No Good Deed (Goes Unpunished)

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Molly asked anxiously as she allowed Richard James to help her into her jacket. She was in Bath on a weekend pass and had reluctantly agreed to join the James family as they cheered on Sam at his school's rugby match before they flew to Prague for the week. Although excited to see Sam, the same couldn't be said about coming face to face with Rebecca again after their last encounter. It was Margaret who answered Molly's question. "Don't worry, Rebecca is aware you'll be joining us. You never know, it might give the two of you an opportunity to get to know each other better."

Molly couldn't stop the snort from escaping. "The last time I tried to extend an olive branch to Rebecca I got it thrown back in me face. She was lucky I was too worried about Sam or else I'd have shoved it up her arse. Sayin' that, it probably wouldn't fit up there, what with the stick that's already jammed up there." Richard bit the side of his cheek as he fought not to laugh. Margaret however, wasn't about to let Molly off the hook so easily. "You know she didn't mean what she said. She was just mad and upset about what happened to Sam and you just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. She knew she was in the wrong but she's stubborn. A lot like someone else I know." Margaret remarked with a pointed look at Molly, who dropped her gaze to the floor. Begrudgingly Molly nodded. "Fine. I'll be nice. But if she starts anything…"

"Then you will be the mature one and rise above it like I know you can." Margaret countered with a mock glare, having heard numerous stories of Molly's temper. Her putdowns had become legendary amongst the boys in their section as well as other members of the DRMC who had been unlucky enough to catch Molly on a bad day. Margaret herself had heard first-hand some of the acid tongued putdowns she had aimed at Two Section, and was proud of the fact that a little old thing like Molly could hold her own, particularly in a male orientated environment. Molly didn't need fisticuffs. Her sharp words were like knives when used effectively and that, coupled with a few withering glares, was enough to send the strongest of Army men running for the hills. Margaret only hoped that Rebecca saw sense and put things right like she'd promised she would.

Their exchange was interrupted as Charles appeared at the threshold fidgeting impatiently. "What is this a mother's meeting? I thought you said you'd be behind me. We'll hit all the traffic if we don't leave now. Double away!" It was Margaret's turn to bite her cheek as Richard and Molly shared a mischievous look before they simultaneously turned to Charles both giving a mock salute each as they marched, in perfect sync, past him out the door towards the car.

"Yes Bossman!"

"Right you are Captain!"

Charles couldn't help but laugh as he watched them in the street. "Stop taking the piss you two!" With an exasperated look he offered his arm to Margaret. "She'll give me grey hairs." Margaret laughed as she shut and locked the door behind them. "Don't be too hard on her, she's worried about today. Let her deal with it how she chooses, at least she's smiling. The way I see it, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em." Charles stayed silent as he watched Molly attempt to show his dad how to stand to attention, a ghost of a smile on his lips. Shaking himself out of his stupor he offered his arm and proceeded to march a laughing Margaret confidently down the steps towards the car. You can take the man out of the Army but you can't take the Army out of the man. At least, not easily.

Margaret followed Charles and Molly as they walked hand in hand along the river towards the Recreational Ground. She couldn't help but chuckle at her son's attempts at explaining the rules of rugby to Molly. Whilst she enjoyed watching rugby, they all knew she was a football fan through and through. As they wound their way around various stands and tried, with varying degrees of success, to dodge getting their legs bashed by exasperated mothers with push chairs, Margaret spotted Rebecca and Sam stood talking to Sam's coach. As they approached Margaret couldn't help but notice Molly's body tense as if poised for a fight. Charles placed a reassuring arm across her back before he greeted his ex-wife with an awkward hug. Molly nodded politely at Rebecca who returned the gesture with an awkward smile. Sam, oblivious to the tension, began talking enthusiastically to Charles about some of Bath's players he had spotted. "Can we go see them and get an autograph please Dad?" Richard took the lead and the men left leaving the ladies behind under Margaret's watchful eye.

The women stood in awkward silence, neither wanting to be the first to make a move. Eventually, Rebecca broke the silence. "Can we talk?" Margaret didn't miss the weary look Molly sent Rebecca before she nodded and walked over to a vacated picnic table. Not wanting to intrude, Margaret tried to make tactful retreat, "I'll just be over here if you need me. Play nice now."

"No Margaret you can stay. I think we'd both prefer it. Look, Molly I owe you an apology. I behaved abysmally the last time we met and I said things that were completely uncalled for." Molly said nothing as Rebecca shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Ohh good girl, making Rebecca work for it. "I'm sorry. I was acting like a complete bitch and you didn't deserve the brunt of it." Margaret watched Molly's face for any sign of what she might be thinking or feeling but it was completely blank. Margaret and Richard were the only ones who really knew what had happened that day and just how much Rebecca's words had hurt Molly. For her part, Molly, knowing how hard both Charles and Rebecca had worked to rebuild their friendship after their divorce, hadn't wanted Charles to get involved and inadvertently force him to choose a side. Finally, Molly spoke. "I didn't mean to make you feel like I was taking over. In all honesty I went into auto pilot. I'm so used to being the first one on the ground I completely forgot about the other paramedics. My priority was getting Sam seen to as quickly as I could."

Rebecca had been away on a business trip and Sam was staying with Charles and Molly for the week. Although Sam was accustomed to shuffling between homes, everyone was keen to ensure he had structure and a routine wherever possible, so Charles, Molly, Margaret and Richard had taken Sam to his rugby match as normal. Rebecca had promised to do her best to get back in time. It was during the match that everything had gone to shit. During the game Sam had been involved in a particularly nasty tackle that had resulted in him being knocked out. Although he had come around fairly quickly, the medical team were taking no chances and suspecting he could have a concussion, sent him straight to hospital to get checked out.

Margaret was quick to back Molly up, "She was there straight away Rebecca. As soon as he was hit Molly was up and running. By the time she had reached Sam he was conscious and refusing to let anyone else near him. He was disorientated and panicked by all the people but Molly was able to conduct an initial assessment of his injuries whilst keeping Sam calm and still. That gave Charles the chance to explain to the paramedics that Molly was an Army medic so knew what to do. They were happy to have an extra pair of hands to help get Sam comfortable." Rebecca had nodded and Margaret could see she was finding it hard to speak. It was Molly who continued.

"Seeing Sam go down like that. It brought it all back." Seeing Rebecca's confused look, Margaret clarified. "Smurf."

"I was there when Smurf died. He collapsed in the middle of the pitch. One minute he was practising his dribbling, the next, he was clutching his head and falling to the floor. He didn't get back up."

Margaret noticed the look of daunting horror on Rebecca's face and she reached out and gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "I couldn't do anything for him. Smurf I mean. I felt so helpless watchin' the paramedics. I guess I felt I could help Sam because I knew what was wrong. I could do something for Sam in a way I couldn't for Smurf."

"Oh God! You had to deal with that, as well as worrying about Sam when I came into the hospital and started running my mouth off."

Molly smiled sadly. "It weren't your fault. We was all worried."

When they had arrived at the hospital Charles had been allowed to go straight in to be with Sam and Molly had volunteered to stay and fill out the paperwork with Margaret and Richard whilst they waited for Rebecca. They were almost done when a staff nurse had approached Molly and told her she was free to see her son. Unfortunately Rebecca had chosen that particular moment to make an appearance. To say she wasn't impressed had been an understatement. She'd coldly informed the nurse that she was in fact Mrs James and Sam's mother and that Molly was nothing to do with her son. She'd then completely dismissed Molly's attempts to explain and instead snidely suggesting that it would be an idea for Molly to step back and not to become too attached to Sam as she didn't want to have to explain her sudden disappearance from his life when her relationship with Charles didn't work out. She'd then followed the nurse to the ward without so much as a backwards glance. It was when Molly had turned around, tears in her eyes, that she saw Richard and Margaret stood a few feet away and trying desperately to pretend they hadn't heard the tail end of the conversation. Molly had broken down and made them promise not to say anything to Charles.

Margaret watched the two women as they contemplated what to do next. She knew by the look on Molly's face that she wanted to say more but was scared of rocking the boat even more. Margaret gave a subtle nudge of her head in Rebecca's direction and Molly seemed to get the message. Keeping her eyes on the pitch Molly spoke. "I ain't trying to replace you or nothing. You will always be Sam's mum and I don't ever want you to feel that that is being threatened." Rebecca didn't say anything instead indicated that it was ok for Molly to say what she needed to.

"Look I'd like it if we could all get along. You and Charles have a son together. Whatever happened or didn't happen between you, you're both going to be a part of each other's lives always. Whether you like it or not, I intend to be around for a long time. Do you really want it to be awkward and uncomfortable for everyone? I'm willing to be civil, I've got nothing against you and to be perfectly honest, I'd appreciate it if you didn't judge me on a 10 word conversation next to a hospital bed. We'll discount the last encounter for obvious reasons. I love Charles, and Sam too. That isn't going to change. I like spending time with them both. Please don't punish Charles just because he's found a piece of happiness."

Rebecca paused as she let Molly's words sink in. In truth Margaret could see Molly had surprised her by being so forward and open. If Rebecca wanted to have any sort of positive relationship with Molly, now was the time to lay everything on the line so they could start again. Whilst Molly was usually very forgiving, it only went so far. Taking a deep breathe Rebecca jumped right in.

"I know I came across as a bit stand-offish at the hospital. I was still angry that Charles had volunteered yet again to put himself in danger and I was scared at just how close we came to losing him. Thank you for bringing him home to us by the way. I'll not pretend it didn't hurt that he'd moved on. Any fool could see the two of you had chemistry. Not to mention Sam seemed to really like you. He's not one who takes to new people easily you see and he wouldn't stop talking about you after we left the hospital. I suppose I was a bit jealous of how easy you seemed to slot into their lives."

Molly shook her head. "It weren't like that. You make it sound like it were easy for me an Charles to be together. It wasn't."

"I know that Molly. I also know how understanding you've been about Sam. I hear you didn't find out under the best of circumstances. Most women would have run a mile. But not you. You accepted Sam's place in Charles's life. You've been extremely patient and haven't tried to push a relationship on him, instead letting him get to know you on his terms and at what speed he is comfortable with. I'm sorry for what I said in the hospital. I'm glad you want to get to know Sam. I never meant for you to doubt your place in his life. He adores you and that won't change.

I think that's what was so hard about seeing you together. You're clearly good for Charles and Sam to. You balance him out. From what he's told me he found it easy to open up to you about the important stuff. You understood the pull the Army has on him and the need to be out on the front line when he could be home safe with his family. I never could understood why he would choose to be away from us. It took me a long time to realise that he wasn't very good at being settled. He was too restless, always looking for the next adventure. That's one of the reasons we stopped working as a couple. We didn't communicate with each other and we both wanted completely different things and neither of us knew quite what to do about it. We still love each other but we work better as friends. I'm glad he's found you. Truly. He deserves some happiness. The last few years have been difficult on him, as I'm sure you're aware. I'd like to try to be friends. Just…." Rebecca trailed off.

"What?" Molly prompted.

"Just promise me you won't hurt him." Margaret watched Molly's face break into a smile as she spotted Charles in the crowd.

"That ain't gunna happen. I know you're not what you expected for Charles. I'm young, I swear far too much and say the first thing that comes into my head without thinking. But that doesn't mean that I don't love Charles because I do. I'm not used to relying on others. I don't trust easily or let many people in. But Charles believes in me and encourages me to be better just as I am. He's the best thing that's happened to me. I ain't gunna do anything to spoil that. But, if I do you have my permission to kick my arse how's that?"

Both Margaret and Rebecca laughed.

"Fair enough. I'll take that. Look after him Molls Charles is special." Molly grinned

"Oh I know, he's a diamond alright as me Nan says."

Margaret let out a sigh of relief, glad they were able to clear the air. She knew deep down they could be great friends if they got past their insecurities and got to know one another. At least now, it looked like there might be a good chance of that happening.

"Right ladies are you ready for an exciting game of Rugby? Sam's game is about to begin and Charles has found a great spot." Margaret looked up to see Richard grinning down at them. Both Molly and Rebecca stood up and started walking over. "Better not keep Captain Stern face waiting ay Rebecca? Wanna place your bets on who's gunna win?"

"Nah me and Charles have got a bet on how much you lot are going to end up putting in Sam's swear jar during the match. I reckon it'll be Margaret but Charles thinks Molly." Richard laughed at Molly's reaction as she muttered under her breath. He leaned over and whispered in her ear, "Mission accomplished?" Margaret gave him a smile as they neared Charles. Both Molly and Rebecca were already cheering.

"Mission accomplished. They'll get on just fine. You wait and see,"

"Care to bet on that dear wife?"

A/N: Thanks for the continuing support for this story. A big thanks for everyone on OGA. You nut bars keep me sane with your continuing support and general loveliness and crazy discussions.

OG belongs to Tony Grounds and the BBC.