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Harry walked the length of the corridor, slightly perturbed by the words of theHome Secretary. Pauline Crowther was a force to be reckoned with. An ex MI-6 stalwart turned politician meant she always had the best interests of the security services in mind but even Harry had to admit there was only so much they could get away with before questions were asked. He knew there was a chance that Crowther wasn't going to back them at some point. He was keen to get back to the Grid; knowing Juliet and Tessa were in the cells below Thames House.

"Pearce." He snapped into the phone. "Catherine? Stay calm." He paused as he listened to his daughter. "Say that again. Slowly, from the beginning." He stopped. "I'm on my way."

He turned to see Pauline Crowther approach him. He didn't want another argument with the middle aged woman - he had to get to the hospital.

"Harry."

"Home Secretary."

"Whatever is wrong?" She watched as he schooled his face into his customary poker face.

"I'm needed back on the Grid."

"Of course."

He nodded; seeing no need to expand on the statement. She frowned.

"What is it? Has someone died? Another disaster?"

"No. No one has died." He paused. "Ruth has collapsed. She's." He looked away. "I. She was poisoned. When she was abducted. "

"And I'm guessing she wasn't passed as medically fit for duty." Pauline raised an eyebrow. "Go, off with you. Keep me informed. I'm sure Ros can keep me updated."

"Yes." Harry turned marching away, desperate to get to the woman he loved.

Xxxxx

Adam rested Ruth's unconscious body on the battered red sofa in Harry's office. He felt sick; knowing his friend had been close to death before. He frowned, knowing that at least then there had been an understanding of what happened to her. This poison seemed to be an unknown quantity.

"Will has gone to get Mike." Zaf stated as he appeared in the doorway. "Oh my God."

Adam turned Ruth on her side, glad to see she was still breathing. He knew enough combat medicine to know how to make sure the casualty had a pulse and was breathing. It was everything else that scared him. He looked up to see Ros talking on the phone. The Section Chief looked the epitome of contained fury. He had no idea who she was talking to but by the way Calum and Erin were preparing to leave the Grid he could see it was serious.

"Dad is on the way." Catherine announced. "Malcolm has doctored the speed cameras so we should be ok. Ruth?"

A light sheen of sweat had costed her forehead as lay unresponsive in front of them. Adam shook her slightly, saying her name firmly. Before Adam could react two paramedics appeared with Beth.

"I called them." Mike announced as he ushered Adam away from his patient. "Good Lord! What part of go home, rest and recover do you lot not understand. I swear I'd have a better chance of my orders being followed if I wrote them in hyroglyphics!" He stuck a needle in Ruth's arm, draining blood as he did. "Blood sugar, lactate, routine but include a level 5 toxicology screen with crp and PCP screen."

"BM is 1.6mmols." The ginger paramedic spoke. Mike cursed. "Ketones 2."

"She's not diabetic. IV access, 10%dex 500mls over 1 hour. 50mls of 50% stat." Mike instructed. Ruth shook slightiy. Mike looked at Adam.

"Get Harry to the hospital now. I'm taking her to City General to stabilise. Then intensive care. When did you see her eat last?"

"I bought her coffee." Zaf shrugged. "About 10? Maybe earlier." Mike sighed. "Tariq was here all day."

"No time. I think Ruth is in a hypoglycaemic coma. We have to get her sugars up. She's very seriously unwell." He placed an oxygen mask over her face. "She's worked herself to near death. Whatever you are working on, I hope it was worth it." He helped the paramedics lift her onto the stretcher before conveying her to the hospital.

Cxxxxx

Ros ended the call as the paramedics left with Ruth and the doctor. She felt as if she had been punched in the stomach as she watched her friend wheeled away.

"Ros?" Lucas spoke calmly.

"That was someone calling himself Khrushchev's ghost. They have the file and they are blackmailing us." Ros gritted her teeth as she spoke. A second later she was headed towards the Pods. "What did the doctor say?"

"Low blood sugar; some form of coma." Adam paused. "Could be from the poisoning."

"Right." Ros headed towards the doors. "Tariq, trace that call. Malcolm, find Harry. Catherine keep digging. This ends: we are not paying a ransom to any joker that thinks they have a chance. Adam, Beth - stall the Home Secretary. This ends today." She disappeared through the Pods as Lucas jogged to keep up.

Xxxxxxx

"Harry." Malcolm stared at his friend as he walked towards him. The accident and emergency department waiting area was full of people waiting for treatment or news of loved ones.

"What happened?" Harry paused. "Malcolm?"

Malcolm felt his heart lurch. His friend was clearly terrified but he knew there was nothing he could say to appease him.

"She seemed to be fine. She was working on the case, became annoyed at the younger ones bickering." Malcolm explained. "She almost hit her head when she collapsed. Adam caught her in time."

"Small mercies." Harry ran his hand over his face. "I knew it was too soon."

"The opposing view was that she was with someone when she collapsed. She could have been home with young Gracie." Malcom stated.

"Oh God. The kids."

"Are safe." Malcolm stated as Mike appeared in the waiting room. Harry looked up as the Doctor approached them. He felt sick as he thought of the news that was about to come. Mike sat in front of them.

"Harry, Ruth is being moved into the Intensive Care Unit."

"Oh my Lord." Malcolm spoke calmly.

"We know her medical history but is there anything we need to know? Was there anything in that chemical that was used on her that we don't know? Anything I should know?"

"Ros is on the case." Malcolm frowned.

"Well." Mike stared at his friend. "Ruth is very unwell. We've anaesthetised her to take her to ICU. We've treated the hypoglycaemia and acute kidney injury. Until we know exactly what she was poisoned with we can't do much other than supportive care."

Harry nodded, his gaze set firmly on his shoes. "Can't you test for that?"

"Yes." Mike nodded. "She's had urine, blood, pleural fluid and csf tests. I hope they'll give us some answers."

"Can I see her?"

"Of course." Mike nodded as they stood. Malcom made his excuses; knowing Harry wouldn't want him there when he saw Ruth. He had to contact the Grid. It really was a matter of life or death.

Xxxxxx

Ros walked into the cell where Juliet was being held. She could barely contain her anger as she glared at the older woman.

"Ros?"

"You poisoned me. Yalta. When you found out I was still loyal. What was in that damn syringe and where did you get it? I'm only asking once."

Juliet frowned. "It wasn't supposed to be like this."

"True. I was supposed to be dead." Ros glared at her. "Answer the question."

"I don't remember."

"Bullshit."

"I."

"Ruth is in a coma and you have form as a poisoner."

"I'm not lying. I don't remember." Juliet paused. "Is Harry ok?"

"What do you think?" Ros glared. "I find out you lied. If I find out you lied you'll wish that bullet had done the job." Ros spoke calmly before turning and leaving the cell. Juliet got to her feet.

"Insulin."

"What?"

"There was stuff in it but I know it included insulin." Juliet spoke. Ros nodded once before leaving the ex spook to wait. Juliet looked away as Alec appeared in the cell. "Oh bloody Hell. What do you want?"

"The truth." Alec stated calmly. "Just the truth."

Xxx

A/N this chapter has been rewritten three times. Both earlier versions saw Ruth die and Harry go off the rails. Couldn't do it in the end. Please review