(Sorry for lengthy author's notes, but take the time to read them if you can, please.)

Here we are. Very end of Episode 5 after the credits. What happened when he closed the door? This one can stand alone, but also fits with the previous Bath one. I refer to the Top Gun reference again, in fact.

I've been thinking a lot about these two (no duh!) and how I write for them, and my attitude has changed since early in the series. After all 5 episodes my need to write full on explicit stuff for them shifted, believe it or not. I have to say, he had me hooked before it even started. I fell full on for CJ when I first saw the trailer, hence my overwhelming lust splurge! But having seen their romance develop and end satisfactorily, my needs changed.

I've included the explicit stuff because I like writing it and a lot of people like reading it. It scratches an itch, shall we say. It does work here, and I hope it's sensual and loving, but they don't really need it, you know - they've got it sorted themselves. So, here's the deal. There's smut in this (although I wouldn't call it that, I'd call it - for want of a better word - love making), but there's also a lot of character and plot and talk of the future. And I LOVED writing that just as much, if not more.

So. They go into the bedroom at one point (about two thirds in) and close the door. I continue on the inside of that room, but if you prefer, and I understand if you do, read the first part, then stay outside the room and don't read on. Maybe skip ahead and read the last paragraph. But, equally, if you do stay in the room with them, find yourself a quiet spot, make sure you're alone, don't feel guilty and enjoy. It's been different for me writing for these two. I don't think I'm done with them yet, but I think anything more won't be an M rating. I'm desperate to write a scene where she meets his mother. I've got his mother's character firmly in my head.

I'm fully aware that these author's notes are directed at some new readers. It has been a real, real pleasure to have you join me from MumsNet and Tumblr and thank you for your insightful comments. I'm keeping a closer eye on you than you think. ;-) Welcome. Loved writing these. Enjoy. LL x

She knocked. The door opened. He stood there, him all over again. Her heart beat frantically, but she kept her cool.

'Missed me?'

He didn't answer. But he smiled. That smile she had thought of every night. There it was again, right in front of her.

But this time she didn't lap it up eagerly like the puppy she'd been. She stood and returned it, knowing she was giving him the biggest thrill to see her there. Knowing she was looking her best for him, knowing she'd done what she wanted and what he wanted. She'd been brilliant and now she'd brought that brilliance back to him.

He gave a little jerk of his head to beckon her in and something skipped wildly inside her. She walked in like a boss. Like a boss, no longer a stranger to the house or him.

He shut the door and turned to her, still beaming. She thought she'd burst.

'You look …' He couldn't finish his sentence. He exhaled and looked down.

'Go on.'

'You look incredible. You look so incredibly beautiful.'

She flushed with pride. 'Thanks. You're not so bad yourself.'

They were both reeling themselves in, holding back from an undignified mess of ripped clothes and bodies flung across the hallway. It was too sacred a moment not to have a little patience. She noticed his gloved hands. 'What you been doin'? Buryin' a body in the garden?'

For a moment he appeared wide-eyed with shock. She nodded to the gloves and he exhaled a laugh like he always did, the way that made her stomach flip. 'Oh these? Just some cutting back. The escallonia needs taking in hand.'

'Does it now?'

'It does.'

'Is that what you've been up to then? Giving some bushes a right seeing to?'

'Well …' He swayed his head, then her innuendo struck home. He bit his lip, locked eyes with her and laughed. 'No … I've been waiting for … you.'

She gave him a slight smile then glanced about. 'You on your own?'

'For now. My dad's in Dubai and my mum's …'

'With him?'

'At a book club.'

'Ah.'

'But she'll be out for a while. And it's a big house.'

Molly looked about her with a smirk. 'Well … s'alright.'

She stood there. He couldn't stop looking at her, almost like he couldn't believe she was real.

'You can touch me, you know,' she said with a tease. 'Or have you gone off me?'

His expression lost its wonder and grew serious. 'What? No, Molly. I just … no. I thought …'

'What?'

'All this time. I … It's been hell. I thought you might have … gone off me.'

She almost spluttered out a laugh of disbelief, but she'd grown beyond that and could sense his genuine insecurity. She stepped up to him. 'The day I go off you is the day I stop being a Hammer.'

His eyes narrowed. 'Umm …'

'You don't have a bleedin' clue what I'm talkin' about, do you?'

Charles' eyes widened suddenly in realisation. 'Got it! West Ham. Football. See?' He held his hands out to the sides, inviting her appreciation. 'I'm not as clueless as I appear. Anyway, you're not going off West Ham any day soon I take it?'

'Not until the day I die.' With that, she curled her arms about his neck. 'Been wanting to do this for months.'

He sniffed out through his smile.

'Go on,' she said.

'Go on what?'

'Say it then. I'll try again: Been wanting to do this for months.'

Charles beamed. He held her eyes and spoke. 'Ditto.'

His hands had found their way around her waist and with her in his arms at last his effortless confidence returned. He pulled her in close and after a final look into her eyes, as if affirming her presence, he bent to kiss her.

God, it was like coming home. She'd missed him. She'd missed him so much. The way he held her made her melt into him. She didn't mind if they stayed like this forever. There was no urgency to do anything but kiss, a deep, slow kiss that healed and soothed.

Eventually – a minute later, an hour, she didn't know – they drew apart and he rested his head on her forehead.

'D'you know what?' she said.

'What? Take you to bed or lose you forever?'

'Nah. I could murder a cup o' tea. The bed thing can wait 'til after a brew. Nice shirt by the way.' She smiled and sauntered through to the kitchen. Before, Molly had only ever been in the house when his parents were away. She saw his mother's things lying on the table: a scarf, a rota for flower arranging in the Abbey, a well-thumbed copy of a Nigel Slater book. Before, it would have thrown her; she would have got the wibbly-wobblies in her tummy as her sister called them. Not now. She watched as Charles filled a large round kettle and put it on some sort of weird stove thing. It looked like something out of Downton Abbey – not that she ever watched it, there was usually something better on the other side at that time.

'Don't you have a normal kettle from Argos like everyone else?'

'We use the Aga.'

'That thing? Looks like it needs coal.'

He chuckled. 'No, this one's gas. Not as low tech as it seems. Manages to heat most of the house too, although this place is a little big even for this beast.' He turned around and leant back on the Aga rail. 'So … how was it?'

'Told you in my letters.'

'Yeah, but … I just want to listen to you talking. I love your voice.'

'Ain't no one said that to me before. They're normally telling me to shut the fuck up and stop whinging.'

'You don't whinge.'

'Nah. Not any more at least.'

He poured the tea and brought it over to her on the table, where he sat across from her. 'What was it like? Tell me.'

He was looking at her intensely, not only to hear her voice, but to hear about the army again. He missed it, and the loss of it sat tense in his beautiful body. She reached over and held his hand. 'Felt good to be back on deployment. But to start with it was weird having more responsibility. I actually had to plan stuff, think about what I was going to say. Normally, I talk first, think later.'

'I noticed.'

She shot him a teasing glare. 'But … y'know, I did it. It's weird having all them faces lookin' at you. They sit there and you think – nah, you're all takin' the piss – you think I'm spoutin' a load of old bollocks. But, they didn't. Their faces were open and new and they wanted what I could give them. They wanted it, me. It made me feel … so alive. So grown up. Silly, eh?'

'No. Did it change you?'

'Not change. Just made me realise that I had it in me after all. It was always there, I guess, just needed something to let me know that what I could give was worth what anyone else could give.'

He smiled softly, not looking away from her. 'And your feedback?'

'Yeah …' She blushed and dropped her head.

'Go on.'

'The CO said he'd never seen a bunch of new medics so engaged and motivated. He said that my experience and manner just made them respect me so much. Said I was the best he'd had in as long as he could remember.'

Charles looked at her, his eyes alight. 'I believe him.'

'He wants me to …' She laughed in disbelief.

'What?'

'He wants me to take a commission. He wants me to become a bleedin' officer!'

She was almost worried at what he'd say. She bit her lip, the first time she'd been anxious since walking into the house again. The beat of silence stretched out interminably.

'You must.'

She darted her head up to look at him, but there was no cynicism in his voice, no envy, just complete acceptance and devotion. 'There's no doubt,' he reiterated.

'You fuckin' joking? Me? I've barely even got any GCSEs, let alone a degree!'

'You don't need all that. If you're moving up from serving soldier, you'll need to attend ASOB and have tests and interviews, but if you've already been recommended, they'll know you're one to look out for. You may have to brush up on a few things, take an exam or two, but you can do that.'

'Can I?' Her face was skewed with doubt. She took a gulp of tea.

'Yes. You can. Christ, Molly, I'm …' He sighed. 'I want to say I'm proud of you but that sounds stupid and patronising.'

'Wha's that mean?'

He laughed. 'It means that I'd feel as if I was in some way superior to you, that you were lucky to have my admiration, which is as far from the case as it can be. You're my equal. In fact you put me to shame. Look at me, in Bath pruning fucking escallonia.' He looked away and his face grew solemn.

'You nearly died. You need to be 100 percent fit again. That's all.'

He ran a hand through his hair and his frustration fizzed off him. 'I'm going crazy, Molly. I'm going fucking crazy.'

She spoke determinedly. 'Your support's off, I noticed. Meant to say.'

'Yeah. I'm nearly there.'

'So, what next?' she asked, optimism rising in her.

'Well, my old CO got in touch. You know that before everything ... us here, Smurf's funeral … I drafted my letter of resignation. I sent it. They opened it, registered it, but apparently put it aside, put it down as done 'under a time of stress' or something. They haven't accepted it yet. They want me to be fully rehabilitated before they make a decision. They want to see me again.'

'But … that's wonderful!'

'Is it?' He didn't reflect her elation.

'Yes.'

'I made a terrible mistake, Molly. I made a mistake because I let my feelings interfere. A soldier doesn't do that.'

'You didn't. It wasn't anything to do with you, you know that really.'

'If Smurf hadn't known, none of that would have happened on the bridge. We would all have been focussed. He shouldn't have found out.' He was wringing his hands together.

'Do the board know the full story?' she asked.

'Yes. I have to be honest.'

'But they haven't called me in.'

'Because nothing really happened between us. We're allowed to have feelings, as long as we don't act on them.'

'But we kissed.'

'They … let that go.'

'Seriously?'

'We were under pressure, apparently.'

'Under pressure to kiss?' Her face creased in surprise. 'I'd never wanted anything so much in my life!'

'They actually commended us for 'not giving in to our needs', as they put it. I think the fact that I came clean to them first, resigning my commission and everything, swayed things. I was open about it. And you got the MC. You impressed them. A lot. There aren't enough good soldiers. They don't want to lose the ones they have.' They fell silent for a time, holding hands across the table. 'Another thing … My divorce came through. That's all finalised now.'

A warm rush flooded through Molly. The relief was so extreme she felt tears prickling. She forced them back and gave his hand a squeeze. 'How's Sam?'

'Good. Kids … they're nothing if not adaptable. I'm seeing him on Saturday. He's coming here.'

Again, she waited for the wibbly wobblies. They didn't come. She loved kids. She remembered his son's cheeky face in the hospital. But she didn't want to make things awkward. 'I'll go back to London before he gets here.'

Charles interjected immediately. 'No. Don't. He wants to meet you. I've told him about you.'

She wasn't sure. 'It's tricky.'

'It can be. But if the person is right, it doesn't have to be. You'll be brilliant. You are brilliant.'

She smiled. 'Couldn't have done it without you.'

'I've done nothing.'

'You've done everything. Made me believe in myself. If someone like you could feel anything for me … then … I guess I must be doing something right.'

'Jesus, Molly, don't you realise what strength you always had? I told you back in Afghan, that fucking horrific day when Smurf came in with the ring … I told you you'd taught me more than I learnt at Sandhurst. I meant that. Believe it.'

'Alright, Boss. Keep yer hair on.' She laughed. 'But all these things you're telling me about myself, you'd better bloody believe it about you too. You've got that strength. You're a brilliant soldier. An incredible officer. They need you and they want you. You're still Captain James!'

'Yeah …' He laughed again, almost as if he couldn't believe it. 'And … ' With that his expression changed into the stern front of determination she loved so much. 'I think I'm going to stay.'

'Thank fuck for that!' she said, brimming with happiness.

He laughed, as if in relief at having at last said it out loud and having her affirm it. 'God, I can't wait to start again. I feel like I've been chewing my own tail here. I could be Major James this time next year.'

'Ooh, don't know if I like that. 'Major'? Doesn't have the same ring to it as 'Captain'.' She looked at him and winked. 'But … everyone knows about us now. Does it matter?'

'No. Just as long as we're not in the same command.'

'So I won't be under you again?'

'Well …' He smirked and gave her one of those looks, like when he'd written on her arm and told her he'd adore her for always. 'Depends what you mean by under me. Speaking of which … You've finished your tea.'

He was leaning across the table towards her. 'What time does your mum get back?' she asked with a smirk.

'Hours. She's meeting friends after. Hours and hours … and hours …'

He kissed her, slow, sure and knowing, but his hands were on her now, guiding her up. He grazed over her skin and she bared it for him, revelling in the sensation of those pliant lips on her again. 'Could have you right here. On the table,' he hummed.

She almost gave in. After all, in the past she'd rarely made it to an actual bed. But not right now. With him, she did things properly. She held him back, her head swimming with need, and took hold of his hand. 'No, not here. Take me upstairs.'

Charles sniffed out a smile. 'Anything … but this time … we get there at the double.' With that, he pulled her to her feet and raced with her up the stairs, taking them two at a time. 'Come on, Dawes! Anyone would think you had your stilettos on!'

She tried to hurl some suitable retort at him, but all that came was a laugh, especially when she had such a prime view of his legs – and that adorable tight bum of his – striding purposefully up ahead of her.

By the time they reached the bedroom, all sense of decorum was gone. They had months to make up for. The niceties were done, the talking over. He shut the door on them and pushed her against the door, tugging her shirt over her head and finding the zip of her jeans.

'Blimey, Boss, steady on!' she gasped, but her own fingers were mimicking his. Soon his shirt and t-shirt were off. Shoes and socks were kicked to the side and trousers stepped on under quick feet.

'What, Molly? Too much for you? Don't tell me you've been slacking?' He grinned.

She gave him her answer by drawing him in for the hardest kiss and curling her leg around his thigh, pulling him hard against her so that his hard-on dug into her. He reached behind to undo her bra and then moved down, pushing her knickers off easily before ridding himself of his trunks. They were naked again. Molly threw her head out and laughed in delight. 'Why did we wait so long?'

'You wanted a cup of tea,' he slurred before dropping his head to nibble on the dip in her neck as it curved into her shoulder. 'And I am, I hope … an officer and a gentleman.'

'Show me.'

He leant into her and took her hands, pulling them above her head and pinning them to the door. She left them there while he reached down and grabbed her backside, hoisting her up so that she was held only by him. Her legs curled around his hips and he pressed her against the door and kissed her so divinely she thought she'd faint. She'd forgotten the way he kissed, or at least suppressed the memory of it while she couldn't have it. The way he plucked at her lips then slid his tongue in with teasing insistence, the way he ran it round in circles that made her want him to disappear into her. But soon, with a grunt of determination, he pulled back and carried her over to the bed. They fell on top of it with a laugh, which was immediately silenced as he plundered her mouth once again.

But Charles drew himself up and his face calmed for a moment. He looked down at her, his expression almost childlike with wonder. He moved to stroke her body, running his hand from her face, down over her neck, along the curve of her waist and hips. She smiled gently up at him and was rewarded with another kiss. Now he moved, down along her neck, down over her collarbone, little kisses and nips, until he reached her right breast. He held it tenderly, cupping the soft flesh, then closed his mouth around the nipple. Molly gasped in with the sudden pleasure and he glanced up before reapplying himself.

'That's … oh God, yes!'

He licked and sucked and nuzzled and right when she thought she would come from that alone, she felt the sharpest little tug of teeth, not too hard, just enough for her to buck up, to arch into him for more. But he abandoned her with a chuckle and she threw her head to the side with a moan. But he was still moving downwards, letting his tongue trail a fiery path over her smooth belly, down, down.

Molly threw a fist to her mouth in anticipation. Months on tour had denied her any pleasure of this kind. And now she was back, back with him.

He was between her legs, his head sitting poised to draw her expectation to such a pinnacle she thought she may cry. His fingers touched her, moving her dewy flesh apart to open her for him. His eyes reflected his own rapture as much as hers as he gazed at what was before him, but then he darted his gaze up and quirked his mouth in the wickedest, most hypnotically sexy grin.

'Missed me?' he said. Then he dipped his head and licked.

That was almost it. Right then. At the first touch of his tongue she almost came. Molly tried to pull herself back to stem the surge of pleasure, but he threw a hand down on her belly and held her in place.

'Uh uh,' he slurred. 'I'm still your superior for the time being, Molly Dawes.'

So she let him. Molly focussed on holding back, but knew her resistance was hopeless. Luckily, he teased at first, soft little licks and sups, but soon grew more forceful. He brought his mouth right down against her before laving up, drawing from her the most brilliant sense of imminent oblivion. Her clit was crushed under his tongue, but in that warm, wet, pressing way that made stars burst out behind her eyelids. Then he was darting around again, ever growing circles, building, raising her higher all the time.

When she felt two fingers slide up into her, she knew she was lost. She dared glance down. He turned his eyes up to hers just as he closed his lips over her and sucked.

She came.

Oh, Christ, would she ever come as hard again?

A strange sound could be heard, a sort of mewling cry of confusion. Pleasure hurtled through her, propelled from her clit, still enclosed within his mouth, right through, dashing along her body to tingle her hair and flex her toes. She would realise afterwards that the noise was her, a sheer, unadulterated wail of ecstasy.

She slackened. With little pants and murmurs of after-shock, she lay heavy on the bed. Eventually, he crawled up and came to lie beside her, smiling softly. It took a while for her to recover.

'Thank you,' she managed.

He smirked. 'That's the last thing you need to say.'

'I won't say anything then, just one more thing …' She gave him a sly smile of intent. 'I haven't finished with you yet, Captain James.' And with new found vigour, she spun herself over and knelt on all fours before him. He sniffed out a laugh and placed a hand on her back, stroking it down over the rounded curve of her bum, enjoying the smooth glide of her skin. He kissed where he could while moving to kneel behind her.

Charles placed his hands on her hips almost reverentially. 'Christ, Molly, that is … I'd die happy tonight after this.'

'Don't say that, you numpty!'

'But, God … you are …' And he slid into her, his words morphing into a groan of the deepest satisfaction.

He was inside her again. After months of emptiness that she'd filled with enriching herself without him, he was back where he belonged. She squeezed her eyes shut as the tears threatened again but when he moved in her, they were forgotten. Jesus, that was bloody brilliant!

Charles stroked along her slowly at first. They fell silent, their sex creating an atmosphere of hushed awe. Her body relinquished him reluctantly each time he withdrew and welcomed him ardently with each push forward. He hit her g-spot in this position and Molly found herself bunching the sheet tight in her fists to stem the rise of another fast orgasm.

He didn't speak, but she could hear his breath coming heavy through his nose, could feel the concentration and focus on what she was doing to him. Then he leaned over and pulled her up so that she rested flush against him, her back to his chest. She knelt back on his thighs and they adjusted so that he didn't fall from her. He was higher and deeper than ever, as if they were joined inexorably.

He rocked, just enough to affirm his presence inside her. His hand rose to her cheek and he turned her head to him and kissed her, while the other hand found her left breast and cupped it gently, toying with the nipple, completing the circle of pleasure.

Molly imagined that their bodies would fuse, that they were so perfect for each other that they would somehow bind together like this forever. She moaned into his mouth and revelled in the deepness and hardness of him.

'I love you,' he murmured. 'I love you more than I thought it was possible to love anyone.'

'Yes,' she replied. 'Me too. Me too. I love you too.' Slowly, he manoeuvred her back to all fours again. He needed his release now and moved more urgently.

When his fingers reached under and found her clit, she came suddenly and completely. Molly opened her mouth and cried out with the force of it, and with that, he came too.

'Oh fuck, oh fuck … fuck!' he groaned, all that his senses could allow at that time. She could feel him pulsing deep and hot into her and she took it all.

Again, afterwards, she didn't think she'd ever be able to move or think again. He collapsed onto the bed beside her, panting and sated.

She turned into him and he held her. Charles stroked her hair and kissed it softly. As she closed her eyes and drifted asleep, she heard him murmur against her, 'My girl.'

Love 'em! But they do beg for more. At some point, I will give them more, but time is short for me at the moment so bear with me. So good to have you all on board though, sharing in the Captain James love. Let me know your thoughts on this one, I loved writing it. Love their voices in my head. (That sounds weird ... not supposed to.) LL x

For those who share my love of that other captain and those other dudes who do magic ... I haven't forgotten about them. More EW very soon. ;-) x