She was boiling, they were all squashed into the back of the truck together in forty degree heat as they made the slow journey back to Bastion. It felt as though the journey had been going on for hours, but in reality it was only minutes. The fact that she was going to have to spend another couple of hours sandwiched between Smurf and Captain James, listening to all of the lads talking about their plans for once they got back home didn't fill her with joy.
She was sad to be leaving the FOB, it marked the start of the end of the tour, and the end of her time with two section. The journey back to Bastion meant it was very nearly time for her to go back to her normal life, and all of the things that came with that. She'd formed some amazing friendships during her tour, something that she'd not had for years, and the thought of having to walk away from them all again in a few weeks time was painful.
"You'll come, won't you Molly?" Mansfield asked, looking at her expecting an answer. "The section night out!" He prompted when she looked at him blankly.
"Oh, yeah. Of course I will." She smiled. It was an outright lie, she'd got no intention of going- she'd got no idea where she was headed once they got back, but she'd got no plans to stick around- but it was easier to lie to them than be honest, she didn't need them trying to persuade her otherwise.
Smurf raised an eyebrow at her. "You'd better not be planning to stand us up Mols, you'll hurt our feelings." He joked.
"You can't do that Molly!" Mansfield shrieked, looking horrified that she might even consider it. "Even the boss is coming, you have to!"
"I'll be there Mansfield, don't listen to him. I promise." She smiled, that uneasy feeling churning in her stomach again.
She wanted to go with them all, so so desperately. But she knew things were going to go one of two ways once they got back to England. Either she was going to have to pick up right where she left off, and that included going back to Artan- in which case there was no chance she was ever going to be able to go anywhere without him punishing her for it later. The other option, and if she was honest the more terrifying one, was that she was going to have to disappear completely once they got back. If she was planning to escape Artan then she'd have to leave everything behind from her old life that might allow him to find her, and that would probably mean leaving the army too. Or at the very least getting herself far enough away that he wouldn't think to look for her.
The truck jarred to a halt before Manfield had the chance to try and get her to make any other promises, sending them all shooting forward in their seats.
"Woah, what was that?" Fingers complained, shuffling back in his seat to create some distance between himself and Mansfield.
"Sheet up ahead, in the middle of the road. It's held down by rocks and there's quite a bit of blood. Maybe a body?" Came the response.
There was a split second of hesitation, then their Captain was barking orders once more. "Right, I want you all out and covering. I'll go and check it out. Dawes, be on standby just incase." He ordered as they all piled out of the back of the truck, weapons raised and ready.
There was a noticeable shift in the atmosphere, the lads who had been laughing and joking a few moments earlier had suddenly been replaced by a group of professional soldiers, one hundred perfect focused on the task in front of them.
She watched, heart in her mouth as their Captain made slow progress down the dusty road, each step hesitant as he scanned the area around him for IED's. It felt as though they were all holding their breath, waiting for the gunfire or explosion that had to be coming. They were all more than aware that this was almost certainly a trap, they just didn't know exactly how yet.
She just couldn't take it any longer, it was as though her legs were moving towards him and her brain hadn't quite caught up. He hadn't got far, it took her seconds to close the short distance between the two of them, until she was standing uncertainly beside him and he was glaring at her as though he wanted to kill her.
"Have you got a death wish or something Dawes?" He hissed, looking at her pleadingly. "I told you to wait over there."
"I just…" She hesitated for a moment, glancing over her shoulder at the rest of the section who were watching on with a look of confusion on their faces. They were just out of earshot, so they couldn't hear what she was saying, but she still felt a little uncomfortable. She took a deep breath and forced the words out before she had a chance to change her mind. "I just wanted to say, before we get to that sheet- y'know, in case someone detonates it and we both get blown to smithereens… Well, I'm really quite fond of you boss, and I owe you so much for everything you've done for me. If you hadn't been there for me I really don't know what I would've done."
"This isn't really the time Molly." He sighed. "But, you're right and we don't know what might happen, so I'm going to come out and say it… I'm more than a little fond of you Molly, and you know I'd do anything to help you… We can do this later, when we get back home even, just not here." He looked at her pleadingly.
She nodded. "Sorry boss, I just wanted to make sure I had the chance to say it, y'know… Just incase."
"I know." He agreed quietly, glancing at her once more before he continued his steady progress towards the sheet, with her close behind him.
"It moved, it fucking moved!" Smurf's voice came through the radio and she felt the rush of adrenaline through her body. He was right she realised, the sheet moved again and this time a blood covered hand emerged from underneath.
She sprinted the final few meters, her training kicking in as she pulled the sheet of to reveal Sohail underneath, his body battered and bruised and his clothes soaked in his own blood.
"Sohail, can you hear me?" She called, dropping to her knees and rummaging through her bag trying to find the supplies that she needed.
He grunted in response, and she felt the relief flood through her. She was vaguely aware of the sound of Captain James organising a medivac behind her.
"That's it." She smiled down at him as she started assessing his injuries. "You stay with me mate… Where are we on that helicopter boss?" She called over her shoulder.
"Three minutes out." He replied. "Do you need me to do anything?" He asked, crouching down on the other side of Sohail.
She handed him a wedge of gauze and a pair of gloves. "Can you try and clear some of that blood up so I can see where it's coming from?"
He nodded in agreement, working silently.
"How are you doing Sohail? You still with me?" She asked, shining her torch in his eyes to check his pupils.
"You English." He muttered. "You never stop talking."
She laughed quietly. "You're right, and I'm not going to stop any time soon either."
The roar of the helicopter coming in overhead sent a rush of relief rushing through her veins. She leaned forward, trying to shelter Sohail from the dust and debris that flew around as the helicopter came in to land.
The medic jumped off the helicopter, running over to meet them. In a flurry of activity they had Sohail on a stretcher and into the helicopter.
They shielded their eyes again as the helicopter rose upwards, watching for a moment as it disappeared into the distance, heading for Bastion.
"Right, everyone load up." Captain James called after a moment's pause. "Let's get moving again."
She moved to follow the rest of the boys back, he reached out and caught her arm to stop her. "Good job Dawes." He smiled.
"Thanks Boss." She answered softly.
He put a hand on her a shoulder and gave it a squeeze. "Come on, let's get you back to Bastion, we can finish that conversation we were having then."
She nodded slightly, shrugging out from under his hand and walking off to climb back into the truck so that they could continue their journey back to Bastion. Suddenly she was looking forward to getting back there a whole lot more.