Only The Goode Spy Forever

Chapter 16: The Plan

   By the time Zachary Goode had gotten home his wife was a nervous wreck. Their whole family was. Townsend and Abby cut their trip short. They were planning on moving since their home had been compromised. Joe and Rachel were shocked that they couldn't tell Zach was being held hostage when he called them. Cammie was rarely sleeping, and insisted they move Chase's crib next to their bed.

     Weeks passed, and the due date grew closer. Zach and Cam both knew that Catherine would strike during the birth. Zach was working on a plan, but the pieces weren't falling together.

    Zach was up late one night trying to create a new plan when Cammie shifted in his arms. They were both in bed. Zach knew that she was faking sleep. He let it go on for longer than he normally would have.

    "Go to sleep, Gallagher Girl. No one will harm my family as long as I'm alive," Zach said. He felt Cammie shift in his arms again. She didn't face him.

   "That's what I'm afraid of," she whispered. Zach pulled her closer to him and kissed her on the forehead. Nights were rough. Rachel and Joe wanted to move in to keep watch over the Goode's, but they had to go back to work very soon.

     By the middle of September Zach was anxious. His daughter was due any day now. He was meeting his father for lunch. Zach had begged Townsend to find out what Catherine was planning. Townsend had agreed without hesitation.

    "Zachary," Townsend said. He nodded to Zach. Zach offered his hand and Townsend shook it. Zach slid into the chair across from Edward.

    "What did you find?" Zach asked. He could read the concern on Edward's face.

    "It's bad," Townsend said quietly. Zach's face dropped.

"Tell me," he demanded.

"The circle is a family business, Zach. You know that. She's Catherine Goode. The reason she had kept you alive for so long was because you were going to take her role. She doesn't need you anymore, she has new family members," Ed began.

"Then why didn't she take Chase?" Zach asked.

"Because you failed her. She is a woman, her son failed her. She wants another woman. I hate to break it to you, but your unborn daughter will be a woman someday. Unless Catherine goes down a different path, the members of your family are in grave danger," Ed answered. Zach was pale white. "She wants to groom your child to help her restart the circle."

Zach was speechless. He had no cocky comment. He had nothing to joke about. He was about to say something, but Townsend's phone rang. Zach looked at the caller ID. It was Abby. Townsend answered. Zach studied his fathers face. First he was confused, then worried, then terrified. Zach knew something terrible had to have happened for his father to be terrified.

"We need to go. Now," Ed stated. He grabbed Zach's arm hard. He pulled him towards the door. He read the confusion on Zach's face. "We're going to the hospital. We need to get there before your mother does."

Zach was panicked, but he was trained to pretend that he was calm. He nodded and turned to his father. "Let's go save my daughter."

* * *

Cammie was already in the birthing suite when Zach made it to the hospital. He wasn't surprised when the rest of their nursing staff didn't show up. The nurses with Cam were scared, he could tell.

He heard screaming and thumping down the hall. Townsend and Abby were outside the door, but they wouldn't be much help. Cam was groaning and sweating. Zach grabbed her hand.

"I'm sorry, but I have to go," he told her. She nodded her head, but he could see the pleading look in her eyes. He ran out the door and saw a nervous looking Ed and Abby.

"Updates?" Abby asked. Zach sighed.

"Not ready to push yet, so our chances of making it out of here are..." he trailed off. Ed and Abby nodded. "This is crazy. We can't do this." Zach saw Ed smirk as Zach felt a large arm wrap around his shoulder.

"Well you can't do it alone, that's for sure," a man said next to him. He spun and saw Grant. He gaped at him for a second.

"Seriously Zach, my best friends daughter is being hunted by a psychopath before she's even born and you expect me not to come?" Bex said stepping next to her husband.

"Yeah, and why do I have to sit out because I'm pregnant? I hardly am. Plus, I'm still a Gallagher Girl at heart," Macey McHenry-Winters said from the other hallway. Preston walked next to her with a taser. He looked confident, but Zach knew he was holding it the wrong way.

"And Blackthorne Boys and Gallagher Girls never forget their training," Liz and Jonas said, joining the group.

"You're all here... for us? You're risking your lives for a child you've never met?" Zach stammered. He was shocked.

"You and Cammie are all of our best friends. You're more than that, though. You're family. That means Chase is our family too. And so is your unborn daughter. And family sticks together, they fight for each other," Bex said with a firm nod. Zach was surprised to find that he was inspired by Rebecca.

"Now what are you still doing out here, Romeo?" Macey asked him. "Get in there and be with your wife. Take good care of her. Don't come back out until you have the newest member of our family with you."

Zach did the thing he was best at, he smirked.