A/N: Thank you to everyone who has followed this story so far.
I don't own Our Girl that belongs to Tony Grounds. Chapter title comes from the song " All we can do is keep breathing by Ingrid Michelson.
Chapter 2: All We Can Do is Keep Breathing
The feel of a hand on her shoulder caused Molly's entire body to seize up. She could feel the sudden spike of adrenaline in her veins, the effort it took her body to force a single shallow breath through her trembling lips. Her locked muscles screamed at her to either fight or flight as her body went into full combat mode. With shaking hands she automatically reached for the non -existent riffle at her side when she felt a firm hand grasp her upper arm.
"Easy Dawes. Just breathe."
A warm, soothing voice suddenly penetrated the buzzing in Molly's ears just as the panic threatened to consume her. The hand on her arm gently but firmly coaxed her away from the curb and over to a nearby bench. Molly's eyes zeroed in on the hand firmly gripping her arm before travelling up to meet the concerned brown eyes of her former CO. Molly took a deep breath, held it, and then let it out. Her tense muscles gradually relaxed as the threat of danger passed.
"Bleadin hell Charles, you nearly gave me a Sean Connery." Molly gasped in surprise. She sank onto the bench waiting for her frantic heartbeat to slow. "How did ya know I was ear?" Molly asked quietly, her eyes remained fixed on the pavement as she refused to meet his gaze. Charles took a seat next to her and stretched out his injured leg, still encased in the boot, in front of him. He placed a gentle finger under her chin and nudged her face up to meet his. Molly resisted. She couldn't look at him. Didn't want him to see her this vulnerable. This weak.
"Kinders gave me the heads up." He said softly. "They were there today you know. 2 section. He overheard you telling your family about needing to leave after the ceremony and caught some of your conversation. Not much. Just the words Captain and Bath. He could see you were upset and put two and two together. He phoned me to warn me you might be heading this way and that you didn't seem yourself. A quick glance at the arrivals board gave me an idea of when to expect you. I nearly missed you the way you marched out of the station as if the devils was chasing at your heels. You looked like you were a woman on a mission." Charles gave a light chuckle as he finished his explanation.
Molly shivered, drawing the jacket of her uniform more firmly around her. She had left in such a rush she hadn't given herself time to change into her civvies. As soon as she could be excused she gave a hasty excuse to her family, grabbing her bag, threw in a few essentials, before making a frantic dash to the station. "I should have known those fuckmuppets couldn't leave well enough alone. Bunch of bleeding tossers." She muttered with a resigned sign.
"They care about you. You know how they get." Then after waiting a beat, "What happened today?" He asked softly.
Molly sighed staring into the still busy street. "Can we not do this now, please," she pleaded. She wasn't ready to talk about it yet. Charles watched her. His deep brown eyes stared deep into hers as if he was trying to prise out her darkest secrets. Molly felt as though he could see straight into her soul. He must have seen something that satisfied him because he backed down. He got unsteadily to his feet, swaying ever so slightly, before holding out a hand for her to take. "Come on then Dawesy, up you get. We'll head back to mine. We've the house to ourselves." Molly gave a short laugh and took his hand.
"Come on then hop along, lead on."
"Watch it Dawsey, it's not nice to make fun of your superiors. I could still have you up on a charge." Charles joked.
"Yeah you're superior alright. A superior pain in my arse," she joked and together, leaning on each other for support, they set off down the street.