Charles leaned against the railings taking in big gulps of air. He felt a hand on his shoulder 'Captain James you should come back inside now'

He turned and looked at the young man looking up at him. Slowly he started to walk back into the house. He sat down in the drawing room. In front of him was a cup of tea. He needed something a bit stronger than that right now.

He turned to the two men sitting opposite him and said 'okay I want you to start at the beginning and tell me everything. Leave nothing out please.'

When they finished he had his head in hands. They looked at each other and nodded it was done. What a job to have to tell the loved ones this news.

Two hours later and Charles was on his way to Birmingham. Sat in the back of the car with the two men sent to tell him. He had called his mother first. She had gone in to typical Anna James mode, calling Bill telling him what had happened. They would be on the first flight back. His father had then come on telling him to be strong, everything would be fine.

He had then called Belinda who had begun crying before he even spoke, she kept repeating its bad news, its bad news.

Finally he had spoken to Dave and explained everything. Nan and Belinda were on their way by now meeting him there.

His phone buzzed with text messages from ex colleagues who had heard the news. It travels fast in the army world.

Even one from Major Beck who asked him to call when he could.

His phone rung an international number he didn't recognise it. 'Charles James hello.'

'Captain James its Qaseem, Sir I am ringing about Molly, is there news?'

'Qaseem, I am on my way to the hospital now her flight landed about an hour ago, but she is unconscious. What the hell happened?'

'It was a normal day. I went to collect her from Bastion. We were going to visit Bashira. I was obviously followed to the base and then with Molly in the car. We were ambushed on the stretch between Lashkar Gah and the base. I didn't see it until to late. A car stopped in front of us. Three men jumped out Taliban they were trying to get in the car but I had locked the doors. I tried to get into reverse but a second vehicle blocked me. They began trying to break the windscreen, they were firing shots at the car. So I just started going back and forth to get out of there. I managed to get some space and got the car out and swung it round to head back to the base. I told Molly to stay on the floor but you know she wouldn't do it. Was crying and calling for Bashira. Saying we needed to go to her. Sir, it was all I could do to get back to the base.

I didn't know she had been shot Sir. Once I did I got her to the medical centre. She was in the back of the car I couldn't see she took a hit. I got back to the base and once inside I tried to get her out of the car. She was holding her stomach and then I saw the blood.'

Charles let out a cry. 'Qaseem how bad was it?' 'She had lost a lot of blood Sir, it was bad. But you know Molly Dawes, as they took her into surgery she made me promise to get Bashira. Thats what I need to tell you. I have her and she is safe. We are both in the base. Major Morley is organising to send us to the USA on the next transport out.'

'Qaseem, I cant take this all in. Molly is alive, just. Were you shot?'

'No Sir, they didn't want me. They wanted to kidnap her. I praise Allah they didn't get her and we got her back to you.'

'Molly Dawes is like a daughter to me Captain James.'

'It's Charles, Qaseem I left the army last year after that tour.'

'Sir, I wanted you to know I did everything I could. If I had known there was danger I would never have taken that risk. But the guards, one of them told the Taliban a white female was coming to see one of the children. They wanted to avenge Badrai death, they know Molly shot him. She cannot come back here Sir. Its too dangerous for her.'

'Don't worry Qaseem, there is no way she will ever be out of my sight again.'

'I need to go we are pulling up to the hospital. Qaseem?'

'Sir?'

'Thank you, thank you for taking care of her out there. If you had not been there I cant think what might have happened. I will pray for you and Bashira. You have my email contact me when you are safely out of Afghan.'

'Alhamdul lil-lahi rab-bil 'alameen
Ar rahma nir-raheem
Maliki yawmid-deen
Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'een
Ihdinas siratal mustaqeem
Siratal Lazeena an'amta 'alayhim
Ghai-ril maghdubi 'alayhim
Walad dal-leen. Ameen'

'Thank you Qaseem. God bless you and Bashira. I will be in touch.'

As Charles dashed out of the car in Birmingham to find Molly. Qaseem sat looking across the base. Diminishing in size by the day. He felt unsafe, he had never wanted to leave this country. It was his home. But for now he would have to leave, he had no choice. But he vowed he would come back one day. He began reciting the prayer in English. Molly Dawes was a daughter to him. He would never forgive himself if she died.

'Praise is only for Allah, Lord of the Universe.
The most Kind, the most Merciful.
The master of the Day of Judgement.
You alone we worship and to you alone we pray for help.
Show us the straight way,
The way of those whom you have blessed.
Who have not deserved your anger,
Nor gone astray.'

Charles did not bother asking directions he knew where to go. He had been there himself long enough. All he could think of was getting to Molly. Making sure she was going to make it.

He took the stairs two at a time. He was sure he heard someone call 'Captain James' but he didn't stop. Kept running until he reached the Elizabeth Ward. He knew this is where she would be.

He stopped outside a room and looked in. Molly was there. Hooked up to a variety of machines and tubes. He pushed open the door and a nurse stepped forward. 'I am her fiancé.'

He stood at the side of her bed looking at her. She was so pale, so tiny.

He turned to the nurse who had now been joined by a doctor 'is she okay, will she make it'

The doctor smiled at him 'She lost a lot of blood. But the good thing is the bullet didn't damage any internal organs. She was very lucky Mr?'

'It's Charles James, just call me Charles.'

'Well Charles like I say she was lucky. She will need to stay here for a few days. But, there is some bad news i'm afraid. She lost the baby.'

'Baby? She was pregnant? I didn't know, she hadn't told me. We, well she has been gone a couple of weeks.'

'She was about six weeks along Charles. The good news is there is no permanent damage so she will likely get pregnant again. I will look in on her later.'

Charles looked across at Molly. His arms were folded and he felt someone touch his back. He turned and saw the nurse who had looked after him when he had been here.

'Captain James it is you. I said to sheila that it was you. You are visiting this patient? She just arrived from Afghan today.'

'Yes she is my fiancé Molly.'

'Well is that so. How lovely. You sit down there and I am going to get you a cup of coffee. I remember how you like it. I can get a bed in here for you to sleep on. Let me go and get Sheila. We will sort that out. You sit there and leave it with me okay.'

'Charles looked down at the nurse whose name he could not remember and felt his eyes tear up. He brushed his hand across his face 'thank you.'

Belinda and Nan arrived during the night and upon seeing Molly and hearing the update said they would come back in the morning. Belinda had cried all the way Nan had told him.

He had booked them into a hotel close to the hospital and they left saying they would be back early in the morning.

Charles was sat in the chair by Molly holding her hand. He must have fallen asleep leaning over the bed. He woke suddenly and looked up as Molly's head turned towards him.

'Hi'

'Molly, thank God darling. I have to call the nurse. Don't move, well of course you can't. Ah hold on.'

Charles reached behind the bed and pressed the buzzer and a nurse appeared. 'Well hello Private Dawes, how are you feeling? Any pain, numbness?'

Molly looked at Charles and then at the nurse. 'Well I feel as though I have been shot. Did that happen?' She raised a weak smile.

The nurse replied 'Yes it did dear, now don't move too much and you will be feeling groggy. I need to take your vitals and then I can get you a cup of tea.'

'Tea, yes that would be great thanks.'

The nurse left the room. Charles stood back from the bed his arms folded, worry written across his face.

'I lost the baby didn't I?'

'Yes Molly, you did. I am so sorry.'

Molly began crying and Charles moved back to the bed sitting in the chair. He reached over to smooth her hair. 'I am so sorry Charles, I found out last week. I was just waiting for another few days. I wanted to see Bashira one last time. I knew as soon as I told the boss he would send me straight back.'

'Molly, darling its not your fault. It wasn't our time. We will have a baby one day ok.'

Molly looked at him and nodded slowly. Tears fell down her face. He stood up to try and hug her but it was difficult with the machines she was hooked up to. Instead he leaned down and kissed her 'Love you Dawesy, always.'

He looked into her eyes and he could see the sadness and pain but she tried to smile and said 'Ditto Boss.'

The nurse arrived back into the room with a cup of tea for Molly, Charles helped her drink it. It looked a diabolical cup of tea to him. But, she seemed very happy to have something.

Charles sat back down in the chair, Molly was falling sleep and as she did so she said 'don't leave me.'

'I will be right here Molly don't worry.'

Molly woke again at 7. He knew Belinda and Nan would be along soon and had to say something now.

He was leaning over her looking into her eyes. 'You are not going back there Molly. I am sorry but, I cant allow it. I know I should wait to say this but I can't. I want you here, close to me always.'

'No I won't go back but Qaseem, Bashira?'

'They are fine Molly, safe and out of Afghan I spoke to him yesterday.'

She tried to talk more but he shhhh her and she went back to sleep.

An hour later Belinda and Nan arrived. He spoke to them outside. There was relief on all sides that she was going to be okay.

Belinda began to cry and Nan was telling her to pull herself together before going in. Belinda was nodding thru the tears.

He sat down in the chairs outside Molly's room whilst Belinda and Nan went in. He wanted to let them have some alone time. He pulled out his phone. Texts from his mother with flight details. They would arrive into Birmingham that afternoon and stay the night locally. They would come straight to the hospital.

He sent a text back giving an update. He could not put in about the baby. He put his head in his heads thinking about what could have happened. He owed Qaseem everything, once again he had taken care of Molly. He would be forever be indebted to him.

Molly had been pregnant, a baby he was so relieved she was alive and going to be okay. The loss of the baby was almost irrelevant. He pushed his hands thru his hair realising that was a terrible thing to be thinking. But, they had time. Hell, she was only 20 they had lots of time. He needed her to get well and then they could talk about babies. It was not something they had even discussed. He just assumed that one day it would have happened. Never this soon.

His phone was buzzing again, he looked at it. An email from Jo. He quickly replied advising that he was going to be out of contact for a few days and why. She replied immediately ignore everything. Lets touch base next week. You need anything tell us and we will sort it.

They were nice people, he knew this was something he wanted to do, needed to do for him. But, right now Molly was his priority.

He stood up and went to walk back into her room. Pausing outside at the three woman huddled together. He stepped back. Leave them alone he thought.

Time for some coffee, he headed off to the canteen. Realising he was also hungry having not eaten since yesterday.

He walked into the canteen and picked up a box of coco pops 'they will do nicely' he said aloud.