Okay, I'm not going to say much on the end of series… There were parts I liked…parts I hated…They changed CJ character way too much.
I really hope fanfic writers are going to stick with the s1 & s2 him. In fact, I challenge you all to write a romantic, fluffy, happy CJ / Molly story to get us over the hurt!
Anyway, back to this story. Thank you all for the review! I'm glad you're finding Smurf's behaviour believable. I actually did not like the way Smurf tried Molly…Didn't think he was a very good mate and kept assuming they'd be a couple even though she kept saying no… I also, thought 2 section should have been more annoyed with him for screwing up on the bridge and getting CJ shot. Where's the loyalty to their captain.
Anyway, on with the story!
A Different Mission
"What?"
"What?"
Elvis' eyes darted between the road in front of him and Molly, sat in the passenger seat.
"Just say it, Dawes." He told her. "Whatever it is you want to say or asked…we've got a good hour and 15 minutes left of this road trip and I can't have you staring at me the whole time… No matter how flattered I am…"
"In your dreams, mate." Molly muttered, turning to look out the window.
Elvis sighed when they returned to silence. "Molly…"
"How is he? Really?"
"There was another bleed which is why they took him back to surgery but they seem hopeful that they've covered everything now."
"Is he awake?"
"He was in and out but the doctors said that's to be expected...They've been reducing the amount of medication he's on so he should start being more alert."
Molly nodded and chewed her bottom lip anxiously. "Is his family there?"
"Yes, his parents are there most of the time…Sam too."
"What about her?"
"Who?" Elvis looked at her again.
"His wife…"
"You mean his ex-wife?" Elvis corrected. "No, she's not there…why would she be?"
Molly shrugged and looked out of the window again.
"I'm not convinced she would be there even if they were still married." Elvis commented. "Wouldn't fit into her busy schedule."
"I'm guessing you don't like her then?"
"What gave you that idea?" Elvis replied sarcastically.
"Well, for one you sound like Smurf whenever he talks about you…"
Elvis shot her a glare but didn't say anything, causing her to laugh.
"Bossman seems to have forgiven her for whatever she did."
"Yeah well, he wants what's best for Sam and thought his parents fighting, wasn't it." Elvis replied. "I however don't need to think that way…"
"So, you're holding a grudge for both yourself and the boss?" Molly guessed.
"Something like that."
"What did she do that was so bad?"
"I told you before; I'm not telling you that." Elvis glanced at her again. "That's up to Charlie."
"Fine….at least tell me something else."
"Like what?"
"Anything…" Molly shrugged. "Just some stories or something…That one your mate asked him about…him shooting you."
"It's not as exciting as it sounds…"
"Which means it never happened…"
"Oh it happened…I still got the scars…" He claimed. "It was a paintball, not a real bullet and we were up against the TA…"
"Really?"
"It was a training exercise and our section was getting pathetically hammered…one by one all got taken out until it was just Charlie and me…We were in this forest and managed to find some shelter but before we could come up with an escape plan their remaining guys surrounded us…It was 5 against 2….all cocky, telling us we should just give up." Elvis told her. "Next thing I know Charlie is telling me to follow his lead before going out into the open and started to rant about how it was my entire fault and he knew my idiotic plan would fail…"
"He was distracting them?"
"Yep, I followed him out and argued back at him…" Elvis chuckled at the memory. "Next thing I know, Charlie is grabbing my gun and saying 'You need to learn how to shoot properly'…then shot me in the leg."
Molly grinned. "Bet the TA guys didn't know what the hell was going on…"
"No, you should have seen their faces…all stood there with their mouths open watching us have a fall blown barney in the middle of the forest…but what they failed to notice that while Charlie might have sacrificed me, making it 5 against 1…he also now had 2 guns." Elvis continued. "With a gun in each hand, he managed to hit 4 of them in seconds…Then used my 'dead body' as cover, I ended up getting hit 3 more times before he managed to take the last one out."
"And they left scars?"
"Yeah, mental ones…" He claimed. "There's something not right about your best mate shooting you with a smile on his face…even if it is paintball."
Molly laughed and Elvis couldn't help but smile; happy he managed to cheer her up.
"Major Beck was overseeing the whole thing…it was the first time he told us we were never allowed to work together."
"How many times has he told you that?"
"At least a dozen…" Elvis smirked. "But he never sticks to it…He knows we're a damn good team when were together."
"The Major must really like you if he's always willing to stick his neck on the line…" Molly commented. "Or you have some good dirt on him."
Elvis grinned, knowingly at Molly but said no more.
"Shit, you have." Her mouth fell open. "What is it? Come on, you can tell me…I won't tell a soul, I promise…"
He laughed and shook his head. "Nah, it's nothing like that…Major Beck is a decent guy…He's been with us from the start and yeah, he had to put his neck on the line a few times for us but we always come through for him and never let him down…He respects us and we respect him…"
"That's kinda like the under 5s with the Bossman…Beck must have been where he learnt it."
Elvis nodded. "When I joined Special Forces, Beck took more of an interest in Charlie's career…got him to settle down and take things more seriously…"
"So, he's the favourite? Not jealous, are you?" Molly teased.
"As if." Elvis tutted. "Works out for us all…Beck gets his protégé…Charlie gets to further his career and I get to do what I like while he distracts Beck….Plus Charlie can always talk Beck around if we ever go too far…"
"You're like bloody kids…"
"Yeah but we got charm so people love us…"
"Tell me something else." Molly requested. "Something about his family?"
Elvis shot her another look and she rolled her eyes.
"I'm not asking you to reveal their deepest, darkest secrets…" She told him. "Just…do they know about me? Do they know I'm coming?"
"I don't think so…From what I've been told, he's been pretty much out of it since he got back so I'm not sure he had chance to tell them." Elvis informed her, turning serious again. "And I didn't want to say anything until I knew Beck would allow you leave."
"So, no one knows I'm coming?"
"It'll be fine…" Elvis said dismissively. "They love surprises…"
"Yeah but probably not some random turning up at their son's hospital bed!"
"You're not some random…" Elvis claimed. "At the least, they'll just think you're a private in his platoon come to check up on him…"
"Oh, that's much better…" She replied sarcastically.
"Honestly, they'll welcome you with open arms…especially when they see Charlie is pleased to see you." Elvis promised her. "Like I said back in Afghan, they're good people."
"What do they do?"
"Mr James is a lawyer…has his own firm." Elvis told her. "Mrs James is a music teacher..."
"He didn't want to follow in his parents footsteps then?"
"Nah…He did some law at uni but was never what he wanted to do."
"I can't really see him being a lawyer…" Molly thought about it. "Sat behind a desk all day…"
"Yeah, I think he came to the same conclusion…" Elvis shook his head. "His Grandfather…his mum's dad was a Brigadier…Apparently, Charlie would sit and listen to his stories for hours...And ever since wanted to be in the army."
"Brigadier? Tough act the follow."
"Tell me about it…" Elvis agreed. "The first time I met him was over Sunday lunch at the James'…We hadn't been out of Sandhurst long and I'd gone to Bath for the weekend and on the Saturday night, Charlie and I had been out pretty late…I tell you…being interrogated by a newly retired Brigadier over roast beef whilst hungover and sleep deprived is something I never want to go through again…I wouldn't go back there for at least a month after …. He terrified me…Still does."
"He's still alive?"
"Yep, 87 years old and will probably out live us all…" Elvis replied. "What is scary though, was the time we ended up on the same mission as Charlie and his section… of course, it was the first time either of us was in charge so things were pretty tense…The mission went well but there were some mistakes made along the way…We had to change plans and we may have not radioed it into Charlie straight away…"
"Oh, I bet he loved that."
"Well, it all worked out okay… when we got back to base; everyone was celebrating a successful mission with no injuries or fatalities and he just rips into us about the importance of communication and how taking stupid risks could get someone killed…" Elvis shudder slightly at the memory. "It was like being back in that room with the Brig…I had flashbacks… I could even smell the roast beef and feel the hangover…"
Molly laughed and then suddenly had a thought. "Hey, he won't be there will he? Visiting the Bossman?"
"If he is, then you're on your own…I won't be hanging around."
"Cheers mate…" Molly rolled her eyes.
"Listen, you must be shattered…We got just under an hour to go… why don't you try and get some sleep?"
"Nah, I'm fine…"
"Go on, I won't leave you in the car…"
"Now, I'm worried that's exactly what you'll do." Molly shot him a look and then sighed; she did feel pretty tired. "Okay, I'll try…but make sure you wake me."
"I promise…"
Silence filled the car and after 5 minutes, Elvis glanced across to check if Molly was asleep but was surprised to see her smirking.
"What?" He questioned, knowing she was awake. "What's so funny?"
"Nothing…just something the boss said back in Afghan…"
"Do I want to know?"
"I told him, when we got back I was going to get you drunk and make you tell me some of the stories about the two of you…He said no way would it happen." She grinned at him. "But I got you to tell me without even buying a round."
Elvis groaned. "Shut up and go to sleep, Dawes…and if he goes full 'Brig' on me about oversharing then I'm taking you down with me…"
XxXxX
Molly followed slowly behind Elvis; the closer they got to the boss' room, the more anxious she got. What if this was a mistake? What if he regretted it and didn't want to see her? What if his parents kicked her out or his wife was there?
Elvis knew she was nervous because she had suddenly grown quiet the moment they pulled into the car park. While he knew Mr and Mrs James would be very welcoming to her, he hoped that Charlie was alone. They needed a bit of space to talk to each other before other people joined the mix.
As he neared the room, he spotted a nurse who he recognised from the day before, sat at the nurses' station.
"How is he today?" Elvis questioned, nodding his head in the direction of Charles' room.
"Better." The nurse smiled warmly at him. "The doctor is pleased with his progress and his stats are good."
"Has he had any visitors?"
"His mother was in a little while ago but nothing since then."
"Thanks." Elvis smiled at her and turned to Molly who had just caught up with him. "Come on…"
"Wait…Maybe I should go to the hotel first…"
Elvis raised an eyebrow. "Do you even have a hotel?"
Realization dawned on Molly. "Shit! I don't have anywhere to stay…I should find somewhere…"
"Dawes, I'll sort it…now come on…" He pushed her towards the door gently. "It's just him in there…there's no need to be nervous…"
Molly nodded uncertainly but moved towards the door, hesitantly pushing it open. When she stepped inside the room, she felt her heart beat a little faster when she laid eyes on him. It looked like he was asleep; a peaceful expression on his face. She moved closer to the bed, taking note of the wires attached to him, along with a chest drain and was comforted by the strong, steady beat of the heart monitor.
Before she could reach out and touch his hand, his head rolled towards her and his eyes slowly opened.
"Hey…" She whispered.
A smile slowly crossed his face when he saw her. "You're here…"
"Yeah..." She took his hand, squeezing it gently. "I'm so happy to see you, Boss…I've been thinking all kinda things…"
"I'm fine." He squeezed her hand back. "It's good to see you, Dawes… "
She let out a laugh. "I must look a right mess…Got straight off the plane and came here…I should have showered or changed first…"
"You look great." He cut in, shaking his head. "But I still have Afghan grime in my hair…"
"If you're lucky, maybe Dawes will give you a bed bath…" Elvis quipped from the door.
Charles looked over at him; not even noticing him until now. "Elvis…Piss off."
"Well, that's just lovely innit…I drive all the way to Brize to pick up your girlfriend… Convince the major to give her 2 days leave….you owe him a couple of drinks by the way…oh and we're not allowed to work together again…"
"Nothing new there then…" Charles muttered but Elvis continued to rant.
"And I bring her all the way back here, she didn't stop yammering the whole way and
I get told to 'piss off' by my best mate…"
"Yeah, if you could, that would be great." Charles gave him a look.
"Fine….I know where I'm not wanted." He held up his hands. "I'll go and get some food or something…Shout if you need anything."
Charles gave him a grateful smile as he left the room, leaving just the two of them.
"I thought I lost you…" Molly whispered, tears filling her eyes.
"You haven't…I'm right here." He reached up to cup her cheek.
"You just…in the tent…you seemed okay and then it was as if the life was draining out of you…."
"I'm sorry…"
"Elvis kept trying to find out information but none of it was very clear and then I get told he's been allowed back to the UK because there's been a complication…" Tears rolled down her face. "And I kept thinking it must be bad if they were letting him go…"
"Hey…it's okay." He said softly, brushing away the tears. "I'm fine…"
"Are you?" She looked at him. "Because you're in a hospital bed…you don't look fine…"
"Well, it hurts when I move…and breathe…and I feel exhausted most of the time…" He shrugged and then winced in pain.
"But other than that, you're fine?" She questioned with a giggle.
"Yeah…" He grinned back.
Still stroking her cheek, he gently pulled her forward until he could press his lips softly against hers. Pulling back, he rested his forehead against hers.
"We don't have to wait out anymore…"
She leaned in again and found his lips with hers.
Elvis stood at the window, watching over his best friend; he just wanted to make sure they were both okay before he went searching for food.
Stepping away, he pulled out his mobile phone and flicked through his contacts until he found the right name and pressed call.
"Hey, it's me…sorry, I wanted to call sooner but it's been a rough couple of weeks…" He said when the call was answered. "Yeah, I'll tell you all about it if you go on a date with me tomorrow…How do you fancy coming to Birmingham for the day? Yes, Birmingham…its part of the story… "
TBC
I love writing Elvis… Even if my version is slightly different to the screen version. I was going to end this chapter with Elvis and Molly in the car but after tonight's episode, wanted to put the character back in their rightful couples! Please review!