Dust

Beth coughed as she hit the floor. The ground shook as the world around them settled in the debris. Her ears rang as she tried to make out the voice calling her name.

"Beth!" Will was at her side in seconds. "Don't move."

"Bugger off." Beth sat up. She glared at him as she coughed.

"You could have a broken neck." Will fussed. Beth glared; her blonde hair in her face as she coughed once more.

"Yeah, and if you carry on fussing you will. Where's Dim?" She looked around as her boyfriend appeared. His face and clothes caked in ash and debris.

"You ok? Bailey?"

"Not so bad Sailor Boy." She smiled as he helped her to her feet. "That was cheeky, setting off a trip switch."

"Not nuclear though." Will answered "Or we'd all be dead."

"Radiation poisoning kills slowly. Remember the Russian spy and the poisoned tea? We could all be infected now." Dimitri stated. Beth and Will exchanged glances.

"See? That's why I love you. Your amazing positivity." Beth sighed as he squeezed her shoulder. "Christ, my back."

"Beth?" Will nodded as she winced. "Maybe we better have you seen by the Doc."

"I'm fine." Beth frowned. She winced as she took a step forward; her ankle dangerously wobbling as she did. Dimitri raised an eyebrow, knowing better than to correct her.

"Why are all the Section D women so bloody stubborn? Ros, Ruth, Erin even Zoe and Cath!"

"It's in the job description." Beth snapped. "Do we still have comms?" She tapped her ear. "Cal? Tariq?"

Xxxxx

Ruth opened her eyes; unsure why she seemed to be having the worst possible migraine. She remembered Adam scooping her up in his arms but that was it. Nothing else came to mind. Lying in her bed she glared at the ceiling quietly moving her fingers and toes. She sighed in relief. Nothing major broken, good start. What on Earth has happened? Something at work!? Harry!

The fear that something had happened to her husband gripped her as she blinked as she felt a hand grip hers.

"Mum? It's ok. Don't worry." She relaxed as she realised Nick was with her. "Gracie is fine, Catherine and Calum have her and Graham has the animals. Everyone is ok. Dad is here. Just sleeping."

Ruth smiled. The boy babbled when he was nervous, a trait he had inherited from her.

"Nico." She whispered. He shook Harry. "Nick?"

"We're here." Nick smiled. Harry yawned, suddenly realising what was happening he got to his feet.

"Ruth, my darling Ruth." He kissed her forehead. "My darling Ruth. It's over. You're going to be fine." She smiled as he rested his forehead against hers. "I'll never let anyone hurt you again. I promise."

Ruth frowned slightly, unsure what he was talking about. Her eyes closed as his lips met her skin. She believed he wanted to protect them all. She just didn't see how he could.

Six weeks later

"Harry." Ruth marched into his office. "The Home Secretary has been on the phone. She's sanctioned the news blackout on the trial."

Harry nodded; knowing that Pauline Crowther was agreeable to his suggestion. The last thing they needed was the service dragged through the mill. "Good."

"Juliet and Tessa. They're both blaming the other. Khrushchev's Ghost, whoever he is, is still out there." She looked over to where Ros and Lucas were in deep conversation. Catherine and Adam were chatting away as Erin took a phone call. She sighed. It was a normal day on the Grid. She knew it wouldn't last, domestic counter terrorism was rarely peaceful for long. Harry nodded as he watched her.

"He is." Harry paused before getting to his feet.

"He didn't get the money. We have the file back, thanks to Beth and the boys. Do you think he'll try again without Tessa and Juliet?"

"I hope not." He took her hand. "But we'll be ready."

"What about Alec? He trusted her." Ruth's eyes filled with tears. She looked away. Harry watched her.

"Yes, he did. But he's not stupid."

"So what now?"

"We look after him and try to stop him destroying his Liver. We do what we do; keep the peace however uneasy it is."

She looked him in the eyes, smiling slightly.

"An uneasy peace." She spoke quietly. "Business as usual."

Xxxxxxxx

A/N please review. I have an idea for a Harry/Ruth centred story with the Section D staff getting some R&R.