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 13: A great date and alarming news

Matt called her already next day around lunch time.

"You said you only are home for two weeks, so I thought why waste any time? Do you want to meet up for dinner and drinks tonight? Are you free?"

She was free, and she wanted. Although, meanwhile she was preparing herself for the evening, thoughts of Jack suddenly emerged in her head. Where was he now? What was he doing? Was he ever thinking of her? Then she cut off the string of thoughts. Why think of a man who was far away and likely did not care for her at all, when she had a date set right here with someone who seemed to be a top bloke?

He picked her up at seven and took her to a fancy yet cosy sushi restaurant where she had not been before. The evening went by much too fast because she had such a great time. He was well funny and an attentive listener. He told interesting things about himself but spent at least as much time asking about her. After dinner they strolled through the streets to her door, where he gave her a peck on the cheek and said good night. He did not ask if he could join her in, and she was not prepared to ask him yet, but she felt happy and gladly accepted when he asked if she wanted to meet up tomorrow again. She went to bed with the feeling that this could be the start of something great.

The following day was a Sunday. When Matt showed up at her door, he brought a picnic basket he had prepared, or rather a backpack and asked her to put on hiking shoes. They drove east out of Manchester to the Dovestone reservoir. She briefly wondered if this was really his kind of date, or if he had chosen it because he thought she would like it due to her job. Either way, she appreciated it because this was her kind of date. Not that she did not appreciate being wined and dined too, but this felt more genuine. They hiked and talked, enjoyed the outdoors and the sun. She noticed that she sometimes had to slow down her tempo walking uphill because even if he was fit it was difficult to keep up with a trained soldier.

They eventually climbed up some rocks and found themselves standing with aa spectacular view before them. This time of the year the landscape was amazingly beautiful with clear skies, reflected by the water below them and the trees' colourful fireworks in yellow, orange and red. Georgie took it all in, inhaled the autumn air deeply into her lungs, held it there for a while feeling like some part of her was healing and finally exhaled. To Matt it sounded like a sigh.

"Something wrong?" he asked, concerned.

"No, not at all. It's just so beautiful and calm and it's been such a long time since I was here. You know, when I'm on tour, I come to many places that are beautiful but there's always a war going on or other suffering of some kind. If there wasn't we wouldn't be needed there. But this…" She made a gesture to the scenery below. "This is home, it's just amazing and it feels like I'm recharging by batteries somehow. Healing a bit."

She realised it was the second time in his company that she felt like part of her was healing, healing because life for a moment was not harsh and filled with sorrow, but uncomplicated, fun and comforting.

"Then I'm glad we came there." He looked down on her with a smile which made his kind eyes crinkle at the corners in a way she really liked.

"So am I."

It felt natural to take a step closer, wrap her arms around his neck and kiss him. It felt good to kiss a man who she knew was interested in her, who was not a mystery and who had made an effort to plan a nice date. Mysterious and unapproachable men were really overrated.

"And I'm really glad you did that" he said and kissed her again.

They continued the walk, holding hands, talking about anything and nothing and just had a great time. When they found a small village pub they had a break there. She enjoyed this uncomplicated life to the fullest and could hardly remember a time when it had felt like this before. Was it with Jamie? Or was it even longer ago, with Elvis before he jilted her at the altar?

When they returned to the city in the late afternoon, Georgie invited him to her place and they ordered Indian take away and relaxed, watching a movie. Just as natural as it had been kissing earlier, it was natural that the ending of such a day was for him to join her to bed. He was a considerate and gentle lover, but even if she did not want to admit it to herself, she was missing the fire from when she spent the night with Jack because with Matt sparks were not flying all over the place. He did not make her have to bite her lip to stop herself from moaning and screaming his name, he did not make her tremble and reach a shattering climax, but she enjoyed his attentions and told herself that this was a good start, this had potential and would only be better when they knew each other more intimately.

Georgie only had one week left home now and to make the most of it they met every evening after he quit work, spent time together and learned more about each other.

"What will you do now when you go back to service?" he asked. "Will you be sent abroad again."

"No, now we have six months of regimental duties. That's usually the way it goes after a tour, we're not deployed again immediately. Regimental duties aren't the favourite part of the job but it's a good way to get a break between the tours. Sometimes they're mentally exhausting."

"But still you like it?"

"I do, for most part. Sometimes it's difficult and even the things I like about it can take their toll, like when we try to help people in our outreach projects and many still die. Wars kill so many people beside the ones that are actually hit by bullets. And then there's the natural disasters, you feel really powerless against those."

He nodded, not knowing what to say. He wanted to be there for her, but he was not used to life being so complicated or cruel as what she voluntarily faced in her line of work.

After a moment's hesitation she added; "I will have time off every now and then during these six months, so I can come home most weekends, sometimes longer... and see you. If you like?"

She was really growing fond of him and hoped he would say yes. He was relieved at the change of subject.

"Is this the girl who told me to sod off the first evening we met in the bar?"

"I didn't say that! Not really, and I didn't know you were Annie's brother or that you were so nice, and funny…"

He interrupted by pulling her to him in a hug.

"I would love to Corporal Lane... and now I'm taking you to bed because I will miss you so much when you're gone so I really have to take the opportunity now to show you by giving you my most special treatment..."

Laughing and kissing they headed for the bed.

Sunday afternoon Georgie changed her civvies for uniform, put her hair up in the regulation bun and adjusted the cap in the right angle on top of it. Matt drove her to the station, kissed her gently goodbye and smilingly waved as the train departed. As she sat back, relaxing and the train took her closer to the regiment, she felt happy. She felt glad to meet her friends in 2 section again, glad that Matt would be there when she returned home next time. However, she came to return much sooner than she had expected and under other circumstances than she would have wished.

- OG -

After one week back in service, she got a call from an upset Marie.

"Georgie, are you sitting down? Sit down, please. Dad has had a heart attack, less than an hour ago. He is alive, thank God, and they have taken him to the hospital. Please come home as soon as you can, please tell me you will. We need you."

Georgie felt as if her world froze. 'Not dad!', she screamed on the inside. They had had far too little time together yet for him to go, there was still so much she wanted to do with him, say to him, so many hugs not yet shared.

- OG -

Max Lane had fallen to the floor in his home on a Sunday afternoon. Ambulance had arrived quickly and taken him to the hospital. This was where Georgie, who after having explained the situation to Captain James immediately had been allowed a leave joined the rest of her family. It was apparent that both Marie and Lulu had been crying, their eyes glossy and red-rimmed. Their mother, Grace was instead completely paralysed and just sat still on a hard plastic hospital chair, staring empty in front of her. Max and Grace Lane had met when she was 16, he 18 and had not lived any part of their adult life without one another. They had shared every dream and been each other support every single day. The heart attack came out of nowhere, as Max always had been healthy, and for Grace it was impossible to imagine a life without her love and life partner.

When Georgie arrived, they hugged for long and all were relieved that she was there now.

"How is he?"

"They're telling us he is stable now. He is getting the best possible care and they've been so nice to us."

"He will survive?"

"Yes, it seems so, thank God, unless he has another attack" Marie said, and Grace let out a low whimper and rocked from side to side at her words. Marie lowered her voice "…and we don't know yet how he will recover from the first one, what state he will be in. It seems we will know more within a couple of weeks when they can assess the damage to the heart muscle tissue for real."

Georgie felt like crying, but there was no room for that. Her father was the centre of this family, the one all depended on. Not because he was the male but because of the person he was, stable and loving. She knew that if he would not be able to fulfil that role, her mother and sisters would turn to her for that strength. She would have to be the solid rock they needed right now, even if she on the inside also felt like a little girl who needed comfort. She did not know how she would be able to give them that support when she returned to service, and she did not know how she would be able to cope herself.

It took a day before she called Matt, she was not used to him being a part of her life yet and was not sure how he would react in a situation like this. He turned out to be a wonderful support as soon as he heard what had happened and came to join them at the hospital.

"I'm here for you" he had said while taking her in his arms. It felt so good not to have to be strong alone for a while, but even then, she did not manage to cry. The tears and fear remained a hard knot in her stomach which she was unable to let out.

She remained home for two days, until it was sure that Max would survive, but they were still waiting for more news about his expected recovery when she had to return to barracks. She felt awful about going this time, when all she wanted was to be close to her family, but she did not know what else to do.