I looked at Zach, who was looking at me in horror, I wasn't sure if it was because I was crying or because I told him what my dream was about. Or at least I gave it away. The ice went from my head and dropped onto the ground. He put an arm around my shoulders and pulled me really close.

"I would never do that to you." He promised. "I swear we'll do everything we can to get everyone else back. Although it might be a bit hard, there's a lot of them. I mean, the enemy."

"That makes me feel so much better." I muttered sarcastically.

He let out a big sigh, realizing what he'd just said.

"You have to promise me something too." He said.

"What?" I whispered.

"Be really careful, especially now."

"But isn't it Macey they're after?"

"Yeah sure, she's definitely one of their targets, but she's not the main one." He replied.

"Who are they really after?" I asked.

"Think about it Gallagher girl."

I did. And the way he'd told me to be careful, I knew it was me. But why me? I was nothing special. My mom was a spy, sure, but she's not important enough to have people kidnap her daughter. Or was she? And my aunt was pretty important too. Then there was my dad…

"My dad?" I asked.

He didn't answer, just sat there and stare at the wall ahead of him, but his breathing told me he was hiding something. Why did it seem like he was always hiding something from me? Oh yeah, he always was.

"Zach, what did my dad do?" It was my voice that told him to tell me or else I'd beat it out of him. And he knew I really would, even if it was later, 'cause I wasn't at my best right now.

"He busted them big time a few years ago and messed up their plan of taking over the American government. So they want to get back with you." Wow, I actually got that much out of him without begging. One for me, 0 for him.

"They already killed him tough, there's no revenge to be had."

"Actually…" What?

"Spit it out Zach."

He took a deep breath. At that I braced myself for some big knock out news.

"Your mom was his partner. She barely escaped, she'd lucky she's alive now. They want to kidnap you, kill you right in front of her, let her suffer for a week or so, then kill her too."

Once again, I was speechless.

"Wow, I shouldn't have told you that." He said.

"I don't want mom to die. I don't care about myself dying, but mom deserves to live." I said.

"I care." He sounded like he was saying the most honest thing that he's ever told me.

I narrowed my eyebrows. Honestly, I was confused. Why would Zach choose some normal looking, invisible girl, when he could probably have any hot girl on the street?

"Why?" I asked. "Why do you care Zach? Just tell me."

Again, he didn't say anything. More sobs came, with no warning. Don't know why, they just did. This night was just humiliating. Zach was going to hold this against me and maybe even blackmail me for the rest of my life, however long that may be. He pulled me up, grabbed my hand and started leading me somewhere. I had absolutely no idea where we were going. He sat me down on a couch. I really did want to ask him why he'd brought me here, but I couldn't get any words out.

"Might as well get comfortable, we're going to be here until you tell me everything." He was thinking that I'd deny him, get out and try to walk away. That's what he wanted me to do, so he would know that I was still okay and somewhat my normal self.

The thing was, I wasn't okay. Nothing about me was.

Zach crossed his arms and stood about a half a foot from where I was standing, towering over me. I didn't say anything, I was still crying, just not as loudly. As soon as he figured out that his method wasn't going to work on me, he sat down next to me.
"I'm always going to be here for you, as long as it's safe to be around me." He promised.

I still avoided eye contact. He sighed again and ran his fingers through his hair. Then after a couple minutes he put his arm around my shoulders and forced me to lean into him. I ended up burying my face into his chest, him having one arm around me and the other stroking my hair.

"It kills me inside to see you like this." He whispered in my ear. That's all I expected him to say, but he continued. "I would do anything to get your mom back, but unfortunately, I can't do that. It's my job to stay here and make sure your safe and that you stay alive."

I felt sick to my stomach. Not that kind that you're nervous around guys, the real deal. I tried pulling back, but he didn't let me. The second time he did, but not completely. He held me inches away at my shoulders.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"I don't know." I admitted.

He let go, knowing what I meant, but he still followed me.

"Where's the nearest bathroom?" I asked.

"Next left." He replied.

I turned in about five feet, and arrived in there just in time. Trust me, you don't want to know the details, so I won't go into them. As soon as I was done, I looked up at Zach, was looking at the mess around the sink, the toilet was in another door, but at least I came to the sink in time. Give me some credit for that.

"Uh, I'm not cleaning this up." He commented, and I really didn't blame him for not wanting to.

"I will." I volunteered. "But you're going to have to go retrieve a mop, because I don't know where they are."

"No." He argued, "you're coming with me, to take care of you."

I groaned. "I'm not a little kid you know? I can take care of myself."

"Not when you're like that." He disagreed.

"I'm fine now." I lied.

"No, you're not." He always knew when I was lying. "You should know better than to try and lie to me. You're a little liar."

"You're a liar too."

"Deal with it."

"I already have enough to deal with." I muttered.

His teasing mood was gone, and now he was back to serious again. He didn't say anything, just grabbed my wrist and started dragging me again, to somewhere.