"So, as requested Malcolm is at the safe house with Laura," Mani said less than an hour later. Ruth knew he was telling the truth as the camera on the laptop screen showed Malcolm sitting with her child. "Where is it?"

"Norfolk," Ruth said quietly. "A bomb shelter used in the cold war years." She hated that she'd been manipulated into telling a terrorist the location of a weapon.

"Oh Harry," Mani said. "Liar by trade, liar by nature. You didn't even trust her with the truth? Do you trust anyone?"

"I was trying to protect her," Harry said, seeing the hurt look on her face. "Trying to make sure she couldn't be tortured by people like you." The venom in his voice was clear.

"So now I have to deal with you," Mani said. "Where is it Harry? I'm a serious man, and I need to know. Where is it?"

"Harry please," Ruth said desperately. "I can't have her hurt. Please."

"Listen to her," Mani said, his voice soft as Ruth's eyes filled with tears.

"Oh God," she said under her breath. "Please."

"Get me a map of the UK and a ruler," Harry said through gritted teeth. Mani smiled pleasantly and vanished for a moment.

"Please don't let them hurt her," Ruth begged when they were alone.

"I'm not going to," he said, shaking his head. "I can't. I've done… nothing for her in her entire life. I'm not going to have her hurt on my account now. I'm going to tell him the truth."

"It'll be the end of your career."

"Not my main concern right now," Harry said. Ruth nodded and wiped her eyes even though her hands were tied. "Whatever else I am, I wouldn't hurt my child. I couldn't."

"Thank you," she said, shaking slightly. "She's a good girl."

"I want to meet her," Harry said firmly. "When this is all over."

"Yes," Ruth said. She actually managed a smile. "She knows her dad lives in London."

"Really?"

"I talk about you." Ruth shrugged. "Just general things. Like you love her and want to see her."

"Both of those are true," Harry said forcefully. Ruth smiled, even though her eyes were still watering. "How has your life been?"

"Hard," Ruth said. "I love Laura and wouldn't give her back for the world, but its been hard."

"I'm sorry for that Ruth," he said sincerely. She nodded, grateful for that. She knew he'd never planned what happened to her, and hated her going. If he'd known she was pregnant, he would never have let her go in the first place. The door was thrown open and they both turned to see Mani come back in, a gun pointing directly at them. Ruth felt her heart stop.

"It seems your little friends have found out where you are," Mani said.

"Are you surprised by the efficiency of MI5?" Harry asked, in a calm voice, even though he hated the glint in Mani's eye and the way he was pointing the gun at Ruth.

"Unbelievable. My friends have sold me out to save their own skins." Mani shook his head. "Trust. Such a hard thing to come by." He stood in the middle of the room, looking at them both as if deciding who to aim at. Much to Harry's horror he seemed to choose Ruth. Then a lot of things happened at once. The door burst open, Ros and Lucas ran in, and half a dozen gunshots rang out at once.

Harry saw Mani fall, obviously dead and then, in slow motion he saw Ruth's hand go to her chest as she crumpled to the floor. "Ruth!" He ran to her as she fell on the floor, the blood bright red and wet. He tried to hold her but his hands were tied. "Get these off of me!" he shouted. Ros cut him free while Lucas quickly called for an ambulance. Harry looked at her body and saw blood coming from two places. She'd been shot twice. He put one hand on each of her wounds, applying pressure as she moaned quietly.

"Laura?" she breathed. "Laura, is she all right?!"

"She's great," Ros said. "Jo's with her and Malcolm right now. She's perfectly fine."

"Oh good," Ruth said, letting her breath out in one huge burst.

"You are not dying on me," Harry said. "Do you hear me?"

"God Harry, I have a bullet in my chest," she said, her eyes flickering closed for a moment. "I'm probably not going to get out of this."

"You are," he said, unable to accept any other outcome.

"Harry, I need you… to look after Laura," she breathed.

"Ruth…"

"I don't have the time to argue with you," she said. "Please."

"I will," he said. "But don't let go do you hear me? Don't stop fighting."

"Okay," she said, her voice faint. "In my house in France… my flat… there's a box under my sink in the kitchen cupboard… It's for you."

"What is it?" Harry asked, curiosity getting the better of him, in spite of the dire circumstances.

"Letters to you… that I never sent. I'm sorry," she said.

"How far away is that ambulance?" Harry asked desperately.

"Not far," Lucas said. "A couple of minutes at most."

"Good." He turned back to Ruth, her breathing very laboured and he knew she must be in pain. Two gunshots? What were the odds of surviving that?

"Harry, when Laura… grows up, tell her… that I love her. And I'm proud of her."

"Tell her yourself," Harry said firmly. "You're going to be all right, I promise."

"Harry…" Her breathing was very ragged, and fear gripped him like never before. "I… I'm sorry. I love you Harry. I should have… said it earlier. Before." She closed her eyes.

"No! Don't you dare!" Harry said. He couldn't move his hands to feel for a pulse, but Ros did instead.

"She's still here," Ros said unhelpfully. Suddenly paramedics came in and hurried over to Ruth, Harry was almost in hysterics. One of the paramedics put pressure on her wounds, moving him aside. All he could do was watch and try to breathe while they tried to save her life.


I bet you hate me now. Sorry...