CLARA saw her daughter on the balcony staring at the Security Command Station just inside their mansion, hoping for Camila to step out. They've been busy and she miss her girlfriend so damn much.

"You're pouting, are you okay?"

Lauren look back and saw her mom, "Hi, mom, nothing, I just miss Camila."

"She's just there."

"I know, but I don't want to disturb her, them, you know, they're getting it, I might broke their pace and I appreciate Camz's job, what they're doing is not easy."

"You're right, but in a minute I'll be going to give them some snacks, I told them, especially Mila that they needed some break."

"Can I go with you?"

"Of course, mija, come."

****

When they arrived at the Command Station, they saw Camila stepping out and her walks were heavy. Lauren glance at her mom.

"Go, I'll take care of this."

Lauren nodded and ran after Camila.

Clara then entered the room with the help of one of the security.

"Austin, what happened to Mila?"

Austin saw Clara and he immediately helped her, "just got into argument."

"What kind of argument?"

"I...," and he sighed, "I want her to focus on our plan and told her that she needed to stop what she is doing."

"Which is?"

"Guarding your children, I'm really sorry, I just..."

"Mila had a sense of responsibility since she was still a kid and never back down, telling her that makes her some kind of a selfish person and underestimating her, I understand that she's still a police officer but you can't take that responsibility out of her, losing Collson, she already blame herself for not doing anything that led her to being imprisoned, if only and if only you helped her, she will not be here in Miami, she knows what she is doing, you tell me that you're here to support her."

"Yes, I do."

"You're showing that you're not, because if you really do, you and Mila will not argue, you will not say those words to her..." and saw him looked down, "when she first got here and know our situation, she immediately offered to help without any doubt, she saw the threat towards my husband and said that it's not directly to him but to our children, Lauren received a threat too, that lead the bombing and almost capturing Lauren if she's not there, so, don't think that she's not focusing, because she is, you just don't know how much, how about you stay here, study the plan, Mila mentioned you're not good in these, not only her but the head of our communication too, Ally Brooke, study the plan and support Mila," and she left.

****

Camila kick the stones, taking out her anger when she heard her girlfriend's voice so she look back. The tension in her body and the anger she felt had vanished. She even saw her doubt of approaching her.

"Are you okay?" Lauren finally asked after staring so long.

Camila let out a sigh and she walked towards her girlfriend and pull her into an embrace, squeezing her against her body, feeling the warmth.

"I'm sorry for scaring you."

"Its okay, I understand, we all need some space but, what happened?"

"This is nothing," and she slightly pulled off.

"Camz..."

"Really, baby, it's nothing, we will sort it out."

"Your breathing is hard, you're still pissed."

Camila sighed, "Austin wants me to focus on the plan."

"Why couldn't you?"

"I am, I really am, he didn't know how much, he's shoving it into my face that I'm still a police officer which I clearly knew, he's having trouble of understanding everything, my priorities, I don't want to stop protecting you, your mom and dad, Chris and Taylor even all the staff here, it's my job too as a Head of the Security and he want me to stop doing it, he didn't know I almost failed of doing it, like what happened to Collson and his family, and it's creeping inside me."

"You need a break, really," and she held her cheeks and kiss her lips.

Camila felt calm but their moment was interrupted when she heard Ally's voice in her inner ear that makes her groan.

"It's Ally, she will not contact me if it's not important," and she saw her nod, "Alz, what's up?" she asked after tapping it.

"K, where are you?"

"I'm nearby, why?"

"There's a car entering the perimeter, I still didn't get any response from the mansion."

"If he/she a guest, that person coming here is personal, did you contact Sir Mike?"

"I already did, oh just got a call from him, give me a sec."

"I'm going there."

"Copy that."

"Wanna come with me in the communication control room?"

"Am I allowed?"

"You're with me, don't worry," and she pulled her.

****

Camila knocked once they reach the communication control room then opened it.

"Lauren is with me," she announced when she opened it.

Ally and Jacob greeted Lauren.

Lauren on the other hand roamed her eyes around the communication room and she was amazed.

"What did Sir Mike said?"

"He didn't receive a call or send an invite, he even asked Taylor and Chris but they haven't too, even Ma'am Clara."

"Jacob, show me the driver."

Jacob followed, typing on the keyboard then enter.

"That's the Dean that Sir Mike and I talked," Camila said when it appeared in the screen.

Lauren peek and saw the Dean of the school, "he really is."

"Are we going to let him in? Sir Mike wanted you to decide," Ally said.

And they saw the car halted in front of the mansion.

"Jacob activate it."

"Copy that," and he moved the mouse, clicking on something then entered.

They waited and the CLEARED in bold green appeared in the screen.

"Ally, asked him."

Ally followed, "yes, Sir, what can we do for you?"

They saw him jolted and answered, "I'm here to speak to Mr Jauregui, is he here?"

"Jacob, call Mr Jauregui," Camila said, "Ally asked for his identification and process it."

"Copy that," "Sir, we're contacting Mr Jauregui right now and in the meantime can you show us some identification, for security purposes only."

Lauren is amused watching Camila worked like this, she looks hot.

Jacob tap Camila and raise his thumb.

"Security check."

Jacob nodded and told Mike.

"K, it's done," Ally said, "I'm going to open it now."

"Jacob."

Jacob followed, quickly typing on the keyboard, showing all the camera angles even the opening of the gate was shown.

"Eyes up," Camila said and she did too, looking at every small monitor.

Lauren wondered when she saw it, a light blue was scanning the car that entered.

"Why it had light blue on the car?" Lauren asked.

"It's a scanner, deactivating every inappropriate devices," Camila answered.

"Oh, I see, what do you think he wanted?"

"That I don't know."

"Cleared," Ally announced.

Camila tap her inner ear then said, "Anton, please guide the visitor towards the mansion."

"Copy, K."

"DJ, tell Sir Mike that the Dean from Lauren's school is on her way there, he was now guided by Anton, she's cleared from the security check."

"Copy, K."

"He will not hear those assholes voice, right?" Jacob asked.

"He will not, they're far away from the mansion," Camila answered.

Jacob nodded.

"Want to meet your Dean?"

Lauren nodded and they left.

"They really look good together," Jacob commented when the two left.

Ally smiled, "they really are."

******

Mike and Clara were already in the living room while waiting for the Director.

"Ma'am, Sir, the Director is here," Dinah announced.

Clara and Mike stood, greeted the Director.

"The security is pretty tight, I like it."

"All thanks to K," Mike replied.

"K, is he the Head Security here?"

"Yes, he is."

"What about C/Insp. Cabello?"

"She's only here to investigate."

"I see."

"Let's all seat," and she asked for the Director's drinks then asked the kitchen helper for it.

"I'm actually here for Inspector and the other reason is for your daughter."

"What about our daughter?" Clara asked.

"It's about her academics, I do understand that you're all still worried after the bombing, heck it's even connected why I asked for Insp. now, about Ms Lauren though, if you're still worried of her safety I really advise for online class, she need to make up for her missed lessons, assignments, quizzes, her 1 subject though is okay, so no need for that."

"Mom, Dad? I heard about the Director."

They all looked up and saw Lauren and Camila.

"Oh, you're here too, Inspector," the Director said.

"Good afternoon, Director," Camila greeted.

"Good afternoon."

"Your Director is here to suggest something for your academics," Mike said.

"I'm all ears," Lauren said then both her and Camila took a seat.

The Director nodded, "as I said to your parents, you already know the possible outcome of your academics right and it's not enough for you to graduate, so I strongly recommended if you're still not ready to go back to school, is that you must take an online class, some are taking it, some are not, no force to go back in school after what happened."

Lauren nodded, "I want the online class for the meantime."

"Great, I'll email your parents about your log-in identification then you can start anytime you wanted."

"Ok, Director, thank you."

"No, don't thank me, I cause you and your schoolmates a problem of security."

"What happened after that?" Mike asked.

"As I told you before, when we talked in the office that I'm watching international police, any kind of it, I even watched documentaries of deeper investigation and the investigator that handled the case is suspicious enough for me not to trust him, he always agreed and said that we will investigate this and that, they will update me, but they didn't, this morning a janitor found a suspicious bag under the locker, I opened it and I swear it's a phone operated bomb, I assumed that it's not activated yet."

"Hearing that, he really is suspicious."

"That's why I'm here too to tell you that Inspector."

"How many suspicious bags that you saw?" Camila asked.

"3 bags of it are in our custody right now, Inspector, I can't surrender it to them because it's all easy and didn't take long, situation like those will do a further investigation, right?" and saw her nod, "Inspector, they quickly issued that it's safe to go back after a few minutes of investigating."

"You had a point, situation like bombings will take a week, depends on the damage and the casualties, it'll showed as bigger threat."

"That's what I'm trying to say, if it's a phone operated bomb they could activate it anytime, 3 is only our initial."

"Where did you put it?"

"In the abandoned room metres away from the main buildings, I don't know if it's enough metres once it explode, I still don't know if it's only 3 bags, the janitor just saw it when he was cleaning, he also found a gun, we put it together inside the bag."

"We'll take care of it, Director."

The Director felt relief, "thank you, I'm really hoping."

"Sir Mike will contact you."

The Director nodded then he fished out a key on his pockets, "it's the key to the building, the security cameras is damaged and will be installed next month, no worries."

Camila accepted it, "thank you for this."

"No really need, I'm just worried of the safety of my students."

*****

"Are you going to go?" Clara asked after the Director left.

Camila nodded, "it's worth investigating, I need to disarm the bomb first before we present it to our superiors."

"Only you? I'm going with you."

And they saw Austin with crossed arms.

"You heard our conversation?" Mike asked.

"I only heard few things," and he look at to Camila, "I apologize for everything, arguing is not the answer to this and I apologize for that, the pressure is on me and this is my first time encountering it, I don't even know how you handle these situation, it's bigger than us and yet you're still calm and you're right, I don't understand things, from now on I will stand what I've promise to Armando, I don't know how to face him if I failed to do this, let's do it together, Cami, this time for sure, I will try to understand you and not be selfish."

Lauren look at to Camila.

Camila sighed, "it's not easy for me too but these people are my family, you know what I mean, right? I'm nervous too and pressure is on me too, Collson, the attempted murder of Chris and Taylor, their safety, panicking is not the answer to all of it, one step at a time, basic, but okay, if you say so, you know that I can handle this without you, the next time you got in my way, I will drag you back to Cambridge."

Austin gulped when he saw the deathly glare of Camila then he tightened his jaw and clenched his fist and nodded, "okay."

"Good."

"Mija, are you sure of going there? It could be a trap," Clara said with worry.

"Austin and I will be taking precautions, we're facing a national threat and if only he betrayed us we'll drag him together with the three that we captured," Camila replied, "no worries, auntie, we'll be safe."

Mike caressed Clara's shoulder.

"Okay, mija, be safe."

"Of course," and she glance at Lauren and saw her smile and she smiled back at her.

******

"I'm set."

She heard Austin said thru the communication device, "I see you, you see anyone? Anything suspicious?"

"Negative, I'm moving now."

"Copy that," and she moved too.

Austin and Camila were cautious in their surroundings and nothing happened until they met and saw the bags that the Director said.

Using hand signals they communicate.

Camila now opened the bag and it's confirmed, it's really a phone operated bomb and she nod at Austin then she began disarming it and Austin moved to look around.

After a few minutes, 3 bombs were disarmed then they took it with them and now headed towards the building.

On their way there, they saw a man whistling while pushing a cleaning equipment and again, thru hand signals they communicate.

The man leave and now they proceeded to check every perimeter.

"We will meet later at your car."

"Copy that."

******

Lauren is pacing back and forth, standing up, looking at the window where the path to the entrance of the mansion can be seen.

"Sooner or later, I'll get dizzy because of your pacing," Taylor said to their eldest.

"I'm so damn worried, that's why," Lauren reasoned.

"We know that but trust your girlfriend, will you?" Chris said.

Lauren slump down on the couch and rub her face, "it's been 3hrs."

"Wow, you really timed it," Chris replied.

"How can I not? Camila is my girlfriend and I'm worried of her safety."

"Sis, Camila is our family too, mom and dad is more worried than you are," Taylor explained, "they're worried too but they trust her and please do the same."

Lauren sighed, "fine."

"Good."

*****

Camila and Austin shared a look then to their hands full of bags when they met at the car.

"All disarmed?"

Austin nodded, "while I'm retrieving these, I'm thinking, they're not done yet, they planned on another attack."

Camila nodded, agreeing, "they're desperate, I need to tell Mike about Chris and Taylor's safety, they could be next."

"That'll be better, let's leave."

Then they left the campus.

*****

Clara rubbed her shoulders to ease the tension she felt, it's been 3hrs and still no sign of Camila, even Austin.

"Honey?"

Clara look back and saw her husband, "are they back?"

Mike nodded, "they're on their way."

"Oh, thank God."

"Come on, let's greet them."

And Clara nod.

******

Lauren is biting her fingernails while staring at her phone, hoping for Camila's text and she heard a multiple knocks then an abrupt opening of the door and she saw Chris.

"Mila is here."

Lauren stood up quickly and followed Chris.

*****

Mike widened his eyes when he saw 14 bags aside from the 3 bags that was on the left that the Director mentioned.

They gathered again at the abandoned garage where Brad, the bulky man and the man that they first captured were held.

"I thought it was just 3 bags," Mike said.

"That's what we thought too, but as what the Director said, their initial is only 3," Austin said then to the three men, "they're planning on another set of attack, Ms Lauren staying here for the meantime is a good decision."

"Uncle, Auntie, I advise, do the same to Chris and Taylor, one of these night we will infiltrate their school and check it if they put some," Camila said, "this 17 bags can blow a whole building and hurt many innocent civilians."

"They're that desperate," Clara said.

"They are, we will talk to our superiors, we might back in London in no time."

"I understand," Mike said.

*****

Camila frowned when she saw her girlfriend still awake, "why are you still awake?"

"I couldn't sleep, I'm worried."

Camila sighed and she held her cheek, "I'm worried too but I'm trying not to be because I know you will wait for me, your family, do this for me, can you?"

"What is it?"

"Try not to worry too much because if you do, I am feeling it too."

Lauren pursed her lips and stare at Camila, holding her gaze, "okay, I will try not to."

"Good," and she kiss her forehead and pull her closer.

"Please, do take care and come back to me."

"I promise, I will come back," and she kiss her.

Clara smiled when she saw it and shut the door quietly.

"How was it?"

Clara touch her chest when she saw her husband and she playfully smack his arm, "you scared me."

Mike chuckled, "I told you not to worry, Mila can handle our daughter."

"I'm a mother, you can't erase that to me."

"I know that, but let's trust Mila, I'm worried too but I'm trying not to because I know Mila will not want us to worry, let's just pray for her safety."

"You're right."

"Good, come on now, let's get some sleep."

And the couple went back to their room.

Chris and Taylor nodded at each other then went back to their room.

******

A/N: 😭 Always Love by Lauren is so damn good.

And the message, I can't😭.

Stream "Always Love."