Our Mission to France

~Chapter One~

My sight came back slowly, the black spots retreating to the edges of my vision. My head pounded, a hard, steady, rhythm, beating against my skull. I was acutely aware of a stinging pain across my stomach but it wasn't enough to distract me from the shouts going on across from me.

I looked up, Zach was still in his tux but his coat had fallen on the floor and his tie was loose. I watched as he swung his leg up and swiftly kicked Johnathon across the face. The power behind his kick was enough to successfully knock Johnathon into the large book shelf across from him, pushing books on top of him as he fell. Zach watched him for a moment, making sure that he didn't get up before he turned quickly to me.

"Cam!" he reached me in seconds. "Oh my god, Cammie, are you alright?" Zach's eyes darted over me, before carefully lifting me up to my feet. The marble flooring tilted, and Zach's grip tightened around my arm. I had a feeling he was holding me up more than I was.

"Thank you." I managed to mumble out before leaning further into Zach as the black spots clouded my vision and cleared again.

"Oh God, Oh God, Cam stay with me, don't fall asleep." I couldn't think of falling asleep with the pounding in my head.

"M'good." I said, taking a few precautious steps towards the door.

"Sure you are." After a few more slow steps, Zach's arms lifted me up. My head shifted to rest against his chest. His skin was cool against my head. It dulled my headache.

I felt my eyes slip closed. The world was fading, sounds muffling, but as the last few bits of reality slipped I heard someone say something.

"I love you, Gallagher Girl."

It was dark when I woke up. I was piled under blankets, and was immediately way too warm. I pushed a few blankets off my and sat up slowly. Through the half-light I could tell that I was in the living room of our hotel. Bex was lying a few feet away from me, half propped up in a chair, her head leaning at an awkward angle. Liz was curled up on the floor with a blanket, and Jonas was near her with a pillow. Grant and Nick were half sitting up, leaning against a chair on the floor, and Macey was lying on the floor, her head propped with a pillow.

The room had seemed silent until I noticed everyone here. Now I could hear the slow breathing as they slept.

"Cammie?" it was Zach. I turned to look at him; he was sitting up in a chair next to the couch I was lying on. Even in the dark I could see the heavy shadows under his eyes, and the way his hair stood up in loose waves.

"Zach?" My voice cracked slightly and I cleared it quietly.

"Thank God you're alright. Are you okay? Do you feel okay?" His words came out rushed and worried.

"Yeah, I'm alright. Can we go talk somewhere else? I don't want to wake anyone." I said, slowly standing from my seat on the couch.

Zach led me over to the balcony. The moon shone brightly now that we were outside and the air was cool against my heated skin. We both sat down on separate chairs.

"Cam, I'm so sorry about what happened, I should have never left you with him."

I was shocked. Zach was blaming himself for what happened? None of this was his fault. "Zach, there's no way you're taking the blame for everything that happened."

"I'm so glad you're okay, Cam. So many agents don't come back from their missions. I don't know what I would have done if… if you didn't come back."

His words sent a pang through me. I knew what it felt like to be told someone wasn't coming back from their mission. God, I missed my Dad so much.

"Oh, I'm sorry I didn't know…" Zach's eyes searched my face, noticing my expression.

"No, no. It's alright. It was… it was my Dad. He left when I was little. We said goodbye to him and waved as his car pulled out of the driveway, but… then we got a letter two and a half weeks later, and he was declared MIA…" I caught Zach's expression, it was a look of pity, and sorrow, and guilt? "I'm sorry to be a burden."

Zach pulled me into his chair and I sat on his lap, "It's not a burden if others are willing to carry it." I smiled and tucked my head into his chest, pulling my knees up and wrapping my arms around my legs.

How was Zach able to push off all the bad things and only keep the good?

"Should we wake them up?"

"Probably not."

"But-"

"No."

"I want a picture!" Click!

I sat up slowly, waking Zach in the process.

"Cammie!" Liz tumbled into me, pulling me into a hug. I stood up and wrapped my arms around her.

"Oh, you bloody idiot."I laughed and hugged Bex.

"You have bed head." Macey said, but she smiled and pulled me into a tight hug.

I pulled away as I noticed Grant showing something to Jonas and I walked over to see what it was. I glanced at the phone screen in Grant's hand and immediately pulled my features into a frown. The photo featured Zach and I sitting together, asleep.

"Grant." I said slowly. "I'll give you three seconds to run. One." Grant didn't move until my lips formed 'two' and then he took off. "TwoThree. Time's up!"

I ran after him, chasing his through the hotel before cornering him and grabbing the phone. I quickly deleted it as Grant trying to grab the device from my hand.

"Cam! You deleted my picture!" he started to laugh and I joined in with him, until we were both uncontrollably laughing hysterically.

Hey Guys! I Hope You Enjoyed That Chapter! Please Leave Your Thoughts In The Comments, I Love Hearing What You Think! Thank You So Much!

-MischiefManaged1916