The first few weeks of weeks of Charles tour went with out any problems, their mission was going well and they had managed to get some order in the camp. Charles and molly managed to talk to each other almost every other day. Molly was counting down the days till Charles would be coming home.

It was around a week before Charles was due home and molly was busy with some last minute wedding plans at home when there was a knock at the door. Molly could see through the window 2 men in military smarts. She walked slowly to the door dreading the news that they were bringing she knew from being in the army it must be serious otherwise they wouldn't be here. Molly could tell from the stripes on their uniforms that it was a major and a Sargent.

"Miss Dawes" the majors voice was stern but also soft at the same time

"y-y-e-e-s-s" molly answered to afraid of what they might say

"may we come in"

Molly opened the door wider and led the two men in to the kitchen and busied her self making a pot of tea, trying to avoid the subject. She turned round with the pot and placed it on the table and busied her self trying to find cups.

"Miss Dawes I am afraid I have some bad news about Captain Charles James..."

Molly felt weak and dropped the cups she had been carrying and grabbed at the table to support her as she felt her legs go weak and her hearing go fuzzy she had all sorts racing round her mind

" he was shot and wounded whilst helping in the refugee camp. He was treated and stabilised and transported to the MoD trauma centre at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham"

"miss Dawes ... miss Dawes are you okay" the sergeant had helped her sit down and handed her a glass of water she was in shock

"Do his parents know ? Is he okay?" molly shot out a million questions at once.

"they have been informed yes and I am afraid I don't know more than what I have told you. If you would like we can give you a lift to Birmingham" the major said softly

Molly nodded and smiled weakly and ran upstairs and started throwing clothes in to a bag not quite looking at what she was chucking in. Everything just became a blur including the journey to Birmingham.

Molly ran in to the hospital turning this way and that. It was like a maze inside or it seemed like it to molly everything seemed to look the same. After what seemed like ages molly eventually found her way.

She found the room Charles was in and looked through the little window. He was lay in the bed looking so small and the bed so large. Charles had all sorts tubes and wires coming out of him and he was still unconscious, it reminded molly of the first time she saw him in hospital after her first tour.

As she was looking in the window a doctor came out of the room.

"excuse me how is he" molly nodded towards Charles in the room

" I am afraid I can only talk it through with the family" the doctor seemed quite cold but perhaps that wasn't his fault .

"I am his fiancée, his parents are on their way"

"okay, well he lost a lot of blood and his wound seems to be on a graft that is less than 2 years old, looking at his notes he had a similar injuries 2 years ago, whilst serving in Afghanistan."

"can I see him" molly whispered

"well we had to put him in to a coma as his body started to go in to deep shock whilst in Africa." The doctor's voice was caring at this point

Molly walked in to the room which was deathly silent apart the soft beeps of the monitors attached to Charles and the low whoosh sound of the machine that was breathing for him. Molly sat in the chair that was next to the bed and the silence that followed was unbearable she didn't know what to say or do.

After what seemed like hours molly heard the door open and bang softly, she spun around and saw a young nurse walking in who smiled at her softly. She picked up the chat at the bottom of the bed and started to record Charles stats for the hour.

"when will he wake up" molly asked the nurse

"well it's a medical induced coma, which means..."

"I know what that means, I am a Medical Technician in the RAMC."

" the doctors are hoping it will be the next few days. Talk to him some people day that they can still hear us" the nurse smiled and left the room to see to her other patients.

Charles parents arrived that evening and the three of them sat and waited. Hours passed and pam and Andrew left to find a local hotel the did ask molly if she was coming but she refused to leave Charles side.

The doctors brought Charles out of the coma 3 days later. They explained that he may be groggy and disorientated to begin with but that should ware off.

"Charles..." molly whispered.

"wata" Charles voice was horse and scratchy.

Molly quickly poured a small amount of water in to a cup and gently lifted Charles head so he could sip it. And he drifted back of to sleep for several hours with molly on constant watch to make sure he was okay.

"what were you doing.. I thought you had been killed" molly said angrily, but her rage soon turned to sorrow and she couldn't help her self big fat tears rolled down her cheek.

"come hear" he said holding out his hand

Molly walked over and lay on the bed next to him, watching where she put her self so as not to hinder Charles recovery.

" I am fine well just a little sore," he said stroking molly's hair. "we were ambushed in the camp they were pointing guns at a group of children and I had to pull them out of the way and it was just as they discharged their weapons.

After a few days Charles was allowed to go home the new graft the doctors had put inn had held better than expected and didn't develop any complications unlike the previous time. It would be a slow recovery but molly was just happy that Charles was alive and back home with her.

thanks for sticking with the story. hope you like it please Read and review so I know what your enjoying Duckmadgirl x