Disclaimer: The characters belong to Kudos and BBC, as does the TV drama Spooks. No copyright infringement intended.
This story takes place in the gap between series 8 and 9 and includes characters from series 8, 3 and 7. Contains spoilers mainly for series would be appreciated
The Grid was a hive of activity as Harry began getting himself ready for a trip to Whitehall. Yet again Andrew Lawrence had requested his presence to discuss Nightingale. Three months on from the explosion and the tension on the Grid was at fever pitch. The threat level as high as ever. Everyone was working extra hours. Zoe, Adam and Zaf had been cleared by Personnel and Occupational Health in record time. Yet information on exactly who was behind the group was still a mystery. Exiting his office he surveyed his team.
Ruth was sat at her desk, phone pressed to her ear as she typed away. Tariq sat behind her tapping away at his keyboard as Lucas and Ros stood discussing something he couldn't quite hear. Ros looked different, well being stuck injured, in a half destroyed building for four hours could do that to you Harry supposed but that was almost three months ago. He couldn't put his finger on what was different, but something was. Shaken out of his thoughts as Ros approached him, he motioned for her to follow him.
"I have to see Andrew Lawrence this morning. I need you to come to the meeting with me" he stated, leaving no room for argument. Ros looked straight at him.
"No, Harry, You'll have to go without me this time. I have a meeting with an asset in half an hour." She folded her arms across the leather jacket, the scars on her hands fading but still noticeable from the blast. She really didn't want to go. It was too soon. She'd make a mess of things. But how can I tell Harry that? I'm Section Chief, it's my job. Ros inwardly groaned.
"Ros, send Lucas. You haven't been to Whitehall since the incident. I need a second pair of eyes with me today. I still have some doubts regarding our Home Secretary" Harry pulled on his gloves and made to leave, Ros still refused to move, before suddenly springing into action.
"What? The man nearly died. With me!" Ros was aware she was using clipped measured tones but didn't particuly want the rest of the Grid hearing this, although Lucas had been watching them uneasily for the past few minutes.
"Not the first time that's been used to divert us, is it?" Harry's voice barely a hiss as they reached the Pods.
"You don't seriously believe that?" Ros was now almost incandesant with rage.
"No, honestly I don't, before the bomb maybe. But I think he's being used. I think we're all being used. If not by Andrew Lawrence, then someone on his staff maybe. Ros, I think we may have a mole. I need a second pair of eyes with me today."
"I understand the flaming problem" Ros spat "But you don't need me there today"
Harry kept walking towards the Pods without looking back. Ros just followed him out of the Grid to the car waiting to take them to Whitehall. Neither noticed the worried look Lucas wore as he watched the pair leave the Grid.
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In the car, Ros felt sick. It wasn't nerves, she knew that. Lucas could easily meet the contact as arranged so she had no concerns leaving him to go to the rendezvous alone. She didn't want to go to Whitehall, for the previous three months she'd only seen Andrew Lawrence once at the hospital when he'd visited her. It wasn't the most pleasant of meetings then either. Since her return to work there had always been an excuse, no a reason she corrected herself that she couldn't go. She stared out the window hoping that she could keep it together. Loosing composure in front of Lucas had been one thing, possibly the best thing, but in front of anyone else was unthinkable.
Harry glanced across at her. The trip to the Home Sectary's office was only a short drive, but even in the few minutes they'd been in the car Harry could sense a change in Ros' body language. She visibly tensed, staring out the car window, hands gripped tightly in her lap. Harry knew something was wrong, but he also knew Ros. There was no way she would admit that she had a problem.
Back on the Grid, Lucas was making the final preparations for meeting a possible asset. Hopefully a member of Nightingale that he could turn. Tariq was just sorting out the new toy he'd been playing with. A tie pin that acted as a mini tape recorder and a camera in the lens of his glasses. Hopefully they'd get some solid information this time. However, he couldn't stop thinking about Ros. Ruth noticed how quiet Lucas had become as Tariq enthused over his new gadgets. She smiled sadly - knowing just how Lucas felt. How often had she worried over Harry in the same way?
The car stopped at their destination. Ros knew it was now or never. She hadn't felt this sick since collecting her A Level results. She knew it was stupid, both her and Harry had attended meetings with the Home Secretary dozens of times. While they could be tense affairs she always managed them well. But that was before the bomb, she reminded herself. Before the visit in the hospital. Stepping out the car, she followed Harry into the building falling into line as they made their way to the office.
Harry had decided he would keep an eye on Ros. Any sign she wasn't dealing with this and they were out the door. Any vaguely plausible excuse he could think of and they'd be back on the Grid. Whatever he said to Ros he still felt unease about Andrew Lawrence's possible involvement in this.
"Ah Sir Harry, Ros" Andrew smiled as he stood to greet his visitors.
"Home Secretary" Harry shook Andrew's hand as Ros merely nodded. The colour now draining from her already pale face. She pushed an errant lock of hair behind her ear. Andrew hadn't even looked at her. Yeah, he still blames me. Ros chided herself. Both her and Harry took their seats opposite Andrew as he began to question them about Nightingale.
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Lucas had met with the asset on a damp and miserable South London street. He hated this weather, but it had to be done. Standing in the alley way he learned a little more about Nightingale. At least the asset had been able to tell him how high up in the ranks the Nightingale conspiracy went. In fact, the young woman had left the team with alot to think about. At least now some of the missing links between Sarah Caulfield and the meeting in Basel were clearer. Thankfully she'd also been able to convince him that Andrew Lawrence wasn't the mole in the UK Government. He knew at least Ros would be pleased, as would Ruth. She'd always wanted to keep an open mind where the Home Secretary was concerned.
He still hadn't heard from Ros, which still worried him. He knew she was with Harry but he still had a gut instinct that something was wrong. She'd been less tense around him since he'd confronted her in the alleyway a few weeks earlier. But she still avoided the Home Secretary, still ate little and slept even less. This morning he'd held her as yet another nightmare subsided. He knew he was the only person she'd allow to see her like that. To the rest of the world Ros Myers would be nothing less than fine. He walked back to the car deciding that he'd try to reach her on her mobile. Just to make sure she was ok. Just to prove to himself that he had nothing to worry about.
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The atmosphere in the Home Secretary's office was stifling. Ros sat next to Harry trying her best to look composed. Before the bomb she had got along well with Andrew Lawrence. He was a similar age to her and seemed to have a similar background. But since the explosion she'd only spoken to him once when he'd visited her at the hospital. He'd made it clear that he blamed Section D for not stopping the bomb, for not finding the CIA mole sooner and not getting them out of there safely. Ros didn't blame him. She blamed herself too. Staring straight ahead she noticed that the Home Secretary had only addressed her once since their arrival. The chemistry that had once been between them had been replaced by an iciness that seemed unparalleled in any relationship she had. There seemed to be a genuine distaste for her radiating off Andrew Lawrence. One which even Harry had noticed.
"Well, Home Secretary that really is all the information we have right now." Harry stood. He'd noticed how quiet Ros had become since they arrived and didn't like it. Ros was the feisty one, always ready with a one liner but she'd hardly spoken a word since they'd arrived. Harry knew something was seriously wrong.
Ros stood, echoing Harry's desire to get out of there. Harry and Andrew Lawrence shook hands as both spooks turned to leave. Ros never making eye contact with either men as she left the office.
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Lucas returned to the Grid, not really surprised that he hadn't reached Ros on the mobile. The Grid was once again the midst of activity. Malcolm and Tariq were trying to decipher the memory stick that had been acquired by Ros earlier in the week. It was encrypted and fire walled in a way Malcolm had never seen before, it was proving a challenge to say the least. Ruth was going through some data and the boys were no where to be seen. Zoe had headed off to the Registry earlier in the day and had yet to return.
Lucas made his way across to Ruth's desk, narrowly missing being hit by the angle poise lamp she was adjusting. The language turning the air blue as she tried and failed to get the thing in the position she wanted.
"Whoa! Ruth calm down" he smiled as he sat next to her "What's it ever done to you?"
"Sorry" Ruth looked anything but "How was the meeting?"
"Ok, here's the recording." He passed her the micro recorder he'd been carrying in case the bug he'd had on him hadn't worked. Belt and braces Malcolm had called it.
"Ruth, have you heard from Ros?" he tried to sound nonchalant. But Ruth couldn't help but hear the tension in his voice. She felt her heart sink for him. She shook her head.
"No, but Harry said they'd be coming back to the Grid once the meeting was over. She'll be fine Lucas, she will" Ruth smiled encouragingly. Lucas hoped she was right. Running a hand through his dark hair he returned her smile before heading off to make them both some coffee. All he could do now was wait.
Downstairs Harry and Ros were entering the lobby. Ros could feel the beginnings of a headache begin behind her eyes. She shook her head, promising herself she'd borrow some paracetamol from Ruth as soon as she was back on the Grid. The woman's desk was practically a pharmacy, with all manner of pills and potions for the bedraggled and sometimes injured Spooks. Harry was still talking about the suspected Mole in Whitehall and trying to figure a way to flush them out with out alerting Nightingale. Preferably turning the Mole into an asset for Section D. Ros agreed, but could feel her head swimming as they entered the Pods. Looking around her, she could see Lucas place a coffe on Ruth's desk. He looked up as Harry walked towards his office, nodding to Harry as he made to walk towards her.
Suddenly Ros was aware of feeling hot, her skin was on fire and her vision began to become hazy, darkness encroaching around the edges of her sight. The last thing she heard was Lucas calling her name as the world fell away from her into darkness.
Authors note :dun, dun dun! Hopefully have the next part up at some point during the week. Poor Ros eh? Just thought after everything she's been through it would take its toll. Especially after the last episode of series 8. Hope you enjoy. Please review - it really does help the writing get better. Thankyou!