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The Road to Home
The bus to Santiago was as hot as Hell. The glass windows and the combined body heat of the occupants made the journey towards the border nauseating for all involved. Zaf glanced across at Emma, amazed at how the young girl had taken everything that had happened in her stride. The child sat next to Zoe with one arm curled protectively around her favourite rag doll, Frizzy. He turned his attention back to Adam and Lucas, amazed at the turn of events.
"Ros never gave up on me?"
"Never." Adam smiled slightly. "You know our Ros. Once her mind is made up." Lucas smiled slightly as he thought of the slim blonde woman who was probably the best friend he had ever had. He rubbed the back of his neck subconsciously as he thought of the taser she had used on him. While not what you would expect from a best friend it had stopped him making a fool of himself. For that, at least he was grateful. Zaf smiled again; the only physical remnants of his ordeal at the hands of the Redbacks.
"And Ruth is back."
"Yeah." Lucas smiled.
"Alive and well. Or she was when we left London." Tariq chipped in.
"I still can't believe Jo has gone."
"Neither can any of us. "Lucas looked away for a moment. "Don't blame Ros. It wasn't her fault. There was a seige and Jo walked in with no weapon and no protective body armour. Walked straight in front of Ros' line of fire. Ros really believed Jo was wearing her vest. Even the coroner stated the death was by misadventure."
"Suicide by cop." Adam closed his eyes. The hushed tones of the adults had allowed Emma to fall asleep against her mother's shoulder. "Bloody Hell, Jo." A wave of guilt washed over him.
"She broke protocol. Left her body armour and her gun outside. She knew what she was doing."
"I knew she was in a bad way." Adam sighed heavily as he remembered the bubbly journalist he had recruited so long ago. The Jo that had stumbled into their lives was nothing like the angry and broken woman he had watched begin to self distruct. "I knew Bosccard had done more than physical damage."
"Boscard?" Zaf felt sick as his blood seemed to run cold. "Oh God."
"The poor girl." Zoe bit her lip as she watched her friends knowing that they had each cared about the dead girl in their own way.
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Malcolm marched across the Grid to where Ruth was sat staring at her computer screen. "Email from Tariq."
"Well?" Ros turned to face them.
"It seems they have made contact. Tariq says the wanderers are to return."
"Oh thank God." Ruth let out a breath she hadn't been sure she was holding. "It seems he and Lucas made contact with Zoe and the others at around 4 am UK time. They are headed for the border." He handed Ros a copy of the email.
"Well, well Lucas North." She sighed. "It seems you've done it again."
"What?"
"Bringing them home. He went to Moscow for Sugarhorse."
"Don't remind me." Harry stated as he approached them. "It is not a period I wish to remember."
Ros and Malcolm exchanged looks, both remembering the confusion and terror when Harry had been arrested and then abducted after Connie had sacrificed herself.
"My point is that boy could find a needle in a haystack." Harry tilted his head as he conceded her point. Ruth smiled slightly for the first time seeing that there may be more to Ros and Lucas' relationship and not merely friendship.
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Harry stared out over the city as the darkness began to approach. He still couldn't quite believe Tariq and Lucas had pulled it off, that in a matter of hours he would be talking to officers he long thought lost. He pinched the bridge of his nose as he tried not to think of what time away from Section D would have done to them. Would Zoe be as hard and cynical as Tom had been? Did she know about Danny? Would Zaf remain the same cheeky, highly intelligent but relaxed young man that had flirted with anything vaguely female? He shook his head. Zaf's time with the Redbacks was something every spook dreaded. He opened his eyes and rested his hands on the railings around the roof's edge as he heard a distinctly feminine voice call his name.
"Harry?" She stepped a little closer.
"Yes?"
"Are you alright?" Ruth rested a hand on his arm as she looked up at him. He smiled slightly and nodded once. Ruth was another mystery he had yet to fathom.
"I'm a tired old man."
"We are all tired." Ruth stared up at him and held her breath. This was one of the few truly unguarded moments that the real Harry could be seen through rather that a consummate spook. "And you are not old."
"I am no spring chicken." He tucked a strand of brown hair behind her ear as the wind blew her hair over her face. She blushed slightly at the contact. He was so unbelievably close. A breath away from her. She felt her heart rate reach dangerous levels as her body reacted to his presence.
"I'd prefer the term mature."
"Like cheese."
"Or fine wine." Ruth found her fingers trace the stubble on his chin. Harry closed his eyes at the contact. Another breath and they would be kissing. His hand found her waist as he closed the gap. The roof door slammed open to reveal a flustered looking Malcolm.
"Yes, Malcolm." Harry sighed as he stepped back slightly from Ruth. His eyes never left her face as she blushed a shade of red he was sure wasn't really humanly possible.
"Tariq has emailed."
"That boy manages to make his presence felt at the most inopportune moments." Harry smiled at Ruth. She smirked slightly before turning to Malcolm.
"He does. What is it?"
"They've made the border. All of them will be on a flight to Gatwick in five hours time."
Ruth shook her head and allowed Harry to hug her to his side. Malcolm smiled broadly before making his excuses and returning to the Grid. Ruth wrapped her arms around Harry as he kissed her hair, still not exactly sure what was going on between them.
"They're coming home, Ruth. They're coming home."
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A/N More soon.
