Dec started to regain his strength over the next couple of days,much to Ants relief.

His temperature returned to normal and appetite increased,although in typical Dec fashion,he milked his illness for all it was worth and got Ant to wait on him hand and foot.

"ANT" he yelled out,from the relative comfort of the shelter.

"YEAH?" Ant shouted back as he poked the fire with a stick.

"I'M HUNGRY"

Ant made his way over to Dec "fancy some mango?"

"Not really" Dec frowned "aren't you gonna go fishing?"

"I can do" Ant smiled warmly.

He hadn't let Dec have any fish yet,thought it might not be such a good idea after he'd been so ill,he didn't actually know if it would be bad for him or not,but he didn't want to risk it.

Although Dec seemed to be making a speedy recovery now,so maybe he could try a little bit,Ant did keep raving about how good the fish was after all.

"Ok,I'll go fishing" Ant smiled "wanna come and watch?"

"Ok" Dec beamed.

Ant helped Dec to his feet "no taking the piss this time ok?"

"Wouldn't dare" Dec winked "let's not go down that road again"

"I've actually got pretty good at it now anyway" Ant grinned.

Ant carried the blanket to the beach and laid it on the sand for Dec to sit on.

"Thanks" Dec smiled.

He couldn't help giggling at the amount of times Ant missed the fish with his homemade spear,but Dec definitely knew better than to comment on it this time and in reality,it wasn't too long before a couple of fish were ready to be gutted and cooked.

"How is it?" Ant asked,as Dec took a mouthful.

"Really good" Dec replied "thanks Ant"

"You're welcome" Ant grinned.

Ant continued to watch Dec as he ate.

"What?" Dec snapped "why are you looking at me like that?"

"Oh,no reason" Ant smiled "I'm just glad you're ok,I was terrified I was going to lose you"

"Well,I'm glad I was too out of it to know what was going on then" Dec smiled.

"It was awful seeing you like that" Ant stated sadly "I had no idea what to do"

Dec nudged Ant with his elbow.

"Hey" he smiled "I'm fine now,just forget about it"

"I'll try" Ant nodded "but first I need to tell you something"

"What?" Dec asked curiously,as he chewed on his last piece of fish.

"Please don't be angry Decs" Ant sighed "but I...I tried to end it"

"What?" Dec asked shocked "what do you mean?"

"Just that really" Ant shrugged "I was in a terrible way,you were desperately ill and I thought it might have been my fault...I thought you were gonna die...I just couldn't live with myself...so I tried to end it"

"You tried to kill yourself?" Dec whispered in an almost inaudible voice.

Ant nodded sadly.

"How?" Dec asked.

"Tried to drown myself" Ant stated.

"What?" Dec let out an incredulous laugh "is that even possible?"

"I thought it was" Ant shrugged "but the wave that brought me to the surface had other ideas"

"Divine intervention" Dec nodded.

"Dunno" Ant shook his head.

"So you were just going to leave me here?" Dec asked "alone?"

"I wasn't thinking straight" Ant replied,with tears forming in his eyes "I'm sorry"

"I would have woken up on my own" Dec frowned "on this island,with no one but an oversized rat for company"

"Declan" Ant couldn't help laughing at Decs description of Piccolo.

"And no idea how to fend for myself" Dec continued.

"Dec" Ant said firmly "you're better at this than you think,you rebuilt the shelter after the storm didn't you?and who found the mango tree?"

"Me" Dec sighed.

"I am sorry though" Ant continued "I just couldn't see a way out at the time"

"I could have found your dead body washed up on the beach" Dec grimaced.

Ant hadn't even thought of anything like that and was now so happy that his suicide mission hadn't been successful,one body already buried on the beach was one too many.

The thought of Dec having to do for him,what they'd done for Andy didn't bear thinking about.

"Can you ever forgive me?" Ant whispered.

Dec didn't answer,causing Ant to fret even more,he couldn't bear the thought of them falling out again.

Maybe he shouldn't have told Dec what he'd done...or almost done,but he wanted to be honest,he was bound to let it slip eventually,so thought it was best to be upfront about it now.

"Can you?" Ant repeated "can you forgive me?"

Ant looked at Dec with anticipation,desperately craving his friends forgiveness.

Dec turned towards Ant,lifted his hand and flicked him on the forehead with his finger.

"Ow" Ant replied surprised "what was that for?"

"For being a doofus" Dec grinned.

"You're the only doofus around here" Ant replied and immediately flicked Dec back.

"Ow" Dec reacted to Ants revenge.

The ridiculous fight soon descended into fits of giggles,with both men wrapping their arms around each other,play fighting and rolling around on the ground,laughing hysterically.

"I forgive you" Dec smiled,as they both sat up and composed themselves "just don't do it again"

"I won't" Ant promised.

"No matter how bad things get?" Dec encouraged "we're in this together right?"

"Right" Ant agreed and pulled Dec in for a hug "we're definitely in this together"

"Even if we're starving?" Dec asked.

"Dec" Ant laughed "we're not gonna starve,we have an endless supply of fish and mangoes,no matter how long we're here,that's not going to run out"

"Wonder how long that will be?" Dec sighed.

"Dunno" Ant shrugged "it is beautiful here though,would have been happy to do one of those day trips where they leave you on an island,then pick you up a few hours later"

"Yeah" Dec nodded "how long have we been here now?"

"No idea" Ant frowned "I've lost track,a good few days maybe?"

"Weeks more like" Dec replied "what if...?"

"Don't say it Declan" Ant snapped.

"Say what?" Dec enquired "you don't know what I'm going to say"

"Yes I do" Ant nodded "I know how your mind works,you were going to say 'what if we never get rescued?'"

Decs silence just confirmed to Ant that he was right.

"We can't think like that kidda" Ant sighed "we've been through so much already,we can't give up now"

"I'd never see Isla again" Dec suddenly announced,with unexpected tears flowing down his cheeks "she's probably already forgotten me"

"No,she hasn't" Ant replied firmly "you're her daddy,the only one she's got,just you wait until she sees you again and runs towards you holding those chubby,little arms out,demanding to be picked up"

"She is a daddys girl" Dec sniffed.

"Yeah" Ant nodded "and she will be again,just hang in there"

"I just don't know how we can?" Dec frowned "it's been so long,why haven't they found us yet?"

"I don't know" Ant replied "but they will"

"And if they don't?" Dec continued "you gonna be happy to live on this island for the rest of your life are you?"

"Might not have any choice" Ant shrugged,quickly regretting his statement.

"What?" Dec asked shocked "you just said we can't think like that"

"I was just trying to stay positive" Ant shrugged his shoulders "but it's not always easy"

"So you'll be happy to never see Anne-Marie again?" Dec enquired "or your Mam?Sarha?your dogs?your friends?"

"Of course I won't be happy" Ant sighed "but it is what it is"

"Well,I want to see my daughter again" Dec announced tearfully "my wife,Mam...if the shock of all this hasn't already killed her...my brothers and sisters...I want to go home Ant...I want to go home"

Dec buried his head into Ants chest,sobbing heavily.

"I know" Ant replied gently,as he stroked his fingers lovingly through Decs hair "me too and we will,I'm sure of it"

Ant tried to sound convincing,but he wasn't even buying it himself,let alone getting Dec to believe it.

"And I want to have sex again" Dec announced,as he pulled out of the embrace.

"Can't help with that I'm afraid" Ant frowned.

"I want to make love to my wife again" Dec cried "to Ali...I want that physical and emotional connection,I need it"

Ant was startled as Dec suddenly got to his feet and ran towards the water.

"DEC" Ant followed after him "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?"

"SWIMMING" Dec called out.

"SWIMMING?" Ant shouted,quickly realising that Dec was obviously not just going for a quick,refreshing dip WHERE TO?"

"ANYWHERE" Dec replied as he waded into the ocean "ANYWHERE AWAY FROM THIS STUPID ISLAND,WE MIGHT NOT EVEN BE FAR FROM CIVILISATION,WE JUST HAVEN'T LOOKED YET"

"DEC,DON'T BE SO RIDICULOUS" Ant shouted out "THERE'S NOTHING BUT OCEAN AROUND US FOR MILES,YOU'LL DROWN"

"WELL" Dec shot back "IT WAS GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU"

Ant ignored Decs hurtful comment,as he struggled to catch up with him.

"DECLAN" Ant shouted "EVEN OLYMPIC SWIMMERS WOULD DIE DOING THIS,PLEASE COME BACK"

Dec didn't answer.

He was already swimming as far out to sea as he could.

"YOU'RE GOING TO DIE DEC" Ant shouted desperately.

Finally,Dec stopped and turned to face Ant,although they were now too far away from each other to clearly see the others face.

"Oh,thank God" Ant mumbled to himself.

Dec had soon realised how crazy he was being,setting out on a raft would have been hard enough...but to swim?it had been a knee jerk reaction to their preposterous situation and he was now keen to get back to the beach.

But Ant had a feeling of unease,even though Dec was now making his way back and he wasn't sure why?

He sensed something...something that wasn't right,something bad,but he couldn't work out what it was.

All he could do was encourage Dec to get back to the shore as quickly and calmly as possible.

"COME ON DECS" he called out "LET'S GET YOU BACK ON DRY LAND SHALL WE?"

And then Ant saw it.

The reason for his unexplained nervousness.

The shadow of the large creature,steadily getting closer to an unsuspecting Dec.

The grey fin,just visible from Ants position in the water.

A feeling of fear,panic and dread all overwhelmed him at once,as he did the only thing he could to warn his friend.

"DEC" he shouted out.

"SHAAAARRRKKK!"