"But… but sir," I just stared at the envelope, refusing to touch it. "I'm sure we can find someone else for the job. What about Agent D'Conti? He got back from Quebec on Tuesday and I heard-"

"If there was another way, I would have found it Zachary."

I took that as my cue to shut up.

"I've tried to keep you in the office, you know that. But I need my best." He tossed the folder to me across the table. I had no choice but to catch it. "You shouldn't be gone long. The plane leaves at 0400."

I set my jaw and nodded. My hands found the chair's sides and I stood. "Thank you Director."

He tipped his head and I made my way to the door. As I left, I heard him clear his throat. "I'm sorry."

Cam was at the door when I got home. She smiled and gave me an awkward, but very vigorous hug. I placed a hand on the small of her back and held her there.

Maybe the embrace lasted too long. Maybe it was because I didn't smirk at her enthusiasm. Whatever the case, Cammie knew. She slunk away from me and frowned. Her hands fell from my neck to my palms.

"What happened?"

I looked at her, kinda amazed. She rolled her eyes like 'Of course I can tell. Don't be so surprised.'

I handed her the envelope.

"A mission? Are you kidding me?" I usually liked it when she got angry. She was cute when she got angry. Now, I just felt defeated. "Why now? Why you?" Her face was getting red.

"He said he needed me on this one. There's no one else."

Cammie growled. "Well tell them to go get someone else."

I hung my head a little. "Gallagher Girl," She knew better. She knew there was nothing we could do.

"What happens if I go into premature labor? Huh? You'd miss it. And what happens if the mission's more complicated than expected?" I could see her anger slowly diffusing into tears. "What if something goes wrong?"

My hands shot across the table and grabbed Cammie's, surprising her. "Nothing's going to happen Cam. I'll get in. I'll get out. I'll get home."

"But-"

"I'm not worried about me. I'm worried about you. Being alone. I won't be here to help if you need me." I squeezed her fingers.

Cammie started to sniffle. "I- I'm sorry. I'm making things worse."

I smiled at her in hopes of stopping the tears. "You're caring. You're allowed to care. You just aren't allowed to worry."

She shook her head. "I'm gonna worry, Zach."

"I'll be back before you know it."

"How long?"

"A week? Two? Maybe three?"

She lifted her chin up. She was trying to look confident, to look strong. "Okay."

I laughed, attempting to lighten the mood. "We've been through way worse Gallagher Girl."

"I know." She replied numbly.

"This'll be a piece of cake."

And then her ears perked up. I suppose there were some advantages to Cam being pregnant. I could easy blindside her with the slightest mention of sweets.

She said it almost shyly. "Cake?"

It was cold. Way too cold to be out on the streets. Alone. I grumbled all the way up the stairs to my hotel room. Just one more night, I reminded myself. One more night and I'd be home with her.

I don't ever sleep with my shirt on, but the hotel didn't have heating. I shivered and snatched the blanket up off the floor, wrapping it around my shoulders. It itchy.

I dropped to the mattress and slipped off my shoes, kicking them to the corner by my suitcase. The bed was stiff and it creaked at the slightest movement. I groaned and looped my arms around the pillow, fitting my head around the lumps.

The pillow was cold. Really cold. I couldn't help from wondering if Cammie was asleep yet. Was she cold too? On Winter nights, when the chilly wind seeped under the house doors and the windows frosted over, I'd seek out my Gallagher Girl. She was especially skilled at keeping me warm.

My battered pillow wasn't the same.

She was on the couch, lost in dreams with her mouth hanging open. Quite a sight if I do say so myself. The TV was still on. It cast soft shadows over the room, glowing on her cheeks. There was a tub of Ben and Jerry's set on the floor. I guessed it was once strawberry ice cream. Now it just looked like Pepto-Bismol in a bucket.

I shut off the television and walked over to Cammie. Her breathing was deep. On every exhale, a fine strand of hair hanging above her lips would puff into the air. On every inhale, it'd fall back into place. I smiled. She looked so peaceful, I couldn't find it in myself to wake her. My arms went beneath her, one scooped around her knees and the other under her shoulder blades. When I stood, she fell against me. Her belly bump rested against my chest.

I set her down on our bed, pulling up the sheets so the wrapped over her shoulders. I shed my heavy clothes and eased into my spot beside her. It should have been enough, just to know that I was back home, in my own house, lying in my own bed, with my own wife. Yet it wasn't.

She was right there. I could reach out and touch her. Brush her hair with my fingers. I told myself to wait till morning. I could surprise her. She be so happy.

But I couldn't wait. My arm slipped over her waist and my hand rested on her stomach. My nose nuzzled its way through her hair, and rested on her neck. My lips kissed the top of her spine. I was home.

Then disaster struck. I guess the kiss had been pushing it because she began to stir. Stay asleep, my mind commanded. But Cammie wasn't one to take orders from me. Her voice broke the quiet.

"Zach?" It was sluggish with sleep, but it was spoken. She rolled slowly from her side so she could face me. Her eyes were still squinting slits.

"Shh," I smoothed the ends of her hair with my hand. "Go back to sleep Cammie." It was a low, low murmur.

Her eyes shot open. They shone bright in the darkness of night. "Zach?" She asked again, louder this time. Her eyes caught mine for a second, and her arms grasped my middle tightly. Her tummy bumped against me.

"No Gallagher Girl," My hand cradled the top of her head. I was already smirking into her hair. "It's the boogey man."

She sighed against my bare chest. It tickled. "James missed you."

"I missed him too."

Her nose pressed closer. "I missed you."

I just smiled. She knew, somehow she knew, because I could feel her lips smiling back.

This was random and very dramatic compared to the past chapters, but hey, I was in the mood. Well, time to get back to my essay on the literary themes of To Kill a Mockingbird… Who said procrastination couldn't be productive? Love you guys! Reviews are great. God bless!

~SpaceNut