Alice looked across at Danny as she drove carefully through the bush. They were having to go the long way round, Alice somehow didn't see the adrenaline monkey swamp ride as she'd taken to calling it, any good for Danny. She'd also chosen the longer route half for her own benefit. The bottom of her back was throbbing, but she had other things to worry about. She hadn't even placed her hand over it, not even had it checked out by anyone. Danny was more important right now.

"You ok Danny?" Alice asked him as she avoided a pothole.

"Yes Dr Trevanion, I am fine. No blurred vision, I have a headache but who wouldn't? And no, I do not feel dizzy." Danny said rolling his eyes.

Alice smiled to herself as she turned off onto another track. She looked back to Danny quickly and saw him staring aimlessly at the road ahead. She bit her lip as she carefully timed what she was going to do. It was something he always did to her when they were out on duty and they were quiet (which wasn't often!) but it always made her smile! She leant across and squeezed his knee gently. She laughed slightly as he jumped before performing the usual routine. As usual, their eyes caught and both smiled at one another. Alice slowly turned back to the road.

"I remember the first time I did that to you." Danny said quietly. "You hit me at first."

"You made me jump!" Alice exclaimed laughing.

"Then it turned into war. Always has..." He grinned as he squeezed her own knee. Alice felt herself swoon slightly. How could that small touch have that effect?

"We're very sentimental today." Alice chuckled squeezing his knee back.

Danny nodded as he squeezed her knee back. Soon they were having a full on war.

(x)

Zoe wiped her brow as she pulled up at Mara, the trailer full of animals began to shake as she came to a standstill.

"Zoe, are you ok?" Matt asked leaning over from the back of the Jeep where he'd been sat with Dupe.

"Yeh... just tired. Didn't sleep well last night." Zoe admitted.

"You did go to bed late." Matt replied softly. "Come on, sooner you finish up here, sooner you get home! I demand you chillax and get some energy back. You Mrs Dillon to be, have been running round like a mad woman this past week!"

"I haven't had any other choice." She replied bitterly, directing the sentence at Peter who sat uncomfortably at the front. She climbed from the Jeep and walked towards the trailer. "Oh be quiet you bunch of loon's, you'll be out of there in a minute!"

She had the wildebeest in her trailer, not her favourite animal, never had been. She checked their small temporary enclosure was ready before driving the Jeep into it. She nodded to Dupe who closed the gate. Matt helped her onto the top of the trailer, before climbing up himself.

"Ready?" Matt asked smiling.

"Yep, let's get em out our hair for a bit!" Zoe laughed, she and Matt opened the trailer together. Matt pulled her into his embrace as they watched them run off. They sat for a few moments after the little release, savouring the feel of one another.

"Zoe, there's something I've been meaning to talk to you about." Matt said quietly.

"Hmm?" She asked, nestling into him even further.

"I know we have our problems at the minute, but Zoe, the one thing I want right now is to marry you. I don't care how much it costs, I will find the money. I don't care what is you want, you can have it! I know just one thing... I want you to be Mrs Dillon." Matt said passionately.

"You sound like you are proposing all over again, you sweetie!" Zoe smiled as she lifted herself up to face him.

"I would if I had a ring!" Matt laughed. "So how about it Point? I love you more than my life and... I want you to be my wife as soon as possible – and not just for the honeymoon although I guarantee that'll be fun!"

Zoe just nodded, a huge grin on her face. For once, Zoe was lost for the right words. Matt grinned back as she agreed. Without warning, Zoe launched herself at him, crashing her lips against his, her arms twining around his neck. He laughed on her lips as they kissed passionately.

Dupe smiled as he saw them and shook his head, he knew what had just happened. Matt had confided in him that he wanted to marry Zoe as soon as possible. Peter walked over leaning on the gate on the enclosure. He frowned as he saw the softer Zoe. The side of Zoe he'd never seen.

"They're engaged." Dupe explained to him. "Ach, they've had it tough man, both of em! Lovely kids though, well they're kids to me." Dupe laughed slightly. "They got engaged after Matt nearly died. Bomb at his Uni. Was in a bad way, coma for months man. Anyway, they were meant to get married, Matt just had this one last study to do to get his full vet qualification thing. Anyway, Zoe found she was pregnant, and with Matt away there were huge implications. She had a throat infection too, she went through a bad time. A work orientated woman got a big shock, she was pregnant, boyfriend away, and her voice at risk. She knew her voice was damaged soon, still beautiful though. You wanna hear her sing." Dupe leant further forward.

"Wow, I didn't know..." Peter mumbled.

"There's other stuff as well but I'd never reveal it." Dupe commented. "Please man, just give her a break. She's a good woman, you'll regret losing her if you do."

"I'm a business man." Peter said simply.

"I wouldn't have guessed." Dupe said dryly. He opened the gate as Zoe and Matt drove back through. "Hey love birds!"

"Ah you jealous Dupe?" Zoe laughed as he closed the gate.

"Jealous? Ach, Caroline's enough for me! Imagine you!" Dupe laughed. He heard Zoe's laugh as she and Matt climbed out the Jeep. They walked over. "So you two, any erm... developments?"

"We're getting married asap, I'm gonna work my ass off to give this beautiful woman beside me, the best day of her life!" Matt promised wrapping his arm around her.

"Stop it, you're making me go red!" Zoe laughed, "You great soft sod."

Peter stepped forward and reached out his hand to Matt.

"Congratulations, both of you." He smiled, Dupe nodded. Zoe smiled as Matt shook his hand.

"Thanks." Matt replied.

"In fact, why don't you get off Zoe?" Peter suggested.

Zoe did a double take. She was shocked.

"What, umm... are you, are you sure?" Zoe asked.

Peter nodded. He smiled as satisfaction filled him. He'd never done anything like that before, he'd always made employees work to the ground. But the way those young faces lit up, the pure appreciation they showed him... he realised maybe this wasn't so bad after all.

(x)

"Danny you sit down and I'll get us a glass of water." Alice smiled. Danny did so watching Alice as she turned round to the fridge. He gasped as he saw the bottom of her white vest top.

"Alice, come here." Danny demanded.

"Not now Danny." Alice replied.

"No! Alice, please!" Danny pleaded, she did so unsurely. "Lift your vest top up."

"Danny this isn't the place..." Alice teased.

"Do it." Danny told her quickly.

Alice did as she was told, she turned round to Danny who was moving his hands towards her lower back.

"What?" Alice asked.

"Alice you have a pretty nasty cut on your lower back! You should have said. I'll be Dr Trevanion now!" Danny laughed as he grabbed the first aid kit. Alice turned a chair round and sat on it so she was facing the back of it. Her back to Danny, she winced as he applied the antiseptic.

At that moment, a familiar face walked into the kitchen.

"Hello."