Ivy and Zack stared at each other, seeming to have a conversation with their eyes.

Zack raised a worried eyebrow. She could be in trouble.

Ivy shook her head. Just give her a little more time.

He frowned, then spoke aloud. "Ivy, I'm serious. You know how stubborn Carm can be, it's one of the reasons we love her. She may have promised to do recon only-"

"Exactly." His sister interrupted. "She promised. Carm doesn't break her promises. I've learned that from experience."

Zack sighed. "I have, too. But that doesn't mean that trouble couldn't go to her first, right?"

Ivy continued to argue, even though worry was showing in her eyes as she remembered driving Carmen to the hospital in Sweden. "We need to trust her to take care of herself."

"We already tried that, Ivy. It got her trapped in below freezing temperatures for a night."

Ivy flinched, the painful memories barraging her even harder with Zack's words. "Yeah, but-"

A familiar cry cut her off.

Carmen.

Zack and Ivy were up and out of the tent in a second, glancing around for any VILE operatives before running as quietly as they could to where they knew the diamond mine was.

Guilt clawed at Ivy. Why hadn't she listened to Zack?

There- Carmen was not fifty feet away, doubled over on the ground and clutching her side. Tigress stood over her, claws gleaming.

Ivy growled and crouched in the shrubbery beside her brother. They had to wait for the perfect moment to strike.

As they watched, Carmen let out a moan and struggled to her feet, wiping blood from her mouth as a very visible wince played across her face. Tigress laughed as she lunged at her, sidestepping easily and planting a kick in Carmen's stomach.

Ivy's eyes widened as her friend was sent sprawling, gasping in pain and panting heavily.

"Aw, does it hurt? Sure looks like it does." Tigress sneered, lifting her arm to tap her communicate her watch. "Why don't we have Coach Brunt take a look at your injuries?"

Carmen's face morphed into a mask of pure terror.

Fury suddenly poured through Ivy's veins. Time to go. She launched herself at Tigress, Zack directly following suite. They bowled into the villainess, who howled as she was tackled to the ground and restrained. Ivy and Zack sat on her, giving each other a victorious smile as Carmen blinked at them gratefully.

"Score!" Zack exclaimed.

Ivy winked at her brother. "The cat is in the bag."

Letting her brother tie Tigress up, Ivy knelt next to Carmen and helped her sit up. "Are you hurt?" She wanted to curse at the evident worry that had crept into her voice, but there was no taking it back.

Luckily, Carmen didn't seem to notice. Or, if she did, she didn't care.

The thief grimaced and accepted Ivy's hand, allowing herself to be pulled to her feet. "Not...badly." She muttered, rubbing her side slowly. "I'll be OK, soon." Carmen glanced at Zack, who was knotting a rope around Tigress'es hands. Her voice tensed. "You guys took a risk, coming to find me. It could've gone horribly wrong."

Ivy nodded, not at all guilty. "I know. But you were in trouble, and it's not like you don't ever put your life on the line for us. Every day."

Carmen's frown deepened. "Ivy, I can take care of myself."

The Bostonian opened her arms. "I worry sometimes, is all." She whispered, hoping to avoid an argument.

Carmen sighed, stepping into Ivy's hug and wrapping her arms around her. "I'm sorry." She mumbled, laying her head on Ivy's shoulder. She then stepped back, giving a tiny smile. "Good job, though. Take Tigress back to the tent while I talk to Player."

Ivy only nodded as the super thief made her way farther from the mine, pulling her phone from a hidden pocket in her black jumper.

"Hey, Sis, help me haul the Cat." Zack called, making Tigress hiss.

Ivy sighed, then turned to her brother. "Coming."