Missing in Action

Chapter Twenty Four

"Mrs Davis, I know that this is a hard time for you, but I need to ask you a question about something," James said.

"Yes, of course," Jane replied. She wiped her eyes on a tissue and let out a very shaky breath.

"Before Combat Control lost contact with Cassidy, she said something of interest that we need to know more about," James said.

"Of course, anything that can help find her," Jane said.

"She said 'tell my mum that I'm not Daniel'. Do you know what she meant Mrs Davis?" James asked.

Jane began to sob again.

I didn't know a Daniel. I had never met anyone called Daniel, so what did Cassidy mean?

"How could I not know?" she chocked out.

I didn't understand anything that was going on. I was so confused.

"Take your time Mrs Davis," James said soothingly.

Had he been to tell Henry's family about his death before he had come here?

"Mum, who's Daniel?" Edward demanded.

Jane wiped her eyes again. She closed her eyes and began to breath in and out deeply.

"You wouldn't remember, you were so young " Jane whispered.

"Mum, who is Daniel?!" John demanded.

"Daniel is- Daniel was your older brother," Jane choked out.

I was completely taken aback. But why weren't there any family photos? Why hadn't Cassidy ever mentioned him? Where was he now?

"What do you mean by 'was'," Edward whispered.

"Daniel is the reason I never wanted Cassidy in the military. Daniel is the reason we moved to Doncaster," Jane began.

The room went deadly silent as we all waited for Jane to continue.

"You wouldn't remember him. He was barely home after you were born, but Cassidy remembers," Jane continued.

"What happened?" John asked.

"Daniel joined the Army when he was sixteen. He was eighteen when it all happened," Jane said.

It still didn't explain much, but it explained why Jane had hated the idea of Cassidy signing up for the Royal Navy.

"It was in March. He'd gone to Afghanistan for four months in January, so I didn't expect to open the door to an Army officer. Cassidy was only ten at the time, you were only two. Daniel had gone Missing in Action," Jane barely finished before she broke down.

And just like that it all made sense.

Jane hadn't wanted Cassidy to go because she was scared that she was going to lose her daughter as well as her son. She's been right.

Tell my mum that I'm not Daniel.

But Cassidy was also right, she wasn't her brother.

"Cassidy's right Jane, she's not her brother," I told her.

"I know... I know she's not," Jane said. "But I can't stop thinking like that! I don't want to lose her!"

"I don't want to lose her either," I stated.

I wiped my eyes and tried to put on a brave face, but I failed. No amount of acting could help me get through this.

"Has she been...?" I trailed off not wanting to finish the sentence.

"Caught? The terrorist group haven't made a claim to capturing a British soldier, but we haven't had word from the American base where she is most likely to head. Until we hear from either, we can't be sure," James explained.

I just nodded.

"But, if anyone is going to get out of there, it'll be Cassidy and she'll get out alive," James said.

"Why do you say that Lieutenant?" my mum asked.

James smiled slightly.

"Because I bet against her once, and it was the worst mistake that I have ever made in my life. You do not bet against Cassidy Davis, because she always comes out on top," James said.

"Why do have so much faith in her?" my mum asked.

"She saved my life once," James stated. "I believe that she will always be around to save my life when I do something stupid".

That was reassuring. James knew how impossible those people were, but he still believed Cassidy was going to come home.

"We will be sending someone to monitor your phone lines in case Cassidy tries to get hold of you or..." he trailed off.

I knew what he meant though. It was if any captures wanted to demand a ransom for Cassidy's life. But that was highly unlikely. If Cassidy was caught, she'd probably be shot dead on sight.

"We know," I told him.

He looked at me for a moment. His eyes were full of sorrow.

"I should be going. We'll send her belongings up," James said.

"Send them to me," I said.

He moved to get up, and I got up ready to show him out.

"Lieutenant Oak?" Jane said.

"Yes?" James asked.

"If- if you manage to have contact with her, tell her that I love her," Jane said.

James nodded.

I showed him to the door. He smiled at me slightly.

I watched him as he walked towards his car. He walked with those powerful strides that Cassidy did. I could even hear the click of her polished heels on the pavement.

"Louis?" James called.

"Yeah?" I replied.

"I meant what I said. If anyone will ever get out of there, it will be her," James said.

I just nodded.

I watched the car pull away from the drive and speed down the road. The street fell silent after the car left.

"I'm going to- I'm going back!" I called into the living room.

My mum came into the hall.

"Do you want me to tell the girls?" she asked.

I just nodded. It was all that I was able to do.

I walked back to my own home. I walked straight into the kitchen and opened the draw. I took the remaining photo out of the envelope.

"What happened?" Lottie asked.

I shook my head telling her not to push it.

I walked upstairs and I had barely reached my room by the time I let a fresh round of tears fall. I slid down against the door and I hugged my knees.

The photo had fallen out of my hand and had rested on the floor. I could see that she wasn't that serious in it after all. Her left lip was twitching upwards slightly, and she had that sparkle in her eye that was only there when she wanted to laugh. That was the Cassidy Davis that I knew.

I get my phone out. I stared at the blank screen for a while.

I loaded up the home screen and took the photo off the floor. I took a picture of the photo and when on to Twitter. I open a new tweet.

@Louis_Tomlinson:
Please help to bring her home #FindLieutenantDavis

The tweet was posted within seconds.

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A/N- I finally updated!

Imagine_Fiction