Chapter 21

Love Endures all Things

Thursday 1220 hours

She ran as fast as she possibly could. She had been so delighted when she happened past that storefront window and saw the stuffed white cat. "It won't take that long.." she thought and dashed inside. Unfortunately, the patron ahead of her was belaboring a point and now she would be late. Once outside the store she slung the sack handle over her arm and pulled out her phone to let Charlotte know she was coming…only a few blocks away.

Then she heard it! The explosion! She looked up and saw the smoke billowing above the buildings and prayed she was wrong about the direction it was coming from. She thought about Elvis as she ran – was he involved? Debbie wanted to panic but forced it away with each footfall as she increased her speed. "Where was Charlotte? Oh my God!"

Elvis and his lads watched the emergency response efforts on CCTV. There were combined local and military medical personnel on scene. He briefly saw Georgie as her unit got straight to task. His heart ached but he smiled….she was exceptional and always worked well under pressure. She cared about those in her charge and he knew she would do everything possible for them. He saw her with a distraught woman and his heart went out to both of them. He had seen enough war torn regions in the world to appreciate that deep down, we were all the same. He did not know that woman, but he wondered where the hell Debbie was. She was planning to meet a friend for lunch. This was a fucking café. He and Deb were friends. She was the mother of his child and he would always respect her and help her in any way he could. He could not communicate with anyone outside of the MOD building. He toyed with the idea of breaking that order, but knew it would cost him dearly and he would never compromise his team. Love certainly had a way of complicating life. His world was so much different now that he was not thinking only about himself. He had been trained and tested to endure insurmountable odds, but now that he was a husband, father, and friend respectively to three special women in his life, moments like this were decidedly – painful.

Spanner looked at Elvis. He knew his boss was conflicted. "She's doin a remarkable job. They all are," he said to him. Elvis let out a deep sigh, "Thanks mate." His boys knew about Debbie going out and about today. They talked about it over brews this morning. Elvis always held his emotions in check and most folks would not be able to read any sign of worry. But his team did. They were like a family. Jackson had been married and divorced. Spunky was married but had no children as yet. Spanner, well, he and Elvis had been quite the bachelors of the team, until Elvis married Georgie and Spanner became enamored with Toni Blythe.

Elvis kept watching the screen. Every once in a while he chewed on his lower lip. He was standing in one of the most powerful places in London and he was virtually…helpless.

Georgie helped the woman over to an ambulance and sat her down on the curb. There were two other victims inside being treated. The woman had sustained bruises and contusions from her fall and Georgie checked her over thoroughly. She was concerned about a head injury. All the while, during the exam, she gently tried to calm her. She gave her a bottle of water to drink. The young woman was still trembling and lifted a hand up in front of her face to look at it.

There was a cut that was bleeding now and she just stared at it. "What's your name?" Georgie asked as she took the hand and examined it. "Charlotte." "Were ya to meet Debbie here?" She said, now wiping the wound and dressing it. Charlotte nodded mutely and kept looking around. "Are ya certain Debbie was here?" "No. We were meeting at the café. I thought she would make it here before me. That's what we had planned." She started to cry. "I dropped my phone. Now I have no way to contact her." Georgie continued to examine her, checking her vision and neurological signs. She touched Charlotte on the shoulder, "We'll find her. Let me help ya." Georgie pulled her phone out and quickly attempted to access Debbie's number.

No signal! "Fuck," she whispered. Charlotte looked up at her, eyes pleading. "Cell signals are down," Georgie told her and immediately her thoughts turned to Elvis and Laura. Her eyelids slammed shut. She knew it was not uncommon to lose cell coverage immediately after such a tragedy and hoped they would be restored quickly.

"Oi!" Charlotte said, "Can ya try again? I don't feel so well."` Georgie immediately crouched down. "What's wrong?" "I feel dizzy." "Take some deep, deep breaths. Come on, lie down." As Charlotte leaned back, Georgie grabbed a supply Bergen and shoved it under her legs to elevate them. She then proceeded to start an intravenous and called out for additional support.

The police had cordoned off the entire area and no one was permitted access. Debbie pushed through the crowds trying desperately to break through the barriers. Georgie was acutely concerned about Charlotte. She may have sustained a head injury when she was thrown backwards. She ordered the ambulance crew to make ready and transport her to the nearest hospital ASAP!

"Please! You 'ave to let me through! My friend is in there somewhere!" Debbie pleaded. "No! Stay back! No one enters!" Came the gruff voice of a police officer. Debbie knew she could not contact Elvis. Who could possibly help her? "Charlotte! Charlotte!" She screamed louder.

As they were settling Charlotte in to lift her stretcher into the ambulance, Georgie heard the cries. "Charlotte!" She abruptly turned and through the dissipating smoke could see the barricade. There was a blonde woman frantically trying to overcome the police. Georgie ran to them. To her disbelief she recognized Debbie and wanted to drop to her knees in relief.

Elvis noted the developments and wondered what the fuck was going on? It looked like Georgie was having a row with law enforcement. Now what?

"Stop it! Stop it!" Georgie shouted at the officer. He turned and saw that she was military. "This woman can enter!" She said with utmost confidence. "On who's authority?" the police officer questioned. "This is a medical emergency, she must be brought through!" With that Georgie crouched down and grabbed at Debbie pulling her under the barricade. "Hurry!" Georgie cried.

Elvis was stunned. He pitched forward and planted his hands on the monitor bank, peering intently at the screen. "What are ya doin George?" He saw them both running for the ambulance. He furiously worked buttons on the console, bringing the images closer. His men drew in as well intrigued by what he might be seeing. When Elvis received his visual answer his head dropped. He was so relieved. Debbie was alright. Spanner placed a hand on his shoulder. "Thank God," Jackson said. Elvis straightened up nodding his head.

Georgie told Debbie to get into the ambulance and accompany Charlotte to the hospital. Debbie reached out and hugged Georgie. "Thank you! You have no idea what this means to me and I'm so grateful you were here Georgie!" Georgie reached up and touched the side of her face. She knew what it was like to think you lost a loved one, your best friend…..for Georgie, the love of her life. Debbie leaned in quickly and kissed Georgie on the cheek. Georgie squeezed her arm and said, "You are welcome! Now move!"

Elvis stood there, staring at the screen. The past two plus years were fraught with emotion, pain and so many changes. But their love endured it all. Today was a nightmare.

But tomorrow…. "Harte! ASAP! We have a break! The x-ray is talking and we believe we have a location."

Hope you enjoy! Let me know what ya think.

Thank you to everyone who has taken time to comment.

I will be travelling later this month, but hope to post an update before I do so. Xx