Disclaimer: Don't own the our girl or it's characters.
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Thanks for some lovely reviews:)
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20/24
The Weather had started off quite bright when they had left the base camp. As they progressed up the mountain, it had started to cloud over and finished off with a constant drizzle.
Both Charles and Graham had great heavy packs on their backs as they climbed up the pass. Their boots were caked in mud and they were both getting on the tired side. Graham manouvered around and dumped his pack onto the ground, "I think we should set up camp for the night...why don't you get a fire going and I'll hunt us a rabbit - have you noticed how many we've seen in the brush on our way up here"
Charles heaved off his pack and nodded. Graham ramaged through his pack and looked up, "Are you alright? You're quiet"
Charles nodded, "No, I'm fine...just all that walking...I didn't quite know how unfit I was"
Graham laughed, "that is what all this is in aid of isn't it?"
"Yeah...of course", Charles breathed and set about starting a fire. Graham pulled out a hunting knife from his boot. Charles looked at the knife somewhat unexpected and continued to set up the camp fire.
Within the hour before it got pitch black, the fire was going and the tents were up. Graham set up a spit over the fire and turned the rabbit meat on it, "well...I haven't done this in years...not since my training days...you remember those?"
Charles sat under the lean-to with him as the raindrops pattered on the canvass, "yeah...good times...the best...we were young, free and could do what we wanted to do...to anyone"
Graham laughed, "You were seeing that posh bird back then...Rebecca...see her much now?"
Charles shrugged, "From time to time...when I visit Sam...much like when I go Visit Molly to see Esther...", he looked up for reaction as he said it.
Graham didn't look back at him. Instead he laughed out a, "blimey...Jennifer did her nut when I cancelled a romantic weekend in Paris to spent time with you...my oldest and closiest of friends", he then returned the gaze.
Charles chewed his tongue, "Ah...what is this, brokeback mountain?", Graham laughed, "I love you mate...but I certainly wouldn't go that far!"
Charles nodded to the over roasted meat on the spit that crackled in the heat, "Aren't you going to serve that up or what...I'm famished"
Graham took his hunting knife from his boot and set about cutting off pieces of meat with it and held a piece over to his friend, Charles took it off the sharp knife and placed the meat into his mouth and chewed on it slowly.
"How is it?"
Charles shrugged, "cooked to perfection...", he watched as Graham stuffed a mouthful of meat himself and stretched out for the water bag. As he did so Charles reached for the knife and placed it on his opposite side.
Graham took a twig of water and turned to Charles, "So...Molly...you still in love with her or is it really all over between you two"
Charles sniffed, "it's over...she's with Lee now...but there will always be a connection between us because of Esther...she's such an adorable little girl...I feel very protective of my daughter like a father should do...it is his prime and foremost duty...", he glanced up to Graham, "...do you agree?"
Graham shrugged his shoulders, "I wouldn't really know...I have no kids let alone a daughter"
Charles looked at him sharply.
"...but that Lee guy...he was in my platoon in Afghan...he's abit shady I think...you know, because of that business out there...the girl in the village"
At last. Thought Charles.
"...I dread to think what that poor girl went through...but because we could never proove anything, we had to forget about it or it would have caused all sorts of trouble"
"Graham, lets cut to the chase ...why did you send Molly those texts? Infact, while you think about that, please explain why you have been stalking her AND my daughter...?"
Graham looked back at him, his eyes narrowing...
XXX
The storm was bang over London as the thunder and lightening continued to light up and invade the flat with it's rumbles. Molly crossed over to the window and saw the rain lashing down outside, she pulled the curtain across and saw Esther come out of her room in her Jimjams rubbing her eyes, "Mummy I don't like the noise..."
Molly collected her daughter up and sat on the couch, "It's alright baby...it's just the thunder it will pass soon I promise you"
"But I hate it!", she wailed.
"hey...Lee will be back from the pub soon...he'll give you a cuddle and keep you safe"
"I don't want Lee, I want daddy"
"Daddy's away sweatheart...he's doing a boys thing...camping and that, he won't have his phone with him...but if you don't want Lee, you are gonna have to settle for me"
Esther hugged her and nestled her head in her chest and Molly stroked her daughters hair. The flat lit up again and there was a crash of thunder, Esther shook and Molly held her close, both of them hoping...willing for the storm to just go away.
XXX
"LIAR!" cried Charles as he set to his feet with the knife in his hand, "I HEARD YOU GRAHAM...I WAS PRESENT WHEN YOU MET WITH LEE IN THAT LONDON PUB...I KNOW WHAT YOU DID"
Graham stood up slowly and pointed to the knife, "now now Charlie...give me the knife, you are not thinking straight...I don't know what you THINK you heard, but..."
Charles shook his head, "SHUT UP! YOU WERE MY BEST FRIEND...I TRUSTED YOU...YOU SAVED MY LIFE WHEN I WAS GUNNED DOWN IN IRAQ...YOU KEPT ME SAFE...HOW CAN YOU BE THE SAME PERSON WHO...", he swallowed, "WHO WOULD DO SOMEHTING SO DISGUSTING TO A YOUNG INNOCENT GIRL!"
Graham stepped closer, the fire light alluminating their faces, "Charles...look...you don't understand...I was under alot of stress...my marriage to Shelby broke down...I was alone...I wasn't thinking straight"
Charles lowered the knife and glanced away, "I couldn't comprehend it at first...it was all so in the realms of fantasy", he looked back at him, his eyes welling up, "but it's all true and to think of all the times I stood up for you...telling...INSISTING to others that there was NO truth to those rumours, and here we are..."
Graham panicked, he couldn't let this get out. He just couldn't, he'd be ruined. He turned and saw something in Charles hand...a handgun...where had he gone and got that from?
"Charles what are you doing?"
Charles raised the firearm, "I think you better comeback down the mountain with me, don't you"
Graham hesitated. He swallowed and nodded 'yes'
"Looks like I have no choice..."
Charles went to step aside when, all of a sudden, Graham stooped and threw up hot ash at Charles.
"AHHHHH!"
Charles dropped the gun and clutched his face, Graham acted quickly and launched himself on his former friend, the two men rolled around in the undergrowth trying to get the upper hand, but it was Graham who managed it.
Charles was under him looking up with wide brown eyes, "YOU DISGUST ME!" he hissed in anger.
Graham looked aside from Charles' face and saw him reaching out to the hunting knife that he dropped, Graham roared out in anger and thumbled for the rock, he grabbed it and held it up above him
Charles looked up at it, his eyes searched Grahams, "No...please"
And Graham roared out in emotion and crashed down the rock... hard.
XXX
Molly rocked her daughter to sleep. She whispered a soothing lullaby, and looked up to the window as the thunder rolled on. She stroked her daughters hair and kissed her forehead...because everything would be okay in the morning...
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