Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace
Stifling a yawn Charles James lent against the kitchen counter impatiently drumming his fingers against the granite worktop as he waited for his coffee to be ready. Hearing a dull thud from above, his lip quirked into a smirk as he heard pounding feet echo along the floor boards above his head. He knew the last semblance of peace had just flown out of the window. As the footsteps grew nearer he began to count down quietly under his breathe. "5, 4, 3, 2, 1."
BANG! A crash was heard at the bottom of the stairs, the noise carrying easily through the echoing halls of the old town house. Charles shook his head ruthful. "SAM CHARLES JAMES! What have I told you about jumping the bottom step? You carry on doing that and you'll fall through the floor!" Moments later the kitchen door creaked open and a mop of curly brown hair appeared. Charles raised an eyebrow as his son shuffled into the room, his huge brown eyes, so like his own, stared back at him innocently. "Sorry Dad! I won't do it again. Promise." Charles shook his head as he noticed Sam was trying very hard not to grin. "humm whatever you say Scamp. Breakfast?" Sam immediately perked up as he pulled out a chair to the kitchen island. "ohh yes please Dad. Can I have Coco Pops?" Charles chuckled as he limped over to the cupboard to get Molly's favourite cereal from the top shelf.
"Dad can I watch the TV?"
"Sure Scamp" Charles busied himself with making breakfast as Sam flicked through the channels one by one. The room was suddenly filled by the voice of a news reporter.
"3 Britons are confirmed dead and more injured after the Taliban launched a series of devastating suicide attacks targeting both The British embassy and the University in the Afghan capital Kabul. The news comes just months after British troops began to withdraw from Afghanistan after a thirteen year conflict."
Charles could have sworn his heart stopped beating right there and then. His eyes tracking the news bulletin as it flashed across the bottom of the screen. Taking a shaky breath he tried to keep his voice steady. "Sam why don't you go into the living room for a bit. I'll bring your breakfast in." Sam looked confused for a second.
"But Dad. We're not allowed to eat in there. Grandma says so." Charles sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "I know scamp. It'll be our secret I promise." As Sam dashed off Charles' phone beeped. Have you seen the news? He quickly sent a reply and turned the volume up. This couldn't be happening. Not now. Not after everything they had been through. It wasn't fair.
Charles turned his attention to the screen as the words breaking news flashed across the screen. He focused on the report. "The attack on the university happened around 1.30 pm local time, just hours after an explosion in Kabul's Wazir Akbar Khan district, where the British embassy and other foreign missions are located. It comes after the threat level in Kabul was raised even higher following a series of recent attacks. Though details are limited, officials have confirmed that two British medics and an Afghan University lecturer, believed to be a former translator for the British Army, were among the dead. Sources say that hundreds were injured, among them, British medics who were believed to be in the city taking part in a mentoring programme to help train Afghan medics as British forces continue to withdraw from the country."
Seconds later Charles' phone was buzzing. He grabbed it quickly.
"Hello? Yes I've only just seen it… No I haven't got any details yet... Have you had any contact at all? ... No I haven't tried, I'm stood here talking to you….what about the lads have they heard anything? .. No I don't think so I'll double check and get back to you… yes I know it's all gone to shit. We just have to wait out. Keep calm. We don't know anything yet… Ok speak soon."
Ending his call, Charles' gaze returned to the TV screen where images of a burnt out car were visible surrounded by debris and rubble. The walls of surrounding buildings crumble into dust, windows shattered by the force of the blast. Ambulance and police cordon off the area where people wander around dazed and bloodied desperately seeking medical attention. Charles shook his head as he switched off the TV. Think positive thoughts James. Thankfully Sam chose that moment to call out "Dad, can we go to the park?"
Charles rubbed his forehead wearily as he opened the front door, dodging an excitable Sam as he ran past. "Shoes Scamp." Sam froze in the middle of the hallway and spun back around hopping on one foot then the other as he tried to get his shoes off in a hurry. Charles wondered where he got all his energy from. After a day of playing on the adventure playground followed by rugby at the park he should be knackered. Charles certainly was. He knows he'll be in for a right bollocking from his physio at Headley for over doing the PT. Although he was making great progress, he still wasn't one hundred percent fit. Under the circumstances, it was all Charles could do to keep himself and Sam distracted. His son had gaining a second wind from somewhere. Probably from that ice cream. At least he hadn't picked up on how distracted and distant Charles had been. After several phone calls that still yielded no news he had to stop himself looking at his phone every ten seconds. He wasn't used to playing the waiting game. He was a man of action. Or at least he used to be. Still no news is good news as his Mother liked to say. He was drawn from his thoughts by an enthusiastic whoop from Sam. "You're back!"
Entering the living room Charles was surprised to find an anxious looking Molly stood in the living room in full uniform, her kit bag slumped at her feet and her arms full of an excited Sam as he filled her in on their latest adventure. She nodded and smiled in the right places but Charles could see she was clearly pre-occupied. "Mate tell you what, why don't you go get started on that new Lego set an I'll join you after I've had a cuppa and a chat with your dad alright." Sam raised an eyebrow as he jumped down.
"Will it involve kissing?" Molly winked and tickled his ribs.
"I'm not gunna lie Sammy. Probably mate. Yeah." Sam's face blanched in disgust.
"Yuck! Kissing is gross!" with that, he raced out the room. Molly turned and gave a half smile in Charles' direction. He moved forward without a word and enveloped her in his arms. "I wasn't expecting you back so soon. Has there been any news? He whispered softly into her hair. He felt Molly's head move in the negative as she clung to him tightly. "It's been hours, surely we'd have heard by now. I tried calling but I couldn't get through."
"Not necessarily, it could take hours to ID people if….. Anyway you don't know if they were even there. Besides, communication will probably be limited if not cut off in the area for a while yet." Molly sighed as she flopped tiredly onto the sofa dragging Charles down with her. "I thought the whole point in us withdrawing was because it was safe to do so. It seems it's all gone to shit since we left." Charles patted her knee softly. "We just have to wait out Dawes. We can't do much else from here. Do you want me to run you a bath?" Molly smiled and gave a nod. "That would be lovely Boss."
"Ok, won't be a tick."
An hour later Molly was tucked up on the sofa dozing with her legs draped across Charles' lap when her mobile rang. Without looking at the caller ID Molly swiped the screen and put the phone to her ear. Hearing the familiar voice on the other end greeting her in Pashto make her heart skip and caused her to sit up sharply in her seat, her legs falling to the floor.
"Qaseem? Is that you?" Molly couldn't help the sigh of relief at hearing the familiar chuckle on the other end. "Yes it is me Molly Dawes." Charles stared at her intently as she gave him a thumbs up before placing the phone onto loud speaker. "Qaseem where are you? Are you ok? Are you hurt? Both leant forward to hear the lecturers reply. The connection was poor, Qaseem's tired voice could be heard breaking up over the crackle of the airwaves. "I'm fine. A minor concussion from the blast and a few bumps and bruises as you English say. It is nothing compared to what others must ensure." The line went quiet. "I tried to help the wounded, there were so many. I did what I could for them. You're skills taught me well Molly but the others…..." Molly smiled sadly. She remembered how Qaseem had been present for several of her talks when she was in Kabul a few months previously. She was glad she could still do some good, help others in the smallest of way even if it was indirectly.
"You did all you could Qaseem I'm sure" Charles intervened. "Have you moved somewhere safe?"
"I've moved to a safer location but I have not left Kabul. They have driven me from my home once. They will not do it again." Molly and Charles looked at each other in silence.
"Qaseem, promise me you will stay safe. You must." Molly implored, her voice breaking as she feared for her dear friend.
"I will Molly. Do not worry. I will call again soon. Goodbye." Molly took a deep breath and let it out shakily as the stress of the day finally caught up with her. Charles pulled her towards him.
"I was so worried Charles."
"I know. Me to. All I kept thinking when I saw the news was that could have been you. You were due to be there Molls. If you hadn't been reassigned back to 2 Section for this upcoming tour to Africa, I could have lost you. Anything could have happened out there if you'd gone back to train another batch of medics."
"But it didn't. I'm here safe with you. I got lucky. This time. Believe me." Charles held her tighter. They stayed like that for a while, both lost in their thoughts. "Do you think he's alright?" Charles sighed. "No not right now. But in time. He will be. He'll find normal again I'm sure. He's a fighter he won't give up." They stayed like that, wrapped in each other's arms, both thankful they have each other.
A/N: This one has a slightly different tone to my other chapters. It's an idea I've been toying with since seeing the news coverage about the recent attacks in Kabul. The attack in the Wazir Akbar Distric did actually happen, the rest is purely fictional. I've been in two minds about whether to post it. Technically this is set before A Request but after Molly comes back from her second tour.