I stood by the fireplace waiting for Cammie to exit from another passageway that she used often. I just stared at the crackling fire, without any other place to be or an assignment to complete. Just staring at the flickering yellow flames rising and falling as they consumed the wood.

I had let Cammie see me without a cover. I didn't know if that was a decision I would regret yet. I guess I would find out in time. It was a mistake to be vulnerable, which I had been. But, why did it feel so good to be helpless for once? When I opened up to her I didn't feel scared. I felt, free.

The fire slowly calmed and gradually went out. A small ribbon of gray smoke lingered in the air. Then, I heard light footsteps behind the fireplace.

"So, the tour is closed, huh?" I asked softly.

She bolted upright and banged her head on the top of the fireplace.

"Ow! What are you doing here?" she asked clutching the back of her head.

Great job, Zach. The poor girl just slammed her head into a stone fireplace because of you.

"Come on," I said gently, brushing my fingers against the bump starting to form on her head.

She looked up at me with confusion in her wide green eyes and tried to pull herself away. But, instead I pulled her closer and she let me.

"You'll live," I concluded with a smile.

"You're being nice," she whispered in disbelief.

"Don't tell anyone," I murmured.

I took my hand from her hair and crossed my arms. I nodded toward the passageway and smiled.

"So… did your bugs hear anything interesting?"

Her eyebrows furrowed realizing that I had left them there on purpose, but she didn't say a word. I watched her for a minute and then calmly slid my hands in my pockets and spoke into the silence.

"What is it, Gallagher Girl? No snappy comebacks? Nonexistent cat named Suzie got your tongue?"

"How do you know about Suzie?" she asked me with a glare.

"Spy," I reminded her, pointing to myself.

The moonlight enveloped the room and we stood there simply looking at each other, trying to find all the answers to our questions without saying a single word. Her green eyes bored into my brown ones. It felt like she could see right through me.

It felt so wonderful to be looked at with innocence. For someone to not look at me and see my mother, reflected in my features. To not feel the looks of wariness and disgust. For one person, Cammie, to see me. Only me.

Without a thought to whether it was right or wrong, I leaned towards the look of innocence. I ignored the warnings of caution and just let myself do what I had wanted to do, for so long. My hand reached towards her face and I brushed a strand of hair away from her eyes.

Then I pulled my hand away quickly. What was I doing? I hurriedly put my hands in my pocket and looked towards the floor, so my eyes wouldn't give me away. I couldn't kiss her! Here I was supposed to be protecting her, but instead I was her biggest threat. I stood there, cursing at myself in the silence with Cammie gazing at me in confusion.

Her innocence protected her from guessing my secrets. The walls that sheltered her hid her from pure evil. But even she was not completely sheltered from pain. There were a few holes in that wall that even her family, school, and friends (even if they were all spies) couldn't save her from. Her dad had died. She had felt gut wrenching sorrow in her life.

Yet, she still didn't know me. She only looked at me with innocence because she didn't know who I was. If she knew, she would hate me, just like everyone else. She didn't know my past. My childhood, my family, my schooling. Nothing.

"Why don't you ask me about it? About them?"

My question cut through the stillness. Her breath caught slightly.

My eyes swept over hers.

"I'll tell you mine if you'll tell me yours," I murmured.

Then, I froze.

I trusted her. I could feel myself breaking down and putting away my legend. Being vulnerable. My mind struggled to remember reason and everything I've been taught, everything I've learned. But, I didn't.

Cammie had walls surrounding her by her family and school. They were as real as the ivy covered walls surrounding the Gallagher grounds. But, I had my walls too. Not against innocence, but against weakness. They were crumbling and it was too late to pick up the pieces. So I stood there, facing Gallagher girl, and for the first time there were no walls to protect me.

Cammie gazed at me and a glint of fear flashed across her eyes. For the first time, she was the one staying strong while I fell into my weakness. She reached her hand towards me, but then pulled it back quickly.

"It was a mission," she stated bluntly, her eyes staring at the floor.

"Four years ago my dad went on a mission. He didn't come home. Nobody knows what... happened," her sentence ended in a whisper.

Her eyes drifted to mine.

"Somebody knows," I said plainly.

Her eyes widened and her bottom lip quivered. Her eyes squinted ever so slightly.

"What? What are you saying?" she asked.

"I'm saying somebody knows," I replied curtly.

I continued on, my voice gaining strength.

"I'm saying you shouldn't act like there aren't any answers just because you haven't taken the time to look for them."

"What am I supposed to do, Zach? I'm just-"

"Just a girl?"

I shrugged and sighed.

"I thought you were a Gallagher Girl," I told her gently.

Then I quietly walked away and gave her time to think.