Never tear us apart
Ros marched across the Grid, relieved that Alec had called but still unsure as to what Blake's motives really were. Revenge seemed a little trite but she could see how Josef would jump at the change to destabilise them. But Blake? He was a power hungry megalomaniac and had always unnerved her, although she would never let him know that.
"Blake made sure Ruth had her ID back. When she came home from Cyprus." Ros stared at the desk in front of her lost in thought. Malcolm nodded. "Why?"
"Harry called in more favours than we've had hot dinners."
"He knew she wasn't in deep cover. I'm sure of it."
"No he didn't." They turned to see Harry approach them, Alec at his side.
"What are you doing here?"
"My job."
"Josef is dead." Alec joined in.
"Yes." Harry nodded. "Blake had Ruth taken for a reason. She nearly died because I forced the team to underestimate the threat." Ros and Zaf glanced at each other. "Which I am assuming you ignored."
"Of course, Harry." Ros kept her face neutral. Harry shook his head. Zaf shrugged.
"A little extracurricular maybe." Zaf watched as Harry rolled his eyes.
"I made a terrible mistake thinking I could protect Ruth and all of you. I'm sorry,"
"Harry Pearce apologising? What's done is done. This isn't sugarhorse, we need to know." Alec frowned. Harry nodded.
"That doesn't matter now, what does matter is making sure we stop Blake and end Nightingale for good." Harry nodded, knowing that Adam was right.
"He hasn't really changed." Zaf stated. "Think about it, he's still getting other people to do his dirty work."
"Police would probably never be able to get a link between Ruth's abduction and Blake." Beth sighed. She felt sick at the memory of seeing Ruth battered and frightened. She knew it would be a long time before she'd be able to put that image out of her mind. She had no idea how Harry would cope.
"He'd give Teflon Tessa a run for her money." Lucas glared. "I don't like this. He's used Ruth to distract us. He knew she had evidence he was up to something. Taking her would distract us. Zoe was right. The only way he could benefit would be to destroy Section D. We've stopped him before."
"Tariq." Harry turned towards the baby of the team. "Do what you do best."
"Follow the money." Tariq nodded before heading back to his work station.
"Calum, go through any and all records of him returning to the UK. Zoe go through Ruth's analysis." Ros began issuing orders. "Dimitri, Beth find out what our friends in Nightingale have been up to. Adam, talk to Vice. They are going to want to know about Blake's dirty little habit."
Adam pulled a face, liaising with the clowns wasn't his favourite part of the job.
"Erin, Zaf and Alec talk to anyone who may have any Intel. GCHQ, six. Someone knows more than we do. Lucas, with me." She headed out of the Grid, leaving Harry to wonder what was going to become of his team, his family. Smiling sadly he could almost feel sorry for Nicholas Blake and Nightingale. They'd clearly underestimated who they were dealing with.
Xxxxxxxx
Ruth ached in places she didn't know she had. After learning it was less than 24 hours she'd been missing she had started to feel a little better. Her arm, now encased in a plaster cast no longer hurt and she knew everything else would heal in time. Sighing sadly she closed her eyes, relieved that the painkillers the nurses had given her made her sleep.
"Ruth?" Harry slipped into the hospital room to see Ruth curled on her side. She slept as he crept into the room. "Ruth?" He sat next to her as he realised she was having a nightmare. The fingers on her uninjured hand gripped the bedsheet in an achingly familiar way. Harry could see she was scared and had no idea how to wake her up without scaring her more.
"Ruth." He touched her hand gently, relieved when she seemed to calm at his touch. He held her hand as her eyes fluttered open.
"Hi."
"I didn't mean to wake you." Harry watched as she smiled slightly. Her fingers curled around his as she held his gaze.
"Stop feeling guilty. This isn't your fault. I know that. I never really thought it was. We have to stop Blake. I think he wants us out of the picture so he can stage a coup."
"He told me he would kill those I couldn't live without." Harry sighed. "You and the kids."
"They are all safe." Ruth signed. "He thinks he can break us. I think he wants us to break up over this, to destroy us. If we let this tear us apart then he wins. We have come through too much for that."
"Ruth, I."
"You need to trust me. Professionally if nothing else. I need to know if you can't and why. I deserve that much. I'm not exactly the new girl anymore." Harry nodded.
"I do trust you."
"I know you love me but trust is different. I need to know, if it had been Lucas or Adam you'd have torn them to shreds."
"You know me too well. Ruth, I was an idiot. I thought I could shield you from this. Blake intends to start a coup. Have the government destabilised months before the election then stride in and take power." Harry watched as she listened. "Attacking us, he hoped he could destroy us physically then we'd be unable to stop him."
"I'm still angry about what happened, Harry." She felt him tense, her good hand squeezed his. "But I am not going to let what happened destroy us." Harry brought her hand to his lips, kissing her knuckles.
"Oh Ruth." He closed his eyes as they filled with tears. Ruth smiled sadly.
"We've been through worse." She smiled. "Are the children safe? Really?"
"The kids! I nearly forgot." Harry pulled the smart phone Graham had insisted he bought and handed it to Ruth. "It was Nick's idea. They've made you a get well soon video." Harry shrugged as Ruth pushed a few buttons on the phone. Moments later Gracie, Nick, Charlie, Lilly, Catherine and Graham could be seen wishing her well as Teresa ordered them to behave, which made Charlie and Gracie giggle even more.
"Thank you." Ruth giggled at the video of Gracie blowing kisses as the kids declared she was the best mum, step mum, nanny and mum in law in the world. "I needed that."
"We need you. I need you."
Ruth held his gaze as he spoke, suddenly serious once more.
"I'm here Harry. He isn't going to beat us, our family. I'm here." Moments later Harry pulled her into his arms, mindful of the ivi and broken ribs he held her for the first time since she'd been found. Suddenly Ruth felt safe. Harry knew she was right. Blake was not going to win.
Xxxxxx
A/n please review
