A/N: Just a little scene I couldn't get out of my head after the last chapter. Enjoy!
Driving Miss Molly
"I have a feeling I'm going to regret this," Charles groaned from the passenger seat of a beat up Land Rover Discovery.
"Oh wind your neck in Bossman. I've got it all under control," Molly grumbled as she checked her mirrors one final time before pulling out of the parking space and headed for the exit gate. Her driving test was coming up in a few weeks and she wanted to squeeze in some extra practice. Saturday morning was usually quiet at the barracks so there shouldn't be too many army personnel around the base and the surrounding tracks. Charles winced as Molly ground the gears as she changed from first to second gear. Oh yes he was definitely going to regret this.
'Ok the mission is simple James. Stay focused. Stay alert. Keep us both alive.' Charles whispered to himself as Molly navigated a pot hole. The crater sized hole in the road was near impossible to miss. It caused the Land Rover to jerk from side to side so violently that Charles had to grip the hand rail above his head to prevent him from bashing his head into the window. "Oi! I heard that. What happened to you trusting me?"
"I do trust you. I trust you with my life 100%. I'm just not sure I'm quite ready for you to do that behind the wheel just yet," Charles joked. Molly sent a scathing look his way and flipped him the finger.
"Both hands on the wheel Dawse," Charles barked and Molly obeyed instantly. She knew she was in trouble when he used his Commanding Officer tone. If she didn't follow his instruction she knew this little adventure would be over before it had even begun. She drove steadily down the winding dirt tracks gradually gaining speed as the road opened out in front of her. She loved being behind the wheel. The feeling of being in total control. Growing up in London Molly's world began and ended around East Ham. She'd never been outside of England until she had stepped on a plane heading for Afghanistan. Her time in the Army had opened her heart and mind to a whole different world. Molly loved immersing herself in the culture, the landscape, the language of the country. Well, as much as her job would allow.
Up ahead, Molly could see the low level railway bridge with the dip in the road. Smirking to herself she thought it was about time she had a bit of fun. As she neared she pressed her foot down on the accelerator a little more firmly and Charles, as if sensing danger, glanced over at the dashboard. "Molly what the…" Charles' question trailed off into a small gasp as the Land Rover drive over the dip hitting it at such speed that, when the road levelled out once more, the wheels left the ground for slit second before returning with a bump. "I bloody knew I shouldn't have eaten breakfast," Charles mumbled as he waited for his stomach to settle. Molly was grinning like a kid in a sweet shop. "I used to love doing that as a kid. That split second when your stomach drops away and you feel completely weightless. That was as close to flying as I used to get."
They were now approaching the main road that led back to the main guard gate. Molly began to slow down as Charles let down the window to show the officer in the guard box their ID. "You might want to slow down a tad Dawse." Molly nodded and eased her pedal off the accelerator and went to slam on the break as she realised in panic that the barrier was a lot closer than she had thought. As she slammed her foot on what she thought was the break, the car shot forward at an alarming speed. In that split second she had confused which pedal was which and slammed her foot onto the accelerator instead of the break. The car went sailing through the half opened barrier, the painted wood splintering into hundreds of pieces as the car crashed through it. The guardsman stood gaping in shock as the car sped past.
Molly in a total panic, tried to unjam her foot from the accelerator. "Dawse Look out!" Charles shouted. To her horror she could see most of 2 Section and some of 3 section practising their drills on the parade ground marching head first into the direction of the speeding car. Molly, unsure of what to do, pressed her hand down hard onto the horn and spun the wheel. The platoon looked up in confusion before their faces morphed into astonishment and surprise. A slit second was all that was needed before they scattered in all directions, sending equipment and burgens flying, like pins in a bowling alley. "Dawse for fuck sake use the bloody break," Charles yelled. Molly slammed her foot on the break and reached down and yanked hard on the hand break. The tires screeched in protest and the back tyres swung violently to the left sending the car into a 180 degree turn before coming to an emergency stop in a cloud of smoke. Both Molly and Charles were thrown forward in their seats before being forced back. Inside the car was deadly silent. Molly shakily put the car into neutral and switched off the engine. Neither moved. Charles, who was breathing heavily, slowly opened the door and climbed out.
Looking over his shoulder he could see the platoon slowly climbing to their feet inspecting themselves for injuries. He spotted Mansfield and Fingers in the crowd. "Hay Bossman, when we joked about you giving Molls a crash course in driving we didn't mean literally," Mansfield shouted over to laughter from the crowd.
"Mansfield?" Charles shouted back questioningly. The platoon, who recognised the tone, all waited in anticipation to see what would happen next. Mansfield knew all too well what was coming. "Shut the fuck up Sir?"
"Correct Mansfield."
"Sir" He called back feeling slightly smug.
"Oh Mansfield?"
"Yes Boss?" Mansfield called back in confusion.
"Full kit inspection tomorrow 06.00. Got it? Lovely!" Mansfield groaned, knowing full well he had just lost his Sunday lie in. The platoon cheered. "Ah proper rinsed by the Bossman!"
Charles moved around to the driver's side where Molly remained unmoving. He bend down and lent his head into the car through the open window searching until he met her eyes. Her eyes were downcast, her bottom lip trembling ever so slightly. She looked like a child who had been caught with their hand in the biscuit tin and was expecting to be yelled at at any second.
"Well at least we can tick emergency stop and hand break turns off the list Dawes. Your breaking distance needs a bit of work though," He smirked before flicking her on the forehead.
"Ow! What the bloody hell was that for?"
"For not listening to orders Dawes." Molly sighed and gave a defeated nod as she got out the car. "Any casualties?" She dared ask.
"Nah, just Mansfield's pride," Charles joked. They both laughed and made their way across the parade ground. They stopped short as they noticed an imposing figure striding towards them. Uh oh we're in trouble now.
"Private Dawes. What the bloody hell do you think you're doing? If you wanted to practise your driving skills around base in peace there are much easier ways of clearing the area. Next time book a bloody time slot like the rest of us. Got it?" Molly stood frozen to the spot as Major Winters went to town. She wished the ground would swallow her up and be done with it.
"Yes Major," She sighed as everyone laughed. Maybe Jackie was right. Trouble definitely did seem to find her no matter where she went.