Molly's eyes fell on Georgie. Of course she'd be the first fucker she'd lay eyes on.
Georgie watched Molly's eyes search for him. She searched every inch of the fob in seconds and the disappointment was written all over her face.
Disappointment turned to worry as she watched the penny drop in Molly's head.
"Where is he Georgie?" She said with urgency as her petite legs carried her as quickly as they could across to his cabin. She pulled the door open, closing her eyes praying when she opened them he'd be sitting there ready to bollock her for not knocking.
His vacant chair stared back at her "where the fuck is he?" She shouted with tears in her eyes.
"Molly I'm sorry" Georgie almost told her it was her fault but decided against a clump. Molly would never forgive her for this.
"Dawes, on me for briefing" Bones ordered.
"Did you know?" She screamed.
"Know what Dawes? And do keep your fucking voice down" He was stern and angry.
"Did you know I'd be stepping off a chopper to this? Have you known all along?" She cried.
"This is exactly why I didn't tell you. My intel came in too late to leave you at home and there was no way I was going to travel here with you snivelling like an idiot. Pull it together, this ain't 2 section now"
He followed her eyes as they fell on Fingers, his arm heavily strapped and in a sling. "Fingers!" She shouted "What the fucks happened?"
She ran despite the fact that Bones hadn't dismissed her "Haven't you heard?" She shook her head, taking in her battered friend "We got ambushed by some drug dealers. Backed us into a corner, Boss told us to jump"
She searched his face confused "Jump? Jump from where?"
"A fucking cliff Molly. We jumped off a cliff. Some of 'em are still missing. Some injured worse off than me..." he trailed off nervously.
"Charles? How bad is Charles?" Her voice broke.
"He's missing Moll. Him and Brains"
White hot pain seared her chest as she struggled to get her breath and keep her legs from buckling underneath her. Georgie caught her by the arm "Hey calm down. Bone's watching your every move Molly, keep it together"
The though of him being alone and injured somewhere caused bile to rise in her stomach. He was a strong swimmer but the leg.. the bleedin' leg, it would never survive a a fall or jump unscathed.
She regretted all the times she'd failed to write up or report him being in pain or the painkillers she'd slipped him off the books. Maybe he'd never have been allowed on another tour had they known, if she'd done her job properly.
She marched into the ops tent where her new team assembled "When are we heading out? Time is of the essence Boss, the med bergen is ready" Bones shot her a filthy look "Thank you Florence Nightingale but I'm in charge here. Sit down, you've had a shock" his words seemed to jumble in her ears and make no sense at all as her mind wondered to Charles and Brains. She needed to be out there.
"So not only is this a rescue mission, but a dangerous one. Those bastards will think nothing of taking a pop at us and it's likely they could be holding one or both primaries somewhere close to use as leverage. Spanner and I will be going out to make an initial assessment and I will plan from there. Dawes, you'll help Georgie deal with any walking wounded from the earlier fall for now and Peanut will be our eye in the sky, looking for signs of Captain James and Private Wiggerty. Unfortunately time isn't on our side and the nature of the terrain means we'll have no choice but to start our search at first light"
