Chapter 16
A/N at bottom
Zach's POV
Looking After
I boarded the helicopter and it immediately took flight.
It was 10 o'clock in the morning and we should arrive at Gallagher Academy by sun down.
We received a call at 4.30 am saying that Cammie was awake. Dr Steve tried to get me alone all night but I was just to preoccupied with other matters.
I zoned out and before I knew it we were landing on the roof of the Academy.
Solomon was waiting for me at the entrance.
I ducked my head against the wind from the helicopters blades.
Solomon jogged up to me.
"Where is she?" I asked immediately.
"In the hospital wing." He replied.
I thanked him and sprinted down to the first floor. I wanted to see her so bad that my heart was practically aching.
I opened the door that was marked with Cammie's name.
I expected to see her sitting there, joking with Bex and Macey with Liz sitting there quietly on a computer like normal.
Instead I got the complete opposite.
It was deathly quiet and Bex and Macey were no where to be seen.
Cammie was asleep and Anna and Eva were sitting on either side of her.
They both had tears in their eyes and Eva had mascara smudged on her cheeks.
"What's wrong?" I questioned hesitantly.
Anna opened her mouth to say something but closed it again after a minute, Eva just shook her head.
"Where's Bex, Macey and Liz?" I whispered.
"I'm here." A voice said from behind me.
I span around and saw Liz leaning against the door frame.
Her eyes were unusually distant and cloudy with tears, like she would rather be any where but here. She looked so fragile that I was slightly amazed that she could hold her self up.
"As for Bex and Macey … well, we don't know."
I blinked in surprise.
How could they not know where they are?
They always knew everything.
Something was seriously wrong.
"They were taken after the Cammie's rescue mission. We haven't heard from them since. The CIA can get no lead and neither can I." She whispered, obviously sensing my question.
I couldn't think of anything to say.
I guess this is what Dr Steve was trying to tell me. He would have wanted to warn me before I got here.
I sat down heavily on the couch in the corner.
"I have to go." Liz murmured. "I haven't had any sleep and I think that I am about to drop."
I nodded and she shuffled out of the room.
Eva and Anna stood up.
"We should go too." Eva slurred slightly, it was obvious that she had no energy. "We have been sitting with her for hours. You're here now though. Just watch over her for us."
"I will." I sighed.
They walked out of the room.
I breathed out heavily and took Anna's seat beside Cammie.
"I just wish that she didn't need looking after." I mumbled to myself.
Cammie's POV
I groaned quietly and tried to open my eyes but they felt so heavy that they refused to open. I felt a pressure on my hand. I concentrated on it for a moment and I vaguely realised that it was a hand but I didn't know whose it was. It was too big too be my mothers or any of the girls.
I used all my strength, which for some reason was very little, to squeeze the hand. I heard a gasp of surprise.
The hand disappeared from my grasp and oddly I felt my heart drop.
Seconds later, a hand cupped my face and gentle fingers brushed my hair from my face.
"Cammie?" a voice murmured.
I knew that voice. It was so familiar. For some reason I just couldn't place it.
"Cammie, can you hear me?" the voice asked, I could hear the urgency in his tone.
Where had I heard that voice before?
Why was it so familiar?
All of a sudden it became very clear to me.
Zach.
I gasped and opened my eyes. When I saw that it was definitely Zach standing above me I sat up hurriedly but immediately regretted it as my head span.
I slowly lay back down.
I glanced around the room slightly before I looked back at Zach.
He had a concerned look in his eyes and his hand still cupped my face.
"Hi." I croaked.
"Hi." He answered. He reached over and grabbed a glass of water before handing it to me.
I nodded my thanks and drank it greedily. My mouth was so dry that it was like I had been in the desert for a week with no water.
"Where's Bex and Macey?" I asked. "I thought they would be at my bedside. They normally are."
Suddenly Zach's face became hesitant. I knew instantly that something was wrong.
"Where are they?" I whimpered.
"You don't remember?" he questioned.
I paused for a second.
Suddenly the events of the past few weeks flashed into my mind.
"Their g-gone." I stuttered. "Th-their g-gone and it's, it's all my fault."
I started to cry, I felt so ashamed, Gallagher girls are supposed to be strong. They're not supposed to break down like this. I sniffed and tried to stop the flow of tears but they just kept coming.
Zach wrapped his arms around me and cradled me to his chest.
He murmured soothing words into my ears but I couldn't make out everything.
"It's going to be ok. They will make it. I promise." Zach assured me.
I fell asleep feeling marginally better.
I can trust Zach.
-----------
A/N ok this came later than I thought it would but I have very good reasons. I have had a lot of home work lately that I just haven't had time to write. Also I had a three hour test on Monday and last night was our school social.
Hope you liked it. I know it wasn't very informative and that the plot didn't really move along but I just needed the filler for a little bit. The action will come soon.
