It took Sam nearly three hours to contact the army base, mostly because she had completely overlooked the fact that she had no memory of what the number was. As it turned out the required number was in the contacts list on her phone under the name 'Sergeant Aston, and she wasted no time calling it as soon as she realized.

While Sam was searching through both her mind and her laptop for some small clue as to what the number could be, Tom spent most of that time trying to avoid her gaze. Sam didn't have to ask why. That kiss was, in her eyes at least, completely out of the blue. Their first date had been mere hours ago, and Sam still didn't remember everything about the last time they dated.

"Hello? Sergeant Aston?" Sam said as soon as someone answered the call.

"Yes… Sam? Is that you?" Asked the man on the other end.

"Yeah. I'm in a hotel a few miles away from your base. We need to talk." Sam said quickly.

"Woah there, slow down! Sam what are you even doing over here? I got a call from a nurse called Linda a while ago about you losing your memory and-"

"Linda called you? So you're the one who gave her my file… Anyway I'm fine. I'm looking for information." Sam said, ignoring the look Tom gave her at hearing her lie.

"I'm presuming this information you're looking for pertains to your brother." He said, his bright tones replaced with a dulcet one.

"Yes, I am." Sam replied firmly.

There was what sounded like a rush of static as Sergeant Aston sighed. It took a moment for him to start talking again, and in that time Sam gave Tom a defiant look to which he responded by shaking his head and looking away.

"Sam… I think this would be an easier conversation to have in person. The investigation has progressed significantly since we last spoke."

"Investigation?"

"I presumed the phrase 'I'm fine' meant you had your memory back… was I mistaken?" He asked.

"Oh no sorry, of course I know what investigation you mean! I was just trying to work out how we we're going to get to the base." Sam said hastily.

"We?"

"I have a friend along with me. A work colleague." Sam replied, glad he didn't pick up on her second lie in as many minutes.

"Oh I see. It-It's good you have someone with you." He said, faltering slightly and then after a brief pause where Sam swore she could hear someone talking in the background he added, "We'll arrange for someone to come pick you up. What's your location?"

After Sam gave him the name of the hotel he said a brief thank you and hung up the phone, leaving her frowning slightly at the hasty good bye before taking her phone away from her ear.

"Exactly how many lies are you planning on telling?" Tom said sternly, making her jump slightly.

"As many as it takes." Sam replied simply, "There will be someone arriving to take us to the base soon."

"Sam I'm not comfortable with this." Tom said, avoiding her gaze.

"Well then you might as well use that plane ticket and run away, because this is more than likely going to get a hell of a lot more dangerous than telling a white lie." She said flatly.

"There is no way I'm leaving you over a thousand miles away from home in a dodgy hotel where you stand a good chance of getting shot." Tom replied, looking up at her with a steely glint in his eyes.

"Then get your bags. We're leaving."

Though she would never admit it, Sam was dreading him saying yes and walking away. As much as she wanted to find out what had happened to her brother she couldn't do it without Tom there with her.

…

"You fool! You could have blown the entire plan with that little slip!" A man with a heavily accented voice said furiously.

"I-I'm sorry!" Sergeant Aston shouted desperately back.

"Well... at least she's coming. You must be ready to greet our esteemed guest and her friend. Any slip-ups like that one and you know what will happen to your family." The man said flatly before turning away and walking towards the door.

"Wait!" Aston shouted again, "S-she'll know something's wrong if I turn up looking like this!"

Aston jangled the chain that was binding him to the interview chair.

"…Very well. I will get one of my people to fetch you one of your... uniforms." He replied.

Aston watched him shut the door and let out a moan of despair. Barely a week ago he was the leader of one of the most elite army bases in Afghanistan, and now he was bound to the chair of his own interview room taking orders from the enemy.

Thanks to Aston, over half the men in his unit were killed in a silent takeover. Thanks to him and his paranoia his security systems were now working against him, preventing anyone from finding out whom exactly is in charge.

Thanks to him, Sam Nicholls was going to die.

…

Dun dun dun….

I had a free Wednesday so I thought I'd update. I have a mountain of homework (literally) to do over the next couple of weeks so I don't know when the next update will be.