Ok, so I hope you enjoyed the last chapter. I was really excited for this chapter and I hope it turns out the way I've planned.

Molly's POV

Getting off the plane just outside Bastion was like coming home for Molly. She took in a deep breath of the thick, hot, dusty air. Although she was missing Charles already, she was still really glad to be back. She felt like she might be able to finish her work out here once and for all.

"Private Dawes." The unfamiliar voice cut through her thoughts. She turned in the direction the voice had come from.

"Yes." She called back. A Lance Corporal marched up to her.

"I'm Lance Corporal Jenson, I've been asked to give you your orders and get you to your FOB. |Any questions?"

"No Sir."

"Good. Unfortunately we have very limited information about the missions you will embark on, it appears their nature changes regularly. Although you FOB will be the same one as the one you were at on your first tour."

"Oh ok, guess that can work to my advantage then. Already knowing the surroundings and all."

"Correct, Private Dawes. But don't make the mistake of thinking that that means you can get lazy, that's when mistakes are made and people get hurt."

"I understand Sir."

Lance Corporal Jenson and Molly walked towards the helipad where the was a chopper ready and waiting. Molly pushed her kit onto the chopper and clambered up into the seat. She looked down at the mountains and empty desert as they flew high above them. She couldn't help but wonder if there were insurgents on the ground below. 45 minutes later the chopper landed just outside the walls of the FOB. A group of soldiers ran forward and began unloading other supplies. Molly grabbed her kit and got off. She'd ducked down and jogged forwards until she was out of reach of the blades powerful winds. When she straightened up she began to walk forwards and was met by Major Morley, an American soldier she'd met during the tracking of Badrai.

"Good to see you in one piece Dawes."

"Hoping to stay this way Sir."

"Good to hear. I don't know how much you've been told already but American troops have been recalled from the area, you British on the other hand are to remain until the area is completely secured. Drop you stuff off in the Med tent and then I'll introduce you to you new Captain."

Molly put her stuff in the Med tent taking a quick look around to see if it had changed much. It hadn't. She removed her helmet and communication set and leaving it with her gun and the rest of her kit made her way back out to rejoin Major Morley.

As they walked Molly saw some of the men playing football, some others in the food tent and a couple more sitting by the stage where she'd sang with Charles on her first tour. Memories flooded through her head and she shook her head, forcing herself to focus on the job at hand. Morley pulled back the side of the Captain's tent and walked purposefully inside, Molly followed after him. She had butterflies in her stomach, for some reason the thought of meeting her new Captain was making her nervous.

"This is Private Dawes of the 4th Med Regiment." Morley announced to the Captain who was sat with his back to them, it looked like he was mapping something out. After a pause Morley added:

"Do us all a favour and make sure she stays in one piece. I wouldn't want to be the one to tell her boyfriend she's dead." With that Morley rounded and left the tent.

The man turned round and looked at her. Molly's mouth dropped as she looked at the familiar face.

"You have got to be fucking kidding me."

"Now why would I do that?"

Molly remained with the shocked look on her face. The last person she expected to be her new Captain was Corporal Geddings from basic. Obviously he'd gotten a promotion since then.

"Right Dawes, you better familiarise yourself with the surroundings pronto." He walked out of the tent and Molly followed. They'd taken all of 5 steps outside when Molly spotted another face.

"Oi you, you massive cockwomble." Molly shouted completely forgetting about Geddings standing next to her. Molly watched as there was a flash of recognition flashed across the ANA soldier's face.

"Maybe I was wrong. Maybe you still will be here for the end." Sohail shouted back at her.

"Course I fucking will be ya muppet. Thanks for tellin us ya still alive mate. Appreciate it."

"Didn't think you would care."

Molly shook her head and then pulled a face as she caught sight of the look on Captain Geddings face. Captain Geddings, god that sounds weird she thought.

"Or perhaps you are already familiar."

Molly nodded. "I was here on my first tour." She confirmed.

"Well then no need for a tour, briefing at 1800 hours, go get some grub."

With that Geddings returned to his tent and Molly headed off to unpack her things in the Med tent. It didn't take her long, she already knew the best places to keep the supplies. She lay down on the bed staring at the ceiling, the same ceiling she'd stared at before. Back when Smurf had been alive and Charles had still been her Captain. Back when she had all her mates from 2 section coming in every 2 seconds asking for plasters for cuts and blisters. She missed them already. This tour was going to be very different from the others.

Half an hour before the briefing Molly went to get food. She ate alone, everyone else was busy getting ready for the briefing or moving supplies. At 1800 hours she headed over to the ops tent, pen and pad in hand. She ducked through the doorway and joined everybody else round the table. Captain Geddings walked in and began briefing the group on the route for their patrol. When he finished he looked them all in the eye.

"Any questions?" He asked, no one said anything, "Ok good. One more thing, this is Private Dawes she is our replacement medic. Make her welcome lads." Everyone looked at Molly briefly before looking back at the Captain and nodding. They all left the tent and went off to do their own things. Molly headed over to the phones.

"Mols!" Molly heard the voice of her old friend from basic training calling her. It was strange to hear Katy's voice again after all these years.

"Katy!" Molly called back turning around to face her friend.

"I can't believe your here."

Molly laughed "Well ere I am."

"So? What do you think to Afghan? Took me days to get used to the heat."

"Nah its cool. Took me weeks to get used ta the heat, first time round. Now its jus like comin home again."

Katy frowned looking confused by Molly's response.

"This is my 3rd tour." Molly explained watching the confusion on Katy's face disappear.

"Have you met the lads yet then?"

"Jus now was the first time I saw em."

"One sec Katy. Oi Sohail chuck us that pen yeah."

Katy followed Molly's gaze to the big ANA soldier who was sat just outside his tent. He reached down and picked up the pen. He held for a second before tossing it over to Molly. Molly caught the pen easily and walked to the wall of the base. Previous soldiers had written all over the walls. Molly located where someone had written Under 5's 2 section rock. Around it were the names of everyone in 2 section. Molly took a breath to steady her hand before lifting her arm and writing RIP Smurf you Welsh wanker we miss you.

She turned and saw Katy watching her, tossing the pen back to Sohail who was trying to decipher her awful handwriting, she wrapped her arm round Katy's shoulders and steered back to the middle of the camp.

"Right en, time ta meet the lads."

Charles' POV

Molly hadn't even been gone a day and already the oversized house felt too big, too empty, too quiet. He missed her loud voice with her prominent London accent. He'd done nothing but sit on the sofa watching EastEnders, thinking of what Molly would be yelling at the characters.

"Charlie?" He turned around and saw his mother in the doorway, she still had her coat and shoes on. She was looking at him carefully, trying to figure out why her son looked so depressed. "What's wrong Charlie?"

"Molly's gone."

"Gone?"

"Back to Afghan. She got a battle replacement order. She left this morning."

"Oh, well I'm sure she'll be fine, she can definitely look after herself that's for sure." Elizabeth smiled sympathetically at her son, before she rose and left the room.

Charles stayed there all night and when the sun rose the next day he merely got another cup of coffee and went back to his place on his sofa.

"I get that you miss her son, but come on. Haven't you got a job to go to?" His father asked realising the Charles hadn't moved all night.

"Don't start until next week."

"Well go see Sam then."

"He's on holiday with Rebecca and her husband."

"Again?"

"Yeah. France this time I think."

Eventually his Dad got up and left him to sit there on his own again. Once again he sat there all day, ignoring his parents attempts to get him to do something vaguely useful. He just needed to clear his head properly, get all the doubt out of his head. He needed a couple of days to accept the fact that he wasn't going to see Molly for 5 months. One day at a time. He'd have to take it one day at a time he decided.

On the third morning after Molly had left for Afghan Charles got up and went for a run. When he came back he ate with his parents. They were pleased to see him finally doing something. He ended up in the garden trimming and taming the wild hedges and plants in his parents big town house garden. He dug around in the bushes and found all manner of things including: Sam's toy cars, half eaten shoes, a broken skateboard wheel, an earring Molly had lost the first time she'd been there and also a tie he hadn't seen since he was 18. He moved round the garden slowly cutting at the wild branches. He was trying to focus on the job in hand but his mind kept wandering.

3 hours later his Mum yelled out to him that someone was on the phone for him.

"Hello?"

"Alright bossman?"

The sound of her voice echoed through his head. A weight lifted from his shoulders with the knowledge that for now at least she was fine.

"Dawesy, are you not meant to be doing something. Patching up blisters?"

"Believe it or not, but I have not seen a single blister since I got here."

"Well then what's the point in you being there? You said it yourself before, you're meant to be at the cutting edge of the conflict with blisters."

"Actually I said your blisters."

Charles heard someone calling her name in the background.

"I have ta go boss, Love you."

"Ditto. Stay safe Dawesy"

"Will do, see ya soon."

The call ended and Charles sighed loudly, just the sound of her voice had cheered him up considerably. She sounded happy, so now he was happy.

The end of another chapter, please R&R xem98x