Code Red (WAYHAUGHT)

Chapter 18

They retreated to the cottage. A sanctuary, far away from the world, where Nicole could have all the time she needed to recover. Progress was slow. She had lost almost all mobility in her shoulder. But, she was alive. Waverly was alive and that was all that mattered.

Waverly was there for her. At first, Nicole was frustrated not being able to do things for herself. Her stubborn independence fighting against someone else doing what she should do for herself. This was Waverly, not someone else. She needed to let Waverly take care of her. To love her. Once she let down her guard, the path was smooth. She could dress herself reasonably well, but let Waverly assist with the final buttons. She could bathe herself, but let Waverly caress her body. She let Waverly take the lead in the bedroom, bringing her body to the edge, letting it tumble into ecstacy, as her lover sensuously gave pleasure. Waverly dressed her wound, made the meals, tended the house.

They were, for all intents and purposes, a married couple. Roles assigned, duties accepted, they were happy. In an era which did not permit them to be a married couple publically, they could go about their own business in the secrecy of the cottage. Let the world be damned.

They walked to the shops daily to collect provisions. Nicole would not be able to drive for quite some time. She rang her brother, Robin, who was only too pleased to lend her one of his cars. He rolled up one Saturday morning in a rather swish sports car, on loan for the duration of Nicole's stay at the cottage. Nicole introduced Waverly to Robin as her carer. She would teach Waverly how to drive to give them more freedom. He was adorable. Younger, equally good looking, equally tall, without the red hair. Waverly liked him instantly. They chatted for hours. He joked if Nicole was teaching her how to drive she would end up a racing driver. It was a lovely afternoon. He left, just before 4pm, a friend picking him up. The horn sounding as they sped off into the evening.

Waverly was a quick learner, as Nicole had already recognised. She took to driving effortlessly. Not a fast driver like Nicole, she loved the control, the freedom it allowed. They had days out. Nicole taking her to places she had never been. The essence of their relationship.

They paid a visit to Chrissy. She was staying with Alan at his house. She missed her friend dearly, but understood the world had changed and things needed to move on. They hugged for ages. Chrissy informed Waverly she and Alan played chess every night. She was getting rather good at it. He supplied the chocolate. Waverly was pleased. Alan appeared happy to have someone like Chrissy staying with him. Who wouldn't? She made the world so much lighter. Her joy was infectious and you could see Alan smiling quietly as Chrissy relayed yet another story of their outings to restaurants.

Waverly had written to James. She explained, while she was fond of him, her time at Bletchley had changed her and she felt she was no longer the girl he had dated. She wished him well, hoped he would find someone who would walk by the pond, holding his hand, feeding the ducks. He wrote a lovely letter in reply, saying he was happy for her and wished her all the best.

Swimming lessons were progressing. Waverly could now swim unaided, enjoying the freedom of the water as much as she enjoyed the freedom of the road. They spent hours by the lake, basking in the sunshine, making love. They were lying on the rug one day, when Waverly remembered the carving she had made in the tree. She rummaged around, searching for the one she had vandalised. Nicole watched, confused. "There it is!" she exclaimed, finding the trunk. "W4N. Did you see my message to you from France?"

She had, but had sought to push everything that had happened to the farthest recesses of her mind. So many bad memories. Ones she didn't want to entertain any more. Waverly returned to the rug, picking at a thread, lost in thought. Nicole sensed something was bothering her. "You OK?"

"Yes, fine. Sorry. It's just. Do you ever think of France? I mean, what happened. I try not to. It's just. There are memories." Nicole knew those memories played on Waverly's mind. Nights she had heard her cry out as a nightmare took hold. She had soothed her in her sleep. Let her work through the demons chasing her in her dreams. "I sometimes feel I'm still in France. It's just. Having to pretend to be someone I wasn't. Having to keep up a false identity. Not able to be myself. It's what we have to do here. Not able to show the world who we are. What we are. You and me."

She paused, gathering her thoughts. Knowing what she wanted to say was but a pipedream. "I wish for a world where we, us, are accepted. You know, be together, without having to pretend we're not."

Nicole nodded, knowing it was not a wish that would come true for them in their lifetime. The one thing that played most on Nicole's mind from France was the pill box Alan had handed her. The pill inside contained poison. Enough of a dose to kill quickly. To have to make that decision, to have the choice, the means, to take your own life, weighed on Nicole. She knew she would have had to take this route if captured. She was thankful the choice hadn't presented itself. "Waves, that capsule SOE gave you. Would you have taken it?"

Waverly was silent. She had completely forgotten about it. In all that had occurred, it was not something she dwelt upon. It had been part of the training given by SOE. It hadn't registered, until now. "I'm not sure. I think if there was no way out I may have."

It was Nicole's turn to be silent. Waverly continued to ponder the scenario. She seemed to be weighing up all the factors that would bring her to make such a decision. Finally, she knew what she would have done. "You know what. I don't think I would. I know it was really scary at times. But there's always hope. There's always the possibility of things turning a corner in your favour. I think I would have held on till the very last. And look, you showed up. That proves my point."

That's why Nicole loved her. This woman knew how to find the good in the world, the light, no matter how bad things were.

A month at the cottage had allowed Nicole time to heal. She still had a long way to go in her recovery, but she needed to return to Station X, to help Alan. They both wanted to stay forever in their cosy idyll, but the world called. They said goodbye to the cottage one rainy Sunday morning, both sad, both hopeful for their future. Station X remained active due in no small part to their heroism. Alan had been able to use the information successfully.

They pulled up outside the house. Waverly driving, Nicole rolling her eyes at the lack of speed. She teased her about not putting her foot down, about being an 'Alan' driver. Waverly didn't care. She was enjoying the power she had over Nicole. She knew it was secretly driving her mad. Getting the cases out of the boot, they opened the door. The house was quiet. They made their way along the hall. Waverly heard someone giggle in the dining room. She opened the door.

"Surprise!"

Alan and Chrissy were there, a small feast laid on to welcome them home. It looked like Chrissy had already started on the sandwiches. They hugged. Alan opened a bottle of champagne, which sprayed everywhere, Nicole rolling her eyes. They ate, they drank, they talked. The gang was back together again. They moved to the lounge, where Chrissy managed the record player. Alan had brought with him several bars of chocolate, which they sat and ate, enjoying each other's company. They were looking forward to working together again.

The weeks passed. They resumed their happy existence, moving between the house and Station X. There seemed to be a new energy at the base. The ability to decode messages being sent using the new system was having a significant impact in shortening the duration of the conflict. It would only be many years later that the efforts at Bletchley Park would come to be fully appreciated. For now, they were glad to be doing their bit.

Alan came rushing into the hut, waving his arms around, as if being chased by a wasp. Everyone stopped what they were doing to look at the spectacle. Nicole sat laughing, assuming Alan had finally done one calculation too many and had lost the plot. Waverly looked at Chrissy, who was equally amused, having come to know Alan quite well. "We've done it. We've only gone and bloody done it."

Date: May 8 1945

War had ended.