The look of shock on Tom's face said nothing of the look of sheer relief that flooded Archer's when he and his men finally rounded the large rocky mound that had shielded Sam and Tom from view.

"You're a sight for sore eyes!" He exclaimed, pulling Tom to his feet by his good arm and clapping him on the shoulder. "And this must be Sam! Nice to meet you!"

"Likewise." Sam replied, shaking his proffered hand.

"So you two did make it…" Stated one of the soldiers that had accompanied Archer.

"You know about what happened at that base?" Sam asked, turning to the man.

"Yes, Ma'am. It's been on the News in the UK for a couple of days now."

Sam groaned. "Fantastic."

"What's up Sam? Not a fan of the spotlight?" Archer asked with a wide grin still plastered on his face.

"No. But that's not the problem. We have a certain friend back in the UK who is probably going to kill us when she finds out we're still alive. We were supposed to keep in contact with her." Sam replied with a grimace.

"…ah." Tom said slowly.

"Don't tell me you forgot?" Sam asked, turning to him with an amused smile.

"Well I have been a little distracted you know, what with a bullet in my shoulder—Argh!" Tom suddenly yelped, a pain shooting through the infected wound once again.

"He needs medical attention." Sam said urgently, supporting his left shoulder as he started wobbling where he stood.

"There's a hospital tent in the camp, but our doctor doesn't fly in until tomorrow." Archer said with a look of concern.

"I'm a doctor." Sam replied, grabbing Tom's waist to help steady him as they walked towards the sea of tents.

"But some of the equipment we have out here is very different to the stuff you would be used to in a hos-" Began one of the other soldiers as Archer grabbed hold of Tom's good shoulder and started guiding them towards the sick bay.

"I was an army medic." Sam stated.

Without argument Archer lead them over to a camouflaged tent that was significantly bigger than the others and helped Sam lay Tom on one of the gurneys they had. He then stood back and watched as she went to work, irrigating the wound with an antiseptic spray which, judging by the look on Tom's face, was extremely painful.

By the time Sam had finished Tom has his eyes screwed shut, and was panting heavily.

"He's running a slight fever." Sam stated with a glance at Archer.

"What can I do to help?"

"Have you got any ice?"

"Not currently, no. But I can soon get you some, seeing as we have around half an hour until the temperature drops below zero." Archer replied.

"Will we be warm enough in here?" Sam asked, making a point to stare at the wide entrance to the tent with no clear way to close it.

"Not in here, but I can get a few men to move some things around in the place we all sleep and you guys can come in there. We have a few heaters." Said one of the soldiers who had just entered the tent with what Sam assumed was the man in charge.

"That would be great, thank you." Sam replied, giving the man a small smile as he headed off.

"Good evening Miss Nicholls. I am Sergeant Trent." The important-looking man said as he offered her and Tom his hand.

Sam took it and replied, "It's Dr Nicholls and nice to meet you."

"My apologies. I assume you are aware of why we are out here?" He said expectantly as Tom shook his head weakly.

"You're planning on taking back that base." Sam stated as she continued to tend to Tom.

"That is correct; however we cannot without sufficient medical staff." The sergeant replied.

"Archer said you have someone flying in tomorrow morning." Sam said without looking up.

"Yes but one doctor will not be enough. As I understand it you are a trained army medic." Sergeant Trent said.

"I was. You want my help?" Sam asked, looking up at the man.

"Yes."

"No!" Tom said suddenly.

"Tom what's wrong with me helping?" Sam asked staring at his sweaty face with concern.

"We're well over ten miles away-at least-from that base. You would have to move closer, maybe right next the line of fire." He said in a strained voice.

"Tom relax. I've done this before." Sam said as soothingly as possible.

"You know why things are different now! I'm not losing you again!" He said forcefully, making to sit up.

"Tom clam do-"

"Promise me you won't go out there!" He said sitting up further despite sam resting a hand on his chest ot make him lay down.

"Tom you're not thinking straight!"

"Promise me!" He shouted while ignoring the startled looks on both Archer and Trent's faces.

"I promise! Now rest!" Sam exclaimed, pushing him back down onto the bed.

As the Archer, Trent and the other soldiers bid them good night or went to prepare a new place for Tom to rest Sam stared at his face. His fever was clearly getting worse, and he wasn't thinking straight because of it, but even Sam couldn't deny his logic. She hadn't properly practiced medicine since she had lost her memory and still couldn't remember everything from her army days. It was a suicide mission.

In spite of everything Sam knew she was going to end up breaking Tom's promise but for more selfish reasons. Sure, she wanted to help them get back their base in any way she could, but she also wanted to be the one who stuck a bullet in her brother suffer as much as possible in his last few seconds of life.

She wanted to kill him.

…