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Chapter 2
The Wait Out
1130 - Hereford, UK
Georgie made arrangements to see her private physician on her lunch break. The plan was to acquaint herself with a midwife, if indeed she was with child. Tad Peters was fine with her taking the time away. She had not disclosed to him the exact nature of her request and was pleased he had not pried. He could be a pesky pain the arse sometimes, but he had a huge heart. Elvis was involved in the candidate's application reviews and interviews for winter selection, so he would not be able to accompany her, much to his deep regret. Georgie drove through the Garrison gate smiling, imagining how their parents will react to the blessed news. The couple chose to wait until it was confirmed.
Xxxxx
Captain Elvis Harte glanced at his watch. 1135 hours. His Georgie was on her way. He chewed on his lower lip, hearing his colleague's voices sat around the table next to him, but he really was not listening. Georgie would make contact with him as soon as the pregnancy is confirmed. They were well beyond the imposed wait period following her Ricin exposure and were both were confident all would be well. But, they needed to be certain. He studied an application on the laptop in front of him and agitated his pen. All he could think about was the joy on Georgie's face when she told him she was pregnant. He knew she longed for a child with him. It was his desire as well. They had spent countless nights talking about their future. Perhaps away from the army…... He sat back in his chair and smiled grimly. This was no place to display emotion. He was an SAS Commander now engaged in the selection process of new candidates to the elite regiment. He perused the roster. He knew Fingers had not re-applied at this time, he was presently on tour with Charlie and 2 Section.
Xxxxx
1200
Georgie's foot gyrated as she not so calmly awaited her name to be called. She looked at her watch and noticed the other women in the clinic staring at her. It was the uniform. She fingered the plaster on her arm where the blood samples had been taken. Now she waited for the results.
xxxxx
Elvis was required to interview ten of the candidates. They had forty soldiers apply at this point. One of the lads was a lance corporal who carried impressive credentials, leastways on his application, and he had outstanding recommendations from senior officers. Elvis stared at those names the candidate had listed on the application, then looked up at the name badge on the soldier's uniform.
"Why are ya 'ere Lance Corporal Jones?" The SAS captain asked.
Silence….staring….silence…..
Elvis stared back. It was unrelenting "In the ten seconds that just passed….the soldier next to ya was killed." Elvis said coldly. "In five more seconds you will be dismissed."
The young lance corporal's eyes widened…..then…
"I believe it is all there for you captain." He answered, gesturing to Elvis' laptop.
"Wha' is all 'ere?"
"The reason I applied. My experiences, skills." Jones answered, sniffing in a self-righteous manner.
"Nah. It ain't." Elvis retorted. "You're not sittin in front of me for me to read some essay ya wrote. I wanna hear it from you. I already read this." He said, closing the screen down on the laptop, removing any barrier between them, never breaking direct eye contact.
"Sir?"
"Go on. That's an order. Off the top of yer head. Why are ya 'ere?"
Lance Corporal Adam Jones squinted at the captain and began to feel beads of sweat forming on his brow. He had a muscled chest that began to subtly heave. He had not expected this.
Xxxxx
"Georgie Harte!"
Georgie sat upright then stood. Her heart began to pound.
"How are you?" The young attendant asked as she gestured for Georgie to move along with her.
"I'm fine. Anxious for answers, yeah." Came the happy response as Georgie followed her down a long hallway and was ushered into an exam room.
"Here. Put this on, open in the front, everything off."
Georgie nodded. The attendant had obviously gone through this routine countless times and had no idea of the anticipation and joy this patient could possibly be feeling.
"I'll come back in to get you weighed."
Georgie nodded as she began to undress. "Thank you."
Xxxxx
1330
Elvis looked up at the clock on the wall directly in front of him. He had not heard from Georgie since she had texted telling him she was still waiting for an answer. He checked his mobile, making certain it was set to vibrate and that he had not missed any further messages. His brow creased. Nothing! Two hours had past. Her lunch break expired one hour ago. Should he text her?
"I reckon the ten will make it to day one."
"Wha?" Elvis looked up as the voice of his co-director, Captain Arnold Pettigrew, disrupted his concerned thoughts.
"The ten we just interviewed." Pettigrew said, looking around then directly at Elvis as if something was amiss. "Are ya even in the room Harte?"
Elvis chuckled. "Would appear so."
"Head not in the game?"
Elvis glared at him. "Oi it's in the game alright mate."
"We have to come up with a report here." Pettigrew said as his fingers tapped over his laptop keyboard. Elvis looked at his watch again. Pettigrew observed. He was an administrative sort and certainly had not been involved in brutal combat to the extent Elvis had been. He could sense his comrade was fighting some distraction and was certain he would not be precisely told what that distraction was, so he decided to play the focus card. "The candidates Elvis….?"
Elvis looked at him. "So, this Jones….Wha' do ya reckon?" He finally asked.
Pettigrew nodded with self satisfaction that he had gotten a constructive conversation going. "Carries himself well." He responded, pouring a glass of water from a nearby carafe.
Elvis watched him with amused eyes. "Carries himself well? And do ya reckon he carries a weapon just as well?"
"Bit snarky you."
"Meanin?" Elvis sat back, still amused.
"He's a soldier Elvis. Of course he carries a weapon well. What's your point?"
"You get the gist."
"You don't like him." Pettigrew said, belting back a swallow of water.
"Affirmative."
"And why is that exactly?"
"Seems weak. Full stop."
"Weak??! Did ya take a gander at his musculature?"
Elvis let out a breathy, sardonic laugh. "So he goes to the fuckin gym."
"His CV is impeccable!"
"Spot on 'ere Arnie, but Jones ain't applyin for a job. He's applyin to join an elite military regiment. He hesitated quite a bit durin the interview with me and 'at concerns me! I don't now wha' he gave you durin your one on one with him. But he stalled more than once."
"He's Colonel Wescott Jones' nephew for fuck's sake!"
"I don't see the colonel's name on the roster Arnie. He's not applyin."
"Are you mad?!"
"It's been said." Elvis retorted now nonchalantly filling his glass with water.
"You are fuckin mad Harte!"
"Listen in, you wanna push Jones through to initiate selection, then you keep an eye on him. I ain't gonna see him till continuation trainin…..If he even makes it! And, I don't give a shit who he's related to or who dressed up his application!"
Pettigrew winced and rubbed his eyes. "Elvis!" He groaned.
"Ya know I'm right."
"Yeah, you're right. He certainly dropped loads of names on his application. But none of them will be helping him carry his Bergan."
Elvis laughed. "Roger 'at!"
"Alright, we good with green lighting him?" Pettigrew asked, wary of Elvis' response.
"I have a responsibility to this Regiment. But, yeah, let's see if he's really got what it takes. Who's next?"
Xxxxx
1345
"I know I have kept you longer than expected Georgie, but I wanted to complete the process today. I had your bloods run STAT." Dr. Edward Brown said as Georgie anxiously sat in front of his desk. Georgie Lane Harte fidgeted. The lab result had to be known at this point. They actually took a lot of blood from her she thought. Dr. Brown seemed encouraging during her physical exam and as she studied his demeanor at the moment he appeared relaxed. She knew he would be cautious and thorough because of her Ricin exposure. She thought about Elvis, he would be a shade shy of mad with worry by now.
He had texted her an hour and one half ago: "Checkin in babe, do ya copy? This wait out is killing me!"
She chuckled at the memory but clutched a fist to her chest. Her mind circulated around the possibility of a mistake, a miscalculation, and the Ricin exposure haunted her terribly.
"Georgie, your exam was excellent. You are in perfect health. Vital signs are stable and your bloods revealed all levels within the normals." Dr. Brown said. Georgie listened to every word with measured patience. "I am happy to also inform you that you are indeed pregnant."
Her hands flew to her face as her emotions exploded tearfully. "Ah Dr. Brown...seriously!?"
"Perfectly serious." He said as a knock struck the door. "Yes. Come in."
Georgie sat upright and turned to view the entrant. It was a well groomed, middle aged woman.
"Georgie, this is Amelia Clarke. She will be your midwife.
"So very pleased to meet you Georgie." Amelia said with a bright smile, extending a hand to her. "And congratulations! I understand this will be your first child."
Georgie was ecstatic. "Pleased to meet you as well Ameila. Yes, this will be our first child together!"
"Well I am looking forward to meeting your husband as well."
"Unfortunately, Elvis is not here. He is at the Garrison." Georgie said.
"That is fine. I will need to pay a home visit, perhaps I could meet up with him then."
"Yeah, of course."
"For now, let's get you lined up for your initial sonogram." Amelia said as she seated herself next to Georgie. Dr. Brown joined in the conversation as Georgie was instructed on the first trimester of pregnancy. All the while she could not wait to tell Elvis.
Xxxxx
"Alright, at's it. We should be set to go for the January start date." Elvis said as he packed up his laptop and glanced at the wall clock. 1430 hours. He was able to detach himself for the past hour but now the unease began to creep back. Georgie had to know something by now. Elvis zippered his case briskly and if the wall clock was not informative enough, he looked at his wrist watch. Had something gone awry? How long did these tests take?
"We have a meet up to review the final roster in one hour." Pettigrew said as he collected his gear.
Elvis looked at him. "Right."
"You OK Elvis?"
"Yeah." He answered reaching to pick up his briefcase, when…. His mobile sounded. He was quick to retrieve it from his pocket. "Georgie !"
"Heyyyyyy babe!"
"Wha's goin on? Are ya alright?" He wanted to be there if something was amiss. Georgie could barely speak she was so damn excited.
"Elvis! I am pregnant! Confirmed !!"
"Confirmed !You're pregnant!" He said and had to sit down. He skidded a chair out and plopped.
Pettigrew grinned now knowing why Elvis was distracted.
"When I didn't hear from ya I thought somethin….."
"Stop worrying! I am fine Elvis. We're both fine! They have me scheduled for my initial sonogram and I have a midwife!"
"Really good!" Elvis could barely talk he was grinning so much. "Ya comin back then?"
"Yeah, I'm on my way. The sonogram will be another day.
"Ya might catch hell from Peters, bein late."
"I hope not. I did tell him I did not know how long it would take. I had sent him a text as it obviously went over. Can I see you when I get back?"
"I'll be in my office. I 'ave a meetin in one hour but there should be time. I can't want to see ya!"
"I can't wait as well. I love you!"
"Love you."
