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 has custody of her kid sister (Rosie) who's dad is currently tormenting Alice.

Danice are now a couple after a few fits and starts, but keeping it to themselves at the moment having a rare moment alone someone called Alice regarding Thomas, Danny picked up the phone, heard that Thomas was at fault for Sarahs death and walked out, when Danny returned they spoke about it and Thomas overheard and was gutted especially since Liv is his girlfriend. He went to Mara to break up with Liv but found he couldn't tell her the truth so was especially nasty to her, she ran off upset, Evan saw it and asked what he done. Thomas goaded Evan and eventually told him he was the reason Sarah died, Evan attacked him danny pulling him off. Thomas went home bruised and upset.

Max told Rosie that her dad was still at large and she decided that to make sure Alice and Thomas was safe the best thing for her to do was run away to keep them safe. Both he and Rosie have now headed into the bush, Thomas found the note Rosie had left for Alice and went in search of Rosie, following her tracks...

Enjoy, DanH2010 :)

Evan was frantically pacing back and forth in his room, all he'd learned racing through his head. His mind swirling with memories of his mother, smiling, laughing, so full of life. This was quickly followed by the image of her coffin, so much bigger than you would expect. He had seen her at the hospital after he accident, she had been cleaned up and he'd gone with Danny to say his goodbyes. Even then she had looked so perfect, she didn't look like she was dead, her eyes were closed and she was pale. Pale and cold. Too cold. Her fingers, as he had touched them, didn't curl around his like they usually did. They had remained still, rigid. As he stood there he had vowed that if he ever found out who had done this to her he would get them and kill them, it wasn't a promise that he had took lightly and he was ready and willing to do it and live with the consequences of such action. If she wasn't living then why should they? He had known that the other people in the car had died but he had always had a feeling that someone else was to blame, and now he knew who! He had access to guns, tranquillisers, trucks, or would it be better with his bare hands? Was he capable of that? He sighed and bowed his head still pacing. All he knew was that he wanted to take Thomas out somewhere and make his feel the fear that his mum felt, the crushing pressure of a car squeezing the life from you….his face twisted nastily.
Would it bring her back? No.
Would it make him feel better? Unlikely.
But at least he could say he had done something.

A soft knock broke his thoughts and his pacing slowed as the door opened and he saw his step father enter. He carried a bowl and first aid kit. It was then Evan remembered that his knuckles were all split, the blood had dried and was flaking off. Funny while he was thinking of how to get to Thomas he hadn't even noticed they were throbbing slightly. He didn't say a word as Danny closed the door behind him and placed the water and first aid kit on the bed.

Danny watched his step son as he entered his room, he'd left his phone on silent, he and Evan had to talk and he wanted to disturbances. He knew Evan was a sensitive kid who felt things deeply and when hurt was liable to go off and do something that he would deeply regret, maybe not immediately, but one day, and it was up to Danny to make sure that didn't happen.

"I thought when you calmed down you might want to talk." Danny told him simply, gesturing to the things on the bed, "Good time to get you cleaned up too."

"Talk about what?" Evan spat, Danny's tone stroking his ire, "About your son being murdering scum!" the word son sounding like an insult.

"No, about my son being a mixed up angry kid." Danny corrected, "Just like you at the same age."

"Yeah, difference is I didn't kill anyone!"

"Thomas made a mistake that he is still paying for, he will for the rest of his life. You make it sound like he deliberately went out there to hurt people." Danny said sitting on the bed and gesturing to the boy to do the same. Evan remained standing although he was now stationary arms crossed.

"Maybe he…."

"You're going to tell me he intended to go and kill both of his parents? His mum?" Danny asked softly. "Really?"

Evans retort died on his tongue and he exhaled heavily.

When he saw the boy wasn't going to take a seat he began removing items from the first aid kit, if only to let Evan gather his thoughts.

After a moment Evan closed his eyes, then opened them and decided to the bed to sit down, "She didn't die on impact." Evan told him voice flat and emotionless, thoughts of how his mum suffered washing over him in waves, "I know she was trapped and bleeding and scared. She knew she was going to die. That is what haunts me, I can't help but wonder what she was thinking…."

"Evan..." Danny murmured.

"You told us she felt nothing! Didn't know!" he looked up at Danny, expression broken.

"Liv." Danny explained, "She didn't need to know that, I thought it was kinder to the both of you to let you think that it was immediate. That she didn't suffer. I thought I was doing the right thing."

Evan shook his head, "And now not only did you lie but then I find out its your son that did it and it makes me wonder whether you knew this all along."

Danny looked the boy straight in the eye, "I swear to you, I had no idea." then he picked up some cotton wool, moistened it and began cleaning the wounds and dried blood from his hands. Danny neglected to mention that had he known it was highly unlikely he would ever have let the kids know. Some things were better kept secrets.

Evan swallowed hard knowing that his step father was telling the truth, "I'm sorry about what I said about mum."

It was Danny's turn to shake his head, "I knew I was a convenient father for you both. It's the word convenient that gets me more than anything."

"You're more than that to us. You are our dad, not him." Evan truly meant that, Danny had been with them through everything. To Simon they were toys to pick up and discard whenever he felt like it.

Danny smiled rooting through the plastic case for plasters, "You won't need stitches." he murmured then frowned slightly, his mood sobered, "I need your word that this is the end of this Evan. I need to know that you aren't going to harm Thomas."

Evan looked at him and said nothing, his expression never wavering, completely unflinching.

Danny scrubbed his face then ran his hands through his hair, "Evan?" he asked staring.

Evan remained silent.

"Do you think harming him will make your mum proud? Bring her back? Do you honestly think hurting someone will make you feel better?"

"I know it won't." Evan said simply. "If he did something wrong he should be ready face the consequences, like I am!"

Danny was torn, "Evan you don't know the full story. Thomas didn't know the full story…."

"She died, it was his fault, what more do I need to know?" he retorted quickly.

All Danny felt was turmoil, Evan knew half of the story, he had only just told Alice the other half this morning. See Thomas was partly at fault for Sarah's death but the full blame, "...Evan..."

"You can't stop me, eventually I will get him, I'll make him pay!"

"Evan it wasn't Thomas' fault, it was your mums." Danny said quickly, before he lost his nerve, knowing this was going to break his heart.

The blood drained from Evans face and it flushed bright red as it seemed to rush right back, his fists clenched.

"You said earlier we were fighting a lot, do you remember what about?"

Evan glared at him, eyes almost glowing.

"She was drinking, I knew milk was her code name for Vodka. Why do you think I stalled Liv so she didn't go with her? I tore the house apart looking for the car keys after the asked me for them. She tricked me, they were already in her pocket and by the time I was in the bedroom and realised she had gone."

Evan thought back and remembered Danny stalling Liv asking her to get washing and wait for her friend, even though she wasn't due to arrive for hours. He remembered Danny in the bedroom throwing things around, he'd never understood why before.

"She was over the limit when the cars collided. She drifted into the lane right in front of Thomas' parents. She caused it. I'm so sorry Evan, I never planned on telling you. Anyone. I wanted your final memories of your mother to be happy."

Danny was silently placing a plaster over the wounds on Evans hands as he digested this nugget of information. He had never wanted either of the kids to find out what their mother had done. Thomas hadn't went into care because of the crash, he had went into care because his parents were dead and their wider family had denied him. Police and Social services were aware of him due to the boy that he attacked and that was why they had decided that Alice was the best option for a placement. Really Thomas hadn't been at fault at all, I mean he was wrong for kicking his dads seat but that wasn't what caused all this, and eventually Thomas would be told this. It was finding the right time, he was very likely to react in the exact same way that Evan did. It has always been convenient for Danny to blame the people in the other car, by doing that he didn't have to admit to himself or the kids that it was all Sarah's fault. He looked at Evan and saw that the lad looked broken. Danny felt guilt wash over him, he had never wanted this to happen. Why did he have to tell him?

"What was she thinking?" Evan croaked, voice once again brimming with emotion.

"Don't start thinking like that Evan, she is still your mum, they have faults too, but never forget she loved you, that's what matters."

Evan closed his eyes, "Is that everything?" he asked, voice sounding tired. "What else don't I know?" shoulders slumped holding back tears.

Danny hesitated momentarily and Evan sat up straighter.

"Danny?"

"Nothing to do with the crash, nothing that you need to know. Nothing that affects you and Liv."

Evan sat back, shoulder drooping once more, he bowed his head. In that moment he was reminded of the boy he had been, the boy who had been devastated that his mum and dad weren't going to be getting back together, that his mum had moved on. Danny leaned over and hugged him tightly, "Please don't let what I've told you colour your memory of your mum, she was a fantastic mother. Everything she ever did was for you two kids."

Danny felt him nod. He rubbed his hair gently. He glanced out of the window and saw the ever approaching darkness, Evan noticed it too. As they separated the first droplet of rain began to fall, then another and before they knew it a deluge of rain was falling on Mara.

"Funny how fast the weather changes here, the sun was beaming less than an hour ago." Evan remarked desperately trying to chase away his darker thoughts.

"It is." Danny agreed. "We need the rain though, the areas the animals drink from were starting to dry up."

They sat looking out of the window, something unspoken hanging in the air.

"Danny?" Evan started.

"Yeah?"

"I can ask you anything right?"

Danny frowned and looked at him, "Of course."

Evan nodded.

"What's up?" and what has brought this on he wondered.

Evans hands were joined on his lap. "Do you love Alice?"

"Oh." Danny said with a sigh.

"It's just I noticed you've been spending a lot more time there," he shrugged, "I'm guessing she's a big part of that huh?"

Danny remained silent wondering how to word this so it sounded like he and Liv had nothing to worry about just because he moved on made him any less their father...

"I know we stayed there for a while because of the whole Derek thing, but its more than that. I don't know, its just like, there's something there when you two are talking, like you can feel the air crackling or something. You never had that with mum, plus when I said you were sleeping with her again you didn't deny it."

"Look Evan, son, you have to know that you kids, especially you and Liv are my first priority. Just because I'm…."

Evan cut him off before Danny went off on a tangent, "No it's fine honestly, I was never worried about whether we'd get sent back to Bristol or anything like that, I mean Alice is great and she'd never ask you to chose. Its, well, Liv needs a woman, she's getting to an awkward age and God knows I don't want her coming to me about that stuff." he grimaced. "I just, I worry about her, Liv, she doesn't need any uncertainty in her life. It might be best if you wait to tell her until you know if its going somewhere, she doesn't need to becoming attached should you decide to break up again."

Danny nodded, surprised at how mature and level headed he sounded. "Well to answer your question, yes I love her. Yes we are together, that's all i can say at the moment, we might stay together, we might break up, its early days but i can promise any developments and you two will be the first to know."

Evan nodded, "That will be why Dupe keeps muttering about shooting you," he said with a grin "I'm was starting to get worried about that, its more frequent as of late."

Danny laughed and patted his son on the back, "Thanks Evan."

The thunder outside began to rumble threateningly, Danny turned to leave, "I best go check with Vanessa, see what the procedure is for these conditions." he left and closed the door with a soft click leaving Evan alone.

As Danny left Evan found himself lost in pensive thought about Thomas and Alice.

Alice had left Thomas to cool off in his room as long as she felt she could. She needed to talk to him and all this, he had obviously heard her and Danny talking last night. She had put his bike away just before the rain started, he had been stomping around the house like a bear with lion with a sore paw! She also wanted to know what happened with Evan, he seemed like a good kid and wouldn't have just hit Thomas for he hell of it!

She looked out of her front door and saw the weather was close to being torrential out there, it seemed that Dupes predictions were spot on! The man was bloody uncanny when it came to stuff like this! Anyway, back to the issue hand, Thomas. She was going to go see him on the pretext of cleaning him up and gently try to coax out of him what happened and why. She was going to have to talk to Danny too, figure out some next steps, including their relationship. Thomas and Rosie were the two most important people in her life and if them being together was going to have a negative impact on them in any way then no matter how much she loved him then it was over. She had waited much too long to have her son and sister where they belonged and nothing was jeopardising that, not even Danny!

The house was quiet for having teenagers living here usually so, her senses started prickling, something was wrong! She immediately went to Thomas' room and went to knock, the door had been very slightly ajar, as she tapped the wood the door creaked open almost ominously, "Thomas?" she called, it only took a moment for her to see the chaos in his room to know calling him was futile. His wardrobe door was hanging open, items strewn around the floor he had obviously discarded while looked for something, his boots were gone too. She saw a crumpled note on the bed so picked it up and read it quickly.

I'm sorry but I can't stay here. it's better than I thought in so many ways but my so called father is driving me away. Please don't think this is you Alice, it isn't I just can't stay here anymore. I love you so much and need you more than you will ever know but this is for the best. I'm sorry, please don't worry about me, I'll be ok, I have a plan. I can take care of myself, and maybe one day we will see each other again. Love you all x

Alice felt her stomach drop and her heart start thudding while she read the note. Thomas has ran away! Into the bush! How could he be so stupid? He was so ill equipped to know how to survive traipsing around out there! In torrential rain no less! Remember what happened with lions? She still had the scars! He was heading into the bush, don't ask how she knew he went there, she just did. Thomas wouldn't take the main roads, he'd be found too quickly.

As the enormity if the situation seemed to become more obivous she was wanted to rage, 'Are you actually kidding me!' but she had no time. She had to get looking for him, if he got to Jo'burg then chances her she would never see him again. Where would he go? What would he do? Feeling panic rise she seemed to spring into action. Thankfully Rosie was out with Rosie at Mara! Running into the study she grabbed a radio to contact Dupe to look for Thomas. She would also contact Vanessa and ask her if she could keep a close eye on Rosie, God knows she didn't need two missing kids! She was going to have to contact Danny and tell him Thomas had run off, because of them, again!

She turned the dial to contact Dupe and a second later realised he was at an animal auction with Caroline, Nomsa was out running errands. "Oh dammit!" she muttered. Speaking quickly into the radio she passed on her message to Vanessa who told her that she'd send get an employee to get her. She asked her also to take a message to Danny just incase she was unable to contact him. Then after retrieving some keys for a truck and a torch, as the sky was gradually turning darker, she checked for tracks. She quickly found smudged and mishapen footsteps indicating which direction Thomas was heading in, towards the bush. The rain had definitely washed some away and there were only slight visible traces so she had to hope that these were the correct ones. Clipping the radio to her belt and climbing into the truck she turned the key so it roared to life. Slowly picking up speed she made her way towards the bush.

A/N bit of a filler really, something that needed cleared up to move the story on, bit of a slow one but story kicks back in next chapter, been extremely slow going getting this done. i want to thank anyone who is still here reading this.
DanH2010

PS - RIP to the legend that is Deon Stewardson, such a great performance as DuPlessis, (this is abit late as he died in 2017) :(