Reckless Moments

by Debs60

A/U: Charles has always wanted to be in the army and Molly has always been fiercely loyal and independent. They have known each other since they were children but had very different upbringings and career direction, despite this their paths continue to cross through to adulthood. Will their differences pull them apart or were they always destined to be other half of each other?

6. Chapter 6

Reckless Moments

Chapter 6 – Where the heart is

Charles was due home on leave from Catterick. It was 1996 and he had long since finished his history and politics degree. He had done his 44 weeks in Sandhurst, met a whole bunch of chaps, he thought he would be friends for life with. There was Elvis Harte, his best mate along with Richard McClyde and Stephen Bluitt. They had many a good night in Camberley either in the wine bar, a pub or at Pantiles, the local night club. Not quite the same standard as the ones that Gary and Jack had showed him that night in London with the pole dancers and loud music while they strutted their stuff. Christ that hangover had lasted a couple of days.

It hadn't taken long to get this posting, he had done well at Sandhurst and as much as it pained him, having his father as a Colonel in HQ at Aldershot had probably swung it for him. His sections were all off to Hong Kong on exercise and then they were to pack up army equipment before the handover next year to the Chinese. They would be the last regiment to go to Hong Kong, the 99 year lease expiring and returning Hong Kong to Chinese control.

He was the Lieutenant and he knew all the names of the young lads under him. Not that he was old himself, he was only 24. Fingers, and he still had to find out why he was called that, then Brains but he worked that one out as he was the only one of them that seemed to have one. Geraint Smith, Dangles, Mansfield, Baz Vegas, Nudenut and his Corporal, Kinders. His Captain he felt he could learn a lot from and hoped that Beck would be able to continue mentoring him and make him into a good soldier.

He'd met a girl while he was at Sandhurst, a beautiful tall slim blonde with amazing blue eyes which seemed somehow cold, but who funnily enough had family down in Bath and had brought her home to meet his mum and dad when she was down there at the same time as him, although neither of them seemed that enamoured with her. His mum had said she thought she was a bit of a cold fish and he deserved someone with a bit of life to them. It was only because she said her family lived round here that it seemed polite to introduce her to his parents. In his mind it was nothing serious and they were only friends.

He hadn't seen so much of her since he had moved up to Catterick and funnily enough he hadn't missed her considering how much time they had spent together while he was in Camberley, she always seemed to turn up when he was out with Elvis, Bones and Blue. Now he just saw her if he was home visiting his parents. Perhaps with his deployment he could shake her off, Elvis certainly seemed to think that he should get rid, before she had the opportunity to trap him and he thought she would if she could. Rebecca was a nice enough girl, had qualified in interior design. She had a wide circle of friends and they were all like her, ambitious, not that there was anything wrong with that, he was ambitious himself. She would never allow herself to be pushed on a swing and mess up her perfectly styled hair, he snorted a laugh, what on earth made him drag that memory up. She was stunning in every sense and when she was on his arm people certainly turned their heads and he couldn't help but feel proud that people admired her cool sophisticated beauty. He had to admit though while beautiful, there was something missing, he didn't seek her out if she wasn't there, didn't miss her when she was gone, she never wanted to try anything new, only knew about the best restaurants, clubs or shows they should go to and be seen at. Always thought about what she wanted to say, never just let her mouth run away with her, even after a few glasses of wine. She was a nice enough girl but definitely not for him, he just felt that there should be something more, she didn't stir him, didn't make him feel that she was the centre of his world. He once remembered his dad telling him that's how he felt about his mum, that without her he never would have made it through some of the things he had seen and he wanted that too. He couldn't ever imagine feeling like that about Rebecca.

While he had gone on to the infantry after Sandhurst, Elvis had decided to pursue his dream of joining the SAS and he had achieved that, his other two mates from Sandhurst had done the same. Seemed they liked the added thrill of danger that covert ops gave them. He and Elvis had become best friends while training in Sandhurst, each of them different in many ways but both wanting to serve their country, he was probably closer to him than his own brother, even in the few years he had known him. Elvis came from a large Italian family out in Chigwell, not that far from where the Dawes all lived, he thought. He was easy going, took risks and great company on a night out, he was certainly good at sussing out people and some of his descriptive language for Rebecca was pretty spot on.

It was Elvis that had got him into the coffee he was currently drinking, his Italian heritage coming to the fore with Expresso coffee, the only thing to keep you awake on exercise he said "Sappers always want their tea but coffee all you need is hot water" he said. Strong and black and kept him going late into the night when he needed to keep on top of things with his sections. They certainly tested his patience at times as he took another gulp of his coffee and writing up a disciplinary for Fingers. He reminded him of the family friends, Molly in particular and he grinned, she was always getting herself into some sort of scrape. His mum had written with her latest escapade that she wanted to go travelling and had tried to convince the captain to take her with them on the container. Dave had gone mental when he caught her on board discussing the merits of why it was a good idea to take her with them as a stowaway. Now she was another like Fingers that never thought of the consequences of her actions, no papers and a foreign jail if the ship got stopped and searched. He couldn't stop smirking as he thought back to his mum's letter, he could picture Molly standing on the deck her hands on her hips, chin jutting out and extolling the benefits of cheap stowaway travel and how she couldn't understand why everyone was making such a fuss over it.

He was looking forward to getting back to Bath and was going with his parents to London to stay with his Uncle Fred. Andrew had moved out of their uncles some time ago and had his own place, wanting his own space and independence and Charles didn't blame him one bit. Fred and Josie were pretty easy going and laid back but there is nothing like your own space. The family had been invited by Dave and Belinda to celebrate Molly's eighteenth birthday. He couldn't help but grin as the rolodex of his mind played out episodes of the meetings since she was four years old. Here she was turning eighteen, left school and working with her brothers and father. Wonder what those bloody dogs looked like now, still grinning and shaking his head, he'd only seen them that once. Thank god she never decided to join the army, he would have had a bloody nightmare trying to make her follow orders, the whole of 2 section put together wouldn't be a patch on her and her ability to do the exact opposite of what had been asked. She was a live wire alright, never thought anything through and whenever he saw her had an overwhelming urge to protect her, even though she kept insisting she could look after herself. Hard as nails she always said, he suddenly thought of her kissing the beasts, grinning as he shook his head wondering if she really was or if it was all just a front.

-OG-

It would be good to see his brother Andrew, it had been far too long, and he loved seeing his mum and dad let their hair down. He admired the way his mum seemed to remember her roots as soon as she got into the smoke, her accent having dulled over the years living in Bath, but as soon as she sat down with Belinda, that broad Cockney twang was back to the fore as they started chatting. Much as his father was that strict Army Colonel when he got with his Uncle Fred and they started on the whisky his father seemed to relax, the pair of them laughing and joking. It sometimes reminded him of his section, the way they acted, his Dad, Fred, Sam and Dave, talking of all things sport, partaking in a good whiskey and telling some of the filthiest jokes he had ever heard, and he had heard plenty from Fingers, his father howling with laughter at most of them. It made him wonder what his dad must have been like when he was a similar rank to him with a bunch of squaddies that seemed to do everything they could to make his life difficult. He shook his head, there would certainly be a lot of sport talk, if his soldiers were anything to go by, it was the Euros and the Three Lions was being played everywhere, England had made it to the semi-finals again, the lads going on about being knocked out on penalties again just like last time in the world cup.

They had arrived in good time at Uncle Fred's and his wife Josie showed them to their rooms for the night. "Taxi picks us up at 7" grinned Fred "The party is in one of our clubs and we have the VIP area for us" chuckling he added "Its upstairs, so we should be able to hear ourselves think and get some decent grub while the youngsters are strutting their stuff to whatever it is they listen to these days"

"Molly doesn't mind all of us being at her 18th then" asked Beth

"Nah" replied Fred shaking his head "She's been working down the yard with Jack and I think she's rather hoping that her Dad will let her run her own club now she's legally allowed to be in one" he laughed

"She's surely not working with all those Dockers" said Beth aghast at the idea of a young girl working down there.

"Jack likes it down the yard, prefers it over the clubs, so he's there a lot of the time, but Bill and Ben live there now so nothing is going to happen to our Molls" Fred threw his head back laughing at the quizzical look on both his sister and Williams face.

"The beasts" grinned Charles and Fred nodded returning the broad grin "Seems little Martin is following in the Dawes fine family tradition and turning into a bit of a rascal" shaking his head at the memory of when he and Dave walked through the front door to see utter chaos in the Dawes house. "Seems Martin thought it was a good idea to take the saddle off his rocking horse, put it on Bill" still shaking his head at the absurdity of it "There is him gripped to that bloody hound who is hurtling round the garden, then up the bleeding stairs, Ben was chasing round after him and Jack was telling Martin to tell Bill to giddy-up and Molly screaming at him to hang on properly with both hands"

"Shit" giggled Beth "Takes me back to when those boys pushed Molly down the stairs in that drinks tray, do you remember Charles" shaking her head as he grinned, yes he did remember "I bet Dave went ballistic didn't he"

"Pretty much when he saw the carnage in the living room, seems Ben took short-cuts trying to follow his brother Bill, went over coffee table and broke a leg off with the weight, ran across the sofa before shaking the living daylights out of one of the cushions so the whole room was covered in feathers"

"But how was Martin did he get hurt"

"Not a chance Beth, loved every minute of it, kept shouting again, again. How he didn't come over that bloody dogs head when they were running down the stairs I'll never know, hard as bleedin nails those kids, all of them"

"I bet Molly wasn't happy her dad said Bill and Ben had to live in the yard" chuckled Charles

"She weren't, blimey the air was blue, the pair of them going at it" grinned Fred shaking his head at the memory and Belinda walking in to World War three "They are far more alike than they realise both as stubborn as mules" he shrugged "but the beasts seem happy down there, got acres to run around in and they follow Molls everywhere, if the fear of Dave or Jack doesn't stop the Dockers trying it on with her, those bleedin dogs will"

William had never heard anything like it and unlike Charles and his wife had never actually met the dogs, sounded like they were dangerous he certainly wouldn't have wanted them round Andrew and Charles when they were growing up "Shouldn't they be destroyed if they are that dangerous" Fred snorted a laugh "It aint that they are dangerous William, they love the bones of those kids, its more that they are the ugliest things you've ever seen and big, bloody big" he shrugged "Saying that though, they turned out to be good bloody watch dogs" he shrugged

-OG-

He wished he had told Elvis about this place now and he was coming here, he would have loved it. Dimly lit, glitter ball and girls on podiums the dancers were there to encourage them onto the dance floor and from the look of it, it certainly seemed to be working.

They had had a meal upstairs in the VIP area and a cake with sparklers came out for Molly. He didn't think she had stopped smiling since she arrived with her friend. Proud Mary she seemed to be nicknamed but just like Fingers not entirely sure why she had that moniker, thought Charles.

He didn't know where Andrew was, he hadn't arrived yet but he was quite happy talking with Gary and Jack. Molly had already got up to leave and go downstairs to the main part of the club, her friend saying that the other girls should be there by now and it was about time they got their dancing shoes on. He looked down at the six inch heels she was standing in and was sure that she wouldn't be able to walk in them let alone dance. He looked up in time to see her grin at him and wink before turning her back and leaving. "I think this could be our cue to leave the oldies up here and go down to the club" grinned Jack patting him on the back and nodding in the direction of the stairs "Good idea and we can have a proper pint" chipped in Gary "and we don't have to listen to dad going on again about those overpaid footballers who can't even get the ball in the back of the fucking net when they're standing right in front of it". Jack nodded sagely, "hosting the bleedin Euros and got knocked out again on penalties, Geoff never would have missed or Bobby" he laughed as Gary sniggered, while they enjoyed going to football they weren't the avid follower like their Dad and Fred. They got up to leave just as they heard Dave say "Have you heard the one about…." And Charles looked across to his father who was already grinning and waiting for the rest of the joke. With the music Charles was out of earshot and didn't hear what the joke was but his father threw his head back laughing, Belinda and Beth shaking their heads so whatever it was, it was bad as he smirked and followed Jack and Gary.

The three of them were standing at the bar pints in hand and Charles couldn't help but take furtive looks at Molly, she had styled that blonde hair of hers, piled it up on her head, reminded him a bit of one of those beehive hairdo's you saw in the 60's, but wasn't caked in makeup and her short dress seemed to shimmer in the disco lights, it did seem a bit too short as he followed her legs up to the skirt. She seemed to be really happy, grinned at him a few times and waved.

"Don't tell me she's invited that moggy nutbar" seethed Gary as his eyes started following the path of a dark haired man making his way across the dance floor with an arrogant expression on his face.

"Our Molls ain't stupid, she knows what he's like" turning his lips to the side in a sneer responded Jack. Charles turned to see who they were on about but only saw his brother Andrew walking towards him smiling.

"Bout time you showed up Andrew" grinned Gary "Your mum and dad are upstairs with the rest of them if you was wondering where they were"

"Yeah better show my face I suppose" he grinned back and nodded in acknowledgement to Charles barely even saying hello before he walked up the stairs to the VIP area.

The barmaid leaned across the bar asking Gary if they wanted another round, she also mentioned that Molly had ordered a tray of Sambuca shots "Yeah it's OK Jackie" he nodded at her "Send them over, it's her fault if she has a bad head tomorrow"

"Seems to be enjoying herself don't she" grinned Jackie watching Molly and her mates on the dancefloor, even that tosspot Artan had joined them, he was desperate to keep in with Molly she thought. He lived in South London, same as her and she heard some of the stuff he was saying, telling anyone that would listen that Molly was his girlfriend, but she also heard that he was incapable of keeping it in his pants. She could understand why Gary called him the Moggy Nutbar, he said he was Albanian and certainly hung out with them but he mixed with the Russians and Turks as well and none of what she had heard had been good. She had been working in this bar for six months and she liked the brothers, seemed fair and paid well, she hoped that Molly wasn't falling for that shit Artan. She delivered the tray of shots and saw Molly's face light up as she said "thanks mate" she smiled back and returned to the bar, it was bloody busy tonight and her feet were killing her already.

Molly was sat by herself in the booth, she grinned at her mates on the dance floor before picking up her clutch bag and making her way to the loo. She was washing her hands when she heard a noise from one of the cubicles, she recognised that giggle as her mate Proud Mary. She couldn't help it, grinning as she crept back and climbed on the seat to look over to see exactly who it was that Mary was with. What she saw was a shock, her best mate since school and her supposed boyfriend. She crept out without making a sound, some eighteenth this was turning out to be. The way they were at it she was sure this wasn't the first time.

She made her way back to their booth, shell shocked that her mate would do that to her, she really shouldn't be surprised about Artan, he may keep going on about loving her and wanting to get married but he had always been a shit and it wasn't the first time she had caught him out, the last one he tried to insist was his cousin. To be honest she couldn't really care less about him, but Mary, that was a punch in the gut. As she sat back down she saw the tray with the shots and quickly downed all of them. They hit the spot and she could feel the Sambuca burning as it went down and all her extremities getting that fuzzy feel about them. She watched as Proud Mary walked back to their table, laughing and swaying with the drink she had downed over the evening. Proud Mary aye, she weren't that proud was she, shagging in the bogs with her boyfriend. "Let's get another tray of shots" slurred Mary and Molly nodded, yeah right cos it's me brothers that are buying them, you slapper she thought before saying she was just going outside for a bit of fresh air, she felt a bit woozy and needed to think. "Lightweight" laughed Mary before signalling to Jackie to bring more drinks. Molly huffed she can't even be bothered to walk to the bar and order, expects people to wait on her. She looked across to the bar and straight into the concerned brown eyes of Charles a slight frown on his face. Oh this just gets better and better she thought as she stood up, feeling woozy after slugging the shots, she needed to get out of here for a bit before she lost it completely and gave that slag Mary a slap.

-OG-

Charles knew there was something wrong as soon as he saw Molly come back from the ladies. He wasn't sure how to describe her expression, haunted perhaps, certainly shocked. He watched as she downed all the shots, shaking his head and wondering what was wrong. Something had changed, she was laughing only a short time ago.

Her friend joined her but she didn't seem any happier, in fact she seemed angry and agitated before finally getting up and walking to the door to go out. He had tuned out from the conversation with Gary and Jack. His attention focused on Molly and why was she so upset.

He stood up straight from leaning on the bar next to Jack "Molly looks a bit green around the gills" he started "she's gone outside, I'll just go check on her" Jack nodded and grinned "Thanks mate, let us know if she wants to go home and I'll get one of the door men to drop her back"

He walked up the few steps and out on to the pavement looking around to see if he could see her and spotted her mop of blonde hair leaning forward with her hand on a pain of glass the other across her mouth and he picked up his pace "I hope you're not throwing up in that doorway Dawes" he said using his best commanding officer voice but grinning at her all the same. She almost stood to attention, not a very good one he thought, still grinning at her.

She stood up straight and turned to the posh voice speaking to her, beaming instantly "Charlie" she grinned "thought about it" and she looked into the window to see all the smiling faces in uniform "Shit" as she realised that she was standing in the door of the army recruitment office "The sergeant that works here will be pissed off if he has to clear up your puke tomorrow" laughed Charles "Are you alright Molly" he asked getting serious as he saw her shiver "Are you cold" taking off his jacket and putting it round her shoulders.

"Yeah I'm OK, bit pissed" she sighed "What happened" he asked pulling her out the main drag of the pavement and down a side turning next to the building. If she was going to be sick it was best it wasn't where she was standing but down this alley.

"How do you know if people are genuine Charlie, you know if they really like you or just messing with your head" He shrugged, shaking his head and cupping her face in his hands turning it up to look at him "Has someone upset you" staring into those green eyes that looked glassy with tears and decidedly unfocused, he could see the hurt

"Don't matter really" she shrugged "Should have known really, it was no one important" she gave a tentative grin looking directly into his concerned eyes.

"Was it that moggy nutbar" he asked "Gary called him that, not that I know what a moggy nutbar is" he felt Molly giggle against him as her head leant on his chest.

"That was Artan, he's Albanian" she sighed as she put her hands around his waist "Reckons he loves me but I just caught him and me best mate Mary shagging in the bogs"

"Nice! I'm sorry Molly" he said softly his own arms wrapping round Molly, holding her tight although he did feel a peculiar sensation in his chest at the term boyfriend and love. He'd never really thought of her as having a boyfriend, she'd just been that little girl he had sort out at family get togethers, who made him laugh and he wanted to talk to.

"Don't be" she responded looking up into his concerned face his eyes looking particularly dark in this light "He weren't special" sighing again but not taking her eyes away from his, "But her, she knew he was me boyfriend, and she was supposed to be me best mate and she still did that to me" still looking up at him and realising he was hugging her she gave a small smile "Should I knock her teeth down her throat"

"No Molly" he laughed one of his hands pushing strands of her hair behind her ear "Think of it as Karma, you're better off without him and she will get her comeuppance when he does the same to her"

Her face broke out into one of those huge grins that he always remembered and she stood on tiptoe pushing him against the wall as her lips met his. It was soft and tentative as if she was expecting him to push her away. He didn't, she was someone he had known since childhood, had popped in and out of his life and lighting it up with her exuberance. He held her tighter and lifted her off her feet, holding her weight in his arms as he deepened the kiss. Her arms wrapping around his neck and he could feel her thumb stroking him behind his ear.

Christ, one minute they were chatting and he was consoling her, now they were kissing and it was getting decidedly heated in the alley, if he didn't bring this under control soon, the sudden rush of emotion he felt as her body pressed against his, and it was getting difficult as it was, it was as if something had changed, something he hadn't acknowledged before. Not to mention he wasn't in a position to start a relationship with Molly, he was being deployed and leaving in less than two weeks. His body telling him he wanted this more than anything but his brain took over as he started to lower her back to the ground his hands on her hips and he started to push her away.

"It's the wrong time Molly" he whispered into her ear

"No it ain't, I'm not a kid anymore" pushing herself back into him, oh god this was hard, she was already upset and probably really drunk after watching her drink all those shots, it was her 18th her best friend had let her down and he was about to let her down too. That kiss had awakened something in him, Molly was that little kid that wanted to play on the swings that brought home puppies because she felt sorry for them, wanted a tattoo for no other reason than to wind her dad up. He had always thought of her as a kid, a friend of the family, far too young for him, but had always made him laugh and now suddenly she wasn't. He wanted to hold her, make her feel better, kiss her, tell her that everything would be OK. More than anything he wanted to see her smile, like she always did.

"I know that and I think you know I want to" he grinned his own cheeks a little flushed as he made the admission, she must have felt how much he wanted this and watched as her face lit up as she smiled leaning back into him again. She really wasn't making this easy for him.

"It's the wrong time for so many reasons, you've had an upset and too much to drink for a start" he sighed her eyes never leaving his and he really wished she wouldn't look at him like that, her eyes dark, her face open to what she was thinking and he could see she wanted this "I don't want you to wake up with a hangover tomorrow and regret it"

"Ever the gent ain't you Charlie" she huffed at him and he couldn't help but grin down at her "Well there's not many of us left" he had heard his uncle Fred say that many times over the years whenever anyone called him a gent. He was rewarded with one of her smiles, Molly had remembered that too. He stroked her hair back from her face, he was older, less drunk and a bloody Lieutenant for goodness' sake, he could handle this

"I'm about to be deployed to Hong Kong, I'm going to be gone for a long time. This is the wrong time to start anything for so many reasons."

"Is it dangerous?"

"No, a training exercise then pack up all the gear and be there for the hand over to the Chinese, sort any unrest in the build-up, that sort of thing" he couldn't drag his eyes away from hers "I don't think the Chinese want the world to see them start a war any more than we want to start one" he responded "It will be fine Molly"

"Will you write to me?"

"If you want me to, will you write to me" he grinned down at her kissing her on the forehead

"Course I will"

"Are you feeling alright now, shall we go back inside" and while a bit of him would have liked to stay in this alley for a while his common sense told him they should go back inside to her party.

"If that's what you really want" she grinned as she stood on tip toe and kissed his lips

"No it's not what I want Molly, but its what's right" he whispered close to her mouth and kissing her back "Come on" he said taking her hand and guiding her back to the club as they approached the entrance he put his jacket back on, put his hand on the small of her back and guided her back down the stairs. As they got to the bottom she turned to him "Will you dance with me" and he sniggered, "I've got two left feet, I can't dance" "I'll show you" she grinned as she grabbed his hand again leading him onto the dance floor just as the music changed to Take That How deep is your love. He lifted their entwined fingers and swung her round grinning down at her, waggling his eyebrows "It just had to be this song didn't it" as he pulled her to him and put his arm around her waist as she laughed. "Too late now mate" she giggled, her grin getting bigger and bigger as he took in the lyrics. "you know this is a remix don't you and not an original" he said as she shrugged grinning at him.

"When I get back" he stuttered going a little red "But don't wait, your young and you deserve someone more, someone that will always be there and not off on tour for months at a time"

"I've fancied the pants off you since I was 11"

"Really" and he couldn't quite believe she was saying this. The shots, their kiss this dance all making her mouth run away with her.

"I saw you once with a blonde, thought you might like me more if I had hair like that"

"Is that why you have been dying it all these years" and he couldn't help but laugh pushing it away from her face as she nodded "You could dye it pink if you wanted and I'd still be fond of you Molly Dawes"

"Dunno about that Charlie, might just go back to me own colour, get a tattoo instead" he threw his head back laughing "Might just be a step to far, skip the tat Molls" then leaning down to her ear "Unless it's my name of course" and he felt her shiver against him as he stood up straight looking into her eyes shining with laughter

"What Chaz"

"Don't you bloody dare"

"You can be a right twat at times can't yah Charlie" laughing hysterically. He suddenly felt very serious as he brought his hand to her face, his thumb rubbing across her cheek "One year Molly, let's see how we feel when I get back"

"I don't think I'm gonna to change me mind Charlie"

"This is totally the wrong time Molly, I'm a lot older than you, when I get back I'll be 25" he sighed "Don't sit at home waiting on me like mum did for dad"

"Well, I'll be nearly 19 when you get back" her eyes boring into his "You changed your mind already, regret this, us" her nails digging into his back "You will still write won't you?"

"The army is my life and if that bloke is yours" he looked over her shoulder at the scowling man on the edge of the dance floor "Then you need to grab it with both hands, you have always been like that Molly, it's the thing I have always admired most about you, that lack of fear to grab what you want"

Her hands coming round and up to encircle his neck "Really" she huffed "I'm scared all the time, will I let me brothers or me dad down" she shrugged "Will I let meself down" as she looked across to see Proud Mary and her mates dancing "Or if people really like me or just want an in to what they think is a better life, but really isn't" and he saw the sudden sadness in her eyes, her face clouding over as her insecurities ran away with her. He couldn't help but hold her a little tighter.

"I think you are awesome, anyone who can come down a flight of stairs in a drinks tray isn't scared of anything"

"I'd forgotten that" as she burst into peals of laughter.

-OG-

The evening was drawing to a close, Charles had left with his parents, brother and Uncle. Gary and Jack were still at the bar talking with her, Dave and Belinda along with Sam and Chloe, had long since left to go back and relieve Nan of babysitting duties, looking after Martin and Sam's son Sean.

Molly wasn't sure how she had kept her cool, maybe it was her chat with Charlie, Karma and to let it go. Mary and Artan obviously hadn't realised she had seen them, they were both hanging about like a fart in a lift and she didn't really want anything to do with either of them and what with dancing with Charlie and chatting with Jackie, Gary and Jack had managed to ignore them for the rest of the evening.

She was on her way back from the loos when Proud Mary came up to her with one of their friends "You've been ignoring us most of the night, aren't we good enough for you no more now that you're 18 and your family owns this club, think you are gonna get a piece of it now do you and it makes you better than us" Mary almost spat her venom at her, what a change from earlier in the evening, when she was sat upstairs with her family and asking Jackie to get her another round of shots "Wrong, we're too good for you and it won't be too long before you fall Bitch" Molly walked forward and into Mary's space and she could see a sudden fleeting look of fear "there are things I know that you don't know I know and once upon a time I would have knocked your teeth down your throat for what you've done" her eyes drifting across to Artan before landing back on Mary letting her know that she knew. She gave one final look up and down at her one time friend "but why should I make you better looking" before spinning on her heels and walking across to her brothers.

Jack grinned at her as she approached them "You had a bit of a ding dong with Proud Mary" he had watched the interaction between the two girls and from the look in Molly's eye he was surprised she walked away. Molly nodded "You could say that" he could tell from her tone that was all he was getting and the conversation was closed "Want a Vodka and Coke then before we get a cab back" "Why not" she grinned at him as he ordered the drinks "You better not be at the puking stage or we'll never get a cab to take us back to Wanstead" laughed Gary joining in the conversation. "Nah gone passed that stage now" she giggled before punching her brother on the arm.

The three siblings laughed and chatted while the last of the punters left the club, but finally everyone had gone and it was just the bar staff left. "Jackie I'll bag the money from the tills and take it up to the safe, if you and the rest want to clear off we can lock up" said Gary smiling at her "Thanks Gary" she beamed at him, they were good bosses like that "Me feet are killing me, it's been a busy night" she nodded before making her way to the back to collect her bag and coat along with telling the other bar staff they could all go home.

"Are you waiting on a taxi Jac's" asked Molly and she nodded "I'll wait outside with you then Gary and Jack shouldn't be too long". It felt cold when they first got outside after being inside the hot club, they stood huddled into their coats their backs against the wall of the club.

"You have a good night then Molly" asked Jackie "I'm certainly gonna remember it" laughed Molly "For more than one reason" she added cryptically

"Molly" came a voice from the darkness and Artan appeared from nowhere. What's he still doing here, thought he had gone ages ago thought Molly and rolling her eyes. "We need to talk" he said grabbing her elbow and starting to pull her down the street "No we don't" she retorted trying to pull away from him before he pushed her against the wall. Jackie wasn't sure what to do, leave her there and get her brothers or stay and make sure she was alright. She watched as he put one hand on the wall behind her head and the other was on her face, this didn't look good, she would go and get Gary and Jack.

"Who was that man you were with tonight" he demanded

"What's it gotta do with you"

"I am your boyfriend, I love you and we are to be married"

"In your dreams mate" she spat at him seething with anger at his cheek "I think your old chap had other ideas, didn't it, you and Proud Mary" she swatted his hand away from her face "and don't touch me, you have no right to touch me again"

"I always come back to you, without you I am not me" as he tried to win her round by stroking her face again, it had worked in the past, but she was being a bit stubborn this time he thought. What possessed him to go for a quickie with Proud Mary, that wasn't part of his plan losing Molly. "I am man with you Molly" he pleaded

"Well you can piss off and be a man with Proud Mary, and get your hands away from me" as she swiped his hand away again. He felt his anger rising as he lifted his arm across her ready to give her the back hander she deserved in his opinion.

"Oi" came a voice from behind him "I wouldn't do that if I was you mate" bellowed Gary running up to them followed by Jack. Jackie hid in the shadows, she lived in their neighbourhood and Artan may not have shown his true colours to the Dawes but she had seen and heard enough to know that he was a nasty piece of work. By the looks of things she had definitely done the right thing getting Gary and Jack.

Artan put his hands up as if to surrender, he was outnumbered and he felt a burning rage that things weren't going his way, they would pay for this one day. He knew that Gary and Jack were well into their boxing and even though he had a knife he wouldn't have time to get it before one of them knocked him out and would then probably turn it on him. They wouldn't be where they were if they couldn't handle themselves and weren't prepared to metre out punishment if they felt it was deserved, and going to slap their sister could see him in hospital.

Jack put his arm round Molly "You OK" and she nodded looking at the angry expressions on her brothers faces "Piss off Artan" she said, "and just so as we're clear I ain't your girlfriend and never will be."

"You heard her, piss off" growled Gary his fists clenched ready and taking a step towards him. Artan started backing away creating a distance before turning and walking away his eyes narrowing and burning with rage.

"Bout time you got rid of that twat" said Jack his arm still round Molly and giving her a squeeze

"You're not wrong there" she answered and hoped that would be the last time she saw Artan, he had frightened her a little bit this evening if truth be told, she knew he carried a knife down his sock and she wasn't entirely sure if she was just in for a slap or he would have used it if her brothers hadn't turned up. Good old Jackie, she had saved the day getting her brothers like that.

-OG-

Jackie came out of the shadows and walked up to the Dawes siblings. She knew she had done the right thing. Gary had always been good to her, not like some bosses, he had always treated her with respect, she was grateful for this job as bar manager and she didn't want to lose it. She did start to worry that Artan might remember she had been there, he knew where she lived, it was only a crappy bedsit but where else could she go that she could afford.

"You alright Jac's" asked Molly and Jackie nodded although they could see she was worried even in this dim lighting.

"He's not a good man" stammered Jackie

"Do you know him" asked Gary

"Only by reputation"

"Has he been telling us porkies that he only works on building sites with the Russians" and Jackie nodded

"The Albanians have a club near Lewisham but I don't know much, safer not to, I think the Russians may have financed it but I don't know for sure, but it's dangerous there I know that" she shrugged her shoulders "Not like your clubs, you wouldn't go there with your family that's for sure"

At that moment the taxis drew up to take them home. Gary opened the door of one for Jackie to get in "Don't know why you don't move over this side of the river" he grinned "Can't afford it mate" and his face clouded over "Sorry Gary, it's not your fault you pay OK" she smiled looking into his blue eyes "An ex that cleaned me out of my savings" she shrugged getting into the taxi and giving the driver her address. "See you tomorrow Jac's" he replied before closing the door and watched as it sped off. Gary, Jack and Molly got into the next one as Molly had a brainwave "Jackie is a good bar manager ain't she Gary" he nodded and raised a questioning eyebrow at her "Why don't you get that little flat upstairs done up a bit its only ever been used for storage, she could live in couldn't she" grinning at her brother "Could come in handy having a live in manager" he shook his head at her but smiling none the less "You ain't as pissed as you look Molls" he replied shoulder bumping her.

He sat back into the seat of the taxi his face turning into a frown now that Molly and Jack were chatting away. That Artan was up to something, he could feel it and the fact he seemed pretty pissed at Molly bothered him more than a little, when he had seen them together he was never under the impression it was serious from either of them. Something definitely wasn't right here.

He would have a word with his Dad, see what he thought. Perhaps as a lot of their business was legit these days they had taken their eye off the ball, maybe they needed to pay a little more attention ask about a bit see if there were any rumours. Perhaps they should pay a visit to one of the other firms over in North London, they always had their ears to the ground.

-OG-

Over at the Smith house, Josie was preparing a cooked breakfast with orange juice and plenty of coffee to get rid of the lingering headaches they all had this morning. The phone rang and she went to answer it, calling out to Fred that it was Dave on the phone.

They couldn't hear the one sided conversation as he had shut the door only murmurings. When he came back after about 10 minutes, he kissed his wife on her head telling her this was a blinding breakfast and it would set him up for the day.

"You out all day Fred" she asked and he nodded "Dave's on his way over to pick me up"

"Would have thought he would still be sleeping it off" laughed Beth

"S'pect he would like to be but after the kids got in last night and Gary told him that Artan tried to clump their Molls, he's wound up like a coil"

"What" exclaimed Charles remembering the scowling man standing at the bar while he was dancing with Molly "Why would he do that" as Fred shrugged "He didn't Charles, the boys stopped it, but Dave's on the warpath now, so I hope the idiot has enough common sense to keep out the way"

"Isn't it Molly's boyfriend though" staring at his uncle "Don't think so, well nothing serious from Molly anyway" looking at Charles and not fooled for a minute "He might have had ideas though an in to the firm through Molly" and Charles remembered last night's conversation and the sadness in her voice How do you know if someone really likes you Charlie or just want an in to a better life, but it isn't.

He hoped they weren't leaving to go back to Bath too soon, he wouldn't mind seeing Dave make sure that Molly was alright. There was a knock at the door as Fred looked at his watch but it was Sam who had also been called first thing this morning.

"He's steaming Fred" said Sam shaking his head as they walked back up the hall "I ain't seen him like this for years"

As it happened his Dad wanted to set off back to Bath pretty promptly, it was a long drive, he wished he had brought his own car up now. Josie and Fred saw them to the door and he hugged his sister goodbye before saying they would all have to meet up again soon. "Don't you worry Charles, we'll keep Dave in check and Molly's fine" he patted him on the back "Enjoy yourself in Hong Kong won't you and I'm sure you can ask Molly all about it when you write to her can't you" he grinned, did he think he was born yesterday and hadn't noticed them both looking all doe eyed at each other. He couldn't help but smirk at the slight redness to Charles cheeks, he was a good lad and he could do far worse than Molly. She was a good kid, a bit high spirited but with Charles just like his dad and a little strait laced, he thought they would bounce off each other really well. He was looking forward to seeing how this developed. He had a sudden thought, his sister's boy and Molly, would that make him and Dave related and he burst out laughing much to the consternation of Charles, who was wondering what that was about.