The next morning Lucas woke, if not refreshed, at least less troubled. He was pleasantly surprised that if he had had dreams and nightmares, he did not remember them. He figured that the mental and physical exhaustion of the day before had played a role in his sleep. It was hard to believe everything with Darshavin had only happened in a day. While most days he was fine with the hot water of the shower, he decided to not push it, and bathed in the bathroom sink.

Checking his messages after dressing, he saw one from Potter time stamped earlier that morning.

North, glad to hear current crisis is over. New player interesting, as is meet location. Still working research at our end. HP

With Harry's text, Lucas mentally reviewed his to-do list: meeting with Ruth to discuss research on Nightingale and the cover stories for Harry and Hermione; debrief with Harry and Ros on Darshavin; and checking in with Sarah Caulfield to ensure they would be able to have a meet the next week. He also needed to tell Harry Pearce that all of Section D needed to be vetted to ensure they had no ties with Nightingale; Lucas was sure that no one had such a connection, but the events of the previous day showed the holes in his perception. They also needed to dig into Sarah Caulfield: her actions were just too odd to not be a concern.

When he got to the Grid it was a controlled chaos. At the first chance he grabbed Jo to ask what was going on. "Lucas, Samuel Walker, you know, the CIA head here, died late last night. It happened right before Harry got a chance to talk with him."

"Shit." So much for a slow day. "Where's Harry?"

"In his office on the phone." Jo paused. "I'm probably going to ask this for awhile, but are you ok?" She put her hand on his right forearm, just above where his shirt covered his armband tattoo.

"I slept okay last night. I don't know if that will continue," he said and sighed. "I don't want to talk about it, Jo. But I will be alright."

"Alright, Lucas." She paused again and turned to go before remembering something and turning back to him. "Ruth has some information for you."

"Thanks Jo."

Ruth's desk was set a little bit away from the field agents and closer to Malcolm and Tariq. With her back to the elevator, she hadn't noticed Lucas's entrance to the Grid until he came around the desk into her line of sight. "Ruth, I heard from Jo you have something for me?"

"Yeah, Lucas. How are you doing?"

"Don't fuss, Ruth. I am alright," said Lucas. "Memories I would have preferred to keep buried are coming up, but that can't be helped." He paused. "Information on Nightingale or Harry and Hermione's covers?"

"Both, actually." She reached for a pile of papers on her desk. Passing them to him, she said, "Here are the covers for the two magic users so they can meet with anyone you want."

"What cover did you give them?"

"An easy one to remember: joint café and bookshop owners in North London. That's easier than trying to make them both part of the security services."

"No, it's good." He quickly flipped through the papers. "What about Nightingale? And did Harry tell you I am suspicious of our CIA liaison?"

"Sarah Caulfield?"

Lucas nodded.

"No, he didn't." Ruth pulled out a small pad of paper to take notes.

"What about the information from Darshavin?"

She frowned at Darshavin's name. "No, he has been distracted by Walker's death all morning and I haven't gotten any information from him."

"Okay, well then this might help. Apparently the meet took place in Basel. Rogue Western intelligence agents along with the Chinese, at the very least."

"Crap." She made some notes. "Lucas, the inclusion of the Chinese makes me think something nuclear."

"That was my first thought as well," said Lucas, "and I told my wizarding contact as much."

"It is too much of a coincidence that the original information from the Home Secretary supposedly came from a CIA agent and now the head of the CIA in Britain is dead."

"Don't forget that Caulfield wanted to bug my flat," reminded Lucas.

She sighed. "You don't buy her story."

Lucas sat on the surface of her desk, trying to look calm and casual. "In my opinion, it stinks. Any way you look at it, it was a poor move unless the only directive was for information on sources and how much MI5 knows. Not that I am in the habit of making use of my flat that way, but if she thought she could get close to me, who knows?" He paused again and ran his hand through his hair. "Ruth, I think you need to look at Caulfield as a member of the conspiracy."

"Seriously?"

"I don't think she is a high-level player. I'll see what Harry and Hermione say. Any other leads?"

"You might be right in thinking there is also a rogue wizarding element. I can't get a lot of information on that front, of course, but there are some odd holes in the online chatter." She pulled another file from her desk and handed it to Lucas. "Here are copies of what I have so far, but you might see what Tariq has. I put him on the research, too."

Lucas raised an eyebrow at her as he began to stand. "And Harry agreed?"

"Yes, he did. I think that we have to consider that this touches all the major players in the intelligence world in some way."

"Lovely. I'll text Potter."

"I'll start working on this again with the new information you've given me. Check in with Tariq."

"Yes, ma'am," he said cheekily.

"Lucas," she groaned.

"I'm going."

With Tariq near Ruth, he stopped there first. His data was very similar. Lucas also gave him instructions to work on Sarah Caulfield's background.

"Lucas?" Ros's voice from Harry's office echoed across the Grid.

"Hey Ros."

She looked at him with a frown. "Harry wants to debrief about Darshavin in his office."

"Lovely," he said, his voice very dry. He'd be lucky to avoid an official reprimand. And, of course, the walls of Harry's office were open and glass. He followed Ros into Harry's office and sat facing his boss. Ros didn't sit in the other chair, instead choosing to stay near the glass wall next to the doorway.

Deciding pleasantries wouldn't go amiss, Lucas said, "Good morning to you both."

"Lucas," Harry said. "Did you hear about Walker?"

"Jo told me." Lucas paused before saying, "I gave Ruth some revised research parameters."

"Good," said Harry. He looked at Ros but she wouldn't meet his gaze. "We need to talk about what happened yesterday. Both the op and the aftermath. I want to talk about the aftermath first."

"As arranged, the FSB took custody of Darshavin. I'm assuming, based on what he told me, that if he is not already dead, he soon will be."

"And your feelings on that?" asked Harry.

Lucas wanted to roll his eyes but refrained. "Well, Harry, you aren't my therapist, but I'll admit to being conflicted. I'm not sorry, but I don't like to think of dying, particularly at the hands of the FSB." He paused and kept looking at Harry's face. "He did torture me for four years."

"Yes, he did." Harry was quiet at that. "I am sorry that you had to deal with him."

Lucas shrugged. "We needed the intel. While this was difficult emotionally, we deal with scumbags on a regular basis. You really don't need to worry about me, Harry."

"Alright, then let's discuss the op." Harry laced his fingers together before placing his hands on the desk surface and leaning forward. "That situation cannot happen again." When Lucas looked at him blankly, he elaborated. "Going off coms, losing your tail. Acting without backup on your own initiative when previously agreeing to a different course."

Lucas sat back in his chair, trying to seem more nonchalant than he actually was. "You want me to lie to you?"

From her perch Ros let out a scoff.

"Lucas…."

"Harry, all of us in this room know that is impossible. What I can do is promise to inform you if I feel something needs changing. I will trust you with my judgment of the situation." Harry tried to stare him down, but Lucas stood firm in his resolve. No way was he going to promise anything when lives could be at stake.

"I told you, Harry."

It was nice to hear Ros stick up for him, especially when it really had been her trust he had fully believed in on this op.

Harry sighed. "I guess I will have to agree with that. You're too good an agent to lose."

"Can we talk Nightingale now?" asked Lucas. Harry nodded, and Lucas continued. "I told Ruth about the Chinese and to look into Caulfield. She's readied backgrounds for my wizarding asset and his researcher because he wants to meet Caulfield." Pausing, Lucas looked at both spooks before saying quietly, "We need to figure out a way to vet all of us and insure that we don't have a mole."

At his words Harry winced and Ros's mouth set into a hard line. "I have no suspicions, I swear," said Lucas, "but it should be done. Especially with the CIA bugging my flat and Walker's death. Also since most of us are already working on this op. Ruth already brought Tariq in."

"They are saying Walker's death was a suicide," said Ros.

"You knew the man, Harry. What do you think?" asked Lucas.

"I didn't get a chance to speak with him again after our last discussion, but his demeanor gave me no indications of suicide."

"If I were the CIA, I would accuse him of stealing or money laundering," said Ros. "What about those actual scenarios? Could he have been a part of this global conspiracy?"

"Possible, but not probable, in my opinion," said Harry. "I mean, he's a lifelong CIA agent. Not new to the scene. Has a family with young children. I just can't see it."

"We'll keep it as a possibility then, but put it at the end of the list," said Ros. "Any other ideas?"

"I think it is nuclear. Look at the players: US, China, Russia via at least the FSB. We know that we had a rogue group from the old days with you, Harry, from India looking for uranium. There are too many coincidences. Ruth also noted that there are some holes in the Internet chatter that may indicate a wizarding presence. Or it could be just another player we haven't identified," said Lucas.

"If it has a wizarding element, could they be the leaders?" asked Ros.

"I'd like to talk to Adam, if possible, about that, but I would say no, unless there is a new terrorist group that Potter hasn't yet introduced me to."

Harry looked contemplative. "Alright. Go see Adam this afternoon. Status on your meet with Potter?"

"We meet in four days."

"I want as full a picture as possible." Harry turned in his chair to the credenza behind him. "Out," he said, making a 'shooing' motion with his hands.

Lucas got up and left the office. Upon reaching his desk, he pulled out his mobile and dialed the rehab center where Adam currently lived and let them know he would be arriving that afternoon.

He heard Ros coming behind him. "Lucas, if you think the threat is nuclear, why the connection with the wizarding world?"

He turned in his chair to face her. "Can't quite put my finger on why. Just that the known players make sense."

"But add in the wizards and we could be looking at an entirely different scenario."

"I know, but Ros, think about it. I have no idea what sort of defenses wizards can come up with. If we all blow ourselves up, it's a much smaller population to explain magic to and perhaps then rule over."

She stared at him. "Lucas, that is Machiavellian. I know we've known sorry, desperate, insane terrorist ideas, but that one is out there."

"I know, Ros," said Lucas. "Unless the next red alert comes in tomorrow, how do you feel about a small get together, you and me and Jo, and Ruth? We'll get pissed. I'll buy the liquor."

"You think that is such a good idea? We're in the middle of a large op."

"We're always going to be in the middle of an op, Ros. Occasionally we have to take time for ourselves."

"Check with Jo. If she says yes, I'm in. Ruth too," said Ros. "I'll bring a film. You provide the food as well."

"Nothing mushy, dramatic, or too violent, please."

"I'll do my best," said Ros before leaving for her own desk.

Lucas hadn't seen Jo since he had been called into Harry's office. It was easier to send her a text than to wander around, even in Thames House.

LN: Ros agreed to come by my flat tomorrow for drinks and dinner. She's going to bring a film. You in? (If no red alert of course.)

Lucas had time to go through Adam's notes on his wizard contact again before receiving a reply from her.

JP: I'm in. Can I bring anything? Ruth be there?

LN: 7pm. Only if you want something particular food- or drink-wise. I'll provide the rest. About to ask Ruth.

Ruth wasn't at her desk, nor was she in the Section D kitchenette. He made his way up to the roof to check there.

She stood at the edge of the roof, shielded by a large wall but staring out at the city. "Ruth?" he asked softly, not wanting to startle her.

She turned around with a smile when she heard him. "Lucas."

He looked around at their surroundings and asked, "Everything alright?"

"Just thinking. Try to get a different perspective on this conspiracy."

"Oh." Lucas was quiet for a moment. "I asked Ros and Jo to join me tomorrow at my flat. Dinner, liquor, and Ros is bringing the film. A way to exorcise demons among friends. I know we are in the middle of a large op, but I'd like you to come as well." He paused. "I can ask Tariq or Malcolm if you ladies fear for your virtue," he said, winking at her.

"You are terrible," she said, putting her hand on Lucas's forearm. "Sounds like a plan. And are you sure it isn't your own virtue you should be protecting from the three of us?" She winked back at him.

Shaking his head at her, he said, "My flat at 7. I'll get you the address," before going back to the door leading into Thames House.

Lucas liked visiting Adam more in the rehab center than he ever had while the other man had been in the hospital. The hospital had felt to Lucas like a place of death, while the rehab center felt full of life. Knocking on the door of the man's rom, he was greeted by a wide smile.

"Lucas!"

"Adam." Lucas reached for the man's right hand to shake it. The left side of his body was still covered in compression dressings and Lucas couldn't see Adam's left hand. He had gotten far enough away from the car bomb to avoid the main explosion, but had been caught in the blast wave and fire from the bomb. "How are you doing?"

Adam sighed. "Better for being here rather than in hospital. Physical therapy has started and it's a bitch. The psychotherapy isn't much better."

"I can imagine," commented Lucas. "Mind if I sit?" he asked, point to a somewhat comfortable-looking chair.

"Please. Tell me all the goings on."

"Jo said she had been to see you not too long ago, so I won't duplicate her efforts."

"Lucas, please tell me someone is talking to her. She told me about Bibi Sarapova. The last time something like that happened she ended up running for miles and miles until her feet were bloody."

"I'm trying, Adam. We all are. And she also has me to fuss over right now." Lucas looked away from Adam in the bed and instead focused on the window. "At least you have a nice view here."

Adam's reply was dry. "Yes, well, when the operators are aware you will be here for months at least, they pull out all the stops." He paused. "Why is she fussing over you? Russia?"

"Yeah," Lucas nodded as he spoke. "My FSB interrogator showed up."

"In London?"

Lucas nodded again.

"Well, shit."

"It's a long story, but now essentially all of Section D know much more than I would prefer about my time there." Lucas paused. "On the upside, I've been given wizard duty and I thought I would try to pick your brain."

Adam frowned. "Lucas, sometimes my memories are hazy," said Adam. "They're pretty sure that shrapnel from the car hit me in the head. It might never come back."

"Well," said Lucas, "anything you can give me will help. I mean, I'm working with a different contact than you did, but I know nothing about the wizarding world."

"I didn't either. Well, I can go through what I remember…."