This chapter is very long and I hope you bare with me. I am trying to put the scenes from the series into the story but it is hard with some of the ideas I have. Please write reviews, thank you :)

Chapter 10

25 January 2014

Patrols have been very quiet over the past few days and we are worried something big is about to happen. Every time we are out of the compound we put our heads on, we are beginning to take everything very seriously.

I have also started to reflect on my time spent out here. There are two months left and I don't feel as if we have made any positive changes towards the locals or even in Afghan. Although I had a ropey start to the tour, I have realised that I have met a great bunch of men. I have started to see 2 section as my family and I love being around them.

With what happened with Captain James, I have realised that it will never happen again and the feelings I have for him can never be anything more. We avoid each other when we can and when on patrols, we only talk if we need too. He is my boss, this is how it should be. I'm not 100% sure how his blisters are, he hasn't visited the med centre in weeks and I'm not sure if I can chase captains for check-ups.

I'm just sat on my bed at the moment with my ear phones in listening to Ed Sheeran. I don't usually listen to music but today I just fancied it. The lads are out kicking a football around with 1 section. We head out to the village again this afternoon.

Captain James will be joining us on our patrol of the village. I think the lads have missed him being around. I know Smurf has, he looks up to the boss and I respect that because he is a great leader. I just hope my feelings for him disappear, wishful thinking again maybe?

The village is very busy today. We are told by the Captain to stay alert as insurgents could be lurking anywhere. Well, they don't have uniforms, they aren't the easiest to spot are they? Bleeding muppet.

I am with Qaseem setting up the temp med centre in an abandoned building. There isn't a door on the front but I suppose it will do for just a few hours.

"Do ya eva think Afghan will be peaceful?" I often think that this place will always be like this.

"One day. When all this ends, Afghanistan will be the most beautiful country." He sounds optimistic but why not have high hopes? Maybe one day it could?

Our conversation is disrupted by shouting outside. The boss has his back facing us and I head out. There is a woman upset holding onto a young girl who has a gash above her eye. It's Bashira.

Qaseem follows and translates.

"She is seeking medical attention here. The nearest hospital is 3 hours away."

"She needs to see her own doctor at her own hospital." He turns and faces me he looks angry. This is the first time we have made eye contact in weeks and is pissed at me and for what reason?

Qaseem translates what I think James has said back to her mother. But the woman's response is angry and directed at me.

"She's sayin it's my fault isn't she?"

"She is, but it isn't your fault. A father hitting her daughter is wrong in this country as it is in yours."

The boss looks at me, he's annoyed.

"She has to go to her own hospital for treatment those are the rules." He is right but 3 hours away, it will take me ten minutes to clean and butterfly stitch the wound, what harm would it do?

"Yes sir, understood sir. But can I at least examine her eye to assess the damage?" Why is he such a grumpy twat? I should say it but I do. "Sir.. we have a responsibility."

I have managed to win him over, somehow. He says I should clean up the eye and he never wants to see her again, little harsh if you ask me. Why is he such a dick?

I lead her into the med centre and sit her down on the bed. I use anti bac wipes to clear away the dust and dried blood and then look at how deep the gash is. How can a father hit his daughter seriously? I bet my dad has come close to hitting me but he never did, and Bashira doesn't seem the type to misbehave.

"Your might gonna need a stitch, do ya understand?"

"Of course she doesn't understand. I barely understood." I was busy setting up the butterfly stitches and didn't realise he had made an appearance. This is the closest we have been to each other since that evening in his office.

"I thought your English was better than ers sir."

"Mine is.. Yours. 'Might gonna need a stitch!' What is that supposed to mean?" I repeat myself. He goes on to tell me to hurry up and get the girl on her way. He is really starting to do my nut in.

"No one will hurt ya. We're ere to protect the village and mountains." Well from the Taliban, I can't do so much about her dad can I?

"Don't go to the mountains tomorrow." What? Is she warning me? She specifically says don't go to the mountains tomorrow. Before I can ask her anymore questions, Sohail comes and grabs her saying she must go. He is the geezer who keeps giving me dirty looks around the compound but I just choose to ignore him. What was that about seriously?

I have thought about what Bashira has said and I have no idea what to do about it. If I go and tell the boss, he probably won't believe me so what's the point? But if I do tell him, at least I have given him information which could save lives. Hmm it's difficult.

Back in the compound I'm stood staring at the wall of the med tent. I really should tell the boss. It I don't, lives could be lost this could be important. I hear a noise of footsteps behind me, I hope this is the boss.

"Alright Mols." Nope it's Smurf, great. Shall I tell him about it? Ask him what he would do?

"Nah not really.." He looks concerned, I don't what him to be worried. "When ah was with Bashira, she told me not to go to the mountain tomorra. I don't know wha to do Smurf."

"Have you told James?" Nope. And I know I should have already.

"You need to tell him Mols. There are lives on the line here." He is right. I ask him to come with me. He will take me more seriously with Smurf about.

We search in the mess tent, his office and the ops tent no signs of him. I check the so called gym. He is there lifting make shift weights with no top on. Bleeding hell, his body is just, wow! He is very well toned, I can see his biceps and he has a six pack. I really should pick my jaw up off the floor. What have I come to tell him again?

Smurf is by my side. It is a good job or I would have jumped on him, I'm not even joking!

"Boss can we have a word?" He puts the weights down and stands with his hands on his hips. I feel my knees weaken. How can someone be so beautiful? I don't respond, I don't think I can talk!

I need to tell him about a possible attack on the CP.

"Excuse me sir. Err… I think I have received Intel about an attack on the mountain CP tomorrow."

He turns and picks his t-shirt and puts it on. Thank god for that. It was probably best he did!

"Ops tent now. Both of you." Shit this is serious. I really should have said something sooner. Why did I even have to think about it?

We follow the boss and see Major Beck talking to Captain Azizi.

"Sir." Becks face goes from being relaxed to very serious. James indicates for Beck and captain Azizi to follow him into the ops tent.

I tell Major Beck what I have told him and they both seem unsure.

"What makes you think it's credible?" He can't even look at me in the eyes. He really hates me doesn't he?

"Ave got a good relationship with the kid. There's a possibility she's tellin the truth n am pretty sure her dad's Taliban sir."

He goes onto say I have made myself vulnerable. I have just received Intel on a possible attack and he still fucking moans, could I ever please this man?

"Maybe sir but I was just been kind.. She just told me, ah don't think she meant to. Ah could see it in her eyes tha she was tellin the truth." I want him to believe me. He needs to believe me. I look straight at him and he avoids eye contact looking down at the table. He's such a prick.

"The kid really trusts her sir.." I owe Smurf for that. Even if the boss doesn't believe me, I know Smurf does.

"You've obviously gotten close enough so she can confide in you. And if that confidence leads to us being able to halt this group of insurgents that is great.." Beck believes me!

"Then it could work out brilliantly.. agreed." I am staring at him, wanting him to make eye contact and he does. Why the hell didn't he trust me? I look away, I can't even look at him.

We are told to wait outside. They are obviously discussing plans of action for tomorrow. Well at least I have done my bit, it is up to them what happens from here.

It's 18.25 and I head to the mess tent for dinner. I can't help but think that with the information I have just given the boss, I could be putting Bashira in danger. What if she is right? Her dad maybe Taliban, things could end badly for her.

Fish and chips are on the menu for tonight. I have had one chip, I just don't feel like eating. My thoughts are all over the place with Bashira, the boss and lives could be lost tomorrow. I offer my food to Dangles and he takes it straights away.

"Not hungry Dawes?" Kinders is sat at the end of the table next to Mansfield.

"Nah Corporal. Just gonna ave an early night ah think."

"Mission briefing 1930 Dawes. Don't go asleep too early aye!" He smiles. I know what this is about. We are heading up to the mountains in the morning. They actually believe what I have said, I just hope Bashira was right, or I would be looking like a right twat.

So it looks like we are heading out to the mountains at 0300 hours. I had better get some kip in!

26 January 2014

I haven't slept a wink. I have lay in bed with my eyes wide open. First of all I was worried about Bashira but I will mention something to the boss later. Surely we can keep girls like her safe. And secondly, I couldn't get the images of the boss without a top on out of my nut. I have never seen anyone like it! How can he be single looking like that?

I'm up before all of the lads. I have made myself a brew in the mess tent and then come back to get ready. The lads are up and awake but only just. Fingers looks like he is sleep walking.

I prepare all of my kit, double checking my med Burgan. This could end badly, I need to be prepared for the worst.

After the hour walk we have finally arrived at the CP. The sun is starting to rise and it isn't as cold as what it has been, is spring finally on its way? I'm not really sure how the seasons work here in Afghan.

As soon as we arrive we set up and the overnight watch report that there was movement in the bunker late last night.

"Dangles Brains, eyes on that bunker." The boss gives the lads jobs to do as I set up a med centre.

There are still no signs of any insurgents and I am beginning to worry about the Intel Bashira has given us. Maybe she meant something else by not going to the mountains?

I do the rounds of handing water out to the lads, I suppose I had better ask the boss.

"No you're alright Dawes. I hope your Intel is right on this one."

"Sir, if she is right am worried about the girl."

"We'll worry about that later." He hasn't bothered to look at me. Why would he?

I'm stood talking to Smurf about how nice this place really is. Well compared to London.

"If it weren't so bloody war n tha, I'd live in a place like this."

"You'd need wifi though." The boss has come and stood next to me.

"And Sky TV." They're right, but we have coped so many months without it, why would we need it now?

"And a Top Shop and Star Bucks around the corner." The boss laughs. It is so nice to hear him laugh and to see that smile. I can't help but smile back. He is perfect.

We hear Kinders through the radio.

"Sir, there's movement in that compound."

We all duck and take cover behind the sand bags. I look through the binoculars. He's right. We are told to stay low and out of sight.

"Sir theres someone eadin into tha store." There are two insurgents heading from the compound into a small shed.

Dangleberries is told to radio in that we have eyes on two possible insurgents. We are all out of sight and covered by the sand bags but I don't understand what is happening. One comes out with an RPG.

"Down… RPG!" A rocket is fired and there is a huge bang behind us. There is dust and sand everywhere. I and all of the lads have been knocked to the ground and that's when the place turns into a war zone. I check make sure everyone is fine whilst there are bullets being fired here there and everywhere. It is hectic. I turn around to see the med centre which I had set up, it is demolished. There are bullets being fired from both sides and we don't seem to be getting anywhere.

Suddenly the boss orders us all to stop firing. What's this all about? Even the insurgents have stopped too.

"What's 'appening sir?"

"Just keep looking." There is a loud noise and it seems to becoming closer but there is nothing in sight. Next thing I know, the compound and the shed have been blown up by what looked like fighter jets. There is black smoke surrounding what was the compound and there are no signs of movement.

The ANA are sent down to see if there are any survivors. We go on to join them and find an enemy casualty who has a massive wound on his leg. He will be alright though, he has been sent to camp Bastian where he will be treated and then more than likely be questioned by the yanks.

After searching for insurgents we had found 5 bodies, neither of them were Bashira'a father. I'm bleeding gutted but at least we have removed 6 insurgents from the mountains. I zip up all of the body bags and turn to the boss.

"Ah can't believe Bashira's dad wasn't one of them. I'm sure he was Taliban."

"You're work has been above and beyond Dawes."

"Wha the Intel or saving that bloke?" I'm confused.

"Both. It takes a fair amount to impress me." I've impressed him have I? Bleeding hell that's a first intit.

We have just gotten back on the FOB and we're all shattered. I know I am. With little sleep last night, tonight I will sleep like a baby.

After dinner, we are sat in the evening sunshine with the whole of 2 section, Kinders and the boss. Banter between these lot is pretty funny. They have started to take the piss out of Nude-Nut. Something to do with dirty Doreen on basic. I feel my eyes closing and I decide it is time to hit my pit. I say good night and leave them all sat I the circle.

"Dawes, just a quick word. My office." Shit, what have I done wrong know? I rethink the whole day trying to remember doing something wrong but there is nothing.

Once inside his office he sits on his hair and directs me to sit on his bed. He pushes himself on his chair so he is close to me and that's when I realise I'm falling for the boss, big time.