Disclaimer - not mine

Morning Meeting

Harry woke with a start, it had been an awful night and he didn't blame Graham for escaping once he and Ruth had got home. He sighed heavily as he stretched, momentarily panicking when he realised Ruth was no where to be seen. He rolled on to his side as he stared at the empty space where Ruth should have been. He didn't like waking up alone. He got out of bed and grabbed his dressing gown thinking about how he would deal with the aftermath of Elisabeta's arrest. Before he knew where his feet were taking him he had reached the spare room, pushing the door open gingerly he couldn't help but smile as he saw Catherine fast asleep as Ruth sat at the end of her bed propped on a pillow. Scarlett was curled at Ruth's feet. She stirred as she saw Harry in the doorway.

"Morning" She whispered as she got up and walked towards him.

"Have you been here all night?" He smiled as she straightened up and winced. Scarlet woke and ran down the stairs in search of breakfast.

"Yes, I heard her crying after we went to bed. He really is a nasty piece of work. The things he said Harry, the things he called her" She shook her head as she looked at his chest. She smiled as Harry wrapped his arms around her.

"Jane never sat up all night with her when she was little; we used to take it in turns when I was around." Harry kissed the top of her head as Ruth buried her head in his chest.

"She just needed to have someone with her last night. We talked. That's all. She didn't really sleep so let's get out of here and not wake her up now. Poor girl needs all the sleep she can get" Ruth mumbled in to his dressing gown. Harry hugged her a little tighter as he kissed her hair.

"Um" Harry pulled back a little as Ruth tried and failed to step out of his arms. "What did I do to deserve you?" She smiled before kissing him briefly on the lips before leading him out of the room.

Xxxxxxxxxx

Ros walked on to the Grid closely followed by Lucas. Tariq looked up briefly as she passed and decided to leave them to it. He could see the Section Head was tense and deciding discretion was the better part of valour he made his way to the kitchenette.

"Wait a minute" Ros turned just as Tariq reached the kitchenette door. He froze as she went to walk towards him.

"Yeah" He glanced towards Lucas who just shrugged.

"Where is everyone? You are never the first here. Where are Harry and Ruth?" She watched as Tariq shrugged.

"I dunno. Ruth and Harry are always the first here but the place was empty when I got here. Malcolm called. He's at home, says he has some news for us and will be in later" Ros narrowed her eyes; she silently hoped whatever news Malcolm had it was good news. The team needed something other than the dramas they were currently involved in.

"Harry's not here? You mean he actually left for the night?" Lucas laughed slightly as Ros rolled her eyes. Neither man had noticed Harry appear behind them.

"It has been known. Now that we have established I leave the Grid occasionally can we get on? Briefing room in ten minutes" Harry walked towards his office as Ruth just raised her eyebrows before taking her seat at the computer. She was exhausted after looking after Catherine. Ros smiled briefly at the obvious discomfort both men had felt at being caught out by Harry before walking across to her own desk.

"Actually where are the others?" Ruth looked around the mostly empty Grid.

"Adam called, said he had a bit of business to attend to. Didn't say what. Zoe and Zaf are visiting an asset." Tariq explained. Glad that it was Ruth asking him the questions rather than Ros.

"Get hold of them. I want them all here for the briefing" Ros sighed. "Especially Adam. Why is he going off on his own?" She logged on to her computer. She didn't like anyone going off on their own when they seemed to have a psychopath chasing them.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Adam waited across the road from the nightclub. It had been officially closed for the last few hours but he knew this was where Harries sold his drugs. He watched as Ryan Harries stepped out of the closed nightclub and shook the bouncer's hand. The drug dealer still had the black eye Graham had caused but apart from that looked like he didn't have a care in the world. Adam pulled his mobile out of his jacket pocket, ignored the text message from Tariq and called a familiar number.

"Yes, police. I have the whereabouts of a known drug dealer. No I won't give my name but you can find him at Diamonds Nightclub." He paused.

"Ryan Harries. Yeah, I thought you knew the name. Selling crap at the nightclub." He hung up and walked away, hoping a visit from the police may be enough. If not it was on to plan B. But first he had to put in an appearance at the Grid. He walked back to the car trying to think up a reasonable excuse for being late to the morning meeting. It was going to be a long day.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Harry had taken his seat at the head of the table as the rest of the spooks began making their way in to the room. He looked up to see Tariq and Zaf walk in, deep in conversation. He couldn't make out exactly what was being said but he didn't like the way Zaf looked slightly worried when Adam's name had been mentioned. He also noticed how tired Ruth looked, and felt slightly guilty.

"Right. Divine Earth" Harry started.

"Not possible" Ros took her seat. She didn't want to be at the meeting. She desperately wanted to be in the interview room talking to Elisabeta. Lucas glanced at her; he could see how tense she was. He didn't know why but he felt responsible. Both spooks looked up as Zoe walked in, the bruise on her forehead looked worse than the day before, with the purple marks radiating down to her eye. Lucas and Harry both winced when they saw her.

"Divine Earth? Wasn't that the group that nearly killed Adam and Ros? The Thames Barrier thing?" Zoe looked around as Ros nodded.

"One of the many" Ros glared. Lucas narrowed his eyes. He knew this was a conversation they would be having later. It seemed his wife was good at her job; she seemed to have made enough enemies over the years.

"I thought we'd heard the end of them" She turned to Harry.

"Yes, so did I. But I spoke to someone in the week that warned me they may be back. I don't think it is a possibility. Those that were not killed are still in prison. I think it is just a diversionary tactic, but I'd like to be certain" He looked along the table. "Tariq can you and Malcolm look in to that for me?"

"Yes Harry" Tariq tapped his pen on the desk.

"Why now? If Nightingale are being used as a cover why would Divine Earth be the culprit?" Lucas wondered out loud as Ruth shrugged.

"They wouldn't. I'm sure of it" Ros sighed. "Look those involved in Nightingale are either dead or in prison. I think Davidson and Elisabeta are working alone. I really don't think anyone else is involved" She watched as Harry nodded. He felt the same, but it seemed so much easier if they had been a group rather than a single person. Adam sheepishly opened the door as Harry glared.

"How nice of you to join up Mr Carter" He narrowed his eyes as Adam shrugged. He knew his charm smile wouldn't get him out of trouble with Harry. Instead he sat in his chair next to Zaf and smiled at Ruth. She merely rolled her eyes, too tired to wonder exactly why Adam was late.

"It isn't Nightingale and it isn't Divine Earth" Adam stated.

"Oh and you know this because?" Ros turned her glare on him.

"Divine Earth are extinct. Nightingale were destroyed in the UK. Think about it, Linnerman is dead, Mace is dead, Lawrence is in America and half the people in the organisation are either dead or in prison. Nah, no way I'm not buying it. Someone wants us to think that its them." Harry smiled slightly.

"So we have learnt precisely nothing" Harry stood frustrated.

"Right, if we're finished I'm going to interview Elisabeta" Ros pushed her chair away from the table as Harry raised a hand to stop her.

"No, we're off to Whitehall. Adam you and Zaf interview the woman. Lucas I want you and Zoe to find Davidson. I'm sick of this. Ruth any and all information on that man is going to be vital" He watched as Ros shot him a death glare. The assorted spooks left to go about their allotted tasks as Ros continued to glare at the table.

"Harry" She watched as he stood and walked to the door.

"No Ros. You are not going to interview Lucas' ex wife. If anything she is just a pawn in whatever this is. We have had one explosion already, there will be others unless we find these people" She glared at him.

"We're not due at Whitehall today" She watched as Harry nodded slowly

"Not officially no. But as Adam and yourself said people involved in Nightingale are either dead or missing. I want that lot out there to think we have a routine meeting at Whitehall because I think someone is feeding information to Davidson and your father" He watched as Ros continued to stare at the table. Harry had a feeling she'd have burnt holes in the wood with the look she was wearing if it was possible.

"You spoke to my father" It was more an accusation than a statement. He had known Ros would be angry. Murderous was a surprise.

"Yes"

"So did I"

"I guessed as much. Someone is feeding him information Ros. Someone"

"IT IS NOT ME" She raised her voice as Tariq and Zaf looked up from the outer office. "I know what I was in the past Harry but I have never sold this place out to my father. The man ordered me to be killed for crying out loud" She tried and failed to control her breathing as Harry rested a hand on her forearm.

"Ros, I know it isn't you. I know that." She looked up and held his gaze. Suddenly it was very important that Harry believed her.

"Who do you think it is?" Ros lowered her voice.

"Nicholas Blake"

authors note So where has Nick Blake been since we last saw him? Is Harry right to be suspicious? Is anyone still reading this? More action in the next chap.