His ear was pressed firmly to the door. It wasn't thick, just a standard fire door - the same as every other door in the Fort. The Lieutenant listened closely to the voices inside. If was discovered, if one of the agents that had accompanied the two MI6 officials saw him crouching here- well, his reputation being lost would be the least of his worries.

He stood when he heard the tell-tale sound of a chair being pushed backward, and darted into a small alcove in the corridor. A minute later, the door swung open and Sir David Friend walked out, patting the young boy B Squadron had rescued on the shoulder.

"I'm really sorry to do this, Alex" he said kindly, and he looked like he meant it, "Please don't do anything you don't think is essential-"

Blunt interrupted him, "Stop babying him, Alex knows his duty. He knows what he has to do."

A small frown formed in the brows of Friend and the CIA man, Byrne. At least those two had a conscience. Stanley had heard everything that the two MI6 officials had said, everything that they'd done, everything they'd been planning - it made him sick.

"Put those away." said the woman - Mrs Jones pointedly to Alex.

Stanley peered at the two small bottles that the boy was holding. The label on the side of one read 'Prozac' on the other 'Luvox'. They were designed to look like anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medication but Stanley knew what was really in them. It was a genius idea, but it was also inhumane and disgusting.

Alex pocketed the bottles and wiped his sleeve across his face. He was crying; Stanley's anger flared and he almost moved toward the boy, he wanted to comfort him.

The group passed Stanely's hiding place, only Alex and Blunt noticed his presence. The boy gave him a small, forced smile whilst Alan Blunt gave him a shrewd, calculating look; the Lieutenant grimaced back. They passed without speaking and he breathed a sigh of relief. He should tell someone about this, he knew. But who? No one he knew would have the power or even the motive to do anything about it.

He decided in a second. He'd tell Ghost, the man had a level head on his shoulders, he was going places that kid. He'd get Ghost's opinion and advice. Though he was just a Squadron leader, Stanley trusted his judgement implicitly. With any luck, he'd catch B Squadron on a break.

Ghost traipsed across the wet grass, closely followed by Gun and Charge. The sunny weather they'd been having was gone, replaced by gloomy grey cloud and a spattering downpour of rain. He couldn't help but think that it matched the mood of the Fort perfectly. Ghost and B Squadron had been based at Fort Bragg for a month now, running procedural drills and attending an interrogation technique course. They'd only taken the hostage rescue mission because they'd been so close.

They strode across the lawn, weaving in between the buildings. The squad had technically been on a break but a helicopter had landed a few minutes ago and naturally they wanted to find out what was going on. They were the only Squadorn on the base; they'd been selected for an international experiment. One squadron from Delta Force and one Unit from the British SAS were being paired together in the hopes of a 'better military relationship'. It was a hair-brained scheme of a programme proposed by the British foreign secretary; Ghost did not have high hopes.

They'd not even met the Unit yet but they were already resentful of the other Unit. The Brits were flying over in a month but Delta Force had been sent to complete a rigorous training regime to make sure the American's were at the very top of their game. Doubtless, the mysterious K-Unit were doing the same.

"Hey Ghost, wait up!"

Ghost turned around, Rex and Apache were running toward them through the rain. He stopped and waited for the others to catch up.

"Where are you three going?" asked Apache.

"Helicopter," answered Gun simply, pointing to the aircraft.

"But why? Surely it's just to take that kid away from here."

Ghost shook his head, "It's too early for that." he said dismissively, "Mickleson's only just got back from taking him to the debrief room and the kid still needs medical attention." he looked around. "C'mon, let's get out of this rain."

They jogged over to the building next to the helicopter pad and sheltered under a linking roof. Ghost stared at the aircraft.

"Is that a Friend 'copter?" he asked Apache

"A what?"

"Friend? As in that big supermarket guy? Look," he said gesturing to the side of the helicopter where a big letter F was painted, "that's the symbol isnt it?"

Apache stared at him. "Man, why are you asking me? I know I'm the expert on military aircraft but I have no idea what you're on about."

Ghost rolled his eyes. "Nevermind, let's just go and-" he trailed off, looking at three figures exiting the building. One was a woman, with short black hair, a dark suit and a business-like face, next to her was a taller man, with grey hair. He walked with a purposeful stride and had a discerning aristocratic air about him. Trailing after them was a shorter figure, a boy with slightly too long hair, dressed in a dirty school uniform. His shoulders were slumped, as if resigned to his fate. Alex.

As one, they strode forward. The boy looked up as they crossed the helicopter pad. He looked pale and scared. Ghost wondered what had happened to the boy from earlier. The one who hadn't seemed even a bit scared when tied to a chair being threatened with a switchblade, the one who had wanted to stay and look for clues, the one who had insisted there had been something wrong and had laughed at his jokes.

"Hey kid, where are you going?" he asked cheerfully.

Alex looked at the dark haired woman and the man Ghost now recognised as Sir David Friend and then pointed to the helicopter, "home."

Ghost raised his eyebrows, "That your dad?"

The boy nodded, but not before he'd paused for long enough from Ghost to wonder whether he was telling the truth.

"Oh, well..good luck then kid, try not to get kidnapped again, eh?"

Alex gave a forced smile and turned back, walking toward the aircraft.

Ghost turned to his squadron. "Something isn't right."

"You're damn right it isn't soldier" said Lieutenant Stanley

They turned in unison and all began talking at once.

"I-"

"Lieu-"

"We were-"

"Oh shut up, I'm not talking about you," he said quickly, "frankly nothing is right about this. Rex, Gun, Charge, Apache - you're dismissed." The four men looked annoyed but headed back off to the break room giving Ghost and the Lieutenant strange looks. Ghost looked at the Lieutenant inquisitively.

"What's going on?"

The Lieutenant gestured to the building next to them, "Come on, let's get inside. Frankly, I don't give a damn if I'm breaking a rule telling you, I-" he broke off. Ghost had never seen the Lieutenant looking so worn down. "I-" he began again "let's just go to my office"

Ghost followed Stanley inside to his office and took a seat opposite the Lieutenant, waiting for him to speak.

"Ghost-Matt, what I'm going to tell you is-" he sighed, "well, it's disturbing, illegal, morally barbaric and well just- I'm sorry, I know I should go to a shrink and unload but damn it all to hell, if we're called in to clean up this mess then I want you to know what is actually going on."

Ghost blinked. This was most irregular. The Lieutenant was obviously about to tell him something he shouldn't. Ghost had never seen the man break even one small rule, including the use of civilian names. He nodded, interested.

"The woman you saw leaving in the helicopter was-"

The door flew open. It crashed against the wall and a man walked calmly into the room. He was about fifty, with grey hair, eyes, suit and skin. He was accompanied by a woman in a black pantsuit. She had close cropped blonde hair and the extent of her muscles were evident under her clothing.

"Lieutenant," the man said, cooly, "I hope you weren't just about to tell your soldier about the debriefing you were permitted to attend, despite my better instincts."

"So what if was?" asked the Lieutenant brazenly, "What you are doing to that kid is-"

The man cut him off. "Agent," he said, addressing the woman next to him, "arrest Lieutenant Stanely for breach of contract and intent to divulge restricted confidential information."

Ghost watched in shock as the woman moved around the desk and tugged the Lieutenant out of his chair and forced his hands in front of him, cuffing them. The pencil he'd been holding fell to the floor. He didn't struggle but Ghost saw loathing in the man's eyes as he glared at the grey man.

"Hey" Ghost protested after he'd gotten over his original surprise, "You can't arrest him, he hasn't actually said-"

"Yes," said the grey man, sighing, "I can."

Ghost looked at the Lieutenant and the man nodded resignedly. Oh.

The woman walked the Lieutenant out of the room, leaving Ghost and the grey man alone.

He narrowed his grey-blue eyes at Ghost. "I trust," said the man sharply, "that you will not tell anyone about this?"

From the man's tone, he got the impression that the man wasn't really asking, just stating that Ghost wouldn't say anything or he'd go the same way as the Lieutenant.

"What am I meant to tell people then?" he asked, "That the Lieutenant just left?"

The man shrugged at him, "Early retirement?"

"Seriously?"

The man turned on his heel and left the room. Ghost didn't like him, he was too grey, too formal, too calm. Ghost ran his hand through his hair. He didn't know what to tell his men. Did he tell them the truth? Or did he tell them the man's lie? He didn't know who this man was, but he seemed important. Out of the corner of his eye, Ghost saw a sticky yellow post-it on the seat of the chair where the Lieutenant had been sitting. He walked round the desk and picked it up. He must have written it quickly after the grey man had walked in if the handwriting was anything to go by. His eyes widened as he read it.

MI6. Blunt. Anatolievich. Miami. Get kid out.

So, chapter five, eh. Exciting. Some new questions have arisen from this one. I may have stolen a small idea from Briarwitched's Malaise story on AO3. If you've not read it, do - honestly it's amazing and they're writing a sequel called Dysthyma and it's awesome as well.

Sorry it's been a little shorter, but honestly, I'm updating and that's weird enough.