Chapter 9: He Can't Die

I woke up tied to a chair, of course, not that it was necessary. I realized that when we arrived, I was still under the drug, but they injected me with something worse. I could see and hear everything, but I couldn't react. I couldn't scream or cry or hit Grant for drugging me in the first place. My friends came in and checked on me, all of them giving me pity apologies. It didn't hurt me that the people I trust most in this world betrayed and drugged me, but the fact that they paralyzed me and subjected me to feeling completely and utterly useless. Zach lie on the bed motionless, blood seeping from his wound, nurses crowding around him. Wren's stride changed as he neared Zach and I, a look of sadness looming over his face.

"Cammie, it's time for us to drag him into surgery. Don't worry, I won't let this kid die." He smiled. I wanted to thank him or cry or smile back, but I couldn't. "Don't worry, your gratitude is implied. We'll get you off the drug soon." And with that he exited. Now came the worst part, waiting. The thing that made the wait even more unbearable was the fact that I didn't know what I was waiting for. Was I waiting for Zach to be dragged back into this room? Was I waiting to see him smirk at me again? Was I waiting for Wren to come in her with bad news? No, I was waiting for this serum to wear off. I remembered that it was time sensitive, and fortunately for me, time was running out. With that thought in my mind I felt movement in my fingertips. I attempted to force that momentum throughout my whole body. I heard footsteps down the hall so I pushed harder. I felt a tingle in my toes, my lips quivering slightly.

"Cammie?" Bex called, her fingertips still in the doorknob. I swung myself around, pulling her into a choke hold.

"How dare you make me feel weak at a time I should feel strong?" I whispered, the words still hanging from my lips. She struggled, but she didn't dare utter a word. "And when confronted you have nothing to say? You had lots to say when you were feeling guilty about it." My voice shook uncontrollably. I lowered her body down as she became unconscious. I exited the room, my gym shoes squeaking on the floor, as I treaded up to the operation floor. I roamed the halls, looking at patient summaries that hung on the doors until I arrived at room 519, where Wren stood on the opposite side of the glass window, staring at me. He let the sight of me occupy him for a moment before redirecting his attention back to Zach. I watched as they poked and prodded my boyfriend/partner with weapons called needles and scalpels. While Zach lie there unable to feel a thing, I felt everything. Every poke, every cut, the cold needle pulling itself in and out. Without noticing I had my hand on my ribs, my finger tracing a circle close to where Zach's wound was. Wren came out, wiping his brow.

"I see the serum wore off, I'm guessing someone was late." He smiled.

"They're honestly idiots. They should've had me hooked up to an IV." My eyes drifted back to the window. "How is he?"

"My friend is still getting some of the bullet fragments out, but there is a large amount of swelling. We're going through with the surgery, but there are huge risks involved."

"So you can't tell me if he's gonna make it?"

"Hey." He grabbed my arms. "I will not lose him, neither will you. I want you to go down to the cafeteria, grab a bite, and when you come upstairs Zach is going to be up, and he's going to hug you and everything will be alright, gotcha?" I nodded my head. "I have to get back in there, I'll see you soon." He gave me one last pat on the back before creeping back in. I watched him as he picked up the weapons of doom once more. I put my back to the wall, slowly sliding down it. Memories from the tombs overwhelmed me. I remember him holding my hand. I remember us finding the journals. I remember the fire. The explosion. Him promising me he would make it out, and he did. I remember the hollowness in my bones whenever I looked at him and saw how broken he was, and how well he hid it. I remember it all. Is that how Zach felt? Was he always looking at me, as I lay broken on a hospital bed? Did he ravage for answers to questions he couldn't ask? Was he constantly scared of losing me too? I was tired of the doubt that filled me. I pulled out a burner phone and dialed a number I knew by heart.

Mom?

Hey kiddo, what's wrong?

Zach is in the hospital.

Is he okay?

I'm not sure. I took a deep breath. Mom, how did it feel when you realized dad was missing?There was a long pause on the line.

I was mostly scared. The spy in me knew he was gone, but the wife in me hoped to see his face again, for him to pick me up in his arms and laugh and call me dramatic for thinking he was dead. Part of me hoped I wouldn't have to explain this to you. She let out a halfhearted laugh, but she was clearly crying underneath it.

I can't lose anymore people, mom. I lost dad, but I can't lose Zach.

You know, he said something similar when you were in the hospital. He tried to kill himself, Edward and Joe had him pinned to the floor. The only thing sad about it was how hilarious I found it. We both let out a chuckle.

Thanks mom. I miss you and Joe by the way. I never realized how much I needed you until I moved out.

We miss you too. Call me with updates in his condition. And then she hung up. I stared at the phone for a couple seconds before seeing Townsend speed walk down the hall and towards me.

"Ms. Morgan, what happened?" He breathed. I pointed my finger right at the window. His gaze followed and the light in his eyes changed, they lit up like matches.

"I'm so sorry Townsend, I-"

"Don't worry about it." He straightened his already crisp shirt.

"I am worried! I brought him on this mission and now he's hurt-"

"That's what he signed up for when he decided to be a spy!" Townsend shot back. We both took a moment to calm ourselves, our gazes both on Zach's corpse.

"He's being targeted." I whispered.

"No he isn't Cameron." He hastily whispered back. His voice was strong enough to shatter the windows, that is, if they weren't bulletproof.

"Townsend can you stop for one second and listen to me? There was a distance between us, and I'm telling you because I don't want this to be like the circle-

"No one will hurt my son!" By this time, both of us were shouting.

"A son you didn't know about until he was an adult? That son? Face it Townsend, Zach is your son by blood, but you'll never accept him!"

"I am doing my best to accept him, but you wouldn't understand, your dad is dead." The last four words sliced through me like an icy cold knife. I kept repeating it in my head. My dad is dead. My dad is dead. Maybe if I said it enough it would believe it.

"Yeah, my dad is dead, rightfully so." I turned my back and started walking away.

"I didn't mean it Cammie." He called after me.

"But you still said it." I whispered, just loud enough for him to hear, and then continued out of the hospital.

CIA Headquarters

21:00 hours

I didn't expect to end up here, in the middle of headquarters, striding towards the Weapon Artillery. I decided that for once this mission, I was going in head first, and there was no one stopping me.

"Hey Ant." I gave a gentle wave.

"Cammie! I've been meaning to tell you that the truth serum was a success."

"I'd love to talk about it, but I need to go. I need a forensics kit, a mini hand gun, those new bullets we worked on, and serum 181 and 507." I rattled off my list. Anthony stared at me with both a mix of confusion and utter stupidity.

"I'm not sure Cam; I mean-"

"Anthony less questions and more preparing." I swiveled around and headed to my office, grabbing a change of clothes. I picked a loose, cropped grey hoodie with dark leggings and gym shoes. As I headed out, I walked past Zach's office, realizing there was one more thing I needed to do. I wrote a note on a piece of evapopaper, questioning whether I should leave it here or swallow it. I mean, my dad left me notes, which brought me here in the first place. I figured I should take my chances and slid the paper under the door. I descended back to the Weapon Artillery, where Anthony had a suitcase for me ready, my name in bold letters. I took it from him and smiled, before getting in the white Ford Focus and driving off.

Wren's Hospital

21:37 hours

"Cammie?" Zach pulled himself up slowly, before feeling a sharp pain in his abdomen. He grasped his ribs as Wren came to lay him back down. "Cammie." He whispered again.

"I'm sure she's just in the cafeteria, she'll be back soon." Wren soothed, sedating him once more. For a moment, there was completed silence, but Wren knew it wouldn't last long.

"CAMERON ANN MORGAN IF YOU DON'T COME OUT RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE GONNA WISH YOU DIDN'T SNAP MY NECK!" Bex yelled from down the hall, her voice getting louder as she neared the hospital room. She kicked down the door with all of her force and stood there panting.

"Well where the fuck is she?"

"You know, these doors are expensive." Wren rolled his eyes.

"Can you just tell me where she is?"

"Can you people stop asking me? Honestly you were supposed to be watching her!"

"It's not my fault she put me in a choke hold!" Bex shot back. A small vibrating coming from the table interrupted them. Dodging all obstacles Bex beat Wren to the phone.

Baxter speaking, what do you want?

It's Anthony from Weapon Artillery, can I speak to Wren?

Sure, I'll put it on speaker.

I'd rather speak to him in private. Anthony challenged.

Too bad, I'm putting it on speaker. Bex pressed a button on the phone. Now talk.

Cammie came in here a couple minutes ago asking for a a forensics kit, a gun, and some bullets trained assassins are afraid of, along with serums that the creators regret making. I'm worried she might be making a mistake somewhere.

Thanks. Bex hung up. She grabbed her phone and her wallet and headed for the door.

"Where are you going?"

"To find Cammie. And when I find her, she's gonna be a dead spy walking."