Disclaimer I do not own Spooks

Truth be Told

Malcolm stared at his Star Wars mug as Sarah stood opposite him. He couldn't help but be grateful that Dimitri had gone to his house and retireved a few of their belongings. Sarah smiled as she sat down.

"We should think about going home." She looked at him as he nodded solomly.

"I know." He looked up. "Dimitri and Beth need their space and I am sure they don't need us here."

"They are young." Sarah smiled. "And I think we need our own space too. I spoke with Ruth, the SOCO team have finished with their investigations and the clean up team have started. We should be able to go home tomorrow."

"A new start?"

"Yes, Cariad." Sarah took his hand. "A new start."

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Alec leant back in his chair as he waited for Tessa to arrive. Every cell in his body had tensed and even though Harry had specifically asked him to help interview Tessa he knew there was no way he was going to be able to get the information they needed from her, not when he was as tense as he was.

"Harry."

"Look, Alec I know you have a history with Tessa but I asked you to do this because of your expertise with rouge agents." He watched as a wry smile crossed Alec's face.

"You and I both know we are too personally involved to get anywhere."

"Maybe." Harry nodded. "But she coerced a man into commiting murder and shooting one of my officers."

"One of your friends." Alec interupted. "Malcolm is godfather to both Catherine and Graham. More than just a colleague I think."

"Very well, but we have enough to charge her with. Tessa may have had enough influence to get away with this in the early 1990s but not now."

"Is the world so different? Think about it Harry. How many times have you heard me mutter 'same shit different day'? Nothing really changes. Ros and Lucas spoke with Jools. It's all crawling out the woodwork. Are you sure you have nothing to hide?" He smirked as Harry raised an eyebrow.

"Not since the Inquiry. All my dirty washing has been on the clothes line for a while." Harry turned to face the door as Stan frogmarched Tessa into the room.

"Harry." She glared at Stan. "Get your staff to treat me with respect."

"No." Harry glared at the table as he heard Alec click the tape recorder on.

"For the benefit of the tape." Alec began. "It is 15:10 August 1st 2011. Present are Section Head, Sir Harry Pearce, Senior Case Officer Alec White and interviewee Tessa Philips."

"Are we really going along this line?" Tessa smirked. "Really, Harry. A formal caution? Tape recorded interviews and not even a sign of one of your little protegees with you. How very by the book." She folded her arms across her chest.

"You are under arrest." Harry glared at her.

"Oh, I love it when you are masterful." She glared. "I bet Ruth does too."

Harry felt his fists curl in temper but he knew she was expecting him to loose his temper. He was determind not to give her the satisfaction. Instead, he waited for Alec to start asking questions. He had a feeling it was going to be a very long interview. Alec leant on the desk as he waited for Tessa to finish sniping. He knew how to play the long game. He had never really hated anyone but now he despised the woman in front of him. She had been the reason he had started drowning himself in vodka and whiskey. She was the reason he had transferred out of Section K all those years ago and headed into Internal Affairs as soon as he could. Only now he knew others knew she was the reason Yasmin Thomas had fled to Syria with her husband and Sarah had been framed for murdering a British diplomat. He was not about to let her get away with murder a second time. While everyone knew it was Rhys who had fired the shot, who had dragged Sarah into a car boot he knew it was really her finger on the trigger.

"Tessa, in 1991 you got away with murder." He watched as she rolled her eyes. "You know and I know Jools Silvitir and Oliver Mace covered for you."

"Is that so?"

"Now, while we can't really get Mace in here to question him we have spoken to Jools." He couldn't help but smile.

"Mace?"

"He's dead Tess." Harry spoke calmly. "Ros shot him."

"I don't believe you."

"Check the records. Hostage situation in a manor house on the outskirts of the city. One fatality, Mace." Harry watched as her eyes widened. "And as for Jools, let's just say he was more than happy to give his side of the story, as was your lover. So start talking. Who else wanted Sarah out of the way?"

Tessa was furious. She knew that there was no way she was getting out of this one. It seemed Harry knew everything. She made a barbed remark as Harry smirked and shook his head.

"And you always said Juliet had a foul mouth."

"Tessa." Alec stared at her. "You had Rhys shoot his own sister. He missed her and hit her husband. Why would you do that?"

"You've no proof of this." Tessa barked. "Harry, don't tell me your little analyst has been digging? Or Zoe with a grudge. That's what this is."

Harry looked up as Adam walked into the room. It was clear the younger man was furious. Alec held Tessa's gaze as he spoke.

"For the tape, Adam Carter has entered the room and handed Harry a piece of paper. Interview suspended at 16:39." He clicked off the tape as Harry read the note. Adam left the room as quietly as he entered.

"Alec."

Harry walked out the door as Tessa turned in her seat to watch him go.

"Is that it?"

"No, Tessa. It's never over. Not where you are concerned." Alec scraped his chair and followed Harry out of the room.

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Beth handed Ros a coffee as the older blonde explained what they knew about the cover up. She had been in high school when everthing had happened and found it difficult to believe Malcolm had been involved in what Ros was saying.

"But?"

"Malcolm and Colin were inseperable." Zaf joined in. "Honestly, Colin was the best at what he did. It seems they really did try everything to find the truth in those days. Only the technology wasn't there."

"Colin Wells was a bit of a legend. Still is." Tariq smiled as Ros nodded.

"I never really knew him." She closed her eyes, she still blamed herself for his murder. She couldn't quiet believe she had so much blood on her hands. She folded her arms as the names ran through her head. Colin, Jo, her father, now Andrew. She looked up as she sensed Lucas staring at her. "Anyway, Jools pretty much admitted he knew about the cover up but as it unbalanced Section B as we were in those days he did nothing to stop it."

"Anyone know where Ruth is?" Dimitri asked as he realised that for the first time her desk was unattended.

"Registry?" Beth asked as Lucas and Ros exchanged glances.

"Her bag is gone." Lucas stated. "She's probably just nipped out."

"No" Beth answered. "Ruth never just nips out."

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Any other day Ruth knew she would have been glad of the chance to get out of Thames House for an hour. Preferably with Harry but either way she knew she would be happy to be away from the articial lighting and the constant tension. Today was different. This wasn't a relaxing lunchtime escape, this was work.

"Martine?" Ruth watched as the younger woman sat beside her.

"I can't stay long."

"OK." Ruth watched as the blonde looked around. "What is it?"

"This is ridiculous. I should never have come." She made to stand as Ruth rested a hand on her arm.

"Shall I tell you what is ridiculous? That my friend was framed for murder, that when that nightmare was over she is kidnapped by her own brother as her husband is left to bleed to death on their wedding day. That the man who abducted her is her brother adds salt to a very open wound. That he knew about the conspiracy to frame her all those years ago makes it even worse. Now you told me you knew something. Something that could help us find out who the organ grinder is because we both know it goes higher than a jealous brother and a spiteful woman."

"You have the killer."

"We don't have the facts though. Martine, you worked for Jools for such a long time." Martine nodded as she sat back down.

"He wasn't involved." Martine watched Ruth as she dug in her handbag. "Here, this explains everything." Ruth nodded as she took the memory stick from her.

"Thanks."

"Just be careful." Martine almost ran from the cafe as Ruth stared at the small device in her hand.

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"Adam." Harry walked towards him as Adam leant against the wall.

"Rhys has confessed to everything." He smiled. "Told Zoe and I everything. I'll get Ruth to listen to the transcripts later. See if we missed anything."

Harry nodded as he checked his watch. He knew Ruth was due to meet her asset and he was worried sick but knew there was no way he could let anyone know he was concerned. He wasn't even sure the rest of the team knew where she was.

"Leave Tessa rot." He watched as Alec glared down the corridor, he knew the former IA man wanted to get back to the interview, press home the advantage but he didn't really know what the advantage was. "Until Ruth has been through the transcripts at least. Adam, get everyone back to the Grid and I'll send them home. There is nothing more we can do tonight." He walked away as both his officers shrugged. With Rhys' confession, Jools' information and what they already knew it seemed the case was more or less closed. Alec couldn't help but think it was too easy. For once he hoped it was as easy as it had seemed. He had spent too many years waiting for Tessa to pay the price.

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Ruth closed her eyes as she heard the familiar hiss of the pods announce her arrival. She couldn't help but smile as she saw Harry esconsed in his office as Tariq called her name.

"Yes?"

"Where have you been?" He sounded genuinely worried about her.

"Out." She watched as he raised an eyebrow. "Tariq, I think this is encripted. Can you have a look?" She handed him the memory stick as his eyes lit up. She couldn't help but smile as she walked straight into Harry's office.

"Ruth." He looked up, the relief on his face palpable.

"Why does no one think I can meet an asset without ending up in Casualty?" She smiled as he stepped towards her. "When are they going to fix this window?"

"Wednesday." Harry was about to continue when Tariq burst in on them.

"Harry!"

"What?" Harry barked. He had sent everyone else home and had no idea the baby of the team had stayed behind.

"You really need to see this." He backed out of the office as Ruth slipped her hand into Harry's. He couldn't help but smile as he followed the younger man on to the main Grid. It seemed that for once they were going to be able to wrap up the case. He didn't know why but he had a feeling that the drama surrounding Malcollm and Sarah's wedding was finally going to end. Ruth squeezed his hand as they crossed the mostly empty Grid. It was time to see what the boy wonder had found.

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A/N I think there is two chapters left now. Please review.