trying to catch up with the situation Marie announced she was going to grab a quick shower before heading back home. And I do mean announced: I was being left in no doubt at all that Marie was moving herself well out of earshot of whatever tete-a-tete might develop between Bridget and myself. Though what that could involve was a very open question.
Especially when you considered the scene, with dashing Dave sitting up in bed without a stitch of clothing on, a bed that was in the sort of condition you'd expect to find if you hot bunked in a brothel. Marie might be getting ready to rush back home like Cinderella after the ball but I certainly wasn't in Prince Charming mode.
In fact, in case I haven't already made it perfectly clear, I was puzzled, still slightly pissed from the champagne and totally pissed off with Marie's 'here-I-am', 'here-I'm-not' routine. The last thing I wanted to do was make polite conversation with anybody else about anything.
Funny thing, really. There was probably some poor bugger somewhere in the city dying of an heat attack at that very moment and wishing to God a nurse was around whilst I had two of them within call . . . odd.
Ah, the penny dropped. The Army didn't want to take any risk of brave soldier Davenport slashing his wrists a few hours after his TV appearance and thereby generating a lot of bad media attention. So that was why I was being kept under close observation until they had me back safe and sound at the hospital.
No, that didn't gel either. If I'd had my way I'd be in a cab with Marie heading back to the hospital right now. She was the one who insisted I stay here. Why? And what did Rump Steak Rogan have to do with anything?
DAVE DAVENPORT
So what brings you here, Bridget?"
BRIDGET ROGAN
I was curious about whether anything was going on between you and Marie, so I asked her and she asked me back if I fancied you at all. So I told her the truth, that I did.
DAVE DAVENPORT
Me! You fancy me! God knows, I was the last in the queue for good looks even before I got my face got ripped up. And I'm bloody sure you've got plenty of admirers yourself -- there's an entire ward of them that I know about, just for starters.
BRIDGET ROGAN
Well, we all figured you'd got yourself into Marie's pants and any guy who could do that had to be something special. But I wasn't expecting her to ask me to take you on. She did though.
DAVE DAVENPORT
What!
BRIDGET ROGAN
That was what she said. She told me she needed somebody to take your mind off her. So I volunteered for the job. Just to see how it went.
DAVE DAVENPORT -- NARRATION
I felt Bridget move closer, further up the bed, finally settling on it again within my reach. I knew that because her hand ran up my arm and then her palm rubbed very softly against my chest
DAVE DAVENPORT
Run that past me again, please, Bridget. What you just said.
BRIDGET ROGAN
Marie thinks you need a change of scenery to remind you it's time to move on.
DAVE DAVENPORT -- NARRATION
Her hand moved lower, boldly going where several women had gone before, though never with less ceremony. Lieutenant Rogan was obviously a girl who knew her own mind. It also seemed she wanted to handle my body in a strictly non-professional manner. And I couldn't believe the word that came out of my mouth without even crossing my mind.
DAVE DAVENPORT
No!
BRIDGET ROGAN
What?
DAVE DAVENPORT
No way.
Sorry, Bridget, I know you're something special but this is not the way I'm going to end it with Marie. Not even if she wants to let me down softly.
DAVE DAVENPORT -- NARRATION
I heard the shower door open and turned my face towards it.
MARIE LEE
What's the problem, Dave?
DAVE DAVENPORT
No problem.
DAVE DAVENPORT -- NARRATION
I got out of the bed, grabbed a sheet, pulled it free and wrapped it around my waist.
DAVE DAVENPORT
See, I'm ready to go. Not back to your house or your life, Marie, just to the hospital. If neither of you are going that way just find a taxi for me and tell the driver we've been to a fancy dress party as the barmy army. You're in the army and I'm barmy. But one way or another I'm walking out of this hotel with you, even if I have to hang onto your belt all the way down to the lobby and holding up this sheet with the other hand.
MARIE LEE
Alright, Dave, alright. Get his clothes, Bridget and let him get dressed. What did you do to him, anyway?
BRIDGET ROGAN
Nothing he shouldn't have enjoyed. But it seems as if you've got yourself some kind of a romantic suitor here. You're the only one that he's interested in.
DAVE DAVENPORT -- NARRATION
No way was I a romantic. But there was something about Marie and me that was worth more than just rolling over into another woman's arms. If you're an Arsenal supporter you don't wear Chelsea colours, do you?
Still, there was a moment there, when they were both helping me on with my trousers when I would have carefully considered a joint invitation to reverse the dressing procedure. But things are never that good, are they?
MARIE LEE
I don't know where we go from here, Trooper Davenport. I tried to let you down softly.
DAVE DAVENPORT
That's true enough. From what I've heard there's nobody softer than Lieutenant Rogan. In certain areas, anyway.
I know, I know, I should have been happy to change partners and call it quits. But not tonight. Not now. I want to stay with you, Marie.
MARIE LEE
And why is that, then, Captain Cat?
DAVE DAVENPORT
Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind;
And therefore is wing'd Cupid painted blind.
THE END
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