Road to Redemption
Chapter 5
The Rescue
Molly's mouth was dry her tongue sticking to the roof of her mouth, she could hardly swallow when she heard those dulcet Scottish tones of Spanner "Get your head down" and she dropped to the floor as a flurry of bullets whistled round her.
She saw from her position on the ground that Omar looked like he was trying to make a getaway while Blue, Jackson and Spanner took out the insurgents, so she got up and threw herself on his back forcing him to the ground.
"Well done Dawes" smiled Blue pointing his gun at the head of Omar "Don't even think of trying to get away" he smirked at him.
"We gotta warn 2 section Boss that truck that left was loaded with explosives"
He nodded in acknowledgement before opening up communications "Captain James, there is a truck coming your way with explosives, get out the house"
"The baby is on its way according to Mimi, we can't leave yet, we'll have to do a hard stop" Captain James responded "Is…..
"Yes, Molly is safe" and Blue rolled his eyes "We have Omar…..alive….see you at the rendezvous"
"Looks like your ex-husband is on top of his game now" he grinned at Molly helping her up from lying on Omar.
"Knew he would be if he got the 'elp" she grinned back.
"Here you may as well take this as you don't appear to have a weapon" Spanner handed over one of the automatic rifles."
"Bloody hell Spanner it's Russian" she laughed as he shrugged his shoulders.
"Beggars can't be choosers" he grinned "You need to fire it not read it."
Blue had already bound Omar's wrists with zip ties and threw him in the back of a pickup truck with Molly while the three men got in the cabin and set off to meet up with 2 section. Not entirely according to plan but so far so good.
-OG-
Down at the house, Mimi had informed Captain James that the baby was nearly here, it wouldn't be much longer so he gave the order for a hard stop and 2 section lined up with weapons ready to open fire when the truck turned up.
It was a close run thing but they managed to shoot the driver sending the truck off course and hit a tree before exploding.
They all stood there looking at the flames and could feel the heat, that had been a close call. As they continued to stare they heard the unmistakable cry of a baby.
"Right, listen up, we need to get back to the armoured truck, and meet with Blue and his team. Kingy contact base and see if they can send medical help for this woman"
"Sir" they all responded.
"Ready" he looked at them all "Move out"
They moved to the meeting point and got out the truck waiting on Blue and his team. They saw a cloud of dust in the distance and assumed it was them but Captain James ordered that they should remain alert and crouched down just in case.
Blue dragged Omar out the truck and put him in the back of their vehicle. He swung round when they heard more shots. They were scattered across the area to give support, when there was a scream from one of them.
"Sir, its Fingers he's been shot in the arse" yelled Brains. Captain James rolled his eyes, how many times had he told them over the years to keep their arses down?
"Kingy, get him into our vehicle and let Mimi deal with it" he barked as he watched Fingers hobbling towards them.
"We might have to negotiate our way out of here Charles" said Blue "Be ready to move quickly" Two section were behind their vehicle and some kneeling in the undergrowth and rocks while Blue, Spanner and Jackson moved nearer to their pickup and away from Captain James and his section.
Charles had been distracted by the fire fight but was now looking around for Molly, where the hell was she. He told Kingy to get the rest of the men in the vehicle and Brains and Dangles to get into the front, ready to drive away. He thought he saw slight movement in the back of Blue's pickup but couldn't be sure, perhaps that was Molly?
Blue, Spanner and Jackson lowered their weapons before Blue started talking to the dozen or so men that had appeared and were shooting at them. Shit they also looked like they had an RPG as well.
"Look let's talk" Blue started holding his hands out in front of him "Safe passage for all my men here in return for Omar?" He grinned and Charles couldn't help but wonder what he was up to, there was no way they could give Omar back.
"There is no need for this to turn nasty" he continued "I give you my word as an Englishman"
"And a Welshman" added Jackson.
"And a Scotsman" finished off Spanner.
Charles was transfixed his mouth opening as he watched Molly get up from the back of the pickup, covered in her black niqab.
"What about me boss?" she said and the insurgents turned to face her, their eyes no longer on Blue.
"Oh yes! And an English Woman" he grinned "But not sure you should trust her" and Molly's arms started to come up revealing the gun she was carrying under her garment. She fired instantly and took out the man with the RPG giving Blue and the others time to raise their guns and fire. Charles eyes widening in horror as the insurgents had been pointing their guns at her before Blue had time to get off a round. He watched as he saw Molly stagger back and fall to the ground behind the truck.
"Dawes are you all right?" he heard Blue call over the comms but there was no answer.
"Kingy load up and get this truck out of here" called Captain James as he started making his way forward to the pickup where he had seen Molly fall. He heard 2 section leaving just as he got to Molly. He saw her move and try to sit up.
"I'm all right" she answered, "but that bleedin' winded me a bit" She was looking down at herself.
"Nice of you to join us Captain James" grinned Blue as he came round the back of the pickup to see him trying to help Molly to her feet. Charles noticed 2 bullet holes near to her chest
"Thank god for a bullet proof vest" he said with a small grin and the first words he had spoken to her in over 18 months. "Yeah but me tits might be turning purple under this lot" she grinned back.
"Interesting thought Dawes"
Blue was calling for air transport for them as Jackson had received a shoulder wound, it could meet with the armoured vehicle, load everyone and Omar onto it before returning to base.
"Let's get moving before they send in reinforcements" and they all leapt into the pickup to drive to the helicopter. Charles got in the back with Molly and Jackson. She gave him some first aid from her Bergen, which had been brought from the house as Charles kept a watchful eye on what was approaching from behind.
They were going higher into the mountains to meet the helicopter so had to leave the truck. The armoured vehicle was already there and had unloaded, 2 section with a wounded Fingers and Omar already onboard as Blue carrying Jackson approached and got in.
Spanner was providing cover for Captain James and Molly who was bringing up the rear.
There was a flurry of bullets again and Charles felt one very close to his head as he continued to run forward. Spanner was now standing and looking for where the gunfire was coming from as Charles turned expecting to see Molly close on his heels.
"Where's Molly, Spanner?"
"Over there" and about 20 yards away he could see Molly on the ground and trying to get back up again. He couldn't leave her and started running towards her as she started to crawl behind some rocks.
"We'll try and provide some cover for you to get away but we can't stop" shouted Blue through the comms set "They had an RPG and it could take us all out".
"We'll do a couple of fly pasts see if we can see somewhere for you to shelter before we get back" he continued "Do you want Spanner to stay?"
"No point in more of us risking our lives, just don't forget to come back for us" responded Captain James.
"Molly is wearing a tracker we will be able to find you" spoke Blue as the helicopter lifted off "we will try and draw fire to give you a head start".
"Head for the mountains, there are lots of caves up there to bunk down until we can get back" added Spanner.
"Turn your mobile on if you have it with you and put it on silent" added Blue "We'll phone when we are coming" he laughed.
He picked Molly up and started running "What you bleedin' doing, I can run" he put her back down again and grabbed her hand "Come on then, hurry up!"
The helicopter circled a few times and drew fire, responding back which gave them time to put some distance between them, but when the insurgents fired their RPG and they had to take evasive action Blue came over their headsets saying good luck and they would see them soon.
They stayed low and out of sight as they moved to higher ground when Charles spotted a cave which looked like the entrance was partially obscured, they had to drop down into it. It gave them something to hide behind and watch to see if any of the insurgents where heading their way.
"What happened Molly" Charles asked while still looking out over the landscape gun in hand and through the scope.
"Bloody bastards did it again didn't they, only in the back this time" she answered peeling off her headdress "This bloody vest is going to be useless now, holes in the front and back."
He shook his head "What you did back there was stupid beyond belief….you could have been killed" he spoke through gritted teeth unable to shout at her like he wanted to, the anger burning through him.
"Wind your neck in Charlie" she retorted.
"What did you say?" still looking through the scope and could see no one approaching from any direction. He swung round to look at her his eyes blazing with anger, but she had her back to him and he drew in a sharp breath.
"You heard" and turned back to look at him. She had removed the niqab and was left with her combat trousers and boots. As she was lifting off the bullet proof vest he could see she only had on one of those flimsy black vest tops she favoured. While her hair was in a rather untidy plait he couldn't help remembering when they were on stage singing to Elton John as she was so similarly dressed.
"What?" she raised her eyebrows at him noticing he was staring at her "You didn't think I would wear full uniform under that lot did you, its bleedin' hot enough as it is."
"Well it won't be later" he smirked.
"I didn't know we were going to get stuck out here for the night did I?" she retorted rolling her eyes in irritation especially as he looked like he was smirking now. "Don't change the bleedin' subject, what I did was my job and Blue knew, more or less what I was gonna do or he wouldn't have told them I couldn't be trusted."
"It was still an incredibly dangerous and stupid thing to do."
"Well that's SF for you…..mad bastards" she grinned at him "You know that….look at Elvis."
"Indeed"
"Well I didn't bring my Bergen so I hope you got chocolate in yours?"
He couldn't help but laugh "And why in all that's holy would I carry bloody chocolate on a mission?"
She shrugged "Well what you got then?"
"Some water and a couple of energy bars, I think" and he started rummaging around.
"Oh shit, it's gonna be a long night."
"Please don't tell me that the Bergen you left behind is full of fucking chocolate?"
"Course not you plank" and he raised his eyebrows at her irreverence to his rank "One bar of fruit and nut, family size, just in case" she laughed "Got the protein in the nuts, one of me five a day in the fruit, healthy ain't it and tastes a lot better than them bleedin' energy bars" she grinned "and all wrapped up in one of those cooler packs, bloody melted by now I'll bet."
The sun had gone down and there was nothing to see, so he sat down behind the small wall that was protecting them. He put his gun against it and removed his pistol from his holster, Molly followed suit and sat down next to him with her weapon on the other side of her.
"I hope it's not me your gonna shoot with that"
"No, but after your stunt today I feel like it" he snorted "Have you any idea what that was like to be standing there watching you do that" he turned to her "Have you learnt bloody nothing, it was like when you walked to Bashira with a fucking suicide vest strapped to her and you just go toddling over."
"I didn't just toddle over, I kept her calm."
"Do you like it…I mean in SF?"
"Yeah I do, they're good lads and we look out for each other" she grinned at him "I've learnt a lot and got more confident."
"I can see that" he huffed
"Well" she fluttered her eye lashes at him "Are you going to share your energy bar then, seeing as how you ain't got no chocolate?" deftly changing the subject and making him laugh.
They were shoulder to shoulder up against the wall of the cave ready to turn if they heard movement outside. He handed one of the energy bars over.
"It's like your bleedin' breakfast cereal, looks and tastes like the bottom of a hamster cage" she grinned.
"Well you should have brought your own then."
"Would have loved to see you pick me up with me Bergen on me back" and he couldn't help but snort a laugh.
The light had gone now and Charles took a final look around but could see nothing but didn't have any night vision googles so just had to hope they were far enough away. They wouldn't light a fire or turn on a torch and hope they could stay undetected until morning.
He felt Molly shiver next to him, he looked across and down at her in her little black vest realising how cold she was getting and inappropriate thoughts clouding his head. He unbuttoned his shirt and handed it over leaving him in his army regulation beige t shirt.
"Put this on, it might help" he grinned "Not sure it smells that fresh though."
Molly looked down at herself following his eyes and realised that she was cold and pinked up that her body was betraying her being in this close proximity to Charles but at least he thought she was just cold. She took the shirt and put it on anyway feeling the warmth from him but as he said, it wasn't that fresh, but she didn't think she was either.
He picked up her niqab and wrapped it around them as best he could to give added warmth. He opened up his arm and enveloped her in it. She leaned into his chest and she put her hand on his thigh. He felt that tingly warmth as soon as she touched him.
"You seem like your old self Charles" she whispered.
"I feel it" he responded, "I miss you."
"Stop it" she slapped his thigh "Keep focused, we are on a mission."
He couldn't help but snort a laugh. If only she knew that was exactly what he had to keep telling himself on that first tour of Afghan. The time she was dressed in her West Ham shirt, the time she was in that little red vest with black sports bra, singing with her on that stage, the look on her face when Sohail died, when she came back from R&R.
"Sorry" he continued "I always hoped we'd have the chance to talk again."
"And you think this is it?"
"Well" he sighed "I felt a bit rushed when your Nan and Buster Bloodvessel turned up."
"Who?"
"Some big man with a bald head."
She tried her very best to laugh quietly and turned into his chest so as not to give them away "You mean Jack, the bouncer from the Earl of Wakefield."
"Build like a brick shit house if you ask me Moll."
She sighed "It was for the best Charles, you needed 'elp and it wasn't mine you wanted anymore" she felt her eyes prickle with tears for the first time in a long while, but she wasn't about to break down now "I couldn't play second best and needed to get away."
"I know" he responded sadly "Can we talk properly?"
"Not here…..you have come a long way and I'm dead proud of you" she said getting quieter as she leaned into him "When we get home"
"I sold it" he whispered back into her hair "Couldn't be there without you once I realised what I had done, what I'd destroyed." He felt her nod against him. Closing his eyes and raising his head upwards he confessed "I still love you."
"I'm not the same girl anymore" she looked up at him "toughened up quite a bit as it 'appens."
"I can see that" he snorted closing his eyes, remembering how she got up out the back of the pick-up and took out that insurgent with the RPG.
"Do you think you'll ever be able to forgive me?"
"Bones told me never look back only forward, don't dwell on what you can't change."
"Were you close?"
"Yes" as she nudged him in the ribs "But not like you are thinking….he was a good mate…..he gave me a direction and a purpose when I thought everything was going to shit."
Charles put his head against the back wall of the cave, he felt he wanted to cry that he hadn't noticed his own wife was falling apart with him, but Bones had. He knew that he and Bones hadn't got on. Thought Bones always blamed him for losing the Sword of Honour but he hadn't. All he had done was make a report, how was he supposed to know. They were all green then and he certainly didn't know that he would be awarded it as his replacement.
Another person he had things to say thank you for if he had had the chance, someone that had looked after Molly while he was floundering.
"Who told you?"
"Does it really matter" she replied, "But don't worry it wasn't one of your beloved 2 section" she snorted a laugh "Don't think they noticed and certainly had enough respect not to say anything" and she felt him shrug.
"Look Charles" she looked into his eyes "I think we need to leave this until we get 'ome."
"Ok but just answer one question, do you think you could forgive me?"
"I always knew you were ill Charles…..needed 'elp" she shrugged again "but I'll tell you this, I won't never forgive her" and he raised his eyebrows at the determination in her voice "she was me mate….I helped her through the breakup with Elvis and Jamie and then Elvis again" she shook her head "not once did she support me when we started falling apart…..Just took the attitude that life was too short and jumped your bones."
He was always staggered when she reverted to her east end upbringing that expectation of loyalty no matter what. While the army had given her that grey thinking about PTSD he could see she was never going to accept Georgie as a friend again.
"And fuck me when we came into camp I saw you were stood with her as if nothing had changed or happened" she narrowed her eyes "You need to be really sure cos she will never be part of my life again. You choose."
"I'll always choose you"
"You didn't before, let's see when we get 'ome shall we" she huffed a sigh. "Look let's leave this, I don't wanna talk about it anymore…I want to go to sleep."
He lay down against the wall of the cave entrance and pulled her with him, wrapping them in the remnants of her niqab to keep warm. He put his arm across her body, her arms underneath him. The first time in more than nearly 2 years that he'd slept with her. He hoped his own body wouldn't betray him and show her just how much he still wanted her. He felt her breathing slow and knew she was asleep, his own mind racing that it was still hours before daylight and the helicopter came back.