A/N: Thank you for your kind reviews and to r4ven3 for her eagle-eyed review of this chapter.
Chapter Three
Wednesday, 3 October
Ruth sat in her small kitchen with a cup of tea. She was thinking back to the morning two days ago when she dropped off her small bag and prepared to run out to the market, never imagining what would happen in the hours since.
Zaf was currently sleeping in her bed after Ruth and George smuggled him out of the hospital just after midnight. She knew the men who'd come to the hospital looking for Zaf would likely come back. Luckily once she'd returned to his room he woke up and was able to give her the basic story; he'd been abducted and tortured and his captors were moving him somewhere when he escaped.
Ruth's mind went into overdrive as she plotted out their next moves. Zaf was doing better thanks to the medicine and fluids but he was still weak and needed time to recover. He'd asked why she was there but all she told him was that his name was now Jamal Davi and that he and Ruth had been co-workers and friends in London before she left to escape an abusive partner. Zaf managed to raise his eyebrows at that but she just shook her head and mouthed 'Later' as George entered the room.
Ruth explained to George that Jamal had been abducted and tortured and the men responsible were looking for him and that she didn't feel he was safe at the hospital. She floated the idea of moving him to George's home, but he refused, saying he couldn't compromise Nico's safety. Ruth nodded in understanding and then announced she would be taking him back to her flat until he was well enough to travel.
George, confused by the situation and wondering why someone Ruth knew from London would be kidnapped and tortured, pleaded with her to tell him what was going on and who this man really was.
Ruth refused, knowing that she was testing the boundaries of their relationship. It wasn't something she had to consciously think about; she knew she would protect Zaf and see him to safety even if it meant the end of her relationship with George.
When Zaf was settled in her bed, George hooked up the IV of fluids and antibiotics. Zaf was responding well to the treatment but he needed more than 36 hours of medication to cure what was ailing him. Ruth watched as George double checked the tubes and bags of medicine. When he was finished he turned to Ruth who surprised him by wrapping her arms around him.
'Thank you. For everything. I know you have questions and I wish I could answer them. I truly don't know why someone would abduct Jamal and torture him. I hope that when he's conscious again I can ask him these questions.' She pulled back to look at him, hoping he wouldn't see the deception in her eyes.
George leaned forward and kissed her forehead. 'Okay, Ruth. I trust you even though every instinct I have says that this isn't right. He needs antibiotics and IV fluids for at least another 24 hours, so I'll be back to check on him before I go to work. Do you remember how to change the bags?'
Ruth nodded. 'I do, and I wrote myself notes as well. We'll be okay.'
They separated and moved to the kitchen where George picked up his jacket and medical bag. As he reached for the door, he turned back to Ruth. 'If he develops a fever, call me if it reaches 38 degrees. Otherwise I'll see you in the morning.' He smiled briefly before walking through the door and quietly pushing it shut behind him. Ruth locked the door before returning to her bedroom. She checked on Zaf one last time before curling up on the sofa and pulling a blanket over her.
Thursday, 4 October
'Finally, where are we on tracking Zaf and the Redbacks?'
Ros spoke up first. 'We've tracked them to Albania and suspect they may be held up in a farm house 20 miles outside Elbasan. A contact of mine from Six is willing to check out the area.'
'When could we expect a report?' Adam asked.
'Twelve hours at least. My contact is in Athens and he would be driving there,' she replied.
'Doesn't Six have anyone closer than Athens that we could lean on?' It was Harry who spoke this time.
'They do but we don't know to what extent the Redbacks have infiltrated the intelligence community. My contact is aware of this group; apparently a Greek officer was taken a few months ago and the results were not good. I trust him and he feels that Greek Intelligence would be willing to assist if necessary.'
Harry didn't immediately respond and Adam took the opportunity to share his thoughts. 'I don't have any contacts in the area, Harry. Unless Ros or I go to Albania ourselves, I think this is our best option.'
Harry looked at both Ros and Adam, and then nodded his assent. 'All right. I want to be notified when the report comes in.' Harry stood, signaling that the briefing was finished. 'Adam, Ros, a moment please,' he said as Malcolm and Jo filed out of the room.
'Realistically, what are the chances we find Zaf and the Redbacks?'
Adam and Ros shared a look before Adam spoke up. 'We all can imagine what this group has probably done to Zaf, but we've continued tracking the group and Zaf because the few reports we've had have shown that he's still alive and we need to protect our own. We understand the risks but we should also expect that our country will do what it can to protect us.'
Ros nodded in concurrence. 'Plainly speaking, Zaf is a valuable asset to the security services in this country because of his ethnicity. More and more we are dealing with issues that have root in the Middle East and an agent of Zaf's calibre and background is invaluable.'
Harry's mouth was set in a grim line. 'We'll have to be prepared. If we are lucky enough to get him back alive he may not be the same Zaf we know.'
The next day passed as though time was moving through treacle. Zaf slept most of the day, with short periods of consciousness before he dozed off once again. George stopped by that morning and was pleased with Zaf's progress. He'd been concerned that the antibiotics wouldn't be enough to fight the infection, but Zaf's vital signs were all close to normal. George drew blood to have checked at the lab and made no other changes to his care. After promising to return after his shift, George left her with a kiss on the cheek.
Ruth normally enjoyed her days off, filling the time with walks through town to the beach and reading the classics she knew so well. Today, however, was spent between sitting at Zaf's bedside and discreetly looking out her windows for the men who were looking for Zaf. She tried reading aloud to him but she suspected that The Iliad was not one of his favorite books.
Finally, at dusk of the day that seemed to never end, Zaf awoke. Ruth was in the kitchen cleaning up after her meal and preparing a cup of tea when she heard a scratchy voice from the other room wondering where the hell he was.
'You're safe at my place, at least for now. You've been unconscious for much of the last three days,' she said as she sat in the chair next to the bed. 'How are you feeling?'
'Slightly more human than when I stumbled into that market,' he croaked out.
'Is that the last thing you remember?'
Zaf closed his eyes for a few moments. 'I think so, though for some reason the name Jamal is on my brain.'
Ruth smiled. 'That's the name I gave for you when the paramedics came. I had no idea why you were here but I didn't dare give anyone your real name.'
'Why Jamal?'
'Your legend from Operation Waterfall, shortly before I left. It popped into my head and seemed like as good a name as any.'
Zaf smiled. 'I'm not surprised you remember. You always knew everything.'
'Except for a way to save Harry without having to leave England,' she added with a sigh. 'But that's water under the bridge now, right?'
Zaf wisely decided to change the subject. 'Why are we here? I'm not complaining, mind you, but I'm still hooked up to IVs yet I'm not in hospital.'
Ruth nodded and told him everything that happened since he collapsed in at the market.
'You can tell me to mind my own business but who is George? You said he's a doctor that has been treating me, but there's something more, I think. I overheard you the other night when he was leaving.'
Ruth treated Zaf to an icy glare. 'I can't go back to London, Zaf. Am I supposed to live my life hoping that Harry will give up Five and track me down on this island to live happily ever after?' She looked away and took a deep breath. 'I'm sorry. That wasn't fair. George and I have been seeing one another, but I didn't enter into this lightly. We've only been together a few months. If it were up to him I'd be living with him and planning a wedding but I… well I can't make that leap just yet.'
Zaf closed his eyes briefly. 'You're right, you shouldn't spend your life pining away for Harry. Thank you for helping me and I hope I haven't caused problems for you and George.'
Ruth smiled as she shrugged her shoulders. 'He has asked questions that I can't and won't answer. We'll see what happens; I'm not too worried about that at this point.'
Zaf nodded up at the bag of fluid. 'How much longer do I have to be tethered to this?'
'You had a couple of infections that were causing problems, plus you were dehydrated. One of the infections was at your incision from what appears to be surgery and the other is some sort of respiratory infection. Are these as a result of your abduction?'
Zaf explained a bit about the circumstances surrounding his abduction – trying to get Asnik to safety and being shot and exposed to the virus which was much like the plague.
'The Redbacks had an antidote but they joked that it was for the virus that the Americans developed and not for whatever version the Iranians had. That's probably why I didn't develop the full-blown virus but also why I haven't fully recovered either.'
'Well, someone up there must like you because you managed to survive long enough to collapse at my feet.' She smiled at Zaf as he yawned. 'Are you hungry? You've been getting nutrition through the IV but I can make you some tea or toast if you're feeling up to it.'
He shook his head. 'I know I've been lousy company but I'm still tired. Can we catch up in the morning?'
Ruth reached forward and squeezed Zaf's hand. 'Of course. I'm right in the other room if you need anything.'
