Road to Tears
Chapter 10
He had been home a couple of weeks now and they were sitting in the kitchen having breakfast. Him reading the paper while drinking his coffee, her spooning coco-pops into her mouth while looking at her phone. She squealed with delight causing him to look up "Georgie has set a date, she's getting married, me and Jacs' have been invited up for the hen night"
He couldn't help but grin at her excitement for her friend, but he had a little niggle at the back of his mind, how Elvis would take this. He had seen the looks that passed between them, Elvis had told him that he had spoken with her, told her why he never turned up.
"Please tell me it's not this side of Christmas" he sighed thinking about all the visits they had to make, including the promise Molly had made to his son to take him to see Father Christmas in London.
Elvis had at least cancelled his pre-Christmas dinner this year because of their tours and was going to make it post New Year after dry January, assuming they weren't all deployed somewhere by then.
"Nah! middle of February, she is getting married beginning of March" she sighed shaking her head as he leant across and kissed her, licking his top lip after as he tasted the chocolate from her coco-pops grinning at her, although her eyes looked rather serious. "Something ain't right here" she sighed and he raised an eyebrow "Why has she suddenly decided to marry him? Marie seemed to think she was quite happy living over the brush."
"What?" he answered as she rolled her eyes at him "Don't worry about it Charles, I'll ask her when I talk with her later."
-OG-
He drove down to Bath and picked up Sam from Rebecca. The whole time he didn't stop chatting about how much he was looking forward to seeing Molly's brothers again and his trip into London, it felt like forever he said. They would spend the night in Aldershot before driving to London. As it turned out it was perfect as he had a meeting with the MOD that day. He knew Molly was a bit pissed with him as it got him out of the trip to see Father Christmas but she was going to go with Sam her younger brothers, Mum and Nan. He just had to hope that Nan didn't invite her mate Elsie and Sam came back with hooky toys and half the content of Hamleys. Still he grinned, should be fun telling Rebecca.
When he arrived at the MOD building he was surprised to see Elvis there, he thought he was holed up in Essex with his family.
"Hello Charlie" he grinned "How come you are in London?"
"Firstly, I have a meeting here" he huffed "Then this is where Molly's family live so we are bound to be here to see them aren't we."
"You still sulking that I took her into Kabul?" he grinned sitting in a chair "By the way tell her I found out where her little mate is."
"What you know where Bashira is?" he was still staggered at some of the things Elvis managed to find out.
"Yeah that's her" still smiling up at him watching as Charles made himself a coffee "She's in Canada, after her guardian was killed they felt it safer to move her out the country" he sighed "funny thing though Charlie, when they were sorting the extraction out they found she had quite a bit of money stashed away in a trust for her" raising an eyebrow "wonder where that came from" Charles just shrugged "nothing to do with Molly then?" he asked.
Charles turned to face his friend "Can I tell Molly that she is safe being looked after?"
Elvis nodded his head as he looked down. Did Charlie think he was stupid, he had just answered all his questions about the money, not that he was surprised of course.
"So, I know why I'm here Charlie, why are you?"
Charles shrugged "The Brig said to meet him here."
"Seems the convert Abu is back in the country, or might be, no one knows for sure" said Elvis casually "Some of the stuff we found would indicate that he is plotting some sort of terrorist activity on home soil."
"Will you be able to get this wrapped up quickly Elvis?"
Elvis shrugged "Who knows, we've got to find him first, find out where the cell is and what the target is."
"Anyway Charlie, how is Scamp, I haven't seen the little man for months?" he grinned.
"He's good, he's out with Molly, her mum and brothers seeing Father Christmas" Charles couldn't help but grin "He's so excited about being in London, he's staying the night at the Dawes place and Dave is giving him a guided tour of the ground tomorrow morning."
"So, you are at a loose end tonight then Charlie?" he grinned "We can go for a pint."
Charles raised an eyebrow "I was rather hoping to take my wife for dinner."
"She can come too, she might be able to get us free drinks all night playing Spoof."
"What?" as Elvis burst out laughing "There's a story in there isn't there Elvis?" he said sternly narrowing his eyes making Elvis laugh even harder
"Let's just say that tree was paid for and the Septics were parted from their cash."
"You are absolutely not using her to hustle free drinks all night" standing with his feet apart and his hands under his armpits a frown on his face "We will go for a quiet drink and dinner, or you're not invited."
Elvis stood up still laughing and shaking his head before saluting him "It was a joke, course I wouldn't" patting him on the arm "Come on then Charlie let's see what the Brig has to say."
-OG-
The MOD were trying to track down Abu but they couldn't even be sure he had arrived back in the country. Both Charles and Elvis shaking their heads at what they were being told. How could you protect the population if you didn't even know who was here or not?
After the meeting Charles phoned Molly to ask if they had a good time with Father Christmas, making her laugh "There were long queues but they wanted to go, then we went to Greenwich, saw the Cutty Sark and went ice skating, he's absolutely knackered, he'll be asleep before the springs hit the floor."
"Look Moll, I met someone here, he's on his own and wants to come out for a drink with us, have dinner"
"Don't tell me" she laughed "It's your mate Elvis, you ain't invited him back to the hotel an all have you?"
"No, I bloody haven't" he snorted a laugh "He can find his own room for the night."
"That's alright then."
Molly thought she knew East London quite well, well maybe not the posher restaurants but Elvis had found them a lovely Italian in Canary Wharf.
He put his arm around her shoulder "Well Dawesy, is this your first Italian Restaurant that isn't Prezzo?" and she nodded "Then you are in for a treat, not a spag bol or carbonara in sight" he said grinning at her "Would you like me to order for you" and Charles closed his eyes, squinting through his lashes.
"I think I can manage mate" giving him an icy stare before looking down at the menu and going straight to the back pages, her eyes widening in horror as she scanned it before she finally saw something that made her smile.
"Are you alright Molly?" asked Charles
"Well, I am now" she grinned across the table at him "thought I was gonna have to have a starter all the puddings look like shit, who wants a cheesecake for pudding" shuddering then looking across to Elvis "But they've got that one you did, Tiramisu"
"Then you will have to tell me if it is better than the one my Grandma used to make" grinned Elvis "and you do realise there is cheese in it don't you half pint?" as Molly rolled her eyes.
-OG-
They finished their meal and went back to Molly and Charles hotel for a nightcap. Charles went to the bar as Molly and Elvis found somewhere to sit.
Georgie hadn't told her told her much about what happened out in Kenya, she knew she had been a hostage and that her friend Kiki had been killed but she was very reticent about talking. She had been ringing Georgie to see how she was and if she would like her to come up. Asked after her counselling sessions and were they going alright and getting it straight in her nut. Georgie had told her that she wasn't having them now as Jamie was helping her through it and talking with her, she felt more comfortable telling him than a stranger.
They were all still meeting up in mid-January for a detox at a Spa that Jackie had organised for all the girls, then her and Jackie were going to Manchester mid-February for the hen night.
"So, she's getting married then?" asked Elvis looking crestfallen.
"Yes" replied Molly
"Have you met the bloke?"
"Yes."
"Talkative ain't you" huffed Elvis just as Charles was coming back from the bar and he sat down next to Molly.
"You gave them rights up when you stood her up mate" replying honestly and looking him in the eye "She knows why you did it and made a choice" she sighed "She's gonna marry Jamie." Keeping her opinions to herself.
"She's right Elvis" started Charles taking a sip of his beer looking at the sad expression on his friends face "You might just have to accept she has moved on." Although Molly had a sneaky suspicion that she hadn't really moved on at all.
-OG-
This year they spent Christmas and New Year in Bath. Sam was able to visit them for a few days over the break before they set off back to Aldershot, Rebecca was spending a couple of days away with friends over the Christmas break. Molly had spoken with all her family on Facetime and there was a small part of her that missed the noise of her old home. Jackie, Dangles and the rest of 2 section and the girls were going to the same place they went the previous year and it sounded like it was a very raucous affair. As Rebecca was open to him having more time with Sam Charles wanted to take that opportunity, which is why they had stayed so long in Bath over Christmas. It did mean that they didn't go out much other than to take Sam to the Pantomime or the park. Still, she thought her liver was probably grateful and this was the first New Year since she was 16 she hadn't gone out and got slaughtered. His parents were lovely and made her very welcome, Sylvia even saying that perhaps next year the Dawes family could come for Christmas. She liked the idea of a big family lunch.
"You must be off your trolley, have you been on the Sherry?" Molly laughed
"I got on very well with your Mum and Nan at the wedding, we are going to meet up for coffee when I go up to London in a few weeks."
"Don't look so surprised" grinned Sylvia "I'm not quite the old fuddy duddy that my husband is."
Molly burst out laughing "Just don't let me Nan lead you astray."
-OG-
Jackie picked her up along with Katy and Lauren and they headed up to the Spa to meet with Marie and Georgie, Jenny coming across from Hereford. They all loved this place and had already booked some of their treatments for the day and were now catching up in the restaurant over dinner and Prosecco.
"So how are the studies coming along?" Georgie asked Molly.
"Ok I think but might've gone a bit far with the amount I am taking." She sighed "and what with the wedding and that I fell behind a bit"
"How many subjects and what in?" asked Jackie.
"Maths, English, Biology, History and Geography."
"Crikey Molly, and you are taking them in May, you've done all that in a year."
"Well," she giggled "Not much to do in Afghan, got a lot done when I was on tour there."
"I heard all about it" laughed Jenny "You don't play poker as well do you?"
"I take it Spanner told you?" and Molly rolled her eyes
"No it wasn't actually, it was Elvis, I heard them laughing about it"
"He really has got a big gob."
"What's all this" asked Katy laughing, she remembered Molly betting with Chris Ingrams on basic "Not table tennis again?"
"No mate, Spoof" laughed Molly "Me Dad taught me when I was about 6" wanting to change the subject, she was still upset that Qassem had been killed but at least Bashira was safe "What was it like meeting up with Elvis again then?" and Georgie coloured up. There was more to this than meets the eye thought Molly.
"She only went and spent the night with him" said Marie harshly "and after what he did, can't believe she let him back in to mess with her life again."
"Is the wedding still on then George" asked Jackie at this revelation from Marie and Georgie nodded "Have you told him about Elvis yet?" and she shook her head.
Molly couldn't help but wonder if Georgie should be getting married, She already thought that maybe Georgie wasn't really over Elvis but this, well there were clearly unresolved issues between them and she still had feelings for him, he certainly had them for her.
"Yeah the wedding is on and I'm thinking of leaving the army."
"Blimey, I thought you were army to the core like Charles" said Molly wide eyed.
"That last tour got to me a bit and Jamie thinks it might be a good idea" she sighed "I keep thinking I can see Abu"
"Have you spoken with anyone about it, perhaps you should go back for counselling, there might be a valid reason for it" said Jackie concerned that she was jacking in her career "It's still early days maybe think some more before making a decision like that."
"Do you want me to have a word with Charles when I get back?" asked Molly with equal concern for her friend "He's being doing some work at the MOD lately perhaps he could ask about and see if Abu has come back, after all he wasn't found in that compound was he?"
"Thanks girls, but no, I've already spoken with someone" Molly raised her eyebrows thinking I wonder who that could be and pretty sure she knew the answer.
They all said their goodbyes, Jackie and Molly saying they would see her in a few weeks for the hen night. Then they would all be up for the big day and were really looking forward to it. They couldn't wait to see her dress, she would look stunning.
-OG-
Charles was sat on the sofa watching Rugby when Jackie dropped her off late in the afternoon. She went and sat next to him, kissed him on the cheek and put her hand on his leg. He lifted his arm putting it round her shoulders "You have a nice time with the girls?"
"Yeah, well chilled now" she grinned at him although he did still seem to be watching the TV rather than her. Her grin got wider as she moved her hand further up his leg.
"Georgie all set for the wedding?"
"Yep just the hen night to go now" she sighed "But she did say something a bit funny."
"Did she?" he still wasn't really listening this match was getting interesting
"Yeah reckons she keeps seeing Abu but when we asked if she had spoken to anyone she said yes, but was a bit cagey about it" now she had his attention as he looked down at her "I know it's not a counsellor because she stopped going" she looked at the changing expressions on his face "Wouldn't be Elvis would it?"
"I told him to stay away from her, she's getting married" he sighed "not to mess with her head, she is obviously settled with Jamie."
"I'm not so sure on that mate, and since when does Elvis do what he's told" grinning "I think they might have had a bit more than a chat in Kenya and she hasn't told Jamie anything about Elvis" then frowning "Don't sound right to me keeping him a secret even if he is a fuckwit" making Charles laugh "Bit concerned about this Abu business as well"
"Look as you know Elvis and I are doing work at the MOD and I'm not allowed to talk about it."
Her face broke out into a huge smile, biting her bottom lip as her hand moved further up his leg to his thigh "So what shall we talk about then" his own face wreathed in smiles as he shook his head realising where her hand was, the Rugby now forgotten.
-OG-
Elvis and Charles had another meeting at the MOD. Charles was already suspicious that Elvis had seen Georgie based on his conversation with Molly when she came back from the girl's weekend away.
They were told that Abu was indeed back in the country and it would appear that his cell was operating out of Manchester. Charles looked across at Elvis and he didn't seem surprised. There was discussion as to whether Georgie was the target, but if she was then maybe Molly and Jackie could end up becoming involved what with them going there for the hen night. They had two weeks to apprehend him, but if not there was no way Molly was going up there without him. As Georgie was the 2 section medic they could all go up there for the hen night. He didn't give a shit what Mansfield might say about this, they were all going to be honouree hens.
"I think we should delay Lance Corporal Lanes wedding until we know if she is a target" said Elvis. That will piss her off no end thought Charles it wouldn't endear him to Georgie or Molly for that matter.
"Sir" started Charles "We are due to be deployed to a refugee camp in Syria three weeks after the wedding and Lane is the section medic, I'm not sure the wedding can be delayed, otherwise it will have to be after we return from tour."
"I think we are jumping the gun here" said the Brigadier "at this stage we don't know if she is the intended target, if the wedding is or if there is a completely different agenda involved here."
"I would suggest that Lane is under surveillance for her own protection until Abu is apprehended, leaving her plans in place maybe what draws him out of hiding if she is the intended target" continued the Brigadier. Charles nodding in agreement knowing he and 2 section were all due at the wedding and whether Molly liked it or not he would be at the hen do.
They were walking back after the meeting "Not clever Elvis, I know you warts and all" said Charles glaring at him both now seated in his temporary office at the MOD "If you are trying to get in her good books, delaying her wedding is not the way to go about it, not to mention that Molly will be calling you more than a fuckwit if you screw up Lane's wedding."
"I just want to make sure she is safe" he sighed "and I'm not sure that she is really over me. That Jamie is right for her."
"You can be an arrogant shit sometimes can't you?" sighed Charles shaking his head.
Elvis grinned running his hand through his hair "Things happened in Kenya" he paused "she wouldn't have done that if it was alright between her and the Doctor."
"I don't want to know Elvis, I mean I really, really don't want to know" raising an eyebrow and looking at him sternly.
-OG-
Jackie and Molly were in the mess at Keogh. "Jacs did you know that 2 section were coming to the hen night?" and Jackie shook her head "Not until Dangles told me yesterday" sighing "I've phoned Marie to let her know that the lads are going to be there even if they are not on our table but propping up the bar."
"How did she take it?"
"Pretty pissed by the sound of it" Jackie laughing hysterically "Had to cancel half the stuff she had organised, it was a proper hen night"
Molly's eyes opened wide "You mean a proper hen night, with strippers" and Jackie nodded "Yeah, didn't think the strippers would like a load of rowdy squaddies, and that's not to say that 2 section might go home with a complex they are not built like Adonis."
"Who?" and Jackie fell about laughing "Molls you're priceless"
They went up in convoy to Manchester for the hen night. 2 section were quite looking forward to it never having been on one before. Charles drove Jackie, Dangles and Molly up there and they checked into their hotel. Texts started coming through from Marie as soon as she arrived saying where they were.
Charles started to follow her out the room and she turned putting her hand on his chest "Look mate, this is a hen do, let us have a bit of time" He couldn't tell her why he and 2 section were here, and he didn't want her going off on her own with Jackie "I can look after meself, I'm a trained killer, so is Jacs" she grinned up at him kissing him on the cheek. He snorted a laugh before saying he would have a drink in the bar with the rest of 2 section and catch up with her later.
They had one drink in the bar before he rounded them up to go to the club the girls were having the hen do. Mansfield excited at the prospect never having been to one before. "Well, you wouldn't" laughed Fingers "but let me tell you it will be a right eye opener."
Charles was making his pint last as the rest of 2 section carried on drinking and sending more across to the girls. As he looked around he would swear he saw Elvis standing in the shadows watching. He watched Molly on the dance floor with her arms around Jackie and Georgie her head thrown back in laughter at something. She looked so happy, he took a lungful of breath, he still hadn't told her that he was off to Syria.
He could tell she was getting pissed by the way she grinned at him. He watched as some spotty teenager came up behind her and put his hands on her hips while she was swaying to a slow song and looking at him grinning. She swung round and he didn't know what she said but he went red and slunk away, probably scarred for life knowing his Molly as he sniggered from his bar stool. She turned back to look at him grinning and sashayed over her grin turning into a huge toothy smile by time she arrived and stood between his legs. Her hands on his thighs and he could feel the heat from her hands as she looked at him. "So, you gonna dance with me then?" her eyes unfocused but obviously flirting with him. "Don't you think it's time to go?" he grinned back at her as she leant forward against his chest "Nah, just starting mate" she breathed into his ear before pulling back laughing. She only bloody winked at him as she walked away, how he was meant to concentrate he'll never know. He looked round the room and again he thought he saw Elvis in the shadows and this time he thought he saw Spanner as well. Perhaps he could keep an eye from the dance floor.
-OG-
The day of the wedding was here, they had all gone up the night before. As Jamie wasn't military Georgie didn't want to see a single uniform at this one. Molly was impressed, this was the first time she had ever seen Charles in a suit and tie. "Shame you didn't put that clobber on earlier" she laughed "I could've taken it all off."
He grinned down at her "There is always later Molly that dress is lovely and I'm certainly looking forward to removing it." Putting his arm around her shoulder as they left for the church.
They all arrived a little early and were directed to their seats by the ushers. Both of them shocked one of them was Fingers as he grinned at them handing them the order of service.
Jamie stood at the front in his morning suit waiting. They were all waiting, even Charles said he was glad she never kept him waiting this long earning him a chuckle and a nudge in the ribs. Georgie's father eventually came running up the aisle and was whispering into Jamie's ear. Molly watched and you could almost see the man break, shatter at what he was being told.
Molly looked across at Charles to see his head was pointing to the ceiling with his eyes closed. "Elvis has got something to do with this ain't he?" she asked and he looked down and shrugged before standing up and turning on his phone and walking out the church. Jackie looked across at her and Molly shrugged.
-OG-
They watched as Jamie walked back down the aisle, not looking at any of them as he left. Georgie's father told the congregation that the wedding was off, but if any of them wanted to go across to the reception hotel there was plenty of food that needed eating. Molly sat there stunned, shocked that Georgie had done this to Jamie, especially as she knew how much it hurt when Elvis did it to her. But where was she, was she alright and was this anything to do with whatever Charles and Elvis were involved in. She didn't know what exactly it was, but she knew there was something, why else would Charles have wanted to come on a hen do with 2 section, it was hard enough getting him to go to the pub.
-OG-
Elvis couldn't believe that she was still going to go through with her wedding, he felt it in Kenya what they had hadn't gone away. He was looking at her through the conservatory windows when the call from Spanner came through, that they had found Abu and who the target was. Georgie had seen him out there, couldn't believe he was turning up to her wedding to another man, the irony of it. Watching him as he took a phone call, looking up at her as he was listening. She went outside to see what was going on and he told her that it was an ex-girlfriend who was the target and today was the day he was having his retribution for her leaving him. It was the poor girl's graduation day.
She remembered her prison cell, the way he forced that boy to shoot Kiki. How he had got away without any remorse or compunction as to what he had caused to the lives of the people round him. "Wait for me Elvis, I'm coming too" she said as she ran back to the house. To say her father was furious was an understatement, but she told him she had to do this, she would never get over Kiki unless she brought the man who did it to justice.
She changed into jeans and a shirt and went off with Elvis to stop Abu. She wasn't scared, why would she be, Elvis was with her and would keep them safe. He had when she first met him on tour, he had always made sure she felt safe. She was horrified when she saw the girl being held by Abu, it made her flashback to when he held her round the neck, stopping her from helping Kiki, him only releasing her when it was too late.
What possessed her to jump on stage to protect this young girl she would never know but she did and that in turn made Elvis re-evaluate what he had to do. But there was Elvis bleeding out because he needed to save her.
"To my last breath" he whispered to her as he was lifted onto the stretcher and taken to the ambulance. There was no way she was leaving him like this, as she sat down in the ambulance at his head. Stoking his cheeks with her thumbs, she had never forgotten what he meant to her, but neither had she forgotten how much he hurt her as she kissed him on the forehead.
-OG-
After she had made sure that Elvis was safe and switched her phone back on to see all the messages from both Molly and Jackie. She called Molly who told her that Jamie was still just sat there at the church.
Georgie got a taxi back to the church and saw him instantly, sitting on a bench still in his morning suit. She knew how much he was hurting and there were no words she could say that was going to make this better. But she sat next to him, her head on his shoulder, told him what had happened and how sorry she was, but it was something she needed to do for closure at what happened in Kenya. How she hoped one day he might forgive her for the hurt she had caused.
He stared at her while she was telling him why she hadn't turned up "I always knew there was someone else out there, someone you loved more", then just stood up and left. She sat on the bench for a while after. She had never got over her love for Elvis but he had taken choices away from her and made them on both their behalf's when he didn't turn up to their wedding. Now she had done the same, chosen to support Elvis and not Jamie. She was devastated at how much she had hurt Jamie, she knew what it felt like, but this was Elvis and he had needed her there and if she hadn't been he could've died when Abu shot him.
-OG-
Molly was back in their hotel room reading texts from Jackie and the girls to see if any of them had heard from Georgie. Finally, she sent a message through saying she was fine and her family were pissed at her, she thought Jamie hated her and she felt that she needed to get away. She also told her that Elvis had been shot and was in hospital. They already knew that and Charles had already gone to visit him, knowing his family would already be racing up from Essex.
By the time that Charles came back from visiting Elvis, talking with his family and touching base with Spanner and the MOD Molly had already changed into her PJ's and was watching TV.
"Sorry" he said as he laid down next to her, his head on her legs as she sat against the headboard "I was hoping to be back to take that dress off" making her giggle as her hand started stroking his hair "How's Georgie?" he asked.
"OK I think, wants to get away from it all."
"Ah" he sighed "Well she can come with us to Syria then."
"You never said you were going away again?" she whispered, "when and for how long?" still stroking his hair while watching the TV, trying to sound normal.
He raised himself up onto his elbow looking into her sad eyes "I'll be back for your birthday, it's only a 3 month tour" she shrugged and curled her lip "We still have three weeks" he grinned "Which reminds me, I still have time to teach you to swim."
"Not sure if I have the time Charles" she sighed "I've got me exams in May and I need to study and then there's that exercise in Pirbright at some point, see if I can be a Lance Corporal."
"Molly, you have always had the ability to be brilliant" he sighed kissing her neck and his hand trailing up her leg "When I get back you will have passed your GCSE's and on your way to being a Lance Corp" he grinned "We can go out and celebrate when I get back" nuzzling down to her collar bone "But there is still time to learn to swim, might be beneficial to do that before the exercise."
"I dunno Charles, it seems an awful lot to me" she sighed, she had always hated school and these exams were really worrying her and he wasn't even gonna be here when she took them. He looked up into her worried face, laying down on the bed and pulling her into his side. Her arm around his waist and her leg moved over his as he kissed the top of her head.
"I need to do this tour Molly" he sighed stroking her back "What with the shooting, being out of action for so long then Georgie being taken hostage on my first tour back, well I just want to show that I can do this. I can lead a tour without a fucking disaster happening on my watch."
She sighed "But none of it were your fault Charles."
"I know that sweetheart" drawing a deep breath "but I want to make sure it wasn't" kissing her again "I will be back for your birthday and we can celebrate your GCSE's and hopefully a promotion to Lance Corporal."
His arm that was round her back pulled her tighter and the other trailed down her side to her hip pulling her over him as he started kissing her lips. She was worried about all of it, the GCSE's, her promotion, what happens if she let him down and she didn't pass like he thought. Maybe she had had too many Vodka's from the mini bar because all she felt like doing at the moment was crying he wasn't going to be there to keep her calm during it all.
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A/N Thank you all again for your lovely reviews, they really are appreciated. Thanks again also to Debbie who proof reads the chapters for me. Although I can't help but add bits before publishing (LOL). This chapter takes us to just over half way in their story.