Armageddon ?

Ros glared as she waited for the Pod doors to open. Lucas held a hand to his ribs, she knew he had landed heavily on his side but was trying to ignore the injury. It was the day before Christmas Eve and all she really wanted to do was be with her children. So far it didn't look likely.

"Ros." Beth pushed her chair away from the desk. "It was a very crude IED."

"Effective though." Lucas winced as Will watched him. He could see the older man was in pain.

"Yeah, but it comprised normal stuff that almost everyone would expect to see in the bathroom. Combined and with the right trigger - caboom!"

"Eloquent as ever, Miss Bailey." Ros raised an eyebrow. "Does it match any known groups?"

"A small group - known as Odin tried the same thing in Atlanta about twenty years ago. I'm waiting for the CIA information to download." Ruth walked out of the kitchenette as she spoke. "Lucas? Are you ok? I've got brufen and codydramol in my desk. Hold on." She fished out the packets from the desk drawer before handing the tablets to him. Ros smirked.

"That desk has more drugs in it than Boots!" Beth laughed.

"I've worked here long enough." Ruth smiled. "Spooks do not take care of themselves."

"Pot, kettle and black spring to mind." Malcolm smiled at her.

"Why are you here?"

"Graham woke up. He's battered and bruised. He looks like Hell and he remembers everything." A collective sigh of relief seemed to be released by the whole team. "I can't let this go. First Graham, then Garry now you and Lucas? No. This is someone who knows us using our weaknesses against us."

"He said Armageddon was coming." Lucas swallowed the painkillers.

"I think we need to pay him another visit." Ros stood up.

"Who?" Ruth looked at Tariq as the baby of the team spoke.

"Lord Creep." Ros explained.

"You don't know?" Beth spun in her chair. "Really?"

"Elizabeth." Ros shot her a look.

"He's dead. Apparent suicide. It was called in the same time as the explosion. He shot himself." Ruth explained. "He got out before whatever this Armageddon he spoke about could be released."

"Shit." Ros closed her eyes. She instantly blamed herself.

"Yeah." Beth nodded.

"It looks like someone knew where you were. I don't think the suicide angle is the truth but the autopsy will say it is. I think whoever Odin is they intended to kill all three of you." Ruth interjected. "Graham is under guard. So far he's the only one to survive and they knew about his past."

"You think they knew about Jo and the hotel bomb?" Lucas frowned. Ros nodded. "Who would know?"

"Has to be an insider." Tariq watched as Will's eyes widened. "Like when Blake turned and Towers."

"Not Section D but someone who knows us?" Will spoke for the first time.

"Give the boy a gold star." Ros kept her voice monotone.

"I'll keep digging." Ruth sighed. Ros bit her lip and nodded. Christmas suddenly seemed a long way off.

Xxxxxx

Harry stepped out of his son's room, quietly closing the door behind him. Catherine and Calum were talking quietly opposite the doorway.

"Dad."

"He's resting. Terri is with him." Harry explained. Catherine nodded.

"Why would anyone attack him? What wrong has my daft little brother done to deserve this?" She bit her lip. "Former dealers?"

"Maybe." Harry paused. "I think attacking him was to hurt me. And it worked." Catherine squeezed his hand.

"Odin? The Gloucester agreement?"

"Possibly." Harry paused as Calum swore. "Charlie and Lily?"

"They're with Frances, Erin's mum. I trust her. Rosie is with her too and so is Gracie-jo." Calum frowned. Harry nodded.

"Good. Ok, I'll have extra security on there. She's an old woman. Nick can help her with the little ones." Harry frowned as Catherine spoke. The teenager raised an eyebrow.

"Catherine, Frances Watts is three years older than me!" Harry watched as his daughter shrugged. Rolling his eyes he had to agree that extra security was needed. "You both have your weapons?"

"Yeah." Calum frowned.

"Stay here. Look after Graham." He stated firmly as he ushered the young boy away. Calum dug in his jacket pocket, pulling out his phone he watched his father in law leave.

"I'll let France's know." Catherine nodded before sitting on the plastic seat opposite the door to her brothers room.

Xxxxxxxx

The resteraunt was clearly expensive but Adam knew it would be worth every penny if his contact could help him. He walked through the expensive furniture and smartly dressed couples towards the curly haired woman on the other side of the room.

"Lynda."

"Hi." She watched as he sat down. "I've ordered coffee. It's about all I can afford."

Adam nodded as he looked at the menu. It was the sort of place that was so expensive prices weren't on the menus. He suddenly didn't want to eat anything.

"Garry Hicks. Has he ever brought stories to you? Freelance?"

"Yeah. Never published them. He's a hack. Not reliable and drinks far too much to be a credible source."

"He's dead."

"What?" Lynda's eyes grew wide. "How?"

"Murdered. In front on one of my team. Execution style."

"Oh dear God." She stared at him. "I."

"What?"

"Andy, I saw him last week. He came to the office saying he had the scoop of the decade. He was drunk; abusive and generally being a pain in the backside." Lynda fell silent as the waiter brought the coffees she had ordered. Adam paused as the waiter left.

"What was the scoop?"

"More liable that could probably get the paper shut down and me and Garry in prison. You've heard of Lord Gloucester?" Adam placed his cup back on the saucer. Suddenly he was interested in what the editor had to say.

Xxxxxxxxxx

A/N please review. More Ruth/Harry next chapter