Alice sat in a chair beside Danny's bed. The man she had fallen madly in love with was in a deep sleep. She stroked his face lovingly. They had been through such a horrible ordeal. Circumstances had tried to rip them apart but they had survived a trial that nearly destroyed them, and, here they were – safe, and more importantly, they were together.

Unfortunately, this was not the end of their troubles for Danny had more to face in the near future. Alice tried not to think about it, but, she knew that Danny would need her to be strong. With her love and support, whatever Danny was facing, he would overcome enormous obstacles with her beside him and their love would only deepen and grow stronger. She loved this kind, gentle man so much. He had stolen her heart and whatever troubles came their way, they would face them together.

Danny became aware of movement around him. It seemed he was lying on his back and lying on a bed. He heard strange noises which seemed to be coming from machines surrounding his bed. He desperately wanted to open his eyes, to command them to open, but they felt heavy as if they were made of lead. He sensed there was someone beside him. This person was holding his hand and touching his face.

Danny willed himself to wake up. Slowly the darkness began to dissolve and Danny opened his eyes. The first thing he saw were piercing blue eyes and a beautiful smile that lit up the face of Alice Collins.

"Hi," Alice said softly.

Danny smiled. "Hi, beautiful lady."

"Welcome back."

"Have I been somewhere?" Danny asked jokingly.

Alice smiled. "You're in the hospital. You've been very ill. We thought we had lost you a couple of times, but you've come through the worst of it and you're going to get better now."

Danny was still groggy. "What happened?"

"We were out in the bush and you stepped on a trap. Do you remember?"

Danny nodded. "I thought that was a dream. That wouldn't have happened if I had just listened to you and kept walking. I'm sorry for being so stupid." Danny said, noticing the tears streaming down Alice's face. "Please, don't cry. It's all over now."

"I know," Alice said sadly.

"Then what's the matter? Why are you crying?"

"Oh, Danny!" Alice sobbed. "I'm so sorry!"

"For what? You said I was getting better, right?"

Alice caught her breath and nodded. "You are, but there's something you need to know."

"What? What's wrong?" Danny asked with trepidation.

"Oh, Danny, it's…it's…" Alice couldn't continue.

Danny was beginning to panic. "What is it Alice? Please tell me!"

"It's your leg. They…they…had to amputate your leg from the knee down."

"What? No! Please, Alice, tell me that's not so!" Danny felt like a ton of bricks had just fallen on his chest. He couldn't breathe! The air was being sucked out of his lungs! He was suffocating!

Danny heard warning bells going off in the machines. Doctors and nurses rushed in. The light in the room was being extinguished like a candle in a storm.

"What's happening?" Alice asked the medical staff in horror.

A nurse wheeled in the resuscitation cart as Alice was rushed out of the room.

"Please let me stay with him!" Alice pleaded. "He needs me!"

"Please wait outside. I'll come and get you as soon as we know more!" a nurse said as she closed Danny's door behind her.

Alice was too shocked to move. It seemed like an eternity before she found her way back to the waiting room where Dupe and Evan were waiting for her return. The look on Alice's face told them something terrible had just happened.

"What's the matter?" Evan asked with concern.

"I told him about his leg and I think he went into cardiac arrest!" Alice sobbed.

What had just happened? Who were those people working on him, Danny thought. Wait a minute! How was he able to watch the doctors and nurses working on his body? He seemed to be floating upward. Did this mean he was dead? Was this the way his life would end? Where was Alice? Danny felt a strange sensation go through his body. The scene playing out below him was just too bizarre.

Danny closed his eyes and moments later he was lying on soft grass. He could hear birds singing and the sun warmed his face. He heard the sound of water flowing over rocks. Could it be? Was he back in the beautiful meadow? Would Sarah be here?

Danny opened his eyes and, yes, Sarah, was sitting beside him. She looked down at him and smiled. "Welcome back, my love."

"Sarah?" Danny said as he sat up alongside her. "Am I really back? Am I here to stay?"

Sarah smiled and kissed him gently on the lips. "Would you like to stay here with me?"

"Yes!" Danny responded. "I didn't want to leave before, but…"

"My love, it's so good to know that you want to be here with me, but, I have something to tell you."

"What?" Danny asked.

"It's not your time yet, Danny. You don't belong here with me. Your future is with someone else."

"You mean Alice?" Danny asked.

"Yes, Alice. She is your future, my love. She loves you with all her heart and she will bring you much happiness," Sarah said as tears rushed down her chin.

"Please don't cry," Danny said, wiping the tears from Sarah's face. "You know I love you. A part of me will always love you."

"I know that, my love. But you must move on. You must let me go and give your heart fully to Alice. You are meant to be together for the rest of your lives," Sarah said.

"Can I hold you just for a little while?" Danny asked.

Sarah smiled as Danny wrapped his arms around her for the last time.

Danny woke with a start. He looked around the room and was disoriented. He looked over to the chair beside his bed. Alice was curled up in the chair and sleeping soundly. He reached out and touched her arm lightly. Alice peeled her eyes open and was instantly awake.

"Hi," she said excitedly.

"Haven't we been down this road before?" Danny asked.

"What?" Alice asked confused. "It's so good to see you awake. We were really worried about you."

Tears began to well up in Danny's eyes. "Oh, Alice! I won't be able to function at Leopard's Den without my…why did they do it?"

"Who?"

"The doctors!"

"Danny, what are you talking about?" Alice asked with concern.

"Why did they amputate my leg?"

"What's makes you think they've…?"

"Because you told me!" Danny shouted.

"Danny, your leg's fine. The doctors were able to save it," Alice said softly.

"What? But I thought…"

"You were dreaming. Look for yourself. Your leg is still there."

Danny lifted his head to look and to his relief he could see his entire right leg. What he had experienced before in this room had only been a dream, just like being with Sarah had only been a dream.

"Dr. Phillips said you're going to be out of commission for quite a while but you will have the full use of your leg," Alice said smiling.

Danny wiggled his toes. "This is real? It's not a dream?"

"I promise you it's not a dream. You're going to be fine." Alice kissed Danny and embraced him.

Danny sighed with relief. "This is great! Oh Alice, I've had the strangest dreams."

"Have you?" Alice asked.

Danny held Alice's hands. "Yes, and they made me realize something, something very important."

"What's that?"

"I don't know if this is too soon, but I'm going ahead and ask you anyway," Danny said.

"Ask me what?"

"Do you love me?"

"I do, with all my heart," Alice said smiling.

"And I love you. I just realized how much. Alice, will you marry me?"

Alice's mouth dropped open in surprise.

"After what we've been through I don't want to wait. Life is too precious and I want to spend the rest of my life with you," Danny said.

"Yes, I'll marry you!" Alice exclaimed, kissing the man she would love and cherish for the rest of her life.

FIN

Well, we've come to the end of this roller coaster ride! I hope you've enjoyed this story. I want to thank all of you again for your reviews and wonderful words of encouragement. Now I'll have time to read and review the other wonderful stories here. :o)

But now, I'm going to ask a favor of you. I'm not sure whether I should write a sequel to this story or just write something new. Would you let me know what you think? I would appreciate it so much. Take care and I lookf forward to hearing from you.