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Ready to go?
Beth closed her eyes briefly as she heard the noise on the Grid continue around her. In a few hours she would be on a plane to Syria. It had been a couple of years since she was out there and although it was a beautiful country she wasn't keen to pay a return visit. Sighing heavily she knew this was her chance to prove to the rest of the Grid that she could do the job. Ten years in the private sector hadn't dulled her natural spook instinct.
Beth could hear Tariq tapping away at the computer as Ros spoke to Zaf and Adam. Lucas had headed straight to the kitchenette while Dimitri had buried his head in the paper work while he and Zoe worked out where to look next. Ruth and Harry still hadn't emerged from the Briefing Room. Beth knew that if the three of them were going to get anywhere in Syria not only would Malcolm and Tariq have to get their legends watertight they would have to be able to work together. She couldn't see a problem with Adam but she knew there was likely to be an issue with her and Lucas. Beth prided herself on being professional, so she knew that whatever issues that were between them she would have to work through them.
"Ros" She turned as she saw the blonde walk past her. "Can I have a word please?" Ros nodded once as she sat at her desk. If I can get the wife on side Beth thought as she took a seat next to her.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Ruth watched as Harry glanced at the files. "I didn't realise Nicholas Blake had a heart condition" She spoke calmly. Harry nodded.
"Probably all the treachery taking its toll. All those lies and the things he's done. Must take an affect" He looked up and held her gaze as she nodded once.
"It must do" She sighed. "Harry, I" Ruth didn't know whether to pursue her line of thought but was saved from having to say anything more when Zoe stuck her head around the door. Harry glanced at Ruth as Zoe coughed slightly.
"Um, sorry" She smiled at Ruth who just looked.
"What is it Zoe?" Harry was secretly relieved that Zoe had interrupted a conversation he really didn't want to have. Zoe glanced from her boss to her friend, acutely aware that something had gone on between the pair. She had no idea what.
"Harry, there is a phone call for you." She sighed as Ruth rolled her eyes before picking up her files.
"Who is it? Tell whoever it is to wait." Harry barked.
"Sorry, Harry it's er" Zoe glanced back at Ruth. "Your counterpart at 6" Zoe watched as Harry turned various shades of red. It was no secret that Harry did not get along with Simon Houston. The feeling was mutual, but if the trip to Syria was on the agenda Harry would need to keep his team in 6's good graces.
"What the bloody hell does he want?" Harry barked.
"For God's sake Harry. Don't shoot the messenger" Ruth stated calmly before walking out of the Briefing Room with the files in her arms. Zoe ducked out of the room as she wondered what she had just witnessed. Harry stood there before watching the two women walk across the Grid. He sighed, things with Ruth had become strained and with Catherine about to give birth, the trip to Syria and the fallout from the death of Joss Myers and now Nicholas Blake in the mix he had a feeling he would have to act quickly to save his marriage as well as to keep Section D together. Sighing heavily he marched across to his office to take the phone call he really didn't want to have.
Xxxxxxxxx
Lucas looked out over the London skyline. It was a view he had believed he would never see again at one point. But stood on the roof of Thames House he knew exactly why so many of Section D hid up there. He smiled as he strongly suspected the rare occasions Ruth was absent from the Grid she hid up there, watching the world go by. In a few hours he was to be on a plane to Syria accompanied by Beth and Adam. He narrowed his eyes, after everything that had happened he had to admire Adam. He knew he had returned to Russia after eight years of imprisonment but to willingly return to a place that held so many bad memories took guts. And then of course there was Beth. He shook his head, that was going to be interesting.
Ros watched as Lucas continued to stare out over London. The clouds were beginning to cast a grey mist over the city. She crossed to him as he continued to stare.
"Tariq has your legend ready" He sighed as she spoke.
"Great"
"You get there, get the Intel and get home." She watched as he nodded once. "Whatever it is you have against Beth, and I really don't care what it is. Do not let it get in the way of the work" She glared as he turned towards her.
"She's private sector. She's in this for the money" He had finally said it.
"Not anymore Lucas. She's got her head screwed on and she knows the area. One thing you don't, unless that's something else you kept to yourself" Lucas looked as if he had been slapped.
"I told you about that" He closed his eyes.
"Only when I found out. I always knew you went to Russia as Lucas North. Of course everyone did. But you talk about trust Lucas. Not trusting Beth, not trusting the cousins after everything with Nightingale. My inability as you call it to relax and trust people. What about you? Eh Lucas? Or should I say John?" Ros glared.
"I am Lucas. I am the man you married. You know that. I changed it by deed pole. It's done. You know why I had to do it. I'm not the only one to fake my own death. If John had lived then a lot more people would have been killed. It had to be done" He watched her as she visibly tensed. The wind whipped her blonde hair across her face so that her eyes were hidden for a moment. She had completely gone in to Ice Queen Mode.
"Ros" He started as she stepped back slightly.
"Amy's birthday is on Sunday. It would be nice for her if you were home" She stepped back a little more as the wind continued to whip around her thin frame. "If that's what you want" She turned as Lucas turned back to the London skyline. She heard him whisper.
"Of course it is, you and the kids are all I want, whatever else happens" She continued walking as she couldn't help but wonder if he had said something similar to Maya not so long ago.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Beth read and reread her legend as Dimitri placed a coffee on the desk in front of her. She looked up and smiled at the SBS man. He took the smile as an invitation to join her.
"You been there before?" He asked.
"Yeah, in another life" Beth narrowed her eyes as she saw Lucas return to the Grid.
"It'll be fine. He's professional, don't worry about it" Dimitri tried to reassure her. "I was on that boat when the pirates boarded remember, you'll be fine" Beth raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, I am going to be fine. No question about it." She was determined "We go there and take care of business. Look Dim, it's not me I'm worried about. I can take care of myself" She nodded towards Adam. "He's clearly got a history over there and I can't think it was a pleasant time for him"
"Nah I don't think it was" Dimitri picked up his own mug as they heard Harry yelling from the office. Beth followed his gaze as they saw Harry yelling in to the phone as Ruth steadfastedly ignored everything around her.
Xxxxxxxxxxxx
Adam had left the Grid as soon as possible after the morning meeting. He knew Ruth and Zaf were worried about him. Not many of the team were around in the days after Fiona had been murdered and for that he was grateful. He walked along the street towards Carrie's house wondering what had possessed him to volunteer to go back to Syria. A grim determination gripped his heart. Fiona was dead. There was nothing he could do about that. The following Thursday would have been her 38th birthday. She'd been dead for six years and some days it felt as if he would never forget the fear that gripped his heart the day she had died. Now he had to consider Wes and Carrie. He knew Carrie often felt she was playing second best to a dead woman. In his eyes she wasn't but he knew that if she found out where he was going that would just reinforce her insecurity.
"Carrie? Caz!" Adam called out as he pushed the door open. She appeared in the doorway as he walked in.
"Shh!" She smiled slightly. "Amy has just gone to sleep. Don't wake her up, she gets her temper from her mother" Carrie noticed how serious Adam looked as he walked across the hall way to meet her.
"Sorry" He pulled her in to his arms and kissed the top of her head.
"What's wrong? Is Wes ok? He was fine when I dropped him at school" She felt Adam tighten his hold on her. They both knew she was more of a step mum to Wes than a child minder. He kissed her again as he released her.
"Wes is fine. I have to go away for a while. Caz, will you look after him? I don't want to disrupt him by sending him up to Blackpool again" He watched as she nodded slightly.
"Of course I'll look after him. Don't worry. I'm not allowed to know where you are going am I? Will you be gone long?" She stared at him, brown eyes full of worry as he sighed.
"I hope not, I really hope not. I'm aiming for about five days maximum but I just don't know. I won't be able to contact you. We go tonight" He sighed as Carrie pulled him down in to a kiss as he clung to her.
Xxxxxxxxxxxx
The Grid was sombre when Adam returned. Ros was glaring over Tariq's shoulder at the computer screen as Ruth and Zoe went through the final preparations for Beth and the boys' trip. Zaf was going through what little information they had on Farrah and Anil while Malcolm explained some gadgets to Beth and Lucas. Harry was noticeable by his absence. Ruth remained silent on the topic, knowing he was at a meeting at Houston's office.
"So, you wear this from the moment you leave Thames House to the moment you get back. Do you understand?" Malcolm passed a small disc to Lucas and Beth before passing one to Adam.
"GPS?" Adam asked.
"Indeed. I for one am not risking you going off and dropping your wire. We need to know where you are" Malcolm glanced at Lucas as he spoke. Adam nodded. He had no intention of getting lost.
"Fine by me" Beth smiled. She was dying to get in the field. The more equipment they had the better as far as she was concerned. Malcolm smiled, pleased that someone at least appreciated his gadgets.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Harry walked in to the Grid as the rest of the team continued to prepare themselves for the mission ahead. Ruth was intending on being the liaison between the Grid and the three officers in the field. He smiled to himself as he saw her briefing the others on what little information they had and the information she had found since he had left. They were all listening quietly as her and Ros continued to stress how dangerous the trip to Syria would be and that those left behind, Ros, Zaf, Zoe and Dimitri would be chasing William Ashgrove. Both women stressed how dangerous it was going to be for all the officers, whether they were in the UK or Syria.
"Just stay in contact" Ros spoke as she leant against Dimitri's desk. "These people have sent two messages now that have been picked up by GCHQ. There isn't going to be a third. We will stop them"
"Yes, it looks as though they want to attack the financial district of the UK." Ruth continued. "At least the message we had first suggested that. The second makes me think they are going after business. The roads have been used before" Ruth watched as Lucas and Zaf grew serious. Both men had seen more action than they liked to talk about; it was Lucas that remembered the market place bomb that had almost killed Ben and Jo a few years earlier.
"We get it Ruth. Be careful" Beth sighed as Harry made his presence felt.
"No Beth. It is more than just being careful" He walked so he was stood to the left of Ros. "It is so much more than just watching your backs on this one. I have spent the best part of the day over the River. Not an experience I would like to repeat. The upshot of it all is Special Branch want no part in our mission and neither do 6"
"What?" Ros was incredulous. "Harry they brought us the bloody threat in the first place! It is them that stuffed up by missing the fact Anil was still a threat!"
"Despite this I have not be authorised to send anyone out of the country. Neither have I been authorised to proactively remove Farrah Shukkarier, her current or ex husband from circulation. I have also been told to watch and wait where Ashgrove is concerned. Seems his release from prison was negotiated by some very high flyers. They want him watched but not touched."
"Bloody hell" Ruth muttered "It just gets better and better"
"Exactly" Harry glanced at her.
"So, what do we do?" Dimitri asked as Malcolm and Tariq rolled their eyes.
"Carry on as planned. Be aware this is a deniable op now. Anything goes wrong" Harry looked directly at Adam "We are on our own, and Section D will be looking for a new boss. So if anyone wants to drop out that's fine. No hard feelings, no repercussions" Ruth closed her eyes briefly as Harry spoke. The team fell silent as they absorbed Harry's words.
"Deniable mission" Beth smiled as Zoe just looked worried. "I think I can live with that. Right, what's stopping us then?" Ros couldn't help but smile. She had a funny feeling Lucas would be home pretty soon if he and Beth didn't kill each other first.
"Nothing Miss Bailey" Harry smirked. "Be careful. Stick to the plan and keep me informed." Harry walked off towards his office. The grip around his heart tightening as he thought he had just sanctioned his officers and friend walking off in to what could certainly be described as a suicide mission. He silently prayed to a God he had long since stopped believing in that his team would be back on the Grid in one piece when the mission was over.
authors note. More soon - just a filler chapter. Please let me know what you think.
