Medic in the Making
"Achoooo!" Molly groaned as she sneezed for the third time in a row. She turned away from the kitchen island and was met by a pair of anxious brown eyes. "Molls I realllly think you should go back to bed," Sam implored, elongating the L for extra emphasis.
"I'm fine scamp," She sniffles and manages a weak smile as he hands her the box of tissues. "Besides I'm not I'll, I've too much to do. The lads are on their way up to Bath for a visit. I ain't got time to be ill. Whose gunna look after you and Ava with your dad away?" Charles had been drafted in last minute to go to Salisbury and help to train new Army recruits. He wasn't due back till tomorrow. Sam, left alone with Molly for the whole weekend, had appointed himself Molly's official caretaker and watcher when she started to get sick the day before. He appraised Molly with narrowed eyes as she stood up too fast and had to grip the counter for support as a wave of dizziness hit her. He gently took her arm to steady her as she sat back down. "Molls you can barely stand, I think you're definitely ill. You better go to bed." Molly stared at Sam and he met her gaze stubbornly. With his chin juttered out, arms folded, he looked the image of his father.
Molly couldn't help but laugh. "Well look at you Mr Bossy boots! Besides I'm not sick." Sam rolled his eyes and held out his tiny hand, offering her some support. She took it and clutched it tightly, the extra support helping as she stood on shaky legs and slowly shuffled into the living room where she all but fell onto the sofa. "You are ill, you just won't admit it Molls." She shut her eyes with a weary sigh, as she lent her head on the back of the sofa. Her eyes shot open at the gently poke on her cheek. "Say ahhhh Molls!" Sam was stood next to the sofa with the thermometer from the first aid kit in his hand. "Sam where did you…" Molly couldn't finish he sentence as Sam had thrust the thermometer into her mouth. After a few minutes Sam pulled out the thermometer and squinted at the reading.
"Molly you said your normal temperature is about 37 degrees right?" Molly nodded. Sam's tiny face scrunched in worry. "Well yours says its 40 degrees so you're definitely ill! I think you have a temperature and a cold. I recommend you stay in bed."
Molly raised an eyebrow "Oh you do, do you my little Medic?" her sentence ending in a fit of coughing. Sam walked into the kitchen and carefully climbed up onto his stall. Taking out his favourite Captain America cup, he filled it with cold water straight from the fridge and brought it back to Molly. "Here you go Molls, I'll let you have my cup today." Molly smiled gratefully.
"Cheers champ!" Molls smiled as Sam reached over and pulled the throw over Molly, having noticed her shivering, before snuggling next to her on the sofa. Molly's eyes fought to stay open and soon she was dosing off. Sam carefully slid off the sofa and reached for her mobile. Pressing number 4 on speed dial, he placed the phone to his ear. "Hello?" Sam sent a quick glance at Molly who shifted in her sleep. "Uncle Kinders?" he asked uncertainly.
"Sam? What's wrong? Where's Molls and Dad? What happened? Are you ok?" Kinders fired questions off rapidly, forgetting he was talking to a 9 year old. "Molly's not feeling very well. She's got a temperature and is being stubborn. She won't stay in bed. Dad's had to go to Sainsburys for the weekend training. I think Molly might gunna need a medic. It's just us and Ava," Sam explained starting to sound slightly panicked. Kinders gave a light chuckle at Sam's slip up.
"It's ok little man, well done for calling. I'd forgotten your dad was away. We've left Bristol now, me and the lads will be there in 10 minutes. You think you'll be ok till then?"
"Yes. Molls put Ava down for her nap so she'll be fine, I can look after Molls." Sam said reassuringly.
"Ok, do you need me to stay on the phone till we reach you?" Sam seemed to contemplate that for a few minutes. "No I'll be ok."
"Ok, see you soon."
Ten minutes later Sam was checking Molly's temperature again, when there was a knock at the door. He ran to answer it. "Who is it?" he asked, remembering the warnings he had from both his parents and Molly. "It's 2 Section Sam," called out Mansfield.
"How do I know it's you?" Sam paused, waiting to see what they would do. An army id came through the letter box. Sam picked it up and spotted the stern face of Kinders.
"Ear Sam, when your sister was born, she was given the middle name Dylan after our friend Smurf, who served with us in Afghanistan." Fingers called. Satisfied, Sam opened the door to find the members of 2 section armed with various shopping backs and their overnight gear slung over their shoulders. "Alright Mini Me," Mansfield greeted him as he ruffled his hair.
"Where's little Miss sick note then?" Fingers called cheerfully as he held his hand out for their usual fist bump. Sam stood with his hands on his hips and glared as the lads entered nosily. "Shush! Molly's sleeping. I just checked her temperature again." 2 Section paused for a second as it dawned on them that a group of grown men were being told off by a child. "Sorry little man!" Kinders replied as he shut the front door with a bang. A few seconds later a cry could be heard upstairs. Ava was awake. The boys groaned in unison. Sam slapped his palm on his forehead and sent the platoon a look reminiscent of their old Captain. Way to go lads. You've been in the door all of two seconds and you've already woke the baby. Not a good start ay lads!
"Right you lot listen up. Fingers and Mansfield, go and check on Ava." The boys nodded and headed for the stairs. "Nude Nut and Baz Vegas, you're on scoff duty. Chicken noodle soup for Molls, Sammy, you want some tomato pasta?" Sam nodded excitedly. "Good. Dangleberries you're in charge of Sam and I'll check on Molls. Brains your with me. Double away." The lads scattered as they received their orders.
"Can I help make the pasta?" Sam asked with a hint of excitement. Dangles nodded with a laugh and bent down to give Sam a piggy back as they dashed off into the kitchen. Kinders and Brains headed into the lounge where they found Molly who was struggling to move into a sitting position, having heard all the commotion. "What you lot doin 'ear?" she asked staring at them in confusion.
"Sam called. He was worried about you, so we thought we'd come over a bit earlier." Kinders answered as he gently scooped her up and carried her into the hall, ignoring her weak protests. 2 Section poked their heads out the door where she was greeted by a chorus of "Dawesy!" Molly stared in shock at the lads moving confidently around the house.
"What's goin on? Where's Ava an Sam?" Molly asked slightly panicked.
Sam poked his head out from behind Nude Nut. "We're fine Molly. Now go to bed, we've got it covered. That's an order!" The section chuckled. Clearly Sam took after his father.
"You heard the young man. Say goodnight Dawesy!" Kinders carried her upstairs to the top floor bedroom, hoping to get her away from the chaos downstairs. He placed her in bed and gently tucked her in. "I'll bring you up some soup in a bit Molls, just relax."
"Are you sure the lads will be ok with Ava?" Molly fretted as she fought to keep her eyes open. Kinders gave a dismissive way. "Yeah, they'll be fine. Stop worrying. I'm sure they've got it all under control." Kinders replied sounding far more confident than he felt.
In the nursery, things were rapidly spiralling out of control. Mansfield and Fingers were trying to calm a wailing Ava and nothing they did seemed to be working. Mansfield stared in panic at the wriggling infant in his arms as her face grew redder and redder.
"Mate, you better do something before she explodes," Fingers declared, sending a wary glance at Ava.
"Me, why me? You do something!" Mansfield gently placed Ava back in her cot before gripped one of her feet and wiggled it as he pulled funny faces. Ava paused for a second before kicking her foot out of Mansfield's grip and continued to cry. Fingers reached for one of Ava's teddy bears and started waving it in front of her. "Ava, look who it is. It's Mr Teddy Bear, he sure wishes you'd stop crying. Yes he would!" He explained in a sing song voice, tinged with exasperation, as he moved the Teddy in time with his voice. Mansfield reached over and picked up a stuffed giraffe and started dancing it around the Teddy Bear so enthusiastically that it flew out of his hand and hit Fingers in the eye. Ava paused in her crying and started to gurgle happily.
"oh did the little lady like that?" Mansfield asked excitedly just as Ava started to cry again. "No no no. Ava look. It's funny see!" Mansfield bent over the cot and picked up as many stuffed animals as he could find, throwing them in Fingers' general direction; each one hitting the target.
"Dude really!" Fingers cried in annoyance. He gently picked up Ava and paced her over his shoulder as he started to jig around the room humming a random tune. "What about if we sing to her?" Fingers suggested, a question clear in his tone. Mansfield placed hid hands in front of his mouth and started to beat box. "Do cha do do da cha.. I like big butts and I cannot like, you other brother can't deny when a girl walks in with a ….." Mansfield broke off his overly enthusiastic rendition of Baby Got Back when he spotted Fingers' raised eye brow.
"Uh mate, not that I don't enjoy the beat boxin or out, but I don't think that song sends a good message yeah." Mansfield thought for a second.
"Aww man, Bossman's gunna kill me! I don't know many other songs word for word." Fingers stared at Ava, deep in thought. "Well actually…there is one song we know."
Downstairs, the living room looked like a bomb had gone off. Sam and Dangles had pushed the tables aside and constructed an impressive fort out of various chairs, blankets and cushions scattered around. Sam was currently led on his stomach in the fort, talking into a walkie- talkie, Dangles was tucked behind the sofa staring at Baz Vegas who lay unmoving, spread-eagled on the floor, an array of treasure scattered around him. "Ok, the coast is clear. The dragon is sleeping. Repeat the dragon is sleeping. Let the treasure hunt commence. Over!" Sam inched slowly across the floor commando style, checking for any signs of movement from Baz Vegas. Dangles poked his head around the sofa, looking through a pair of binoculars as Baz Vegas began to stir making a low growling noise. "Sam be careful, Dragon is moving. I repeat the Dragon is moving. Retreat! Retreat!" As Sam drew closer to Baz Vegas he reached out a hand to take the pile of coins nearest his head when Baz Vegas struck.
"ROAR! WHO'S THAT TRYING TO STEAL MY TREASURE!" he boomed making Sam jump in fright before bursting into giggles. When Baz suddenly lunged at Sam he tried to scramble away but wasn't quick enough. Baz reached him still making growling and roaring noises. He gripped Sam and dragged him closer where he proceeded to tickle every inch of him he could reach. Sam shrieked and tried to wriggle away, his infectious giggle getting louder and louder. "No stop, please! Stop!" Sam gasped as Baz paused, letting Sam gain some much needed air. The door opened and Kinders poked his head in, raising an eyebrow at the devastation around him. Sam jumped up "Is Molls ok? Has her temp gone down? Does she need anything?" Kinders grinned at Sam's eagerness to help.
"Don't worry she's fine. Her temperature is back to normal and she's out for the count." Sam sighed in relief. "What about Ava?" Kinders' eyes met Dangles as he tried to hold back a chuckle but failed miserably.
"Well I guess there is only one way to find out huh! They have been awfully quiet. I haven't heard anything from the monitor either." Baz Vegas reached for the monitor on the table.
"Uh Eggie, shouldn't there be a light on this thing?" Baz asked holding up the monitor. The three soldiers all looked at each other in panic before making a mad dash for the door, Sam hot on their heels. The boys elbowed each other to reach the landing first. Sam, being a lot smaller and quicker, dashed up the stairs and reached the door to the nursery. Placing his ear to listen he frowned when he couldn't hear anything. Baz carefully opened the door and pushed it open. The boys' jaws dropped at the scene in front of them. Sam tried to stifle his giggles at the scene in front of him as Kinders reached for his phone to take a video.
Mansfield was swaying around the room holding a giggling Ava securely in his arms, as he sang an all too familiar song at the top of his lungs. "Don't go breaking my heart." Fingers wound an arm around Mansfield's shoulders as he waved the giraffe he had been using as a microphone under Ava's chin making her giggle as he sang the next line. "I couldn't if I tried." Both sang together as they swayed with Ava between them, completely oblivious to the fact they had an audience.
"Honey if I get restless
Baby you're not that kind.
Don't go breaking my heart.
You take the weight off of me.
Honey when you knock on my door
I gave you my key
The lads in the doorway grinned as they joined in with the chorus.
"Nobody knows it
Right from the start
I gave you my heart.
Mansfield and Fingers spun to face the door, both flushed with embarrassment.
"Well looks like all that extra practise with the Bossman during basic paid off ay Mansfield." Joked Nude Nut.
"Oh shut up you Wa…." Mansfield caught himself just in time. "Wally!" the boys laughed as they continued to tease them. Mansfield shook his head as he gently rocked Ava whose eyes had started to droop. After a few minutes he gently lowered her into her cot as Sam wound the mobile above her bed. "Finally," Whispered Fingers as they made their way downstairs, having left Kinders to check on Molly. The lads collapsed in a heap on the floor. Sam crawled back into his fort and picked up the walkie talkie. "Boys can you tell me a story. One about dad an Molls. Over" Fingers picked up the radio.
"You aren't gunna come out little man? Over!"
"Nah, I'm too comfy. Over." Sam's response was followed by a huge yawn. The lads knew that was a sign that Sam was getting tired. Fingers glanced at the radio with a wicked grin. "Well you know that song we were just singing?" and so he began.
Charles gave a yawn as he let himself into the house. It was gone midnight and he was beyond exhausted. He tossed his keys in the dish and frowned when he noticed a light coming from the living room. He pushed open the door and stared in shock at the devastation that greeted him. "What the fuck?" 2 Section were sprawled in various positions on the floor and the sofa. Sam was curled up in his fort, a walkie talkie clutched possessively in his hand. Nude Nut and Baz Vegas were led top and tail on the sofa and Kinders was led half on the bean bag and half on the floor, with Ava asleep on the floor beside him, supported by various cushions.
Frowning when he didn't spot his wife he made his way quietly upstairs where her found Molly buried under a mountain of blankets. Noticing the mountain of tissues he chuckled softly as he reached down and brushed a few sweaty strands from her face as she stirred. "You ok Molls?" as she let out a groan. "nah I feel rough. I've been in bed all day. Bless Sam he tried to play medic but ended up callin' reinforcements. Why what did the lads do?" Charles chuckled softly.
"Nothing, just thought we'd been burgled due to the mess is all. Don't worry."
Molly mumbled as she drifted back to sleep, "Messy bastards, make um tidy up, else I'll give em a swift kick up the…" she never finished her sentence as she fell asleep. Charles kissed her forehead and whispered "Night Molls," as he made his way downstairs as he attempted to rally the sleeping rabble charged with watching his family.
A/N the song is not mine. hope you enjoyed. Please R and R.