Disclaimer : See previous

House Arrest

Malcolm sat at his desk and sighed. The Grid was silent and Malcolm couldn't help but think the silence was eerie. He was used to Tariq chatting away, Ruth and Ros tapping away at computers, Zaf moaning about Man United and Adam and Lucas were usually found trying to get out of the paper work while Harry paced up and down in the inner office. Lately the place had been busier than in years. Everywhere Malcolm looked he saw ghosts - Helen, Fiona, Colin and Danny he prayed that no more of his friends would be added to the list.

Picking up the phone he called Harry, he had to know what was going on with Ruth. Harry answered on the third ring as Malcolm was just about to give up. Tariq bounded through the Pods as Malcolm spoke.

"Harry what's happening?" Malcolm almost dreaded the answer

"Ruth's in theatre. You saved her life Malcolm. She has had some internal damage but she's going to be ok" Harry walked across the car park as he spoke. Malcolm let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding. He had been convinced he would never see Ruth alive again.

"I need a situation update" he spoke as if this was any normal case, rather than one that had put the lives of all his team in danger. Malcolm sighed as Tariq took a seat next to him.

"Tariq is back on the Grid. The others remain at the house. No other news" Harry nodded although he knew that Malcolm couldn't see him.

"Stay at base. Update me on any change in situation" Harry flipped the phone shut as he turned to see Catherine arrive at the hospital. The young woman looked terrified as Harry walked towards her.

"Dad?" she hugged him as he kissed her on the cheek.

"Thanks for coming." he looked out over the car park and spotted a small bench which he led Catherine over to.

"What happened? Are you alright? Ruth?" she looked on the verge of tears as she watched Harry's face for any clues.

"I'm fine. I am Catherine" he noticed her raise her eyebrows. "Ruth's been hurt. She's been shot." he looked at his hands. Even talking about it made it worse, more real somehow.

"Oh my God" Catherine tried her best not to cry. Although she had initially mistrusted Ruth she had grown to think of her as her second Mum. She also knew how happy Ruth made her father, which was something she had not remembered since her childhood.

"She's in theatre" Harry sighed as he stood. Catherine followed him back towards the hospital entrance.

Xxxxxxxxx

Lucas was beginning to get unnerved. Morrison continued to ramble violent nonsense as he held Lucas' gaze. Lucas knew he had to try to get Morrison to tell him where Samantha was, it was the only way he could think of to help Ruth. He had no idea what had happened to her.

"You here on your own with my team waiting to get in here. Doesn't seem very fair." he held Morrison's gaze. The gun now pointed directly between Lucas' eyes.

"We got different jobs that's all" He shook the gun in Lucas' face. Lucas could see Zoe and Zaf quietly gaining entry through the back of the house as he tried to get his captor to talk.

"Yeah you said. Where is she? Your Sammy?" Lucas took a step forward as Morrison sneered.

"You really want to know?" he glared

"Wouldn't ask if I didn't" Lucas knew goading him was a dangerous game.

"Yeah I suppose. You killed Sarah" Lucas narrowed his eyes. Morrison was beginning to rant. "She thought you loved her"

"No she didn't. She was ordered to kill me, she never loved me and I was an idiot" Lucas took another step forward. Ros could hear everything through the living room door as Adam touched her shoulder.

"Ros, please go back to the car" he whispered as he checked his gun. Ros shook her head. She was not leaving the team. She would not let Lucas down.

Adam nodded; he had known she wouldn't leave. Quietly he began to push the living room door open as Sadie's screams ripped through the house.

Xxxxxxxxxxxx

Ruth woke to find herself back in bed. For a split second it seemed that she had been in the middle of a very vivid nightmare. Then she saw the drip hanging by her bed and felt a hand wrapped around her own. Smiling slightly she looked to see Harry holding her hand. He looked to be asleep as he rested his head next to her body. She sighed as she slipped her hand out of his and began running her fingers through his hair. Catherine walked in the room and smiled.

"How are you feeling Ruth?" she sat quietly next to her step mother's bed.

"Like I was shot" she smiled as Catherine went pale.

"I" she started as Ruth shook her head.

"It's ok. Whatever painkillers I've been given are great." she saw Catherine relax as she asked what time it was. Ruth could hardly believe it was the middle of the night. It explained why Harry had passed out next to her.

"Go home Catherine. Take him with you" she nodded towards Harry who finally stirred.

"Hi" his sleep fuddled brain began to focus as Catherine smiled at them both. "I'll leave you to it." she slipped out the room while Harry sat up straight.

"Go home" she repeated

"No"

"Well if Lockdown is still active, go to work" she held his gaze

"No" she sighed at his stubbornness

"Oh and I'm the mule!" she began coughing as tears came to her eyes.

"Oh God Ruth" Harry was at her side in seconds.

"Hurts when I laugh that's all" she gripped his hand as he watched her calm.

"What's the damage then? What has she done to me?" Ruth knew the doctors would have told him.

"The operation went well" she nodded, urging him to continue. "You bled a lot. They had to give you another transfusion." he looked at their entwined fingers.

"And?" she urged him to go on.

"And, you had a bad reaction to the anaesthetic. It took a long time before they could get you off the ventilator. They said you had a lot of scarring inside, from previous trauma. The doctor asked me about it. The bullet went in just below the liver. They repaired the damage. But you've been very lucky. Shit Ruth we nearly lost you" his eyes clouded over as he ran his free hand over them. "I nearly lost you" he almost whispered.

"No, I told you I'm not going anywhere" she yawned. Ruth couldn't help but think he was keeping something else from her, but the morphine and the toll everything had taken on her body exhausted her. The last thing she heard as she closed her eyes was Harry telling her he loved her.

Xxxxxxxxx

Adam tensed as he heard Sadie scream. No gun had been fired yet but Adam didn't want to wait round to see what happened. Forcing the door open he entered the room with Ros as Zoe held a gun to Morrison's head.

Adam raised his gun as he saw Zaf manhandle Sadie out of the room. Adam had his gun trained on Morrison as Morrison continued to point his gun at Lucas. Lucas glared.

"Where is Samantha Caulfield?" Ros spat as she braved a glance at Lucas, she tried to keep her voice even as a wave of pain shot through her abdomen. Morrison took the safety catch off his gun. The click echoed around the room as Zaf pushed Sadie out of the door. Adam nodded.

"Get her back to base, she has to answer some questions" Zaf nodded at Adam's instructions. Lucas remained silent.

"If you are planning on shooting that gun I think you should know your brains will be all over that back wall in less than two seconds. I am an excellent marksman." Zoe kept her voice steady as Morrison took a half step back from Lucas.

"Yeah I bet" Morrison spoke for the first time since the team entered the room. He looked at Lucas as if he was finally seeing the situation for what it was. Shaking his head slowly he took his gun away from Lucas and pointed it at his own chin. Before he could fire Adam reacted, knocking him to the floor Lucas helped wrestle the gun from him as Zoe pointed her gun at him. No one noticed Ros was now sat on the edge of the sofa gripping her abdomen as yet another pain knocked her form her feet.

Xxxxxxxxxxx

Adam dragged Morrison out to the van as Zaf and Sadie returned to the Grid in his car. Morrison was silent as Lucas and Adam manhandled him in to the back of the van. Only Zoe registered that Ros had lagged behind. Lucas was still trying to get him to tell them where Samantha was. Zoe looked back towards the house, aware that Ros hadn't left. She returned to the living room where Ros was just beginning to get to her feet.

"You ok?" Zoe looked at her section chief

Ros nodded, she was getting slightly fed up with people asking her that all the time. She sighed as she looked at her junior officer. Zoe folded her arms.

"Emma was about three weeks early" she held Ros' gaze as she spoke "Took me completely by surprise. Didn't go to the hospital until she was almost delivered. Will wasn't impressed" It was the first time she had mentioned her ex husband.

"Yeah" Ros realised the others would be waiting for them

"Yeah, you can't plan these things. Babies tend to work to their own time scale." She watched as Ros stepped past her.

"I believe so" Ros was trying her best to keep composed as she walked to the van. Zoe shook her head. If I'm right she thought to herself Ros is having that baby tonight. As they walked to the van she hoped that Ros realised that in time to get to the hospital.

author's note : Thanks for all the reviews. I hope you are enjoying this story. Wonder what Harry has kept back from Ruth? Where is Samantha Caulfield and is Ros really going to have the baby on the Grid?? Reviews make me write better, please let me know what you think.