Our Girl – Chapter 2
Molly stormed back to her tent, swatting aside the door leaving it flapping at her heels.
How dare he just walk off and leave her to stand there! She felt humiliated and she did not like it.
She just stood there, very still, fuming for what seemed like hours. She would not let him get away with this.
Before her brain had registered what was going on her legs were moving quickly back out of the med tent and across camp. She broke into a run and gathered speed as she rounded the corner to find Captain James sat outside his tent looking lost. He straightened up as soon as he saw her. "Molly…I," he began.
"No. I talk you listen this time." "I don't know what you think your playing at but if I say nothing happened between me and Smurf then that means nothing happened. Don't you dare accuse me of something I didn't do...Sir." Her voice was hoarse from shouting.
The silence was tangible.
"You told me to come back to you….and I did," she whispered, hanging her head.
James stood up and took her hand, slowly leading her through the doorway of his tent. She didn't look up.
Suddenly she was in his arms, he enveloped her. For the first time on the tour in Afghan, in her life, she felt truly safe, a blissful irony in the bloody war zone they found themselves in. She knew he felt the same.
The next morning dawned with news of the imminent arrival of a new platoon of Afghan soldiers to begin the takeover process as the British withdrew. They marched past 2 Section with stony faces and armfuls of kit, some of them painfully young looking, and disappeared off to their tents. Not a word was exchanged. Molly exhaled the breath she had been holding.
2 Section spent the whole day out on patrol in the mountain region ensuring checkpoints remained open, they saw little action all day and returned to camp worn out but in high spirits.
"2 Section double in!" "Ok well done for today guys, we did a good job supporting the Afghan army to keep those checkpoints open. They are like the arteries of communication and travel, they ensure safety in the unpredictable mountainous terrain. Even though we didn't see much action today that does not mean we become complacent, remember: 'stay focussed, stay alert, stay alive'."
A chorus of voices could be heard chanting this mantra.
"Go and get showered and get yourself some scoff from the mess tent."
The lads dispersed to put down their kit and head to the showers, Molly stayed behind.
"Thank you Sir."
"What for Dawes?"
"A good patrol today Sir. It's great to see how our efforts are really benefiting the civilians out here."
"Thank you Dawes, I don't know if I've said this before but you are an excellent medic and a real asset to your Section." He beamed with pride.
"Thank ya Sir. You're not bad yourself you know," she smirked.
She sauntered off in the direction of her tent, he stood still admiring the view.
That evening, after a hurried dinner in the mess tent, all of 2 Section retired to bed exhausted. Camp fell silent.
Molly turned over and opened her eyes, she got out of bed and grabbed her notebook and pen off the side table before tiptoeing out into the dark. She had got as far as the med tent when Captain James appeared round the corner.
"Dawes?"
James scanned her body momentarily, she was wearing an oversized football shirt with…very short…pyjama shorts. He tried his best not to stare.
Molly shifted uncomfortably under his gaze.
He came to his senses.
"Why aren't you in bed?"
"Sorry Sir I…um…this sounds silly but it's easier to write when it's quiet out here." She held up her notebook.
"I see. Where do you write?"
She pointed to the roof of the toilet block, he grinned.
"It may be the roof of the shitter but at least I can get some peace and quiet up there."
He shook his head.
"I'll have to join you then."
They climbed to the roof and sat side by side just looking out over the land visible in the faint light of day.
"Are all your clothes in MTP?," she asked smirking and motioning to the fact that he had not changed out of his kit.
"Very funny. I get up early, got to be prepared."
In fact he had spent most of the night pacing up and down inside his tent with one person occupying his thoughts.
"Why what do you think I sleep in?"
Even in the dim light he could see she had turned bright red.
"How would I know."
"Most nights I sleep in boxers but sometimes the Afghan climate means it's too hot for much at all really."
He watched gleefully as her eyes widened at the thought, she looked away embarrassedly and started playing with a strand of her hair.
"Lucky I don't get many female visitors during the night then isn't it," Captain James replied.
"Well you never know…," Molly reverted to a hushed tone. "That could change if you play your cards right."
He breath caught slightly, he hoped she hadn't noticed.
"Well after four tours, Afghan can get very…lonely. Something to break the monotony is always encouraged."
"Is this me being encouraged?" Molly asked tentatively, pretending to not know what he was on about.
"That depends what would encourage you."
Molly shifted her position to be closer to him, her shoulder brushed against his arm and she shivered.
There was a long pause.
"Molly…this is stupid. We're not a pair of inexperienced teenagers. We are consenting adults, even THAT can't be against army regulations. Why don't we just…"
He was cut off.
"Sir!"
They both jumped apart and Captain James quickly climbed down off the roof.
"Corporal."
"I was just going to run the morning's PT session plans past you." He pointed to the roof where Molly still sat. "Unless your…busy."
"Surveillance only Corporal."
The pair disappeared off into the OPS tent.
Molly stared off into the distance, was she imagining things. Had he just nearly asked her to…no surely not? She got down and returned to her tent.
That morning's PT session was awkward to say the least, every time she ran past him he averted his gaze. She tried to catch his eye but it was no use. Eventually she just gave up, she had imagined it, it was just her being stupid.
He was trying so hard not to concentrate on how she looked in her PT kit. Ever since they had their first PT session in sports kit he had admired her figure, she was definitely feminine but she was inherently strong. Much like her attitude. He would never admit it but he probably enjoys her scathing insults and bit too much.
No. Stop. He needed to be more professional, he was an Officer she was his Private. He couldn't afford this kind of distraction. If he was honest, the effect she had on him scared him a little.