Afghanistan Christmas 2013

This was an idea to review how their first Christmas together would have been. They were not a couple but were definitely starting to have an awareness of each other.

Christmas in a FOB in Hellmand was like any other day. It was hot and you still woke on a military camp bed, in a sleeping bag, in a tent surrounded by snoring military personnel. Molly had managed to save her parcels from home so that at least she could imagine her family around her and the hustle and bustle of a Dawes' Christmas. Mum would be busy in the kitchen and the girls would be busy making sure the little ones are able to open their presents. Dave would normally be still in bed as he would have had one too many in the pub the night before.

Molly opened her eyes and could just see the green of the tent roof. It was quiet as 3 section were going out on a short patrol but the plan was for Christmas dinner served by Bossman and the NCOs. The entertainment was being laid on by 1 section for after dinner. Molly reached under her bed for her parcels. A new hair brush, some vest tops, new bras, some jelly babies and some Christmas DVDs.

The tent was getting noisy as the rest of the section were opening their gifts and there was lots of laughs as they enjoyed the different gifts from home. Christmas food, books, CDs, DVDs, underwear, toiletries and luckily there was no chocolate as most had been caught out during the first few weeks. The chocolate arrived melted, covering anything and everything in the parcels.

Captain James woke up in his private tent and had the same green tent roof. He lay for a moment thinking that with the time difference Sam would still be sleeping but Rebecca would be getting up soon to start Christmas with their son. Rebecca had sent Charles, Sam's list for Santa and it had included Lego, a race track, chocolate and the most important underlined gift at the top of the list had been a phone call from Afghanistan from his dad. This made Charles smile as his son was just a normal boy but it showed how much he missed his dad. They were buddies as well as father and son. They both had the same mischievous glint and zest for life.

Bossman lay back and also thought about his section and how they would all be homesick today. This was his fourth tour and he had missed the family Christmas in Bath but he also loved being on tour. Not exactly knowing what each day would bring but being with his section and his army family. It was his role to keep these twelve individuals safe and get them through the six month tour and home. This tour was different as he had started to engage his brain more due to a certain individual. A cheeky, impish Cockney medic. Initially she had not endeared herself to him as she had been mouthy and it may have been nerves but her jokes did not engage the section. Kinders had been concerned that the guys were unsettled that she would not have their backs. Fortunately they had all been proven wrong.

Molly Dawes was an asset to the section. She had shown she was gutsy, was an extremely good medic and had managed to engage with the local community. At times she did not listen and that gave him an adrenalin rush as he had to work to keep her in line. He found himself wandering to the medic tent to have his blisters checked and enjoyed her calm efficiency and her quick wit. Dawesy did not have a lot of confidence in her academic ability but she was street wise and definitely had a bright eager mind. He had also noticed that she had a great pair of legs especially in her little black shorts. Her smile was beautiful and she had sparkling green eyes. He had found himself watching her at times and had to prompt himself not to be noticed by the section.

"Boss," a Cockney voice broke into his thoughts. "Fingers sent me over with a cup of coffee and some bacon butties." He felt guilty as though she was able to read his mind from the other side of the tent.

"Come in Dawes." He called and Molly pulled back the tent flap and then let it fall back into place without knocking over the tray. She then turned and felt a blush spread warm her cheeks. Bossman was lying on his bunk, propped up by some pillows but his chest was totally bare. He was lean, brown and very toned. His hair was showing its tendency to curl and she wondered what it would be like to run her fingers through its brown thickness. Molly blushed some more thinking that if the Boss could read her thought then she was in trouble.

"Are you going to stand their gawping as I am really hungry?" Molly knew he meant hungry for the food but she wondered what it would be like if that hunger was for her.

Molly licked her lips with nerves and this caused Bossman to look directly at those luscious lips. "Where would you like it?" She indicated to the tray and Charles could not resist a bit of flirting.

"Dawes would you mind bringing it over here please." He slowly sat up in his bunk pushing the sleeping bag lower as he moved, revealing more of those perfect abs. Molly walked across slowly watching him with keen interest, wondering if he wore anything under that sleeping bag and licking her lips without realising and letting out a shallow breath. Charles realised this was killing him as if he was not careful he would embarrass himself by letting her know that he really wanted to pull her down beside him. This was getting to dangerous and not the sort of game he played.

Molly placed the tray shakily on his lap and got an electric shock as his hand reached to steady the tray. At that moment she looked into those deep brown eyes and was lost.

"Thanks Dawes. Merry Christmas." He took her hand as she released the tray and placed his lips against her knuckles. "Now piss off before I forget who I am and that I am your Boss."

Molly backed out slowly with a shy smile and hit her heel against a trunk. He smiled at her unusual faltering steps and sighed with some relief and regret when she finally left.

Later after an excellent Christmas lunch, it was time for 1 section to bring on the entertainment and he found himself tied to Dawes in a three legged obstacle course. He thought the morning had been tough but with her small but strong arm wrapped around his waist and her body leaning into his, it was torture. He had his arm wrapped around her slim shoulders and they initially made good progress but Mansfield Mike and Kinders tripped beside them and knocked them off balance. Bossman fell back winded with the hard ground but then felt a warm body land on him. He placed both hands to steady her and felt full body contact. He groaned and thankfully Dawes thought it was because he was hurt and not because he wished he could be somewhere private with this sexy lady.

Charles jumped into action and quickly got up and dusted himself down. Dawes did the same and laughed when she saw how dishevelled they were but realised Kinders and Mike had taken two other opponents out.

" Oi you tossers. We are not playing human skittles." The guys all started laughing and she turned to see Bossman smiling with his usual humour. The moment of flirting over and it was back to the usual section banter.

Christmas in Afghanistan was not the same as home but it was full of army banter and a lot of fun.

The next Christmas will be Christmas in Bath which I have already written about but there will be a different twist to the day and the usual Molly/James attraction. It is has been great to find some time to get back to their story and thanks again for all the reviews for Sleeping Handsome.