I do not own the show, this chapter is a product of my imagination!
Huge thanks as always to Debbie and Steph for editing this for me, and off course to everyone who has left a review. They are all greatly appreciated.
So after the last chapter, will Molly be okay and will Charles have calmed down?
All is about to be revealed…
"Shit, that hurts," Molly grimaced as she tried to move in the hospital bed.
"Keep still then," Dan remarked as he made some notes in her file.
"Some bedside manner you have there!" Molly bit back.
"What it is they say about doctors and nurses being the worst patients?" Dan grinned as he chewed on the end of his pen.
"I just want to go home," Molly sighed "Where's Sam?"
"With Kate, Pearl was reading him a story but once we were all satisfied you'd suffered no head injury or concussion Kate took him upstairs and he's playing in her office," Jac explained.
"You need to go up there Jac please," Molly pleaded as she grabbed her best friends' arm "If Charles sees him or hears about this… he's threatening to take him away from me."
"That will never happen Molly," Dan said as he came and stood beside her, "We won't let it."
"Yeah well judging by what he just said he already thinks I'm an unfit mother."
"It's probably just the shock," Dan tried to explain "It's a hell of a lot to take in days after having brain surgery."
"Well let's hope I don't meet him up there," Jac fumed. "I'll go up as soon as you've given your statement to the police."
"No, go now please Jac?" Molly asked raising her voice slightly.
"Okay, okay," Jac smiled "and I promise I won't let Sam out of my sight."
Dan waited until Jac had left the cubicle and closed the curtain tight behind him.
"Okay, truth time, what really happened up there Molly?"
"With Charles?" Molly frowned.
"No, how did you end up a patient in my department," Dan stated, "Was it a patient who did this to you?"
Molly shook her head "remember the spinal patient that was sent up earlier?"
"Yeah, stabbed in the lower back."
"That's the one" Molly grimaced as pain shot through her side. "Well the man who was with him, said he was his brother,"
"I remember him, scary as hell. I'm guessing he wasn't his brother."
"No. He's the one who stabbed him, and when the vending machine ate his money, he came at me while I was waiting for the lift," Molly grabbed her side as she tried to sit up in alarm "Tell me he's not still up there is he?"
"Relax, Molly please," Dan said trying to get her to lie back down again. "No, the police were already looking for him when he attacked you, hence why help came so quickly. He's in police custody as we speak. There's no way in hell we'd let Sam go back up there if he was still there." Dan replied, reassuring her.
"Thank god," Molly sighed as she closed her eyes.
"You were bloody lucky," Dan said as he came and sat on the bed beside her "the knife only grazed you, if it hadn't been for the waistband in your scrubs it would be a very different scenario right now."
"I know, could have done without the shiner on my eye and the bruised ribs though. Breathing is a challenge right now."
"Which is why I'm giving you the good stuff and keeping you here overnight to keep an eye on you, to make sure you do as your told and get some rest."
"What about Sam?"
"I think Jac and I are more than capable of looking after Sam overnight, we haven't killed him yet."
"Ha bloody ha. Thanks," Molly retorted. "I'm just a little… scared after talking with Charles earlier."
"Just give him a few days to absorb all of this, he'll calm down and see sense. From what you've told me he's in no shape to be looking after himself for a while, let alone a child. He'll realise that eventually." Dan said trying to reassure Molly that things weren't as bad as she feared.
"I hope you're right," Molly mumbled.
"Get some rest, I'll come and wake you when the police arrive."
"Okay" Molly nodded, "and thanks for everything."
"It's what friends do." Dan smiled kindly as he left the cubicle
OGOGOGOGOGOG
"Good grief, what on earth has been going on?" Archie sighed as he finally arrived at Charles' hospital room.
"What? Sorry?" Charles asked deep in thought. His mind was a million miles away from everything that had been happening outside his hospital room.
"The hospital is crawling with police, I couldn't come the normal way to the ward. I had to take a detour around the entire hospital just to be able to come in a different way," Archie explained as he lifted his now found phone. "That will teach me to forget my phone."
He placed it in his jacket pocket but was distracted when he looked at his son. His face was stern, cross even, and he could tell that his son's mind was going into overdrive. Something had obviously happened in the short space of time since he and Anna had left. Both outside on the ward and to Charles.
"Charles?" he asked carefully as he sat down on the chair.
"What?" Charles bit back and then realised that he'd snapped at his dad "Sorry dad."
"When I rang looking for my phone, you said you wanted to talk to me," Archie said quietly.
"I did, I do," Charles muttered, as he briefly closed his eyes and then looked at his father. "It's a bloody mess dad."
"What is?" Archie asked
"Why do I always screw things up and end up embarrassing you and mum?"
"What on earth are you talking about? When have you ever embarrassed us Charles?"
"Where do I start" he sighed "Rebecca, getting married and divorced within a year, being the subject of gossip at barracks?" Charles explained "God they're going to love this one."
"We have never been embarrassed Charles? Truth be told we were glad to finally be rid of the horrible manipulative witch."
"That's what I mean, embarrassing you, and god, now it's only going to get worse, but I swear dad I will make things right," Charles vowed.
"Make what right son?" Archie frowned "I am sorry, but I don't have the faintest idea what you're talking about?"
"Molly," Charles stated quietly.
"Molly who?" Archie asked and then realised "Molly your nurse? What about her?" He asked perplexed.
"Remember that day in the park when I told you that my marriage was over and I told you about the woman, the one I met on my stag party?"
"Yes," Archie replied, a frown crossing his brow as he thought back to the day "I remember you telling me that you were enraptured with her."
"She was, well is, Molly."
"Hold on, are you trying to tell me that the nurse who has looked after you is the same girl you met on your stag night?" Archie asked, just to make sure he was understanding his son correctly.
"Yes."
"My god, what are the chances!" Archie laughed "Charles if what you told me that day is true then why do you look so… so furious?"
"I have a son dad," Charles stated his face getting redder with anger "I have a son with Molly and she never told me!"
Archie could feel his eyes start to bulge "What?"
"I swear I will make it right dad, I am going to be a part of his life, go for custody if I have too…"
"Charles stop talking please," Archie said as he stood up and placed his arm on his son's shoulder for support "I need a minute."
After a few minutes of silence and pacing around the small room, Archie was the first one to speak.
"Molly, she's a lovely girl, I know your mother thinks very highly of her as a nurse and how she looked after you, but... what I am trying to say is that, are you sure that this child is yours?" Archie asked quietly.
"He is mine," Charles replied tersely as he handed his father the photo Molly had given him of Sam. "Take a look."
Archie took one look and smiled "Definitely a James."
Charles nodded as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"What's his name?"
"Sam."
"I like it," Archie smiled as he came and sat down again. "Your mother is going to be ecstatic!"
"Oh god," Charles sighed as he buried his head in his hands.
"For someone who has always wanted to have children you do not look happy about this," Archie said carefully as Charles now glared at him.
"I am happy that I have a son!" Charles scolded. "What I am not happy about is the fact that she never told me. Three years dad! Three years and I never knew he existed. I could have fucking died never knowing I had a son! God Dad, I must be such a fucking disappointment to you and mum"
Archie shook his head in disbelief. "Charles, how many times do I, and your mother for that matter, have to tell you that you are not a disappointment to us. You never have and never will be!"
Charles was about to reply but Archie raised his hand "Let me finish please."
"You have always been the same, so bloody traditional. You had to follow every rule and regulation no matter where you were, in school, at Sandhurst. Why you ever thought you could disgrace us I will never know. You have a brilliant career in the army, yes, your marriage failed but that was all on Rebecca. The only thing that would disappoint me is if you have nothing to do with that little boy."
"That will never happen," Charles said defiantly. "I am going for custody, she lied to me, hid him from me. I will be out of here in a few weeks and he can come and live with me."
"Good god Charles listen to yourself!" Archie barked as he glared back at his son. "In the past few weeks you have had two surgeries on your brain and are about to have another operation on your leg. You have blinding headaches and are looking at a lengthy stretch in rehab at Headley. You will be bloody lucky if you're even walking unaided in six months' time!"
"What are you saying dad? "Charles asked as he stared at his father "That I'm never going to get better? That I'm going to be a bad father? She has him in a nursery!"
"No, I am not saying that, of course you are going to get better, but it will take time," Archie tried to explain "And nurseries are good for children, he gets to spend time playing with other children. It's important for them to socialise with other children, it helps get them ready for school."
"So you're taking her side!" Charles all but yelled as he tried not to cry in front of his father.
"Wake up and face facts son!" Archie said more quietly "I love you and you know me and your mother will help you as much as we can, but you are in no shape to look after a three-year-old by yourself."
Charles crossed his arms and huffed.
"And acting like a two-year-old won't help the situation either," Archie remarked. "I get it, you're in shock, you're angry, with yourself, with Rebecca, with Molly, hell the world in general. But it's not going to change anything, you can't turn back time Charles."
"I know!"
"That day in the park you told me that you weren't in contact with her, Molly I mean."
"Yes, and?" Charles shot back
"Why were you not in contact with her? I was going to ask you that when Elvis arrived with Laura and we never finished the conversation," Archie explained.
"I didn't have a contact number for her."
"Did you give her yours?" Archie asked carefully.
"No," Charles replied quietly as he picked at the sleeve of his pyjama top.
"Did you know her last name, or even give her yours?" Archie asked
"No," Charles replied, knowing where his father was going with his questions. "But she knew I was in the army."
"And how many Charles' are there in the army!" Archie sighed as he rubbed his forehead. "I know you're angry, but how the hell was she supposed to tell you?"
Charles closed his eyes in response. As much as he didn't want to admit it his father was making perfect sense, how could Molly have told him that she was pregnant, especially when he'd buggered off for three years with special forces.
"I know your angry son, but have you ever once thought about Molly and how hard this must be on her. Despite the fact she's a single mother working in one of the toughest and most underpaid professions, she has to do everything herself. And on top of that, over the last few weeks she's had the added pressure of seeing the father of her child with serious head injuries and no certainties as to whether you would completely recover from them. She's also provides you with the most diligent of care and supported me and your mother, all the time having to put her own feelings and emotions to one side"
"I didn't think about that," Charles replied quietly as he began to realise how much of a prat he'd been.
"No, you didn't," Archie said, "You reacted without thinking or probably even asking after the boy."
Archie nodded his head towards the photo lying on the bed, "He certainly looks a happy, healthy, loved and well looked after little boy, don't you think?"
"He does," Charles replied as he glanced again at his son's happy smiling face. He too was smiling for the first time since Molly told him the news.
"I take it you have contact details for her now?"
"Yeah she left her mobile number on the table," Charles replied as he mentally kicked himself for how he had spoken to her.
"Why don't you send her a quick text to apologise, put her mind at rest, then you two can arrange a time to have a proper discussion about Sam, and no mention of custody!" Archie suggested.
"I will, I just need to get out of bed first," Charles grimaced as he sat himself up and gratefully accepted Archie's unspoken offer of help.
"Where are you going?" Archie asked him
"Bathroom," Charles sighed as he got into the wheelchair and for the first time, noticed all the activity on the ward. "I see what you mean about the police."
"I'm going to go whilst I still can." Archie smiled "Shall I tell your mother about Sam or do you want to do it?"
"No, you can tell her," Charles smiled "I'll probably hear her scream of delight from here!"
Archie laughed as he patted Charles on the back "I'll see you tomorrow then, good night son."
"Night dad," Charles sighed as he made his way to his private bathroom.
OGOGOGOGOG
He was embarrassed at the length of time it had taken him to get into the bathroom, empty his bladder, wash his hands and get back into the wheelchair. He frowned as he pushed closer to the door to his room.
His leg was sore, his head was starting to throb, and his arms were sore from wheeling himself in the chair. He had a million thoughts whirling and racing through his brain.
He wanted, no needed, to see Molly and apologise to her for the way he had acted earlier. He was mad, more with himself than anyone else. If he had looked for her that morning at the hotel, if he had finished with Rebecca and cancelled the wedding, whether she had been pregnant or not then things could have been so different. He would have been there to support Molly during pregnancy, maybe even been present at the birth. He would have been involved from the beginning and who knows he and Molly could even have been married. Things could've been so different, maybe the accident and his being in hospital now may never have happened. Maybe he would actually be happy.
He was pulled from his thoughts when he heard Molly's name being mentioned by one of the nurses. When he looked over at the nurse's station, he saw his doctor Ms Devlin standing there; her words frightening him.
"Molly has been attacked, and she's being kept in overnight for observation." She was informing the rest of the nurses.
Before he knew what he was doing he was wheeling himself out of his room and towards the desk.
"Molly? What happened to her is she okay?" he asked as Kate turned to look directly at him. His heart was racing as everything started to fall into place. The police being on the ward, all the activity and Molly was being kept in overnight, whatever had happened here, it had happened to her and his blood suddenly ran cold at the very thought.
"Major James," Kate started as she tried to usher him back to his room.
"I was talking to her earlier, she told me about Sam," Charles explained in a fast voice "I said some horrible things to her, I need to apologise to her. Where is she? Is she okay?"
"She's fine," Kate smiled "a bit battered and bruised but she'll be okay."
"Was it that man? That guy who'd been harassing and staring at her all day? Did he hurt her?" Charles asked as he tried to process what was happening.
"We think so," Kate replied as she glanced over at something or someone behind him.
Charles noticed Dr Devlin was distracted, turning to follow her gaze he saw who had her attention. He saw his son Sam being led into an office. "Sam," he whispered.
Kate stepped in front of him as Jac closed the office door and walked over to them startled at Charles seeing her.
"I know you," Charles said as he kept trying to look into the office. "You were the drunken friend on the dance floor."
Jac blushed with embarrassment as Kate smirked.
"Tell me he wasn't there when she was attacked?" Charles asked them, as he tried to hold back a sob.
"No, he wasn't," Kate replied as she observed Charles. His concern for Molly and Sam was evident.
"I'd collected him from nursery whilst Molly came to see you and we were waiting downstairs for her," Jac said cooly. It was taking all her restraint not to really lay into him. She knew he was shocked at Molly's revelation but there was absolutely no excuse for the way he spoke to Molly.
"Can I see him, please?" Charles pleaded.
"Not a cat in hells chance mate," Jac replied "I was just with Molly and she told me about your argument. She doesn't want you anywhere near him - not right now anyway"
"I was in shock and angry," Charles bit back, "I need to apologise to her."
"Not tonight you don't," Kate said as Charles wheeled himself closer to the window of the office and looked in.
"Hey, what do you think you're doing. I just said you're not seeing him!" Jac said as she stood in front of the door, with her arms folded.
"I am not going to say anything to him," Charles said quietly "Can I at least just stay here for a few minutes and watch him. Please. I feel awful about the way I spoke to Molly. I said some terrible things."
"Like threatening custody. I swear if you even think of going for that you'll have me to deal with," Jac hissed as she glared at Charles.
"I wasn't thinking straight. I didn't mean it. I was in shock," he said quietly. "Please. Just one look. That's all I'm asking," he pleaded.
Kate and Jac looked at each other and shrugged. It wasn't for them to say whether Charles could see Sam or not. That was Molly's decision. But as long as one of them stood with him they didn't see too much harm in him seeing him. Jac moved away from the door as Charles rolled closer.
"I need to finish some charts then I'll return to take you back to your room Major," Kate said as she smiled at Jac.
"Thank you," Charles whispered as he smiled at his son who was sitting at Kate's desk and colouring a picture. Howie the bear was sitting on the table facing him. "He is the double of Molly."
"Really?" Jac asked "I think he's more like you than Molly."
"Molly frowns like that," Charles said smiling sadly. "When she's concentrating on something, I've seen her do it many times when she's been monitoring me or doing my obs."
Jac laughed, "He's going to stick out his tongue in a minute."
Charles frowned and then smiled when he saw Sam very slightly do as Jac had said he would. Totally captivated by his son he saw him start talking but couldn't make out what he was saying.
"Is he talking to the bear?"
"Howie?" Jac asked "Yes he is. They are best friends."
Jac came closer to him and kept looking at Sam. she kept her voice low so no-one else could hear her. "She told me what you said to her tonight. She loves that little boy more than life itself. She's lying downstairs in agony from being kicked, beaten and grazed with a knife yet all she can worry about is getting him home safely for his tea and bedtime story."
"She was stabbed?" Charles gasped, as his eyes darted to Jac, as he tried to swallow the bile in his throat.
"Thankfully it was only a graze," Jac replied "She's my best friend, and if you only knew the sacrifices she has made for Sam. She had her dream job on this ward but gave it up to have him. The guilt of having to work and take him to nursery just so she can feed him and clothe him. He's happy and couldn't be more loved, but you accuse her of being a bad mother! If anything, it's you that is the unfit parent."
Charles lowered his head, he deserved everything she was giving him right now.
Jac continued "It was your bloody stag party, you were the one who flirted with her, chatted her up, kissed her and you couldn't even wear a bloody condom but of course it's always the woman's fault. Maybe Molly was right in that she always attracts the shitty bastards."
Charles closed his eyes, everywhere in his whole body started to hurt. "Can you take me back to my room please?"
"Certainly, Major James," Jac replied with a smile as she went back into nurse mode. "Do you need any pain relief?"
"Yes please," Charles sighed as Kate followed them into the room and together, they got him back into bed.
As Kate got his medicine ready, Charles turned and looked at Jac, "Can you do two things for me please?"
Jac just glared at him.
"Firstly, tell Molly I'm sorry, I have to apologise to her."
"Yes, you do," Jac replied as she folded her arms.
"Secondly, when you take Sam home and tuck him into bed, give him a hug from me."
"I will," Jac smiled.
He watched them both leave his room as he closed his eyes. He was a father and he just saw his son, in the flesh for the first time!
But what type of father could he be? He couldn't get down on the floor to play with him. He wouldn't be able to play in the garden with him or play rugby in the park. Then there was Molly.
The beautiful, amazing Molly who he simply adored, how could he ever apologise to her, could she ever forgive him? If by some miracle she did, what type of life could he give her or Sam? He was useless to them both.
The pain medication was starting to kick in, so he closed his eyes and visualised Molly smiling as she had to him earlier in the day with a grinning Sam standing beside her. He drifted off to sleep with the vision of the two most important people in his life.
Molly is okay – phew!
More coming soon!