I walk by Zach into Rachel's office, having called a meeting with her, Abby and Donley -the man who calls himself Head of Security. Zach stares quietly at me assessing the way I walk and carry myself. He motions to the leather couch but instead I take a stand by the desk. He lets a sigh escape at my stubbornness. Before he can say anything Abby walks in and she doesn't look happy.
"Where's the incompetent that lost my niece?" She demands as she stalks into the room. To ease the mood I raise my hand in a mock attempt at sheepishness (as if I could ever pull off sheepishness quite right). She casts a look at me, a smile creeping into her face.
"The other one." She clarifies, stepping over to greet me with a peck in the cheek, and despite myself I chuckle lightly. She walks over to Zach. "Hey kid," she calls him, tousling his hair and Zach makes me proud by taking it silently and not retaliating.
"There's the other one," Zach whispers to her as Donley makes his appearance. I see Abby flash him a quick smile, as Donley walks in and nods to each of us in form of greeting.
"And Rachel is…?" Abby asks, leaving the question hanging, while looking around in a mock scanning of the room.
"Not here yet, and when she comes, you are to remain quiet." I tell her and her eyes widen in understanding.
"She doesn't know." She states.
"Yet," I reply and her face contorts into a devilish smile.
"I'm not telling her." She informs me, which is a moot point since there's no question of who will.
I just shake my head and we resume waiting in silence until we catch the tap of her heels against the old wooden floor.
"What's wrong?" Rachel voice carries in before she steps inside. She's fuming. "Solomon better be conscious or I'll personally shackle him to his bed." She threatens but is cut off by the sight of me…and the absence of Cammie.
"Where's Cammie?" she wants to know, and for a moment the room slips back into silence.
I quickly move to her, take her hand and hold it for a second before she whisks it away.
"Where is my daughter." she asks and women like her don't ask a third time.
I let out a sigh. "We don't know." I tell her and were it not for the fact that she's aware of my weak physical state, I'm sure that a slap across the face would have come next but instead she just nods and looks at Donley.
"She ran away." She asserts, and turns her gaze back to me. I nod and get only a glimpse of uncertainty before she snaps her cover in place.
"Have you started the search? Called the airport, canceled every credit card she could have taken, voided all passports issued to her by the Agency?" she ticks of, her voice controlled and measured. Donley nods to all of them.
"Good," she says although it sounds anything but.
"Keep an eye on all the roads leading out of here, and out of Virginia, Donley," she tells him, clearly dismissing him, and he exits with another nod, closing the door behind him
Eyes dart for a few seconds before Zach voices what we all know.
"They're not going to find her. Not them. Not the Agency." He says.
"I will," I surprise myself by telling them. They look at me as if I might be out of my mind, which I may be but Cammie was my charge. Her life and safety were entrusted to me by Matt and I had to bring his daughter home.
"I'm out of here." Zach suddenly announces, and leaves, disserting me, and I can't blame him. The kid has been through a lot for me, I must deal with the lionesses on my own.
"You will not," sounds Rachel voice, cold and definite after the door closes.
"I must. I will." I tell her, looking into her dark eyes.
"You are not going Joseph. That's final." She tells me.
"Abby, tell her to let me go." I ask from her, who is watching us dispute without saying a word.
"Why? Why do you need her permission anyway? Just go. " She replies, gaining a glare from both of us. I just roll my eyes. Truth is, I already left her once and I can't do it again. I can't hurt her anymore. I promise Matt I never would.
I turn to Rachel again. Her eyes meet mine, and I see in them that the decision is final, I won't leave with her blessings, I won't leave at all, yet I had to plead once again.
"Rache, please, let me go find your daughter,"
"No. Joe, you are not leaving the girls and you are not leaving me. Not again." She replies, her voice soft yet firm.
The girls. I couldn't leave them either. Cammie made me promise and I didn't trust anyone else to train them the way I wanted them to be trained, to prepare them the way they should be. (At how things were looking now, I'd probably have to do a senior call back.)
I let out a sigh. "If I don't look for her, who will then?" I ask her in frustration.
"I will, Joe," says Abby walking over to stand behind her sister, before me.
"After all, it takes a Gallagher Girl to find another Gallagher Girl." She notifies me.
I close my eyes tight, and pinch my nose, abstaining myself from cursing in Farsi. I shake my head. I'm in no shape to look for Cammie, since I woke up, I've been prone to bouts of weakness and dizziness, and by going after her I'd only place us both in more danger. I take a deep breath and sigh.
"Fine, I just hope the right Gallagher Girl finds her first." I say and turn to leave the room.
AN: Sad news to deliver, but we've got only one chapter left to go, and the reason is that I trust Ally Carter to give us a much better story that I'd ever be able to write. I hope you have enjoyed this story as much as I have writing it for you.