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Ruth bit her lip as she stepped forwards. The young woman calling her name smiled slightly, clearly used to patients being nervous. Taking a deep breath she reached for Harry's hand.

"Do you want me to come in with you?"

"Yes." Ruth nodded. "I need you, Harry."

"I'm here." He took her hand as they reached the consultation room. Harry couldn't help but feel like a man walking to the gallows. He'd always tried to protect Ruth, from the evils of their world, the worst of his character and his past but suddenly it seemed pointless. He couldn't save her from everything - not from her own brain.

The nurse ushered them into the office where Mike Barrett sat reading Ruth medical notes.

"I thought we were seeing a neurologist." Harry frowned.

"Hello to you too."

"Hello." Ruth smiled, relieved to see a familiar face.

"I pulled a few million strings. So sit down." He ushered them both to seats near the desk. "Jackie, can you get Mr and Mrs Pearce some tea - they are going to need it." The nurse pulled a face before leaving the room.

"Why?" Harry narrowed his eyes.

"No reason, just she's a blabber mouth. Fancies herself as matron before she's even stepped onto the wards. No, she's better off out there. Now, this brain scan my colleague arranged."

"Just tell me." Ruth looked at her friend. "Please Mike."

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Ros parked the car in a quiet side street lined with ornate black lampposts and trees. The townhouses were all painted white with uniform black doors, each identical to the next. Beth got out the car, tucking a strand of blonde hair behind her ears she wondered what Ros was planning.

"Bowman married Crowthers youngest daughter, Lesley three years ago." Ros explained. "It fits time wise with our mole theory." Ros explained, checking her gun discretely before hiding it in the small off her back. Beth nodded.

"She wasn't Home Secretary then. Her husband had already died after Connie sold those names." Beth fell into step beside her. Ros nodded. Glancing at her watch she hoped Lucas and the others had managed to pick Bowman up; the last thing they needed was to have him spill the beans before she spoke to Crowther.

"No, she was back bench then. On the opposition. A regular MP but had an interest in homeland security. Ruth did a lot of research when she was appointed. Recent incumbents haven't exactly been whiter than white."

"So what now?" Beth asked as Ros pressed the doorbell.

"We spill the beans." The door opened to reveal a stout middle aged woman in a pair of jeans and fluffy pink slippers.

"Ros? Elizabeth? What is it?" She was genuinely worried. Ushering both younger women into the hallway she closed the door.

"Where's Lesley?"

"My Lesley? South of France until Saturday. Why?"

"We've been mole hunting." Ros smirked slightly. Her voice deliberately low.

"I've got our David's girls sleeping upstairs. I'm babysitting for him and Jeanette to go out. This had better be good." She snapped. Beth took a deep breath.

"Your son in law, Bowman has been arrested and detained under the Anti Terrorism Act." Ros explained.

"He's in France with Lesley." Crowther shook her head.

"No, he's in Thames House. You need to get in touch with her, get her home." Beth stated firmly. "He's the mole. He sold details that could only have come from your office."

"Oh my word." Crowther sat down, clearly shocked. "Oh my word!"

"Did you have any idea?"

"Of course not! Throw the book at him. He's responsible for what happened to your colleagues. Could have caused world war 3. No! Don't spare him just because of his connection to me." Crowther paused. "I told you to go after the mole, Ros. This doesn't change that." She turned as a child's voice called for her.

"I don't want the girls upset by this. They're too young to understand what I do." She ran a hand through her hair. "Abbie! Back to bed, granny won't be long." She turned as the little blonde girl appeared. Ros estimated her to be around Amy's age, possibly a year older.

"We'll leave you to get on." Ros almost dragged Beth out of the house. Beth frowned slightly before letting Ros lead her back to the car.

"What happened there?"

"She's clean." Ros stated. "Cmon." Ros got into the driving seat silently praying she could go home to be with her own family soon.

Xxxxxx

"Not a tumor." Ruth sighed. Mike nodded. "I'm not, I mean." Harry squeezed her hand. He watched her face for a moment; she was clearly in pain but was trying to concentrate on what the doctor was telling them.

"No space occupying lesion, no bleed or midline shift. Ruth, your brain is normal but you do have a hairline fracture in the back of your skull."

"She's got a fractured skull?" Harry was immediately alarmed. Mike raised a hand.

"Yes, probably sustained when you were in the car bomb."

"It would have been worse if Ros hadn't been there. So? The dizziness, nausea all that is just concussion?"

"Moderate concussion - there's no 'just' when it comes to head injuries." Mike narrowed his eyes. "Ruth, you've had more than one head injury. The scan shows evidence of repeated concussions."

"Brain damage?"

"Harry." Ruth squeezed his hand. He fell silent. "I had a head injury as a teenager - I was knocked out. But I was fine, then nothing much until Cyprus. I cracked my head there - needed sutures." She looked away remembering the way George had glared at her as he had thrown her into a wall. She looked back at the doctor.

"You have to take more care of yourself. Repeated head trauma can lead to all sorts of problems. I'm diagnosing you with Post Concussion Syndrome."

"She's ok?" Harry felt like a drowning man clutching at straws. Mike nodded.

"For now. There is a swollen vessel that may need investigating. I want further tests but we have to let the concussion heal first. Rest, painkillers and I'll arrange more tests. Im doubtful there's anything to worry about but I want to be certain the swelling is just a bruise from concussion not an aneurysm that needs clipping." Mike explained. "Ruth, take Harry home."

Ruth nodded, tugging on her husband's hand she got to her feet. It was time to go home.

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Lucas stretched as he looked over the Grid. It was late, he knew Ros was on her way back and that there was nothing more to be done that couldn't wait until morning. He turned off his computer as Dimitri and Alec chatted to Malcolm, Erin and Calum. Things looked normal. Zoe and Tariq were looking at a file as Zaf buried his face on his arms as he let his eyes fall closed.

"Zo, take him home." He smiled as Catherine turned her computer off. Minutes later the Grid started emptying for the night. He yawned getting to his feet as Ros walked onto the Grid.

"Where's Beth?" Dimitri asked. Ros shrugged.

"Took her to your place. Harry called, Ruth is alive and is going to fine. A fractured skull." Ros explained. "She's ok, now home because tomorrow I want answers." She smiled as Lucas got to his feet. The others had already left by the time Lucas had gathered his wallet and jacket.

"Home." Lucas turned her towards the pods. "Tomorrow we'll finish this."

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A/N please review