I can't thank you enough for your nice reviews. I'm trying to move things forward a bit more now so hopefully it eill get a bit more interesting. I hope you enjoy :)

Chapter 11

26 January 2014

All's I wanna do is kiss him. We haven't been alone like this for a while and the tension between us is something I have never felt before. He's sat on the chair crouching down towards me.

"Molly, I need to give you some information about what is going to happen tomorrow." Tomorrow? What is meant to happening tomorrow?

"We have found out that Bashira's father, Badrai owes certain taxes to the Taliban. Therefore we will be going in to take Bashira into a safe house in Kabul." He stops. I need to take this in. The girl is being ripped away from her family all because of me. I can't think which is worse, being abused by her dad, or being ripped away from her mum.

"Sir."

"..As you're the only one who as eye balled Badrai, you are important in this mission, understood?" I look down at my hands which are on my lap. I can't help thinking she would have been better if I hadn't gotten involved with her. I can't imagine living without my mom.

"Sir." I don't know what else to say or even do. But before we do something we both regret I stand up and he pushes away in his chair to increase the gap between us.

"A'd better go boss, ya kno." He knows what I mean. I don't need all this shit with him distracting me. Tomorrow is an important mission. We need to take Bashira out of the village and I need to identify Badrai.

His frown lines appear. I just want to kiss them, make them go away, but I can't. He is my BOSS. I turn to walk out and before I reach the door.

"Molly.." He stops and stands up but he doesn't look at me, instead he looks down to his feet. "… Good night." Why does he keep calling me Molly? I am Dawes to him.

"Night boss." That's it. This stops now. I will only speak to him if and when I need too. We didn't need to be alone tonight, the rest of the section will be briefed tomorrow, so why did he do it then, on our own?

I head straight for the sleeping quarters. I don't feel like talking to anyone else, I just want to go to sleep.

27 January 2014

We had a mission briefing this morning and the boss wouldn't stop looking at me whilst Kinders gave out information. How am I meant to get on with my job with him gorping at me?

Anyway, we have just found out that it is our sections turn for the entertainment tonight. The boss has put me forward for me to sing with him, I can't even bleeding sing. I'll have the piss taken out of me and I don't even know what we are signing.

We arrive at the village and the locals are out looking interested in what we are doing. We go into to raid the compound and realise Bashira isn't in there. Where the hell have they taken her? I ask the boss what is going on and where is she and he has no idea. Of course he hasn't he's been here as long as I have.

"Sir I have eyes on the girl." Dangles comes through the radio. I look at James.

"Go." We run out towards the truck and Dangles is with Brains backing off.

"Where is she?" I'm shouting in panic, I don't see her anywhere, there are just locals.

Then suddenly the locals run away from her. She is walking towards us but her arms are not by her sides, they are under her head scarf and it looks like she is wearing something.

"Bashira, stop. Stop where you are!" James is screaming at the girl, she stops about 30 metres.

"Lift your arms up!" Bashira doesn't understand what James is saying and Qaseem translate. When she lifts her arms up I go into complete shock. Instead of taking cover, I take off my Bergen and my helmet keeping my headset on.

"Dawes!"

"Molly"

"Dawes get back here now!"

"Sir you're frightening her. Ah just wanna keep her calm."

There are words exchanged through the radio but I don't listen. The only thing I care about is this girl and she is terrified.

"It's alright. No ones gonna hurt ya now. You just need to stay calm and very still for me ok? We're gonna get that vest off in no time."

I'm crying because I can't understand why you would do this to your daughter, what is wrong with these people?

"You're the bravest, bravest girl ever. Your dad can't beat you!"

I keep talking to her about how we will play sang chill bazi. I can hear the boss and Kinders talking and they have managed to block all mobile signals which could detonate the bomb.

Bomb disposal turn up with what feels like hours later and I back away whilst he does his job in removing the vest. Once the vest is on the floor, the ANA soldier lifts Bashira onto his shoulders and runs towards a jeep. She will be leaving straight away and I won't get chance to say goodbye.

"Get back Dawes!" I forget the bomb can still go off and make a run to apply my helmet. As soon as I am back with the section the bomb explodes and sends me to the ground. There is dust everywhere but I can see the jeep disappearing away from the village.

There is a strange atmosphere. The lads seem shocked with what has happened but I just feel upset. Will Bashira be safe wherever she is taken? I have just endangered the whole section, I couldn't have lived with myself if one had been hurt.

"Dawes I need you to look at my eye" It's the boss.

In the temp med centre which I have just managed to set up, I asses James' eye. He has sand in it so I will have to use eye wash to remove it.

He sits on a metal jerry can. I have my gloves on and the eye drops in my right hand. With my left hand, I push his head back so I can put the eye drops in. That's when I notice I am leaning into the boss. I have a quick glance down and I can see he has his fists clenched on his lap.

"Waste of an eye drop sir, but as it's you."

"Crack on or you'll be up on charge." I have to try another eye drop as he blinked with the first one. Doing this I get to look into his eyes. They're beautiful and I could stare at them all day.

I wipe away the access water and sit beside him.

"Where ave they taken her sir?"

"I don't know, I don't care."

"Bit harsh intit."

"Well, its just, I don't get emotionally involved." Right ok. Whereas I am the complete opposite.

"It could have all gone so wrong couldn't it? Ah mean Bashira could have been red misted.."

"And so would you, I would never have forgiven myself." He looks at me with his soft eyes. I just want to kiss him and for him to hold me.

"Lady luck was looking on us." He smiles. And there it is. The smile that can change a mood in an instant and a smile that can make my day.

Back in camp I skip dinner so I can get ready for tonight. I wash my hair and let it dry and I dig out my black vest top. I find the lip gloss mom sent me and look in the mirror. This will have to do to do.

I make my way to the mess tent and it looks like we are using the stage outside. It is still chilly but bearable. The lads are stood and sat near the stage whilst the boss and Dangles are on the stage. Looks like Dangles can play the key board. The boss looks at me and his eyes are wide and his mouth is open. Just what I wanted. I expected him to look but not this much. There are whistles coming from the lads in the crowd. Did I over step the mark? Maybe the vest top was too much?

The duet was amazing, after the first few lines, the lads started to join in so I didn't need to sing that much. I just couldn't keep my eyes of James. He's just beautiful.

I'm sat on the stage whilst all of the lads have gone in the mess tent or have gone for an early night. I look up and as the sky is clear, I can see all of the stars. It's not very often you can spot more than 2 stars I London with all the lights and that.

I notice someone has sat next to me and look to see Smurf with a brew in his hand.

"Nice isn't it? I mean, it's much better in Newport."

"Shut up Smurf." He puts his arm around my shoulder and I lean into him. I probably shouldn't do it, but I just want a hug. I put my head on his shoulder whilst we both look up to the sky. I just wish this was the boss and we were alone away from here.

That's when he appears from around the corner. Shit this could look wrong. I sit up immediately hoping he didn't see anything.

"A'd better hit my pit. Today as proper worn me out." Ignoring the boss standing watching from outside of his office I walk towards the sleeping quarters, I really don't understand what is going on between us but I look back to find him staring at me. I smile but he gives me a look which could kill. What have I done now? Was it what happened with Smurf?

I'm lay on top of my bed whilst Nude-Nut is beside me snoring his nut off. How am I meant to sleep with that racket? It's loud enough to wake the bleeding dead. I also can't stop thinking about Bashira. How do I know she is safe? For all I know, I could have made her life even worse.

I know I have no chance of dropping off and head to make a brew in the mess tent. The FOB is quiet and only by looking at my watch I see it is 0117. I should be fast asleep now, especially with the events of this morning.

Instead of heading back to the sleeping quarters, I head to the med tent. At least there I won't disturb any of the lads. There is a cold breeze about, for some daft reason I am in my West Ham shirt and my shorts. On my way, I walk past James' office to see light coming through the canvas.

I start to walk towards his office, I wonder what is keeping him up. Why am I doing this? What would I even say to him? I tap on the canvas door and I hear movement from inside.

"Come in."

I open the canvas door to see him standing next to his bed. It doesn't look like he has been in bed just laying on top as the duvet in crumpled. At least I haven't woken him.

"Everything ok Molly?" No it isn't. I just burst into tears in front of him. I didn't plan on even doing this. I didn't even feel like crying when I was outside. I don't know what has started me off.

I try to wipe the tears away from eyes but it's no use.

"Molly.." He walks closer to me and cups my face with his hands. I just look up to him and I can see in his eyes he is worried. With his thumb, he wipes the tears falling down my cheeks.

" 'ow do ah even know what ah did was right? I 'ave taken her away from her family boss." He removes his hands from my face and goes to his desk where there is a box of tissues. He hands me a few and then pulls my arm for me to sit next to him on the bed.

"You were right all along Molly. We needed to step in and save that little girl." His voice is soft and comforting. I never thought I could speak to a captain like this?

"But 'ave taken her away from her family." I have and he can't deny that.

"She is safe now. That is what you wanted wasn't it?"

"It don't matter wha I want, ah just dunno." I look at him to see he was already staring at me.

I have stopped crying and we just sit in silence. What did I actually come in here for?

"Molly, we need to talk.." He pauses and I am looking straight into his eyes. Is this the conversation I have been waiting for, for weeks? What is there for us to say though? We can't act on any feelings.

".. What is going on with Smurf?" Is he having a bleeding giraffe? Is he really asking that?

"He's ma mate. Wha do ya mean?"

"Well, outside earlier.." He pauses, he thinks I have a thing for Smurf. "you two were a bit close."

"You think tha we 'ave a thing? Your 'avin a laugh aren't ya." I can't believe he is asking this. I can't listen to this. He's my mate! I get up and start to leave.

"I'm sorry Molly.." I turn back around to see him still sat on the bed. "I just thought you two had something going on."

"Well ya were wrong." I sit back down next to him on the bed. What difference does it make to him?

"I'm glad I was wrong." He pauses and takes my hand into his. "I couldn't bare seeing you with anyone." Hmm, well this is confusing.

"Wha do ya mean?" I need to hear the words. I am fed up of assuming he has a thing for me.

"I mean.." He pauses to think about what he is saying. "I have developed feelings for you Molly." He stops again. I can't believe I am hearing this. He is rubbing is thumbs on the tops of my hand. I never want to leave this tent. I want to stay in here forever, with him.

"I thought I would be able to control myself around you. Well until we returned to Brize, but I can't Molly."

"Well ah dunno wha say Boss." What I want to say is 'I'm falling in love with you and all I want to do is snog your face off'

"Don't say anything.." Before I know it we are kissing. I run my hands through the curls in his hair and I can't stop. This is where I have wanted to be. Here with him, kissing.

I move to sit on his lap and our kiss continues. I feel his erection beneath me, we need to stop, or this could end badly. Well for our jobs. I pull away.

"We can't boss.." He begins to kiss my cheek and then down to my neck. If we were anywhere but here, things would have already happened. But we could both lose our jobs if this goes any further.

"Seriously.. We need to stop."

"Your right, I'm sorry." I am still sat on his lap. I cannot believe that I have just stopped what could have been an amazing night.

"Does this mean ya speakin to me then?"

"About that, I wanted to apologise. I wanted to keep you at arms lengths but, I can't control myself Molly. I have tried to stay away." His eyes are locked onto mine. He takes my hand and kisses it. Why is he so perfect?

"Well ah suppose tha explains why you were a complete ruppert."

We sit and talk about what will happen when we return home. We have to wait until we finish tour. We don't want personal feelings to get in the way of our work here. We need to control our emotions and get on with our jobs. At least try anyway.

"There's one more thing Molly." Oh shit what now? "I stupidly offered for you and Smurf to on RnR together, you go next week." He looks ashamed.

"The only reason I put you down to go home was because I needed time away from you, I needed to get my feelings under control." What do I say to that? Going home will probably do us both good. I am looking forward to seeing my family and at least I would be able to get my nut around the boss fancying me!