Hey everyone!

Bad news: This update is wayyyy overdue! (I hope you guys will somehow forgive me)

Good news: It's summer! Which means *fingers crossed* faster updates and better chapters!

I really want to wrap this story up, so hopefully that means I'll be more motivated to write! I hope all of you are having an amazing summer! ;)

Chapter Twenty-Two

The Pros and Cons to a Stakeout

A List by Cammie Morgan

Pro: Stakeouts usually provide a lot of downtime which can be used to relax and catch up on sleep.

Con: In this case, that downtime would be spent with Agent Goode and Agent Solomon.

Pro: You get to people watch and have very cool gadgets that help you watch.

Con: Sometimes those gadgets don't work correctly which leads to some severe swearing.

Pro: You don't have to worry about what you're wearing since you aren't going anywhere.

Con: You are spending all your time with two hot guys, so you worry about what you're wearing anyways.

"Well, here we are." Ryan swung open the door to the large hotel suite he had bought for us to conduct surveillance in for the next few days. Ryan had requested a room on the top floor that had large bay windows that faced the building across the street. I made no comment as I walked in and looked around. To the right were one bedroom, and a bathroom. The majority of the suite was dedicated to the living room area, where two couches, a fireplace, a coffee table, and kitchenette, and a study corner were located.

I walked over to the window and looked out. Streetlights were beginning to turn on as the sun went down. It was early evening, and people were walking about, enjoying the pleasant atmosphere. Since the hotel was located in a rather upscale area, nice restaurants were nearby and no doubt people were heading toward where they planned to spend an enjoyable evening.

Zach walked up behind me, and I changed my gaze so that our eyes met in the reflection of the mirror. I held it for a moment, then broke it as Ryan cleared his throat.

Both Zach and I turned around to look at him. He was standing by the door that was now closed. "So where do we begin?" He asked.

"I guess Zach and I have to go back to our hotel to pick up our stuff. And I need to, um, change." I glanced down at my rather ridiculous outfit to make my point. "And we can pick up food too, because I don't know about you, but I'm kind of hungry." I suggested.

Zach shrugged, "Works for me." He looked to Ryan, "Don't you need to grab your stuff too? The more devices we have trained on this place the better," he jerked his thumb to the building across the street.

"Yeah, I do. I'll meet you guys back here." Ryan agreed.

"Great," I headed toward the door then on second thought I stopped and pulled my phone out of my purse. "Ryan, give me your number, so we have some way to contact you."

Ryan laughed and I shot him a look. He stopped and rattled off a series of numbers that I punched in my phone, and then snapped it shut.

Zach was standing by the door waiting for me, so I thanked Ryan and headed out.

The drive across town was uneventful and shortly we were at the hotel.

Twenty minutes later I walked out of the bathroom in jeans and a t-shirt, removing my earrings. Zach glanced at me. "I liked the other outfit better." He smirked. I slapped him on the shoulder, "Watch it buddy," I said, but smiled.

There wasn't much packing to do since the whole trip I had been living out of my suitcase. We were planning on spending the night in the other hotel, but we would be keeping our original room too, in case things at the apartment complex didn't pan out. But I took everything anyway.

"So um, just where were you planning on picking up food, Gallagher Girl?" Zach asked as we got in the car for what seemed like the millionth time that day.

Cringing, I bit my lip. I hadn't thought about that, and I was starving. "That's a great question Zach." I admitted. "Here I'll call Ryan, maybe he knows the number to some place on the way we can call and pick up food from."

I dialed Ryan and listened to it ring a few times before he picked up. "Solomon." He answered.

"Ryan? It's Cammie. We were wondering if you knew of a place where we could get something to eat."

Ryan laughed. "Hi Cammie. Don't worry about it. I'll pick up something."

"Great thanks," I said relieved. I ended the call and turned to Zach. "Ryan's going to get us something."

Zach chuckled as I started the car and headed back to the hotel. When we got to the room, we found that we had beat Ryan.

Grabbing our gear, Zach began to set up computers and heat-censored cameras, and powerful listening devices on the desk by the window. The bugs I had placed in the hotel where all working and recording just fine. I used binoculars to look at each window, making a list of which apartments seemed to be occupied.

When Zach was done, I had to admit we had a pretty sweet setup. If things were going on inside that building, we were going to find out about it.

Soon enough, Ryan entered the room, carrying a duffle, bags of food, and beers. I smiled. "You're my new best friend." I walked over and grabbed the bag filled with food smelling suspiciously like burgers. Opening it up, I inhaled the smell and began setting everything out on the coffee table.

Ryan tossed his bag to the side and we all sat down around the couches. Ryan handed each of us a drink and after a little bit of debate, we all grabbed a burger and dug in.

The food was gone almost instantly, and pretty soon the three of us were sitting around, full and relaxed. All three of us were on our second drink when Ryan spoke.

"So how long have the two of you been together?" He pointed his drink at me and then Zach. I swallowed my sip without choking before glancing over at Zach, who was in turn looking at me.

"Well, we aren't together…" I started. I tried to think of what to tell Ryan, because honestly. I didn't know what Zach and I were anymore. "It's complicated, I guess." When Zach smirked, I threw the question over to him. "Well what would you say Zachary? Are we together?"

Zach's smirk faltered for only a second, but he easily recovered. Taking another sip of his drink, he responded. "Cam and I were crazy about each other back when we were in school. But then we lost touch, and now, Cammie's trying to sort out her feelings."

I rolled my eyes. Ryan sat there looking at the two of us with some idiot grin on his face.

"What?" Zach and I asked at the exact same time.

Ryan laughed. "Oh nothing."

I was feeling bold, so I decided to ask Ryan the question I had been wondering ever since I read the emails between both of them. "Ryan, just how much do you care about Bex?" I raised an eyebrow.

Ryan's face became serious and looked down at his hands. Finally, he opened his mouth to speak. "Bex is probably the most amazing girl I've ever met. Even though we didn't have a lot of time to get to know each other, there was this…this connection." Ryan paused. "And then she went missing, and I never even got to tell her how I feel. Now, it's like I can't go a second without seeing her face, or hearing her laugh in my mind. I drive myself crazy, wondering where she is, and if she's okay. To be honest, it's killing me, I'm here, safe, and she's captured. And all this time I haven't been able to do a bloody damn thing about it." Emotion finally seemed to overcome Ryan and he rose to his feet and made slowly walked over to the window.

Zach and I sat in the silence. Tears had formed at my eyes, and it took everything to not allow them to cascade down my cheeks. I wanted to tell Ryan that I knew Bex loved him to, and that the way he felt towards her was amazing. But I didn't dare speak; I couldn't trust my voice enough, for my throat held a lump of emotion

Ryan turned away from the window and looked at Zach and I. There was the look of a desperate man in his eyes, but also the look of one who was strong enough to brave the pain.

"That's why; my advice to you guys is don't allow petty complications in life take away the moments that are given to you with the ones you care about. If I could go back, it would have been easier to lay my feelings to Bex and risk getting hurt then to deal with this agony."

At his words, Zach and I met eyes. I knew what Ryan was trying to tell us. Maybe the fate of our mission was more than to save Bex, maybe it was destiny that Zach and I were here together. Hours seemed to pass as Zach and I looked at each other, and if Ryan continued to speak, then I certainly didn't hear it.

Finally, I tore my gaze at Zach and stood up to cross the room to Ryan. I outstretched my arms in a hug, and when we embraced I whispered in his ear, just two words. "Thank you." When we stepped apart, Ryan had a small smile on his lips, like maybe a light weight had been lifted off of his shoulders.

Then, out of the corner of my eye, the video feed on the computer screen caught my eye. It was the feed being emitted by the bug in the hallway. A man was walking down the hallway, and when he reached a room, he inserted a key that granted him access. He had been angled away from the camera, but for a moment when he opened his door, I caught a glimpse of his face.

I smothered a gasp and ran over to replay the feed. When Ryan and Zach walked up behind me to see what I was doing, I told them.

"Jason Snider just entered his room."

Sorry, not as long as usual. Hopefully "usual" will begin to have more meaning. As always you guys are beyond awesome and I'm honored to have such fantastic readers.

Review? Pretty please? :D