Danny felt as if he was floating in a current of warm air. Surrounding him was complete darkness but he wasn't afraid. Something nagged at him in the far reaches of his mind, something he should be concerned about but he chose to ignore it and decided to let himself drift in the warm and secure environment.

Slowly the darkness began to dissipate and Danny found himself at the top of a mountain. He could see a stream below with rolling hills in the distance. The sun was sitting high in the sky but the sunshine did not produce a sweltering heat. He smiled, closed his eyes and lifted his face up to the warm gentle sunlight as a light breeze brushed against his face. The grass beneath his feet felt soft and padded as if he was standing on cushions. He could hear birds singing in the trees and butterflies fluttered about, flaunting the bright fluorescent colors on their wings. The colors around him were so vivid and intense. Danny took a deep breath and filled his lungs with the crisp, clean air in the perfect atmosphere.

Danny stood in awe for several moments and then decided to explore this magnificent piece of terra firma. He walked down to the stream and kneeled beside the flowing water. He cupped his hands, immersed them into the brook, brought the clear liquid to his lips and took a long drink. The water was cold and sweet, quenching his ever increasing thirst. He looked around and felt a deep sense of joy. The lush green meadow was brimming with life. Even the grass seemed to sway and dance in the light wind like dancers at a ball.

Danny marveled at the beauty of the natural environment around him. He felt safe and at peace here. But, where was he and what was he doing here? He couldn't recall ever seeing such lovely and charming scenery as this. He couldn't possibly be in Africa, so where in the world could he be? It didn't really matter. All he knew was that he never wanted to leave. Feeling calm and relaxed, Danny lay down on the soft grass and closed his eyes. Maybe he could sleep for awhile he thought, for a sleepiness he had never experienced before suddenly descended upon him.

"Danny?"

Danny sat up, searching the meadow with his eyes, but all he could see were the rolling hills before him and the mountain behind him. Danny shrugged and lay back down again, closing his eyes for a much needed rest.

"Danny?"

Danny sat bolt upright. Was someone playing tricks on him? Why couldn't he see them? He closed his eyes in hopes the voice would speak again. But all he heard were the sounds of the birds singing their bird song, and a light wind blowing through the grass.

"Who's there? Who are you?" Danny asked. There was no response. "Why won't you answer me?" Danny became agitated. He got to his feet and went in search of the voice.

Night was fast approaching and Alice had to act quickly. Her plan was to build small fire pits, encircling them with fire until help arrived. Alice knew that if they weren't rescued within the next hour, night would be upon them and the search would have to be postponed until morning.

Alice made several trips into the bush and hurriedly gathered as much wood as she could carry. Luckily she had come across a box of matches amongst the remains of the emergency kit she had found on the hillside. She would need to keep the fires burning throughout the hours of darkness, which Alice hoped would prevent the predators from attacking. She had heard the lion's roar more than once and knew the distance between them was closing.

After the fires were lit, Alice attended to Danny. He was becoming restless as the fever worsened.

"Danny?" Alice said, tears streaming down her face.

She placed the bottle of water to Danny's lips and he drank greedily.

"Danny?"

In his search for the voice, Danny came to the top of a knoll. Here the hills ended and gently sloping grasslands appeared. Then he saw her. Downhill from him, in a field carpeted with yellow daisies, stood a woman with flowing blonde hair.

"Sarah?"

Sarah smiled and was instantly beside him. "Hello, Danny."

Seeing his beautiful wife before him took his breath away. Danny took Sarah in his arms and lifted her off her feet. "Is it really you?" Danny said, burying his face in her sweet smelling hair.

"Yes. I'm here for you, Danny," Sarah said softly.

"Oh, how I've missed you!" Danny exclaimed.

"I've missed you too, my love," Sarah said as Danny set her down.

"Why did you leave me?" Danny asked as a sob caught in his throat.

"I didn't want to leave you, Danny. I didn't want to leave the children," Sarah said.

"Then why?" Danny began to cry. "It hurt so much when I lost you! I wanted to die just so I could be with you. I didn't want to live without you."

"I know, my love," Sarah said softly.

"Even though my heart was broken, I knew that Evan and Olivia needed me. Dupe and Rosie needed me. So I did what I could and forced myself to keep going."

"Yes, my love. What you did was for the best, for you and the children," Sarah said as she wiped the tears from Danny's face.

"I'm so sorry! I couldn't save you! It was all my fault! Please forgive me!" Danny wept as he took Sarah's hands and kissed them.

"There's nothing to forgive. And you're wrong my love, you weren't at fault. I shouldn't have gone off like I did. My choice cost me everything."

"But you're here now! You're really here! Please, promise me you won't leave me again! Promise me!" Danny pleaded.

Sarah placed her index finger on Danny's lips. "Sshhh." Sarah smiled and took Danny's hand. "Come with me."

Darkness had finally come. Alice was grateful the fires provided a small amount of light so that she could see around her makeshift camp. She could hear animals roaming about the blackness on the outer edge of their camp. So far, the fires had kept the animals from venturing into their campsite. Come morning she would collect more wood and keep the fires burning until they were rescued.

Danny began to mumble in his delirium. The fear in Alice's heart began to intensify and spread through her like a disease. She couldn't fall prey to its grip or they would both perish in the night.

"Danny, please open your eyes," Alice pleaded. "Please wake up."

A moment later her plea was finally answered. Danny opened his eyes and looked up at Alice. His eyes glistened with fever as he smiled at her. The young woman gasped and felt a sense of relief, but her joy was short lived as Danny's hand came up to her face and touched her lovingly.

"Sarah," Danny said. "Take me with you."

Alice felt her lungs constrict and her heart felt as if it had been pierced with a knife. She brought her hands to her mouth to stifle a scream, her body rocked back and forth, the tears fell upon her cheeks.

"No!" Alice shrieked. "Danny, you can't do this to me!"

Thank you so much for all your reviews. I really appreciate them and I'm so happy you're enjoying my story. :o)