A/N Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy... I knew it was too good to be true. I have explained to the muse that, after this chapter, it may have to buy a false moustache and seriously consider protective custody as there are going to be people out for its blood, but it just sniggered and ate the last hobnob.

I'm really really sorry.

Enjoy (or at least don't hunt us down)

Elf xx


Noah Clarke was ticking items off on the inventory when Molly entered the Med tent. He glanced up at her before continuing what he was doing. She stood there awkwardly.

'I suppose you've come to gloat?' He said quietly.

'No, I've come for handover. You've been relieved of duty and I'm filling in as temporary medic until your replacement arrives.' She said before picking up the medical log and flicking through the entries.

They worked on their individual tasks in silence until Molly could stand it no more. 'Look, I know we don't get on an' that, but I wouldn't have wished what happened to you on my worst enemy.' She said gently.

'It's all right for you to say that, it didn't happen to you.' He muttered.

'Let me tell you mate. The first time I came under fire I fucking shit myself.' Molly said passionately.

'You did?' She had the medic's full attention now.

Molly put down the log. 'Afghan it was. We were out of the compound and they had found out there was a female medic, so I was being targeted. There was contact, bullets flying all over the shop and we were holed up in a ditch. We had to run back to the compound under enemy fire, and you know what? I fucking froze.'

'What happened?' Clarke asked.

'What happened is my mate Smurf saved my arse. He got me moving, the big Newport numpty.' Molly smiled fondly at the memory of him. 'So the point is, it can happen to any one of us.'

'Captain James did not appear to be that understanding.' Clarke said ruefully.

'No, I don't s'pose he was. I've been on the wrong end of more than one of his arse chewing bollockings. You're best to take it and keep your gob shut, he runs out of steam eventually.' She said with a smile.

Clarke even managed a weak smile himself. 'I'll remember that for when I have to face my dad.'

'He gonna hit the roof an' all?' Molly asked.

Clarke nodded. 'He's was a Captain in the REME. I am something of a disappointment to say the least.'

Molly rolled her eyes. 'Blimey, don't envy you then. That why you joined up?'

'Yes.' He replied 'Although I'm guessing I'll be kicked out now. It'll kill my dad, it was bad enough not getting into Sandhurst but this… I'll be lucky if he doesn't disown me completely..'

She remembered how painful it had been when her own dad had decided to have nothing to do with her. Not being able to contact her family had been devastating. 'Would you want to stay in… you know, if they let you?'

'I don't know.' Clarke shrugged. 'After yesterday I don't know whether I'm cut out for it, but I'd like to be.'

'I could have a word if you like? You know, use my considerable charm and magnetism?' She said cheerily.

'You'd do that for me?' Noah was surprised. 'Why would you do that?'

'Everyone deserves a second chance mate.'

'I would be really grateful.' Noah said.

'Don't get too excited. It might well not do any good, but I can ask.' Molly said with a shrug. 'Now let's crack on, or I'll be up on a charge myself.'


Captain James was sat at his desk hand writing a report when Molly appeared in the doorway. Not noticing her, he stretched and cricked his neck before getting back to work. She smacked her hand against the canvas to announce her presence.

He looked up. 'What can I do for you?'

'You got a pain in your neck?' She said, her brow furrowed in concern.

'Yes, but for some unfathomable reason I love her.' He said with a cheeky grin.

'S'pose you think you're funny?' She said, moving to stand behind his chair.

'Hilarious.' He groaned in pleasure as her fingers began to work on the knot in his neck. He closed his eyes and leant his head back against her with a sigh as she kneaded down his shoulders. 'Lovely.'

'What you need is a nice hot bath when you get home.' She said, making firm circles with her thumbs to unwind the muscles at the nape of his neck. 'Always works for me.'

Molly was famous for her bath taking abilities. She could spend hours wallowing in the scented water watching the candle flames dance as she sipped a glass of wine. Charles on the other hand had no patience for such frivolities and was in and out of the shower in record time. Unless it was cooling off in a paddling pool, he had absolutely no interest in baths.

He said. 'I sometimes think you must be part fish, I wouldn't know what to do with myself.'

Leaning down, Molly placed her lips close to his ear, her breath tickled. 'Then I will just have to hop in and show you.' She said playfully.

He turned around slowly in his seat as she stepped back. His eyes had darkened, it was a look she recognised, a hungry lust that left her in no doubt how much he wanted her. That look was often followed by a lengthy and mind blowing physical demonstration. His gaze roamed over her slowly.

A smile tugged at her lips.

'And now all I have in my head is an image of you naked… and wet.' He said the last word slowly, the t clicking off his tongue.

Molly felt the familiar tingle in her loins, a shiver of anticipation as his eyes devoured her. For a moment she thought that he was going to take her right there. She bloody wanted him to.

After what seemed like forever, Charles shook his head as if to clear it and turned back to the desk. 'Was there something else you wanted or did you come in here just to give me a raging hard on?'

She giggled and stood beside him. 'I've been thinking about Clarke as it goes.' She began.

'And that's my boner problem solved.' He sighed, dropping his pen and leaning back in his chair. 'What have you been thinking about Private Clarke?

'Please, give him another chance. He fucked up, he did and he knows that, but he wants to stay in, and his dad'll kill him.' She pleaded. 'All you have to do is recommend retraining instead of dishonourable discharge.'

Charles regarded her carefully for what felt like far too long. 'Was that what this was all about?' He said coolly indicating back and forth between the two of them.

'What?' She asked.

'You know what.' He said.

Molly shook her head in confusion.

'This is the end of this conversation.' He said getting to his feet with icy finality before storming out of the tent.


'No.' Captain James strode across the compound as Molly struggled to keep up with his stride.

'Just think about it.' She said.

'I don't need to think about it. Clarke is not suited to the British army, end of.' He snapped.

'But…'

Charles stopped and spun around on his heels. He fixed her with a stare and she knew he was furious.

'This is exactly why we don't work together.' He growled. 'And you are definitely not endearing yourself to me at the moment. You don't even like Clarke, but he has pulled on your heartstrings so you thought you could bat your eyes at me and I would just roll over and do what you wanted. Do you genuinely believe I am that weak?' You tried to use our personal relationship to influence a decision that, were you thinking rationally, you would see to be the only option?'

'I never batted anything! And rationally? You mean not being completely bleedin' heartless and kicking someone out on their arse because they made a mistake?' She fought back.

'Baz could have died! That is how bloody serious this is.' The ferocity of his words made her take a step back. 'I am your officer commanding.' He said, his tone softer, there was an agony of disappointment across his face. 'And you do not get to question or attempt to influence my decisions.'

'For fuck's sake, I was only asking, Charlie.' She said before she had even time to think. The look on his face was enough to tell she had crossed a line.

He was struggling not to completely lose his temper. 'For the remainder of your secondment you will address me only as Sir or Boss.' He growled. 'This matter is closed and I do not want to hear about it again. Do you understand?'

Molly went to open her mouth.

'You don't even realise the damage you've done do you? You actually used sex as a weapon.' He said shaking his head. 'It was unbloodyforgiveable Molly.'

'I didn't…' She began in a small voice as the tears welled up in her eyes, but he was already half way across the compound.


Back in her cot, Molly thought about how it must have looked to him. She knew that her teasing him was accidental, a spur of the moment thing that had nothing to do with Clarke. Charles had been so angry and, coincidence or not, she could understand why, unforgiveable he'd said. The tears she had been so desperately holding back began to spill from her eyes and she had to bury her head in her pillow in case anyone heard her sobbing.