Practically running through the corridors of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Elvis stopped only to check the directions. He'd heard the news only hours ago when he'd landed at Brize. He couldn't believe the silly bugger had done it again. Got himself shot this time. With a quick glance through the window he pushed his way into the room, acknowledging Rebecca with a nod and dropped quickly to his knees to catch Sam as he threw himself at him. "Uncle Elvis, a bad man shot Daddy, there was lots and lots of blood." his eyes round with awe. "And a funny soldier lady saved him." "A funny soldier lady?" raising an eyebrow questioningly towards Charles where he sat up in the hospital bed.
A slight almost imperceptible shake of the head was his only response to that question. "Good to see you Elvis. I hear you've been holidaying in war zones again." Accepting the change of subject he settled himself into the hard plastic chair.
"I thought I was the one that went on dangerous missions. How the fuck did you manage to get yourself shot? Playing hero again?" Before he could answer, Rebecca rose from her own chair. Bestowing a glaring look of hatred on Elvis she leaned over and planted a kiss on Charles's cheek. She had been aiming for his lips but a quick move of the head foiled that. "Take care Charles, I'll be back tomorrow. Think about my suggestion." Ignoring Elvis she took Sam by the hand and lead him protesting out of the hospital room.
"Shit, as if being shot isn't bad enough, she's been here every bloody day." Charles flopped back on to the pillow with a sigh of annoyance. "What happened? What's she doing here? Where're Juliette and Philip? I couldn't believe it when I got your text saying you'd been shot and she was hovering like a fart under a duvet. I thought it was a wind up." "So that's what took you so long to come? I sent that text nearly a week ago. Mum and Dad had booked a month in Lake Garda before this happened so I told them to go, I'd be fine. But then I didn't know how difficult it would be to escape Rebecca's plans which will probably scupper my own plans."
"Her plans? Your plans? Look mate just start at the beginning. Oh and I was taking down some pretty bad men of my own if you must know. That's why I only just got here. Only got back in the country a couple of hours ago so you can cut the 'poor me' crap"
Grinning, Charles pulled himself upright again. "I've met someone." "Bloody hell Charlie, that was quick work, you've only been in here a month and most of that you were out of it so the nurse said when I phoned. By the way, if anyone asks, I'm your brother. Only way I could get them to tell me anything." "Not in here, I met someone in on Tour, a medic…" "Good choice, medics are my favourite too. So you met her at Bastion?" Knowing Elvis would be thinking about Georgie, also an army medic, Charles gave him a few moments to refocus.
"Not at Bastion, on the tarmac at Brize, she's my medic." "Christ Charlie, are you insane? You could end up dishonourably discharged, fucking around with one of your platoon. I take it she's the funny soldier lady?" Elvis was trying to get to grips with his friend's stupidity, rubbing his hands over his face to try and take things in.
"We weren't fucking around. Nothing happened, well almost nothing happened." He looked pleadingly at Elvis for understanding. After all, he'd fallen for Georgie while they were on a mission.
"She's special Elvis, bright, feisty, funny, sexy and a fantastic soldier. I didn't want to fall for her, it just happened. In fact, I thought I'd cocked things up when she found out about Rebecca and Sam from someone else, thought I was still married, accused me of lying. No kidding Elvis, when I thought I'd lost any chance with her it hurt more than when Rebecca left." Struggling to equate this love sick puppy, willing to flaunt his beloved rules and regulations with Mr Live By The Army Book himself, he just continued to stare.
"Well say something." Charles was getting angry now, he didn't need Elvis's approval but he did want his support and his help. "I assume you patched things up? Was that before or after you got shot?" "Before. It was actually one of the factors in my getting shot." Watching Elvis shake his head in disbelief he knew he had to set things straight.
"We were on a mission to identify and capture a Taliban most wanted. Molly, that's my medic, Private Dawes, well she's the only one who could ID him. Anyway, I'm not going. Into details but we sorted stuff out while we were waiting for the target and, well, er… we kissed. Nothing else and it was a really brief kiss and a few words were spoken. We had no idea anyone had seen us, we were in a little side room of the compound we were hiding in." Elvis sat forward as if to interject but Charles held his hand up. "Just let me get this out okay and then you can bollock me all you like. So, the signal came and we set off. We were both focussed on the mission, she was totally professional. Only there was another private, Private Dylan Smith, who was in love with her too. He was the one who'd seen and minutes into the mission he flipped, totally lost the plot. To be fair, he shouldn't have been there in the first place. Molly had warned me he was in the wrong frame of mind, he's the twin brother of the soldier I lost on my last tour. Remember?" He waited for Elvis to nod, shock written all over his face. It took a lot to shock Elvis Harte but Captain Charles James had just managed it. "I should have listened to her, had him sent home as soon as she told me but I wanted to give him a chance, he'd been number 1 in his section all through training, he just needed to settle down, I thought. We were at the truck, Molly looking through the people in the back when a shot was fired. Not the one that hit me, Smurf, Private Smith, had shot this Afghan blokes goat, was goading him to go for his gun. Only the bloke didn't have a gun, that's when I took my eye off the ball. Left Molly unsupported at the truck and went back to deal with Smurf. Turns out he'd seen us kiss and heard what we said and decided I'd ruined his life. I honestly thought he wanted to die at that moment or wanted to kill someone, possibly me."
He stopped, reaching for a glass of water, taking several gulps before continuing. "Molly had spotted the insurgent, dressed as a woman, and shouted a warning to everyone to take cover but he'd jumped up firing. I couldn't even get a shot off before he'd shot me in the stomach and leg. Smurf took one to the upper arm. All hell broke loose with ANA and our lads shooting. Molly started giving me treatment while dealing with Smurf at the same time. I could hear the lads shouting down the radios, asking if anyone had eyes on. I swear Elvis, I have never seen anything like it. She'd ripped the pistol out of my holster and taken him down with a single shot. No hesitation at all. She saved all three of us and god knows how many more if he'd managed to get back on his feet."
"Okay, she sounds amazing, a real super woman but I still don't get why you want me here." "It's Rebecca." he said and waited. It didn't take long for the eruption to happen.
"Oh no, no no no no No and just for clarity NO. No fucking way and I keeping Rebecca occupied while you get your end away with your sexy medic. Anyway, there hospital rules about that sort of thing." Elvis had risen as he was talking and was heading rapidly for the door. "Don't panic, that's not what I want from you." Charles was finding it difficult to hold back his laughter at Elvis's reaction. "It's more I need you to volunteer to come and stay with me until Mum and Dad get back. "You want me to play nursemaid? At risk of repeating myself, no fucking way. I'm not wiping your shitty arse. It's bad enough when I have to do Laura's and her's is nowhere near as big and hairy as yours." He shuddered at the very thought of it. He loved Charles like a brother but you had to draw the line somewhere.
The hysterical laughter coming from the bed was too much. He was an inch away from giving him a punch in the gut when he remembered Charlie's injury. "When you've finished pissing yourself at my expense can we finish this conversation so I can go and get some shuteye?" He was seriously not amused and his fuse was getting shorter by the minute.
"Alright, I'm sorry… but your face…." laughter threatened to take over again so he took a drink to try and drown it. "I don't want you wiping my hairy arse, I'm quite capable of doing that myself. I need you to say you're coming to stay to put Rebecca off. I forgot to change my next of kin so they informed her when I got shot. She's been here nearly every day since, with and without Sam." "I thought the divorce was all sorted?" "It is but she's got it into her head that I'm going to leave or be medically discharged so we can be the 9 – 5, holiday cottage in France type of family she dreamed of. Of course it's not going to happen but she isn't listening to me. She sold the house and is looking for somewhere a bit more manageable financially for her so, when Mum let slip they were heading off to Italy she 'suggested' she come and stay with me while she's looking. Honestly Elvis, I can see it in her eyes, she's got it all planned out. Playing happy families with Sam, so I'll end up giving in rather than hurting him. The woman scares me to death. I'm having nightmare of that scene in Misery where Kathy Bates has James Caan tied to the bed."
This time it was Elvis's turn to laugh. With tears running down his face, he took in the pleading look in Charlie's eyes, "So you want me at your mum's because you know if I'm there she won't come within ten miles of the place? What about your hot medic?"
"Will you stop calling her that, her name's Molly. And that's just it. I don't actually want you to stay with me, just say you will to stop Rebecca getting any ideas of a happy reunion. I don't really need any help, the stomach wound has healed well and they're giving me a walking boot for my leg so apart from being a bit unsteady, I'm fit to go. I've provisionally arranged a date with Molly and I'm hoping to persuade her to stay over for a few days while the parents are away." He finished the last bit with a salacious grin and a wink.
Elvis thought it over for a while before coming to a decision. "When are you being released and when's your date?" "I'm supposed to get out on Friday and I'm seeing Molly on Tuesday. Mum and Dad are back the following Sunday."
"Why am I not surprised you've got it all worked out.," Elvis mused, "Okay, here's my counter suggestion. I'll pick you up on Friday, extricating you from Rebecca's clutches it need be. Drive you home and stay with you until Tuesday morning, pissing off home before your se… lady arrives. That way, if doubting Rebecca turns up or phones over the weekend I'll be there." "You're good at this subterfuge stuff." Charles laughed at his friend's cunning plan. "That, my friend, is why I'm special forces and you're just a glorified squaddie."
"Seriously Elvis, I owe you big time for this. Molly's special, I think we could have something good together. She makes me use my heart as well as my brain. Really makes me think."
"Any time Charlie, you know I'll always be there for you. But you do owe me, BIG TIME!"