Disclaimer: I do not own Spooks. Thanks for the reviews. Yup littlemissruth I have an idea for when I finish this. Not sure how it will work out yet.
Thicker than Water?
The vicar continued to read the marriage service as Harry glanced back at the congregation. He knew Ruth had done the same thing moments before. Only now he knew why. His gut instinct was right. There was something wrong. He didn't know what but the atmosphere in the pretty little Methodist chapel felt wrong. Ruth nodded, as if reading his mind. He couldn't help but smile. The truth was she probably was.
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Adam leant forward in his seat as Carrie stared ahead, watching Malcolm and Sarah listen to the vicar as they prepared to take their vows. Wes and Nico sat next to her, both bored. It was only when she heard Adam whisper to Zaf that she realised something was wrong.
"Adam?"
"I wont be long." He kissed her cheek before following Zaf out of the chapel.
"If there are any persons here present." The vicar addressed the congregation as the door to the chapel closed loudly. "Know of any lawful impediment why Malcolm and Sarah may not be joined in Holy Matromony speak now or forever hold their peace."
Harry could sense Malcolm was holding his breath and had to stop himself from physically jumping when the door closed. Sarah smiled slightly as Malcolm met her gaze. Ruth smiled slightly as Harry glanced at the back of the chapel as two of his team slipped out the door.
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"Alright mate?" Adam addressed the older man as Zaf took his arm and led him away from the door.
"Get off me!" Rhys almost screamed in anger.
"Listen." Zaf pushed him away. "By the time we get back in there Malcolm and Sarah will have signed the Register. Nothing you can do about it."
"We don't want any trouble." Adam smiled his best charm smile.
"She is my sister." Rhys stated. "She will do as she is told!"
"Look mate" Adam started. "The last time I checked Sarah was a grown woman and more than capable of making her own choices. She wants to be with him. If you don't like it then that's your problem."
"You have no idea." Rhys spat.
"You are right there." Zaf smiled. "I've got two sisters. One older one younger. Can't imagine how I'd feel if they were marrying someone I hated but I'd respect them enough to let them live their own lives."
"Sarah has been brainwashed! You have all convinced her that she wants this!" Rhys stepped towards Zaf as he raised an eyebrow.
"Can you believe this?" Zaf turned to Adam.
"No." Adam remained dangerously calm.
"You really do not think alot of your sister, do you? From what I know of her she is bright, intelligent and more than able to make her own choices in life. The fact she has chosen to be with Malcolm is her decision riles you. He's a good bloke. She's happy. If you were any kind of brother you'd respect that." Zaf stepped towards Rhys as he spoke.
"My daughter is in there. My Ellen!"
"Yeah, nice kid." Adam answered. "Sarah's bridesmaid."
"I wont have her there. I want her back out here where she belongs." Rhys narrowed his eyes.
"Go away, leave them in peace. You are not wanted here. Not in this state. For God's sake man. I can smell the booze from here. Go and sober up." Zaf stepped back towards the chapel as Adam glared at him. Rhys swore and pointed at the two men.
"I know who you are! You have not heard the end of this!" His welsh accent slurred by alcohol was almost drowned out by the traffic. Adam shook his head slightly as Zaf walked back into the chapel.
"Go home." Adam spoke calmly. "Go home."
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Carrie glanced up as Adam took his seat next to her. Wes looked along the aisle as his father shrugged. Zaf took his seat next to Zoe and Emma as the little girl whispered she was bored.
"Me too." Zaf smiled at her as Zoe rolled her eyes..
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The George had been decorated the moment the bar had closed that morning. The landlord was used to the small group of office workers from down the road taking over the room. Neil didn't mind. He liked them all and they paid on time and left the place relatively damage free. The small function room had been decorated by Tariq and Dimitri but as Beth looked at the huge banner Dimitri had hung over the small stage at the far end of the room.
"What?" Tariq looked at her as they hurridly tried to get the room ready. She shook her head.
"That banner."
"Yeah." Tariq smiled. "I know, it's good isn't it?" Tariq folded his arms and looked at the banner proudly.
"Yeah." Beth nodded as Dimitri walked towards them. "But?"
"But what?" Dimitri rested a hand on her shoulder as she turned to face him.
"No, it's fine." She smiled.
"Beth?"
"The banner. It's lovely."
"Bailey. Spill!" Tariq laughed as he watched the couple bicker in front of them.
"It's not straight." She pointed to the lopsided banner. "I know I had a knock on the head but that is not straight."
"What?" Tariq spun round and faced at it.
"I'm right." Beth smiled.
"No way." Tariq laughed. "They'll be here in five minutes!"
"It is." She smiled as Dimitri wrapped his arms around her waist. "We left the service early for this?"
"Correction." Tariq began climbing on the table as Dimitri walked towards him. "I left the service early. You pair barely showed your face. Why were you so late?" Beth blushed scarlet as she remembered why her and Dimitri had barely stayed at the chapel.
"No reason." Dimitri smiled. "Just sort that banner out."
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The late Spring sunshine bathed the small church yard as the married couple left the chapel. Sarah couldn't stop smiling as she watched her niece and friend spill out over the church yard. Malcolm held her hand tightly as Wes took a picture of them leaving the chapel.
"Wes!" Adam called as he shrugged and put the camera away.
"That'll be on Facebook by tonight." Wes teased.
"No Wes." Adam raised an eyebrow as Malcolm visibly paled.
"As if!" Wes shook his head. "I'll just show Molls later." Adam watched as Carrie shook her head.
"You two, get in the car." She ushered both Carter men towards the car. "And you can show your Gran that photo too. She's coming down from Blackpool on Friday."
"Is she?" Adam almost spun on his heel.
"I did tell you." Carrie lied smoothly as Adam raised his eyebrow. He was aware Ruth and Ellen were watching and laughing as Carrie almost bundled him into the car. At five months pregnant she was not going to be messed about.
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The wedding reception was everything Sarah had wanted it to be. Dimitri had borrowed the DJ equipment from the same friend that had lent them to him at Christmas. He was sat at the DJ decks as Beth leant against the speakers chatting happily. Her crutches had been abandoned as she sat watching her friends and colleagues dancing and drinking around her. Harry was at the bar with Graham and Catherine while Ros and Lucas sat in the corner. Amy was playing with Emma while the boys giggled and laughed in the corner. Ruth walked up to Malcolm as the guests all began dancing and drinking.
"Ruth." Malcolm smiled as she approached him.
"Congratulations." She smiled as he hugged her.
"Thank you."
"I told you it would be fine." Ruth hugged him back.
"Thank you." Malcolm repeated "For everything. If it wasn't for you." He sighed.
"Nonsense. You'd have found away without my meddling." Ruth stepped back.
"I very much doubt it Ruth." Malcolm answered as Harry approached them.
"Catherine has taken Charlie and the boys home. Graham has gone with her. Something about having to call Teresa." He handed Malcolm a drink as Ruth realised her husband had been drinking slightly more than she thought he had been.
"Harry, are you alright?" She watched as he stood up straight.
"Yes. I'm fine."
"You're drunk."
"Nooo." Harry shook his head. "I was just having a drink with Lucas and the boys. Thats all."
"I see." Ruth raised an eyebrow. She knew she would be the one driving home. There was no way she was letting him near a car after the last few days. She knew they had all been drinking more than they had for a while.
"Have you made things right with Zoe yet? With Zaf?" Malcolm changed the subject as Ruth sighed.
"No." She looked at the floor. "But I will."
"Good." Malcolm replied as Dimitri stopped the music.
"Hello." He began as the guests all fall quiet. "I think it's about time we welcomed the bride and groom on to the dance floor for the first dance." He watched as Malcolm glowed red. The mild mannered technical officer hated anyone watching him. It was only when he felt Sarah take his hand that he began to relax. Dimitri glanced at Beth as she rested her head against the loud speaker. The music began as the remaining spooks began clapping and laughing as Snow Patrol's 'Chasing Cars' could be heard over the speakers. Dimitri shugged his shoulders as Beth frowned.
"Snow Patrol? Those two?" She met Dimitri's gaze as he smiled cheekily.
"Yeah. Well they didn't choose it."
Beth shook her head as she and laughed as she watched the couple dance in front of them.
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"Hi." Ruth watched as Zaf looked up. Lucas drank the rest of his pint before standing.
"It's ok." Zaf addressed Lucas.
"Better see where Ros has got to. I made a bet with Tariq I could get her to dance tonight." He smiled at Ruth as he walked towards where Carrie, Adam and Ros were talking. Amy was now asleep in Ros' arms as Lucas reached them. Ros glanced across to where Ruth stood awkwardly next to Zaf.
"Oh God." Ros watched as the two best friends sat down. "That doesn't look good." She checked her phone as it bleeped. Amy wriggled slightly as she passed her to Lucas.
"What is it?"
"I have to talk to Harry. Today of all bloody days." She marched towards the Section Chief who was now looking very disgruntled as he stared at his own phone.
"Ros."
"I know." She barked. "Bloody CO19!"
"Towers is going to have a field day." Harry put his phone back in his pocket. "Ruth?"
"Busy" Ros nodded towards where Ruth and Zaf were sat talking quietly.
"We should leave them to it." Harry sighed as Carrie instinctively began rounding up the children. It was becomming obvious that the guests from Section D were going to have to leave the wedding reception earlier than any of them wanted to.
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"I didn't mean any harm." Zaf sighed. "I hate this."
"I know." Ruth nodded. "You know how much I hated everyone talking about me in those days. I just couldn't deal with it."
"Yeah." Zaf didn't have the strength to argue with her.
"But I know you." Ruth smiled. "Why couldn't you have been my step brother, you idiot?" She watched as he looked on at her in shock.
"What?"
"I read the book. I never realised."
"You actually read it? All of it?" Zaf had never been more embarrassed in his life.
"I did." Ruth smiled shyly.
"Right."
"I never thought it affected you and the others the way it did. Me leaving I mean."
"Jo was devasted." Zaf sighed. He remembered how Jo had initially believed the lie. That Ruth had committed suicide by jumping in the Thames. He had been drunk one night and guiltridden. It was then he had told his flat mate the truth. Ruth stared at her hands. She knew how guilty Adam and Zaf had felt. She could still remember Adam's words on the Grid the day before. "It was never intended to hurt you. Zaf's a bit of a prat but he'd never hurt you."
"I am sorry Zaf. You were right, from the first page in that book. I just wish I had been brave enough to do actually do something about it at the time. I think that was what surprised me the most. Everyone saw what I couldn't and I am an analyst." Ruth shrugged her shoulders as Zaf laughed.
"Mates then?"
"Of course." Ruth smiled as Zaf pulled her into a hug.
Both mobiles began to bleep as Zaf rolled his eyes. "Redflash. CO19 have got themselves into trouble."
"Perfect timing as ever." Ruth replied as she looked across to where the others were saying their goodbyes to the happy couple.
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Harry sat at his desk as Ros relayed reports from the scene. The woman they had been following for days was currently laying dead on the pavement as Special Branch and CO19 stormed an unassuming B&B in Hackney. He was not happy. Harrington had been the only link to what seemed to be a black op and the European Union conference due to start in Cardiff.
"She was in the wrong place at the wrong time." Ros muttered angrily as she walked towards the police man guarding the scene. She was still wearing her outfit from the wedding. Her mood substantially worse as the high heels crushed her feet. She had never intended on wearing them for so long.
"And how likely is that?" Harry barked in to the comms. The start of a hangover beginning behind his eyes. Ruth shook her head slightly as Tariq passed her a piece of paper.
"About as likely as Erin getting my job."
"Exactly." Harry smiled. He was determined that if Erin and Callum did join the section as the DG desperately wanted them too both would have to earn their place there, the same as everyone else had. There was no way Erin was getting Ros' job. Even if she left there were several other people he would consider before she was anywhere near the top of the list.
"What's the situation now?"
"One dead." Ros stated as a matter of a fact as she glared at the body covered by the white plastic sheet. "Two unaccounted for. Three men currently under arrest."
"Shooter?" Ruth spoke. She was worried about her friends who had left the wedding reception and headed straight to the scene.
"Male, still at large." Ros answered. "Lucas is talking to the police. Seems the shooter is known to them."
"This gets better and better." Harry barked. His hangover gradually getting worse.
"Harry." Zoe emerged from the kitchen, holding her mobile in her hand.
"NOT NOW!" Harry barked. Zoe sighed. Ruth shrugged her shoulders.
"Harry! It's Ellen."
"Sarah's niece." Ruth suddenly gave Zoe her individed attention.
"Well?" Harry looked at Zoe. The field officer was now more subdued than he ha dever seen her. "What is it?"
"She's at the hospital with Malcolm. Your phone is off, she's been trying to ring you."
"What?" Harry seemed incapable of sentances consisiting of more than one word. Tariq and Ruth exchanged glances.
"Malcolm has been shot. Sarah is missing. The shoot out in Hackney seems to have been caused by the men who tried to kill Malcolm escaping. Hackney isn't that far away, even with our luck two gunmen on the loose in Central London seems unlikely." Ruth got to her feet and grabbed her coat. Ros could be heard swearing over the comms.
"Tariq, get the CCTV footage surrounding the pub."
"She wasn't taken from the George." Zoe yelled. She was desperate for someone, anyone to listen to her. "They had gone home. Sarah was taken from her house. Ellen found Malcolm when she dropped by because Sarah had left her phone at the reception."
"Ruth." Harry almost barked as she reached the Pods. Ruth turned and stared at her husband.
"I have to go." Ruth watched as Harry opened his mouth. Whatever was said was drowned out before she could hear it as the Pods closed around her.
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A/N Thanks for all the reviews. Please review :D
