Disclaimer: I don't own CHERUB or any of the characters.
Please Note: This is a sequel to Sydney Harbour in Danger. Its probably not nessecary to read that story although recommended because it would answer a lot of questions that you many have :). Anyway I hope you enjoy! Please review !
Chapter 1: A Long Day
Zara groaned as she heard the shrill ring of the phone yet again. It hadn't stopped ringing all day. This time she decided to ignore it. It would only be another white shirt ringing to say how disgraced they were that the secret of CHERUB was out and Zara didn't think she could deal with that at the moment. She was at the end of her tether. It was worse than the end of a long day with Joshua and she couldn't cope. Zara, strong Zara, a rock in crises, put her head on the desk and started to cry.
*
Lauren put her hand up to knock on the door but stopped when she heard a strange sound coming from inside the office. It might not have been such a strange sound at another place in another time but from the chairwoman's office? It was unbelievable. Lauren forgot about usual practises and pulled open the door, bursting in to find Zara in a complete mess.
"OMG, Zara! Are you alright?" Lauren almost burst into tears herself at the sight of Zara. She was not the picture of health. Her eyes had huge bags under them and her face looked ragged. He clothes were all crinkled, which was ridiculous for Zara and she looked as though she had been crying for hours. Zara dragged her head from the table and looked up
"Laur-" but she could go no further before relapsing into another crying fit. Lauren, despite being one of the most caring agents on campus, had no idea what to do.
*
The red shirt building was in absolute chaos. Rat was looking everywhere for one tiny person but amongst all the little kids it was hard to see. Finally he spotted her near the door, running over he stopped and pulled Kate into a huge hug.
"There you are my darling"
"Dadda! Dadda!"
"How's your day been sweetheart?"
"I play with Sally and James all day Dadda!"
"Oi Rat! Lauren wants to see you at Zara's office!" James yelled at Rat from across the crowded room.
"Yeah thanks James, I'll be there in a tick!" Rat yelled back at James before turning to his daughter
"I've just got to go and see mama, but I'll be back in a little while ok?" Rat wasn't sure if Kate had understood all this but she turned around when her little friend Sally called and ran off happily. Rat watched her go feeling sad, what was going to happen to all these kids? At least Kate would have a home with Rat and Lauren but what about Sally and Liv and all the other little mites?
Rat walked up to the main building in a sort of daze. He just couldn't believe all this was happening! One day Lauren, James, Kerry, Zara and Ewart had all arrived home happy to see everyone, and the next day the whole campus was a mess. Staff had packed up and left, phones hadn't stopped ringing, every single black and grey shirt except Lauren, Rat and James had been farmed out on 'urgent' missions and campus, outside the red shirt building was like a ghost town. Rat had never seen anything like it.
*
Rat knocked on the door of the office and heard Lauren call
"Come in!" Rat opened the door and almost fainted with shock. Zara was crying!
"Rat, there's something I need to tell you."