Road to Destiny
Chapter 7
He woke in the early hours the following morning, with her wrapped around him. Her arm over his chest and her leg over his. He would have another chat with Blue today, he was hoping that her squadron would be put back into training rotation as they had lost their CO and Dyno wasn't fit for duty. They would have to get a new team together and be a cohesive unit before they would deploy again, wouldn't they. Perhaps that would be enough time for Molly to work out notice and leave, after what she had told him last night he really didn't want her going off again. His life was with her and he couldn't bear to lose her.
With 11 years' service under her belt maybe they could get her a premature voluntary release as a way out but he would have to look into it. While they didn't have a lot of spare cash since they had bought this house, it had gained in value so they could sell it if need be, or he would have a word with his father see if they could lend him some money to help get her out. Whatever it took to keep her safe, not let her feel like that again. He was a Major and should know all the rules, but Special Forces worked differently so he would see what Blue had to say, even if it meant a transfer back to RAMC and Keogh for a few months it would be better than worrying about her being deployed again, especially with the way she was feeling at the moment. She wasn't in the right frame of mind.
Charles and Blue were sitting in his office drinking mugs of coffee
"Well I don't know if any of them have voiced anything to their acting CO but both Jackson and Peanut have spoken with me and said they want to transfer out" Blue took a sip from his coffee "Jackson wants to come back to the Rifles and Peanut to the Engineers" he snorted a laugh "Hoping to get into the training side at either Camberley or Bicester or 22 engineers over at Salisbury"
"Well he would be with Dangleberry if he goes to Camberley" answered Charles
"So what about Molls, is she talking" and Charles nodded "Yeah! Thinking of a PVR"
"What for" replied Blue raising his eyebrows "I can't remember all her file from when I was her CO but didn't she join up at 18" Charles nodded "then she only has about 6 months to go for 12 years. Can't she tell them she wants to leave, OK she won't get any promotions or training but it will save the money, they won't keep her in Special Forces." He sniggered "She could end up here in stores or something so long as it's not in your chain of command"
"Or they might send her back to Keogh and the RAMC."
Blue shrugged "But unlikely they will send her on a long deployment if they know she isn't going to renew her contract. Look mate I know it doesn't happen that often but you never know unless she asks, she could get an early release. It happens"
"Might be an idea, especially if she is looking into the police, I expect they have a process for recruitment that won't be that fast" he grinned
"Well there is one way she can get out early" sniggered Blue "and I don't mean going AWOL"
"Don't you start Blue" said Charles shaking his head but grinning anyway.
-OG-
The squadron did go back onto training rotation with the loss of their CO. But as the powers that be realised the team all wanted to move on to other regiments there was no point in training any of them. So, a selection process was started to get a replacement squadron together and transfer processes were started for Jackson, Peanut and Molly.
It took a few months to sort the logistics before Jackson returned to the Rifles and was back in the chain of command to Blue, now known as Sergeant Ewan Jackson and was house hunting with his wife Chris in the Monmouth and Chepstow areas.
Peanut, now known as Sergeant Pete Nuttall, was going to move across to the training sections within the Engineers at Camberley and was stationed with Dangles. He and Laura had found a beautiful house on the outskirts Woking which she was looking forward to changing and updating.
Charles had looked into whether Molly could also be stationed at Chepstow, but it was felt there could be a conflict of interest even if they weren't in the same chain of command. So she was transferred back to Keogh. She did have her Sergeant stripe and would be working with Jackie but it did mean that she stayed in barracks during the week and came home on a Friday evening, leaving to go back at the crack of dawn on Mondays.
Two months into this living apart during the week, news came through that Charles was being deployed again for six months to Mali. Once Molly realised that even with her tenure and she was coming close to serving 12 years it would be many months before she could leave, they agreed that she would live in barracks at Keogh while he was away, serving with Jackie and under Captain O'Brian and as a Sergeant she would actually have people under her.
While Jackson and Chris were house hunting in the area, they could stay at their home so at least it wouldn't be empty for the duration of Charles tour. Jackson would be closer to work and Chris would be close to go viewing the area with Nicole and see where she wanted to live when they made the move. They had only rented before in Hereford and Chris for sure felt the time was right to start laying down roots, have a permanent home.
Charles and Molly spent ages trying to research joining the police, before he was deployed, and found that a lot of ex-service personnel went on to join the civilian police. She was surprised at how long the training was and how long she would be on probation. But once Charles had come home and said he was going to Mali for six months she knew that she definitely didn't want to stay in the army.
Now that she was back in Keogh she quite enjoyed it. Although it seemed very sedate to her after having spent so long in Special Forces, but she was with Jackie, who helped her while she adjusted to the changes. Captain O'Brian was a good CO and she couldn't believe that this was the same woman who had scared her shitless when she signed up at 18 and given her that chance.
At Charles nagging she did go and visit Ted a couple of times just to talk through what she felt on that last mission. It's not that she thought she had PTSD , it was more that she thought if her time came it would be like Bones or Mac or even Elvis where she thought "Oh Shit" and that would be it, didn't for one minute think that she would have to choose not to be taken and worry about what might happen after. She had talked with Charles but she didn't want to tell him everything she felt, she was worried that it would send him back to that dark place again because of his need to look after her. If anything she loved him even more, he had been so supportive. Ted had been so helpful in telling her that what she felt wasn't unusual when faced with decisions on your own mortality, and she could see why Charles had thought so highly of him.
She had kept in touch with Dyno and he was having operation after operation on his arm. But she heard in his voice how happy he was that Sue, his ex-wife, was helping him every step of the way, encouraging him through the operations and physio he had to have after.
-OG-
It had been a long six months without Charles while he was out in Mali. She kept in touch with Chris and Jackson just to make sure that everything was all right. She was a bit cheesed off that their system understood his Welsh accent but hadn't understood hers at the start.
As is the way when one of them was deployed keeping in touch was sporadic and only if they could get a signal. They had managed to get in a few Skype calls just so she could see his face. She thought he looked tired, but could see he had been able to pick up some rays as she could see the fine lines round his eyes.
"So sweetheart, not long now only another month and I'll be home" he grinned at her on one of the few Skype calls they had been able to make.
"You'll never guess what" she beamed back "Jackson and Chris are only going to be our neighbours, the couple next door but one are moving and they are going to buy their place"
"Bloody hell, has he robbed a bank?"
"Nah" she giggled "Some relative of Chris' left her some dosh and they are using that" her fingers coming up to the screen as if trying to touch his face
"When are they moving out the house, will we have it to ourselves when I get back?" waggling his eyebrows and grinning at her
"Should have" she grinned back "It's not a big chain and the neighbours have already agreed that they will move out."
"Good" he laughed "Don't want you getting all embarrassed at them hearing your screaming!"
"I don't bloody scream" she tried her best to pout but couldn't help but laugh.
"Must be me then" he threw his head back laughing "God I've missed you."
"Ditto" and he raised his eyebrows and moved closer to the screen "and I told you Dawesy I expect something a bit more romantic than that after having spent six months away."
Her face broke out into a huge grin, her eyes glistening with mischief "I think you can safely say you are on a promise when you get back. Anyway, I've got more news for you" her face getting more serious "We are all going to be in the country at the same time for Smurf's 10 year anniversary."
His heart sank a bit, he had a feeling she would want to meet up with all of 2 section again, to remember her old mate, but it wouldn't be that long after he came back and he wanted to hole up in their home and not see anyone for weeks. But he nodded across the internet that he did remember.
"Brains and I are organising a get together for the old section with partners" she beamed at him "In Newport and we can go out to Laugharne and we wondered if you would do that Dylan Thomas thing you did at his funeral?"
"The Sunset Poem from Under Milk Wood?" His smile dropped from his face as he realised who would be there "Are you OK with that, who will be there?" and she nodded.
"I have some more news for you" her smile firmly back in place "Captain O'Brian thought she might be able to get me an early release, won't be that much but it means I would be able to take up a place on the next intake for Police training. Can't guarantee it though but there is always hope."
"WOW" he beamed "you have been busy while I have been away, you got in then?" and she nodded her face splitting into one of her wide grins and he wished he was at home to hug her, that she had achieved what she wanted, celebrate with her, his own hand coming up to the screen and running a finger down her face.
"Yeah and the training centre is only at Bridgend so I should be able to get home every day" she chuckled "We will be able to live in the same house" she sighed "What with me being in Keogh and only seeing you at weekends then your deployment, it feels like ages since we lived together."
"Seven months, two weeks and three days" he sighed back.
"You're not counting then Boss?" she laughed
"Don't call me that" he grinned "of course I am, I bloody miss my own gobby little mare"
"Will you text me the time when I can pick you up?" giggling at his remark
"You can count on it, not long now and I'll be home."
-OG-
Captain O'Brian had come up trumps as far as she was concerned. She really had been a good CO and in some ways wished she had served with her when she first started. She had got Molly her early release, using many reasons, such as she had a job to go to wouldn't need any relocation allowances or support and her husband was coming back from six months away. So when Charles did finally land at Brize she was no longer army and had handed all of her stuff back. He would have leave after having been away and she would be able to be with him and not still have those last two months stationed at Keogh to deal with.
When his plane landed she watched the stream of tired soldiers walking back to the terminal, which was packed with relatives all waiting for their loved ones.
As soon as she saw him she grinned as their eyes locked. She wasn't army anymore, not that he knew that yet, as she ran forward and threw herself into his arms.
"Woah! Molly" as he struggled to keep his balance as she launched herself at him "You nearly had us on the floor" his arms circling her waist
"Nah" she laughed her eyebrows raising and her eyes wide "When we get home" and he threw his head back laughing.
"Well, you best get me home pretty sharpish then Mrs James" and she put her small hand in his and virtually dragged him out the terminal building.
-OG-
"Have we got the house to ourselves?" he asked as Molly was looking to her right to pull onto the A40 and start their journey home
"Yeah!" she grinned looking at him out the corner of her eye "They moved out on Monday and Chris loves it down here."
"Good" he grinned at her but she wasn't sure if it was because they had the house to themselves or that Chris liked it in Monmouth.
"So how was Mali?" she could see how tired he was.
"Different country but same shit, we got everyone home this time and we have to hope it won't be another Iraq or Afghan."
"Will you have to go there again" she asked tentatively and Charles just shrugged not quite ready to talk about it although he had a distinct feeling the UN would be sending out troops for the foreseeable from what he saw. Realising he didn't want to talk about it yet, but knowing he would, he just wanted to feel normal and that he was home.
She spent the rest of the journey back chatting nineteen to the dozen about everything that had been going on in her life since he had been away. Some of it he had heard on their phone and Skype calls and some he hadn't. What he couldn't stop looking at though were the animated expressions crossing her face as she told him. That was what he had missed, sitting next to her while she talked and made him laugh.
"Anyway" she said turning to him briefly with a huge grin "best news yet, drum roll, Captain O'Brian came up trumps and got me an early release" she paused as she saw him grin "I handed all my stuff back at the end of last week and it's a month before I start training in Bridgend" she giggled before continuing "We are both gonna be living in the same house again."
He put his hand on her leg and used his thumb to make small circles on her knee, not wanting to distract her too much as she was driving "Perfect."
She burst out laughing "Let's see if you are still saying that in a month Boss when all me shit is everywhere and those bleedin lights won't turn on."
"It's been a bloody long 9 months, what with you being in Keogh and then me being deployed, can't wait" he sucked in his bottom lip and bit it stifling a smirk "Have you told your parents and Nan that you are joining the police?"
"Nah! Not yet" she said as she swung the car on to their driveway and turned off the engine "Thought with your post deployment leave we could go up there together and do it."
He released his seatbelt and leaned across to kiss her on the nose "Are you scared Dawsey, do you want me to hold your hand?"
"Fuck off" she said and opened the car door slamming it shut, walking away from his loud laughter and opening the door to their home, giving him the middle finger as she went making him laugh even more.
-OG-
He got his Bergen out the boot following her to the house as she remotely locked the car his grin getting wider with each step. There was a bit of him that was surprised she hadn't given up the idea of leaving the army to join the police. What with her father being a bit of a scam artist, he still found it hard to believe that he had organised a nail gun going through his hand so that he could go back on benefits. Her Nan, while he had to admire the old lady, she was a force to be reckoned with, she had a knack of acquiring what Molly always referred to as moody gear which he now knew to mean not strictly legal. He looked down shaking his head and couldn't contain his laughter.
He dropped his Bergen in the hall and would deal with that later. He followed Molly into the kitchen as she was putting on the kettle and topping up the Nespresso for one of his coffees. He watched for a moment while she got cups out the cupboard before walking up behind her and putting an arm around her waist, the other grabbed her hair moving it away from her neck as he dropped light little kisses on her neck "I've missed you, six bloody months" as he pulled her closer to him and she leaned back at his touch.
She turned in his arms and undid the buttons of his army shirt, pushing it back off his shoulders and she could see the whiteness of his chest in comparison to his arms and face
"Mummy didn't send you a paddling pool this time then" she giggled kissing his chest and eliciting a groan from him
"No but you could have" he whispered into her neck as he kissed her his hands on the hem of her sweat shirt and pulling it over her head
"Don't forget I've seen you in that pool, why would I do that, all the medics ogling" her thumbs sliding down into the waistband of his combats and pressing lightly making him hitch a breath
"But you know I only have eyes for you" he grinned as he kissed down her collar bone to her breast lifting her onto the worktop.
"Aren't you hungry don't you want me to get you something to eat?" she giggled her arms and legs wrapped tightly round him as he murmured into her chest.
"Later"
