A/N May 4, 2019: If you currently are reading this story, note that all chapters have been updated. See author's note for chapter 1.

Chapter 12: Home sweet home

Back in Manchester it was autumn. The tree leaves were sparkling with colours, the weather was still quite warm and sunny but the air crisp and had a different smell to it than in summer. This was Georgie's favourite season and she felt it was a fresh start, like starting a new semester back in school.

A few years ago, when her then fiancée Dr. Jamie Cole and she separated after she decided not to marry him, which unsurprisingly killed the relationship, she had gotten herself a small but cosy flat in Manchester. It could be seen an unnecessary luxury when she spent so little time there, but she just could not imagine moving in with her parents again. Instead, when she was working, she lent it to her little sister, Lulu.

Lulu was now sitting in front of Georgie, pretending to be cross with her for making her move out of the flat for the weeks she was home.

"You' re just a spoiled brat" Georgie laughed at her. "If I had a regular job you would have to live with mum and dad all the time or get your own place."

"Hey, I'm not spoiled! I'm working hard when I'm staying here, watering your plants, feeding the cat and all that!"

"Shut up! I don't even have a cat and as for the plants I think they look half-dead. Now, stop whining, get your arse out of that sofa and let's go shopping instead. I want something nice for our night out."

Sometimes Georgie had a hard time to adjust when she returned home. Like she didn't know what home was; here in Manchester or the places the army took her to on tour. This time however, she just felt good about being here. Hanging with her two sisters, talking to her mum, some days helping her dad out at his private practice. They had always been close, and he was the only one who asked her more than superficial questions about what she got to see on tour. She told him some things but far from all. It was not that she intentionally held back, just that many things were difficult to share with someone who had not been there. Talking about an outreach project like the one she just had been working on, was of course easier than the tours to outright war zones like Afghan. Helping sick and weak people was common ground for them, but Max found it harder to stomach thinking of the dangers Georgie exposed herself to when she treated wounded soldiers in the battlefield than when she helped refugees.

This afternoon and evening, however, was only about girls' fun. Now when she had the chance to indulge in it, she realised she had missed it. When she went out with her squaddies she never relaxed 100%. As she wanted to remain one of the boys, she was never comfortable dressing too bare or getting plastered. She usually chose trousers over short skirt and only had a beer or two. She never flirted with anyone when her work mates or superiors were present, not even anyone outside the squad. Her only exception whilst being on duty was Bones, that she had allowed herself to end up in bed with him. With Elvis she had held it strictly professional until they came home from that tour and even if no one but Bones knew about them and had no reason to be indiscrete, it disturbed her slightly that she had allowed herself to slip. She still tried to get her head around what had made that night so special, that she had given herself to him so completely that it still made her blush whenever she thought of it.

Tonight, though was different. Off duty, no rules and she would just enjoy herself. She totally deserved that.

Wearing a new little black dress from the afternoon's shopping tour, Georgie made the last touches to her makeup and hair whilst sipping some white wine. Her sisters were watching her from the sofa where they had some wine too, Marie sipping, Lulu rather taking large gulps.

The three sisters were very different, Marie the big sister, sensible, with a steady job and going out with the same boyfriend since many years. Georgie, the middle sister, in truth an ambitious workaholic but with an equally adventurous and dangerous profession and a love life track-record that had been more of a roller-coaster than she wished it to be. Lulu, the capricious little sister who still had not figured out what she wanted in life and was not bothered about it, shifted between temporary jobs and university courses that she seldom completed. She happily dated but so far never settled down with any guy longer than a month or two.

Georgie put on some lip gloss and frowned at herself in the mirror.

"How serious you look all of a sudden", Marie said and threw a cushion at her.

"I was just thinking I'm still young."

"Of course, you are, but isn't that something good? Nothing to frown about I would say?"

Georgie turned around from the mirror. "I was thinking I'm still young and it's time I have a go at dating again." She smiled faintly.

"Oh Georgie, we know it's not easy for you, but I'm so glad to hear that my gorgeous sister will give dating a chance again. You really deserve to have some fun in your life! And love."

"It's not fun if the date is a disaster" Lulu chipped in. "Last week I was on this horrible date..."

She was silenced by another cushion thrown by Marie.

"We're supposed to support Georgie taking up dating, not discourage her, you moron! We only want to hear about good dates!"

"Then Lulu has nothing to share!" Georgie teased.

They all giggled as they left the apartment, headed for a new trendy bar in the city centre.

Georgie seldom thought about her looks and that made her an even more noticeable girl. She had a naturally beautiful face which did not really need makeup. She was petite and graceful, yet strong-looking due to all the PT sessions that came with the job . When she made an effort like tonight, people were definitely turning their heads after her. In the new dress she was wearing, showing her slender figure and with the long dark hair in loose waves, she was stunning and the fact that she was oblivious to it just made her more attractive. Even in a bar full of young good-looking people dressed to the nines, she stood out.

She had so much fun this evening. The group of three sisters were a magnet to many men in the bar and they chatted, flirted, danced and even sang along with the tunes as the night went on. For Georgie, it was like having a mental cleanse from much of what had happened the last years, mentally rinsing off the sorrows at least for one night. It made her feel like the 26-year old she actually was again.

A few hours in on the evening, she stood talking to an old friend from school, Annie. They had not seen each other in ages but had met in the bar. Suddenly an unknown, blonde guy was standing next to her. Georgie thought he was yet another man who wanted to start a conversation with her but enjoyed talking to Annie so much after all this time, so she turned to him and said. "Sorry, but I'm really busy talking to my friend here."

She did not mean to be snappy, but so many guys had already approached her to buy her drinks, talk, ask for a dance or phone number and now she was really into the conversation with her friend and did not wish to be interrupted.

"That's all right as long as you don't mind me having a few words with my sister", he said with a cocked eyebrow, looking like he maybe found her a bit full of herself. Georgie's eyes darted between the two of them and both Annie and the guy burst into laughter.

"Georgie, this is my big brother Matt. Don't you remember him?"

She had vague memories of Matt. He was four years older than them and as children that gap had been so wide that they never moved in the same circles, except for when Georgie came to their house to play and the two girls disturbed the teenage boy. Now she laughed too.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't recognize you actually. I had so much fun with your sister and didn't want to be interrupted."

"... by some random bloke hitting on you" he filled in and smiled.

"Matt, do you remember Georgie Lane?"

"Sure, I do. You're that odd tomboy who always dismantled Annie's dolls."

"Oi! Only to put them back together again. I was playing doctor if you must know."

"Oh, well that finally explains it. I always found it a bit creepy to find a doll without a head or arms. What are you up to nowadays?"

"Pretty much the same."

He gave her a look of surprise.

"Not removing dolls' parts, trying to put people together. I'm a medic in the Army."

He laughed again.

"You nearly had me worried about your mental health there for a while."

"I can see that", she smiled and realised that for the first time this evening she was flirting with genuine interest, because not only was he good-looking, he also seemed really nice.

Both him and Annie asked many questions about Georgie's job as an army medic and seemed interested for real. It turned out Annie was working as a teacher and Matt had started an IT company some years back and it seemed he was successful, although he did not appear the type who boasted about it. The trio had such a good time that they stayed put in their corner, chatting and having drinks. They were joined by Marie and Lulu every now and then, and friends of Matt and Annie also came and went over the course of the evening. Georgie felt she was happy content to remain in their company, maybe especially Matt's. She glanced at him sideways where he stood. He was good-looking. Like, really good-looking, Blonde, lean and pretty tall, although not as tall as Bones she for some reason registered. Matt would have had to stand on his tiptoes to be able to place his chin on the top of her head, something which Jack had done with ease as he pulled her close to his chest. She pushed that thought to the back of her head and focused on that Matt also had a great smile with a dimple in one cheek and, brown kind eyes, so big they made her think of a deer, and he seemed to have a great sense of humour.

'I would quite like to see him again', she thought but she did not feel ready to be the one to ask for a date, even if it was stupid. Perhaps it was a lame excuse for postponing dating a bit further, because maybe it was the date rather than the asking she was not ready for. Luckily, his thoughts were going in the same direction, but he did not have any qualms about asking her.

"I'm headed for home now" he said to her. "Tennis game tomorrow morning" and she felt a slight disappointment before he continued "...but it would be nice to see you again. Without our sisters, if you would like to?"

"Yes... yes I'd like that."

"Great then! Just give me your number and I will call you."

No fuss, just like that she had a date decided with a cute guy who was not a squaddie, not an officer and seemed nice and generally uncomplicated. This had really been a fabulous evening of much needed fun.