Hi everyone!

Welcome to the next installment in the "Elvis and Georgie Forever"

series... x

Hope to see you along the journey ...

Desperate Measures

…..Three months on…..

0730 – Hereford, UK

Georgie snapped the little leggings closed with an exaggerated expression of delight. Nine month old Daniel bounced and flounced, enjoying the attention, eager for more.

"Tomorrow's a special day for daddy! Yes it is!" she cooed.

"Dahhhh…."

"Yes! Dahhh dahhh," Georgie grasped his wee feet and kissed them. "Daddy will be so happy and you will get to see your big sister, Laura. She is so anxious to see you."

Daniel watched his mother, completely attentive to her face and tone of voice. "Dahhhh dahhh," He uttered amidst giggles.

"Whos' a funny little lad huh? No wonder daddy calls you Private Jolly."

"Is the private acting up?" came a deep familiar voice.

"Ohhhh, there he is," Georgie said waiting for Elvis to appear next to her. As soon as Daniel saw him he laughed and clapped his hands.

"Wha' are you all excited about? Huh?" Elvis said extending a hand down for Daniel to grasp, pulling him up as the baby held on. "Strong little bloke aint' ya," Elvis said, pulling him up and down, Daniel cackled with laugher the entire time.

"Right, so this isn't physical training and he is not a hand weight," Georgie said tidying up the dressing table.

"But he likes it. Besides, I'm helpin him with his pull ups."

Georgie grinned and bounced her head as though she had heard this a million times. "Did ya have a good run this morning babe?" she asked.

"Yeah. Beaut of a day out there."

"I cannot wait to be able to take a jog. My backside is startin to poof out."

Elvis paused to lean back and take a gander at her concern. With the usual Harte mischief in his eyes he said, "Ya got no problem there George."

"Yeah? Go on. Are you forgetting how you were after the concussion? Wanting to get out there, back to action?" She could never bring herself to say, 'the time you were shot in Afghan.' The thought alone of Elvis taking a bullet graze to the head made her cringe.

"Oi! Yeah, the concussion. Seems ages ago, eh?"

"Yeah. You're still loopey though," she said finishing her task and smiling to herself.

"How so?" he asked innocently, watching her move away to the cot.

Xxxxx

0930 – Train Station – Hereford, UK

Elvis looked up at the arrival board every two seconds until he saw the incoming train from London confirmed on the screen. Then he checked his watch and texted Georgie that Laura's train had just rolled in. This was his coveted weekend with Laura and as fate would have it, tomorrow is Father's Day. He took a deep breath and calculated the time it would take for Laura to disembark, then went straight away to the platform. She was traveling light, or so Debbie had told him. Laura wanted to pack her things in a Bergen like he does.

It tickled Elvis when he saw her stepping onto the platform clutching a tan canvas ruck sack. Her sandy-blonde hair was pulled back in a pony tail and her dark eyes searched the crowd, eager to catch sight of her father. When she did Elvis waved high in the air and sped towards her.

"Daddy !"

He was right there, crouching down to embrace his little girl. "Hiya sunshine! How's my angel?"

"Hi daddy! I am well and you?" Laura replied squeezing herself into his chest. Elvis smiled from ear to ear, his eyes closed briefly as he hugged her close. "I wanted to bring Newton but mummy said no."

"It's probably best this go round. Maybe next time when I can drive ya 'ere." Elvis said moving them away from the crowded platform.

"But I wanted him to meet Daniel."

"There is plenty of time for Dano….Daniel and Newton to get to know each other sweetheart. Summer holiday comin soon, eh?" He said crouching down to her again.

"Yes. I suppose," she said thoughtfully. "Look daddy! I've got a Bergen!"

"I see 'at." Elvis said, looking the ruck sack over. Laura watched him closely. "Looks regulation to me ma'am. We are good to go."

She burst into a smile. "I told mummy it was."

Elvis grinned and easily hoisted the sack over his shoulder taking Laura by the hand and walking them to the exit. She swiftly brought him up to date on the happenings in her life including how she had to postpone her piano lesson for a bit because she punched a boy who made fun of her boots.

"My thumb was sprained the doctor said, but now I can play my scales and songs again. Daddy, should I have Georgie take a gander and make certain all is well?" she said with excitement in every step she took.

"I reckon Georgie would fancy a look," he said wondering why this was the first time he was hearing about the incident. "Where did ya punch the bloke?"

"In the nose daddy!"

Elvis bit back a chuckle, "Nah, I meant where were ya when it 'appened?"

"At the playground."

"Well you be careful, eh?"

"I am. He's not laughing anymore," Laura said with such confidence that Elvis felt a flash of déjà vu. Laura was so much like him.

"Mummy said I should have told him to hush."

"She may be right there. But I reckon ya got your point across to him."

"I did and besides, Dalton was there to help me if I needed it," she said skipping away from Elvis when she spied their vehicle in the car park.

Elvis stood alone, briefly taken aback by this new revelation. "Dalton? Who…..who's Dalton?" he asked walking faster to catch up.

"My best mate."

"Well then, I will need to hear more about Dalton," Elvis said with raised brows as he clicked the key fob to unlock the car door.

Xxxxx

1030 – Hereford, UK

Georgie had whipped up a batch of chocolate chip cookies to celebrate Laura's arrival, who was presently upstairs in her bedroom 'storing her gear" as had told them.

"I can't get over how she's grown," Georgie said plating the large cookies one by one. Elvis crossed one leg over the other as he leaned against the wooden counter.

"Yeah….jeez George. It's only been a few weeks. Ya know she punched a kid and Debbie never told me about it," he said.

"Punched a kid?" Georgie said pausing to look up at him.

"Yeah. She wants to show ya her hand by the way. And…. I am still pissed off about Debbie lettin her travel 'ere alone."

They could hear eager feet trouncing down the stairs. "Wanna bet she swings off the post?" Georgie deadpanned. "She is you all over."

Elvis smirked a laugh. "You ain't helpin me 'ere."

"Maybe Debbie didn't tell ya to keep it from becoming an issue."

"Maybe…."

Laura burst into the kitchen. Pony tail swinging wildly. "Room's all sorted," she announced.

"Ya made quick work then," Elvis complimented.

"I did. Auntie Marie kept it tidy," Laura said scrambling herself onto a chair.

"She will be happy to know you approve," Georgie said cheerily, placing the cookies on the table.

"Chocolate chip cookies! My fav!" Laura chirped. "Can Daniel have some?"

"Only very small pieces," Georgie said, "but he's still napping so we'll let him be for now."

"Alright. Georgie will you take a gander at my hand?"

Georgie looked up at Elvis then took Laura's right hand between her palms, gently turning it over as she examined it. "What am I looking for honey?"

"Does it look OK?"

"Yes. But why are you showing it to me?" Georgie asked pressing over the knuckles.

"I punched Heathcliff Pyle in the snoot for laughing at my boots."

Georgie's eyes flared and she had to lower her head to hide her amusement. "Serves him right," she muttered. Elvis had to camouflage his response as well.

"Mummy didn't reckon it that way and boy did Reginald give me an earful."

"Has this Pyle messed with ya before?" Elvis asked, crouching down beside his daughter.

"Yes. Nan told me to ignore him or stop going to the playground. His dad knows Reginald." Laura said taking a mouthful of cookie.

"Ahhh," Elvis uttered. "Did ya break his snoot…..nose?"

"I don't know," Laura said swiping crumbs from her mouth. "He tried to push Dalton off his bike."

"When did all this 'appen?" Elvis asked. Georgie could see his agitation simmering.

"Two weeks ago."

"Have ya seen Pyle since then?"

"No daddy."

"Has Dalton?"

"No, I don't think so."

Georgie gave Elvis a questioning look and mouthed, 'Dalton?' Elvis stood up slowly. There was going to be a phone call made. Oh yes. The captain should have gotten a full after action report on this.