Disclaimer Still not mine.
Adam hobbled through the Pods on his crutches. He was not a happy man; the drive back from Wales had been uncomfortable with his leg in a plaster cast. He hated how the broken leg slowed him down. He hated how it prevented him from driving; knowing that field work would be extremely difficult if not impossible over the next month or so. The plaster also itched like mad. Zaf smirked as he threw himself in to his seat. It was safe to say that his friend was not a happy man. Zaf's mood was considerably lighter, he was home. His friends were home and they had arrested the arms dealers. The only fly in the ointment was Juliet's reappearance. He looked around the Grid aware that Ros was talking to Harry and Ruth in the office. They didn't look happy. Zaf frowned to himself. He was tired and really wanted to see Zoe. He hoped that whatever was going on in Harry's office could wait and he'd at least be able to see Zoe and Emma before the drama started up again.
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Zoe was glad that Harry had sent her and Tariq off duty. She was at home with Emma and was enjoying spending time with her little girl. Zoe smiled as the little girl snuggled in to her. She checked her mobile, pleased that no one had rang; she really didn't want Harry to recall her now.
"Mum?" Emma rested her head on Zoë's shoulder
"Yes Baby" Zoe smiled as Emma pulled herself up to her full height.
"I think I should have a birthday party. I'm five soon" Emma was deadly serious. Zoe smiled as she could see her little girl had put a lot of thought in to this. She must be serious if she was talking when High School Musical was on TV.
"And who would you invite to this party?" Zoe decided to see where the little one was going with this. Just as Emma was about to answer the door bell rang. Both Reynolds women groaned as Zoe got up to answer. "Think about it Emms" Zoe called as she went to answer the door.
Zaf had wondered whether he should call before just turning up at Zoë's basement flat but then he had decided to surprise her. After all things were going well with the two of them, it was still early days but he knew how he felt about her.
"Zaf!" Zoe pulled the door back in shock as Zaf rang a hand through his hair. Seconds later Emma had thrown herself in to his arms.
"Hello Emma" he smiled as the little girl led him in to their living room. She hadn't seen Zaf for ages and was exited that he had come to visit. "Hi Zoe, we just got back. Harry sent me and the others home for the night. Apparently we look as if we're in no fit state to work." He winked as she rolled her eyes.
"Mum said I can have a birthday party" Emma settled herself on the sofa.
"That's great Emma." Zaf smiled "Who are you going to ask?"
"Ah" Emma had put a lot of thought in to this decision "Wes, Katie from school. Connor from school. Auntie Ruth, Uncle Harry. Umm, Amy too" Zaf smiled at Zoe as she frowned slightly.
"Isn't Amy a bit little for a party Sweetheart? She's only a baby" Emma shook her head.
"No, she's cool. I think it's about time I had a baby sister or brother" She stared her mum in the eyes as Zaf smirked.
"Really Emma?" Zaf was enjoying how Emma was making Zoe squirm. She handed him his drink as Emma continued to grill her mother. The child would be a natural in Section D in a few years time.
"You know a baby only happens when there is a Mummy and Daddy? That I had to meet Daddy before I could have you?" She hadn't explained the facts of life to Emma; she prayed that was a few years down the line.
"Yes I know that! Lucas and Ros had to love each other before Amy came" She sipped her pop as Zaf continued to smirk.
"Well then" Zoe hoped that was an end to the conversation.
"I thought you could be the mummy and Zaf could be the daddy" Emma hopped off the sofa as Zaf began chocking on his coffee. Zoe burned scarlet as the four year old made her way to her bedroom.
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Ros was putting Amy to bed as Lucas walked in to the bedroom. She knew he wanted to talk; she had been putting it off since they had returned from the Grid. Amy was beginning to doze off after her bath as Ros placed her in her cot.
"Hope you were a good girl for Carrie" Ros spoke to the baby as Amy yawned. Ros couldn't help but smile. Amy was so much like Lucas it was uncanny. The same black hair and a stare that melt iron. Perhaps that comes from me? Ros smiled slightly as she turned the baby monitor on.
"Ros" Lucas entered the bedroom and wrapped his arms around her from behind.
"Umm" Ros was still watching her daughter as Lucas kissed her neck. Closing her eyes briefly she sighed.
"Juliet Shaw. I wasn't here remember. I need to know what happened. Why were Ruth and Harry so concerned that I contact you the moment her name cropped up? Why did Adam and Zaf seem so angry at the thought of her? I need to know why everyone seems to be scared of her" He held her a little tighter as Ros nodded.
"Ok Lucas. You are not going to like it. I can promise you that. You may actually want this back when you hear how stupid I was. It was a long time ago; I was a different person then. I really was. After Mace and my father I was so angry at everyone. I wasn't thinking straight." She tensed in Lucas's arms as she gestured towards her engagement ring.
"Nothing you could say is going to change the way I feel about you" He turned her in his arms as she placed both palms on his chest.
"I wouldn't be so sure Lucas. I really wouldn't"
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Ruth curled up on the sofa at home as Harry placed the phone back on the hook. Muggles was curled in her lap as she thought about the events of the day. She had never liked Juliet, initially it was because of the way she wandered in to the Grid as if she owned the place. The way she had spoken to the team and then when Ruth had found out about her relationship with Harry. The initial surprise had given away to jealousy, which was an emotion she didn't like. It only compounded the dislike she had for the woman. Harry sat on the sofa next to her as Muggles jumped off her lap.
"Ruth?" He ran his hand along her leg as she watched her. "Penny for them?"
"Harry, how much more can we take? This was supposed to be a straight forward investigation in to illegal arms dealing. Someone tried to murder Ros, the boys got blown up. Four people are in custody, including your ex wife. Now Juliet Shaw is back to haunt us" She sighed. "Even Malcolm is worried" She turned to face him as he smiled.
"Ruth, Malcolm is always worried" He pulled her towards him, relieved that she didn't pull away. He kissed her as she ran a hand down his chest. Breaking the kiss Ruth sighed.
"I just need to know that it will be ok. For the team I mean and the kids. They're worried sick about Jane" Harry nodded as Ruth spoke.
"No promises Ruth. I just don't know. We have to find Juliet and see what she's involved with. I've asked Ros and Adam to talk to Jane. We will get to the bottom of this. We will" He sighed as Ruth nodded. She rested her head against him as he wrapped his arms around her. Please let things be ok Harry thought as he kissed Ruth, noticing how she was almost asleep in his arms.
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"Oi Mate!" Adam had managed to open his front door without dropping his keys or falling off his crutches. It was no mean feet. He grinned broadly as Wes rang to him.
"Dad!" Wes' eyes were wide with shock as he spotted the crutches and the plaster cast. Carrie was moments behind the younger Carter as Adam shrugged.
"Said I'd be back for the match didn't I?" Wes grinned as he nodded "Before you ask, I fell over. That's all." he nodded to his right leg as Carrie closed her eyes. She knew he was protecting Wes, she knew there was more to his bruises and plaster cast than a mere fall. Adam shrugged as she kissed him on the cheek.
"Urgh do you have to?" Wes shook his head and wandered back to the living room as both adults dissolved on to fits of giggles.
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Tariq was at his mum's house. His brothers were also there for his parent's wedding anniversary dinner. His sister and sister in law, Hemel and Ayesha had done them proud. Even his aunt Zainab hadn't complained about the food. He smiled as his mum looked towards him. He knew she was going to say something to his aunt. As if on cue she turned to her sister.
"Tariq has been very busy. We are lucky to have him here tonight. Very important job he has in the City. Works in the Ministry of Agriculture don't you Tariq?"
"Yes Mum" Tariq smiled and carried on eating. It was going to be a long night. He almost wished that a red flash call would come through as he saw the daggers his aunt Zainab was sending his way. Ros had nothing on his aunt when it came to the death glare.
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Malcolm sat at his home computer. He knew Harry had ordered the whole team to take the night off. That meant he could do as he wished. He wished to research Nightingale and Juliet. He also wished to see what links the vile woman had with Viktor Aleshki. The more he researched, the less he liked what he found.
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Juliet walked through Oxford Street. It had been years since she had been in London. If she was honest she had missed the hustle and bustle of the city. In a way it was nice to be back. She folded her arms as she glared in the window of an expensive boutique. London was not home anymore. Harry Pearce had seen to that, but her time in Washington had not been misused. Neither had her time in Moscow. Smirking as she turned away from the shop window Juliet knew Harry and Ros would never know what had hit them. The arrest of the Hemings and the others had been the perfect diversion away from her. The only fly in the ointment was Aleshki giving Lucas North her name. That particular leak would be blocked tonight.
Juliet crossed the road as she pondered exactly how she would make Section D fall.
author's note. Thanks for the reviews. What will Juliet do now? Will Lucas react well to Ros' confession or is it too much for them? Please let me know what you think. Nearly there now!
