Woohoo! Chapter 20...and I updated mid-week! A big shout-out to all who reviewed the last chapter, most of you got a PM from me about it, but for those who don't have an account, here's your thanks!

I hope you guys like Chapter 20!

Chapter Twenty

I ran through my idea as the two boys listened closely. I could tell what Zach thought even before I finished. Sure enough, I was right.

"I don't know; I'm not sure if that is the best plan." Zach hesitated when I finished.

"Really? And you have a better idea on how to bug the place?" I countered.

"I should at least go in with you."

"No way. How would that work? I'm perfectly capable of doing this myself."

"You're planning on walking into a building that possible has some members of the most danger terrorist organization in the world inside. Alone."

"I'm pretty sure that comes with the job description."

Ryan had been watching the whole discussion between Zach and I without saying a word. I turned to him, "What do you think?"

"I think you're both right." Cammie, going in alone is a bad idea, but we do need to get eyes and ears in there soon." Ryan was clearly trying to remain neutral.

I thought a moment. "Okay. How about Jane goes in with me? Riley and her offered to help, and we could probably use the two of them." I suggested.

"Absolutely not." Zach shook his head, "We can't bring anyone else in. Not only with MI6 be upset for us making this their mess too, but two more people are two more liabilities."

Ryan nodded. "How about I go in too? Not with you, but I can be in the building in case things go awry."

At this point the waitress was starting to give us looks; hinting that we should leave.

"Alright guys, fine. Ryan you can go in as backup. But Zach you're outside watching the perimeter. We are just bugging the place."

Ryan gave me a look of approval. Zach grudgingly nodded.

"Well then, I suppose we should meet somewhere near the hotel." Ryan suggested.

"There's a parking lot across the street with good visual. We drive a –" Zach was cut off.

"Oh I already know you drive." Ryan interrupted. Zach glared, but Ryan just stood, and with a wink in my direction, walked toward the door.

"He is such Solomon's son," Zach said as he slid out of the booth. I followed and graciously took Zach's hand when he offered it as help.

I stood and straightened my shoulders before turning to Zach.

"I guess we'll see if he operates like Joe too."

We walked to the car in silence and I opened the driver's door. I pulled away from O'Malley's and Zach still didn't say anything. I could tell he was thinking seriously, and I also knew better than to pull him out of his thought.

He did question when I parked in front of a small boutique. One that had a pink awning and fancy dresses in the window.

"What are we doing here?" He demanded.

I smirked. "You didn't really think that I already had something to wear, did you? Besides, Macey once told me 'every great op deserves a great outfit'. Don't worry I'll be quick, just stay here." I said and closed the door before he could protest.

An impressive ten minutes later, I walked out of the shop with two bags. Zach didn't complain when I got in the car. He just flashed a signature smirk and said, "This better have been worth the wait."

Back at the hotel, I made a beeline for the bathroom, leaving Zach in charge of getting comms and bugs together. Meanwhile I took a shower and began my attempt to make myself look show-stopping.

I curled my hair and then proceeded to pin it into a fancy up-do; managing to only burn myself once. I applied a liberal amount of makeup, using the tricks Macey had showed me to bring out my eyes. After I finished I looked in the mirror and smiled, proud of my work.

Then I slipped on my dress. It was flashy, metallic silver strapless mini dress. The dress itself was simple but when I put it on, brought attention to my figure. The short skirt made my legs look miles longer and the hugging fit made my waist look tiny. Normally, I wouldn't have worn such a dress in public, but it worked for what I needed to do.

But there was one problem. I couldn't zip the zipper. I was able to grasp it, but didn't have the range of motion to pull it upwards. After spending several frustrating minutes attempting to zip it and swearing several times in several different languages, I sucked it up and opened the bathroom door.

"Zach," I called, trying to hide the utter embarrassment in my voice.

"Yes Cam?" I heard him get up and walk around the corner to the bathroom door where I was standing. I noticed he did a slight double-take when he saw me, but he instantly covered it with a smirk.

I turned around so my back was facing him, "I need you to zip me up."

Zach laughed, "Sure thing, Gallagher Girl."

I rolled my eyes to myself, trying to cover my embarrassment with annoyance.

I felt Zach's fingers on my back as he zipped the dress ever so slowly. When he was finally done I spun around to face him and was surprised to find how close we were.

Zach's eyes instantly found the bruises and scratches on my shoulders. He reached to gently run his hand slowly over them, as if he wished he could heal me with just his touch.

His fingers on my skin was like fire and I tried my hardest not to blush when his eyes me my own. "You don't have to do this Cammie. You can stay safe." Zach whispered.

I said nothing as he reached to softly touch my cheek. There was nothing I want to do more at that moment than collapse into his arms and hide from the danger, but I couldn't.

"Cammie," Zach barely breathed my name. There was a pleading in his voice. His hands softly gripped my shoulders. I dropped my eyes, and placed both my hands on his broad chest. "It's okay Zach." I began. "I have to do this." I lifted my chin to meet his gaze and let my arms fall back to my sides.

"I have to do this," I breathed those words a second time; inside I wasn't sure if I said them to convince Zach or myself.

Zach took a step back and I leaned into the bathroom to grab the pink cropped jacket I had purchased to hide the bruises. I slipped it on and gave Zach a small smile.

"Here," he walked over to the desk and gave me a small comms unit. As I took it, he placed a matching one in his own ear.

Zach proceeded to give me several small bugging units that I stored in one of the small pockets on my jacket.

"You ready?" he raised his eyebrows.

I nodded and slipped my feet into my insanely high heels.

As Zach and I walked through the lobby I could feel the eyes of every guy in the room on me. But glares from Zach kept all of them away. Except for one.

"Emily!" Someone called my cover name.

I spun around and Zach stopped. Nate stepped off an elevator and strode toward us.

"Who the hell is he?" Zach asked through gritted teeth.

"I'll take care of it," I replied then plastered a smile on my face.

"Hey," I said as Nate reached us.

"Hey, you're still in town." Nate replied. He looked at Zach and there was no sign of intimidation, even though Zach was giving him a pretty harsh look.

"Yeah. Nate this is my friend Daniel. We're traveling together. Daniel, this is Nate. I met him at the pool the other day."

Nate and Zach shook hands, but they gripped each other for a second too long for it to be friendly.

"It's so nice to meet Emily's friend." Nate said. Zach smirked and look at his watch.

"Well Emily and I have plans so I guess you'll have to excuse us."

"Oh? Well I'll see you around then," Nate said, mainly to me. He winked and walked off.

Before Zach could say anything I walked away as fast as possible, but in heels I was limited. I practically ran to the car and quickly got inside and closed the door. I watched Zach casually saunter to our SUV. He watched me through the windshield.

"Making friends are we Gallagher Girl?" Zach spoke as he got in the car.

"I'm sorry Zach. But it's no big deal—"

"No," Zach interrupted. "You don't seem to get it Cammie. He's someone who knows we're here. And you didn't tell me."

"Ugh," I hit the steering wheel. "Zach he's some businessman from Boston, not a terrorist! I'm no stupid, okay? After I got back from the pool I didn't feel like telling you because I knew you'd over-react, and he's not a threat." I glared.

Zach shook his head, "Yeah there are definitely NO terrorists in Boston. Cam, I don't understand why you take stupid risks like this! Lack of communication is dangerous. Look at what happened to Bex because she left Ryan out of the loop."

"Zach! Don't you bring Bex into this! You treat me like I'm half the operative you are! I'm sick of it!" I shook my head and threw the car into gear. "Whatever, I'm done arguing." I closed the conversation but the tension remained.

I zipped up next to the car that Ryan Solomon was leaning against in the agreed parking lot. I grabbed my purse, glared one last time at Zach, and got out of the car. I couldn't resist the urge to slam my door.

The smile that was on Ryan's face as he checked me out vanished when he saw my expression. A not-so-happy-looking Zach appeared around the rear of the car and Zach looked back and forth between the two of us.

"Lover's quarrel?" Ryan guessed.

"Shut up." Zach and I said at the same time in response.

I stood with my hip cocked. "You ready Solomon?" My eyes dared him not to be.

"Yeah," Ryan snapped into action. "Zach there's a laptop with security cameras pulled up so you can watch. Cam, I'll be right behind you, there's a bar in the lobby, so I'll hang there while you work."

"Alright then." I grabbed my shades from my purse and slid them over my eyes. Spinning around I took long confident strides toward the impressive building. If the Circle had any sense, they were not about to attempt to keep me from my best friend.

Ahahaha, the next chapter is going to be good...or should I say Goode?

Zach and Cammie's relationship will remain an important focus in the story even though we are getting into some actiony chapters...

Please, please, please review? :D