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Chapter 25
What Matters Most
1446 – Hereford, UK SAS Administration Building
Elvis rubbed his eyes and repeatedly raked his hair back. Pettigrew had him that agitated. He allowed the bastard to walk out of his office when he truly wanted to throw him out arse over tit. Elvis could swear he popped a vein when his loyalty had been questioned because that is the moment the headache started. He grimaced. "Fuck sake, thought these were over." He muttered as he pinched the bridge of his nose and sat down. He pulled open a desk drawer and began to rummage around for the bottle of aspirin and popped the cap, spilling several tablets into his hand. He decided three would do the trick and with the last remaining amount of tea he had left, Elvis downed the aspirins and rubbed the back of his neck. Time to send a rather unusual after action report to Dave Warner. As he opened the laptop he felt his mobile vibrating in his back pocket. Friend or foe? He wondered, pinching the bridge of his nose again as he warily reached back. He was pleased to discover Georgie had sent him a text. Just seeing her face lit up in the background helped to ease his tension. He smiled as he read the message.
"I love you too." He said softly and proceeded to tell her so, thumbs quickly composing the brief response. He stared at her image. It was one of his favorites. She was smiling at him when he had taken the photo. The loved up smile she only shared with him. Georgie messaged back.
"Are you OK?"
"Affirmative."
"I saw MPs."
"Since moved on."
"OK."
"How are you two doing?"
Georgie's face blossomed bright with a smile. Elvis had started referring to her as "you two" ever since he saw their tiny baby on the sonogram.
"We are fine." She responded.
"Really good."
"Georgiiiieeee! Yo!" Peters bellowed from inside of the supply room.
"Shit. I'm being summoned."
"Tell Peters to go get a snack or something."
She chuckled, then scowled when Peters erupted again. "Corporal Harte!"
"Bye Elvis…..love you to bits!"
"To the moon and back babe."
Elvis wanted to reach through the phone and touch her. He looked at their wedding photo on his desk instead. Despite the fact she was halfway across the Garrison from him, Georgie's virtual presence had a relaxing effect on him, even the pounding in his head seemed to be lessening. He sighed deeply and placed the mobile on the desk, then proceeded to type his report to Warner. Elvis' thoughts were focused as he detailed the encounter with Pettigrew. This was not the first time Colonel Wescott Jones had snared a captain into his manipulations. Toni Blythe's prior CO was another one. Elvis smirked. Time to put the Colonel's private officer's club out of business.
Xxxxxx
1845 – Hereford, UK
Georgie watched her husband grimace and pinch the bridge of his nose for the second time since they had sat for dinner. She cut into her meat as her eyes continued to assess him.
"You OK?" She finally asked before forking a piece into her mouth.
Elvis pulled his hand away from his face. "Yeah. Is your steak done the way ya fancy?" He asked focusing on her plate instead of her gaze. She knew he was deflecting her question.
"The steak is fine Elvis. I'm concerned maybe you are not." She said placing her cutlery down.
He reached for his glass of wine. "Why do ya sat 'at?"
"Because you seem uncomfortable about something."
He swallowed the wine down and set the glass on the table, slowly sliding it around by the foot with his fingertips. "It's eye strain George. Everythin I do now is connected to the damn computer."
"Maybe ya need glasses." She offered with an easy smile.
He laughed. "Aw bloody hell Georgieeee!
"Well you're not getting any younger Elvis."
"Thank you for 'at. Reckon you'll be fetchin care home brochures for me in the foreseeable."
She barked out a laugh, somewhat relieved that his humor was intact despite the fact he was clearly non feeling well.
"This salad is really good." He said with enjoyment.
"Thanks. I know ya fancy loads of cucumber." She watched him methodically stab at the greens with his fork. Maybe he just needed to decompress.
"What do ya reckon will happen to Adam Jones?" She asked.
Elvis poured more wine into his glass, then set the bottle aside. "There will be a summary hearin for the assault charge and an obvious dismissal with disgrace. Fairly textbook."
"He will be imprisoned though, yeah?"
"If guilty, yeah, lookin at two years."
"What about his prior record?"
"Don't know. It was a spent conviction so I really 'ave no idea wha' the Judge Advocate will do with 'at. Regardless George, he's out of Selection. Movin on to the uncle now."
"Which you can't talk about."
"Exactly."
"Could ya just ever get an assignment that was ordinary?"
Elvis chuckled. "Wha' would be the fun in 'at?"
Xxxxx
Georgie walked into the lounge and saw Elvis standing at their wall mounted coat rack digging inside his jacket pockets. She was surprised when he pulled out a pill bottle and emptied a few into his hand. He never takes pills.
"How long has it been going on Elvis?" She asked crossing her arms against her chest.
He startled a bit but quickly recovered. She had caught him and that was that. "Wha's 'at?" He said not turning to face her as yet and jammed the bottle back into a pocket.
"The headaches."
He sighed and grimaced as much from the physical discomfort he was experiencing as the fact now Georgie was worried. "A coupla weeks." He answered simply, looking down at the aspirins in his hand.
"A couple of weeks?!" She said stomping towards him. He turned slowly, waiting for her further chastisement.
"Yeah. But today I needed something."
"It's not fuckin eye strain." She said matter of factly.
"Nah. Today it was Pettigrew."
"Come again?"
He looked at her sheepishly and walked away to pour a glass of water.
"What is that supposed to mean Elvis ?" She asked following close behind.
"Awww, it came on after I blew up at him."
"You have had the headache most of the day?"
"Off and on. The aspirins help." He said tossing the pills and water down.
"Come here." She ordered, grabbing his arm and pulling him back into the lounge. "Sit!"
"If I do a trick will ya give me a biscuit?"
"Button it Elvis. I want to check ya over."
His body became slack as he allowed himself to relax in the chair, watching Georgie fetch her medical gear. He could see the concern in her eyes and felt bad that he was causing her distress. He sat upright when she returned and watched her every move as she selected the instruments she wanted to use to examine him.
"I'm sorry." He said.
Georgie pursed her lips. "Were ya afraid to tell me Elvis?" She asked, wrapping a blood pressure cuff around his upper arm.
"Ya know I'll never admit 'at. But…yeah. I was." He said chagrined.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk" She went, pumping the cuff bladder. Her eyes darted to his then back to the needle on the gauge.
"Did I ever tell ya you 'ave sexy eyes?" He said regarding her lovingly.
"You're not supposed to talk." She said purposely ignoring his gaze.
"Oh yeah. "Ats right. Sorry."
"Elvis!" He grinned at her. "Ya see I'm not laughing, yeah?" She said.
"For cryin out loud George!"
"Look straight ahead." She ordered, clicking her small torch light on to shine into his eyes. He acquiesced to her demands. Elvis wanted everything to be alright. He could not tolerate setbacks. "OK, follow my finger." She then placed an otoscope into each of his ears.
"Good. That part looks normal for ya."
"Does it?" He asked with watchful eyes.
"Yeah. I can see clear through. Pretty empty in there." She said with a forced smile.
"Funny George."
"OK." She said sitting back relieved. "Your exam is fine. Are ya having the headaches every day?"
"No. Honestly they're not that often. Today just 'appened to be a bad one."
"Could be all the tension. I was worried you went back to soon."
"Wha'? Ya meanin to work?"
"Yes Elvis. Back to work. Shooting automatic weapons, fitness training, computer work." She sounded off like a grocery list.
"I was cleared."
She stared at him. "Are you dizzy? Lightheaded at all?"
"Negative. My vision is fine, my hearin is fine. I am focused."
She had to agree. His mentation seemed normal and he was not experiencing any memory lapses. "Please don't worry Georgie. I just should'ave punched the fuckin wanker into the next county. At would 'ave relieved loads of tension."
She laughed and wagged her head. "Will they go after Pettigrew?"
"They can't charge him with bein stupid. He will in all likelihood be removed from his position 'ere though."
"Just keep your cool Elvis. Please. Your health is not worth this." She said rubbing his thighs.
"I know. You are worth everythin to me. You and our baby is all that matters. I won't let ya down. I'll get the job done, 'at's it. Tomorrow we come one day closer to our own home." He said fingering strands of hair behind one of her ears and then gently touched the side of her face. She smiled as he pulled her onto his lap. "Time for your examination now." He said huskily. Their ripple of laughter became smothered in a kiss.
