Road to Redemption
Chapter 16
The Price of Paradise – Part 3
The trucks took them to the aerodrome and all the Bell helicopters were there ready to transport them into the jungle.
All of them with transmitters and coms sets so that ops knew where they were. Molly, Peanut, Jackson, Dyno and Spanner in one and the other sections in others. They were all being dropped about 5 miles apart into the rainforest in the Tutong area which stretched to the borders of neighbouring countries on the island of Borneo.
The helicopters hovering over the jungle while ropes were lowered each of them taking one and sliding down. Molly loved the thrill of abseiling down a rope through the canopy of trees into the jungle.
"Well this is the start of it" sighed Spanner "I hope you got away with at least one bar of Chocolate Molly?"
"Not a chance mate" she giggled "but Peanut has."
"What?" said Peanut turning to her with a grin.
"Yeah I packed it in your backpack."
"Fuckin hell Moll, every mossy, gnat and ant is going to be crawling up me fucking legs" as he unclipped his backpack.
"Joke mate, Joke" she laughed "I wouldn't do that."
"Well at least we have our first meal coming up, we can eat that spider on your shoulder" as Molly started jumping about and let out an ear piercing scream.
"Joke mate" laughed Peanut.
Back in the ops room Major James was grinning and shaking his head while Blue was laughing out loud.
"Just be aware we can hear you" said Charles pushing the transmit button desperately trying to stifle laughter.
"Settle down lads, focus and stay alert" added Blue while Charles turned to him with raised eyebrows and releasing the transmit button.
"Warned you about that scream" as both men noticed a couple of the operators pulling their headsets away from their ears. "She can shatter glass with that."
"Fancy a beer tonight then Charles" as he nodded a response both men grinning as to what was to come over the next few days.
OG
By the second day 3 section had all been found, picked off by the Gurkhas and were out of the jungle back at base on the simulation site shooting cardboard cut outs. The Corporal had already been to see Captain Hurst to tell him that part of the problem was they didn't work as a team. Arguments within the section had attracted the Gurkhas to them.
Captain Hurst called in Private Charlton and read him the riot act, which he rarely had to do. Seemed that Kingy had been right, he didn't want to be in the Army but had been suggested to him when he left the children's home as a career opportunity. He also highlighted the bullying of Private Rogers was unacceptable and that he had since heard that the incident in Kabul where an elderly gentleman was hit by a rifle butt was no accident.
"If you don't wish to represent the armed forces in a respectful manner perhaps it will be a good idea if we part company when we get back" he barked "unless you wish to stay in then there needs a marked improvement in your behaviour" raising his eyebrows.
"I think I would like to leave Sir" he smirked "Not really my cup of tea this lark."
"Wise decision Private, it will look better on your CV that you left rather than dishonourable discharge" Captain Hurst stood up "I'll start the process for you and we can complete it once we get back to Aldershot. Dismissed Private."
He called in Colour Sergeant King, who had been in charge of 3 section, to update him on the conversation and advised that there was no point in investing anymore time in him but to keep an eye on him confine him to barracks for the duration as damage limitation as he was still in uniform and didn't want him upsetting any of the locals.
OG
By day five 1 section had also been found and removed back to base. The helicopters brought them back they all looked weary and exhausted. Charles and Hurst telling them they had done well to get this far, to clean up and enjoy a day of rest and recuperation. The exercise was nearly complete and they should be proud of themselves. They could join 3 section on the simulation grounds for the final day.
Blue, Captain Hurst and Major James were in the ops room listening to the chatter from 2 section and Special Forces.
"One of yours and mine left now Charles" grinned Blue "I wonder who will be the ones getting to the collection point without detection."
"Well of course it will be 2 section" Charles grinned back while Captain Hurst shook his head smiling at the competitive spirit of these two men.
OG
Day six and the last day of the exercise. The chatter was quiet and intermittent as both teams were incredibly tired, meagre rations, taking it in turns for guard duty through the night, hunting down food all taking its toll on their energy and enthusiasm levels.
"Can you smell smoke?" said Dangles to the rest of the section. Brains tipped his head up sniffing.
"Now you come to mention it, yes a bit."
"Do you think that Special Forces are cooking something nice, shall we go and pinch it?" laughed Fingers still stretching to wake himself up "or ask them if we can join them for breakfast."
"I'm bloody starving" moaned Monk "I sort of wish we had been found at least we could be back in the mess hall."
A mile in front of them were Special Forces they were only a few miles from their pickup point and they were all pleased that this was nearly over.
"Is that smoke over there?" said Peanut looking through the canopy of trees.
Back in the ops room Blue and Charles looked at each other.
"Find out what is going on, something isn't right" ordered Major James to the nearest Corporal who was looking at a bank of screens round the barracks. The Corporal stood and left the room.
"Stand Fast Peanut" ordered Blue opening up coms "while we find out what is going on."
The Corporal returned some 10 minutes later with a Captain Jackson and a Sergeant Major permanently stationed here. All heads turned to look at them.
"There is a fire in the forest. The fire service have already been sent out there and the RAF are supplying some planes for water drenching" said the Captain
"Your men are currently heading towards it, I believe it's their pickup point" carried on the Sergeant Major.
"Bring up their trackers on the screen" ordered Charles. "Did no one think to mention it to us, that there was a fire while an exercise was in progress"
The ordinance map came up on the big screen and 10 little red lights started blinking, they were probably only a mile apart.
Charles pushed the coms button "Spanner move your men South and meet up with 2 Section." "Dangles, keep in touch with them and guide them to your position and both of you await further instruction."
"What's going on Boss?" asked Spanner knowing that everyone would hear the answer through the headsets.
"There is a fire close to where you are and a new extraction point will be arranged, we will come back to you when we have more intel, but do not, repeat do not keep travelling north" instructed Blue.
OG
There was total silence from 2 section and Special Forces as they realised what they had been told. Equally there was silence in the ops room as both Blue, Hurst and Major James looked at Captain Jackson.
"The fire is possibly deliberate" he started "It's totally illegal to burn the jungle, it's all meant to be protected."
"So's the Amazon but acres of that is set on fire as well" huffed Captain Hurst "So do we take it there is peat up there?" Blue and Charles looked at him with quizzical expressions "Spent a long time in Scotland and the moor was sometimes set alight ready for the grouse, peat is notorious for trying to put out, it can travel underground, then the fire springs up somewhere else."
"Oh Shit" said Blue and Charles in unison.
"Is that what this is, could they get trapped in there?"
"It's a rainforest" answered Captain Jackson "It should be damp and therefore won't burn, but what Captain Hurst didn't mention is that peat is carbon, so the smoke is…" he shrugged "unpleasant, visibility poor breathing is difficult, that's why they banned it here."
"So why would they do this?"
Captain Jackson sighed "Its slash and burn farming. They see the money being made in other Indonesian islands and even across the borders for farming palm oil." He continued "the village that alerted the fire service has already been evacuated as a precaution, we were on our way to tell you when you sent for us"
OG
All the time the men were staring at the map in silence in the operation room wondering how the fuck this had happened on their exercise.
"Come on" said Peanut "that smoke is getting closer, let's find our way to 2 section quick."
This galvanised the stunned ops room.
"Captain Jackson, where are the rest of the Gurkhas, they are not showing on the maps."
"Well as it was the last morning of the exercise and according to them the Special Forces were only a mile away from the collection point, they left, the likelihood that they would have been able to take down the whole section in that time unlikely."
"So, they are not in the danger zone?" asked Captain Hurst to the shaking head of the Gurkha Sergeant Major.
"Can we send in the Bell helicopters to air lift them out?"
"No Sir visibility has already deteriorated as they have been dumping water on the fires, the smoke has got worse."
Major James and Blue both leaning forward over the table at the maps. Blue could see Charles hands gripping the sides and his knuckles were white.
"The river has to be the way out then" said Major James "What is the smoke like there?"
"I can see where you're going with this Major" said Blue matter of factly, "If visibility is good at the moment drop inflatables for them, they can trek across to that point collect the inflatables and use the river."
Charles nodded, "get the motorboats out and put a medic on each one, keep pulling them back if the smoke gets bad and they can paddle their way to them."
"That would work" nodded Blue "Quite a hike for them through jungle to the river though."
"Dump everything they don't need to carry apart from their guns."
"Keep their guns Sir?" questioned Captain Hurst
"I don't know what's in that jungle but whatever is in there will be scared and possibly injured" All eyes turned to Captain Jackson.
"Well Sir the animals are quite rare, but there is leopards, bears, monkeys" he shrugged.
Major James looked up at the map with 2 groups of red dots, knowing that one of those dots was Molly and she was in danger. The dots moving together.
"The idiots that started the fire might still be about" added Blue
OG
Blue opened the coms link "Tie up with 2 section they are about half a mile south of you."
"OK Boss."
"Dump anything you don't need to carry but stay armed" he continued "Make your way to the river."
"How far Boss?" he heard Molly ask.
"Couple of hours if you keep up a good pace" he answered, "While visibility is good in that area we are dropping inflatables for you."
"I expect Mansfield will be pleased" sniggered Molly and they could hear the rest sniggering apart from the "Oi" from Mansfield.
"Not those sort of inflatables Dawes" grinned Blue looking across at Charles and shrugging. "We can't airlift you out now so keep going down the river until you meet up with the patrol boats who will bring you back."
"Move west to the river OK?"
"Yes Boss" was the response from Spanner.
They watched on the ops screen as the dots merged together and started moving west towards the river.
OG
There were handshakes and hugs as Special Forces and 2 section merged. All taking their backpacks off but keeping their water bottles. As 2 section had boiled some more they topped up their reserves. Only left with what they stood up in and their weapon they set off West, all looking North at the orange smoke ridden sky.
"Are we nearly there yet?" asked Mansfield puffing from the back as they cut their way through the jungle before making progress as they found a pathway. They were now covering their faces with either scarves or t-shirts.
They already had to walk through one of the lakes their hands above their heads to keep their weapons dry, Fingers and Brains picking up a couple of leeches. They stopped to draw breath all of them coughing the acrid smoke getting to them. Molly pulled out a cigarette lighter from a side pocket and dealt with the leeches.
"You been cheating Molls?" asked Brains
"No mate keep this just for this kind of emergency" grinning at him as she held the lighter to the leech then flicked it off his arm.
"Well I for one am glad you are here Molls" replied Dangles "You maybe Special Forces now but you are still a fucking good medic" glad he hadn't picked up a leech but knew they could be really painful not to mention scary.
OG
With the jungle, the leeches, stopping to rest in the heat, humidity and the smoke making breathing difficult it had been a tough slog to reach the river but finally they arrived there.
"Fuck, Fuck Fuck" said Fingers as he looked down.
"Not again" whispered Brains.
"Well it doesn't look so high this time" shrugged Monk.
All of them looking at the waterfall, turning back briefly to see the orange sky behind them.
In the ops room they were all wondering what was going on with the chatter coming across coms. The boats had already moved back because of smoke, so what was the problem here.
"Well, I'm the shortest I suppose I have to check the depth, make sure you lanky shits don't hit the bottom" sighed Molly as they all looked down at the waterfall to the next level of the river. Judging by the sky and smoke they didn't have a lot of time to find a new path to get down.
"I'm the next shortest" said Dangles trying to laugh "We'll go together."
"No" said Peanut emphatically.
"What's going on" asked Blue urgently noting Major James gripping the table again.
"Seems the inflatables are further downstream Boss" answered Spanner "We got to jump maybe 20 feet over a waterfall" Charles closed his eyes.
"Get Lieutenant Hooper in here I want to know if medics are on the boats going upriver to meet them and where the fuck are they."
OG
"Come on then Dangles, let's do this then."
"Do you want to hold hands Moll?"
"Fuck off" but put out her hand anyway. They gave each other a brief look and jumped.
From the ops room Charles watched as two red dots moved quickly away from the rest of the group.
Then there was a cacophony of calls as in the ops room they could hear the group calling for Molly and Dangles.
"Where are they?" asked Spanner.
"I'll go" responded Peanut.
"No, you might land on them" said Jackson
"There he is" said Monk jumping up and down at the sight of Dangles before seeing him dive back underwater again.
There was another red light moving quickly to join the other two.
"What's going on" asked Blue
"Don't know Boss, only Dangles came back up again and Peanut has gone in to see."
For Charles this felt like eternity, what the fuck had happened to Molly, he could still see that blinking red light. He started tapping his hand, closed his eyes and saw her grinning face as they came back from that last meal.
"They're up Boss" called Spanner as he looked down at Peanut holding Molly.
"There is a tree trunk down here, be careful as you jump" Peanut called up as Dangles swam to shore holding Molly's chin above water.
Both men on the shoreline now and Peanut holding round Molly's upper abdomen trying to push the water out. She hadn't been under the water that long.
In the ops room they watched as all the other red dots moved from their location and joined the other three.
Suddenly they heard the coughing and spluttering from Molly, Charles briefly closed his eyes before looking to the ceiling, she was alright.
"See told you deep water was scary didn't I?" she choked "If you can't see the bottom you shouldn't get in it."
"What happened?" asked Blue, Charles still unable to speak.
"Fallen tree Boss, her foot got caught, everyone's OK Boss" answered Spanner.
"You alright Molls" asked Brains he had to agree with her after that cliff jump in Bangladesh this wasn't something he had enjoyed doing and if it hadn't been for one of his oldest mates being in trouble he wasn't sure if he would have been able to do it.
"Sorry Molls" said Dangles.
"Why, weren't your fault" she smiled "I'm just grateful you knew where I was to go get me out when me foot got stuck" she hugged him swallowing that fear she had had when she couldn't breath and the darkness, panicking when she finally had to breath.
"Right we better keep moving" said Spanner relieved that Molly was OK they were a close unit, apart from the fact that he knew the Major was listening in and must be having kittens by now.
"Those inflatables are round here somewhere, start searching" continued Spanner, the smoke stinging their eyes and all of them coughing.
"Well I don't think I need a fag" joked Mansfield "I can just inhale."
"I wouldn't do that mate" answered Molly shaking her head and smiling, the fear she had felt at not being able to breath lessening as her old mate came out with one of his priceless comments "This isn't the good shit."
The smoke getting denser and they could see the tinges of yellow and orange which meant the fire was catching them up.
OG
They spent the next 30 minutes moving down the riverbank looking for the inflatables that had been dropped for them. Finally they found them. There was a lot of noise, like honking coming from the jungle which they all found rather disconcerting.
Molly was sat on a tree stump while they were sorting out the inflatables when she thought she could see something out the corner of her eye.
She moved across to find a monkey, an ugly bugger she thought with a long nose, reminded her of Pinocchio. It was just lying there not moving, so she gave it a slight shove with her foot, realising it was dead but attached was a little baby monkey. Well there was no way she was leaving this behind, there would be someone that could look after it as she picked it up. Looking down at it as it gripped her finger looking up at her.
"Molly what you doing?" shouted Fingers.
"I found this" she beamed showing the group.
"I suppose it's coming back with us?" laughed Dyno.
"Stupid question" retorted Jackson.
"You ain't changed much have you Dawsey?" carried on Dangles.
"Yeah in Afghan it was kids she picked up giving them all pens, now we are collecting fucking monkeys" sighed Brains.
"Well I guess that answers that question" laughed Blue to Charles both still listening in to them all. Charles shaking his head.
"The more years I know her, the more certain I am she really would bring a fucking donkey back from Spain."
OG
They got into the inflatables and started paddling downstream. Molly wrapped the baby monkey in her uniform and close to her chest to protect it from the smoke. What was it about monkeys that made you think they were almost human? It was staring up at her with its hand gripped to her finger and shivering with fear.
"You're going to be a right ugly bugger when you grow up" she grinned down at it. "A great big hooter if your mum was anything to go by."
Charles in the ops room snorted a laugh "Why does she feel she has to save everything, she nearly fucking drowns and is bringing out a monkey," shaking his head "What the fuck are we going to do with that?"
"I'm assuming there is a primate or some sort of rescue centre somewhere round here" smirked Captain Hurst to Captain Jackson.
"Of course," he replied, "I'll contact them now and we can sort that once they have returned."
OG
They paddled hard to get away from the smoke and finally they saw in front of them the motorboats that were due to meet them. Molly grinned as she saw her friend Jackie in one of them and Katy in another. She could see the relief on her face that Dangles was in the boat next to them.
They transferred across to the boats and powered away to the collection point where they were met by the helicopters and transferred back to the hospital at Tucker Lines.
OG
Once Charles realised that they were all on the helicopters and heading back he felt he could relax.
"Captain Hurst" he said, "See that the wildlife rescue person is there to meet them and hand the monkey into their care."
"Sir" he grinned leaving the room.
"You worried you will be taking it home with you Charles?" asked Blue.
"No but don't for one minute think that it will be just Molly that wants to adopt it, if her mate Jackie is on-board the same boat, they will have a plan for feeding and raising it by the time they are back here at base" Blue roared with laughter.
Both men looked at the ordinance map, all the men cleared and safely on their way back to base.
"Well I expect our men will be spending the night in the hospital for smoke inhalation so shall we go and see them?" said Charles nodding his head towards the door.
OG
They were in the helicopters and it was only a short flight back to base. Molly was showing Jackie the baby monkey that she had found.
"Isn't it cute Molls?" grinned Jackie stroking its head "We'll have to look up what it eats it must be getting hungry by now."
As they arrived they were met by Captain Hurst and a local man with a green uniform with the name of a wildlife centre emblazoned on his polo shirt. Molly realised he was coming for the monkey, her and Jackie walked towards him to hand it over.
"Will it be alright, does it need anything before you go?" asked Jackie and the beaming man shook his head.
"Perhaps you can visit him before you leave this island, come and see the sanctuary?" both Molly and Jackie nodding enthusiastically.
"I wouldn't mind tagging along as well if you don't mind?" grinned Captain Hurst "I expect we will have a few rest days here before heading back to Blighty."
"In civvies Sir?"
"Of course, Sergeant Aston" and Jackie grinned nodding at him.
"We could make it a team outing Sir?" added in Dangles.
"Come on you lot let's get you all checked out" said Jackie turning towards the hospital entrance where there were doctors and nurses all waiting to take in the sudden influx of 10 very dirty, smoky and exhausted soldiers.
OG
Georgie had heard all the commotion earlier during the day, the sudden disappearance of Jackie and Katy and a very flustered Lieutenant Hooper going across to the ops room before coming back to ask for at least 10 beds to be available for overnight.
What's going on Sir?" she asked Hooper
"Seems there is a forest fire and they are extracting the men out now" he clapped his hands to attract the attention of the other medics that were on the ward "They will be here shortly so be ready to deal with any injuries, if there are any, but mainly smoke inhalation"
Georgie watched from the back as Jackie and Katy came in leading in the soldiers who all seemed to have their heads down, some were coughing but they all looked exhausted. She hadn't realised that Fingers was part of the group, well she hadn't been told who was out there.
All of them were led to cubicles where they were checked for burns, leeches and given eye drops for the soot they felt they had in their eyes. While most of them appeared to be coughing now and again, none seemed to need oxygen. They did listen carefully to Molly's lungs as she had inhaled water but again they seemed clear. A shower for all of them and a clean t-shirt and shorts for their overnight stay in the hospital.
"Lauren's on nights so can come and see you later Molls" said Jackie once all the checks were done and they had been put in a ward together.
"To be honest Jacs I'm that tired I'll be asleep before the springs hit the floor."
"You and me both Molls" said Dangles "I don't think I have ever been this tired."
"Don't you think we should go back and help put the fire out?" asked Mansfield innocently.
"Fuck off" shouted out 9 other voices.
"Now! Now! lads" said Charles who was stood at the entrance to their ward "Remember where you are."
"This hospital is used by civilians too and I'm sure they don't want to listen to you lot" added Blue who was standing next to Charles.
Charles started walking down the ward until he was standing at the bottom of Molly's bed.
"You alright" he tried to keep his voice calm but his eyes betrayed him as he scanned the tired face of Molly, her hair down and tangled and looking small in her t-shirt. She grinned and nodded desperately wanting a hug from him but knowing they couldn't. He took a step towards her before stopping.
"Aren't you going to ask about us Boss" asked Mansfield. Charles and Molly grinning, their eyes never leaving each other, knowing what was coming next.
"Mansfield?"
"Yes Boss."
"Shut the fuck up."
At the entrance to the ward Georgie was watching Charles and Molly, a frown on her face as she took in their expressions.
"I brought you something Molly" grinned Charles taking out a bar of chocolate from his breast pocket.
"Thanks Boss" she gave him one of her best smiles, hoping he was re-assured she was OK.
"I'll see you in the morning then" and winked at her before turning to the rest of 2 section "Now it's just one night in here so don't go upsetting the nurses."
He started walking back down the ward to join Blue.
"Well done all of you for making it to the end of the exercise" grinned Blue looking out the corner of his eye towards Charles "Tomorrow is the start of 3 days R&R before the flight back to Brize."
"We can all go with you to that Sanctuary Molls and see your baby Monkey couldn't we?" enthused Mansfield as Charles groaned quietly while Blue sniggered.
"Yeah let's all go" added Peanut and Molly looked towards Charles with a pained expression as he put his hands in his pockets and shrugged at her. Looks like he wasn't getting any alone time with her, although judging by her smile she was OK
OG
It was the very early hours of the morning, the hospital lights were low and it was eerily quiet as everyone was sleeping as Georgie walked into the ward and up to Molly's bed.
She stood there staring at her wondering why Charlie had married her again. They had absolutely nothing in common. She tapped her on the shoulder, then again a bit harder.
"What do you want?" whispered Molly in a horse half a sleep voice.
"You know he won't stay with you don't you?"
"What you on about?"
"Charlie, he won't stay with you, we're bound together he told me."
"You really need help Georgie, you are completely deluded and this obsession of yours is not healthy" sighed Molly "Now if you don't mind I wanna go back to sleep, so off you fuck before I make an official complaint" and turned her back on her.
Georgie felt a hand on her shoulder making her jump as she turned she saw Fingers and he led her out of the ward.
"Now I have a handle on this Georgie" he glared at her "Marie is your sister so I am giving you this final piece of advice, the Boss and Molly have patched things up, he obviously was fragged, we all noticed it except you. He had to admit he needed help and get it and so do you. He's not Elvis and he's not yours." Glaring as he drew breath "I watched just then and what you said to her was cruel and malicious. From what I saw I would say Molly's right you are deluded and it's you that doesn't stand a fucking chance with him"
"I don't have PTSD Fingers you know that, they said so in Afghan."
"You had a couple of sessions and they say its grief" he brought his fingers up into inverted comma's "Well if that's what it is you still haven't dealt with it have you because you're not letting it go are you?" he raised an eyebrow at her "You started as a good soldier and medic when I first met you, now I just hope we never get you assigned as medic to us again, before your arrogance gets us all killed."
Fingers turned on his heel and walked back towards his bed.
"Sorry Fingers" whispered Molly and he walked to the side of her bed.
"Yeah! me and all for thinking what I did."
"Well Marie is her sister ain't she, didn't want to make it difficult."
"You could have talked to me Molls."
"Didn't really talk with anyone about it, didn't want it to be worse than it already was."
"Well that's the difference between you and her, you worry about stuff and about people" he grinned in the dim lighting "Night Molls" and walked back to his bed, the only sounds now the snoring of all the other men.
OG
When morning came they were all discharged and looking at getting back to their billets to start their 3 days of R&R. Today they were just going to relax round the pool and sleep but tomorrow they were going to go to the Sanctuary.
While they were still on an army base there were still protocols to follow, everyone felt more relaxed as they socialised around the pool. A barbeque was provided at lunchtime and Captain Hurst and Blue had agreed they could have a 3 beer pass.
Spanner got out his guitar and they were all shouting requests and they were all laughing, joking and glad to be back in civilisation.
"Come on, you lot can come up with better than this" laughed Spanner.
"She moves in her own way" called out Georgie and Spanner narrowed his eyes while Fingers, Brains, Dangles and Charles looked in her direction. Some of the sections were in the pool, some round it, enjoying each other's company and glad that the exercise was over, a couple of days of R&R before the flight home and back to normality.
Charles was grinning like a Cheshire cat and Mansfield, Brains and Dangles groaned.
"You know what he is going to ask for don't yah?" said Dangles
"So long as Molly does the lady parts I don't give a shit" answered Mansfield. Spanner started up the tune while Molly and Charles grinned at each other. Her holding his wrist when she said she would give him her key and the few remaining 2 section noticing the looks and wondering how they had missed this when they were on tour all those years ago. The second verse even more poignant:
"When I was down"
"I was your clown"
"Ooh-hoo nobody knows it, nobody knoooows"
"Right from the start"
"I gave you my heart"
Fingers watching the way they were looking at each other grinning, sighing at the look on Georgie's face as they all joined in the next chorus. He noticed Brains looking at him with raised eyebrows and he just nodded.
Monk came and sat next to him "How much longer before Marie has the baby?"
"Another couple of months yet mate" he grinned.
"Do you think you will stay in, does it ever worry you about not seeing your kids grow up."
"Well who knows what's round the corner for any of us, but with good people around you" looking round at the group all laughing and joking and enjoying each other's company "you have to hope you will come through it and make it a better place for them."
OG
The following morning a coach was waiting, Molly was gobsmacked at how many of them wanted to come to the sanctuary. She expected Charles to come with her, Jackie and Dangles. Hoping for a bit of quality time together. But there in front of her were her team including Blue, Captain Hurst, Kingy, most of 2 section, Katy, Lauren and a couple of other medics all wanting to see how her baby monkey was doing.
Even Lieutenant Hooper had decided he wouldn't mind coming to see what work was being done since the fire. Georgie was watching from the hospital entrance unable to be part of the group as she was on ward duties for the day.
The coach took about an hour to get to the sanctuary, Molly couldn't help but think back to that first tour as Mansfield started up Wheels on the Bus, getting a loud groan from Charles. They were on R&R so she was sat next to him grinning as she put her hand on his leg.
The man who called himself John and had met them when they arrived from the helicopters and collected the monkey was here to greet them, to show them round the sanctuary. He told them that the fires were finally under control but many animals had been brought in.
He took them round and showed them the Sun bear with his feet bandaged, several Bornean Slow Loris with beautiful big eyes all with varying degrees of burns, then there was the most beautiful animal that Molly thought she had ever seen a clouded leopard with all its feet bandaged, it looked like the giant tabby cat like her nan had once. Charles was stood behind her and put his hands on her shoulders and squeezed. He knew her well enough and was not immune to her sadness at the state of these animals, all bandaged feet, missing fur and all looking terrified. She had always tried to pretend she was hard as nails but she really wasn't.
They came to the primate area and they saw the amount of Proboscis Monkeys. Some had been there a while but some had been brought in because of the recent fire.
"The baby you brought back was female" grinned their guide John as he took them through to the medical area and they passed a few all in small cages that had been rescued before getting to the one that Molly had found.
"We have named her after you" he grinned "We called her Molly."
"Will she be alright?" asked Molly ignoring the sniggering from her mates.
"Yes, we are a charity, but the base has always been good helping with donations."
"How much to keep Molly, to make sure she is alright?" asked Mansfield
"Food and medic" grinned John "about 100 of your pounds a year."
"I would say" started Captain Hurst "that Special Forces or the Rifles could make a contribution to that" grinning at both Blue and Major James who looked at each other. Blue and Charles had already had a long discussion about who had won. Major James having conceded that as Special Forces were less than a mile away from completion that 2 section didn't win.
"Well I would say that Special Forces could support Molly for the next year" Charles grinned looking at Blue. Blue returning a sneering grin.
"Yep OK I can live with that, she's the Special Forces mascot for the next year."
.
A/N I very much doubt anything like this would happen in real life but hope this chapter was just a little bit of escapism