I am so sorry about the previous short chapter. I couldn't resist a little mid story teaser. To apologise and attempt to make it up to you all, I'm posting two chapters to move the story on and explore how 'that' talk plays out for Captain Dawes and Private James. Hope you enjoy!
Forward operating base
Charles is lying in bed, going over the astounding and intense conversation he has just had with his Captain. They've both just admitted to a growing physical and emotional attraction, that they are both hugely enjoying each other's company and that their friendship and banter is making the tour bearable. They're both aware that the intensity and pressure of the tour and daily life in the FOB has accelerated and deepened their feelings over a relatively short period of time. Neither want to put the Section in an awkward or dangerous position and neither of them want to fuck up their careers by flouting Army regulations. They both need to maintain focus on the jobs they're here to do. They've agreed that nothing physical can happen whilst they're on tour and that they need to tread very carefully with their emotions. It feels like a massive relief to have their feelings for each other out in the open, well at least with each other, but they're both determined to wait out until the end of the tour before seeing if they want to take things further, and before sharing the knowledge of their feelings with anyone else.
-OG-
Molly is lying in bed, happy and relieved that Charles feels exactly the same about her and about waiting out until the end of the tour before taking their relationship any further. There is too much at risk for everyone, and she has a duty of care to bring everyone in her platoon home safely. She knows that they agreed to keep their feelings to themselves, but she can't help but wonder whether she should discuss this situation with Major Beck. He has supported her at every turn of her career and she trusts his judgment and counsel implicitly. She's worried though that he might advise transferring Charles out of the platoon, and she's not sure she can get through the rest of the tour without his company. It would also be massively disruptive to the lads to have to get to know another new medic. She needs to think about this further.
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Smurf is lying in bed, trying to process the conversation he has just heard between Captain Dawes and Charles Bloody James. He didn't mean to snoop, but he saw them together in her tent when he was on the way back from the shitter and couldn't stop himself listening in. They have feelings for each other. How is that even possible out here in this shithole of a FOB in bloody Afghan? He feels incredibly conflicted. He knows he owes his life to James. Geraint owes his life to Captain Dawes. He worships his Captain; thinks she is the greatest Brit who has ever lived. Why is she risking everything on a posh twat like James? But he's promised to prove his worth to his Captain and make it up to them both after his mistake at the mountain checkpoint. He just can't get his thoughts straight, there's this jitterbug in his head.
-OG-