Disclaimer not mine. Appologies for the swear words. Not many but fairly strong.
Final Showdown
Ruth almost ran from the Grid as she made her way towards the pool car she had ordered. The car park was deserted, the only sound her heels clicking on the contrete pavement as she made her way towards the small blue Vauxhall Nova she had commandeered earlier. She hated driving in London but knew her only chance of getting the information to Harry was to risk the West London rush hour traffic and hope she made it in time. The cold began to permeate her bones as she realised that her navy blue jacket was still hung over the back of the chair in the Grid. Cursing herself she screamed as a hand grabbed her arm.
"Ruth" Dimitri called as she rounded on him, ready to use what little self defence she remembered from her induction a million years ago.
"Dimitri!" She pulled her arm free " Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"
The blonde SBS man smiled slightly as he stepped back from her. He shrugged and looked at the floor, in the same way Wes did when he was caught out doing something he shouldn't be. In that moment Ruth knew she could no more stay angry with him than she could Zaf or Adam. Smiling slightly she backed away towards the pool car.
"I have to go"
"Where?" Dimitri frowned.
"We have a location for Ros. Well, we think we do" Ruth clicked off the car alarm as she spoke. "The others have already left. Ashgrove escaped and all comms are down"
"No way" Dimitri took the keys from her as she began to protest. "Harry and the others would never forgive me if anything happened to you. I'll drive." He opened the driver's side door and got in, leaving Ruth no alternative but to go around the small car and get in. Dimitri had driven off before she had even had the chance to fasten her seatbelt.
"The comms are dead" Ruth repeated. She wanted to make sure Dimitri knew exactly how serious that was. There was no help. If something went wrong then that was it, they were on their own.
"Yeah you said" Dimitri clenched his jaw as Ruth got a glimpse of what the mild mannered cheeky SBS man was really made of. "Now, Pearce. What was it with you, Harry and Cotterdam?"
"Zaf told you. Ros ordered full disclosure" Ruth stared out of the passenger side window.
"Yeah" Dimitri nodded "But that is Zaf's version of full disclosure. What happened?"
"I died" Dimitri said nothing as he shot through the amber traffic lights as other motorist angrily blared their horns and swore at him.
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Harry stared at the lock on the old fashioned front door. The house reminded him of the house Ruth lived in when they had first met. That lock should be easy to pick. He glanced at Zoe as he pulled his old fashioned lock pick from his jacket pocket. She rolled her eyes, knowing some things would never change.
"Adam and Beth are round the back" Zoe whispered as the lock gave way. "Lucas and Zaf are here somewhere"
"Yes" Harry answered sharply. Zoe closed her eyes as she drew her gun. There was a chance she was going to find her Section Chief at any moment and she dreaded to think what state the woman would be in when they did find her. It's Ros, the woman is indistructable. Zoe silently reasoned to herself. Well, usually but at 20 weeks pregnant can she really be as tough as usual. Christ I hope we find her before Lucas does. Zoe stepped in to the house as Harry pointed to the carpeted stair case in front of them. With a brief nod Zoe made her way up the stairs as Harry followed.
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Now you are in trouble girl Ros thought as she looked around the dirty and damp basement she had been dumped in. The walls were too close together. She couldn't catch her breath, the nausea washing over her in waves. She couldn't control the shaking. Breathe. Just keep breathing, everything else will follow. Ros tried to calm herself down. The panic attacks that had crept up on her after the hotel bomb were back with a vengence. She fought to keep her eyes open as she saw the image of Andrew Lawrence in her arms, immobile and struggling to breathe. He was too heavy, she couldn't drag him as far as the lifts, there was no air. There was no time. There was never any time. Closing her eyes for a moment she fought the urge to scream as she looked down to see the person in her arms wasn't Andrew. This time it was Amy. The sobs that rose from her throat was uncontrollable as she fought the image of her daughter, immobile and scared in her arms.
"It is ok" Ros jolted her eyes open as she heard the voice of the woman she never thought she would hear again.
"Jo"
"Yup" The blonde spook smiled
"What?"
"Still dead Ros. You are going to get out of this. There is time. Zaf and the others are on the way" Ros stared directly at the almost transparent figure of the girl she had killed.
"I" Ros was lost for words.
"Amy is sweet, by the way. Motherhood suits you. I always thought Joe was a good name for a boy" Jo winked as Ros continued to stare. She smiled sadly at the woman in front of her. It was a rare occasion to see Ros Myers lost for words.
"Yes, you are seeing a ghost and yes you are insane. Dehydration and fear will do that. So don't worry. Help is coming but you are going to have to help them too" Ros frowned as the image of Jo vanished as she opened her eyes.
"Jo" She whispered as the baby inside her began to kick.
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Lucas was terrified. He had reached the Town House just before Harry and the others. Adam had caught up with him as he had ran from the Grid. The blonde spook initially distrustful of him had finally relented and gone with him. Although Lucas understood if anything had happened to Ros Adam would blame him. He sighed as he looked up at the door to the house, Adam was beside him.
"Three stories I reckon" Adam spoke quietly.
"Yeah"
"Right, spotted someone in the window upstairs. Dark haired female" Adam turned his back to the door. "We could wait for the others"
Lucas nodded once. He knew they weren't going to wait.
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Malcolm tapped angrily at the computer in front of him as he tried to break the Faraday Cage. Tariq ran a hand through his dark hair as he watched the older man. He had never seen him angry before. Tapping away at his own computer he stopped for a moment before turning to Malcolm.
"The mobile networks are all down for that area of West London. I can't get a signal on any of the phones in that area."
"Ah"
"Malcolm?"
"Someone has utilized an extremely sophisticated Faraday Cage." Malcolm began to explain "Whoever he or she is they are extremely knowledgable regarding computers and communications software"
"But every mobile network? Even we can't do that" Tariq shook his head.
"Yes we can. In times of extreme threat there are certain people that can disable the mobile telecommunications network. It has been done in the past. Only a handful of people have the password and everytime it happens the passwords are changed." Malcolm continued to tap away.
"Who? Harry?" Tariq was genuinely impressed that something so complex as the major mobile networks could be brought to their knees on the whim of the security services.
"No, he has the security clearance needed but refused to be told. Another thing his enemies could use against him. The Home Secretary knows, again the passwords are changed every time the Home Secretary changes, the Prime Minister, The Director General of MI 5 and 6 and myself" Malcolm sighed. It was going to be a long day.
"Cool" Tariq smiled sadly Malcolm suddenly felt very old.
"I see no correlation between what I just told you and the temperature" Tariq shook his head as Malcolm spoke.
"You keep trying to break the Faraday Cage and I am going to keep trying to get hold of Ruth" Malcolm couldn't help but think his young friend had a new toy he wanted to try out.
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Ruth was opening the car door before Dimitri had even switched the engine off. He cursed as he hurried after her. The cold November air made him catch his breath as he reached the other end of the pavement where she was stood. He watched as she stared at the extremely expensive looking Town House. She's seen streets like this in the OK and Hello magazines Zoe left around the Grid. Whoever lived in the house in front of her was inordinantly wealthy. It didn't fit with what she knew.
"This house is registered to Maya" She sighed.
"And?"
"How does a junior doctor afford something like this?" She turned to see Dimitri shrug. "I'm going to find out" Dimitri swore under his breath as she ran up the steps, rang the door bell and promptly turned and ran away. She grabbed Dimitri's arm as she passed. He didn't understand what had just happened as he followed her down the alley way.
"Ruth!" He laughed "Didn't think you were the type of girl to drag boys in to alley ways!"
"Alot of things you dont know about me" Ruth stared along the street as a sandy haired man opened the door. "Well, this is definately the right house"
"You are bonkers" Dimitri laughed as Ruth shot him a dirty look.
"May be" She agreed as she walked along the alleyway. "These big posh houses tend to have basements. Where would you hide someone you didn't want found?"
"Basement" Dimitri could see what his friend was suggesting. Two minutes later he had climbed the garden wall and let her in to the small garden at the back of the house.
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Harry and Zoe had made it in to the house undetected and reached the top of the staircase as the door bell rang. Harry froze immediately as Zoe silently checked her gun. He shook his head, certain he had heard Dimitri's voice outside. She nodded as she lowered the gun. He could feel the tension radiating off the field officer in waves.
"Nothing up here" She almost whispered.
"No"
"What now?"
"Lets make the home owners aware we are paying them a visit" Harry turned and crept back down the stairs. He watched as Zoe took a deep breath before following him. She had a fair idea that Adam, Lucas, Beth and Zaf were close by. She only hoped they were in time to find Ros.
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Beth checked her gun as she felt someone creep up behind. There was no sound but she could sense someone behind her. Zaf had gone to talk to the man that lived next door, hoping that he could get some information about the people who lived in the house. Beth had no doubt he would find out more than she could. He definately had the gift of the gab and the lovable smile to go with it. The old couple next door would be putty in his hands. Beth tensed as she realised that whoever was behind her was not Zaf. Waiting a spliut second she rounded on her assailant, gun pointed directly at his head.
"Bailey, chill out" Dimitri pushed her arm so the gun was pointed at the terracota plant pot in the corner.
"You idiot" Beth hissed.
"Yeah, but you love me. Anyway, inspector gadget here thinks there is a fair chance our boss is in the basement." He explained as Beth turned to see her friend walking towards the small trap door on the floor a few feet away.
"Looks like an old fashioned coal shaft" Beth stated as Ruth nodded. She's down there. I know she is. Shit where is everyone? Ruth closed her eyes as she pulled on the trap door. It wouldn't budge.
"Let me" Dimitri gently eased Ruth out of the way as he tugged on the trap door. It gave way slightly as Beth knelt to help him open the old iron door more fully. Ruth glanced towards the house, knowing there had to be a way in to the basement from inside the house. She also knew Harry and the others were more than likely inside. She had two choices, climb in to the basement or take her chances at the house. Dimitri glanced at her as if expecting an order. Before she could think she had made her way in to the basement.
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Lucas was terrified. He heard the click of the gun as he felt the metal bite into the skin of his neck. Adam was three foot in front of him, eyes wide as he stared at the petite woman holding the gun on his friend.
"Maya" Adam stated. He knew he had to keep her talking.
"Why didn't you just do as you were told John? This is all your fault. Everything is your fault" She ignored Adam completely. No one heard Harry and Zoe reach the ground floor. Adam glanced towards what seemed to be an entrance to the cellar.
"I know" Lucas really believed she was right. Everything, from Farrah's assasination in Syria to Ros being taken was his fault.
"Why didn't you listen?" She pushed the gun a little harder in to his skin, marking the pale flesh.
"Maya, it's difficult to explain with a gun stuck in my neck"
"Bastard"
"Probably" Adam answered for him. "What the hell is all this about?"
"You could never understand" She finally stared at Adam. He raised his eyebrows.
"No? Because only you have the monopoly on confusion and grief. Only you have lost someone you love. What could anyone else possibly know?" Adam knew he was goading her. Lucas shot him a look as Adam smiled slightly. "And here you are with a gun pointed at the man you are supposed to be in love with. If that's what love does to you, well you can stick it."
"You don't know anything" Her voice wavered as Lucas felt the gun slip from the position on his neck.
"So? Explain then. He certainly hasn't told me anything" Adam glared slightly at Lucas as the dark haired spook remained silent and frowned.
Maya sighed slightly, the tears now forming in her eyes made her blink. Adam knew he was getting to her. He stepped forward as she took a deep breath.
"Explain it Maya. How does a doctor, someone who is supposed to heal people, help them end up pointing a gun at someone?" Adam tried his best charm smile. Maya looked directly in his blue eyes. She was about to speak when a blood curdling scream caused them all to jump.
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Harry froze. He knew the scream had come from the basement. He couldn't move. He knew instantly who was screaming. Zoe tapped him on the arm as she ran past him towards the basement entrance.
"Ruth" He sighed as he sent up a silent prayer he was wrong. She hadn't followed them. He forced his legs to work as he saw Zoe disappear in to the basement.
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Ruth had found the small basement two seconds before Beth and Dimitri had. The door was locked but she was certain Ros was inside. She could hear someone talking. Dimitri reached her as she pressed her ear against the door.
"Ros is in there" She whispered.
"You sure?" Beth asked. Dimitri raised his eyebrows. "Only asking" Beth hissed. Ruth rolled her eyes, sometimes the two new agents made her feel incredibly old.
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Ros opened her eyes. She wasnt alone. Someone was in the room with her. She didn't know who. Straining to listen she heard footsteps as William Ashgrove crouched in front of her. Ros bit her lip as the first thing she thought was oh shit.
"Section Chief Ros Myers" He shook his head. "Section Chief Ros Bateman" He laughed. "You don't even know your own name."
Ros shot him her best death glare. The odious little man in front of her was supposed to be in a secure psychiatric institution waiting to be assessed for psychosis. He was not supposed to be with her. She remained silent as the oak door opposite her chair banged. Someone was trying to get to her from the other side. It banged a second and then third time before it gave way. Dimitri was immediately in front of her as Ashgrove hid in the shadows.
"Ros" He crossed to her as Ruth entered the room. Beth looked along the corridor, watching and waiting for any sign they had company. Dimitri was at Ros' side as he tried to untie her. Ros shook her head.
"No" She was relieved to see him but knew something else was about to happen.
"Have you out of here in a sec" He turned abruptly as he heard Ruth swear. Ashgrove had jumped her from behind, knocking her to the floor as she kicked out, causing him to loose his balance. Dimitri swore as he saw her scramble with him as they both tried to control the gun Ashgrove was carrying. Dimitri quickly freed Ros as Beth entered the room pointing her gun at Ashgrove. She was scared to make the shot, knowing she could easily kill her friend.
"Let her go!" Beth demanded. Ruth managed to get the gun away from her face. She pushed her hand against his face trying to get him to give his grip up on her. Dimitri was across the room, aware that Ros had got to her feet but slumped against the wall. Her legs had completely given up on her. She yelled for Dimitri to take the shot, knowing Beth couldn't.
A gun went off as Ruth screamed. Footsteps could be heard running towards them as Dimitri pulled Ashgrove away from Ruth. Lucas rounded the doorway, almost knocking Beth from her feet as Harry reached them. He looked at Lucas with utter contempt before seeing his friend slumped in the corner, holding her abdomen and breathing heavily as Beth leant over Ruth, talking quietly.
"Come on Ruth. Open your eyes. Come on. Harry's here" Beth's voice cracked as she looked up to see Harry staring at Ruth's still body, slumped on the concrete floor.
authors note. Last chapter up soon! Please review. Even if this bit is rubbish, let me know.
