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Amy was awake and slightly put out that no one else was. She was in her cot at home aware that both her parents were nearby. The trusty pink elephant that was her constant companion sat next to her, but even he couldn't hold her attention for very long. It was time the adults were up. She peered out of the cot towards her bedroom door. It was wide open. The baby intercom was on her bedside table. Listening carefully she couldn't hear anyone moving around the flat.
"Mama" She called. Ros didn't stir as the nine month old pulled herself to the bars of her cot. Frowning in displeasure at being ignored she tried again.
"MAMA!"
Ros woke with a start. She was still wrapped in Lucas' arms. He was sound asleep as she heard Amy yell her name down the intercom. Sighing heavily she pulled herself out of Lucas' arms and walked in to Amy's bedroom, wondering why the baby never called for Lucas. It was almost always Mama yelled down the intercom rather than Daddy. Sighing she smiled at the thought that Lucas would have a heart attack if Amy suddenly yelled for him. She was a Daddy's girl but she had been more and more of a Mummy's girl lately. Something Ros couldn't help but love. It was nice to be wanted. She was still exhausted, the events of the day before and her own nightmares played heavily on her mind. Rushing in to Amy's room she stopped in the doorway to see Amy had managed to pull herself in to stand holding the bars on her cot.
"Amy, you and I have to discuss the concept of the lay in. Especially on Saturdays" Ros walked towards her as Amy left go of the cot. Ros smiled as her daughter beamed. Obviously delighted to see her. Ros stopped for a minute. Her sleep befuddled brain suddenly realised what she was seeing. Amy hadn't stood on her own before.
"Clever girl" Ros smiled as Amy held her arms up for Ros to pick her up. "We'll have to show your Dad that later" Amy cuddled in to her as Ros' mobile burst in to life. Lucas could be heard moving around in the next room as he looked for his mobile that was ringing incessantly.
"Red Flash" He yawned as he appeared in the doorway. Ros nodded.
"Right, shorty" She addressed the baby. "Looks like you will be showing Auntie Ruth your new trick too" Lucas raised his eyebrows as they all quickly got ready to get to the Grid. Ros knew that with Carrie tied up for the next couple of hours there was no way she could drop Amy off at the Grid. She just hoped Stan was on duty and wouldn't mind watching her until Carrie took her or they got back.
"New Trick?" Lucas grabbed his car keys.
"You'll see" She kissed him on the lips as he unlocked the door. Lucas had a feeling he was going to remember their wedding day for all the wrong reasons.
Xxxxxxxxxxx
Harry had arrived at the Grid early. He had hoped to deal with Helen Jones alone, he didn't really want Ros anywhere near her. Ruth walked in to his office with an arm full of files aware the Harry was worried about Ros.
"Harry" She dumped the files on his desk. He raised his eyebrows in disbelief. He wasn't quite sure where she found the files from. "Yes they are all for you to sign" She smiled slightly as he pretended to pout. "Don't look at me like that"
"Like what?" Harry knew exactly what he was doing.
"Puppy dog eyes. Doesn't change anything. The DG is still going to want you to sign these. May as well do it while we are here" She watched as he rolled his eyes.
"Fine. Any sign of the team?"
"Yes Harry. Zaf and Zoe just arrived. Adam called. He's on his way in as are Lucas and Ros. Tariq and Malcolm are here already" Ruth frowned "How were they able to do it Harry? I mean Sophie Ryan is dead. We have Helen Jones in custody and Juliet is in no fit state to do anything other than spout nonsense" She was angry her friends were being dragged in to work on their wedding day.
"That's what we have to find out" Harry sighed. He was getting tired of this. He wanted this case over with. He could see how badly it was affecting his Section Chief. He watched as Ruth nodded. She turned and walked towards the office door.
"Um Harry?" She paused as she rested a hand on the door handle.
"Yes" Harry looked up.
"I have no idea what this message means. Its not one of the recognised codes. Its different to the previous messages." She looked worried.
"I want everyone in the meeting room the moment they arrive. Keep looking until then. Ruth we don't have a lot of time" Harry frowned.
"Yes Harry" Ruth walked back to her desk. She knew in less than half an hour the whole team would be assembled on the Grid. She just hoped that by the time the team arrived she'd have some information they could work with. Tariq looked up as Ruth sat down.
"Any idea what the message means?" Tariq asked as Ruth shrugged her shoulders.
"No but I cant help but think it means the group are planning something big" Ruth read the printout of the coded message once more. It was gibberish; there had been no way of reasoning what it could refer to.
"The Nightingale Flies through the night as the Magpies meet. The snake eats its own tale, the traitor within drags you down. 3pm the party ends" Ruth sighed. There was no reference to Magpies in any of the texts she had read. Tariq shrugged as Ruth read it out loud. He had no idea what it was referring to. It was Malcolm that began to think out loud that Ruth began to think about what the message may mean.
"3 pm is when the wedding is supposed to take place. I can't help but think part of the message refers to that" Malcolm watched as Zaf and Adam bounded through the Pods. Zaf carried a coffee from the canteen, aware that he would never find Ruth's secret stash of 'proper' coffee.
"Yes" Adam threw himself in to his chair as Zaf shrugged off his jacket. He'd been on the Grid for about half an hour before but had still to settle down. He had a bad feeling about today. Ros walked in to the Grid with Lucas, grateful that Carrie had been able to take Amy after all. Malcolm looked up at her as she walked towards him. Before she could answer Harry was in the doorway off his office.
"Briefing Room NOW!" Harry yelled as the team all made their way towards the Briefing Room. Lucas and Adam exchanged glances, unsure of what the meeting was intended for. Lucas felt sick at the thought the wedding day was under threat. It was only supposed to be a small wedding. Right at the moment Lucas didn't care whether the whole team were there or just him and Ros. Either way it looked less and less likely that it was going to happen. He glanced at Ros who was sat in her customary place opposite Adam. She looked as composed as always. Lucas was beginning to wonder if it was just him that seemed concerned about missing the wedding.
"What is this about?" Ros turned her attention to Harry.
"At 5 am this morning we received a coded message from Oroborus." Harry started as the assembled officers fell quiet. Ruth read out the message again.
"Does everything have to come back to bloody Nightingale?" Zaf groaned as Zoe shot him a look.
"Quite" Harry started "We still don't know exactly what it means but I think its safe to assume just because we have Jones in custody Oroborus are not going to go away. I'll interview her this morning." Harry was interrupted by a look from Ros.
"I'll be there too" Ros narrowed her eyes as Harry sighed. "She'll talk to me"
"Lucas, Adam I want you to shake a few feathers at the CIA Liaison. There is something the cousins aren't telling us. I want to know what it is. Tariq, Malcolm I want you to scour London on CCTV. Find anything that may alert us to a location for what they may be planning. Ruth keep working on the message. Zoe you and Zaf talk to anyone in MI6 that you can get some sense out of. This is getting ridiculous. I am getting fed up of this section being used to clean up the mess left by other sections. It's supposed to be MI5 not the council road sweepers" He stood, effectively ending the meeting. Ros pushed her chair back forcibly and was the first person to leave, followed by Ruth. The others made their way out of the Briefing Room as Lucas walked up to Ros' desk.
"Be careful" He locked eyes with Ros as he sat in Adam's seat. She raised her eyebrows as he spoke.
"Lucas"
"Please Ros. Just be careful"
"I'm a big girl Lucas. I can handle myself." She smiled as Lucas nodded.
"Yes I know that Ros, just get the information and get out of there" Ros smiled slightly as he spoke.
"Oh you know me, all work and no play. I'll get the information Lucas, don't you worry about that. I'll get it if it kills me" She stood noticing Harry was making his way towards the Pods. It was still unbelievably early.
"Yeah, that's what I'm worried about" Lucas almost whispered as Ruth locked eyes with him. She was just as worried as he was.
authors note. Not much more left. Next time Harry and Ros speak to Helen Jones. Will the Americans help? Will Ros get to the Registry office and can Ruth decipher the message? Thanks for the reviews. Please let me know what you think.
