Ros parked the car and switched the headlights off, waiting. "Do you think they'll show?" she asked Adam quietly.
"Yes," he said surely. "Whether Harry's with them, or alive by this point, I'm not so sure of."
"What would you do?" Ros asked. "If you were Ruth."
Adam looked at her and realised the question was much deeper than talking about Harry and his wife. She was talking about them. "She's handled this very well, all things considered."
"I meant…"
"I know what you meant Ros," he interrupted. "I'd… if it were you, I'd go crazy. You must know that."
A small smile emerged on her lips. "It's nice to hear all the same."
"What about you?" he asked. "What would you do?"
"I'd have flown to Moscow as soon as I knew you'd been taken," she said quietly. "I probably would have got myself killed while trying to get you back home safely, but that's who I am. I'm more action that words."
"Thank God Ruth's more logical than you then," Adam said. "It was so hard for her, but you know she did the right thing."
"Maybe," Ros said. "If Harry's not in that car…" Adam looked up, seeing a car drive into the abandoned car park of a disused warehouse. It parked and the doors opened. Ros and Adam followed suit, Adam half dragging Katchimov out of the car. There were three people in the other car too, one of them with a black bag over his head. Adam held his breath as the unknown man got pushed forward and told to "walk" in Russian. The bag was taken off of his head and Adam let out a breath of relief. It was Harry. He was thinner than a month ago, had a full beard and looked dreadful, but it was him. Harry blearily looked around as Ros untied Katchimovs feet quickly and pushed him forward in a similar manner. Both spies crossed in the middle of the empty car park, not looking at each other. Adam had a tight grip on his gun, and didn't relax his hand even a fraction. Harry recognised Adam and the corners of his mouth twitched in a slight smile.
"You took your bloody time."
"It's great to see you too Harry," Adam said. Harry looked terrible, but Adam wasn't lying. It was good to see him. He nodded to the car and Harry got in. The Russians and the British looked at each other for long moments before they left. Not a word was spoken to each other. Ros drove away in silence, Adam sitting next to Harry in the back seat of the car. Not until they were back on the main road did anyone speak. Adam got his penknife out and cut off the ties on Harry's wrists.
"You look terrible," Adam said gently.
"Never mind that," he said, rubbing his wrists. "Where's Ruth? Is she safe?"
"She's at the MI5 owned hotel in Moscow. She's safe."
"You let her come to Russia?!"
"There was no "letting" her do anything," Adam pointed out. "Do you really think I could have left her in London?"
"Maybe not," he said, allowing a small smile to shine on his face.
"She wants you to call her."
"When are we getting out of Moscow?" Harry asked, taking the proffered phone.
"There's a flight tomorrow morning. Early. We need to be at the airport in about six hours."
"Perfect," Harry said, dialling Ruth's number from memory. "I want to get out of this country as soon as possible." He leaned back against the car seat, listening to the ringing of the phone. It only rang once.
"Yes?"
"Hi."
"Oh Harry, thank God," she said. "You're all right? You're with Adam and Ros?"
"I am," he said heavily. "Are you okay?"
"Am I okay?" she asked disbelievingly. "Of course I am. It's you I'm worried about. How are you?"
"Alive," he said fervently. "The rest… it'll heal."
"Well, I'm glad you're safe," she said, not focusing on the other half of that sentence for the moment. "Are you… going to be all right?" she couldn't resist from asking.
"As long as I get home to London, then yes," he said. "I hate Russia."
"I'm not surprised. I'll see you in half an hour or so. I'm not far away," she said.
"Good," he said. "I've… missed you."
She sighed happily. "So have I. I'll see you in a bit."
"Bye." He gave the phone back to Adam and closed his eyes. His longing for London was huge. He'd had no idea he was being given his freedom now, and the feeling was a giddy one, which made his head spin. "How… You know what, never mind."
"How did they treat you?"
"How do you think?" Harry said sarcastically. Adam looked at him in the silence. "I'm bruised and battered. I think I have a cracked rib, I definitely have a broken finger. I have two less teeth than I did when I left London and on top of that, I'm starving. Does that answer your question?"
"Harry, you've been in hell. We know that. But we're the ones who've managed to get you back," Adam said. "Don't take it out on us Harry. Please. And if you take it out on Ruth, I'll give you another punch. One which will be well deserved."
Harry smiled at that. "How's she been?"
"Worried sick, not eating and not sleeping because she's been too busy working. On getting you home. She's been more than worried about you. But she's been coping. Barely, but coping." Harry sighed. "She'll be an awful lot better once she sees you're alive."
"Then tell Ros to drive faster." Harry stretched his legs and sighed. He needed to see his wife.
Phew, so Harry's safe! The reunion coming next, and a massive thanks for all the reviews so far. They really make this worth it.
