Chapter 42: Chapter 42

Thirteen's POV

Two Weeks Later . . .

"Lily, I'm supposed to be reading those forms, not having you make paper airplanes out of them."

Lily stops folding the paper long enough to shoot me a devilish smile. "I need some entertainment," She says. "When I agreed to come back to your office to help out with all this company crap you have to do, I was expecting to have a TV to watch. You're seriously disappointing me."

I look up at her from the stack of papers in front of me. She throws the newly made paper airplane at me.

She suddenly gets a very devious look in her eyes. "How pissed do you think Chase would be if I corrupted his fiancé?"

I shake my head. "He will kill you," I tell her. "And I didn't even know you knew she was his fiancé."

Lily smiles widely. "I pick up things here and there."

"Leave Megan alone," I tell her, turning my attention back to the papers on my desk.

Lily scoffs. "It's not like I'd do anything to bring harm to the girl. I like her. I'd just bring out the inner fire within her. She's a little too quiet for my taste."

"You've already scared her when you tried to bring Angel into the building. She doesn't need you doing anything else. Chase will kill you if his fiancé dies of fright. And then I'll have to hire another assistant. I don't like conducting interviews and pouring over resumes."

"Why should it concern you to hire another assistant? I thought you were planning on signing the company over to her anyway."

I hear something drop in the doorway and look up to see Megan completely wide eyed, mouth dropped open and in shock, a stack of folders at her feet.

I turn my attention back to Lily. "On the list of things I wanted kept quiet . . ."

Lily scowls at me. "How was I supposed to know she was standing there? It's not as if she's wearing a bell."

"Have you roped her into the category of pet? Why would she wear a bell?"

Megan looks like she wants to say something but doesn't know what. She's saved from having to say anything when Devin loudly throws open the doors and parades into my office.

"Nice entrance," I say sarcastically. "Are you trying to audition for a movie?"

"He wishes," Jason mutters as he walks through the door with Zack and Chase in tow. Chase stops to help Megan pick up all the folders that were dropped.

"Have you seen Sam today?" He asks me as he stacks the last of the folders.

I shake my head. "I was going to go visit him as soon I finished with this." I gesture to the papers on my desk.

"Don't bother," Chase says. "He's not at the hospital any longer."

"What?" I question. "Why?"

"Because someone snuck him out this morning."

I turn to Lily. She looks at me, her eyes sparkling with devilish mischief. "He said he felt fine."

I groan and run a hand through my hair. "You're not supposed to listen to him. You're supposed to listen to the doctors."

Lily shrugs, not at all sorry. "He wanted out of the hospital, and he promised me another cake if I helped him. Who was I to say no?"

I give her a flat look. "And where did you take him?"

"The agency. He wanted to speak with Zero." She looks down at the watch on her wrist. "That was like two hours ago though. So, I don't know where he is now."

"I'll call him," I say, reaching across my desk to pick up the phone.

"Unnecessary."

I look up at him as he walks into the room. He winces every so often as he moves, his arm is in a sling and wrapped in a cast. I can still see the black stitches holding together various cuts, though most of his stitches have already been removed.

"You should not have left the hospital," I tell him.

He smiles. "Lily talked me into it."

Lily's mouth drops open and her eyes get wide. "Liar!" She protests. "Oh no." She waves her arms around. "There's no way you're throwing me under the bus for this one."

He looks at her in amusement and I can't help but smile.

He takes a seat in one of the chairs in front of my desk. He leans back and closes his eyes. I stare at him.

"I could take you back to the hospital," I tell him.

"Not without bringing me physical harm," He says, his eyes still closed. "I'm not going back."

"It could be arranged."

His eyes stay closed but he smiles. "But you won't do it." I glare at him even though he can't see me. He seems to know this though, because his smile gets wider.

Lily waves to catch my attention. "I've actually got to get going."

I raise my eyebrows in question. She shifts in her seat uncomfortably. She shakes her head.

"I'm going home," She pauses. "My parents still don't know I'm alive," She shrugs. "Not really sure how this is going to go. Plus I figure someone has to be on hand to pull Ryder out of whatever shithole he's gotten himself into."

I nod. "You know you're welcome to come back to my place whenever you want."

She nods, her expression turning from serious to devilish as she waves me off. "I know. I'll have to come back for Angel at some point."

I smile and shake my head. I look over at Devin who's trying to fix a picture he's knocked over on the other side of the room. "What about him?"

She looks at him and scowls. "What about him? He can rot in hell for all eternity for all I care."

I smile. "With you ruling over him and dishing out his eternal punishments."

This causes her to smile. She shakes her head and blows out a sigh. "I like the guy." She scowls again. "When he's not being a secretive ass."

"He was just doing what I asked him to," I tell her. "You can't be mad at him for that."

"Oh but I can," She says as she glares in his direction. He doesn't notice. She shrugs. "I don't know." A grimace crosses her face. "And he's Zero's kid."

Sam's eyes open and he looks between the two of us in utter confusion. "Zero has a kid? Who?"

"Later," I tell him, but he follows Lily's gaze to Devin.

He starts laughing and then winces. "Are you serious?" There's a wide smile on his face. "That is karma at its finest. Only Zero would have a kid like that."

"And it's not to be spread around unless Devin says it's ok," I tell him. He nods, the smile still on his face. I think it's a miracle he's the only one that's heard this conversation so far.

"What's wrong with that?" I ask Lily, going back to our conversation.

She gives me a droll look. "What isn't? It's bad enough I have to deal with Zero in my professional life, I don't need him in my personal life too."

I look over at Devin and notice he's somehow managed to hang the picture back up, sideways. I shake my head.

I look back to Lily. "Chase told me Delta 2's been given time off, mostly to heal. Everyone took a pretty good beating."

She looks at me in confusion. "So?"

"So," I start, nodding in Devin's direction. "Maybe you'd like to have someone go with you to see your parents."

Her eyes soften as she looks at Devin. She frowns. "He'll only scare them. After they get over the initial shock of my being alive, they'll be horrified to realize I found the one other person on this planet that's a lot like me."

I smile and she looks back at me. "And I'd rather have you go with me." I open my mouth to interrupt and she holds up her hand. "I know why you won't go and I'm not asking you. I'm just saying, but you were like family to my parents as well. One of these days I'm going to be bringing them by so that they know you're alive as well."

I shake my head and look away. "They'll hate me. I kept them from knowing about you for all those years."

She shrugs. "Maybe originally, but they'll get over it." I give her a doubtful look. "Ryder did," She says.

"Not really," I reply.

She shrugs again. "He's still processing."

I shake my head. Devin comes walking over and I turn my attention to him.

"Can I borrow Lily for a second?" He asks.

I look over at her and she's schooled her face into looking as utterly bored as possible.

I hide my smile as I look back at Devin. "Are you going to return her in one piece?" I question in amusement. He gives me a flat look. "You've got your work cut out for you."

I wave them both off and watch as they step out into the hall. Lily tripping Devin as they walk. I smile.

Chase walks up to me. "You ever find out anything useful about those mercenaries?"

I shake my head. "I've been looking but haven't found anything. I don't believe they'll be a problem any longer. Garrett hired them and now he's out of the picture."

"Makes sense," He says, nodding his head. "Sure I can't change your mind about becoming a part of the team?" He asks me.

I smile. "Not a chance. You guys are great, and I'm glad Lily's going to be working with you, but I can't work with a team again. I'm not cut out for it. I've been on my own for too long now. I'm a solo agent and it's going to stay that way."

He nods. "I figured, but I had to ask." He holds his hand out for me to take. "It's been nice working with you."

I shake my head and smile, getting to my feet and walking around the desk. I pull him in for a hug instead, ignoring his hand. "You take care of yourself."

He hugs me back. "You too. And I'll make sure to watch out for Lily."

I hear a grumble behind us. I turn to look at Zack who's scowling at us. "How come I don't get a hug?"

"You'd enjoy it too much," I tell him. "And not in a good way."

A guilty smile spreads across his face. "What are you going to do?"

I shrug. "I've got some time off," I reply. "But I owe Zero some missions. I'll be going back to work soon."

"Right," He says as he nods. "Stay alive."

I smile at him. "I'll do my best," I reply before giving him a hug. "If your hand goes any lower, I'm going to break it," I warn him. He laughs.

He lets out a yelp as he's pulled away forcefully. Jason stands in his place. Zack glares at him.

"I've known her longer than you have," Jason says.

"Not by much," Zack retorts. "And she likes me better."

Jason rolls his eyes and ignores him, turning back to me. "I do hope we end up working with you again."

I shrug. "Anything's possible. Who knows, maybe one day I'll be forced into working with you all again."

Jason smiles. "Well, if even if we don't, we'll keep in touch."

I nod. "I think I'd be able to put up that," I tell him. He smiles and I give him a hug.

I look over as Lily and Devin come back into the room. I can't read their expressions. Lily's the first to speak.

She looks from Sam to me, and then to everyone else. "Alright everybody," She announces loudly. "Get out."

Chase gives her a flat look and she points to Sam and then to me. She then gestures to everyone else and points to the doors. She does all this, and genuinely believes I don't see any of it. I shake my head.

"Out, out, out," She says as she starts to shove Jason and Zack out of the room despite their protests. "You said your goodbyes-they sucked-I was listening. Now get out."

Devin watches her and then turns to me. "I guess we'll be going now. I mean, someone's clearly trying to get rid of us."

I smile. "Don't get in too much trouble when you yell at Zero."

Devin grimaces. "I think I'll take Lily along. Just to even the playing the field."

He smiles as he hugs me. "Please keep yourself alive."

"I don't know why you're all convinced I have a death wish."

"It has yet to be proven otherwise." He waves as he walks out the door, Chase following after him.

Lily comes running back into the room and launches herself at me, almost taking me to the ground. Her arms wrapped tightly around me.

"I'll be back to finish decorating your place. I'm thinking Halloween next."

I smile and hug her back. "I'm sure."

"I'm not saying goodbye," Lily says as she pulls away. "Cause you can't get rid of me. I'll be back." She laughs evilly as she says this.

She turns her attention to Sam. "And you still owe me cake."

He nods. "I'm aware."

"And if you hurt her, so help me I'll shove my spiked heeled foot so far up your-"

"Lily," I interrupt her. "I'm pretty sure he gets it."

She puts her fingers to eyes and then points back to him. "I'm watching you," She threatens.

"No doubt," He replies, his face blank but his eyes shining in amusement.

"Later Losers!" She shouts as she runs out the door.

I sit myself on the edge of my desk, facing Sam who's still seated in the chair. He's staring at the floor but there's a smile on his face.

"You're in an awfully good mood for someone who just got threatened," I tell him.

He smiles and looks up at me. "I'm out," He says. "I'm done. I resigned."

I raise my eyebrows at him. "I was wondering why you wanted to go see Zero."

He nods. "I handed in my badge and my resignation papers. I'm out of this nightmare."

"What are you going to do?" I ask him.

He shakes his head. "I've got a few ideas." He gets to his feet and stands in front of me. Looking down at me.

"You going to go see your family?" I ask him.

His eyes stare into mine. "Eventually," He replies.

I turn to look out the window. "It's over," I whisper. "It's all finally over."

"Not quite."

I turn back to look at him, his gaze locked on mine.

"There's one last thing I've got to take care of. One last thing I was told to do."

"Oh?" I question as he takes a few steps closer to me, his free hand going to rest on the desk next to me. "And what would that be?"

He smiles as leans forward, his forehead pressed against mine.

"Make my move."

I smile and shake my head. "I need a favor from you first," I whisper. My heart pounding in my chest.

"Name it," He says softly.

I reach behind me and into the top drawer of my desk. I place the gun on the desk next to me. He turns his attention to the gun and then back to me. My expression's serious.

"I need your help with this," I tell him quietly.

He nods, his expression serious. "I'll do all I can. I promise," He tells me. His expression suddenly turns playful and a smile spreads across his face. "But it's going to cost you."

I can't help but smile back at him. "Oh? And what's the price."

And then he's kissing me. Slow sweet. His hand hooked on to the back of my leg, pulling me closer to him. My hands wrapped around his neck. He pulls away but leaves our foreheads pressed together.

I smile at him. "I suppose we could work something out," I say teasingly. He laughs and pulls me into him once again, his lips on mine. And for the first time in a long time, everything's as it should be.

For the first time in a long time, I'm truly happy.