A/N Oh Lordy, the Muse really pulled it out of the bag didn't it? Lummee! I'd like to tell you that everything has turned out all hugs and puppies, but this is the Muse we're talking about and basically it's a barking nutjob. Sorry.

Thanks again for the amazing support and really getting engaged with the story. Your reviews, favourites and everything are so appreciated.

Enjoy

Elf xx

Molly stared out of the window at the darkness, the lashing rain reflected in the light from the room. She folded the hyperthermic blanket for about the fourth time and held it to her. It took all her effort not to cry, or scream or both. She should be out there, out there looking for him with the rest of them, instead they had made her stay here at the Warcop infirmary being useless.

A sound behind her made her turn, it was only Jackie.

'Anything?' She asked, unable to keep the pleading out of her voice. Her friend shook her head sympathetically.

'The second I hear something, I'll let you know.'

Molly clutched the blanket tighter. 'He's out there Jackie, he's out there, lost and cold and maybe even…' She stifled a whimper in her throat.

Jackie placed her hand over her friend's whitened knuckles and squeezed. 'They are all out there looking for him. He's fit, he's strong, he can swim. It will be ok.'

'Will it though?' Molly pulled away. 'I've been stood here thinking. What am I going to tell the kids, they idolise him? What about his parents?' She put down the blanket and sunk her head into her hands. 'The last thing he said to me, no heroics, no bloody heroics, and now he's god knows where. They have to find him.' She looked up, her expression desperate. 'He has to be ok Jackie… What do I do if he's not ok?'

The cadets had been packed off to their dormitory an hour since and the corporal had returned to duties. Wilson opened the door a crack and peeped out.

'Where are you going?' Cadet Thompson hissed. 'You're going to get us all in trouble.'

'Oh don't be so pathetic.' Wilson ducked her head back in the door and glowered at the girl. 'There's so much going on they aren't going to notice if one of us is missing for a little while and I've got a hot date.'

'A date? Who with?' One of the other girls asked. Wilson couldn't see in the dark, it sounded like Simpson.

'One of the squaddies I met earlier. Cover for me if there's an inspection.' Wilson said, a slight gloat in her voice.

'Just get back into bed, there isn't even anywhere to go.' Thomson complained.

'I'm sure we'll find somewhere. Don't wait up.' She giggled as she slipped into the corridor and away.

A flurry of activity just outside the infirmary made Molly and Jackie jump. Sergeant Kinders pushed open the door, he was soaking wet, the rain dripped from his uniform. Before Molly could ask he gave a short apologetic shake of the head.

'There's no more beds at the hospital and the emergency accommodation can't cope with this. We've got a couple of casualties…' Kinders tailed off looking at Jackie desperately.

'What kind of casualties?' Molly asked.

With another concerned glance at the Nuneaton medic, Kinders squirmed. 'The couple who were involved in the incident with Captain James.' He said eventually.

Molly gasped.

'I'll deal with this Mols…' Jackie began.

Putting a hand out to stop her friend, Molly seemed perfectly calm. 'No, it's ok, I'll do it.'

'You sure that's a good idea?' Eggy glanced from Jackie to Molly and back again. 'The guy is pretty confused and his wife is proper upset, understandably. You sure you're up for it?'

'Yes boss.' Molly said, her jaw set determinedly.

Kinders shrugged. 'They're all yours.'

Waiting in the remote store cupboard, Wilson glanced at her watch. They had definitely arranged to meet at twenty three hundred and now it was almost half past. Wilson peeped out of the door. She wasn't entirely sure what the flurry of activity had been earlier. There had been shouting and the sound of truck doors being slammed, then everything seemed to have gone quiet. She just assumed the regulars were getting some sleep before tomorrow, so there would be no reason why her potential Romeo couldn't get away. The hands on her watch ticket so slowly they almost seemed to be going in reverse. He couldn't have forgotten; they'd arranged it right before Dawes interrupted them… A moment of absolute clarity hit her. That was what had happened. Lance Corporal bloody Dawes had said something to him, she'd put him off. Fury coursed through the young cadet. She bet Dawes had told him she was actually fifteen, not seventeen as she'd claimed, and she'd probably put him on a charge, or given him some ridiculous job so that he couldn't make their meeting. Wilson clenched and unclenched her fists in fury. There was no way she was going back to her bed and admit to the others that she'd been stood up. No, she would wait here until a respectable time and then pretend it had all gone exactly to plan. In the meantime, she would work out how she was going to get her own back on Lance Corporal Molly Dawes.

'Smith, Private, 3714368.' The elderly gentleman said, standing as much to attention as he could manage.

'That's all he will say.' Kinders said with a shrug.

'He's very upset. He thought we were being attacked, it's his mind you see, he gets so confused. Have the found the young man? Oh dear me, he would be so devastated if he knew what he had done, he was so proud of his army days. Oh dear.' The white haired lady in a wet and dirty nightdress had someone's combat jacket over her shoulders. She hung on to her husband's arm as it hung stiffly by his side. John? John?' She peered up into his face. 'Please John these people are trying to help us.'

'Smith, Private, 3714368.' He repeated doggedly.

Molly's expression softened as she watched the couple. It wasn't their fault, they were as much a victim as Charles. She walked across to them and took the old lady's hand. It was freezing cold. 'Let's get you and Private Smith into some warm dry clothes shall we, then we'll see what we can do to make you more comfortable, ok?'

The woman peered up at her. 'I'm so sorry dear. All this trouble.' She yanked on her husbands arm crossly. 'All this trouble you've caused John.' She said with a sob, wiping her hand across her face.

'Don't worry about that now, let's just get you sorted out.' Molly said kindly. Jackie handed the old lady a pile of donated clothes and led her to where she should change. Standing in front of Private Smith, Molly stood with her feet apart, her hands behind her back. Smith's gaze was fixed somewhere about her head. She tried to feel angry, she tried to feel malice against this person. Here in front of her should have been the enemy, someone for her to hate, but all she saw was a terrified old man who's mind had gone and he held on to the only thing he could, the army and the defence of his wife. Could she say Charlie would have done any different in the same circumstances. The old man didn't deserve her hate, he deserved her pity, despite everything.

'Private Smith 'tention!' She barked.

Smith noticeably stiffened.

'Right, you horrible excuse for a soldier. You is still a member of the British Army last time I checked?'

'Yes staff.' Smith replied as if in a dream.

'Stand… at… ease…' Molly ordered.

Smith complied.

'Stand easy.'

And finally he relaxed.

'You've done a stirling job soldier, but what I need you to do is get yourself into some civvies and prepare for debrief. Your wife is waiting here for you.' Molly said.

Smith hesitated, a look of confusion crossed his face.

'Do I make myself clear Smith?' Molly said sharply.

The subterfuge seemed to work, Smith took the pile of clothes offered by Jackie and dutifully allowed himself to be led away to change.

Molly allowed herself a long exhalation of breath as she exchanged a look with Eggy.

'We won't rest until we find him.' The Sergeant said unnecessarily.

She nodded. 'Bring him back to me.' She pleaded.

Kinders nodded once, turned smartly on his heels and was gone.

Once changed into dry clothes, the serious process of making sure the elderly couple had suffered no ill effects began. The military persona adopted by Mr Smith had now dissolved and now he seemed to have shrunk into himself, a tiny version of the man who arrived. He peered about in confusion, his wife holding onto his hands.

'Why aren't I at home?' He said bewildered. 'Where is this place, I don't like being here, I want to go home.' He wailed.

'It's all right.' Molly said, holding his other hand. 'We're just looking after you while the weather is bad. It's ok here isn't it? It's dry and warm?'

John Smith peered into her face, his rheumy eyes filled with tears. 'I don't know what's happening, why am I here, I don't know…'

'This nice young lady is looking after us John, after all the trouble too…' Mrs Smith twittered.

'My name is Molly.' She said, trying to distract her own thoughts. She needed to focus, there was nothing else she could do.'

'I forget things, I forget.' John rambled. 'When I was younger I had a beeper for my keys, a beeper I could press if I lost them.' He suddenly grabbed Molly's hand, his grip hard. 'What about my mind, I need a beeper for my mind, I've, I've lost myself, why can't I have a beeper?' He begged, his face a mask of agony. 'I'm so lost…'

Molly's heart felt like it was breaking. He was lost, Charles was lost. Charlie, he needed a beeper… A thought took seed in her mind, it grew…

'Take over here for me Jackie.' She said suddenly.

With a shaking hand she pulled her phone out from where it was secreted. Opening the app, she could barely contain her hope. 'Please, please, please.' She begged internally. He had told her to keep her phone on silent, but he knew she would have it, in case, with the kids. It was a long shot, but knowing him as she did, would he defy army regulations for his family… The GPS signal searched for Charles' phone, searching, searching… it pinged, location found. With her heart in her mouth Molly bolted out of the infirmery until she found a radio. She could barely manage to make the call without sobbing.

'Kinders?'

'Molly, what is it?'

She swallowed hard. 'I know where he is.'