Road to Redemption
Chapter 8
Homeward bound
Molly was sat up on one of the benches for the long flight back to Brize. She had been talking with Dangles while they were waiting to board. Jackie was picking him up and expected her to come back with them for a few days before going back to an empty house while Peanut was away.
Only two hours into the flight, Molly was feeling increasingly uncomfortable. She was starting to feel some pain in her ribs, she called for Mimi who gave her some pain killers and a pillow which she held to her chest. Mimi suggested she may be more comfortable if she laid down for a bit and got some more pillows for her. While she felt dog tired as well she had to think that they would not have passed her as fit to fly if they thought there was any danger. She looked to the front of the plane and Charles was staring at her, his eyes never leaving her. She gave him a weak smile before lying down and closing her eyes.
She didn't know how long she had been asleep for, but as she opened her eyes and looked diagonally down she saw Mimi asleep and resting her head on Throbbers shoulder with his head on hers. She thought it all looked very sweet, oh to be twenty years old again. She smiled, funny how although she was only 27 now it felt as if a lifetime had passed since she was 20.
She looked to the front of the plane to where Charles had been sitting but he wasn't there. She was suddenly aware of a hand on her shoulder and a thumb gently stroking that sensitive spot behind her ear and she moved her head closer to it.
"You alright Molly" he whispered as she looked up into the soft brown eyes of Charles.
She nodded "Are we nearly there yet?"
He chuckled quietly "About an hour Dawes, I'll let you know when you need to sit up" still stroking her neck with his thumb. She quickly looked around at the sections all dosing and no one noticing either of them. She closed her eyes again, she didn't want him to see that she was actually enjoying his touch after so long, he still had a knack of being able to make her squirm. She didn't fall back to sleep but felt relaxed and distracted by his touch for the remainder of the journey.
Ten minutes out of Brize he moved to the front of the plane and told them it had been a good tour, they should be proud of what they had done, the elections had gone ahead with no incident. They had handled themselves well. Now they were to rest and recuperate but keep their fitness levels up before reporting back to barracks in a few weeks.
Molly watched and listened to every word he told them, Dangles, Monk, Kingy and Brains grinning and the newer members of the team transfixed, you would almost see them swell with pride at his words. Molly sat up smiling in his direction along with the rest of the team. This was the man she met on her first tour, the one she had fallen in love with and had married. She was so pleased that he had finally got that help and worked hard to be standing there today.
Charles looked down to the rear of the plane and saw that Molly had one of her kilowatt smiles on her face which looked like it was being directed at him. His own face lighting up in response.
OG
Two weeks earlier
The group had arrived at the aerodrome ready for the flight back to Cyprus, from there the Special Forces team would meet up with Dyno, get their orders and fly on to Syria. Georgie, Prof, Fingers and Jackson would catch a connecting flight back to Brize Norton.
The injuries sustained by the three men were not that bad although Fingers still needed his rubber ring to sit, causing smirks and jokes from the rest of the group. This really left Georgie with nothing to do on the flight and she wasn't entirely sure why Captain James had advised the Brig this was a good idea, she was better off staying in Kabul to help with Molly's return trip, which was more serious and should have an experienced medic rather than a green one.
She sat near to Blue, she could see Spanner and Peanut talking with Jackson who were sat opposite. It had been a long time since she had seen these guys. More than 18 months since Bangladesh and then she had worked with Peanut in Nigeria and of course Spanner and Jackson both came to her rescue in Kenya. Prof and Fingers also laughing about something. The more she thought about it the more she realised that there was nothing for her to do on this flight and she should have stayed in Kabul. Mimi could have handled this.
Blue appeared to be reading his Kindle as she moved closer to him. "It's been a while hasn't it Blue, are you enjoying your promotion to Captain" she enquired.
He looked across to her "It has its moments" he grinned.
"Look I don't think I am needed to babysit" she said nodding towards Prof, Fingers and Jackson, "when we get to Cyprus do you want to see if you can get me assigned to your team to replace Molly?"
"Why?"
"Well you'll need a medic won't you and I have every bit as much experience as Molly so would be of use, while she is out of action."
Blue frowned slightly and looked at her turning off his Kindle and putting it down, "Molly isn't the Medic. In Special Forces we don't get assigned Medics, it's too dangerous" he narrowed his eyes. "Molly sailed through the selection process to join Special Forces, who just happens to have the added benefit of being a CMT a decorated one at that."
"I just thought that as we had worked together before and you are a team member short, you might need an extra pair of hands as a Medic?"
"What like you helped Bones in Nigeria" he laughed.
"We did help" she huffed looking straight into his eyes and smiling "We got that girl back" and Blue burst out laughing.
"I wonder how the families of all the other girls who were never found feel about that because your actions totally compromised the operation."
The smile dropped from Georgie's face "I know you must have been a bit economical with your report from Bangladesh."
"Do you?"
"You saw me didn't you and nobody said anything afterwards so you must have covered it up?"
"This is an interesting turn of conversation Lane" he growled leaning forward his elbows on his knees, "are you referring to me seeing you come out of a certain married Captains quarters after a night of passion?" Georgie nodded "Why do you think I did that Lane?"
"Because of Elvis? Because you wanted to protect me, we were all friends" she put her hand on his arm "Look Blue I could be really useful on this mission and if I prove myself perhaps I could work with you guys more often."
"I see" he grinned looking down at her hand on his arm and raising his eyebrows "It wasn't because of Elvis and certainly not you" he removed her hand. "I told Molly that after working with Captain James I believed he was suffering from PTSD, she said she had known for a while and couldn't understand how no one else had noticed. I told her what I had seen and I had to write a full report. Your former friend that you shit all over is the one that asked for it not to be mentioned, that saved both your careers" looking at her with narrowed eyes.
"Working as a Special Forces operative is based on trust, being a team, not going off on your own agenda, not just looking out for yourself but for the man next to you" he laughed "You could never be part of my team" with that he picked up his Kindle and turned it back on and continued to read. The conversation finished as far as he was concerned and he didn't look up as she moved away to sit with Spanner and Peanut.
Peanut raised his eyebrow and nudged Spanner as Georgie moved sit next to Spanner. They had been watching their Boss while he was talking with Georgie, they could see that he wasn't happy with whatever it was they were discussing. They knew him well enough to know when he was angry even if he didn't shout like Bones used to.
"I don't know how you work with that man" huffed Georgie.
"He's a good Boss Georgie, he'll tell you straight but he's fair" answered Spanner.
"Not as good as Elvis though is he?" grinned Georgie
"I'll always miss Elvis, after all I had his name tattooed on my arm" laughed Spanner "But they were both different men, both good to work with and both professional, but you can't compare them."
"He doesn't think I'm fit to go on the mission with you and you're going to need a medic in somewhere like Syria, aren't you?"
Peanut and Spanner looked at each other, Peanut moving away from them to talk with Jackson, leaving Spanner talking with Georgie.
"Didn't the Boss tell you we don't have medics assigned to us, it's too dangerous when we are on covert ops. If you want to work in Special Forces why don't you apply and go through selection process the same as Molly did? But it won't be as a medic. I can tell you one thing though Georgie, it won't be easy."
"It's one mission Spanner, if I proved myself then maybe he would want to add me to the team and it could cut down the selection time."
"Nothing cuts down the selection process, everyone has to do it regardless of what achievements they have."
"You telling me that Molly's MC didn't make a difference?"
"No, it didn't and it still doesn't" he sighed "Georgie, I have worked with you in Nigeria, Belize and Bangladesh. Each time you have always done what you wanted and not followed orders, thought you knew best but each time you put the lives of others at risk with your actions" he paused to see her reaction. "Once Elvis died and Captain James, shall we say lost his way, you seemed to be on a one woman mission to always be on tour, to prove you were right all the time and you can't be like that in Special Forces, you have to work as a cohesive unit or it all goes to shit, which is exactly what happened on those tours you did with Captain James."
"I thought you were my friend, you would be on my side" she pleaded looking at him with tear filled eyes. Spanner closed his eyes and sighed again before continuing.
"I don't know what is going through your head, or why you want to replace Molly" he took her hand after all Elvis had been his Boss and he should maybe look out for his girl "Maybe it is still grief after losing Elvis or maybe it is PTSD, have you thought about that? isn't it about time you did something about it and moved on from all of this?"
"Like what" she wailed "You don't understand what it is like to lose someone special like I have had to, to always be treated like the scapegoat when a mission went wrong, it wasn't my fault."
"I think now is the time you need to think about sorting out your life, we got Omar so you have your closure on that. Be your own person find someone that makes you happy but I can tell you it won't be Captain James and you have screwed up any chance of having a friendship with Molly" he gave a small snort "We've all lost someone, it's how you deal with it that counts."
"I am getting on with my life again now. Do you think I made a mistake not trying harder to make it work with Charlie? If we did I wouldn't be able to serve with him in 2 section would I?"
Spanner burst out laughing "I think that ship has passed Georgie although I really don't think it was ever on the cards, well not for him anyway. He sought the long overdue help he needed and from what I've seen on this tour he is in command again. I also think he knows what he wants and I have no doubt that is his ex-wife."
"Please Spanner, I know I could do this Syria trip and it's not for long is it, couldn't you ask Blue?" she persisted "I have had some counselling the Brig organised it while we were in Kabul. I'm better now I just needed to sort out my grief."
"Are you sure though Georgie?" he pursed his lips and drew in breath "Because from where I am sitting you are a long way from being fixed. Why do you think you should have made a go of it with Captain James? Why do you want to work in this team?" he sighed loudly and leaned back against the side of the plane hoping this conversation was going to end soon "I have my theories Georgie but my respect and loyalty to Elvis won't let me say it. Get help Georgie and lead your own life" he turned his head to face her "and above all learn how to follow orders if you want to stay in."
"I do follow orders" she whispered.
"So, who gave you the order to go to the factory when you were supposed to remain in barracks? Rabee isn't in your chain of command. Why didn't you query the so called explosion at the hospital with Kingy before setting off with no support?"
"I'm a medic, I wanted to help."
"Yes, and that resulted in Peanut and I who were returning from the hospital with an inexperienced Medic and an injured Molly to detour to provide support." he lent his head back and closed his eyes. "Do you know what I saw when Molly was flying through the air like that? Have you any idea what Captain James face looked like when he saw her?" he turned to look at her again and opened his eyes "We saw Elvis and we thought we were going to lose her the same way, and that would've been down to you."
"Molly would have done the same thing" she tried to say with confidence "She's still a medic after all and from what I heard she didn't follow orders on her first tour" Spanner didn't even turn to look at her or open his eyes already weary of the conversation.
"No, she wouldn't. She would have asked either me or Blue first to see what we thought and if as you say, she didn't follow orders on her first tour she would've been young and inexperienced, she wasn't a sergeant that thought she knew best and that ultimately risked lives."
OG
It looked like Spanner was dosing off and not prepared to help her. To be fair she wasn't entirely sure why she wanted this trip especially as she had already been on tour for months. Maybe there was a bit of the green eyed monster there somewhere. When she had seen Molly laughing with her team and all the hugs from the old 2 section when she arrived she was a bit shocked that she looked happy and she didn't expect her to be, she thought she would be just as messed up as her.
Molly's Nan had said that they were looking after her after the breakup but she didn't think they would have stayed in touch this long, they hadn't with her after Elvis. Thinking about it now though, she hadn't made any attempt to keep in touch with them either, there were too many memories. If it hadn't been for Molly phoning her all the time after Elvis and after Nigeria then she probably would have lost touch with her too. It suddenly hit her what Molly had said in the hospital, she hadn't been a good friend had she? After Belize she should have told Molly that Charlie wasn't functioning, supported her and helped get him the help rather than covering it up. With his feelings for her, she knew she should have done something about that too, told Molly perhaps and that she thought he was confused because of his own grief for Elvis and his need to look after her.
If she was completely honest she liked it, someone cared about her, made her feel wanted and that is why she kept quiet. Molly had been a good friend to her and she probably was envious of her because she still had Charlie. But now Molly has made it quite clear that they will never be friends again.
She sighed and thought about what she could do next. Perhaps when Charlie got back and they all went back to barracks she could get him to have her as permanent medic again with 2 section? She would prove to him and everyone else she was up to the job and could follow orders.
She could see Prof smiling at her from the other side of the plane. He had been good to her on this tour, even taking that bullet. They had had a moment on the roof of one of the buildings where they had released a balloon and he had quoted some poetry or something. She knew that Elvis was gone and as he said in his letter he hoped she lived her life. She had said she would go out for a drink with him when they got back to Manchester, who knows maybe he could be the one.
Perhaps she would consider continuing with the counselling it couldn't do any harm and hopefully put it all in perspective for her. After those conversations with Blue and Spanner, she was certainly going to have to look very hard at career options and perhaps Charlie could help her with that?
OG
Present day
They finally touched down on the tarmac at Brize and the back of the plane descended and a stream of very tired squaddies started to exit and walk to the terminal.
"I'll take that Dawes" he was already next to her and picking up her Bergen.
"You're a true gent" she grinned.
"Do you need a lift back to Peanut's?" Molly turned to face him and narrowed her eyes. He gulped as he had just realised he had put his foot in it.
"Nah! I'm staying with Jacs and Dangles for a couple of days in Aldershot" she replied dryly. He sucked in his bottom lip to stop from smiling, that was near him. He wasn't in the same house as when they were married, too many memories, but he hadn't moved far. He had a small flat in Aldershot, he couldn't go back to living in barracks and it was enough for him as whenever he saw Sam he went to his parents in Bath.
"When are you going to London to see your folks?" he asked keeping the same slow pace as her.
"Well thought I would go home first, check on the house before setting off for London."
"Let me know when you are ready and I can take you" he offered "then drive you into London."
She snorted a laugh, "Aren't you going to Bath to see Sam then?"
"Well yes, but Rebecca and her new husband have taken him on holiday for a couple of weeks so he is not there at the moment."
"Hells bells, when did that happen?" she stopped walking and turned to look up at him grinning.
"About 6 months ago, they want to tell him that she is pregnant and are worried how he will react at not being an only child anymore at 11" looking down and grinning back.
"Well he's gonna be pissed after being spoilt all this time" she giggled.
Charles couldn't help but think that everything seemed so normal. Ever since first seeing her on tour to this moment nearly every conversation she had laughed or smiled and it was everything he had missed about her.
"You sure you wanna take me to London Charles?" she smiled as they were nearly at the terminal "Run the gauntlet with me Nan?"
"Well so long as Buster isn't there, I'll do my very best to charm her" he grinned and she shook her head desperate not to laugh as she knew it would hurt.
OG
One of the things about coming back to Brize was the family reunions. Everyone pleased to see their loved ones after months away.
Dangles and Jackie had already had their mini reunion by the time that Charles and Molly wandered through. Brains new girlfriend had shown up, Molly could see that he was smitten and so pleased to see her. Kingy's wife and 2 girls were also there, he had swept his daughters up into his arms, both teenagers now and pretending they were embarrassed by their dad.
"I told your Nan she didn't need to hire a Corsa and come to get you, you were coming back with us" said Jackie gently hugging her knowing she would still be in pain from her ribs.
"Thanks, Jacs" said Molly beaming at her. Charles dropped her Bergen at her feet and smiled at her.
"You OK for a lift back Boss?"
"Thanks Dangles but I left my car here" he smiled "See you soon Molly" and she watched as he walked from the terminal towards the long term secure car park. There was a bit of her that thought he struck a lonely figure as he walked away, no one there to greet him and welcome him home.
OG
Molly and Jackie had a lot of catching up to do, while Dangles did a lot of sleeping after a long 6 month tour she and Jackie talked late into the night over a glass of wine. Jackie wanting to know everything that had happened out there and how Molly felt about coming across both Georgie and Charles on this tour.
"You never stopped caring about him did you Molls?" asked Jackie after she opened their 2nd bottle of wine and poured another glass. She had always thought it sad that their marriage had broken down, they seemed to have something special until the PTSD took hold. She didn't think you could just switch off those kind of feelings. While she was very disappointed in Charles James for what he did to her mate, she was a Medic and understood how PTSD could affect every part of your life.
While Molly had transferred out she had stayed at Keogh and from time to time she had seen Captain James attending his counselling meetings with Major Ted Baxter, she always thought he looked sad, his eyes didn't smile anymore. He'd sold their house and she heard he had some new therapy that was on offer, everything she had heard on the grapevine was that he was trying very hard to be the man and the soldier he used to be.
"No, I didn't" Molly answered taking another sip from the wine and knowing she had probably already had enough "but he didn't seem to want me anymore so I gave him his out. A quick clean break was for the best" sighing and taking another sip "Didn't help that she was out there too."
"How come you didn't deck her?" and Molly burst out laughing, grabbing a cushion to her chest to stop the pain in her rib. "Well I nearly did in the mess tent but Peanut stopped me."
"Do you want him back?" asked Jackie tentatively "Do you still love him?"
"Always have, always will" she grinned back at her friend her eyes glassy and unfocused from the wine "but I need to be sure that it's me he really wants, that he won't hurt me like that again."
"With PTSD I'm not sure you can, are you ever really cured?" she sighed "but as one medic to another, my personal opinion is that once you have hit rock bottom and lost everything maybe you will make sure it doesn't happen again."
"I'm inclined to agree Jacs" taking a large sip from her wine "It was like being on that first tour."
"Dangles said that" smiled Jackie "The old Captain James was back, maybe a little battle weary but he was back."
"Don't think he likes me being in Special Forces though, think that might be a problem for him."
"Do you want to leave come back to our regiment?"
"Not yet Jacs" Molly sighed "Bones put a lot of faith in me, that I could do this and I don't wanna let him down" looking at her mate "and I like doing it. I like the blokes I work with and Blue is a fantastic CO."
"You haven't let Bones down whatever you decide" she stated emphatically "Maybe if you do decide to give Charles another chance it could be the making of a new relationship" Molly raised her eyebrows in question "you know more equal, the age difference and him being a Captain, you know, you being in Special Forces. Moving up the ranks, you'll being a sergeant soon. You're not the green squaddie he married."
"Yeah Jacs we will just have more blazing rows."
"But think of the makeup sex" laughed Jackie in response. "If he and Georgie were meant to be together then they would've been by now" she started "He has stayed single ever since you finally made the decision to leave, understandably" her own eyebrows raised "I think he knows what he lost and wants it back."
"Are you saying I'm an it?" she laughed
"You know I'm not" she laughed back "But maybe Georgie bloody Lane wasn't the friend you thought she was, maybe she wanted what you had because she lost Elvis. How come she never reported him for PTSD? Why didn't she report the fact he was allegedly chasing her to his CO or to Kingy? Well to anyone really? My bet was because she wanted it and it got you out the way if you found out."
"You don't need to tell me she was never a friend Jacs" her eyes filling with tears "she wouldn't have slept with him if she was no matter how much he chased her. And let's not forget it was her that went to his quarters for it."
Jackie nodded sagely topping up their glasses again "We've all slept with someone we regret and I think it's safe to say she is his regret. So does it mean that you cut your nose to spite your face, as your nan says….then no it doesn't?" she huffed "The reports coming back from that last tour on her are not that good, Brigadier Hart is furious with her so she could find that was her last and she will be training medics in Stockport for the foreseeable."
"Well that would be a bonus" giggled Molly "But what if she decides to transfer down here to Keogh? If I did come back we would have to work together again and I really don't want to. So, I think I will be staying where I am for the foreseeable."
"Well Molls, I think you should go for the Sergeants stripes" she giggled "then at least if you deck her you won't get done for clumping a superior."
"Jacs what would I do without you?" she giggled again "Still get a charge though wouldn't I?"
"Well I guess we will have to wait out for all the reports and see what happens next."
"Anyway, changing the subject do you want Dangles to drive you back to Peanuts when you are ready."
"Charles offered but if Dangles doesn't mind think I would prefer it" she sighed "I'm gonna have to start house hunting myself when I get there."
"I thought you and he got on alright with this house share."
"We do but he's got a girl now and wants to move her in" and shook her head smiling "Don't really wanna be gooseberry."
"Rent or buy then Molls? We could have a look on the internet tomorrow if you like?"
"Well rent to start with I think Jac's. With Sterling Lines getting smaller who knows where we could get sent."
"Well I'd love to see you back in Aldershot Molls" grinned Jackie raising her glass as a cheer.
OG
A very heavy headed Molly and Jackie presented themselves to Dangles in the kitchen the following morning. He knew they had been up late having polished off a couple of bottles of wine while they caught up on all their gossip. He had already put the kettle on and was frying some bacon to make them breakfast thinking they needed the carbs and grease to soak up the hangover.
He couldn't help but laugh at the very sorrowful looking expressions on both their faces "No sympathy, all self-inflicted" he stated.
"I think I might go to London to see the family for a few days and get out your hair" said Molly quietly her head in her hands at the table. "Might be better to see them first before going back to Peanuts, then I can get stuck into house hunting."
"You sure Molls?" asked Jackie "You are more than welcome to stay for as long as you like."
"Yeah!" she nodded and wished she hadn't "They must have been told I was hurt so they will be worrying if I don't go." Then sheepishly grinned "plus Dangles has been away 6 months"
"Are you going to text a certain Captain and let him know?" smirked Jackie suddenly remembering a conversation they had late into the night about him taking her out somewhere in London.
"Might do, if he's lucky" she grinned back "But not today, don't feel well today."
Dangles laughed and shook his head at the state of the pair of them "Well if you two are having a duvet day then I think I will see if any of my mates are about for a catch up and see you later."
OG
They did a bit of internet surfing just to see what areas Molly could look at property wise and where she wanted to live. She did like the look of Cheltenham. There were some lovely old houses that reminded her of Royal Crescent that had been converted into two bedroom flats. That would suit her down to the ground. Location wise it was in the middle for either Brize or Hereford. Perhaps it was time for her to learn to drive too?
In fact, she liked the look of the flat so much she got the details and asked if Jackie and Dangles would come with her.
The following morning, they set off early for Cheltenham. It was a lovely tree lined terrace road.
"I can see why it reminds you of Royal Crescent a bit Molls" said Jackie "Its lovely from the outside."
The estate agent gave them a guided tour. It was unfurnished but a lovely split level apartment with high ceilings on the ground floor with a kitchen, dining area and lounge. Upstairs were two bedrooms one with en-suite plus another bathroom.
"Good job you are titchy" smirked Dangles "Look at all the slopping ceilings in the bedrooms that could give you a right smack on the bonce."
Molly adored the main bedroom with the sloping ceilings and skylight windows, the built in wardrobe and two little steps up to where the bed would be. She had savings from her tours, so she could look for furniture. It wouldn't be much only table and chairs, couple of sofas, TV and beds.
They passed a big Ikea near Reading perhaps she could get it all from there and maybe someone with a big car might bring it back for her and help her build it.
"I'll take it" she beamed at the estate agent.
"You don't want to look at any others Moll?" enquired Jackie a little shocked at the speed Molly had gone.
"Nah! I absolutely love it."
"I have to say I can see you living here, it's a lovely flat."
She signed all the paperwork for a one year lease, told the estate agent that she was a soldier and couldn't move in for a week or two while she sorted furniture and visited her family as she was just off tour, but that wasn't a problem and handed her the keys.
She couldn't stop smiling all the way back to Aldershot with Dangles and Jackie. For the first time in her life she had her very own home, her own front door. No sharing with anyone.