Visiting Time

Erin pulled her coat tightly around her as she waited for the American man she had been dating for the last few months to arrive. She knew Richard wouldn't intentionally stand her up but sometimes the nature of their work made it unavoidable. She glanced at her watch, wondering if it would have been easier to just head over to the US Embassy or the CIA office in London to see what they had to say on what was turning out to be a global conspiracy to blackmail. Just as she was about to finish the latte she had been hunched over for the last thirty minutes the tall African American man arrived.

"Sorry."

"Hi." He kissed her cheek.

"I'm guessing this ain't a social call. You'd have given up waiting for me by now." He smiled, almost self deprecating as he watched her lips curl into a small smile. "If it is any consolation my tardiness has been caused by the Commander in Chief announcing a new line up at the Whitehouse."

"Again? How many times is that this month?" Erin watched as he smiled back. There was something about Richard Turner that just made her happy to be around him. She didn't know what it was but she knew she hadn't felt that way about a man since Matthew had died. She took a deep breath.

"There's an issue going on linked to Philip Myers. A consortium of three so far. Linked to blackmail and Nightingale." She spoke quietly, looking away when the coffee shop waitress approached them.

"Cappuccino and soya milk latte please." He smiled at the young woman who instantly blushed. Erin raised an eyebrow. "Sorry, should I not have ordered for you? I just remember you don't have any dairy. Actually Rosie told me."

"She's not following me into this job. Gives away secrets like that." Erin smiled. In truth, she would rather die than have her daughter follow her into the Service. She had no idea how Harry coped with Catherine also being a spy, even if she was only supposed to be a desk officer. The drinks arrived as they sat in companionable silence as Richard thought about what Erin had said.

"I think there has been some chatter about Nightingale from the New York office. I'll see if I can find out what it is." His hand covered hers. "Erin, I know Nightingale was effectively pushed away from the UK by Section D. It is still a major nuisance to the rest of the world. You must know that."

Erin nodded. She hadn't been as optimistic to think they wouldn't hear from them or their supporters again. He looked her in the eye.

"Surely you see?"

"What?"

"Nightingale are not the sort of organisation to drop a grudge. They know you all kicked them out. They will come after you. Recruiting Ros' brother would have been a part of the plan. It would have been a bonus to them that he had an unnatural hatred of his sister."

Erin frowned. She knew what he was saying made sense. Richard had the ability to come across as the airheaded charmer but he was one of the best spooks the CIA had ever had. Erin knew if he was concerned then there was good reason to be, and not just their personal relationship affecting them.

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Zaf parked the car in the corner of the carpark, reversing into the small space so that he could drive straight out if necessary. Adam straightened his tie.

"You think she's going to admit the company is paying a blackmailer?" Zaf asked as Adam raised his eyebrows.

"Maybe not straight away."

"So?"

"The Carter charm, my friend."

"Will get you killed, one day." Zaf stated seriously.

"Not while Carrie and the kids are alive." Adam answered seriously. "Did you hear? Graham and Terri eloped. To Tottenham Registry office."

"Ruth told me." Zaf smiled. "Guess they got fed up of waiting for us lot to be able to attend their wedding. Now, what's the plan?"

Adam smiled slightly. Zaf had a feeling Mrs Fairfax had no idea what she was about to contend with. He just hoped the meeting Ruth had engineered for them panned out the way it was supposed to. He rested his hand on the car door as Adam stepped out into the rain. He had a feeling things were about to get very interesting.

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Ruth tapped the keys on the computer in front of her. She was expecting someone from London Water to call her to verify who Adam and Zaf were claiming to be. She knew she would be lying through her teeth but she had to be believable if they were going to get through the front door. She did her best to concentrate as Ros seemed to radiate ice from every pore as she sat next to her.

"Ros?"

"What?"

"Adam and Zaf are on scene. We have this covered."

"I know."

"Then?" Ruth glanced around the Grid, glad that the majority of people appeared to have left. She knew Ros was at her most formidable when she was hurt or scared. In current circumstances Ruth assumed her friend was both.

"Again, what?"

"You know what? Your brother has died. In terrible circumstances. I know you weren't close but."

"Ruth, he tried to kill me. Twice. It sort of put him off my Christmas Card list." Ros folded her arms. She kept her eyes on the screen Ruth was working on.

"And your Mum."

"Ruth." Ros' voice held the warning tone that most people took as a signal to shut up and drop the subject. Ruth had no intention of doing so.

"As your analyst and your friend it is my place to say so drop the tone." She turned, looking Ros in the eye. "I get you haven't been close to your family for years but it still hurts. The betrayal is still real."

"Are you thinking of going for Debra Langham's job? Because if I wanted amateur psychiatry I'd go to her." Ros glared. Ruth rolled her eyes.

"No, but I have been there. You know what happened with my mother and I. She died, I still grieved her. Its natural and Ros, believe it or not you are human." Ruth watched as Ros nodded once. She knew what the Ice Queen was doing but eventually the ice would melt; she just hoped Lucas would be strong enough to catch her when she fell. The phone on Ruth's desk began ringing. Ros smiled slightly.

"Show time."

Ruth answered the call, confirming Adam and Zaf were from the Utilities Inspectorate and would only deal with the Chief Executive for London Water and Sewage. She ended the call. "Just think about what I said. Ok? Don't let your brother screw your mind up now, you're so much better than that and you are not on your own." Ruth smiled slightly as Will and Lucas returned to the Grid.

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"And you are absolutely certain there is no way the water can be tampered with?" Zaf asked as they walked through the corridors of the water company. The woman in front of him nodded, clearly annoyed that their safety procedures could be questioned.

"100%." She turned, tucking a strand of dark hair behind her ear. "And I am sure our data analysis along with our QC will reassure you of that." Mrs Fairfax ushered them into an ostentatious office that seemed out of place with the rest of the building.

"Really?" Adam closed the door behind him. "Then, please can you tell us how the company can afford to do that when you are paying hundreds of thousands to Nightingale to keep your husband's name out of the press and your firm in business."

The dark haired woman visibly paled as she watched him. Zaf knew the look in Adam's eyes. It was as if a snake had just caught his prey. He nodded once. "We know. Mrs Fairfax, we can help you save this company and your pride. But you have to help us."

"No." She snapped. "No more. I can't do this. People's jobs, their safety rely on me making sure the impurities don't get in the water supply. I pay on time but I can't pay anymore."

"You wont have to." Zaf tried to reassure her. Adam nodded.

"I."

"You help us stop these people and we can help you stabilise the company."

"I cant pay you too. I wont. Now I don't know who you are but..."

"We are MI5." Adam stated firmly. "And I'm sorry but you don't really have a great deal of choice."

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A/N please review