AN: Sorry it took so long!
An hour later we were sitting at the table outside in the sunshine looking at the view over the lake eating pasta and salad
"Not bad." Zach allowed I laughed amused, it had what he had said about dinner as well,
"You can cook tomorrow then." I stated
"It's amazing. Truly." he amended I smiled glad he could joke after telling me some of his story I stacked the bowls and returned them to the kitchen I dunked them in the sink and Zach's arms wrapped around me.
"Can I tell you more?" he asked I nodded.
"As much or as little as you want." I replied he smiled and pulled me to the sofa he sat and with me next to him he wrapped an arm around me and took my hand again then shut his eyes I leant my head against his chest.
"I was beaten and put in solitary confinement with bread and water for a week for not killing him then Joe came in. He sat opposite me and stated talking. He told me how he had saved my grandparents and would save me he handed me a drug that made someone seem dead but just made them unconscious for twenty four hours, with no pulse or anything indicting their life. Since then I have always had that drug on me." he stated then a shadow passed over him again.
"I now trust Joe Solomon with my life, he's the reason I defied her, I realised you could be brought up this way and still be good. When I was fourteen he disappeared. My world crumbled I lost the will to defy That Woman, so when she told me to go to the Gallagher academy and get to know you and make you trust me that's what I planned to do. I didn't realise I would like you and that you would never in a million years trust me because you were too clever and had good instincts. I gave up with her wish as soon as I saw Joe Solomon was teaching you. I knew it was hopeless.
"When I got to the Gallagher academy he took me to one side and talked to me. I quite easily told him what I had been told to do, but I was ashamed I had conceded to to, he told me not to worry, he would take care of me so he paired me with you so that She wouldn't interfere. When the time came to leave I went then ran. The car stopped for petrol I got out and ran. I was in Boston because I was following her. I wanted to see why she was so interested in you. I thought she would let it go once I ran and plan one failed but then the rooftop. 'Get her' those words haunted me and then you have to dive down a laundry shaft. Concussion. Again. You really don't like being conscious do you." he teased I sighed.
"Then I followed you, it pained me to see you put yourself at risk thinking Macey was in trouble, a logical conclusion to jump to especially with her being a McHenry and Gallagher's descendant." he sighed "That's why I was furious with you whenever I met you again.
"Mr. Solomon saw me sometime and found me, he hid me and looked after me, he even helped he knew how much you meant to me. We shared information. He was glad when you realised they were after you. But sad at the same time. He cares for you like a daughter, he was in a state after Boston. He put you on lock down, it was his idea not your mothers she would have done it but Joe came up with the idea first.
"He thought they were after you because of him. I thought they were after you because of me. You thought they were not after you. We made a real mess of things." Zach remarked "And then you were almost kidnapped. That was scary for all. Ever since then I have wanted to tell you why thy were after you but you never let me get a word in it was all 'what did he mean 'you'' a valid question and 'what were you doing in Boston.' you were furious and it was scary." he teased, though not entirely joking, I didn't comment Zach looked at me worried I was staring into space the words going in and shocking me.
"I can stop..." Zach stated.
"No." I replied forcefully Zach sighed.
"You never asked the question I knew and wanted to answer 'why are they after me.' or 'why did they shoot my Aunt' who by the way I love she is brilliant," he stated I laughed pleasing Zach to get a response from me.
"Tell me Zach. Just tell me, I am asking now, why were they after me, why are they still after me, why did they hurt people I love to get to me. Just Why!" I exclaimed sitting and facing him on the couch I wrapped my arms around my curled up legs he looked at me sadly.
"I, at the same time, didn't want to tell you because it would destroy you." he admitted sadly.
"Zach." I warned he looked pained.
"Promise you will still be the same after I have told you." he stated.
"I can't I don't know what it is. You are scaring me." I stated Zach paused "Zach, uniambie kabla sijaondoka na funga wewe kitanda na kwenda na kuuliza mama yako kwa nini wao ni baada ya mimi." 'tell me before I tie you to a bed and go and ask your mother myself." I threatened in Swahili Zach paled.
"You are a descendant of Ioseph Cavan." Zach stated sadly eyes watching me carefully I leant my head on me knees and took a deep breath.
"Are you sure." I asked instinctively knowing myself that it was true.
"Gallagher Girl?" Zach asked worried I didn't move I felt him get off the sofa he crouched next to me he stroked my head "Talk to me Gallagher Girl. Please." he begged.
"I just need a minute." I mumbled Zach rose kissed my head and left he returned a few minutes later holding a mug of steaming cocoa I raised my head and Zach handed it to me I put it on the table and reached out and hugged Zach needing something solid in my life he held me and let me know he was there for me.
"This is stupid, you've told me your life story and I am upset over a few words." I stated Zach laughed.
"A few rather important words." Zach stated now I laughed Zach pulled away and handed me the mug I took it gratefully and wrapped my hands around it.
"Now your story." Zach prompted.
"It's boring." I stated Zach grinned.
"Not to me. Why were you accepted to the Gallagher academy for exceptional young women?" he asked.
"When I was five I hacked NASA's database. I was six when I cracked the coded puzzle that led my family to Dubai." I then continued telling about my life.
"Abbey was always in my life she looked after me when mum and dad were gone, sometimes she went with them.
"I met Bex when I was six and spent nearly three months with her, I didn't see her much after that until I was eleven, we were so happy to see each other again, we got along like a house on fire, mum claims they didn't try to keep us apart but we know they did. What we did in those three months." I sighed and laughed "Wow." I grinned at the memory Zach relaxed seeing me smile.
"We were six when we were told about our parents being spies." I close my eyes and shuddered Zach wrapped an arm around me.
"We? You and Bex?" he prompted.
"Me, Bex..." I took a deep breath "Jack..." I didn't realise how hard it would be saying that word I couldn't contemplate the other two words.
"Jack?" Zach asked honestly curious.
"Jack, Jack Matthew Cooper." I heard Zach take a sharp breath I looked at him but he shook his head.
"Stubbed my toe." he lied.
"Against what?" I asked raising an eyebrow he sighed.
"Tell me about Jack. I may know him but what happened?" he asked.
"He went missing when we were eleven." I stated studying Zach's face.
"I don't want to get your hopes up. There was a Jack Matthew Cooper in my dorm." Zach stated I took a deep breath and a smile spread across my face Zach looked worried.
"Should I be worried?" he asked "Childhood sweetheart?" he teased I laughed and shook my head.
"Bex's childhood sweetheart." I laughed and hugged Zach he was glad to see me happy again then the smile dropped off my face "When I was nine my mother took the job at school." I stated.
"What happened?" Zach asked.
"Italy." I stated Zach shut his eyes.
"Stupid stupid stupid." he muttered.
"Some don't come back." I murmured Zach wrapped an arm around me "It was the same with Jack. He was five. Some just don't come back. Unfortunately for him it was both. We adopted him in a way hence the reason he was with us on holiday, he was like a," my voice caught "-a brother to me. I have known him as long as Bex she's the lucky one her parents are spies but still around. Grandma and grandpa Morgan were spies but retired early as they were too well known, but Cameron... they never got around to retiring. Granddad died when I was four and grandma before I was one. The Morgan side is mostly dead, all the same day. 9/11.
"The twin towers. My aunt and uncle were there, the pentagon, some relations were there, some were on the planes. Its mostly the same with the Cameron side of the family." I sighed "Grandparents, great grandparents, but they were old age, Uncle Eddie, Uncle Bennie, Aunt Eloise. On that side all that's left is Mum and Aunt Abbey. But she almost went. At school there's a wall for all of them titled 'Some don't come back' to remind us that it's not an easy life, six of my cove ops class chose the brain route, as we call it, Liz for one." I laughed "She can't hold a paper clip without cutting herself!" I laughed again then sighed "There's only a handful of my family left, me Jacks fourth cousins six times removed I count them as my family is so pitiful, two of them the plan was to bring them up 'proper', and I have not seen them for two years," Cammie grinned thinking of the Bagshaw brothers, Angus and Hamish "Then Abbey, mum, maybe dad and maybe... no." I trailed off Zach was confused but thankfully left it.
"What about grandparents on the Morgan side. You said they were spies but retired are they still alive?" he asked curious.
"No. Cancer, granddad then a week later grandma." Zach smiled sadly thought about continuing then decided against it and went with trying to amuse her instead.
"And you said your life was boring!" Zach remarked she laughed.
"It's all in perspective." Cammie stated with a grim smile.
An hour later we were sitting at the table outside in the sunshine looking at the view over the lake eating pasta and salad
"Not bad." Zach allowed I laughed amused, it had what he had said about dinner as well,
"You can cook tomorrow then." I stated
"It's amazing. Truly." he amended I smiled glad he could joke after telling me some of his story I stacked the bowls and returned them to the kitchen I dunked them in the sink and Zach's arms wrapped around me.
"Can I tell you more?" he asked I nodded.
"As much or as little as you want." I replied he smiled and pulled me to the sofa he sat and with me next to him he wrapped an arm around me and took my hand again then shut his eyes I leant my head against his chest.
"I was beaten and put in solitary confinement with bread and water for a week for not killing him then Joe came in. He sat opposite me and stated talking. He told me how he had saved my grandparents and would save me he handed me a drug that made someone seem dead but just made them unconscious for twenty four hours, with no pulse or anything indicting their life. Since then I have always had that drug on me." he stated then a shadow passed over him again.
"I now trust Joe Solomon with my life, he's the reason I defied her, I realised you could be brought up this way and still be good. When I was fourteen he disappeared. My world crumbled I lost the will to defy That Woman, so when she told me to go to the Gallagher academy and get to know you and make you trust me that's what I planned to do. I didn't realise I would like you and that you would never in a million years trust me because you were too clever and had good instincts. I gave up with her wish as soon as I saw Joe Solomon was teaching you. I knew it was hopeless.
"When I got to the Gallagher academy he took me to one side and talked to me. I quite easily told him what I had been told to do, but I was ashamed I had conceded to to, he told me not to worry, he would take care of me so he paired me with you so that She wouldn't interfere. When the time came to leave I went then ran. The car stopped for petrol I got out and ran. I was in Boston because I was following her. I wanted to see why she was so interested in you. I thought she would let it go once I ran and plan one failed but then the rooftop. 'Get her' those words haunted me and then you have to dive down a laundry shaft. Concussion. Again. You really don't like being conscious do you." he teased I sighed.
"Then I followed you, it pained me to see you put yourself at risk thinking Macey was in trouble, a logical conclusion to jump to especially with her being a McHenry and Gallagher's descendant." he sighed "That's why I was furious with you whenever I met you again.
"Mr. Solomon saw me sometime and found me, he hid me and looked after me, he even helped he knew how much you meant to me. We shared information. He was glad when you realised they were after you. But sad at the same time. He cares for you like a daughter, he was in a state after Boston. He put you on lock down, it was his idea not your mothers she would have done it but Joe came up with the idea first.
"He thought they were after you because of him. I thought they were after you because of me. You thought they were not after you. We made a real mess of things." Zach remarked "And then you were almost kidnapped. That was scary for all. Ever since then I have wanted to tell you why thy were after you but you never let me get a word in it was all 'what did he mean 'you'' a valid question and 'what were you doing in Boston.' you were furious and it was scary." he teased, though not entirely joking, I didn't comment Zach looked at me worried I was staring into space the words going in and shocking me.
"I can stop..." Zach stated.
"No." I replied forcefully Zach sighed.
"You never asked the question I knew and wanted to answer 'why are they after me.' or 'why did they shoot my Aunt' who by the way I love she is brilliant," he stated I laughed pleasing Zach to get a response from me.
"Tell me Zach. Just tell me, I am asking now, why were they after me, why are they still after me, why did they hurt people I love to get to me. Just Why!" I exclaimed sitting and facing him on the couch I wrapped my arms around my curled up legs he looked at me sadly.
"I, at the same time, didn't want to tell you because it would destroy you." he admitted sadly.
"Zach." I warned he looked pained.
"Promise you will still be the same after I have told you." he stated.
"I can't I don't know what it is. You are scaring me." I stated Zach paused "Zach, uniambie kabla sijaondoka na funga wewe kitanda na kwenda na kuuliza mama yako kwa nini wao ni baada ya mimi." 'tell me before I tie you to a bed and go and ask your mother myself." I threatened in Swahili Zach paled.
"You are a descendant of Ioseph Cavan." Zach stated sadly eyes watching me carefully I leant my head on me knees and took a deep breath.
"Are you sure." I asked instinctively knowing myself that it was true.
"Gallagher Girl?" Zach asked worried I didn't move I felt him get off the sofa he crouched next to me he stroked my head "Talk to me Gallagher Girl. Please." he begged.
"I just need a minute." I mumbled Zach rose kissed my head and left he returned a few minutes later holding a mug of steaming cocoa I raised my head and Zach handed it to me I put it on the table and reached out and hugged Zach needing something solid in my life he held me and let me know he was there for me.
"This is stupid, you've told me your life story and I am upset over a few words." I stated Zach laughed.
"A few rather important words." Zach stated now I laughed Zach pulled away and handed me the mug I took it gratefully and wrapped my hands around it.
"Now your story." Zach prompted.
"It's boring." I stated Zach grinned.
"Not to me. Why were you accepted to the Gallagher academy for exceptional young women?" he asked.
"When I was five I hacked NASA's database. I was six when I cracked the coded puzzle that led my family to Dubai." I then continued telling about my life.
"Abbey was always in my life she looked after me when mum and dad were gone, sometimes she went with them.
"I met Bex when I was six and spent nearly three months with her, I didn't see her much after that until I was eleven, we were so happy to see each other again, we got along like a house on fire, mum claims they didn't try to keep us apart but we know they did. What we did in those three months." I sighed and laughed "Wow." I grinned at the memory Zach relaxed seeing me smile.
"We were six when we were told about our parents being spies." I close my eyes and shuddered Zach wrapped an arm around me.
"We? You and Bex?" he prompted.
"Me, Bex..." I took a deep breath "Jack..." I didn't realise how hard it would be saying that word I couldn't contemplate the other two words.
"Jack?" Zach asked honestly curious.
"Jack, Jack Matthew Cooper." I heard Zach take a sharp breath I looked at him but he shook his head.
"Stubbed my toe." he lied.
"Against what?" I asked raising an eyebrow he sighed.
"Tell me about Jack. I may know him but what happened?" he asked.
"He went missing when we were eleven." I stated studying Zach's face.
"I don't want to get your hopes up. There was a Jack Matthew Cooper in my dorm." Zach stated I took a deep breath and a smile spread across my face Zach looked worried.
"Should I be worried?" he asked "Childhood sweetheart?" he teased I laughed and shook my head.
"Bex's childhood sweetheart." I laughed and hugged Zach he was glad to see me happy again then the smile dropped off my face "When I was nine my mother took the job at school." I stated.
"What happened?" Zach asked.
"Italy." I stated Zach shut his eyes.
"Stupid stupid stupid." he muttered.
"Some don't come back." I murmured Zach wrapped an arm around me "It was the same with Jack. He was five. Some just don't come back. Unfortunately for him it was both. We adopted him in a way hence the reason he was with us on holiday, he was like a," my voice caught "-a brother to me. I have known him as long as Bex she's the lucky one her parents are spies but still around. Grandma and grandpa Morgan were spies but retired early as they were too well known, but Cameron... they never got around to retiring. Granddad died when I was four and grandma before I was one. The Morgan side is mostly dead, all the same day. 9/11.
"The twin towers. My aunt and uncle were there, the pentagon, some relations were there, some were on the planes. Its mostly the same with the Cameron side of the family." I sighed "Grandparents, great grandparents, but they were old age, Uncle Eddie, Uncle Bennie, Aunt Eloise. On that side all that's left is Mum and Aunt Abbey. But she almost went. At school there's a wall for all of them titled 'Some don't come back' to remind us that it's not an easy life, six of my cove ops class chose the brain route, as we call it, Liz for one." I laughed "She can't hold a paper clip without cutting herself!" I laughed again then sighed "There's only a handful of my family left, me Jacks fourth cousins six times removed I count them as my family is so pitiful, two of them the plan was to bring them up 'proper', and I have not seen them for two years," Cammie grinned thinking of the Bagshaw brothers, Angus and Hamish "Then Abbey, mum, maybe dad and maybe... no." I trailed off Zach was confused but thankfully left it.
"What about grandparents on the Morgan side. You said they were spies but retired are they still alive?" he asked curious.
"No. Cancer, granddad then a week later grandma." Zach smiled sadly thought about continuing then decided against it and went with trying to amuse her instead.
"And you said your life was boring!" Zach remarked she laughed.
"It's all in perspective." Cammie stated with a grim smile.