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 26: The secret is out

First thing when Georgie got the acceptance letter from the university, she had spoken to Captain Aldridge about that she would leave the army, but she had not yet told the others in 2 section. Now it was time to share that piece of news as well as something else, which she was even more nervous about how they would take. They were all off duty for the evening and were hanging out together, playing cards, chatting and joking around like they always did. Georgie had been unusually quiet, watching them but not taken part in the banter. She was preparing herself for taking the leap, let the secrets out and now cleared her throat.

"Hey guys, there is something I would like to say."

It took some time for the banter to die out but then they realised that she was serious.

"When you all go for the next tour in a couple of months, I won't be joining you."

She was immediately interrupted by worried muttering.

"What!? Why? What will you do, Georgie?" Monk blurted out.

"I will resign, leave the Army. For real this time."

They all remembered how she had made a half-hearted attempt when she was going to marry Jamie but had cancelled that at the same time as she called off the wedding, her love for the Army was stronger than for the man. They had all cheered then as they secretly had doubted that Jamie really was the guy for her.

"Last time I don't think I ever wanted to leave for real, it was all for Jamie's sake. Now, I feel I need it for me. I'm not leaving for someone else."

They were all quiet and listening now.

"I feel that the past is taking a toll on me; Elvis, kidnappings, when you guys were captured in Estonia. I can't take much more of that. Also, I want to stay closer to my family. You know, the thing with my dad got me thinking. Now I find it harder to go on tour for each time, so Estonia was my last. I want to spend time with him while I have the chance."

They all understood. Actually, they had been amazed that she managed to keep herself together and come back to them at all after Elvis death. She was tough, but now it had apparently come to an end as it would for all of them sooner or later.

"Do you already have plans for what you will do?" Rab asked.

"I have been accepted to med school, will start this autumn, so in one way continuing on the same track."

She said this with a big smile and they all congratulated her and agreed it would suit her, but they also knew they would miss her terribly. She was such a strong personality, courageous and with integrity, they completely trusted this medic with their lives. They knew well, that being a great army medic was not only about the skill to tie a good tourniquet. It also required keeping cool under fire and willingness to risk your life for others. Georgie had proven so many times that she possessed all those qualities, in addition to being a great mate.

"Who will take care of our blisters and bullet wounds now?" Fingers asked, putting words to their thoughts.

"I'm sure they will replace me with someone very capable. Maybe Ruby will return."

She hesitated for a moment, looked down on her hands with pounding heart.

"There's one other thing I would like you to know. I want you to hear it from me and not from the rumour mill. You know I have been single since Elvis..."

Now they listened even more attentively. Was it possible that Georgie had found love again? Few things would make them happier after all this time.

"Aaaw, this is so awkward, I don't know how to tell you, so I'll just say it... I'm with Bones."

First it was dead silent, then Brains, could not help himself.

"You are with Bones? Bones? Are you fucking kidding me?"

He looked like he regretted the words already as they left his mouth, but almost all of them were thinking the same. That brutal man and Georgie? However, Fingers, who had seen other sides of Jack than the others, did not look quite as shocked.

"I like Bones" he said. "But how did this happen?"

"Yeah! I've missed this intrigue completely, you secretive girl! How did this happen right under our noses?" Maisie complained.

Georgie felt herself blushing with embarrassment.

"It happened gradually, not when he was our CO though. He is a very different person once you get to know him, not the jackass he seemed like when he was our CO. He had his reasons for that."

"Yeah, like that he is a sadist!" Bones was clearly not Brains' favourite and he felt protective towards their mate.

"Brains..." she shook her head smiling.

"Well, sorry, maybe I crossed the line, but I really hope he has qualities he has not shown to the rest of us, otherwise he isn't good enough for our girl. He had better make you happy or we will come and get him."

"He does make me happy. He really does. He takes care of me like no one else, you can rest assured about that."

They could see from the glow in her face that it was true, no matter how unlikely it seemed. Georgie and Bones, who always had been arguing in some way. Come to think of it, maybe arguing so sparks were flying. In this case, it was apparently true that quarrel was a start for love.

She also told them that he too would resign, and they planned to live in London.

"She keeps delivering shocking news! Our Manchester girl is moving to London!"

They all laughed but she sensed it would take them some time to digest all this. On the other hand, it had taken herself a year to come to terms with that she had feelings for Jack, first fervently denying it even to herself, so she couldn't expect them to catch up instantly.

When the group broke up for the evening, Maisie caught up with her.

"Now I want some more details, girl to girl!"

Georgie felt her cheeks heat again, but at the same time it was nice to finally be able to share this with Maisie.

"When? How?"

Georgie shared their long story but omitted the details she felt were private between her and Jack, much to Maisie's disappointment.

"How is he in bed? I have always wondered about that. He looks like he could be well equipped?"

"Maisie! I never asked that about you and Rab!"

"Suit yourself, if you don't ask you don't get any answers, but Rab is amazing in case you wonder. Now it is your turn!"

"Nah, I won't tell."

"Please, just a little."

"Okay, he is pretty amazing too, but that is all I'm going to say."

As the girls giggling walked down the passageway, Georgie realised that when she relived her and Jack's love story by telling it to Maisie she felt even more in love, something she had not even thought possible as she was so completely in love already.

- OG -

Late in the evening Jack called. She could hear from the connecting signal that it was from somewhere abroad but as usual did not know where.

"How did they take it?" he asked, knowing she had planned on telling 2 section.

"Sad that I'm leaving, flabbergasted we're together. You're not everyone's favourite person as you may know. Brains said he will beat you up if you're not treating me well. Probably all of 2 section will come for you. Just saying."

He found this utterly amusing. On his end, he had planned to tell Spanner and Peanut and she knew he had been a bit nervous about it despite that he did his best to conceal that. She had been nervous about that too, as they had been so close to Elvis and she had the feeling they would always see her as his girl.

"Did you tell them?"

"Yeah."

"And?"

"It seemed like they were genuinely happy for us. Turns out they have hoped you would meet a good guy after Elvis and fortunately I have passed their test, mind you."

They both laughed at this with relief. To Georgie, telling Spanner and Peanut had been like she imagined that telling the kids about seeing someone new after a divorce would be. Their approval was important to them both. Now their relationship was finally out in the open, no more secrecy. Bones had informed his CO already before he left, preferred to come clean even if they were not breaking any rules when they did not work together. Georgie had told her parents the other week.

"So, now it only remains for you to meet my family and we will be 100% official."

"Should I be nervous?"

"I don't think mum has forgiven you for making me live in London instead of Manchester..."

"Oi, that was your choice!"

"Yes, but only because I find you irresistible. If you're lucky you may still be on the plus side with her because you're leaving the Army too. They have had enough of the military, I think."

"So, should we go see them next time I'm home?"

"Are you ready for that?"

"I think I am."

Jack had also turned in his notice and would only stay in a couple months longer. He would be sent off on operations during this time and had promised Georgie he would not take any unnecessary risks, but she was extremely relieved every time he returned. His decision to leave the army had somehow stemmed her panic attacks but she was still worrying. The good thing was that since they last met, she felt that she could ventilate her worries with him and that instantly made them smaller. Still, she knew that her heart would be lighter the day he "stamped out" as she could not help thinking that maybe she was jinxed. She was afraid that when she was this close to happiness, something would destroy it all. She had in mind both her wedding day with Elvis and Elvis' death right after their reconciliation when she had put his ring back on her finger. She hoped nothing would get in the way of a life together with Jack in the same way, before he left the army. She did not know if she would be able to bear that once again.

A/N: Thanks for still following my story! If you've come this far I'd appreciate if you have any feedback on my language as I'm not a native English speaker. I didn't drop this before because I wanted to see if I got any spontaneous comments, but I didn't so far. Any comments that can improve my language/writing further would be super-appreciated, e.g. strange words or phrases I should get rid of :) One thing I have not attempted is writing with an "accent" in dialogues, as I feel that would be out of my league. /X