A/N: Ok Guys. Now that Chapter 8 is out of the way – I CAN FINALLY START CHAPTER 9!!!!

I'm really excited about this….. Actually, more excited about Chapter 10 – it's more the ending of Chapter 9 I'm excited about.

So as a side note – People with out accounts can now REVIEW or whatever. I just was thinking about when I didn't have an account, how I was always angry that I couldn't show my respect when I came across a great story.

I'm guessing that not everyone reads the Author Notes (I don't blame you) but still sometimes they can be IMPORTANT like this for a matter:

Did anyone figure out that the Police-officer wasn't actually a Police-officer, but was really Zachary Goode - I didn't think you guys would, because you didn't read my end of Chapter Authors note!

Sorry, I'm just really excited about the end of this Chapter!!!!

Disclaimer: A.C owns all. (Now go read the CHAPTER!)


Chapter 9: Losing Normality

Cammie POV

The ride home was quiet. I had explained my expedition twice now, once to Macey, Liz and Bex, a second time for Mick, Eva and Courtney (Plus Tina). After that, my sister's where quiet. I could tell they where upset about been 'retired' from the field. I didn't say anything though, I didn't want to seem like I was gloating.

Tina has never been more annoyed at me. It wasn't my fault that Zach caught her. I mean so what if I then tailed him successfully (much to his embarrassment). Tina was the one who actually wanted to tail him in the first place.


We arrived and Mr. Solomon directed us to Sub Level 2, Liz looked awestruck and Macey looked excited. Solomon went off to check something in another room and we took our seats in the classroom.

Mr. Solomon came back and started to set something up (it was a projector; it took DVD's, Video and Internet coverage).

Finally Mr. Solomon came to the front and started talking.

"Today, ladies, I once again asked you to do something only fifty people in the world could do. Yu girls did extremely well and two of you actually managed to keep going on the tail, until they where caught,' he smiled at Macey. My heart soared – she was now one of us! (Officially, that is).

"So before I start my official 'speech' if you will, we need to congratulate Ms. McHenry for passing her test," my classmates and I cheered and clapped, "Ms. McHenry will now be taking part in all of your junior classes." Bex and I crushed her into a hug.

Mr. Solomon raised a hand and we fell silent, "Now then, during your time in the Smithsonian, I was monitoring your every move and actions via the security cameras and satellite," I gulped. Not good.

"I was able to see your every mistake and mis-step, action and the re-action towards it," he paused and surveyed the room, "overall; I was impressed by the way you girls handled your individual situations." I let out a happy gasp.

"First I would like to focus our attention on the Blackthorne Boys that you girls tailed." The screen flashed and ten pictures appeared on it. I picked out Grant, Jonas and Zach immediately.

"Ms. Walters, which one of these boys was your personal assignment?" Solomon looked expectantly at her.

"Simone Connors," she replied. I looked at his picture: brown hair, brown eyes, tanned, tall and really muscular – he was cute enough and looked like he could take down a rabid lion without getting a scratch.

"Was he hard to pin down?" Solomon started the questioning. Tina replied and was backed up by the footage on screen.

"Ms. Morrison, Your tail was…" Mick replied instantly.

"Damien Iskander, codename Tool-Belt," he looked like Anna's long-lost brother (or second cousin, twice removed) and was rather on the skinny side.

"Ms. Lee?" Kim scanned the faces on screen and pointed to a Black-haired, blue-eyed, golden skinned and pretty tall guy (he'd be about 6'1 at least). I recognised him form my adventures with Alexander.

"Him, William Reads sir," then she answered the questions Mr. Solomon had been asking, "A hard tail at first – he blended in well with the crowds and was extremely good at hiding any comm. link answers he might have been answering. He seemed to be extremely confident in what he did. I was caught before I had a chance too successfully finish tailing him." Solomon nodded along with what she said and moved on straight away to look at the progress on the screen.

I saw Kim on the screen tailing William; a tall shape appeared behind her. Kim didn't notice. She touched the side of her hair as if straightening it out and then walked toward the castle looking down-cast. The boy, walked away looking relatively normal.

"Ms. Bauer and Ms. Fetterman," Anna went first.

"Xavier Outen-Walls, codename Ghost," she paused and pointed him out, "he was a tricky tail. I caught him easily enough, but it was staying on him that caused the problem. I guess he's not ghost for nothing."

I glanced at the screen, sure enough he seemed to melt into the background and appear moments later in a completely different spot. "I was caught trying to find him in the Museum of National History. Zach Goode appeared out of no-where and tapped me on the shoulder," So Zach had caught Tina, Eva, Macey and Mick. My tail Alexander had apparently caught Anna and Courtney before I had reached him.

"My tail was Julian 'Caesar' Matthews; Caesar being his codename. I caught him within half an hour of setting out," Courtney paused, "I was the first to be caught. I was being careful, he came from the shadows on my left," the screen said the same thing.

"Ms. McHenry, please start explaining," Macey nodded and started talking to the room.

"Grant Newman, codename: Romeo," half the girls seemed to giggle, "he was caught within the first five minutes or so and I tailed him till the Castle. I tried to keep an eye out, but I was caught by one Mr. Goode," Macey finished on the same note she started on.

"Alverez?" Solomon asked Eva.

"Michael Church, codename Cheetah. He was fast enough to be one. I had a struggle to catch him at first but once I did I stayed on him," I noticed Michael was another of the Boys that met up with Alexander.

Solomon nodded, hiding a smile at the cheetah comment and turned to Liz. She kept it simple and included how she and Jonas caught each other at the same time.

"Ms. Sutton and Mr. Andrews where both classified as 'retired,' it was an interesting way to catch him Ms. Sutton, by using yourself as bait," Liz blushed and nodded.

Finally it was Bex's turn, "I was assigned Zachary Goode. His codename is Shadowed," she paused and examined her nails, "it took me half the time to pin him down. I caught site of my attempted tail. It was Ghost. I doubled back and caught him then returned to my tail with 'Shadowed.' I lost site of him four times, I guess that's because he caught sight of Eva, Mick, Tina and Macey," she gave them apologising looks then continued.

"He led me on some kind of wild goose chase. Eventually I lost him again as he entered a huge crowd of civilians. That's when I was caught out by whoever caught me," she shrugged. "He's good."

The girls around me nodded in agreement and finally all their eyes turned to me. "So here comes the saviour's story!" Tina stated acidly (she'll get over it once she has a new rumour).

"Alexander Iver. Code name Double Sided. Alexander seemed to know what he was doing. It took me a good amount of my time to discover him," I glanced at the screen it showed me finding Alexander, "After I did find him, I stayed close to him and gave myself a good advantage distance. From what I saw he only slipped once: When he let William and Julian walk with him on there final move towards the castle. I kept on all three and made sure to keep a greater distance then normal: the more tails, the harder it becomes."

"Very good Ms. Morgan," Mr. Solomon spoke, so suddenly and without need that I nearly jumped.

"After I left the castle, after successfully tailing the three Blackthorne Boys, I decided to keep an ear out for any other boys that had either lost or out-smarted their tails. This led me towards the American-Indian museum.

"On my way there, I accidentally rammed into a guy about our age or a year older," the screen played out the whole accident, Bex started talking but I stopped her with my hand. We where walking away from each other then my tiny self stopped.

"I noticed something familiar about the guy I slammed into," yeah his eyes, "and I quickly talked to Liz about it. She had told me that Bex had been caught and that Zach Goode was still in the field. I put too and too together and discovered I had just run into Zach. I went to a bathroom and changed my wig, contacts, nose so that he wouldn't recognise me again. After a lengthy tail, I had him in the Castle."

None of my sisters had used there other disguises. That probably was what stopped me form being caught. I took in the look on the girls faces. Tina still resembled a sad elephant. Everyone lese seemed impressed… even Solomon.

"I must say, that you passed that with flying colours Ms. Morgan. I will deduct though, from your near run-in with becoming part of the 'captured' club. Now ladies, today you where tested on the basis of past experiences and lessons. Only one of you actually used the most important surveillance and counter-surveillance technic: Changing covers. It could have saved more then half of you from ending up where you did."

My classmates looked down and examined the stone floor. Mr. Solomon waited a few moments and continued his… rant?

"Ladies, some of you where tricked into pretty advanced traps for what time the 'Blackthorne Boys' had to devise there covers. Ms. Baxter suffered from one of these well laid-out traps. Ladies, today I asked you to put all your prior knowledge into tailing this group of boy-spies."

He seemed to sigh, "And you showed me, that even that's getting too advanced for you. Ladies, you need to learn how to go by gut instinct. I bet half of you felt something wrong, or had the hair on the back of your neck stand on end – and ignore it completely."

"You need to learn how to tune these gut-feelings and bodily warnings to higher standards. In the field, they can sometimes mean the reason between getting caught and being free. So, for the next of the semester, I'll try and give you normal lessons and try and help you individually tune these feelings to higher standards."

He looked at every girl in the room, squarely in the eye. "I'll try and help you become the best spy you can be."

He walked out of the classroom, film still rolling. My internal clock told me it was six-thirty, but like all the other girls in the room, I stayed and watched the film roll. It was focusing on Macey's tail now.

I watched the screen, barley blinking. Tina slipping in and out of large groups of people; Anna, trying to scan the crowd covertly while tying a lose shoelace; Eva and Courtney eating ice-cream and scanning the crowd, then walking toward their tails; Macey, using the reflection of a shop window to watch Grant flirt with a group of girls; Bex, perfectly tailing Zach, then watching him slip into a shadow and disappear; Me walking into a bathroom as a Brunette then coming out as a Blonde and starting to follow a boy.

The film ran down and the room abruptly became dark. Bex and I where the last two left.

"Cammie, You where amazing. Never losing your tail, perfectly disappearing into plain sight," she gestured to the screen, "Slamming into an enemy agent and not even getting caught."

I nodded, "It was nothing really, I just stayed in…" She caught me off.

"Nothing! That was not nothing Cammie," he was standing now, "I couldn't even keep sight of my target, let alone successfully tail them! Yet you seemed to breeze through one surveillance technic to another. You picked up on what Tina was saying and found your target! You tailed, the un- tailable. You…" she was staring at me now.

"You found a shadow in the dark. You, Cammie Morgan, became invisible before everyone's eyes," she stopped her rant and looked down.

"Bex are you alright?" I was seriously worried. This wasn't my friend Bex. She never freaked at anything.

"Cammie, in London you would have had everything in control. I just became an added package," Bex seemed even quieter in the dark, desolated Sub Level.

"Bex, it wasn't your fault! You where only shot at, because of me! It was nothing like what you think. It wasn't because they thought you where the weaker spy – it was because they only needed me," I swallowed a lump in my throat and looked ahead at the blank screen.

Bex touched my arm, "How about we both take the blame Cammie? It'll be easier then ripping ourselves apart," Bex reasoned with me. I nodded at her.

"I love you sometimes Bex! You're like a real sister to me!!!" She laughed and got out of her chair.

"Let's go eat!!" She cried out, I agreed and soon enough we where sitting at a big table, eating everything eatable in sight.


The days passed slowly after that. Everyone seemed to be waiting for Mr. Solomon to drag us out into the sleet for another test. Bex, Macey and I were just trying to get through Liz's freak outs.

"Ok, so I've finished the thousand word essay for Professor Buckingham. I've completed the extra credit counter-fit money written work for Mr. Smith and nearly written that new program for Re-search and Development."

Macey opened her mouth to ask a question, but Liz was off again.

"Bex, did you get around to doing the proper ways to use tea-spoons for lethal surprise attacks in a French setting for Madame Dabney? I've only gotten about thirty-two pages out and I can't remember what she said about the table-clothes that could become effective when the tea-spoon attack is used?"

I love Liz, I really do, but sometimes she gets to wound up over little things like this. Madame Dabney only wanted three pages, yet Liz was doing thirty plus? It was crazy, I decided to save Bex's skin, but she'd already started on Macey.

"Now Macey, did you hand in your last sophomore level tests for Countries of the World? You better off, because otherwise it will reflect badly on your mark and report results. You need to be able to safely come into the junior classes knowing everything that we have studied already and if you don't…" she was babbling now.

I placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder and spoke calmly to her.

"Now, Liz, take a couple of deep breaths. Of course Macey remembered to give in her written work; she really wants to take the same classes as us. Bex has done the three," I put extra emphasis on three, "pages Madame Dabney wanted on the Tea-spoon attacking methods and uses. The new program for R&D isn't supposed to be due in until Friday morning, so take your time and go over the existing program you've written and take your time to write the rest."

Liz's breathing was now even and steady, so I carefully took my arm away and sat back down. Bex seemed really relieved and Macey looked like she was going to faint (I can't blame her. When Liz freaks out, everyone gets scared for their lives).

Happy with my work, I went back to re-writing Professor Buckingham's paper. Buckingham's the best teacher ever, but I really wish she didn't give us so much extra work. The diagram I'd completed for Mr. Smith was sitting on the table to my left and Macey was busy duct-taping something together for hers. The library was extremely warm, but soon we would have to go outside for P&E. Even though their was a Hurricane roaring outside (It could have been one too – the rain was coming down so hard that you could even hear it in the Sub level 2 classroom and the wind had taking out two trees already) I honestly couldn't wait till P&E. I was having a two-on-one fight with Mick and Bex today (Anna was going against Eva and Liz, and then it was Macey against Courtney and Tina.).

My internal clock told me there was five minutes left of free period before P&E, so I gathered my work and headed up to our room. So far there had been no thunder; just lightning (Liz can become even more hyped up when she hears big noises after a spazz-out).

"Cammie, I'm picking out your training gear today," Macey informed me at our door. I rolled my eyes and opened my drawer. Macey scanned and sifted through the contents and finally decided on; leggings, a muscle top and sneakers (thank goodness for that).

I made my way down the twisting staircases and big oak doors. Gallagher was an old building, but it still had kept so many secrets from the generations of Gallagher Girls that had walked her halls.

I opened the door and was immediately assaulted with rain, wind and hail. I pulled my hoddie up over my pony-tail and rushed through to the Barn.

I started doing some warm-up stretches as my classmates came into the cold barn dripping wet and soon enough, we where in our groups and waiting for the signal to start.

"Good luck Cammie," Bex and Mick chorused together. Usually I would be scared in this situation, but I'd spent so much time training that I felt more confident then normal. A shrill whistle sounded and without waiting Mick lunged for me.

I backed out of her tackle and she rolled into another standing position. Bex threw a nice right-hook towards my face, ducking I swiped her legs out from under her. So we begin our dance tonight.

It was a flurry of blows and hits between the three of us, Bex accidentally punched Mick in the stomach when she had been intending to hit my un-defended right-side.

Bex and Mick began to time there blows to match the others next strike. I felt Mick's fist collide with my stomach, sending me backwards. I used my les and propelled myself off the ground before they could start again.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Mr. Solomon watching our fight, to the right of him, but hidden deep in shadows. Mr. Webber, our P&E instructor was too his left.

I used this to help me concentrate – mum would see me at my best. Bex swung a punch; I blocked with my left elbow and used my free right fist to hit her on the side. Then I used my right hand to catch Mick's incoming fist. I twisted and then dropped to a crouch and kicked her legs out from under her.

I didn't see Bex's foot till it connected with my upper-torso. It hit hard and my body jarred itself. I pulled back one or two steps and quickly drew a deep breath. Bex and Mick did the same. I stood still and waited for the next punch.

Mick's right foot came from my left, while Bex's left foot came at my right. I jumped backwards and hoped for the best, luckily enough it worked. There feet collided and it sent them spinning down to the ground.

They quickly untangled themselves and lunged at the same time. It caught me off guard and was thrown back. I landed in a heap on the floor (with an added grunt for effect). In P&E we're taught to hit spots that stun, not knock each other out: where taught pressure points round the body and the exact way how to hit a persons nose so it goes back into there head.

In P&E we're taught how to fight without killing, or doing great bodily harm to our opponent. Even though I knew all that, I still thought that I had broken a rib (or two) from their tackle. As I hit the ground all the air rushed out of my lungs. Winded.

I wiggled my way out of there hold and quickly stood up to asses the damage. No broken bones. On that cheery note, I bought both fist in front of my face in a 'boxing stance.' I waited for Bex and Mick to get up.

Mr. Webber's whistle blew and our match came to an end.

"Nice show Ms. Morgan. Very well done," he noticed me massaging my ribs, "nothing broken, no blood either. You'll be fine!" His booming voice sounded like the thunder that had started outside. I'd forgotten all about the rain and wind… and hail.

I winced as I sat down on a bench. I took a swig of my bottled water and poured a little on my head. No one else was inside the barn. I picked up my jacket and headed outside.


The rain was still pelting the Earth, and the wind howled and raged all around me. But it still felt peaceful and calm. I pulled my lose hair away from my face and turned it up to face the sky, as I walked towards Gallagher. It felt good on my aching side.

Lightning flashed then some thunder sounded. It was getting louder and more out of control. I had finally reached the doors now. I gathered myself up and ran up the stairs to my room. On my way up, I passed Macey, Bex and Liz.

"Nice going Cammie, you only just scraped it up at the end there," Bex gave me a wink and laughed.

"We'll save you a seat Cammie," Macey and Liz assured me. I nodded, great fully and took the steps two at a time.

I took a quick shower and blow-dried my hair out. I pulled on my skirt, three-quarter sleeved school top, jumper and my blazer. It felt good to be warm. My hair was slightly curly now, but I couldn't be bothered to do anything with it.

As I walked down the familiar hallways, the biggest boom of thunder yet came from outside. It shook the walls and the wind and rain picked up dramatically. I smelt the food and rushed down the stairs, thankfully I wasn't the last one to come. Groups of girls where still making there way to the hall.

I scanned the crowds and heard Bex's familiar laugh. I took a seat next to Macey and across from Bex and Liz. No one had started to eat yet. My stomach growled in hunger and Macey shushed it.

I noticed my mum heading for the podium and gave my full attention to her. The rest of the girls followed suit. Mum waited until not a sound was being made and flashed us a smile.

"Thank you ladies, now I'll try not to keep you from your warm meals for long, but I do have an announcement to make," she had our total attention. "A couple of weeks ago, the junior CoveOps class took part in an assignment. This 'Pop Quiz' took them to Roseville where they had to tail there fellow sisters. It was going smoothly and according to plan up until one of our own was assaulted."

I felt all the eyes turn to me. I kept my face blank and my attention towards mum, she nodded towards me and started again.

"After this, problem, I made sure that no one was allowed outside these hallow halls for any reason what's soever. Up until four days ago, this order was being followed to the point. But last Friday, the junior class went to the Smithsonian," a buzz echoed around, but mum didn't seem to notice, "here they where told to tail a group of operatives and attempt to not become tailed themselves. It was a challenge for every single one of the girls."

"Overall, it was a successful trip," she glanced at Mr. Solomon who nodded in return.

"For weeks now, I and your teachers have been conferencing and planning new ways to keep Gallagher Academy safe. After the Roseville Incident, we came to a unanimous decision that Gallagher Academy needs to have some extra help in achieving the level of protection needed. We have great secrets that are hidden here in our halls and many different secrets within secrets that we protect as Gallagher Girls."

My mother paused and surveyed the girls sitting on the many tables. "So until we can receive this, extra protection. I have called in some help for the time being."

As mum spoke the huge oak doors opened behind us and a familiar figure stood waiting behind them.

"Hi Girls," Aunt Abby didn't seem any different from the last time I had seen her. Sure her skin had darkened and the sling was gone, but she still seemed… ghostly.

"It's like we've never met before, Rachel!" Abby had walked up to stand behind mum and was greeting my professors (and Mr. Solomon).

"Agent Cameron has agreed to help us get through this next period until we have the protection needed. She will help out with the CoveOps classes and the new classes that are being introduced later this week." This caused a huge uproar among the Gallagher girls in the hall at the moment.

We had never just had a 'new class' added! Never (well from what we know and have been told anyway). My mum waited patiently with Aunt Abby beside her until we had settled into the normal silence that appeared when mum was behind the podium.

Mum gripped the podium, "Also helping out until we no longer need them are some old friends of the Gallagher Academy."

I spun around as the big oak doors opened for the second time. Only this time, a group of people entered. A group of boys.

"The Blackthorne Academy for Boys will be staying another semester at Gallagher Academy."

My mum went and sat back down, but not one of my sisters began eating. A bunch of boys had just sat down at our tables. As if they always came here.

I couldn't help my eyes as they scanned the crowd, with me hoping for dear life that one certain boy hadn't returned. Unfortunately my eyes found the familiar tousle of black hair sitting down with Grant and Jonas.

Zach Goode was back.


A/N: I think I deserve to have a good bit of evil laughter here. So excuse me as I take part in it.

It fells great to have that off my chest now. I think I can finally take a well earned break and just stop writing for a couple of days (maybe even a week – I honestly don't mind).

Now seeing this I don't get what the fuss was about: I mean, so what if the Blackthorne Boys are back? Big Whoopee there.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy that terrible Chapter. Sorry about making such a Big fuss over nothing! Can't help that can I?

And yes, before I get all the questions about it: Alex is at Gallagher. But then again so are Michael and Julian and Damien and Simone and Willem and Xavier. So is Dr. Steve, in case you're wondering.

So anyway, I'm taking a well earned break now, because that is the New Official Longest Chapter.

Happy Reading!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-Agent 006

(SUCKERS!)