Woohoo! Chapter 18! I honestly would have had it up earlier, but FF wouldn't let me upload documents...so I managed to squeeze in time this morning. Anyways...thanks so much for all the great reviews as always, you guys are amazing. I'm soooo lucky! As my gift to you...here's chapter 18!

Chapter Eighteen

Zach kissed me. Bex was still in danger. I kissed Zach. Those three thoughts pounded through my brain for the next hour. Not in that order, okay yes in that order.

We didn't leave the mansion immediately. Not before we took photos and IDed the two dead men. One was Ralph Morrison, the second Lee Craw. We swept the mansion, but found nothing. The whole time there was a new tension between Zach and I; a new awkwardness.

Zach had torn part of his shirt to tie around his arm to stint the blood flow. But when we got back to the car I noticed he was in genuine pain.

"Here," I said as I opened the back hatch and pulled out a first aid kit.

Zach pulled off his bloody shirt and I desperately struggled to not let his toned muscles distract me.

I looked at Zach's upper arm. It was worse than I originally thought. Although the bullet had just grazed him, it was a deep graze. I poured some alcohol over it and Zach grimaced, but allowed me to continue working. I wrapped thick gauze around the wound. When I looked up I caught Zach studying me.

"We're going to get through this." He told me and brought his hand to gently brush hair out of my face.

I don't know why, but those words made me want to sob. Emotion rose within me and I just nodded and stared at his face in the dim light that came from the car. The night grew black around d us and I wished the events of that day could disappear with the sun.

Zach's eyes dropped to the collar of my shirt. He gently pulled at the tear to reveal bruises and scratches. He touched one and I instinctively flinched.

"Oh Cam, that bastard," he whispered.

I gently removed his hand. "It's okay Zach, I'll clean them up when we get back, I promise."

Zach turned to put the first aid kit back. I walked to the driver's side door and waited for him to get in.

Zach go in on the passenger side and I started the engine, but kept the headlight off. Slowly I pulled out onto the dirt road. I heard a low pulsing noise and Zach rolled down his window. A helicopter was over the mansion with a spotlight roaming over the grounds.

I instantly sped up, getting out of there as fast as possible was imperative. I held my breath until we got on the main road and away from the horrid mansion.

As we headed back toward the city, I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel.

"So what do we do now, Zach?" I asked him.

"I say our best bet is to track Ryan Solomon down. Somehow the Circle is staying one step ahead of us and he just might be the guy to help us. Besides, he was the last person we know of who was in contact with Bex." Zach said.

"I agree," I said while running a hand through my hair. "Now we just have to figure out where he is." I sighed, "I'm can't believe all this is happening. I'm going to have to call headquarters and explain the mess we left behind." I cast a sidelong glance at Zach.

"Yeah, but at least we know what we're doing with," Zach tried to console me. "And we'll get her next time."

"If there is a next time," I whispered. The lights of the city now surrounded us, even though the streets were mostly quiet. A feeling of exhaustion consumed me, and Zach was quiet. We both knew that this business didn't always give you second chances.

I parked the car at the hotel, but didn't get out immediately. Zach walked around and opened my door.

"C'mon Gallagher Girl."

I reluctantly got out of the car. As we walked through the hotel I thought about how conspicuous we looked, even though Zach had put on a different shirt and I was wearing a jacket over my torn top.

The instant we got back to the hotel all I wanted to do was sleep. But I had to fill out an operations report. Zach volunteered to call Langley, and I was relieved because as I put the details of the night down I almost lost it. Images of Bex screaming and guns firing flashed through my mind. I tactfully skipped over Zach and my earlier conversation and the kiss. The CIA didn't need to know that.

The night dragged on and I soon dozed off. Zach woke me and I obediatntly agreed to go to bed.

Morning came entirely too fast. I awoke to the sound of the door opening. Zach walked in with two coffees. I sighed and closed my eyes.

"You scared me." I told him, still not opening my eyes.

Zach laughed and I heard him set one of the cups down on the nightstand. The tantalizing smell forced me to sit up.

I took a sip and Zach watched me. I didn't comment on the fact that he knew how I took my coffee. I rubbed my eyes. "What time is it?"

"Eight twenty-two." Zach responded instantly.

"Ugh," I groaned.

"How are you doing?" I knew Zach was talking about yesterday's events.

I forced a small smile, "Okay, thanks for the coffee. Where did you get it?"

"A place about a block from here, which by the way has a pretty cute barista." Zach's smirk was back. I rolled my eyes at his comment and climbed out of bed.

Wandering over to the desk I noticed a picture of the email address I had taken at Taylor's house. I picked it up.

Zach noticed me reaching for my laptop. "What are you doing?" he asked.

"I'm going to see what this email address is," I replied.

I logged on to a server and easily found the email provider. I typed in the address and password and was dismayed at what I initially found.

"Empty." An empty inbox stared back at me on my computer screen. Zach walked up behind me and watched as another empty "Sent" folder appeared on my screen.

"Click on Drafts." Zach instructed.

I did and was surprised to see several drafts. "Idiots were too stupid to delete them," Zach muttered. "A technique we learned at Blackthorne was to write drafts and save them to a shared email account, not many people know about it," he explained.

I nodded, and then one of the dates caught my eye; the most recent one. "Zach this was written last night."

I clicked on it and read through. Sure enough it talked about "primary headquarters being compromised" and "target is being transported to finish her: and then there was an address.

I quickly scribbled it down. As I was doing so there was a knock at the door.

Zach and I both glanced up and then at each other. WE both had no idea who it could be. Zach grabbed his gun and motioned for me to open the door. I stood up and slowly made my way to the door. The thought that I was still in my pajamas briefly crossed my mind.

Glancing through the peephole I saw a young man. He shifted from foot to foot and clearly hadn't shaved in days.

I raised a hand to Zach and swung the door open.

The young man was way more attractive up close. Piercing blue eyes met my own. There was something about his rugged good looks that was familiar.

"Hi," the mystery man began, "I'm Ryan Solomon."

So Ryan Solomon makes his grand appearance...

What did you guys think? Please give me your ideas/feedback in a review!

I have a Q for you guys to answer too. I know that in less than two weeks GG5 will come out (!) But I'm curious to see if you guys want me to continue this story even though it may not fit in with the books as much anymore? I'd love to keep writing and at least finish this story so please let me know!