A/N slight cross over with ITV programme from the early 1990s called Press Gang. Don't own that either
Mirror
Ruth ached. Even with protective clothing on getting shot was painful. Her ribs burned with each deep breath and she knew there would be a bruise. Sighing she pulled the denim shirt Dimitri had loaned her from the coat hanger.
"Ruth." She closed her eyes as she felt his hands pull the shirt from her. "You could have died."
"I know." Ruth bit her lip. The fear in his voice as real as the blue shirt he held in her hands. Ruth swallowed hard. "Dimitri said I could borrow his shirt, might be a bit big for me, but."
"Not soaked in blood."
"No." Ruth looked up to see him focusing on the bruise just above her bra line. "Not soaked in someone else's blood. Harry."
"You could have been shot in the head. Ruth, you have to stop doing this."
"My job? Harry."
"No, you're job isn't what I meant. You are a desk officer. Stay on the bloody Grid!" His eyes stayed on the bruise as she grabbed the shirt.
"It was my job to go out there. I'm an analyst! I gather information. Gary knew who hurt Graham. He knew who or what Odin is. He."
"Died before he could tell you." Harry grabbed her shoulders as the shirt lay over her smaller frame, still unbuttoned. He spun her around, making her face the full length mirror in the corner of the women's changing room.
"Look."
"Harry, don't." She covered his hand as he held on to the edge of the shirt. He sighed heavily. "Please." Her voice cracked.
"The bullet hit you."
"Ros insisted I wore a Kevlar vest. After Jo, I think. Well."
"She still feels responsible. She still has nightmares about the day her friend died." Harry rested his head on her shoulder. "Ruth, she was right to make you. Hell, I know she tried to talk you out of it."
"I just had to. Gary was a friend. Once." Tears filled her eyes as they both looked at her bruised flesh in the mirror. "Graham doesn't deserve to be in that hospital bed. I had to do something."
Harry nodded, knowing how she felt. He kissed her neck as she closed her eyes.
"I can't lose you, Ruth. I."
"I'm not going anywhere." She turned in his arms, kissing him gently before pulling back. Harry brushed her damp hair away from her face before kissing her passionately. Ruth felt her knees weaken as he backed her up towards the shower block. He back hit the tiles as Harry pulled back.
"I thought. When I saw you on the ground. When Lucas tried to stop me getting to you. The blood. I saw the blood." His eyes ran down her body as Ruth felt tears spring to her eyes.
"Harry." She cradled his face in her hands. He kissed her again, pouring all his fear and emotion into the kiss.
Xxxxxxxxxx
"Gary Hicks was a journalist." Erin stated as she walked across the Grid. Adam turned in his chair, glaring at the garish red tinsel as he did so.
"We know."
"But he was sacked from three major tabloids. I just spoke with Richard. It seems Gary tried to sell a so called exclusive to an American tabloid." Erin leant against Will's desk. Adam shrugged. "No one would touch him with a bargepole. He was totally discredited in the gutter press."
"What was the story?" Beth asked as she stepped around the box of decorations that were still to be put up.
"Something to do with Lord Gloucester." Erin shrugged. "It's well known the man is outstanding at business but is a leech."
"Being a creep doesn't make him a terrorist." Lucas shrugged. Ros nodded.
"No, but it gives others a motive. Adam? You've got contacts in the press. You still in touch with Lynda Day?"
"I'll make some calls." Adam sighed before pushing his seat away from the desk. Ros smiled slightly as Zoe picked a small box with papers folded inside.
"Take one of these before you go."
"What?" Adam looked puzzled. His crutches supporting him.
"Secret Santa." Zaf explained. "Just go with it."
"£10 limit." Zoe continued. Adam rolled his eyes before taking a scrap of paper and shoving it in his pocket. He knew why Zoe and Will were trying to get them into the Christmas spirit but he just didn't get it.
"Zaf?"
"Yeah, come on." His friend grabbed his car keys. "Gutter press are always good for a laugh."
"She's the editor of the Phoenix; not exactly gutter press." Adam balanced precariously on crutches, hating that once again his leg was in a cast. Zaf understood completely, but as his best friend had self appointed taxi duties. As Zoe watched them leave she wondered if Zaf's driving really was the best for Adam's recovery. Tariq and Malcolm exchanged worried looks as the pair left the Grid, clearly concerned about both men.
"It's only a meeting with an old friend of Adam's." Ros spoke calmly as she reached Malcolm. "Even those two can't turn that into a drama."
"I hope you're right." Malcolm smiled slightly. "Now, the CCTV footage from the park. I've run facial recognition on it so if anyone of note was there at the time of the shooting."
"Good." Ros nodded.
"Doesn't Ruth usually do that?" Will asked. Ros narrowed her eyes.
"Yes but sometimes the grown ups have other things to attend to. Why are you still here?"
"Er Ma'am. I."
"So do I look like the bloody Queen!"
"No." Will flinched as Dimitri shook his head. "I."
"Then call me Ros. Never call me ma'am. There's an old woman living about 10 miles away that goes by that." She smiled slightly as Will blushed furiously, nodding as he did. "Good, then Malcolm, do we have anything?"
"Dimitri is with ballistics now. Beth and Alec are at the park with forensics." Tariq explained.
"Lucas, how about a trip to see Lord Gloucester? Let's see what the old perv has to say." Ros got to her feet. "Will, you and Calum go through everything we have on Gary Hicks - he's dead but it looks like his enemies are still very much alive." Will nodded as Lucas handed his wife her black jacket. He hated the thought of any of the women of his section with the notorious leech Gloucester was but he knew Ros would never dream of sending anyone else. Walking towards the pods he whispered.
"Where's Harry and Ruth?"
"Med Bay I guess. Recovering. It's not everyday you think you have just watched the love of your life get shot. Cmon." She smiled slightly as Lucas brushed a strand of hair away from her face, a gesture not normally carried out on Thames House soil. Ros raised an eyebrow as Lucas swallowed hard.
"Let's go."
Xxxxxxx
A/n please review
