Road to Tears
Chapter 15
Molly couldn't believe that Charles had booked the Haven in Sandbanks again. But then again they were so happy then, spent the whole time laughing. He wanted to make her believe that everything was alright, but this weekend away didn't change anything, she knew he was struggling with dealing with Elvis' death and his perceived part in that. He just wanted her to believe that there was nothing wrong. Maintaining his stiff upper lip, trying to show all was well in the world and he would help them through, but it was him that needed it this time.
They didn't have the same room but it was sea facing and they had a little balcony if they wanted to sit outside and watch the sunset. They had arrived late afternoon on the Friday and had two nights here. Charles had organised dinner in the restaurant and was being particularly attentive, holding her hand rubbing his thumb across her knuckles, telling her he loved her and would always love her. Telling her that everything was fine, he was fine and there was nothing for her to worry about.
The sun was streaming through the window when they woke on Saturday morning, Charles arm around her shoulders as he pulled her to lie close to him.
"So, what shall we do today Mrs James?" he beamed at her kissing the top of her head which was nestled under his chin "Shall we go and visit Harry again?" he giggled.
Molly laughed "Its Saturday he probably won't be in."
"We can have a look, give him a little wave if he is" as Molly burst into hysterical laughter at the thought.
"Tell you what mate, you can sing Bubbles to him if you like."
"Don't know that one, who sung it?" grinning from ear to ear "Come on then Mrs James let's get moving" as he swung his legs out of bed. Molly couldn't stop staring at his retreating naked body as he made his way to the bathroom. He was back, this was the happiest she had seen him since he got back from Nepal. She had a huge grin on her face as she followed him to the bathroom.
-OG-
They went for their walk but they didn't see Harry, went for a stroll to the beach, took their shoes off to paddle in the waves but it was too cold to get in and they didn't have their swimming things, but they made use of the hotel pool for a swim, which was something they hadn't done in a long time.
Maybe this is what he had needed time away even if only for the weekend. While he had avoided talking of that last tour, they did talk, about people they knew, funny things that had happened in barracks. Sam's latest news when he had phoned to speak to his Dad, Molly falling about laughing when she told Charles he said that cows only lie down if its gonna rain.
"That bloody teacher has a lot to answer for" laughed Charles.
"How do you know they don't" she giggled, him raising his eyebrow his eyes crinkling at the corners smiling at her "Are you seriously saying that a cow never ever lies down unless it's going to rain?"
"Well, I suppose when you put it like that it sounds a bit farfetched" she was laughing so much "Perhaps his teacher never said it quite like that."
"How many cows did you actually see when you were growing up Molly?" he grinned.
"Well, none, unless you count the ones wrapped in Clingfilm at Tesco's" her laughter starting up again "Nowhere to put 'em, bit big ain't they?"
They had been sitting on their balcony and he had this overwhelming feeling for her, the way her eyes sparkled, the way she was laughing the way that she had taken to his son and included him in their lives. In his mind's eye he saw Elvis grinning, shaking his head and telling him not to lose the best thing that ever happened to him.
"I don't know what I would ever do without you Molly James" he grinned picking up her hand to kiss it.
"Ditto."
"What?"
"You going a bit mutton, I said Ditto" she grinned at him.
"I seem to recall a certain Medic being a tad upset by the use of Ditto" smiling back at her with raised eyebrows.
"Don't wanna use up all me best lines right at the start mate" she beamed at him "Got to save a few for when we are old and grey."
He couldn't help but stare her face showing just how happy she was, sighing and getting up from his chair "I'll take that, even if it is a back handed compliment" lifting her into his arms and carrying her back to their room laughing.
-OG-
That was then and it was only two weeks later when he was told they were off to Nigeria. Georgie was going to be their medic again but wouldn't be joining them until a month later.
"Are you sure you wanna do this Charles" Molly asked and he nodded. They had just finished dinner and were sitting on the sofa as he told her that he and 2 section were off on tour to Nigeria to help with some medical outreach program.
"I need to Molly that last tour was a nightmare."
"I know that Charles, I live with you" she held his face staring into his eyes "You're still having them aren't you" rubbing her thumb across his cheek "Are you sure you don't need to see someone about it before going on another tour?"
"I talked with you, I'm fine, and this one really is just a humanitarian trip."
"I wouldn't say you have talked about it, not properly" still looking into his pleading eyes, wanting her to understand why he needed to go away again "Who's the medic this time?"
"Georgie, she will be joining us in a month."
Molly nodded "Well I'll see her in a couple of weeks when we go for that Spa break but last time I spoke with her I thought she didn't want to go on tour again."
"She volunteered Molly, when she was asked" a small smile on his lips "I'd forgotten about your night away with the girls."
"Why am I not surprised" she said as she held his hand "Charles I know you have bad dreams, are you sure about this?"
"Yes perfectly sure, I'm a Captain I can't pick and choose what I do" he sounded a little irritated "It's 6 months since I was last on tour."
"Don't ya want to be at home with me then?" her eyes searching his face with such intensity, again he had this feeling she was looking into his very soul. Was reading his thoughts.
"It's our jobs Moll" he sighed "Surely you must understand that?"
"I do, I can't help but worry about you" she said leaning against his shoulder, as he lifted his arm to cuddle her. With his free hand he cupped her chin lifting her face to his.
"I'm coming back and I'll miss you every day" she nodded, seems he has made up his mind and the discussion, if there was one, was closed.
-OG-
It was just the six of them this time, Jackie, Georgie, Marie and her along with Jenny and Sue deciding to come this time with Jenny. Katy and Lauren unable to make it with the short notice.
"I really need this what with going back on tour" said Georgie while they were having their nails done.
"Are you ready for this George?" asked Molly tentatively because as sure as hell Charles wasn't ready, if only he would admit it.
"Yes" Georgie answered smiling at her friend "I can't tell you how bored I am in admin, it gives me too much time to think" she sighed "I need to be doing something and going on tour does that" she looked across at her friend and saw the worried expression "Come on then Moll, spill, what's worrying you?"
Molly shrugged, Charles was her CO "Nothing mate, just me being silly and thinking maybe you and Charles need a bit more time before going on tour."
"Don't worry Molls" she smiled "We'll keep an eye on each other, it will be fine" Molly nodded and smiled but that didn't stop this shiver going down her back at her friends words.
They were all sitting in the restaurant having the last dinner before going back home when Georgie raised her glass "I hear that you are going on an exercise and a course that will promote you to senior CMT and get you to Corporal" Molly couldn't help but grin.
"Yeah, about time she pushed it after Sierra Leone" said Jackie raising her own glass.
"What happened out there?" asked Georgie.
"Not much."
"Not much" exclaimed Jackie "We were held up by renegades and Mrs here had only left her phone back at base and worked out how to get back, I think one of the privates got a mention in despatches as well with finding food and water" she shoulder bumped her mate.
"Bloody hell" said Marie "Charles must be proud?"
"He don't know" sighed Molly "Would appreciate you not mentioning it while on tour George."
"Why haven't you told him?"
Molly gave her a look "Because he was eaten up by Elvis being killed and what with the funeral and everything, I forgot about it, just never cropped up, he never asked what it was like out there."
Bloody hell she thought that Molly and Charles talked about everything and it seems Molly has kept secrets. Although she had to acknowledge that she hadn't asked her or Jackie how bad it was in Sierra Leone. She had been wrapped up in her own grief so she could understand him not asking.
Their last week together was seeing Sam, visiting his family and generally spending as much time together as they could. On the morning that he left he held her tightly against him in the hall all packed and ready to go.
"You just make sure when I get back you are a Corporal" he grinned nuzzling her neck "I expect to find you in the bath when I get back this time" breathing heavily as he looked into her eyes holding her tight "I'll phone when I can" kissing her hard and looking at her nodding her eyes wide and glassy, still determined she wouldn't cry in front of him, trying to make it easier and for that he would always be grateful. Because now he was off he didn't want to go.
-OG-
A month later Charles arrived at the local airport to collect Corporal Georgie Lane.
"Royal treatment Boss, being collected" she grinned.
"If the cap fits" he grinned "You OK Lane, I haven't seen you since the funeral?"
"As I said to Molly, I was bored witless in admin" she shrugged "It's good to get back out in the field, help the local medics."
"Good" he answered grinning "2 Section are looking forward to seeing you again and you can keep Richards in line Corporal, she's being her usual pain in the proverbial."
"Yes Boss" she grinned pleased she was back with them all and hopefully she wouldn't have the time to keep thinking about Elvis and what she had lost. It still felt like a physical pain the hole he had left and there were days she didn't know how she got up in the morning.
Charles handed over the file showing that it was a medical outreach project. Told her a number of girls had been kidnapped by Boka Harem. Asked her if she had spoken with Molly before she left and did she know how her course was going.
"All good Boss" she looked at him and saw he was hoping of news from home "She was just finishing the course work as I left and then she goes on exercise."
-OG-
The weeks were flying past as far as Georgie was concerned, they were handing out leaflets about the vaccination program. She and Maisie thought they had found a woman who knew more than she was saying about the missing girls, she seemed furtive and ran when she noticed some of the other villagers approaching.
"Come on Boss" she wheedled "no one else seems that bothered about them, if no one else is looking for them we could find them and get them back?"
"Let's leave this to Whitehall shall we" he sighed as they were travelling in the truck to the next village.
The kids were everywhere trying to sell tack as they pulled up at the village and as they got out the truck they saw a man shove one of the children away from his 4x4. Georgie went rushing over before Charles could stop her, picking the child up "What do you think you are playing at" she screamed at him
"Well, if it ain't GI Jane" he sneered at her looking her up and down.
"Let's see how good you are with a busted arm" she retorted making the man laugh.
"Come on then give it your best shot."
"Lane" called Charles looking at the bloke confronting his medic. He recognised him, what was he doing out here. As he tried to remember where he knew his face before it clicked into place and he remembered Bones McClyde from Sandhurst.
"Well, well, well, another twat in a uniform" Bones smirked before turning back to his car and getting in.
-OG-
Charles wondered how Molly was getting on, had she had the results of her CMT exams and had she gone on exercise yet, while sitting on a porch drinking coffee. The signal wasn't that bad here so perhaps he could try and ring her, see how she had got on and if there was any news on her promotion.
There was the sound of gun fire in the distance and they all collected their weapons and went out with the Nigerian soldiers to see what was going on. They seem to have shot a small boy in the leg and one of the soldiers was trying to question him. Lane put a stop to it saying that they tended not to torture small children. The Captain turned to face Charles saying that the lad was part of the terrorist organisation Boka Harem "Did he not understand how things worked in his country" immediately putting Charles on a back foot after Lane's outburst.
"Let's get him back to base and treat his wounds" sighed Charles "we can question him there" The Nigerian Captain shrugged "Your choice but I think it's a mistake."
Lane had treated the boy and he was now being looked after by the medical team at the barracks. Charles returning to his position outside as he watched the lads playing football with the local kids, he still hadn't phoned Molly. He looked at his watch and worked out what time it was at home and thought he would leave it to later, she would probably phone him if she had any news about a promotion.
Lane came and joined him as he was smiling at Fingers trying to show the finer arts of football. She told him she wanted to go and vaccinate some more kids with the Nigerian medic. He told her to take Kingy, Kahlil and Richards with her. She nodded smiled and left, perfect she thought, knowing that the Nigerian medic would take her to the village and the woman who knew more than she was letting on, if they could only find her again and get her to talk. Just think of the kudos they would get if they found out where those girls were, they were doing some good. Nobody else seemed bothered about the missing girls.
Maisie as their driver slammed on the breaks and stopped when she saw the boy lying in the road, Georgie swiftly getting out the truck to see to him only for him to pull a gun from his tunic. Before they knew where they were they had all been taken and their truck driven off in a different direction. It was a schoolboy error thought Kingy, he should have stopped this before it even started, he was the Sergeant. They were off piste, no one knew where they were and they got out of an armoured truck when seeing someone lying in the in the road. Crickey! If he had been in Afghan he would have pulled them all up for what they were about to do. With his experience he should have told Maisie to drive round and not stop and get out until they had assessed the area.
They were surrounded by guns and had no choice but to surrender. They were taken to a compound where there were lots of cheering and gunshots fired into the air, after all they had captured British soldiers. Kingy, Rab, Maisie and Georgie were thrown into a room which was pretty basic and they hoped they wouldn't be here that long based on the limited facilities.
The Nigerian medic was not put in there with them and Georgie looked through the little window in the door to see he had been tied to a stake in the compound and was being beaten. She had asked him to take her to that village, find the woman who knew something about what was going on in the area, and this is where he had ended up. As she continued to look at him, every now and again she saw Kiki standing there, staring at her, blood coming from her mouth. Shaking her head trying to get rid of the image.
The door was flung open as two men came in and pulled Georgie from the room taking her across the compound and she couldn't help but stare at the Medic she had befriended. He had been used as a punch bag for hours and was barely conscious. To say she was frightened now was an understatement she was alone in this room and didn't have the rest of the section with her. The door opened and she was ready to launch an attack but a voice she recognised halted her.
"Lane it's me" and she looked up into the eyes of Peanut as he grinned "We'll get you all out of here, make sure you are lying flat and as far from the back wall as you can at 17.00 hours."
She nodded her eyes filling with tears, they were going to be rescued. "Now try and make this look realistic shall we" grinned Peanut as his arms encircled her waist as he whispered into her ear "I just hope Elvis forgives me" as he started pawing at her and pretending to kiss her neck.
-OG-
To say that Bones was livid was an understatement as he marched into the barracks with Spanner. His stride, the speed in which he walked across the parade ground, his frown and eyes that looked like they were blazing with rage, all testament to how he felt. Months of work messed up because Georgie bloody Lane went off piste to look for god knows what. This had been their second tour out here infiltrating that group. Once those girls had been kidnapped the government wanted them brought to task, the girls brought back to their families and to be seen supporting the Nigerian government in stopping any attempt at some sort of take-over of power.
He was getting angrier as he walked through the barracks to the ops room, finding Captain James along with his Nigerian counterparts.
"Do you realise what your fucking medic has done?" he screamed at Captain James "Months of undercover work screwed."
Charles turned to look at the raging Bones with Spanner just behind him who was looking at the ground, looking up briefly and shrugging "I don't suppose she expected to be taken" Charles tried to justify.
"So, it was your orders then was it that she went off into a village controlled by Boka Harem?" sneered Bones "Why doesn't that surprise me."
"No, it wasn't" Charles retorted without thinking, as he started pacing the ops room and running his hand across the back of his neck "and we didn't know it was controlled by them, she was just observing our orders which is to continue with a vaccination program" looking at Bones with some contempt "How were we meant to know what you were up to?"
"Did you think we were on our fucking holidays?" he shouted "Out here" sneering he continued taking another step forward closer to Charles.
"Stop being a problem Bones" answered Charles standing straighter trying to sound more confident than he was, he didn't know that Georgie had gone off to that village, she was supposed to be in the one they were currently located near "I'll contact Whitehall and see what they want us to do."
"By that time they will have moved them, we have the edge if we go in now. No one knows that we have eyes on and know where they are, that we have an undercover operative in there."
Charles looked across at Spanner who shrugged again and nodded "We should tell Whitehall, get clearance" continued Charles.
Bones narrowed his eyes "Seems to me that your bloody medic went off piste, didn't tell you and got herself and half your section taken hostage and you want to contact the MoD and ask what you should do?" Bones spoke through gritted teeth "Good job your wife doesn't just sit about waiting to get rescued, that's one medic that knows how to get herself out of trouble" as he swung round and walked off. Charles wide eyed at that remark and starting to move forward to find out what the hell he meant by that. His own anger starting to rise as he wondered what he meant and how did he know Molly.
Spanner put his hand on his chest to stop him "It's not the time or place."
"What did he mean by that Spanner?"
Spanner shrugged "Don't know all the in's and out's Boss, Peanut was on that mission" sighing and looking at Charles with a hard eye and raised eyebrows "I was with Elvis and you in Afghan at the time."
"Did something happen in Sierra Leone?" he asked quietly.
Spanner knew what happened out there Peanut had told him, he also knew because Jenny had told him after the Spa trip that Molly hadn't told Charles because he was already upset by Elvis being killed and didn't want him worrying about something that ultimately had worked out. He shouldn't know and he didn't want to land his wife in it for telling him something that Molly had told her. Looking at this indecisive Captain, pacing about, who hadn't known where his section were, perhaps he wasn't ready to be on tour and certainly not the Captain he had served with before.
"I wasn't there" he sighed "Molly didn't keep it a secret, it was just never the time to tell you" giving no quarter in his stare "nothing happened to her, that you need to worry about now, she got back safely."
Spanner sighed again "When I got back after Afghan there were lots of things that Jen didn't tell me about, she knew how upset I was about Elvis" he huffed a lungful of air "I could barely string a sentence together for weeks."
He watched as Charles was still pacing the room "Why would she cover it up?" he said quietly and Spanner could feel the sadness at his comment.
"She hasn't covered anything up, probably didn't think too much about it in the greater scheme of things, what with Elvis being killed and you and Georgie needing support" Spanner turned to leave the room before turning back "what have you told her about Afghan?" starting to follow his Boss out of the room as an afterthought he turned back again "Would you have heard her if she had told you, I know I wasn't listening to Jen much when I first got back?" turning round again to leave the room and Charles lost in his thoughts.
-OG-
The raid on the compound was text book in its delivery. Spanner remotely blew up the truck at the front gates causing a distraction while 2 section, Bones and Peanut blew the back wall to release the hostages. They raced to their vehicle all the time Georgie screaming that they needed to get the Medic that they had left him behind.
Peanut patted her hand "We couldn't get to him George, there were too many of them and they were heavily armed" looking at her "There was nothing we could do."
"Yeah bet he's really glad he was assigned you" sneered Bones.
"Boss" said Spanner in a voice that brokered no argument and Bones nodded keeping quiet, he was still livid that their operation had been compromised. It only had to be Captain bloody James that was here didn't it, what the hell was he playing at not knowing what was going on in his section.
Once they were back at Base Captain James called them all to the ops room told them that they had done well and he was proud of them and how they had conducted themselves in difficult circumstances. He was about to dismiss them when Monk started clapping and the rest of the section joined in.
The action only reignited the contemptuous rage Bones felt that his mission had a wrecking ball through the middle of it and he let rip with his feelings as he walked up the middle of the room, his hands on his hips standing directly in front of Captain James "You are a bunch of bloody idiots if you think that was a good operation. Three months work down the shitter, and no hope of getting those girls back now" as he swung on his heels to face the section "They will have been moved, divided up into smaller groups" drawing breath and scanning the faces in front of him "and let's not forget that they will be converted into their hard-line regime. Even if by some miracle we did find them in future they wouldn't want to come back or leave their kids, because that's the life your efforts have left them with" looking at each of them before he marched back down the room and left. Spanner and Peanut shrugged at Captain James, there wasn't anything they could say, and followed him out.
Charles watched their retreating backs and drew a deep breath, this had all gone so wrong he thought sighing "Lads get some scoff and an early night". 2 section nodding and left the room, leaving him standing there with Georgie
"I'm sorry Boss" she said looking up at him "I did go off piste."
"I know Lane" shaking his head at how he felt after the barrage that Bones had just given him, and it was for him he was in no doubt of that "Learn from it."
-OG-
The following morning they were woken by the sound of gunfire. Sergeant King told them on the double, full body armour and weapons, they were under attack at the perimeter. Seemed the boy they had in the hospital was the son of the leader of this cell and he wanted him back. When they looked at the gates and saw just how many there were and how heavily armed and how few they were, there was more than one worried face from the section.
Bones was standing with his men in one of the watch towers "Looks really bad Boss" and Bones nodded "I can't be taken Boss" said Peanut looking at him "Not after…."
"I know" interrupted Bones nodding "Let's just see what we can negotiate before we make decisions like that" and started to walk to the ops room.
Captain James, Lane and the Nigerian Captain were already there and pouring over maps.
"Can we send for reinforcements" asked Charles and the Nigerian Captain shook his head, "They are too far away, it would be too late before they got here"
"We could say will give his son back if we get passage to the safe zone and get the Nigerian Medic back" said Georgie hopefully, knowing that some of this mess was down to her.
"Well, if the medic hasn't come up with a good idea for a change" sneered Bones "I suggest you start the negotiations" he continued turning to the Nigerian Captain who nodded and left the room followed by Georgie leaving just Bones and Charles together.
"I know you have a problem with me Bones but there is no need to take it out on my team."
"Why would I have a problem with you?"
"The Sword"
"That was years ago, you may be an over privileged twat but I never took you for a grass."
"I wasn't, I wrote a report, how was I supposed to know what would happen as a result?"
"Just as I always thought a fucking twat" as he started to walk away.
"What happened in Sierra Leone?" called out Charles.
Bones turned to look at him with a lopsided grin "We were called in to find and rescue a number of medics that had gone off grid in a remote region close to the border of Liberia" walking back towards Charles still grinning "Turns out it was totally unnecessary, they figured out how to rescue themselves" he said seriously "unlike your current medic your previous one can look after herself it would seem" he grinned at the shocked expression on Captain James face and turned on his heel to leave. "It was impressive" he said in parting.
Charles was left alone with his thoughts in the ops room running his hand across the back of his neck, what did she do to impress someone like Bones. He needed to focus, stay alert. He would deal with this when he got home.
-OG-
The exchange of the boy for the medic went reasonably well except for the girl who was strapped with enough explosives that made Bashira's suicide vest look insignificant. Bones had to be the hero didn't he thought Charles as he pulled it off her and threw it. Still no lives lost, he had to concede.
They were loading into the trucks to go to the barracks in the free zone when Maisie decided to pass comment "Well we got one of the girls back Georgie" she beamed and Charles closed his eyes in the front of the truck, he didn't have to wait long.
"Yes you did" sneered Bones "Are you going to go round to the other 199 families and tell them why they daughters are still missing?"
"Well, you hadn't done anything to save them" she persisted.
"We will never know now will we" said Bones leaning forward "They're ready for us now aren't they, can hardly send Peanut back in there can we?"
"Enough Richards" ordered Charles from the front of the truck.
They had a mission debrief before Charles told them that they had a pass for the evening before heading back to the UK, three drinks only and he expected impeccable behaviour at this dance as there were a number of RAMC medics on a training exercise here.
Bones, Spanner and Peanut were designated as drivers and took them to the hall and would bring them back later.
Georgie wasn't really in the mood to be sociable and after one drink got Bones to drive her back. He made a pass at her which she couldn't help but laugh at, considering he had spent most of the time telling her all her mistakes on this tour.
"Are you sure you should be on tour Georgie?" he asked.
"I need to keep busy Bones" getting out the jeep after he had parked up.
"Look, I know Elvis was big boots to fill, but I liked him" he sighed "You are allowed to grieve for him you know, no one would think any the less of you for that."
All Georgie could do was nod in acknowledgement as her eyes filled with tears, she turned away and walked back to her room.
-OG-
Charles was sat with Kingy watching the lads singing and dancing and trying to pick up some of the medics some of whom seemed successful.
"Hello Sir" came a voice behind him that he recognised as he turned and saw Katy Molly's friend. He nodded in acknowledgement and briefly scanned the room "No Sir, Molls isn't here, just me and Lauren" she grinned "We got this tour to help with promotion to Corporal, because you are here Molls got Dartmoor" and she burst out laughing "Apparently it was pissing it down" and pulled out her phone to show a photo of Molly looking like a drowned rat out on the moors. He hadn't spoken with her for ages, or that's what it felt like. But he couldn't help but grin at how cold she looked.
"Mind you she will at least be home by now, unlike us still stuck out here" someone from the dancefloor called her name "Best be off, I expect I'll see you when we all get back" she grinned and was gone.
He looked up to the balcony area round the room and saw both Peanut and Spanner stood there looking down at the medics and squaddies dancing.
"I just need to speak with someone" he said to Kingy and got up and left walking up the stairs to Peanut. Spanner saw him first and nudged Peanut who looked across "I think the Boss wound him up about Molls, it was only a matter of time" said Spanner with raised eyebrows as Peanut moved and smiled at the approaching Captain.
Peanut told him what had happened, how renegades had crossed the border for medical supplies, how they had made a stretcher for the shot private and started walking back to base. Molly had left her phone behind and that gave them a GPS signal to find their way back. It was this initiative that would probably get Jackie moved up to Sergeant and Molly to Corporal. They had stayed away from the road just in case there were more renegades and had made really good time getting to where they had before they were found.
So when he finally got a signal in Kathmandu the reason for her not answering her phone was because she was trying to find her way back to base after having been held up at gun point and robbed of their medical supplies, not because she was busy in the hospital.
"She was devastated when I told her about Elvis" sighed Peanut "Thought I was coming to tell her something had happened to you" looking at Charles and not sure of the expression he had on his face "Guess with everything else that happened she just forgot about it?"
"Thanks for telling me Peanut" and as an afterthought "and thanks for being there to tell her about Elvis."
Peanut nodded in acknowledgement looking down at his hands, it had been hard telling her. Looking back at the Captain he continued "I wouldn't worry about it too much, she was OK" sniggering "and so long as she didn't have to eat spiders she looked after herself."
"What?" he grinned as Peanut nodded.
"Yep refused point blank apparently, according to the private" both of them laughing now.
"Don't let the Boss wind you up" he started "He was impressed, and we were all pretty fragged when we got back, losing Elvis" Charles nodded, he still kept seeing his mate in his dreams.
Peanut got up and went back to join Spanner "I could kill the Boss for winding him up like that, there is obviously history there somewhere" and Spanner nodded "your right there's no love lost between those two."