Disclaimer Kudos and the BBC own Hustle. Not me. No copyright infringement intended.

Morning After

Mickey felt sick. The con had gone wrong, he knew it had. This time they had bitten off more than they could chew. He poured his coffee as he looked around the deserted kitchen. The police were not an option. He knew if they were anyone else, if they did anything else he would be on the phone to them long before the kettle had even boiled. He closed his eyes as he thought of how the perfect con had gone so dramatically wrong. He and Ash had planned it down to the very last detail as always. Even Albert had said it was the most perfect set up he had seen in years. He slammed the mug of coffee on the kitchen countertop.

"Clearly not perfect enough!" He muttered harshly as he heard Ash walk in to the kitchen.

"Mickey"

"Morning"

"It wasn't your fault"

"Really?" Mickey glared at his old friend.

"Yeah I mean. We couldn't have seen that coming. None of us could 'av done. Even Albert thought it was the perfect con." He opened the fridge. "Next time we'll" Mickey shook his head and walked towards the living room.

"No" He shook his head "There wont be a next time. Not for me anyway"

Ash stood there in shock. Mickey was the ultimate con man. Never went after people who didn't deserve it. Never went after people who didn't hurt others. Always loan sharks, crooks, general greedy scum that made other people's lives a misery. He couldn't give up. As weird as it sounded, for a bunch of grifters they were the good guys. He glanced towards the closed door of Emma's bedroom and knew he had to do something before she joined them.

"Mickey, come on mate. You don't mean that"

"People got hurt Ash. And not just their bank accounts. I knew that was the risk when I signed up for this. So did you. They didn't. Just kids the pair of them" Mickey stared at the table. Ash nodded.

"Emma and Sean are not kids. Maybe when they started grifting yeah. Not now."

"What so Emma being hurt is her fault? We set up the honey trap. I should have been there to get her out" Mickey snapped.

"Emma being hurt is not her fault. Of course it bleedin well aint. But you throwing in the towel now aint gonna help matters is it? It isn't going to help her if we let this little shit get away with it either is it" Ash leant forward. He remembered a time before Emma and Sean had joined the team. He knew Mickey had thought about leaving then too. Both men fell silent as Albert joined them. The elderly American sat down.

"I know you think you are being discreet but I could hear you from the next room" He desperately wanted to head down to Eddie's for a scotch but settled for coffee. Mickey fell silent. He was heartbroken that Emma had been hurt and guilt ridden that he had persuaded her to stay after everything with her ex boyfriend Joe. Ash jumped from his seat as Sean walked in from the kitchen.

"When you three stop feeling sorry for yourselves what do you suggest we do about last night?" He was beyond angry. He had always been the one his sister had looked out for. After their mother died, their non existant father and ending up on the streets she had been the one that made sure he didn't end up in trouble. Now she needed him.

"Emma has to see a doctor. I know she wont appreciate any of us being there Sean" Albert looked up. "Look long cons like that can and do go wrong. Mickey, there was nothing wrong with your plan. The convincer was watertight Sean. Ash, you and Emma were right on the money. The only thing we didn't bargain for was the mark getting Emma alone and Ash taking a beating." Albert watched as Ash touched his ribs as he spoke. Sean nodded. It didn't make him feel any better but it did make him more determined to go after their original mark. It wasn't just about money anymore.

"Has anyone spoken with Emma this morning?" Albert looked at the four men around the coffee table.

"She's still in her room" Sean replied. Ash closed his eyes. That was not a good sign. Emma was always up and about before him. He was the one that was always being woken up, never the other way around. Mickey stood up.

"I'll er I'll just check she's ok" Mickey walked off towards Emma's bedroom as Albert nodded. It was then Ash leant forward as Sean sat down.

"We can't let this lie. If we did anything else with our lives both me and Emma would have gone to the hospital last night and the police would 'av picked these scumbags up. Now. I don't care how big and how clever that thug thinks 'e is. I am aving 'im" Ash watched as the others nodded.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Mickey thought about the con again. The Russian buisnessman had been so keen to let go of the money it was unreal. He really had thought he was buying a piece of Russian history. Greed was always the motivation. For who? Us or the mark? He tapped Emma's bedroom door.

"Emma?" He called through the door as he tapped the white wooden door. He sighed when he heard no response.

"Emma?" Fearing what he might find when the door was opened he pushed the door open to reveal an immaculately neat bedroom. Emma's bed was made. The curtains drawn and the whole place looked like a picture in a magazine. Everything was in it's place. Mickey sighed, realising it was the one and only time he had been in her room. She had never thought anything about strolling into his room. Boundries were something all the men were well aware of when it came to the only girl on the team. Now he wondered why he hadn't barged in to her room before. Crossing to the bed he picked up the white envelope on the bed. He sat down and opened the note.

Mickey, Sean, Ash, Albert

It wasn't your fault. Any of you. Oh Ash I hope the ribs aren't too painful. Plenty of brufen yeah?

Don't worry about me. I have to do this on my own guys. I'll be in touch but don't try to look for

Me. I just cant sit back and watch him get away with this. And I wont risk any of you getting hurt. I love you all too much.

Love Emma xxx

Mickey sat in disbelief as he read the note. There was no way she could do this on her own. It was too dangerous. She wasn't experienced enough. He had to tell the guys she was missing. They had to find her and stop her being hurt again. He just didn't know how.

A/N I have too many fics on the go at the moment but had an idea so I thought I'd give it a go. Please let me know what you think. Where has Emma gone? Is she ok and are the boys right to be worried.