Disclaimer not mine.

Never Tear Us Apart?

Zaf stopped Ros from walking in to the Interview Room. She turned and held his gaze as he wondered if stopping her was really a good idea. When Ros was in full Ice Queen mode there was no one more formidable.

"Are you alright?" He paused as Ros stared at him expressionless "I can call Adam down here, get him to run the interview with me. He can be just as effective when he wants to be you know?" He smiled slightly as he remembered some of the more recent interviews he had carried out with Adam. Ros raised her eye brows.

"Thank you for your concern but I am fine" Ros was always fine. She would never be anything less than fine. The fact she was scared to death that Lucas was somewhere hurt and alone or that Amy would never see her father again didn't pass her lips. He would be home, despite everything she knew he would be home. Zaf nodded as he held her gaze.

"All I know is that if it was Zo that was missing.." He trailed off aware that if Zoe was missing he would not be able to function half as well as Ros was now.

"At least you know who she is" Ros inwardly cursed herself for letting anything slip. But then this was Zaf, he had known her for years and like Malcolm knew exactly what buttons to press. Zaf rolled his eyes slightly.

"Is that what all this with you and him is about? You know exactly who Lucas is. A name is nothing Ros and you know it. How often do we use legends? Change our names? All the time but then we still are the same person. If Zoe turned around tomorrow and told me she was really called Zelda Queen of Zarg it wouldn't change the way I feel about her. Don't tell me everything you and Lucas have has gone because he used to use another name?" Zaf knew he had gone too far. She looked him directly in the eye before pushing past him and storming in to the interview. The lack of verbal response made him think he had hit a nerve.

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Harry was sick with worry as he sheilded even more inane questions from William Towers. The Home Secretary was the last person he wanted to speak to, especially after the way the afternoon meeting had gone. All he could think about was Ruth. He had to see her again, she had to come home. He knew the entire team were working on the case but he needed to feel he was doing something to get her back. Part of his mind also wondered how he was going to tell Catherine and Graham that she was gone. He knew how close she was to Catherine and a wave of sadness swept over him once more.

"Malcolm" He called the technical officer in to his office.

"Harry" Malcolm took a seat opposite Harry's desk.

"Any news? Anything at all?" He knew he sounded desperate and he didn't care. He needed to find the three missing agents. There had to be something the team would do.

"No" Malcolm sighed heavily. "Not yet. All we can do is keep looking and wait for them to call us. We had one coded warning there will be others"

Harry nodded. All he could think about was a Christmas a long time before where he hadn't thought he would see his son born or watch his little girl open her presents. He had believed they would kill him and Juliet. It had seen a forgone conclusion, until Henry Parks and Connie James had worked it out. He remembered hearing Juliet screaming through the wall and knew that along with what he had gone through when Ruth had returned from Cyprus was the worst torture that he had ever endured. Now he just hoped the younger Fisher brother wasn't subjecting Ruth and Lucas to the same fate.

"You know the statistics Malcolm" He kept his face neutral "Anyone missing over 24 hours in these circumstances are more than like to " He gripped his pen tighter, unable to finish the sentance although Malcolm understood exactly what he was referring to.

"Yes" Malcolm stared straight at him, a determination in his voice that was barely heard most of the time "But not this time. This is Ruth, Lucas and Henry. I'd be more worried about Fisher and Morris. They have no idea what they have let themselves in for." He smiled.

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Ruth laid down and closed her eyes as Henry yelled for help. He shook the apparently comatose woman in his arms as he shouted once more for help.

"Quick! We need help! We need some help in here! Please man she's in a bad way"

Ruth laid quietly in Henry's arms as he called once more. For a moment he wondered exactly how good an actress she was or if they really did have a problem. Moments later the door to the room opened and Lucas was thrown at their feet. He looked in no fit state to attempt an escape but Henry knew they had to at least try.

"Aye man she's hurt" Henry carried on as the man that had thrown Lucas to the floor sneered.

"And what do I care old man?"

"You want murder on your conscious? At your age? She could die. I think she's dying, she has nothing to do with anything and you bloody well know it! She's bleeding." He shook her again as Ruth let her head loll dangerously to the side. "I think she's in trouble"

Ruth stayed as still as she could as a small trail of blood slipped from her lips. She had bit her lip when Morris had grabbed her from the van. At the moment she was glad as the small wound made it look convincing enough that their captor stepped closer. That was enough for Lucas to see red. He had promised himself that Ruth wouldn't be hurt. That he was going to look after her in some attempt to make up for everything that had happened to her earlier in the year due to his deception and stupidity. He threw himself at Morris and caught him off guard as Ruth raised an elbow and caught him in the ribs.

"What?" Lucas shook his head as Ruth got to her feet.

"Ten days to Christmas. I am going home" Ruth stepped away as Lucas helped Henry to his feet.

"After you my lady" Henry chuckled to himself. He had a feeling they were far from free but he was proud of the two younger officers.

"We can do this" Ruth sighed as they made their way along what looked like a stone staircase.

"Be brave Ruth" Henry whispered "Harry needs you back."

Ruth smiled. She remembered the first time when Harry had told her that. Danny's funeral. She knew the context shouldn't make her smile but it was that moment in the beautiful Anglican Church in the centre of London that she knew. There was nothing she wouldn't do for Harry Pearce. She stared at the older man as he smiled at her. She could see why the others had followed him in his time as Section Head. It seemed he had an inate ability to make people trust him. It was lethal to the enemy and an essential skill for a field officer.

"I know" She smiled slighly as seh touched his arm. Lucas slumped against the wall, catching his breath. His swollen ankle was slowing him down. He screwed his eyes shut in pain and frustration. He knew his ankle was badly broken.

"Ruth, get Henry and get out of here" His voice was low as his blue eyes met hers.

"Come on Lucas"

"Amy needs her Godmother, Ruth you know that" Ruth nodded.

"I think she needs her Dad more" Ruth grabbed his arm and started to make him walk

"I'll slow you down"

Henry watched the exchange and remembered the run he had with Adam a few months previously. Shaking his head he watched as Ruth, despite her lack of height was trying to help Lucas walk despite the fact he had to lean on her and was over a foot taller and much heavier. He wondered if all of Section D looked out for each other like that.

"I am not facing Ros without you. And who says we were in a rush?"

"Ros may thank you if you did turn up without me" He remembered how cold their last conversation had been. He was beginning to loose hope that they would ever get back to where they had been before Vaughan.

"Oh, save me the self pitying crap Lucas. It doesn't suit you" Ruth almost spat as Henry chuckled. "You hurt her, if she doesn't love you do you think she would have let you anywhere near her since? You think that either of you would be in Section D? If you want her, really want her then you have to fight for her" Ruth watched as Lucas remained silent. They were waisting time. Henry walked on ahead and stared out of an upstairs window assesssing the ground outside.

"Lucas man she's right. I dunno what has been going on with you but a lady needs to know she's wanted. So in the words of my grandson Jake, man up and grow a set" Ruth bit her bottom lip and shook her head as they began to make their way unhindered down the steps to the outside world.

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Harry shot up in bed, breathing hard he felt sick. His nightmare of Ruth lost, hurt and alone was suddenly at the forefront of his mind. Suddenly he felt the weight in the bed shift as she sat slightly behind him kissing his bare shoulder.

"Hey" Ruth smiled between kisses "Bad dream?"

"Yeah" His voice was horse with emotion as he felt her kiss him again. "You were gone. You and Lucas were gone." He closed his eyes as he thought about it, the sensation of her kisses on his bare back began to overwhelm him.

"Oh" He turned to face her. Ruth smiled at him, deathly pale and almost transparent. Her bones almost visible beneath her skin as she flashed him a ghostly smile.

"Ruth" Harry whispered suddenly scared that he was going insane.

"Till death do us part eh?" She watched as he stared at her "Even death can't seperate us. They can never tear us apart" She smiled as Harry woke with a jolt to find himself back in his office, the blinds drawn.

"Hello Sir" The petite blonde sat on his desk swinging her legs childishly. Harry just stared.

"Joanna?"

"Ghost of Christmas past eh? You are dreaming. I didn't have the energy to try to contact you when you are awake. You have a far too analytical mind. Like Ruth" She shook her head, smiling cheekily.

"Jo" Harry stared at her "I killed you. I should never have ordered you to go in after Ros. I am so sorry"

"Sir? It wasn't your fault. You didn't know I was going to leave my gun. It was my choice. Suicide. My penance seems to be that I am now Section D's very own guardian angel" She laughed slightly at the irony of it. Harry daren't move. "Ruth is coming home. She isn't as fragile as you think. " Harry raised his eyebrows as he heard the young woman speak.

"I was her best friend. I know this. Ruth is coming back and so are the others" The sound of a phone ringing somewhere on the main Grid pierced the air.

"Jo"

"You better answer the phone" Jo jumped off the desk. "Oh, she's going to love the Christmas present." Jo winked before walking through a wall without looking back.

Harry opened his eyes as Beth barged in to his office. The young woman was clearly in a state over something.

"Beth?"

"Coded warning again" She caught her breath as Harry stood up and followed her to his door. He couldn't help but turn back and glance at the last place he had seen Jo. He shook his head. Early onset dementia Pearce? Loosing it. He thought. He swore as the phone on his desk rang.

"Yes" He barked in to the phone before almost collapsing in relief. Jo had been right.

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Lucas knew he was slowing down the others as he tried to convince Henry to go on without him. He knew Ruth would never give up on him. She really was like a dog with a bone. Henry shook his head as he slipped the silk tie he wore from around his neck. Ruth narrowed her eyes aware that the old man would use it as a weapon if he had to.

"Listen to me my boy" Lucas looked across at the silver haired old man "We got here together and we will be going back to Thames House together. What is your we bairn's name? Tell me again" He commanded as Lucas closed his eyes thinking of the dark haired little girl with the same blue/green eyes as her mother.

"Amy Ruth North" He sighed.

"Ruth?"

"After her godmother" He nodded towards Ruth who ignored him. She was trying to think of a plan, analysing every possible outcome of the situation they were in. The door in front of them could lead to freedom. It could also lead them to a situation where they were killed. Henry was the best. But that was almost thirty years ago when they had to deal with Irish Nationalists and Loyalists, with groups like Meibion Glyn Dwr. He's got to be pushing 80 now. Please let me be able to do this. Ruth sent up a silent prayer as she quietly opened the door.

"Shit" She muttered as Henry raised an eyebrow. She turned back to see Henry shake his head.

"Language young lady" Ruth smiled. She could see why Malcolm liked him. They fell silent as Lucas tried to concentrate on his breathing. They stepped back in to the shadows as they saw what had worried Ruth.

xxxxxxx

Ros pinned Fisher to the wall of the Interview Room as Zaf leant against the opposite wall. He made no attempt to stop her. He smiled slightly to himself aware that Ros was barely containing her anger.

"Location Now!" She kept her voice deceptively low as Fisher avoided her gaze.

"Fuck off"

"Look, I tried to be reasonable but you see that is difficult for me in the current situation. At the moment I have three officers risking their lives because of your vendetta against my boss. That pisses me off. Not to mention the fact I'm tired, I have a toddler who is teething and my back is killing me. Now if I kill you I'd get nothing more than a slap on the wrist because I'd put it down to hormones" Ros spoke calmly. Zaf smiled.

"No one wants any trouble. Just tell us where the bomb is" Zaf folded his arms.

"Fuck off" Fisher repeated.

"Well thats a variation on no comment" Ros stared in the older man's face. She knew she had him.

"Mate I really wouldn't keep upsetting my boss" Zaf knew Ros was smiling slightly even though she had her back to him. "You wouldnt like her when she is angry"

"Yeah PMT is a bitch but pregancy hormones" Ros shook her head. "You can imagine what I am like in this condition" Fisher's eyes widened as he realised Ros was gong to win.

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Henry glanced out of the side door Ruth had opened moments before. The pretty tree in the garden covered in frost and Christmas lights looked wrong considering what had gone on in the house they were leaving. He had to admit Lucas was beginning to worry him.

"Aye" He muttered under his breath.

"What?" Lucas asked

"Xray at 3 o clock" He nodded in the same direction as a heavy set man rounded the corner. Ruth stuck out her foot as he passed, sending him sprawling to the floor as Henry watched Lucas dig a knee into his back. The young man swore and struggled as Ruth pulled a mobile phone from his pocket.

"Would someone like to ring for a lift?" Henry smiled as Ruth dialled a familiar number and waited for Harry to answer. The young man gave up the fight when he realised it was pointless. Henry had already threated to strangle him. He had no doubt the pensioner meant it.

"Harry, it's me" She paused as she heard her husband thank God. "Look, we need transport. Henry has made an arrest."

Harry got her location and ordered Adam and Dimitri to collect them. Smiling to himself he knew Henry was still a formidable officer despite being retired for almost two decades. He also couldn't help but think Jo was right. Ruth was coming home.

authors note. Please review. More reviews = more romance next time.