Road to Redemption
Chapter 7
The Final Mission
Prof was upfront driving with Georgie and Rabee in the back. He would follow her anywhere. He thought she was amazing, he couldn't understand how anyone could think she had PTSD and needed help. She just needed to get over a lost love like he had to when his wife left him.
It was Rabee that had come up to them saying there had been an incident and that he needed a driver and a Medic. Dangles had been working on one of the trucks and he had asked which one he could use to get to the hospital as there had been an explosion and they needed help. To be fair he wasn't sure they should be out here as they had no backup and didn't get the order to go from Captain James or Kingy. But Sergeant Lane had been out here before she was experienced, knew what she was doing so when she gave the order as his Sergeant he had to follow it.
The radio crackled into life and Colour Sergeant King was talking.
"Where are you heading?"
"Rabee says there was a second bomb and there are injuries at an old factory, we are detouring there, we can take them back to the hospital" he responded looking into the back of the truck at Georgie and Rabee chatting away.
"Can they hear you?" Blue interrupted the conversation.
"No Sir"
"What is your ETA to this old factory and where is it?"
"About 10 minutes and I don't know but Georgie knew where it was."
"It's where Elvis was killed" he heard Captain James speaking.
"He's an insurgent Prof, delay arrival as long as you can we are sending backup now."
Blue contacted Spanner updating him and asking where they were. They had left the hospital to come back to barracks but were only 5 minutes away from the factory. He gave the instruction to head there and spread out in readiness, to put the Medic Rogers somewhere safe and ready to support. Molly was not to be on the front line. Charles raised his eyebrow in question at that final statement.
"She has a fractured rib, not ideal" he shrugged "but we can't let Omar get away this time."
"Get 2 section together" ordered Charles "Fast…. we move out asap to support."
They were on the road within minutes but were still a good 10 minutes away. Georgie, Prof and Rabee were ahead of them by at least 5 minutes. Molly was already injured, no doubt in considerable pain and would get there before them. Charles needed to be there, he wasn't prepared to lose her now. Why couldn't they have got Molly back to barracks first before Georgie bloody Lane had to go off on one of her one man crusades?
OG
Spanner filled them in on the conversation as they started driving fast to the old factory. Molly squeezed his arm "Are you OK about this Spanner" knowing it could bring back memories for him; seeing Elvis die there. He nodded, he would rather not have to go back to where his old boss was killed but if they could get the man that did it he could live with it. Even though they had been just coming to the hospital for Molly to have an x-ray, being in Afghan meant at least they were prepared with their bullet proof jackets, helmets and were armed.
They arrived and by the looks of it got there before Georgie, Prof and Rabee. He and Peanut took the upper floors where Elvis had been while Molly took the lower one with the scaffolding and a wooden platform.
From the furtive looks from Prof, Rabee wasn't stupid and knew that probably the game was up, especially as Georgie had shared the bomb at the hospital had been a failure, Dr Bahil was still alive, which she had heard through her headset. As soon as the truck stopped at the factory he opened the door and started running. Prof filled Georgie in on the conversation he had had over the radio with Captain James and Blue. Instantly she realised that Rabee was Omar; he was the one who had killed Elvis. She had been sat there having a friendly conversation with the killer of the love of her life.
Rabee had got to the top of the building, all Georgie could see was the explosion and Elvis falling, all the imagery of that fateful day playing out in her mind. She felt the need to hold her engagement ring. He started shouting down at her and told her it was him that had pushed the button that set the bomb off. All the time pointing his gun at her not noticing Spanner and Peanut coming up either side of him.
Blue, Captain James and the rest of 2 section had arrived and were spreading out round the compound all pointing their weapons upwards while Rabee continued ranting about his cause, they may kill him but another would replace him. Before Spanner and Peanut could get to him he finally fired his weapon but Prof pushed Georgie out the way and was shot in the shoulder.
"Drop the weapon" shouted Spanner "Now" added in Peanut from the other side. Rabee just grinned. They were both at the perimeter walls as they saw him pull a pin on a grenade and jump.
Both men called out a warning.
It was like a slow motion scene in one of the worst horror movies Charles could think of as he saw the explosion causing the wood and scaffolding to start to disintegrate as Rabee vanished from sight.
He saw Molly on the floor below looking up and start to run then watched as she was thrown backwards and to the ground. He started tapping his finger on his other hand all part of the EMDR therapy he had had. He would swear that he heard the thump as she hit the floor. Mimi already coming out from her hiding place. It wasn't a high drop maybe 10-15 feet but as he watched her arms and legs splay out she dropped her weapon, he stopped seeing her and saw Elvis flying backwards through the air in a hail of rubble and flames.
Mimi was panicking she could see that Molly was struggling to breath and clutching her chest, her eyes wide and staring up at her. "Broken rib" she tried to say. It was seconds really although it felt a lot longer that Charles was kneeling by her side.
"I really think you should consider another job" he tried to joke while taking off her helmet and stroking her hair back and she tried to laugh but started coughing.
"I think her lung is punctured" stammered Mimi and Molly nodded.
"How long to the hospital from here" asked Charles.
"Took us about 15 minutes but I wasn't caning it" answered Prof.
"Brains, you drive, Kingy take 2 section back to barracks" he looked around "Lane you see to Prof and Rogers get your portable stretcher out for Molly."
Blue walked up behind him and tapped him on the shoulder "We are coming too, she's Our Girl as well" as he looked towards Spanner and Peanut he could see that they were pretty upset too after all they thought they had put Molly somewhere safe. He nodded, there wasn't time to argue.
Molly grabbed his flak jacket and pulled him towards her looking into his eyes he could see that they were slightly unfocused and filled with fear as she stared at him eyes wide. He grabbed her hand, prised her fingers from the jacket and enclosed her fist into his much larger hand. He was instantly transported back to another time, in another hut in Afghan. He leaned down close to her ear,
"It's not that moment Molly, you'll be OK" he whispered in her ear so no one could hear and he felt her nod against his cheek. He tried to paint on a smile for her "You said we could meet when we got home, you promised"
Molly was put onto the stretcher and laid her down on one of the benches of the armoured truck they had arrived in. Kingy and 2 section left rather despondently heads down that both Molly and Prof had been injured but would they be alright. Brains drove like a manic, he didn't seem to care who might be in the road, he was going to get his mate to hospital in time. Not just for her but for their Captain, he had seen the devastated look he had on his face that she was hurt.
Both Doctors Bahil and Antonio were there at the front steps to greet them taking both Prof and Molly for scans to see what needed to be done.
Blue and Charles sat next to each other in the corridor while Peanut, Spanner and the 2 medics and Brains sat opposite.
While Charles was leaning forward his elbows on his knees thinking how could this bloody happen, he knew she was hurt already. Another of his operations fucked.
"Do you want me to organise transport back to base" asked Blue to the group opposite and both Spanner and Peanut shook their heads. He leaned forward to talk with Charles and not be heard "This wasn't your fault, don't even think of sending yourself back down that route."
"But I knew she was hurt."
"I know and you told me, so we both knew. She was getting treated at the hospital and things just escalated and were out of our control, we couldn't have foreseen what Rabee would have done."
"But why was he out there with just Prof and Georgie" and he couldn't help but look across at her frowning and trying to hold onto his anger.
"Agreed they shouldn't have been and certainly not without backup. Although we didn't exactly know at that point he was the traitor" Blue sighed "look at her, she has finally got the closure she wanted, Elvis' killer is dead. Maybe she will get herself together now?"
"But at what cost" whispered Charles.
"Molly will be fine Charles, she's the comeback queen" he sniggered "More lives than a bloody cat" he put his hand on Charles shoulder "That MC she got was for crawling across a minefield and she walked away with cuts and bruises" Charles had to grin as he remembered and he was pretty angry with her then too, going up on that bloody winch.
"Look if you don't mind Charles, I would like to have a word with Georgie, tear her off a strip, about all of this."
"By all means" he replied, "Not that I think she will take any notice, she certainly hasn't followed any of my orders so far."
"Might be worth you considering an alternative medic, if you are going to stay on active service Charles" he snorted a laugh "That new one Rogers looks like she might shape up well and reminds me of another one that started off a bit green."
"She does a bit doesn't she?" he smirked. "With the right guidance she could go far."
OG
It was a long few hours waiting for news, they were all dosing on very uncomfortable plastic chairs, except for Charles and Blue. Eventually Dr Bahil returned with a smile on her face.
"We have removed the bullet from the Private and he is already on the ward recovering if you would like to see him" Both Mimi and Georgie got up to see him. Georgie turned to Charles and gave an apologetic look.
"Go see him then return to barracks and let the rest of the section know" was all that Charles could bring himself to say.
"Corporal Dawes did have a punctured lung, the cracked rib giving out when she fell. With a medic on board I would say a week to 10 days before she can fly home."
"Can I see her?"
"She is still heavily sedated, I suggest you come back tomorrow. She's fine Captain" she smiled at Charles "No more daring deeds for her for at least 8 weeks after this."
He wiped his hands up over his face and through his hair, she was going to be alright. He couldn't help but break out into a happy smile and noticed that Blue, Spanner and Peanut had similar smiles.
"Right then Captain James I suggest that we get Brains to take us back to barracks where we can have some scoff and a good night's sleep before visiting Dawes in the morning" Blue sniggered "and I suggest we find her a bar of chocolate before we come, she is going to be really pissed when she wakes up and finds out that she has got to stay here for a week."
"And where are we going to find a bar of Fruit and Nut out here?" laughed Spanner.
"You're Special Forces be resourceful."
OG
When they got back to camp, Blue and Captain James went straight to the Brig for a debrief. They were both invited to the officer's mess in the American barracks, for an operation well done.
Blue raised his eyebrows and said that he was unable to attend as he wasn't able to confirm when his team were flying out. Captain James also apologised as he had already promised 2 section that he would attend their end of tour get together in the mess hall. They finally managed to leave after completing their after action reports.
"So, Captain James would you like a coffee or a non-alcoholic beer as this is finished" smirked Blue.
"I think the beer option would be good and I think that 2 section will be waiting on news of their colleagues" he grinned back "Blue, thanks for the support."
"Look Charles, there is probably something I should tell you" he said as they were walking across the compound, he stopped to continue and Charles looked across to him "About Bangladesh, it was me that told Molly about what happened out there" Charles raised his eyebrow in question.
"Bones was my CO, and we were sorry to lose him" he started "It didn't take a brain surgeon to work out that you had lost control, that your head was somewhere else" he shrugged "but we got the kid out, which was what we were sent there to do."
"Why are you telling me this now?" Blue looked down at his boots momentarily before looking back to Charles and shrugging.
"Molly went to the hospital to see you as soon as she heard you were injured. You probably didn't know but she was already through the selection process, had made her decision. Honestly, you and Lane were a mess and I saw what you did out there, she had a right to know so she didn't screw up her chances as well" he sighed "Bones knew she could be brilliant and he was right she is. She has been an asset to the team."
"You don't need to tell me she's brilliant at what she does, she always has been. I know that" he said sadly "but that was the end of my marriage, telling her that."
"True. But she had a right to know. And wasn't it also the time you finally acknowledged the PTSD and got the help you should have?" he stated matter of factly "She was the one that insisted it wasn't put in the report, preserved your career" he shrugged "You have done well and I don't mean this to be condescending, it can't have been easy serving with your ex-wife and Georgie."
"No Blue it hasn't been, if I am honest" he shrugged himself and ran his hand over the back of his neck "It has taken a long time to get back to this point of feeling confident to serve and be in command of a platoon."
"Well for what it's worth in my opinion you have done well and I would be more than happy to serve with you again" beamed Blue "I hope you work it out with Molly when you get home."
"So, do I Blue, so do I" he grinned back.
"Just don't go all protective over her" he chuckled "Not sure she is quite ready to give up this life yet."
"You could be right there" he shook his head while smiling "It's been a long time since I have been on tour with her, and quite frankly I hope it's a long time before I have to do it again. She's always had the ability to scare the shit out of me."
Both men laughing as they continued their walk to the Mess Hall to fill in 2 section on how both Prof and Molly were doing.
OG
Charles was awake at first light, he surprisingly enough had slept really well. Maybe it was the lack of sleep over the last 2 days and knowing that Molly was at least safe where she was, but he had fallen into a deep, dreamless sleep and felt refreshed.
He showered, dressed and made his way to the mess tent for breakfast. He was surprised at how many of them had got up this early. Most of 2 section were already seated and eating breakfast. They all stood when they saw him enter and he motioned for them to sit and continue.
"Do you think we could go to the hospital and visit Molly today Boss" asked Dangles "Jac's is dead worried about her."
"I'll find out for you Dangles" he smiled at him "But I think her team will want to see her today and it might be a bit much if you all go as well, maybe leave it to tomorrow but we can get you an update on her condition for you to pass back to Jackie."
He continued on his course to the counter to get his breakfast and coffee, he was now out of coffee pods and would have to make do with the black tar they called coffee here. He had every intention of visiting her today.
He saw Blue and Colour Sergeant King talking at another table and made his way over.
"Glad I have seen you Kingy, can you tell Lane I want to see her later today?"
"Yes, Captain James" he replied, "I think the Brig has already called her in and torn a strip off her for going off base after being confined to barracks."
"Did you know what she was up to Colour?" asked Blue.
"No Sir" he looked down at his own tea before maintaining eye contact with Blue. While he liked Georgie and had encouraged her to come on this tour, she had been nothing but a loose cannon pretty much the whole tour and had found it increasingly difficult coping with her memories of Elvis out here. While he would do his best to protect her, this could also be his career down the shitter and he had a wife and kids, so he would have to be honest. "It was only when Dangles told me they had taken a truck to go to the hospital as there had been an explosion I knew nothing about, that I thought something was not right and came to see you."
"Where is she now?" Asked Charles.
"The hospital contacted us to say that Prof could come back to barracks so her and Rogers went to get him."
"But she is confined to barracks Colour Sergeant" said Charles his face set in a deep frown.
"I know Sir but I think they got quite close and she feels a bit guilty about what happened to him, you know him pushing her out the way and him getting shot instead."
"That might be the case Kingy but it is no excuse, she was confined to barracks and it was your place to ensure she remained here" snapped Charles.
"I wonder if she feels the same guilt that my injured operative had to detour from the hospital to support the actions she choose to take and ended up with a punctured lung as a result of her actions?" said Blue equally as harshly. Kingy didn't know how to respond and could only look down.
At that moment Spanner and Peanut came into the Mess Hall, both laughing about something and nodding acknowledgement to Blue before continuing to the counter for their own breakfast.
On returning with their food they sat down and Spanner produced a large bar of fruit and nut chocolate, which he passed across the table to Charles.
Blue threw his head back laughing, "I knew you were resourceful Spanner."
"Aye! mate in the NAAFI in Cyprus flew it out with the rest of the supplies first thing this morning" he laughed in return.
"Don't you want to take it in to her?" asked Charles.
"Nah" laughed Peanut "We thought you could give it to her when you tell her she has to stay there for a week."
"Fuck" he whispered and the three SF men burst into fits of laughter, leaving him shaking his head and grinning back at them.
This gave Kingy an opportunity to slip away grateful he wasn't under any more scrutiny for decisions that Lane had made, he just had to hope that they only visited Prof, brought him back to barracks and didn't go to see Molly because there was going to be a really angry CO if she did.
"So, I assume you are not coming with me to visit Molly?" grinned Charles and all three shook their heads.
"We'll go later, in the afternoon. Give her time to calm down a bit" laughed Peanut.
"Cowards" smirked Charles as he stood to leave and organise transport to the hospital.
OG
As he had got there so early he thought he would swing by to see if Prof was still there or already on his way back to barracks. Much to his surprise he was there but there was no sign of Rogers or Lane. Prof told him that Rogers had popped in to see the injured girl she had got friendly with and looked a little sheepish when saying he didn't know where Georgie was.
Charles knew exactly where she would be as he swung round on his heels and took long strides to Molly's room.
He could hear her before he even got there, god knows what Lane had said to make Molly this angry.
OG
Georgie was already feeling down as they left for the hospital to collect Prof. She was able to convince Mimi to see the little girl leaving her free to go to Molly's room. When she arrived, Molly was still asleep and she just stood there staring at her. Now that she was here she wasn't entirely sure what she wanted to say.
It wasn't long before Molly felt that someone was in the room and opened her eyes, straight into the brown ones of Georgie Lane. She was still in a lot of pain and mussy headed from the anaesthetic.
"How are you Molly?" asked Georgie.
"What the fuck are you going here?" Molly said fiercely.
"I wanted to talk with you, to say sorry for the past" she stuttered Molly raised her eyebrows and not responding "I wanted to say sorry for what I did and to let you know it wasn't my fault. He was the one that chased me" Molly felt a stab of pain at the memory of finding those texts where he had declared his feelings for Georgie and screwed up her eyes in a frown.
"I had been injured in a bomb blast and was confused, realised that life was short and your marriage was over by then anyway" Georgie took a deep breath "I hope you could forgive me and we could leave the past in the past, maybe even be friends again?"
Molly had never felt so frustrated that she was injured and could hardly move, she felt that blinding uncontrollable rage she felt when Artan had told her that girl in the taxi was his cousin. She knew she wasn't. She sucked in her breath and the pain she felt in her chest was almost a salve to that rage.
"Let me tell you what friendship means where I grew up, shall I Georgie" she hissed "Friendship is being there when your fiancé doesn't turn up for his wedding. Friendship is when you support someone who has been taken hostage and needs help dealing with the trauma of it. Friendship is giving support when you call off your wedding at the last minute and help you deal with the guilt over how you humiliated your fiancé. Friendship is when the love of your life dies they listen to every phone call and let them cry on your shoulder whenever they need you" she drew breath "Friendship is a two way thing, not once did you tell me he was struggling with PTSD while on tour. Not once did you tell me that you thought his feelings were confused. Not once did you call me and see how I was doing when you knew my marriage was struggling. You didn't speak with me, just avoided me. So, why was that Georgie, what useful purpose did it serve letting Charles get that ill without flagging it. Was it so you could manipulate him to follow your agenda?" her voice rising in volume "We are not friends and will never be friends so just fuck off and don't ever come near me again unless it is in the course of army duty."
"But he chased me Molly, said he loved me."
"Did he, you sure it wasn't just him getting his end away. Afterall it was only one shag and you're not together are you, so hardly earth shattering and clearly didn't mean anything to him. In fact, you could say it was what made realise he needed help?"
"Lane" his legs slightly apart and his hands under his armpits and a look that could kill at fifty paces on his face.
Georgie swung round to look at him and could see that he was seething, there was no point at this stage trying to get him to understand how she felt.
"I thought you came here to drive Prof back to barracks, I suggest that is exactly what you go and do" Georgie stood up straight and started to leave the room "and Lane don't forget we have a meeting this afternoon to discuss your conduct, which will include you yet again ignoring orders that had confined you to barracks. This behaviour will not be tolerated."
Once she was gone Charles turned back to Molly and from the steely grey of her eyes he could see she was still seeing red and raging.
From his combat pocket he pulled out a white hanky and started waving it with a small smile on his face and from his breast pocket he pulled out the bar of fruit and nut and waved that with his other hand. Molly couldn't help but grin in response.
"Spanner got that didn't he" she laughed.
"Indeed, he did Dawes" and sniggered "But I don't know where from."
"Sorry" she said looking into his dark brown eyes.
"What for, you haven't done anything" he smiled "have you?" He saw her shrug.
"Well everything really, you know not trying a bit harder to help you when you were ill, sending me Nan round" she grinned "for thinking that was it at the factory, putting…"
"Enough Dawes" he stroked the wisps of her hair back of her face "You were right I had to admit I had a problem to get the help" he grinned "and maybe a visit from your Nan and Buster Bloodvessel, who is a seriously scary chap helped" he snorted a laugh before whispering "I knew that wasn't a last thing you saw moment, I knew you would get through this."
"You knew what I was thinking."
"Of course, while you have made it your life's work to scare the shit out of me, I knew you would be OK and you promised we could meet up when we got home."
She gave him one of her kilowatt grins "I don't remember promising, just said we could."
He smiled back at her "So where would you like to go, Cloisters?"
"Nah! Somewhere nice in London" she grinned at him "But one thing Charles."
"Anything"
"Keep Lane away from me or injured or not it will be me up on a charge" she sighed before looking into his dark brown eyes "I ain't ever going to forgive her so don't try and make me."
"I wasn't going to" sitting on the side of her bed and taking her hand "But what about me, could you ever forgive me?"
"Don't know I haven't thought about it yet and I don't want to think about it."
"I hope you do at some point" he whispered "Want to think about it I mean" he rubbed the back of his neck trying to think of what to say and looking at her hand in his "Let me tell you how sorry I am for everything, what I said, what I did. How confused I felt all the time, the dark thoughts, how I allowed everything to just fall apart."
"I know" and she squeezed his hand a bit tighter "I was there watching you do it"
OG
It hadn't gone as bad as he was expecting telling Molly she was going to be there for a week. He did offset that news with telling her that Spanner, Peanut and Blue were coming to see her in the afternoon. Then he would bring 2 section into see her tomorrow morning having put them off until then. He let her know Jackie was worried and demanded that Dangles get the full SP on her and report back or there was the threat of physical violence to parts of his anatomy, which caused Molly to laugh before grimacing in pain.
He drove himself back to barracks and went straight to the mess tent for coffee and a sandwich. There was a lot to get done this afternoon. He needed to let Dangles have an update on Molly so he could let Jackie know. Have separate meetings with Kingy and Lane. Organise flights out for Prof and Fingers as both would not be finishing this tour. He was planning on having Lane as the on-board medic, so that would get her out of his hair for the final leg of the tour.
He sat himself down to eat the sandwich, he nodded in acknowledgement that Blue had come into the tent. After getting his own sandwich and tea Blue joined him.
"So how did Dawes react to having to stay in the hospital" he grinned.
"Not too bad actually once I had presented her with the chocolate, it definitely softened the blow" he smiled back "Hope Spanner can organise more for the duration."
"I'll ask him to pass on his contacts in Cyprus" sniggered Blue "We are shipping out tomorrow Charles, being sent to Syria. Dyno is joining us there to replace Molly." Blue looked at him "Your tour is nearly finished isn't it?"
Charles nodded as he swallowed his food, "Yep! A couple of weeks."
"I'm sure you can organise it so that she flys back with 2 section" and again Charles nodded now he knew that Special Forces would not be hanging about.
"The Syrian trip is a long one, not in and out like this one" started Blue looking intently at him "We'll be gone for at least 3 months" and raised his eyebrows "I'm sure that Peanut will let Molly know he won't be back for a while but in case he doesn't let her know she has the house to herself for a while."
Charles couldn't help but break out into a huge smile "Are you letting me know where she lives in your own surreptitious way?"
"I expect I will see you before we leave" he said standing up and extending his hand "It's been a pleasure Captain James and I hope we serve together again."
"Not if Molly is still in your team" he smiled and extending his own hand to shake Blue's.
"Well there is that" he laughed as he walked away to pack up his kit.
OG
Spanner refused to give him his contact but did tell him that he had organised more fruit and nut to be sent across and it was down to him to make sure it didn't melt, so he would have to use his authority to get it put in a fridge.
Charles had had serious meetings with both Kingy and Lane, about conduct and professionalism, some of them had been easier than others. He made them both aware that he would be documenting the meetings in reports to be passed up the chain.
He had also spoken with the Brig and it seemed he had done well and they were impressed at how this tour had been handled.
With Lane's psych reports to hand he had no problem convincing the Brig that she needed to be sent home with Fingers, Prof and Jackson. They were leaving on the same flight with Special Forces and going back to Cyprus. There they would separate, SF going on to Syria while Lane, Fingers, Prof and Jackson would be on a flight to Brize.
He went twice a day to see Molly, sometimes alone with the bar of Fruit and Nut chocolate that Spanner had organised for her and sometimes with the old 2 section members who wanted updates on how she was. After a week she was released and would be spending a week in barracks with 2 section before the final flight home.
Molly was never good at just sitting about especially with no TV and she had never been much of a reader. So, after having spent a week in hospital and just a couple of days at barracks she was getting increasingly bored and went to see Charles.
"Can I work in the med centre, help Mimi?" she asked.
"You are supposed to be resting, you are only just out of hospital."
"Well, it's hardly the sort of work I am used to is it" she rolled her eyes but it didn't escape his notice.
"It's dishing out the odd aspirin or plaster or maybe looking at the odd blister, no heavy lifting involved" she grinned "I could help and support Mimi."
"Right, so you promise no lifting or stretching to get things?"
"No Boss."
"You get Mimi to do any of that?"
"Yes Boss."
"And if you feel tired or get any pain at all you will go and rest?"
"Yes Boss" she grinned and started backing out of his office.
"Dawes, are you following orders?" he grinned at her leaning back in his chair
"Course Boss" as she gave him a cheeky giggle she tried to cover up that it did still hurt to laugh.
"You just make sure you do, because I know you are still in pain" and her eyes opened wide in surprise "I can still read you like a book Dawes" laughing back at her.
The day before the long flight back to Brize, Charles called Rogers into his office for a chat, to tell her she had done well on her first tour and ask if she had any worries about being medical support for Molly on the flight home if she needed it, after all it was only a little over two weeks that she broke a rib.
Despite Dr Bahil saying it was safe for her to fly after the punctured lung, his own internet search had made him worry as there seemed to be varying timescales for the healing process. Mimi said that Molly had gone through everything with her, and she had explained what could happen and made sure she knew what to do. She was full of praise for Molly's ability to explain things in such a way that it was easy to understand and absorb. She also said she felt working with Molly these last few days had helped her own confidence as a medic.
He guided her out of his office and watched with his arms folded as she made her way back to the rest of 2 section.
"She will be fine Charles" she grinned as he jumped out of his skin unaware that she had walked up behind him, "she reminds me of me on my first tour."
"I know."
"She needs a good Captain to guide her, she could be brilliant."
He rapidly raised and lowered his eyebrows while grinning at her.
"Stop fishing for compliments, you know she could be a good medic" and his face broke out into one of those smiles that always made her insides melt.
"So, you gonna be OK on this flight?" he asked.
"Stop taking the piss" she grinned "Course I am."