Hey guys, I'm back! Not that I was really anywhere. *Shrug*, whatever. Thanks to my 39 readers and three reviewers (five more reviews and we have 200…too bad we didn't make the goal):

untitledwings11

ReillyScarecrowRocks

LivieLi

Someone up there got the true identity of Father Ivan right…go back and read the reviews to find out who!

Alex's POV:

Zach was pacing impatiently and checking his watch compulsively, "Can't you relax? She probably just lost track of time or something."

He didn't pause his pacing, "Cammie doesn't just lose track of time."

"There are a lot of people coming and going, maybe she's still in line."

"I should have stayed with her; her mother will kill me if something happens to her," he shuttered, "and Abby is likely to help her."

"She can take care of herself," I pointed out.

This got his attention. He stopped his neurotic pacing and in a millisecond he was in my face, "I know she thinks she can take care of herself, and in some respects she can. But not alone against lethal terrorists who will do what needs to be done."

Cryptic dude. I didn't say anything, just stood with my face expressionless. He turned back to his pacing and I turned back to the cars on the street. I glanced down at the road and a white piece of paper caught my eye. I bent and snatched it up, but curiously it was stuck. I gave it a yank, the edge ripped off but I got it up from the ground.

Unfolding it I quickly skimmed it, "Hey, Zach, look at this, I think it's from Cammie."

I handed it to Zach and watched his face as he read the puzzling note:

Z & A-

0, B back ASAP.

Chameleon

"Does this make any sense to you?" I asked.

Zach nodded, "It's from Cammie alright…I think it means the Circle was, or is, around here-"

"And she'll be back as soon as possible, right?" I finished.

He nodded, "Right," he glanced around, "but now we need a plan."

"You don't have a plan?" I muttered sarcastically under my breath.

He either didn't hear me or chose to ignore me, personally, I'm guessing the latter one but what do I know. "I think we'll hang around here for awhile."

I plunked my suitcase in the shadows and perched atop it, "Whatever you want to do, boss."

I knew I was goading him into a fight, I also knew I was going to push to far soon. What I didn't know was that I would make him angry so fast. Just as I finished my final comment, he was on me.

"What the-?" I croaked from my position on the concrete under Zach.

"I'm only going to say this once so you'd better listen real good. I don't want to hear any smart mouth cracks from you anymore, especially not like the ones you made on the bus in front of Cam. We're not here for each other's health; we're here to make sure Cammie gets back to Gallagher alright. I don't like you Rider, I was against bringing you in from the beginning- "

"You were in this from the beginning?" I asked.

He pushed down harder on my throat, "but you were the only option. And I swear to God, if you let something happen to Cammie, and if you're doing it just to spite me, I will hunt you to the ends of the Earth and kill you in the most painful ways possible."

"I would do that," I ground out.

"You had better not," he replied. He made a move to get off my chest and that's when I took my chance. With a grunt of exertion, I pushed myself up and pushed Zach back onto the ground.

This time I was the one choking him, "I don't like to be threatened, Goode. And I wouldn't let anything happen to Cammie just to get back at you," I leered at him, "you're just not worth it."

With a growl, he lunged at my throat. In less than thirty seconds we were rolling around in the shadows trying our hardest to kill each other. Suddenly I felt something like a foot hit me in the ribs, "Hey, you two, knock it off!"

I heard Zach grunt as Cam put a foot in his rib too, "Get up, both of you."

I grudgingly let go of Zach and stood up as he did. We watched Cammie, I wasn't trusting of myself not to start at him again.

"You both are disgusting. Will you look at yourselves? We're in the middle of a mission and you're trying to kill each other. This isn't the time or the place and frankly, I don't need either of you to continue this trip," She looked between us, "I know that you don't like each other, and that isn't relevant right now. Zach is leaving tonight and Alex and I are going to Alaska. I'm not going to ask you two not to hate each other because that would be stupid. I'm going to ask you to drop the male egos for a few minutes so that we can get where we're going."

I could feel Zach look at me, I didn't flinch. "You will be able to board the ship tonight, it's a midnight cruise so it leaves in less than an hour."

"How can we get there?" Cammie asked.

"You two can catch a taxi; I'll give the driver the directions."

She nodded, "So this is where we say goodbye?"

"Until next time," Zach replied as he stepped toward the curb and hailed a taxi. I gathered my things and followed Cammie to the taxi. She tossed her bags inside and turned to Zach. They stared at each other for a long minute before Cammie stepped forward and gave him a hug, whispering something in his ear. He gave a slight nod and she hopped into the cab, her eyes facing forward; she didn't look back.

I dropped my suitcase into the cab, but just as I was going to get in Zach said, "Alex."

I turned to see an outstretched hand, "Take care of her," he said in a low voice as we shook hands.

"I will," I promised. And I would…or I would die trying.

He pulled something that looked like a credit card from his back pocket, "Use it whenever you need it."

I nodded and got into the cab without looking back. I slammed the car's door and the engine started up. I watched Cammie's eyes as she watched Zach in the rearview mirror and wondered what was going on inside her pretty head.

We pulled into heavy traffic and Zach disappeared, leaving Cammie, the cab driver, and me in a world of our own. It was kind of like an out of body experience…because it never felt like I said the words my mouth did, "I'm sorry."

She didn't look at me, she didn't say anything. My body let out a sigh and my eyes drifted back to the road…but I still saw Cammie swipe at her eyes.

Vladivostok hadn't been a good stop and I couldn't wait to leave. I looked at Cammie again in the city lights shining through the car window. I didn't see a spy or a girl dressed up popping out of a dumb waiter and laughing her head off; no I saw another Cameron Morgan, a girl that was too young to be in this business and the girl who was in love with the boy standing on the street corner somewhere behind us, no matter what she thought or knew. I saw fear and hate and anger and love and confusion, all mixed into one girl.

I think I saw the real Cameron Morgan.

Muhaha, the end for now!

~Striker

I promise I will update soon, hopefully Monday!

~Striker