosie had her back to the door, and Alice could hear her soft breathing. She closed the door with a soft click and turned to Danny. "She's fine." Then took Danny by the arm and led him to the kitchen where a cup of steaming coffee that Alice brewed earlier was waiting. "Sit. Talk." She coaxed.
Danny sighed and ran his hand through his hair, his head resting on his free hand. "I don't know what to say." He admitted. "All I feel now is what I felt when I first found out. Like I'm breaking up and I need to pick myself up piece by piece. I have the kids aswell, they are still grieving, what I do about them? Do I tell them?"
She put her hand on his that had come to rest on the table.
"Then there's you." His voice low and full of meaning.
"Don't worry about me." She told him, "One problem at a time."
He nodded and rubbed his face, feeling more tired than he looked. "I don't know how I'm gonna tell the kids. Like I said before do I tell them? I mean they'll find out one day. They'll be curious. Will they hate me if I keep this from them? And Thomas, will it affect how they are around him?"
"Will they be able to handle this? You know them better than me." She looked at him, "What I do know is that you're raising good kids Danny, if you think they can then you need to trust them. "
"I know but it's their mother. She died."
"And Thomas was partially the cause I know." She agreed then frowned lost in thought. "Look Thomas feels bad enough about all this as it is, if he finds out it was Liv's mum killed in the other car, do you realise what that might do to him?"
"I know." He closed his eyes and measured his breathing.
"How do you feel about Thomas?" Alice asked gently.
Danny looked up at her now and although he knew the question was asked in almost a cavalier fashion there was an intensity to her gaze that told him that possibly their whole relationship was dependent upon how he answered this question.
"To tell you the truth I have spent the last 24 hours asking myself that same question."
"And?" Alice said, her body language now becoming shuttered, almost defensive. He could tell she didn't like where this was going.
"He's my son Alice, it was a shock. It still is but it changes nothing. I'll always love him."
Alice nodded slowly, "And Evan and Liv?"
"They are visiting with their dad at Mara, the problem is telling them means telling Thomas and I don't think he needs any more guilt piled on him right now. I know we'll have to tell him eventually but right now I think I'll keep this to myself. Everything is still up in the air with Derek and us."
Alice remained quiet.
"Is there still an us?" he asked when he noticed Alice had remained silent on the matter.
"You can't run away again. If there ever will be an us then you need to trust that I'll be here for you when you need me. I can't be with someone who runs off at the first sign of trouble."
"I know, I know, I'm sorry it was just a shock."
"I know." She agreed, that was the only reason she was willing to try again. "Anyway you need to get yourself to bed for a few hours." She got up and kissed his cheek. Maybe she was being foolish but she had always a weakness when it came to him. She had no idea why. "Thank you for trusting me."
"You're the only one I could go to with this." And he stood up. They stood just looking at each other when they heard a door open down the hallway. Caroline shuffled from her room heading for the bathroom.
Alice shook her head and the moment and the moment was over. They both headed down the hallway, Alice deciding to leave the coffee cups for the morning, she saw Danny heading towards his own bedroom and she halted him.
"Where do you think you're going?" she asked.
He looked at her with a smiled then followed her into her bedroom.
Thomas had been sleeping when he heard his bedroom door click, blinking slowly he rubbed his eyes and saw the moon through the crack in his curtains. As his fuzzy mind cleared he began to wonder who had came in his room, he had heard the floorboard beside his door creak and his bedroom door close. Listening intently, he could hear a masculine voice down the hall and realised that Danny had returned home, his and Alice's voices were low but sounded intense. This sounded serious! Ok yes Alice was his mum and his feelings regarding Danny had softened somewhat but were still unchanged. Their voices were quieter and he found himself struggling to hear, at times catching only a word or two. He had a feeling they were discussing him and he wanted to know! Pulling on a hoodie and trainers he went to the door and halted just as he'd been about to turn the knob, he couldn't just go out there like that! If they saw him they'd know he was awake and stop talking. He had to find out what they were talking about another way! He frowned and looked around his room, his gaze settling on the window. Smiling he went to it and opened it just enough for him to be able to climb out and be able to get back in later.
He crept around to the back of the house and came to the side door, as he peeked through the glass he saw them sat at the kitchen table, and cocked his head trying to hear what they were saying. When that didn't work he tried to read their lips but his eyes were drawn to their expressions, Danny looked troubled, even from the side and Alice, he had to admit he didn't like how she was looking at him! If Danny hurt her….
Without finishing the thought, he decided to find a different way in and remembered that the kitchen window was broken, it could be opened very slightly from the outside, not enough to be able to break in but enough to maybe hear people talking! Moving towards the window he made sue to keep low and quiet to ensure he didn't disturb them, he looked in, saw them talking so braced his hands against the frame and moved it as gently as he could. It didn't have to be much, just enough that he could hear what they were talking about. He heard the window creak and he winced and halted, thankfully they don't seem to have heard it and he rested his head close to the window and listened. They were talking about the kids Evan and Liv he surmised, something about how they would act different around him!
HE KNEW IT!
He listened again as Danny sat talking about Sarah. What did she have to do with him? Oh my God what if Alice wasn't his mum! ju,ping to conclusions, and they kept coming, what if Sarah was! Whoa! What if Liv was his sister! I mean that's just gross! He thought he was gonna be sick until he heard the next words out of Alice mouth. They damn near floored him!
"Look Thomas feels bad enough about all this as it is, if he finds out it was Liv's mum killed in the other car, do you realise what that might do to him?"
Thomas couldn't do anything but stare vacantly into the distance, wide eyed. Oh God! The enormity of what he heard seemed to hit him like the force of a blow, he'd not only killed his own parents but Liv's mum too! He backed off, suddenly uncaring as to whether he disturbed them, he didn't want to hear anymore. He practically ran back to his bedroom, praying to wake up from this bad dream. He climbed, or more aptly fell through the window and resisted the urge to lash out and punch his wardrobe.
Danny had been right. He wished he didn't know what had happened.
A/N OK so the thomas killing sarah had been planned from the very beginning! i hope you weren't expecting it! and Rosie and Max couod be about to do something very foolish! will they go through with it? more on that later! and danice seem to be blowing hot and cold, they don;t quite fully trust each other yet.
i'm very sorry about the sporadic updates, i am determined to finish this but it is still being written! Sorry for the late updates but i will be working on it when i can. thanks to everyone who is reading and reviewing.
Danielle