"Come on Mark," Gareth yelled, struggling as Sam pulled him away, "Let go of me,"
Connie and Anna shook their heads as they checked for a pulse, both unable to find one,
"Let go of me," Gareth uttered, as Sam did as he asked, watching as his usually so in control boss kicked a chair hard, sending it skidding along the floor,
Connie touched his shoulder gently, "Get away from here for a few hours," she told him,
"But..."
"No buts," she told him firmly, "Say goodbye now, then get away from here. Go down to the beach. Sit and watch the waves and mourn him away from here,"
"You're in charge Con,"
She winked, "Go, before I change my mind."
Four medics loaded Mark's lifeless body into the military aircraft and Connie and Sam stepped backwards as the helicopter took flight.
Sam placed his hand gently between her shoulder blades, "I'm not all that tired," he admitted, "If you don't mind, I'll watch the wards with you tonight,"
She smiled and nodded, "Come on then,"
"I've got a splitting headache, would you mind if I had a nap in the oncall room?"
"Go in my tent," he told her, "It's near enough to get you if I need you, and it's much more comfortable,"
She squeezed his shoulder fondly and nodded, "Thanks Sam,"
She woke up a few hours later, her headache gone, her thoughts much clearer in her mind now,
"Go and get some sleep Anna," Connie nodded at her friend and colleague, as she sat down next to Sam, "We can watch for a few hours,"
She smiled at Sam and he raised an eyebrow, "What?" he smiled, handing her a sweet he had in his pocket,
"Nothing," she shrugged, "I was just thinking how I like having you around here,"
He nudged her, "I like being here. I like working with you, you're the best surgeon I've worked with,"
She shook her head, "I don't believe that for a second,"
"You know me," he admitted, "Only say what I think,"
She laughed lightly, "That's true," she shrugged,
"Being out here you have no choice but to throw yourself into everything. When I worked in Holby I only really saw Cardiothoracic patients, yet now I see everything from Trauma to vascular... it's weird how things change,"
Anna swore as she missed the target again, her dark hair bouncing as she shook her head,
"I'm a nurse, not a soldier," she huffed, watching as Connie aimed and hit target over and over again, "I'm just going to hide behind Connie,"
Gareth shook his head, "Try again... we all need to be able to do this if we come under attack,"
"She's a runner not a fighter hey Anna?" Sam teased,
"Leave her alone Strachan, don't think I haven't noticed your bullets are hardly making target," Connie smiled,
"Look Anna, come over here," She placed her colleagues hands in place, "We need to be able to do this, I've seen the way you cannulate veins I can't even see, so you can do it,"
"Jesus, I think she's some sort of Ninja," Gareth laughed as he watched Connie giving some of the soldiers a run for their money as they fought on the mats,
"Is there anything that woman can't do?" Ellie rolled her eyes, "She's like Lara Croft with a surgical degree,"
"Come on then Con, see if you can take me down," Sam challenged,
"Ooh, is that your game face Strachan?" She teased, raising her eyebrow and ducking as he stepped forward,
Twenty minutes later he lay on the floor, his breathing heavy, sweat dripping from his skin, "Jesus woman,"
She lay down next to him and laughed, "I think that means I've won," she smiled, glad for the time away from the hospital,
"Just about," he smiled, standing up and holding out his hand,
"Take it," he smiled, "I wouldn't dare drop you after that,"
She nodded, taking his hand as he pulled her up, watching as Gareth sparred with one of the American Troops,
"I wouldn't take him on," Connie admitted, "I don't like losing,"
"Go with her," Gareth nodded,
"I'm fine on my own,"
"Connie, I am your boss and I need you to come back and work here, running on your own, is not wise, Sam go with her,"
Sam rolled his eyes, "Give me two minutes and we'll go,"
She smiled, "Sorry,"
"I could do with the exercise," he admitted,
"Quit worrying about me, I thought that if I could shoot and fight, you'd worry about me less,"
"You can probably fight better than some of the soldiers, but that won't stop be worrying. I know you don't like admitting it, but you are a woman, and women here are seen as an easy target for kidnap and god forbid everything else,"
She nudged Gareth gently, "Okay, point taken,"
They ran side by side quickly through the Afghanistan towns, she found she was glad he was with her, the large groups of Afghanistan men and soldiers unnerved her somewhat. He wasn't going to admit but he was impressed by her speed, she was easily keeping up with him and her running ability probably equalled his. They ran back up the large hill, sticking to one side of the road only, knowing most land mines were triggered with pressure on both sides of the road at one.
"I'm starving," Connie admitted, "You're a good runner Sam,"
As they entered the tent where the troops were cooking he nodded, "So are you,"
They sat side by side and he nudged her gently, "Tell me Connie, is there anything you can't do?"
She laughed, handing him the sachet of tomato sauce that came there way, "I like to think not," she replied, before shrugging, "Although I think diplomacy is a skill I would like, that I don't have,"
"You're right about that," he laughed.
