Zach POV

So far we've been under house arrest for the last few hours. Macey and Bex were eagle-eyed, flinching at every small movement we made. Joe was sitting on a stool at the breakfast bar, trying to keep himself awake but struggling with the warmth of the cabin. In this light, I could see the bags under his eyes, a man who has not had a proper sleep in a long time.

Liz was on her computer in the other room, she had been pointing her gun (shakily) at Jonas. He had said her name softly and she broke down crying, running into the other room and hasn't come out since. Jonas was quiet after that, pain on his face that I recognised as my own.

...

'Can I get water?' Grant asked.

'No' Bex answered instantly.

'But I'm thirsty'

'Boohoo' She said. Grant narrowed his eyes, ready to say something.

'Leave it' I muttered to him. Grant glared at me.

'Sie wissen, dass wir diese Madchen nehmen konnen, richtig?' You know we can take these girls, right?

'Wenn Sie nicht auf dem Leichenschauhaus-Tisch landen möchten, schlage ich vor, dass Sie nach unten pfeifen' Unless you want to end up on the morgue table, I suggest you pipe down Joe snapped, spinning a knife around. Grant's eyes widened for a moment.

'You never answered my earlier question; who the fuck are you?' He hissed. I gritted my teeth, cursed Grant and his arrogance.

Bex took a step forward, ready to teach Grant a lesson when Joe just simply raised his hand, Bex backed down, standing against the wall. Joe didn't answer Grant's question. He just spun the knife around methodically.

A door opened and Liz hurried into the room.

'T-minus 10 minutes' She informed Joe. Her voice small, her eyes red and puffy.

'Thank you, Miss Sutton' Joe nodded. 'I will let Cameron know'

'No need' Cammie came down the stairs, she'd changed clothes; now wearing a jumper that looked warm and trousers that were not bloody from my knife. She looked over at me. 'Come with me' She said.

'Want a backup?' Macey asked. Cam shook her head but put a small smile on her face.

'We'll be good' She turned back to me. 'You coming?'

I stood up, aware that all eyes were on me. I swore that the glares I was getting from Bex & Macey were burning a hole in my head.

I followed Cam silently outside, we walked just off of the porch steps until Cam stopped, turning around to face me. Her arms folded across her body.

'You have five minutes to say whatever you want to say' She said, avoiding my gaze.

'Cam-'

'Time's ticking'

I stared at her in astonishment. Just over 72 hours ago, we were kissing under the stars and now we're shooting daggers at each other across a field, ready for a duel.

'I'm not the bad guy in this situation' I said.

'Really? I find that hard to believe' She quipped. It had got to this very moment where my blood had boiled and I could not take it anymore. I was ready to explode.

'Will you shut up for one moment and listen!' I snapped 'I'm sorry for everything that happened to you. I...I did not know that Max was going to do what he did-'

'Say it' She interrupted. 'If you're going to talk about it, you might as well say it'

'Torture. I did not know that he was going to torture you. He taught us ways to get people to talk; tie them down, threaten them, slam them, douce them in freezing water but never inflict that kind of pain. I didn't know what to do and I froze. I never wanted to hurt you' I took a step towards her but Cam backed up.

'I have a knife wound that makes it hard to believe'

'I was angry! Max went by Joe Solomon. We only ever knew him as Joe Solomon. Anyone that ever communicated with him called him Joe Solomon. And when he went missing and the clues led us to you, and then you said that you were looking for Joe too, I thought...I thought there was hope. I could get part of my family back. I know now that it's all been a lie but it's a fucking hard pill to swallow! How would you feel if one of the people you trusted most in the world was lying to you the whole time!'

Cam's icey expression softened.

'I'm looking right at them' She whispered. My shoulders dropped 'I trusted you Zach'

'I know and I-'

'Do you know what hurt more than being tortured?' Tears formed in her eyes 'You took that knife'

'I didn't want to use it'

'But you did! You threw that knife into my leg, aiming to hurt me'

'Cam-'

'The first time we fought, I was your enemy and you threw the knife above my head. But this time, I was your friend and you hurt me.' A tear fell 'I guess a part of you wanted to hurt me'

'And a part of you doesn't want to hurt me right now?' I took a step forward, this time Cam didn't move 'I can see the pain in your eyes, Gallagher Girl, so why don't you just let it out' I opened my arms up wide 'Take your best shot'

Cam stared at me, not moving and not speaking. The wind brushed her hair across her face and all I wanted to do was reach out and tuck it behind her ear.

And I did.

My hand had a mind of its own, it stretched out and skimmed Cammie's cheek before my mind could process what I was doing. I tucked the hair behind her ear but kept my hand on her face.

Cam stared back at me with a mixture of emotions in her eyes, I could tell that she was conflicted in what she was feeling. I knew this because so was I.

'I want you to know that I really hate you right now' She said, her voice cracking slightly. Despite everything I chuckled lightly.

'I know. I'm hating myself too'

We drifted into silence, just looking at one another. The adrenaline and anger that both of us were feeling seemed to dissipate once I touched her skin.

Absentmindedly, my thumb began to caress her cheek, a slow rhythmic motion that caused Cammie to close her eyes, her walls coming down.

'You hurt me' She whispered, opening her eyes after a moment.

'I'm sorry'

'And you lied to me' Her eyes were big and vulnerable. You made her feel like that I thought.

'Cammie...I promise you that I have never lied to you. Everything I have told you was the truth. I have never trusted anyone as quickly as I have trusted you'

'But I can't trust you. Not anymore' She said. I withdrew my hand, her warm skin feeling icey.

'Gallagher Girl-'

'You've been lied to Zach, this whole time Max has been training you for one purpose. I should have realised it earlier but I didn't, or at least I didn't want to believe it'

'What are you implying?' I asked. Cam looked at me with sorrowful eyes and I knew that whatever she was going to say was hard for her.

'Your skills and abilities, they're all impressive. You're clearly better that Grant or Jonas, heck you can take even Bex down in hand to hand fight! You can probably take down anyone!'

'Not everyone' I said. 'You're the only one who can match me'

Cam looked at me, waiting for the penny to drop. And it did. It hit me like the wind, causing my legs to feel weak beneath me. I stepped back a few steps.

'No. No. No'

'You said it yourself that you're trained to kill' She said

'All Blackthorne Boys are!'

'That may be so, but you. You were trained to kill one particular person. Me'

'I don't believe you'

'It's the most logical answer'

'Screw logic! I know what I am Cam, I know that I'm a killer but I am not meant to kill you'

'That might be true, but you might be lying'

'I HAVE NEVER LIED TO YOU!' I powered forward, grabbing her face in my hands to look at me. She didn't react, didn't flinch. Just looked up at me with her big beautiful eyes.

'I have never lied to you, Gallagher Girl' I said softly 'I never meant to hurt you, I will never hurt you, not intentionally. Everything I have said to you...my thoughts...my feelings...they're all true. Heck, even ask the guys, they'll tell you that since you came into my life, something has changed about me. You've changed me'

I was about to continue speaking when the hum of the helicopter began to approach. I began to withdraw my hands from Cammie's face when she grabbed my face and pulled me down until our lips touched.

The kiss was intoxicating immediately, it was full of hunger, desire, need and other pent up emotions that had been swirling around us recently. My hands drifted to her waist, pulling her flush against me as we continued to kiss, but still, the space between us was not enough. I wanted to tell her and show her everything I was feeling. The walls that I had built so high around me, a fortress that no one was let into, somehow opened for Cammie. Somehow she had snuck her way into the most vulnerable parts of me and I didn't want to let her go.

The helicopter blades became deafening and the wind too much to handle as it began to land.

Cam was the first to pull away, she looked at me with big sad eyes.

'I'm sorry' She whispered. I furrowed my brows, a sudden fuzzy sensation creeping through my body. I stumbled back from Cam as I looked at my arm, right there was a sleeping patch. I peeled it off, hoping that it would stop the effects from taking hold, but it didn't.

My legs began to buckle under me as I fell to the ground, but Cam caught me, easing me to the ground and holding my face in her lap.

'That kiss...classic diversion technique, right?' I said as the haze of sleep began to take over 'Have you ever used it before?' I chuckled to myself as I stared up at Cam. She gave me a small smile and that was the last thing I remember before blacking out.

Cammie POV

Zach's eyes drifted shut. His expression softened and he looked peaceful. I brushed my fingers through his hair, hoping to keep him relaxed. I felt a shadow fall over me and a hand on my back.

'We need to make a move' Joe said. I nodded, still focused on Zach. Despite all the betrayal, I felt and all the anger there was just something about Zach that made me weak at the knees, made me doubt every decision I have ever made but also numbed all the pain as I could finally see and think clearly.

'You did the right thing' Joe said.

'Did I really?' I looked up at him 'Joe, I don't know what the hell is going on, but this feels wrong'

'Until we know what they know, we need to keep a distance'

'I know. But it doesn't mean that it feels right' I laid Zach's head down and stood up as the figures in the helicopter began to pile out. Liz's escape plan was in action.

Bex was standing on the porch, she came forward to talk to Tina, Courtney, Anna and Eva. There was a lot of nodding of heads before they disappeared into the cabin.

Townsend and Amelia exited the helicopter too and came towards us.

'It's so good to see you, Joe!' Amelia pulled Joe into a tight hug.

'Likewise. It's been too long' Joe sighed into the hug.

'Cameron' Edward nodded to me. He looked at Zach's sleeping body 'Do I dare ask?' He arched an eyebrow

'I'll explain later' I said. 'How's Abby?'

'Let's just say that she left a very angry voicemail for me after we both departed' He said. I winced.

'She's going to kill me' I groaned.

'Join the club' He gave me a small smile before turning to Joe.

'Glad to see you again, Joseph' Edward offered a hand.

'The feeling is mutual, Edward' Joe accepted his hand 'Thank you for all the help you've given Cameron'

'It was no trouble'

They began to talk about moving Zach's body into the helicopter (after they handcuff him first).

I looked over to see Bex, Macey, Liz and the other girls carrying Grant, Jonas and all our belongings out of the cabin. As if we had never even stayed there.

'Cameron' I turned to see Amelia standing in front of me. She looked at me like any concerned mother would. 'What's wrong?'

She reached for me but I stepped back. Recoiling not because I was scared of Amelia, but recoiling because I knew information that would destroy her.

'Cammie…'

'Where's Nick?' I asked. Amelia looked at me carefully.

'At school back in London. Why?'

'You need to get him on a plane to Gallagher immediately'

'What's going on?' Amelia's eyes scanned slowly over me.

'You honestly don't want to know' I whispered, my voice cracking. Amelia tilted her head, worried.

'Cam, you can tell me anything. You can trust me'

'I know. But I don't think you'll believe me'

Amelia took a step forward, placing her hands delicately on my shoulders, this time I didn't move. The warmth of her hands radiated through my body, making me feel safe.

'Tell me what happened' She said. I bit my lip, all of my defences came down. I was tired. So, so tired.

'Amelia…I'm so sorry' I began. Amelia looked at me but didn't say anything, as my tears fell she pulled me into a hug, brushing through my hair in a soothing motherly manner. I told her everything, out in the open in a quick concession. The words tumbling out of me and swallowed up by the wind around us. All the while Amelia just held me tight, calming me, protecting me.

We headed to the helicopter. Both of us walked side by side but not saying anything. As I was about to step into the helicopter, taking Joe's outstretched hand, I turned on instinct to the treeline at the edge.

'What is it?' Joe asked, following my gaze. 'Do you see anything?'

'No' I answered before accepting his hand and climbing into the helicopter. It was true, I didn't see anything and I should be relieved, right? But seeing nothing actually worried me. For so long there has been something hidden at the edge of my view, something in my memory that's been missing, a piece of the puzzle just out of reach...but now...I feel like we're playing a completely different game...and it's only a matter of time before someone shows their hand.

Author's note: Hello beautiful people! Hope you've all had a good week! EEEEEK so we've had a little Zammie moment that ended in Zach (once again) being knocked out. And his little joke about the 'classic diversion technique' harks back to the first time they kissed at the Henley in this story. We are now heading back to Gallagher, though not all of them as friends. More surprises on the way and our favourite young thief/best friend Nick will be back! Will Cammie tell him about his dad? Will she mention the figure she saw? Will she talk to Zach? Rachel is still missing, and now Max is also missing. Is he holding her captive? Or is there another force at play? See you all next Saturday! xxx

Guest: Fangirl away! Thank you so much! xxx

Airhead: Things are definitely hard to come back from, but this is Zach and Cammie we're talking about, they'll work it out...right? Ahhh! I'm sorry if I'm teasing you too much! Thank you for all your kind words and I hope that you enjoy this chapter! xxx

Guest: Thank you so much! Hope you liked the little bit of Zammie in here xxx

Blue: Sadly no ghost of Matthew Morgan (not in this story at least *wink wink coming soon*) Cam will tell them the truth when she feels ready too...which could happen but might not. The figure might have been a hallucination - Cam doesn't seem to trust her mind recently, hopefully being back at Gallagher will help...or not... I hope you liked the Zammie moment in this, though not quite a happy ending at this moment...they might just get their fairytale ending...if they both survive. Please no puppy god eyes! I'm a sucker for that! Too much of that and I'll change the entire ending! Thank you so so much! I can't believe it's been 500 chapters. I hope to write for a long time, but I may need a break after this story because DAMN, it's going to be a long one. Just wait for next week *evil laugh Mwhahahaha* xxx

Guest: Thank you so much! Zach and Cammie's relationship is very much a rollercoaster but I hope that they work it out too. I really want Joe and Zach to have a relationship too, like they have in the books, but at the moment they're pretty much strangers. xxx

Guest: Ahhhh I don't want this to be a sad Fanfic! There will be a happy ending for some of the characters but not all of them in the end...but I won't say who...xxx

Smiles180: Did Cam imagine the figure she saw? Are her eyes deceiving her? Who do you think the figure was? I know for sure that Cammie would tell Rachel, but at the moment she can't. Joe would be a close second. Zach didn't seem to take the news that he was trained to match Cam particularly well. The dynamic has shifted and will only get more interesting! xxx

gymnast1150: Zach does still care! It's Cammie that's being the stubborn one...but after their kiss...are her defences slipping? Hehehe, the escape plan is only just the beginning. Now that they're going back to Gallagher, things won't be pretty...Be scared! Is it bad that that's making me happy? It's exactly what I want you to feel right now and if this were a proper book, I would just binge the next chapter but sadly you have to wait a week! I'm so sorry for that! Bex and Cammie are by far my favourite characters in the series, I just love the dynamic between them. The saying on 'Innocent until proven guilty' doesn't really go in the spy world, it seems to be 'guilty until proven innocent' so the boys will be treated like double agents for a while. Max definitely has a few tricks up his sleeve and loyalty is what he's counting on. But will the guys see sense? Or will one of them go rogue? I know that all my chapters are intense, but they're just going to get more and more intense! EEEEEKKKK! Thank you so much as always, I don't know what I'd do without you xxx