Disclaimer: Don't owe Our Girl. She and her friends belong to BBC TV.
Molly was about to open her mouth and answer the Captain when there was a commotion nearby. A soldier came up and saluted him.
"Sir. We have captured him. Sir"
The Captain left Molly's side and followed the soldier outside. Molly hoped it was, she hoped that he had come back on his own accord.
Private Smith was held by two soldiers at the foot of the hospital's steps. He looked up at Captain as he strode down them to front him.
"Where was he found...?", he asked the right soldier.
"He was on the ground sir...he says he is in agony..."
The gents eyes focused on the younger mans, he was searching for the truth, "Is this correct? Are you in pain private Smith?"
Dylan nodded his head and he spotted Molly coming to stand at the top of the steps with an array of other nurses and staff.
Mary turned to Molly, "He's trying to desert I bet yah Moll...he's a coward if there woz one"
Molly shot her colleague a glare, "How do YOU know? What do you about what's in his head?"
They both watched The Captain consider the private, he then turned to the right soldier, "Private Parker, take Private Smith into the hospital, I want him medically assessed, I sought a doctors professional diagnosis before I come to a decision"
The Privates heaved Smith up the steps and went inside, Molly's eyes followed them, then they turned back to the Captain who was in confo with some others at the base of the steps.
Sister Turner was then rounding them up and forcing them inside to return to their work. Molly hurried up the cluttered corridor to see Private Smith sitting on a bed. He turned his head and he smiled at her.
She managed a smile back.
Was he in pain? Or was he just putting it on so he will not be shot for desersion. Maybe she would never know.
It was the night shift so the electric lights were put on. Molly couldn't help wonder about them because electricity was a rather new thing. Her Mum and Dads house didn't have it yet, they still had candles would you please.
But she remembered her Dad saying that electricity wouldn't last because it wasn't natural.
She crossed over to the rest room and hooked on her apron and tied it around the back. She then turned to see Sister Turner pop her head in the gloomy doorway, "Nurse Dawes would you see to this patient please...you've been asked for..."
Molly frowned and wondered if it was somebody in the street she knew, but clocking the patient, her heart started to race.
It was that Captain James, he was stood clutching his hand over his other hand. Sister Turner was at his side, "Wouldn't you prefer me to deal with your injury sir? I am sure you would like someone in a more senior position to take care of your wound..."
The Captain nodded, "No, I am sure that nurse Dawes here can tend to it efficiantly, if she cannot, then I would express my concern the why she is doing here, Sister"
Sister Turner backed away handed Molly the tray and barked, "Dont keep the Captain hanging around for too long, I am sure he would prefer not to have the prattle that you have with the other...patients"
Molly had to smirk slightly, Sister Turner had been dying to treat the Captain herself, the disappoint in her face was priceless.
"Why are you smirking..."
Molly nearly jumped out of her skin when the Captains deep voice barked at her. She looked up at him, his bemused stance bearing down at her, she pulled herself together very quickly, "Errrm...I was just thinking about something amusing, that was all sir...please could you take a seat, I'll clean up your head wound first...and errr...you are too tall for me to..."
The Captain shook his head, "it's just a simple scratch Nurse Dawes, attending to the deep cut on my hand is all that is required from you..."
Molly was insistant, "Please...it's not a serious cut I know sir, but it still needs cleaning up...it might get infected sir"
Captain James huffed and took a seat on the bed, "Ohhhh very well, but hurry yourself, I haven't got all day..."
Molly placed the tray down onto the bed next to him, then went to the sink and wetted a bandaid then came over and dabbed the wet 'aid over the cut that was above the eyebrow, he looked at her as she worked.
"How long have you worked here...I am not being treated by a complete and utter ametour am I?"
Molly continued to cleanse the cut, "a couple of years sir...and all due respect to you sir, I do know what I am doing"
She looked down to his hand that bled into a bandage he clutched, "If you dont mind me asking sir, but how did you do this?"
The Captain's brown eyes softened, but only slightly, " I thought that your superior said you were not to prattle..."
Molly shrugged as she picked up a clean bandaid, "I cant help it...I could talk for England me...my Dad used to say that"
Captain James hinted a brief chuckle, "that I can believe...but do you mind treating the wound on my hand before I bleed to death, girl"
"Sorry...", she was happy that the head cut was clean and stopped bleeding, she then took hold of his hand and inspected it, she then worked quietly cleaning it up...there was alot of dirt and grit in the wound.
"You asked me how I did this...I fell off my horse girl...stupid clumsy beast...I am having it shot as we speak"
Molly stopped what she was doing and looked up at him aghast, "you mean that white stallion I saw you with the other day? It such a beautiful creature, big and strong...I'm sure that you just..."
The Captain pulled his hand away and inspected her work, "This will do, I will attend the rest of it myself...", he stood and towered over her, "...and if i wanted your opinion about my horse then I would have asked for it...remember your place, girl"
"I-I didn't mean to course offence sir...", she stuttered.
The Captain collected his cap and then was about to go, Molly picked up the tray and called out after him, "If you shoot that horse just because you fell off it, then shame on you for wanting to kill it..."
He stopped and turned around to face her, "You are inserbordiant...I have never heard the like of it before...I am going to have a clear word in Sister Turner's ear about your behaviour before I leave here..."
He then strode off, Molly sighed and sat on the bed clutching her forehead, me and my gob...she thought.
XXX
Outside on the steps, the soldier strode up them two at a time and saluted the Captain as he came out of the door, "Sir. I have instructed the horse to be tethered up street and await your firing command..."
Captain James unholsted his fire arm and the marched up the street towards the white horse that was tied to a gas lamp post. The moon was up and the shine in it's eyes focused on him when he raised his gun at it.
The Captain swallowed then lowered the firearm and looked back to the soldier, "No...I have a better idea, I am officially going to retire this horse and give it to somebody who thinks they can take better care of it than me..."
The Soldier frowned, but he straightened up, "I dont know what you mean sir...?"
The Captain smiled to himself, "I have a new home for it private Johnson...and I am sure she will appreciate what it takes to care for such a beast..."
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A longer chapter! I hope you enjoyed -
Thank for your kind comments - M