Set fire to the Rain

Ruth opened her eyes slowly, unsure how long she had been asleep. Sighing heavily she knew it wasn't long enough. Wincing as she tried to get out of bed. Gingerly she grabbed her dressing gown before heading downstairs. Harry turned to face her as Muggles and Fidget headed towards their food bowls.

"Hi." Harry smiled slightly. Ruth yawned as he handed her a mug of coffee. Ruth took the mug as Harry watched her. "I just spoke to Graham." Ruth's eyes shot up.

"Is he ok? The kids?"

"Are fine. They're coming home. Apparently Nick and Scarlett have been enjoying the Yorkshire moors. The dog has lost weight." Harry watched, hoping for a reaction from Ruth. "Charlie has spoken to his mum. It's going to get back to normal soon."

"Normal." Ruth shook her head.

"Ruth? What is it?" He noticed the signs, her behaviour was bordering on cold. He remembered the days after George had died. The way she looked at him almost frightened him.

"Should they come home?"

"We have reason to believe Blake actually is dead this time." He stepped towards her as Ruth remained impassive. "Tessa and Daphne Blake are in the cells. Ros is going to talk to Tessa today."

"We made a terrible mistake." Ruth stared at his shirt. "I made a terrible mistake."

"What?" Harry had no idea what she was talking about.

"We should never have adopted Nick, or had Gracie."

"No. Our children are never a mistake." Harry's voice was firm. "Never. And I know you don't really believe it."

"Nick has been through so much. Another couple would have adopted him. He wouldn't have to hide like they have been. He'd have had better. A normal family."

"I don't know what one of them is." Harry watched as her eyes shot to his.

"Gracie." She screwed her eyes closed. "She doesn't deserve this. She's not two yet and how has our being in the service affected her? She was almost born on the Grid." Ruth's monotone voice started to scare him. He watched for a moment before getting angry himself.

"This isn't you, Ruth. I don't know what's wrong. I don't know what happened."

"How could you even begin to understand." She sighed. "I." Harry grabbed her shoulders tightly.

"Ruth, listen to me. Nick's adoption was not a mistake. He has friends here, a good education, us. A family that love him. And don't you ever, ever call out little girl a mistake. Squeak is anything but a mistake." Ruth looked up at him noticing the tears already in his eyes. "She never will be. Not to me."

"She deserves better."

"She's not in any danger with her brothers, Lilly and Charlie. She's safe and the kids are all coming home." Harry kept his voice even. "This is where they belong." Ruth nodded once before turning and leaving the room. Harry closed his eyes as he swore under his breath. He had no idea how he was going to put things right.

Xxxxxx

Adam jogged onto the Grid as Tariq looked up. His dark hair flopping into his face as Beth appeared carrying two steaming mugs of coffee.

"Kettle's boiled."

"Cheers." Adam cheekily stole a mug from her. Beth rolled her eyes before turning back to the kitchenette muttering that Adam Carter had the cheek of the devil. Adam shrugged his shoulders.

"Where is everyone?"

"Harry and Ros have gone to see Crowther." Tariq sipped his tea. "Zoe, Zaf and Malcolm are setting up the interview suit. Ruth had a brilliant idea."

"She's known for them." Erin appeared from the Briefing Room as Alec arrived.

"Where is she?"

"Records library." Erin stated. "She's not herself. There's something wrong."

"Missing the children?" Tariq offered. "Mum hated it when Sabrina went away with the school. Worried sick."

"Dimitri and Calum have gone to collect them." Alec stared ahead. "Cal text me."

"No, it's more than that." Tariq shrugged his shoulders. He didn't understand women. Being the only son out of a family of four girls he hoped he'd have developed an insight but at 27 years old he was still waiting. Alec rolled his eyes.

"You didn't see her. Cold, withdrawn. Miserable but really angry too." Erin frowned.

"Like she was after she came back here?Ros said she was more of an Ice Queen than she was."

Adam wondered, knowing that his friend had been through Hell over the last few years. He cursed himself, remembering how she had been when Danny and Colin died, when Jo had been killed. He knew his friend could internalise everything, overanalyse every nuisance. While it made her exceptional at her job, it could also drive her crazy. He hoped she was coping, that Blake's scheme and the attack wasn't the one thing that destroyed her.

"So." Beth smiled, hoping to lighten the mood. "This idea she had."

Xxxxx

Harry walked through the corridors of Westminster relieved that they were still able to do so. Ros remained silent at his side. She knew she was being irrational. Harry Pearce was loyal to his country and the service. Ruth, she had never questioned. The analyst was never the type to develop Stockholm Syndrome but there was something about Harry's determination to blatantly ignore Ruth's knowledge and Intel that had bothered her. Even now when he had explained his reasons there was a niggle in the back of her mind she couldn't shake.

"Harry." She finally spoke as they stepped into the plush corridor that led to the Home Secretary's office. "Why now?"

"Ros?"

"Blake could have attacked at any time. He knew Nightingale was a thorn in our side. He knew all about Walker, Nancy Drew and the hotel bomb. Why wait almost six years? What has he got to gain?"

"I don't know."

"Harry." Ros paused as two civil servants rushed past them.

"I think the question should be, what have we got to lose?"

"I'm taking on Tessa. Me and Adam. You and Lucas deal with the Merry Widow." Harry nodded in agreement with her as the door to the outer office opened.

Xxxxxx

A/N more soon