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Promises Broken?

Ruth stared at the computer screen, aware that she was the only one on the Grid. The CCTV footage Malcolm had painstakingly put together was playing on her computer as she stared at every milisecond on the screen, trying to see what they had missed at the time. What she had missed. There has to be something. I'm the analyst. I should have seen this before the others. Ruth stopped the footage and sent it back to the beginning again.

"Ruth, how many times have you watched that?" Ros placed a coffee on the edge of her desk.

"A thousand." Ruth didn't take her eyes off the screen. "Why didn't we see it before?"

"That's what the tabloids are asking." Ros spat. She had no time for the gutter press, even though she knew Adam had various assets at Fleet Street.

"What?" Ruth jabbed the stop button before turning back to her friend.

"The red tops. Explosions should have been avoided. MI 5 failure. Makes me sick, all the work we do and they have no idea what goes on behind the scenes. It would blow their tiny little minds if they knew what we do on a daily basis." Ros folded her arms.

"Yes." Ruth had to agree. "Perhaps it's better if they don't. It sells papers though."

"Yes, never let the truth get in the way of a good story." Ros rolled her eyes as Malcolm arrived.

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Towers was not impressed. MI 5 had been the subject on most of the tabloid front pages since the hotel explosion. That combined with a shoot out on a West London street meant the service was not exactly as secret as he would have liked it to be. He glared at the solid mahogany desk in front of him as Sophie tapped the door and walked into the room.

"Sir?"

"Morning Sophie." He glared as she placed a coffee on his desk.

"Sir Harry is here to see you."

"He's late!" Towers bellowed.

"I know Sir. Traffic. Apparently since the explosion they whole street is off limits. Shall I send him in?" Towers nodded, for one moment wondering what it was about Harry that got women defending him so easily. He knew his young secretary would not be defending him so readily.

"Yes, yes send him in." She smiled tightly and walked out of the room before closing the door.

"He sounds like he is in a good mood." Harry smiled as Sophie let out a breath.

"Yeah." She rolled her eyes. "He's been on the phone to the DG of MI5 and MI6 for the last hour. God only knows why."

"Looking for my replacement I dare say." Sophie looked horrified.

"At 6?"

"Thought the Vampires at Vauxhall Square had enough to deal with goading the Foreign Secretary to start bothering with us. Anyway, lets find out what I have done wrong this week." He returned her smile before walking into the office.

"Harry."

"Home Secretary."

"Have you located your errant officer yet?"

"Tariq Masood was recovered alive last night." Harry was glad at least that had turned out well, although he was worried about the youngest member of his team. He would never tell William Towers how close they had come to another death. He knew the tight knit team were barely recovered from the death of Jo. Even the newer members of the team like Beth and Dimitri knew something had been lost, even if they had no idea what.

"Good." Towers smiled slightly. "And your other officers?"

"Lucas remains in plaster, although we are hopeful the doctor will see fit to remove that in the next few days so he can be back on active duty. Ros returned to work straight after her discharge from hospital. Ruth remains on the Grid."

"I see." Towers watched as Harry fell silent. "And is there any news on my predecessor?"

"Andrew Lawrence remains at large, although I see that as only a blip. Home Secretary. He know how powerful Nightingale were. He took it upon himself to develop a relationship with both Mai Su Yung and Lee Wong as well as Robert Wells." Harry almost spat the last name, he wasn't sure if Towers noticed.

"Two of which are now dead."

"Yes. Wells shot Wong before shooting himself." Harry paused. "Sir, if there is anything you may be able to tell us about the Chinese woman who died or the Chinese delegation as a whole it would be helpful."

"Maria Chen was murdered as you know. The Embassy would like her killer returned."

"So it was Mai who killed her then." Harry stated rather than asked. It was the one thing Mai hadn't confessed to.

"So it seems. Look Harry, this situation has to be resolved. Preferably without me having to explain to the Prime Minister why MI 5 have made front page news. Is it not enough that I have to counterance that idiot from 6 and the Foreign Secretary giving me grief? Find Andrew Lawrence Harry. Stop all this."

"Yes Sir. That is what we were trying to do."

"Ah yes." Towers looked at Harry properly for the first time since he entered the room. "I see he got the better of you."

"Temporary glitch." Harry narrowed his eyes as he answered him. His voice was dangerously calm, he couldn't help but smile slightly knowing how Andrew Lawrence had once flinched when he had used the same tone of voice. "I assure you Home Secretary, temporary glitch."

"See that it is." Harry nodded and walked out the room, wondering what would happen to Section D if they didn't resolve the temporary glitch.

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"He can't have just disappeared." Zoe ran a hand through her mousy hair as the frustration became evident in her voice.

"No sign of him at any of his usual haunts." Tariq answered. He was glad to be back at work. "Just wish I'd been able to stick a bug on him."

"Tariq, you were held hostage. There was no way you could have done that." Dimitri clapped him on the shoulder. "Pub tonight, yeah?" Tariq nodded as Zaf swivelled his chair to face the younger man.

"Hold on." He wheeled his chair over to Tariq's computer. Pressing a few keys he smiled.

"What?" Tariq turned to him.

"I know you couldn't bug him but I bugged her. When Christine was in a few days back. I did the whole tea and sympathy routine. Sorry but I don't fall for the whole damsel in distress routine." Ros smiled as Zaf explained how he had placed a bug in her jacket and one in her handbag before she had left.

"You decided to tell us this now?" Ros smirked as Zaf shrugged.

"Because now everyone is alive I can think straight." He deadpanned as Ros nodded.

"Ok, where is she?"

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Christine Dale had lived in London intermittently since she had got the job as CIA Liasion officer to MI5. She had loved the city for years. Now she wasn't so sure her second home had the place in her heart it once did. Walking along Oxford Street she ignored the girl selling the Big Issue and walked past the man tying his shoe laces. Adam shook his head. Christine had been a trained spook, married to one of 5's former Section Chiefs and she had missed two of the oldest methods of observation in the book. He finished tying his laces and began to follow her as the cyclist ahead stopped at the lights. He smiled slightly as he walked infront of Dimitri.

"I have eyeball." Beth whispered as she put the magazines back on the step, knowing the real seller would be back in minutes.

"Heading towards me." Dimiri stated as he rode through the traffic lights. The bus blaring it's horn made him glad the Mayor had promoted cycle lanes.

"Team two." Ruth spoke through the comms. "Do you see the target?"

"Yes base." Zaf answered as he saw her walk past him and head towards the cafe.

"Leave her." Adam instructed. "We need to see where she goes."

"Affirmative." Ros answered. She was enjoying being back in the field. She stayed a few feet behind Christine as the crowds seemed to disperse slightly. She tugged her jacket towards her aware that if Christine spotted her she would instantly be recognised. She closed her eyes for a second as she realised that had just happened. Christine dropped her handbag and began running. Ros cursed the pain in her leg as she heard Lucas and Adam shout in her earpiece. She had no choice but to run after her, knowing her stitches would probably burst under the impact of running in boots. She heard Lucas state Zoe was around the corner while Dimitri was only a few feet away. Zaf headed towards the car, knowing that Ros now had to make the arrest and get Christine back to Thames House. Ros grabbed Christine by her blonde ponytail and kicked her ankle out from underneath her, causing the blonde to hit the pavement on both knees.

"Not a word." Ros pinned the woman to the floor as an elderly woman approached.

"Do you need a hand dear?"

"No thanks." Ros smiled up as she spotted Adam's mother of all people had been in Oxford Street. "Ambulance is on the way. I'm a nurse."

"Ok." Eleanor Carter smiled slyly as Ros lied to her. She knew exactly what was happening. "If you're sure my dear." Eleanor winked as Zaf pulled the car up. He cursed as he realised he had parked in a bus lane. Ruth would have to help him escape another fine.

"In." Ros instructed Christine as she pulled her to her feet. Christine saw her chance.

"Help!" She yelled at the old woman. "I'm being abducted."

"No dear." Eleanor shook her head. "It looks like you have been arrested. Say hello to young Harry for me." Before turning and walking away.

"What?" Christine turned as Zaf pulled the car away. "You people!"

"Time to tell the truth Christine. And I warn you, after the week I have just had you really don't want to risk telling me a lie." Ros glared as Zaf drove along in silence.

"I am an American citizen. You cannot do this."

"We all have our crosses to bare." Ros spoke calmly. Full Ice Queen mode. "I am doing this and I can. Christine Dale I am arresting you in accordance with the 2008 Anti Terrorism Act. Hope you have a bloody good lawyer."

Christine glared as Ros spoke. She had promised Andrew it would all work out. That it would all be for the best. She just couldn't quite believe what was happening in front of her.

"You have no idea." She sighed.

"You'll get your chance to talk." Ros almost spat the words.

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Malcolm handed Ruth what had to be her fifth coffee of the day. She was exhausted, worried about Harry. Worried about Nico and Graham and she still felt sick. She took the mug gratefully from her friend as he sat next to her.

"Ruth, you are awfully pale."

"Nothing a good night sleep wont fix." She smiled a little. Malcolm nodded. "And a good night out with the girls."

"Oh please not you too." He shook his head.

"Malcolm I have no idea what the boys have in store for you but I promise you all we are planning for Sarah is a few glasses of wine and a night at Adam's. Nothing too terrible." She smiled.

"Um, if you say so. Remember I've known you for too long. I know what you and Rosalind are like. Never mind if Beth and Zoe are involved." He shook his head as Beth walked through the Pods with Dimitri. She raised an eyebrow as she heard her name mentioned.

"Malcolm." Ruth rolled her eyes as she sipped her coffee.

"One very pissed off American in custody." Beth flopped in the chair next to Malcolm. "You put this back together?" She pointed at the CCTV.

"Yes." Malcolm nodded as the image of Robert Wells talking to Andrew Lawrence flooded the screen. He glanced across to where Ruth had been sitting. She'd gone.

A/N So what will Christine say when Ros gets her in the interview room? What will Harry say and where is Ruth? Why has she run away? More soon if anyone is interested. Please review.