A/N Thanks for all the lovely reviews. I'm sorry it's taken me so long to update. I've been struggling to figure out where to take this story.

As always everything belong to Tony Grounds.

All That You Can't Leave Behind

"At this moment there are 6,470,818,671 people in the world. Some are running scared. Some are coming home. Some tell lies to make it through the day. Others are just not facing the truth. Some are evil men, at war with good. And some are good, struggling with evil. Six billion people in the world, six billion souls. And sometimes... all you need is one." -One Tree Hill

Molly gave a tired sigh as she rested her head against the plush cushions, her hands kept busy as her fingers twirled the large purple velvet box containing her Military Cross back and forth. She shut her eyes fighting the images that threatened to overwhelm her. They repeat over and over in her head like a series of old film slides her Grandad used to make them watch when she was younger. The feel of Smurfs blood slowly pulsing around her fist as she realised that she was the only one that could prevent him from bleeding out. CLICK. The agonising cry as Bossman crumpled to the ground like a ragdoll. CLICK. She feels the heavy weight of the gun in her hand; how the cool metal felt so solid and reliable in her unsteady fingers as she mindlessly took aim and pulled the trigger. CLICK. She remembers that split second where time seemed to slow down as she waited, frozen in place, to see if she had hit the target. CLICK. That feeling of dread slowly creeping through her veins as the adrenaline trickles away; her entire body is left cold as her brain finally registers that she had just killed someone. Taken a life. All without a second thought. She can't recall ever being that focused. That alert. She'd never felt so alive. CLICK. She watches Smurf fall to his knees clutching his head before sliding to the side mumbling incoherent words over and over. CLICK. She hears Candy's heart wrenching voice after burying another son. "I gave the Army my boys and they gave me back a flag." She just wishes it would all stop.

The cushion beside her dips and Molly watches from the corner of her eye as Charles takes a seat beside her. She gives a soft smile as he places a steaming mug of tea on the coffee table in front of her without a word. They sit in contented silence until...

"How long have you been having them?" Charles asked softly. There it was. The big purple elephant in the room. They both knew it was there, even last night, but neither were prepared to be the first to broach the subject. Until now. "Havin what?" Molly asked innocently hoping to put off the inevitable for a little while longer. "Molly," Charles replies throwing her a single stern look over his coffee mug. With that one word Molly knew she wouldn't be able to fool him. Not this time. "Since I got back." She mumbled so softly he could barely hear her. "I thought I'd squared it all away. After we spoke I thought it would help. That they'd finally go away. I thought I'd be able to deal with it on me own like. But then…" Molly trailed off.

"Then?" Charles prompted gently.

Molly paused, taking a deep breathe. "Then Smurf happened. I can't help it. Every time I shut my eyes I see it. Over and over again. I thought he was just playin. One minute he was there dribbling the ball like a pro and the next, He just dropped to his knees and fell to the side. I tried to get to him. I ran so hard. He didn't know who I was. Where he was. He'd complained of headaches an we thought he needed glasses. GLASSES! He had the best eyes out the whole platoon, bar you." Molly let out a sharp laugh. "Then I had to go to that bleeding ceremony an everything went to shit. Everyone was so chuffed, banging on about how what I done was brave an that, like I was some sort of bloody hero. I stood there in the middle of Buckingham Palace and it felt so wrong that he wasn't there. They were celebrating an he was dead. It weren't right. I just wanted to get out. I felt the walls closing in, like I couldn't breathe. I'm not brave. I'm the medic. I should have noticed he weren't right. I failed him Charles. I'm an epic fail." Molly's voice broke as she dissolved into tears.

Charles gathered her to him and just held her as she cried. After a few minutes she straightened, and wiped her eyes on the tissue he handed her, his other arm coming to lend strength to her back. "I'm sorry I'm such a mess Charles," she laughed weakly.

"You have nothing to be sorry for Molly," he replied. The firmness in his voice made her look up. "You don't have to apologise, to hide things from me. People deal with grief and trauma in different ways and in their own time. I know that you think you can do this on your own but you don't have to anymore. I'm not like everyone else. I'm not going to run and leave the second things get tough. If I did we wouldn't be here now would we? You can come to me with anything. That's what I'm here for." He reached out and gently wiped the tears away with the pad of his thumb. "If this is going to work between us we have to be honest with one another. You need to let me in every once in a while. I can't guarantee you won't piss me off or vise -versa. That we won't fight and annoy one another because we will. But we'll work it out. Together. Please don't shut me out Ok?"

Molly sat their taking in what he had just said. Nobody had been there for her like that before. She'd never had someone she could completely open up to, to be honest with. Someone who knew her inside out, who understood her and supported her through everything. Good and bad. She knew that it wouldn't be easy for them. They were so different. But like she told her mum. Sometimes, when you meet the right person, all those differences can just disappear and being with them makes you happy. Nothing else seems to matter. She'd found that in Charles. She wasn't about to ruin it.

"Thank you," she muttered quietly leaning her head on his shoulder. "I'm not trying to shut you out. It's just. I'm used to doin things on me own. I've never had anyone believe in me before. It's hard to see what others see when you've always been told you're a no good little slag." Charles held her tighter unsure what to say to that. He knew she'd had a tough time from the snippets she'd shared on tour. "You've done well Molly. Who you were before doesn't matter. It's who you are now that counts. It's the choices and decisions you make now that will define you. Not the mistakes you made in the past. You're an excellent medic. You deserved that Military Cross. You saved Smurf and brought him home alive. What happened after that nobody could have predicted. Least of all you. He was so proud of you. He'd have loved to have seen you get your medal. Probably brag a bit about how it was all because of him." Molly gave a shaky laugh, "Yeah the Welsh Wanker, taking all the credit."

"Everyone believes in you. It's time you did too you hear me?" The last sentence was said in his Captains voice and she knew there was no point in arguing.

"Yes Boss!" she replied with a grin.

"Charles" he shot back with a raised eye brow.

"Yes Charles," Molly answered cheekily giving a mock salute.

Charles laughed and told her to stand "at ease soldier." When Molly did Charles looked up with a mischievous gleam in his eye. "Now then, what sort of techniques will you be showing these Afgan medics Dawesy? I'm more than happy to play patient if you need someone to practise your skills on," He muttered cheekily wiggling his eye brows suggestively. Molly broke into giggles as he lent down to give her a gentle kiss. "You're are a right numpty you know that?"

Charles grinned before replying confidently, "Indeed. Besides, you know you love me just the way I am. Admit it Dawes."

"I do. Love you I mean," Molly replied softly looking him in the eye. Charles could see the uncertainty swimming in their depths.

"See that wasn't so hard was it." At Molly's confused look Charles continued. "You being all open and honest. I'm proud of you. Oh and Ditto Dawes. I love you to." The seriousness of his statement was not lost on Molly as he met and held her gaze. Before, she had been slightly afraid at how quickly and easily he was able to read her; to know her secrets, her fears. But now she was glad she had found that person.

There are six billion people in the world, six billion souls. And sometimes... all you need is one.