Disclaimer: I don't own Red Eye or anything having to do with it. Sam and any other random characters are mine.

Chapter 5

"Where are we going?" Sam asked as they stepped out of the parking garage and began walking the few blocks to the Amtrak station. She was trying to distract herself from the pain in her head and ankle…she was not about to ask for those painkillers.

"Seattle."

"Washington?" Jackson shot her a slightly irritated look and didn't answer. "Right. Stupid question."

Jackson's phone rang, and he looked at the readout but didn't answer. A few seconds later it rang again and he silenced it.

"Unwanted calls?" Sam tried to sound casual, but he remained silent. "It's Lisa, isn't it?"

Still no response, and she didn't want to push her luck. Who knew how long the semi-civility would last? They reached the station and Jackson motioned for her to sit while he went to the ticket window, leaving an unspoken warning should she try anything.

There weren't many empty seats, so she had to search a bit before finding two next to each other. She sat next to a guy who was about her age, maybe a year or two older, who was engrossed in the music blaring from his headphones. When he noticed her, he lowered the headphones and smiled.

"Hey, what's up?"

"Hi." She responded distractedly, not really looking at him.

"I'm John." He held out his hand and she shook it unconsciously.

"Sam."

"Where are you headed, Sam?"

Sam felt the unmistakable presence of Jackson beside her, and his hand settled on her shoulder.

"Hey Sammy, who is this?" He asked sweetly, his eyes conveying a warning that she was sure no one else would pick up on. She hesitated for a moment, and John stood, extending his hand to Jackson.

"Hi, I'm John, John Whitman." His smile faded a bit when Jackson didn't take his hand, but did not disappear altogether. "So…you two are together?"

"Jackson and I are associates." Sam spoke up, thinking fast. "On a business trip to Seattle."

"That's cool." John was grateful to be able to turn his attention back to Sam. "What kind of business, if I may ask?"

"As much as we'd love to stay and chat, our train is boarding." Jackson interrupted, taking Sam by the arm and leading her away to the boarding line before she or John had a chance to respond.

"You're hurting my arm." Sam informed him coolly, not speaking loud enough for anyone else to notice. Jackson didn't reply, but his grip loosened slightly. "I wasn't trying anything, you know. Not talking to him would have been more suspicious than what I said to him."

"So it was an accident that you let slip where we were going?" Jackson asked sarcastically. Before she could respond, they were at the front of the line and he flashed the tickets to the lady in charge, smiling at her as he led Sam toward their train.

"I told you I would cooperate, and I will." She looked him in the eye. "I'm doing this for Lisa, not for me, and sure as hell not for you, so you don't have to worry about me trying to sabotage whatever plan you have."

"I have a piece of advice for you, then:" His tone was patronizing. "Keep your mouth shut."

Sam was about to shoot back a biting remark, but then decided against it. If he wanted her to be quiet, she'd be quiet. She could be just as introverted and stubborn as he was. They climbed on board the train and were directed to one of the sleeper cars, where both settled in without a word.

The train pulled away and Sam watched the lights of the city disappear as they picked up speed. Her head and ankle were still throbbing, though less painfully now, and she found her eyelids drooping. The night was certainly taking its toll.

Jackson was talking on his cell again, but she was too zoned out to pay close attention. When the conversation was over, he stood.

"Hungry?" He asked, pulling her back to the present. She was, but her stubbornness won out and she stared at him silently. He shrugged and stepped out of their compartment, headed for the dining car.

Sam sighed and stared back out the window. She wasn't all that worried about herself; she knew Jackson needed her for this job, whatever it was. What really bothered her was that Lisa was probably worried sick, especially since Jackson wouldn't even answer the phone.

Suddenly an idea struck her and she got up, peeking out the door to make sure Jackson wasn't coming back yet, she headed off in the opposite direction he had gone. In the next car, she found a compartment with the lights on and knocked on the door. A middle-aged woman answered.

"Can I help you?"

"I hope so." Sam smiled sheepishly. "I forgot to charge my phone earlier today, and the batteries died before I got a chance to call my sister and tell her that I got on the train okay. I was wondering if you had a phone I could borrow, just for a second."

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Lisa had managed to pull herself together, and was now on her way to Sam's apartment building. She did not have a solid plan, but she needed a starting point and she knew she could count on Amy, Sam's roommate, to help in any way she could. When she reached the building, she pressed the button for Amy and Sam's room.

"Who is it?" Amy's chipper voice came over the speaker.

"Amy, it's Lisa Reisert. I really need to talk to you." The urgency in Lisa's voice must have been apparent because Amy buzzed her in without question and was waiting at the door when Lisa reached the apartment.

"What's going on? Where's Sam?" Her eyes were beginning to fill with tears, fearing some horrible accident had befallen her friend. Her boyfriend Tommy wrapped a comforting arm around her waist, staying strong for her while bracing himself for bad news; he was almost as close to Sam as Amy was.

"Let's go inside and sit down." Lisa said, maintaining her composure. "I have a lot to explain."

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A/N: Wow, so I had some serious writer's block for a while there, but now it's gone and I have the next few chapters all planned out. As soon as I get them typed, they will be posted. Thanks again to all my reviewers! As before, comments and suggestions are always welcome, so click that review button!