Again, sorry for the lack of update, but I'm updating whenever I can, I promise you that. Thank you so much for all the fantastic reviews. I hope you like this little addition... and the shock revelation as to who else is behind the plot. Please review xxx

"So, let me get this straight." Calum muttered, trying to comprehend the vast load of information Dimitri and Erin had just fed him. "Not only did you manage to get Ruth taken by most likely, the same bastards who attacked her, but you also sat back and watched as the Russian ambassador's wife was taken."

"We didn't sit back and watch Calum." Erin snapped irritably. "We did all we could."

"Did you get a number plate?" Calum quizzed.

Erin swallowed and looked across at Dimitri, before sighing, "No."

"Did you manage to shoot out the escape van enough so that we might be able to identify it if it breaks down within a few miles radius of where it was last seen?"

"No." Erin growled.

"Did you fit Ruth with a tracker, or any form of communication to the grid?"

"For the last time Cal, no, we didn't." Erin snapped. "We were with her. We thought that'd be enough. They must have either been watching us, or known about the meeting the whole time."

"Yeah, but who's they?" Calum asked. "That's what I don't like about this whole bloody mess – we still don't know who's behind this and why. I like to know who my opponents are."

"Me too." Erin ran a tired hand over her eyes. For the fifth night in a row she had been forced to leave Rosie in her mother's care in order to make sure this case went on running. Bilberry had been on her back regarding Harry's escape, and now Ruth had disappeared. If she was not careful, Bilberry may take this whole thing the wrong way and think that Ruth had aided Harry in escaping; that she'd gone on the run instead of being abducted. After all, what was her and Dimitri's word against a man who quite plainly did not like Harry or Ruth one bit? It sounded terrible but their one advantage was that Elena Gavrik had also been kidnapped; therefore this would not just be swept under the carpet. Even so, she thought it might be best to hold off this information from Bilberry for as long as possible; she did not entirely trust the man, or his principles.

"Do we tell blockhead Bilberry?" Calum asked her, as if reading her mind.

"I think we hold off on telling him… just for a while. Let's see if we can find Ruth and Elena ourselves first before we involve him."

"Let's start with motive," Dimitri agreed, equally as tired as Erin, with large dark circles under his eyes. He looked utterly exhausted and his shirt was crumpled from when he had slept on the grid last night. Erin knew this because she had found him there in the early hours of the morning, snoring. She had woken him up with a large mug of coffee, only for him to jump so violently when she whispered his ear to wake up, that he nearly knocked her and the whole mug flying. "Why would anyone want to kidnap Ruth?"

"Why would anyone want to attack Ruth in the first place?" Erin pointed out. At Dimitri's reproachful look she sighed, "Yes… yes I know your theory about her knowing too much and all that… but let's the just look at the facts… Harry's escaped and now Ruth's gone missing."

"I don't follow." Calum frowned, quite confused.

"What I mean is… we only have the Americans' word for it that Harry escaped. He was supposedly being taken to an American holding shelter after all, and Ruth did say he promised not to do anything reckless. I may not have been entirely fair on my judgement towards Harry in the past, but I do know that he cares about Ruth and that baby. He wouldn't do anything to put them on the line."

"So?" Calum prompted.

"So either Ruth's been kidnapped to try and find out where Harry is… but that doesn't explain Elena's capture… or Harry was possibly taken as well."

"Wait a minute," Calum said, rubbing his hands over his temples. "What are we saying here? That Harry didn't escape the Americans – he was taken by them?"

"Let's not forget that the actual guy who was in the room with Harry was one of the bastards who raped Ruth." Erin said firmly. "It's perfectly possible. Or at least I can see it is anyway."

"I think you're right." Dimitri nodded in agreement.

Calum smirked, "Well you would."

Dimitri turned quickly to him, "And what's that supposed to mean?" he demanded hotly.

"Nothing." Calum shrugged cheekily. "Only as a grid-based officer, I think you'll find out I see a lot more than anyone will ever know."

"Then you're not bloody good at it." Dimitri muttered under his breath, but neither Erin nor Calum heard him.

"Enough." Erin said sharply. "This is no time for you two to be arguing."

"We weren't arguing." Calum said stubbornly. "Just… good natured banter."

"Whatever you were doing, stop it." Erin muttered crossly. "We've got enough to do without me playing teacher and you two being the four year olds."

"Why would anyone want to kidnap Elena then?" Dimitri said levelly, getting the conversation back on track. There was a pause as everyone stopped the think.

"Maybe," Erin said slowly. Maybe we got this wrong… maybe you and Harry were wrong all this time," she said to Dimitri. "What if this whole thing has been about Harry's past? What if it's a revenge mission?"

"Which would explain why they'd kidnap Ruth," Dimitri finished, apparently catching on. "They know he cares about her, and Elena was his main contact back in Berlin."

"Right." Erin agreed. Then she frowned as a thought suddenly occurred to her. "But then… who is doing this? Assuming our theory is correct, who could possibly be behind this? Who'd hold a grudge for that long and why?"

"Harry's done an awful lot of things I'm prepared to bet even Ruth doesn't know about." Calum said, in an unusually wise tone.

"Yeah," Dimitri agreed. "And I'm pretty sure that quite a lot of them are things he's not proud of. Harry has a lot of enemies."

"Assuming this is about Harry." Calum interjected, clasping his hands in his lap thoughtfully. "I mean, quite a hefty degree of this is guesswork and theories."

"Yeah," Erin sighed. "But in case you hadn't noticed Calum, quite a lot of our work is based around guesswork and theories."

Dimitri smiled softly, "If only Ruth was here."

"What?" Erin asked; a little hurt that he did not seem to think she was adequate enough for the job. "Why?"

"Ruth's guesswork and theories are almost always correct." He said knowingly, and Erin could not help but smile in appreciation of this fact.

Dimitri suddenly jumped as his phone began to buzz in his trouser pocked. He drew it out and checked his messages, a frown flashing over his features, making him look more tired than ever.

"What is it?" Erin asked concernedly, having seen him freeze upon reading the text.

"Hhmm?" Dimitri asked looking up, apparently not having heard what she had said due to being so completely absorbed in the message.

"What's up?" Erin asked nodding to the phone as if to ask him who had sent it.

"Home Secretary." Dimitri said shortly by way of explanation, shoving his phone none-too-gently back into his pocket. "He wants me for something."

"Now?" Erin asked irritably.

"Yes." Dimitri replied firmly, although with a hint of apology in his voice. "When the Home Secretary says see him now, he usually means business."

"Dim, in case you haven't noticed Ruth's been kidnapped."

"I… I know." He finished solemnly, his face already to picture of worry about the elder woman whom he admired so much. So much so, Erin decided to let him off the strangling leash just a little bit, and she softened her features towards him. "That's why the Home Secretary wants to see me," Dimitri sighed, so suddenly as if he had only just thought of this. "Elena Gavrik has been missing for some hours – as noticed by the tight security of Ilya Gavrik, and since we haven't been on security duty with the Gavriks as we were supposed to, we're going to be getting an ear-full."

"Shall I go with you then?" Erin sighed, making a grab for her jacket over the back of her chair.

"No." Dimitri said so suddenly and loudly, Erin stepped back a little away from him and the chair. Dimitri saw her eyes widen and he put his hands up in silent apology. "Look sorry… sorry Erin… things… things are just piling up. Look," he said kindly, squeezing her shoulder to placate her now hurt feelings. "I'll deal with it. You and Cal have got to find Ruth. We can't let anything happen to her or the baby, and heads will roll if we don't find Elena."

Erin nodded, though slightly frostily, "Right."

Dimitri sighed, gave both of his colleagues a nod to announce his exit before striding towards and through the pods.

Calum twiddled a pen through his fingers with ease, observing Erin's upset face for a moment, before turning back to his computer with the intention of hacking into CCTV databases near the area Ruth and Elena had been snatched. "He was always weird." He muttered.

Harry gripped Ruth's hand tightly as they shuffled their way along the darkened corridor. Quite how the guards and the Gavriks' had managed to navigate their way down there without torches was beyond explanation, he thought. Every so often Ruth would let out a slight gasp and a moan because ever since the panic of thinking she was going to be attacked again, the baby had begun kicking wildly. Harry was more or less convinced it was a boy now, due to the fact that whenever its mother seemed to be in trouble, it always kicked as if this act would protect her. A son protecting his mother – just as it should be. And that was just how it was when all those years ago Jane walked out on him, taking Graham with her. Catherine had flashed him a look that told him she was upset and angry but still loved him anyway; Graham had not looked at him at all. And they had barely seen each other since that day, other than the odd occasion when Harry had been forced to pay his son's bail cost or get him out of trouble in court for another mishap. If Ruth was worried about being a bad mother, then she obviously had not seen him at work, Harry thought bitterly. Sometimes he wondered whether he was going to let their child down as badly as he had Graham and Catherine, but then he looked at Ruth and he just knew that she would not let him go wrong. You could barely say they were together band yet Harry knew that they were already closer than he and Jane had ever been. That was why he was going to do anything and everything to get her and the baby out of here.

They turned into another narrow corridor, however this time things were a little lighter and they saw a small but definite light at the end of the tunnel.

"Why do I feel afraid of leaving the safety of the darkness?" Ruth asked quietly, attempting to keep her tone light for fear of getting hysterical again. It wasn't doing her, Harry, their situation or the baby any good.

"I think you just answered your own question." Harry responded, smiling slightly. "At least we can't be seen here – when we get there… wherever there is … we'll be exposed."

"I really wish we were armed right now." Ruth whispered.

Harry actually managed a chuckle, "You must be desperate – Ruth Evershed carrying and using a gun – you hate firearms."

"I didn't necessarily mean a gun." Ruth said quietly, although she was smiling in the darkness. "Just… something I can use to hit people with."

"Oh…" Harry said grinning. "You mean like a tree branch."

Ruth looked back up at Harry's darkened outline in alarm. "I didn't know you knew about that." She said quickly.

"Oh yes," Harry grinned mischievously. "Adam was quite complimentary of your hitting skills… said you were quite enthusiastic to hit that guy again actually."

"I… I wasn't." she spluttered back.

Harry let out another wheezy chuckle, and pulled his arm around her shoulders, "There's no need to be embarrassed." He said honestly. "I was very proud of you." He squeezed her shoulder gently. "I am very proud of you."

Ruth smiled to herself at Harry's loving comment, but although she was maintaining the banter, she was getting increasingly exhausted. With the weight of the baby pressing down on her, her feet hurt like hell, and her back was in constant agony each time she moved. All she really wanted to do was sleep, and Harry must have realised this when she staggered through her steps a little.

"I'm so sorry." He said grievously. "This is the last thing you need in your condition."

"I'm fine." She lied insistently.

"No you're not," he replied, not in the least bit fooled. "You're exhausted." He closed his eyes, knowing he would have to go against his tender side and revert to spook mode to get out of this. "But I'm afraid we can't stop – we've got to-"

"I know." Ruth finished simply, whilst Harry looked on her increasingly lightened features in wonder. She was perhaps one of the bravest women he knew. No, she was the bravest woman he knew. Despite her attempts to hurry along with his quick pace, she was lagging behind and merely waddling as fast as possible, so he at least gave her that small grace and slowed down, placing both hands behind her back to help her along. She said nothing but he could see her flash him a grateful half-smile.

The light was ever approaching, and as they narrowed their eyes, they saw within the room ahead what looked like a small table with a few chairs dotted around it, a fridge of sorts, and what was basically a small kitchen unit. They had almost reached the open doorway when they halted, hearing the sound of clear shuffling footsteps. Seconds later they watched quite plainly as the second guard, the one Ruth recognised as the Russian, Anatoly, walk over to the fridge-like unit and take out a small canister of milk to be poured into his cup of tea, before whistling as he replaced it back into the fridge. From the domestic of the sight, anyone might have thought this man was having a casual day reading the paper rather than holding hostage two prisoners who were most likely to be shot and killed. Whilst the man's back was turned as he stirred the milk into his tea, Harry took note of the fact that a handgun was sticking out of a holster near his back pocket, and he turned to an anxious Ruth to indicate to her to be quiet. Once she nodded in agreement he nodded to her that he was going to approach Anatoly, and that she was to stay hidden in the remnants of the darkness, to which she suddenly looked fearful again, but did as she was told without argument. It was rare that she did not put up any argument, Harry thought, but they both knew that this was a dire situation, and she would have to trust his spook instincts. So as Ruth melted back a few paces into the darkness, Harry very quietly approached the young Russian. On his approach, he wondered for Ruth's benefit whether he should merely knock the young guard out, but then he thought that if they didn't get out of this mess, then there would still be one more guard who would try to rape Ruth. What was more, this was undoubtedly one of Ruth's attackers from before, judging from her terrified face, and he knew as soon as he was right behind the unaware guard that he would kill him just for that.

Harry seized the Russian's neck from behind and squeezed just as hard as he had done with the American in the darkened room. The young man let out a few chokes of surprise, and tried to prise Harry's hands away from his neck just as the American had done, but it was again, to no prevail. This time, Harry could see the young man's eyes bulge in fear and horror as air he desperately needed was deprived from his lungs; he could see the light leave his eyes as his body became limp in Harry's arms. Breathing if not a little raggedly, Harry hastily removed the gun from the man's holster and also searched his jacket for anything that might help them out of the situation. His hand enclosed around a pair of car keys, and he placed them into his own trouser pocket. With that Harry dropped the body harshly onto the cold stone floor, and turned to Ruth who was only just visible, coming out of the shadows. Her eyes were wide and horror-struck, but nevertheless she again seemed to reluctantly accept his actions, and walked slowly over to him.

"Why did you go through his pockets?" she asked in a tight voice.

"I found some car keys," Harry told her gently. "We might need them for the escape."

Ruth nodded in agreement, before spotting something over the other end of the kitchen. Lying in the draining board was a small, but very sharp steak knife, which she drew out and brought back with her over to Harry. He watched in both astonishment and pride as he held the gun and she the knife; reminding himself just how much of a born-spook she really was. He nodded to her to follow on through the opposite door, and together they entered through it.

They entered through many rooms, and were both very glad that they were all empty. It occurred to them as they journeyed through the rooms that this was perhaps a small cottage, judging from the fact that it had all the facilities, including a bedroom and sitting room. When they reached the sitting room, Ruth could take herself no further and collapsed into a mouldy, dusty but adequate chair.

"Ruth?" Harry asked, his eyes filled with concern as he turned back to her.

"I… I'm sorry." Ruth whispered back, her hand running over her large bump, her brow creased in agony. "I don't think I can go much further."

"Sweetheart," Harry said, looking round to check there was no one coming, before kneeling in front of her exhausted form, taking her free hand in his. "We're so close. I can feel it, we're nearly there now."

She was panting now as she tried to regain her breath, "I'm sorry… I just need to rest for… for a minute."

Harry swallowed nervously, knowing that had it been anyone else playing the straggler, he would have demanded they get a move on. But as he stared at Ruth, the woman he loved, already trying her best to get their child out of this mess at almost full-term pregnancy, he knew he could ask no more of her for the moment. "Okay." He nodded reluctantly, but cocked the gun just in case any unwelcome visitors entered the room. He then crouched back down before her again and placed his hand over hers on her baby bump. "How are you doing?" he asked, making it clear he was asking about the baby as well as herself.

She smiled softly through her deep breaths, not feeling it was quite the right moment to tell Harry that she enjoyed the feeling of his hand on her own intimately like this. "I'm alright. My… feet and back just… hurt like… bloody mad that's all." She said faintly, closing her eyes tiredly. "And this little one doesn't seem to want to refrain from kicking for long."

"You should be glad that it's still kicking." Harry told her gently, feeling yet another powerful kick even through her hand.

"Oh I am." Ruth assured him, and he could see the honesty in her eyes. "Believe me, I am. I just-"

She suddenly stopped dead as they heard a noise occur in the next room. Ruth's hand automatically shot to Harry's, whilst Harry clutched the gun with his other hand as if his life depended on it, turning round as silently as he could. The noise sounded again, and Harry cursed himself inwardly for not thinking to check and shut all the doors surrounding the room. Whoever was in the next room had obviously heard them, but Harry knew the moment he heard those slow, sauntering footsteps, who it was. Moments later, Ilya Gavrik walked smartly through the door, a small smile playing on his face, only to be followed by Elena half a step behind. Ilya took a moment to process the sight in front of him before, smiling, and raising his hands to clap. It was only then Harry registered the gun in llya's hand, which hindered his clapping slightly, but the smug look on his face more than made up for it.

"Well done Harry and Ruth," Ilya addressed them in a tone that may well have been asking them whether they took sugar in their tea in any ordinary situation. "You managed to escape your… prison cell." HHijfengngnaiwergnrieo[bvebfnffbfb beruwfewrbbewbHis smirk widened slightly. "not that I expected anything less from two spooks." He took in the gun in Harry's right hand, the forefinger preparing to squeeze the trigger any second. "Oh come do not be like that," Ilya mocked. "Besides, I have a gun trained directly at you, and yours is ranged from floor-level. I wonder which one of us could shoot accurately first?" he mused.

"This isn't a game Ilya." Harry growled, his other hand squeezing Ruth's hand still very tightly as she breathed in and out in rapid panicky breaths.

"That would depend which side your on." Ilya replied. "You see, I only have to move my gun slightly," he did so, aiming it now at Ruth. "And I can shoot your precious Ms Evershed."

"And I could do the same to Elena." Harry replied quickly, but knowing Ilya could sense the false threat immediately.

"No you couldn't Harry," Ilya replied confidently. "You may be angry at her… you may feel betrayed… but you couldn't kill her. I think we both know that."

Silence erupted throughout the room in which Harry knew his bluff had been successfully called, but he still would not let up the gun. It was his only bargaining chip for getting he and Ruth out safely.

"Elena," Ilya addressed his wife quietly, who jumped and looked surprised at being involved in the situation. "Collect Harry's gun."

Elena stepped forwards to obey her husband, Ilya's gun still trained on Harry's chest, but Harry would not give up without a fight, "You approach me," he directed at Elena. "And I will kill you."

Elena stared doubtfully at him for a moment before continuing her journey towards him, "I warn you," Harry said, getting desperate now. "I killed your two precious guards – I've proven it is well within my capability to kill to protect myself and those I love – do not think it will be any different for you."

He could not help but notice that both Ilya and Elena looked a little shocked at this news, and so they could safely assume they had not known about this. It also confirmed that they had only been next door when he and Ruth stopped; making himself even more furious at the fact that if he had only checked the doors before Ruth rested, they could have been perfectly safe. Yet despite even his persistent threats, Elena kept coming. With every step, Harry willed himself to pull the trigger, but each time his forefinger threatened to squeeze against it, his heart told him not to do it. It was virtual mental agony; having the small part of him which still cared for Elena ruling supreme over his spook survival instincts. The cycle kept on going until Elena reached him, holding out her hand for the gun; Harry gritted his teeth however and kept a tight hold on it.

"Give it to my wife Harry," Ilya said, moving his aim to Ruth again, who, Harry could sense was squirming, perhaps in order to avoid the barrel of the gun. "Or Ms Evershed will die now."

Harry thought about it seriously; whether he and Ruth were indeed going to get another chance to escape, in which case he had to let her live, or whether if they were not, it would be kinder to let Ilya shoot Ruth now to avoid her going through the trauma of rape all over again. He was after all very much aware that although he had killed two of the guards, Ruth's remaining attacker, and of all the people, his son, Sasha was probably still available to carry out this torture. Ilya must have seen these thoughts flashing through Harry's head because he said sharply:

"If you do not give Elena the gun, I will firstly shoot you, and then I shall ensure Ruth gets her own private punishment before joining you in death." He smiled nastily now. "It's your choice."

Harry swallowed, looking between Ilya and Elena. All of them knew that he was not going to let that happen; whilst there was still breath in his body he was not going to let Ruth suffer that. At least with him alive, it would make things just a little easier for her. Reluctantly, Harry released the trigger and moved the gun towards Elena's grasp.

Before the older woman could grab it however, to everyone's shock, Ruth suddenly lunged forwards with surprising agility and seized Elena around the neck. Despite the fact that the other woman was taller Ruth coped incredibly well, bringing Elena down to her level so that she was bent backwards, and it was then Harry recognised the flash of metal near Elena's throat as the knife Ruth had picked up earlier.

"No Ilya," Ruth said as steadily as she could, beyond all caring whether she killed anyone or not now – especially Elena. Her breathing was staggered, her back ached and she was fighting the overwhelming urge to vomit. "You give Harry your gun, or I will kill your wife."

Ilya's eyes had widened in shock at this completely unexpected move from an apparently fragile woman. Meanwhile, it was Harry's turn to smile in adoration at Ruth as she gripped the knife to Elena's throat, not hard enough to make a mark, but just enough to be able to cut the older woman's throat in a trice if necessary.

"N… no." Ilya said, although all the confidence had completely evaporated from his voice. "I know about you Ruth Evershed – you've never killed a soul in your entire life."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that," Harry replied, remembering a certain French assassin who had ended up with three bullets in him, courtesy of Ruth's fight for survival. And things were even more desperate now as she was fighting for all three of them. He took in llya's doubtful face. "Come on Ilya, I know you love your wife. You wouldn't want to let anything happen to her would you."

He was approaching Gavrik now, out of aim of the older man's gun which was hanging limply from his hand due to his sudden lack of confidence. Harry held out his free hand, his own gun in the other pointing firmly at Ilya. "Give me the gun."

Harry reached forwards and was just about to tug the gun out of Ilya's hand when another, louder sound than before echoed round the room, followed by swift footsteps.

"Armed officers!" yelled a familiar voice. "Show yourself!"

Harry's heart leapt as he recognised the voice, an overwhelming sense of relief flooding through him. He and Ruth were saved – everything was going to be alright.

"Dimitri!" he shouted so that he could be heard wherever the young officer was throughout the house. "We're in here."

Mere seconds later, the wonderful sight of Dimitri entered room, carrying a larger tommy gun, and looking absolutely worn out. For an instant, the young man took in what was going on in the scene before him, before calling out behind him, "They're in here."

More footsteps could be heard; this time not running but striding through the stone hallways of this bizarre cottage. The room seemed to have frozen until the surprising image of the British Home Secretary strode in through the door, also taking a moment to survey the scene.

"Home Secretary," Harry said, trying hard not to show his surprise. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Towers' eyes drifted over Harry, Ruth, and then Ilya and Elena, before he shook his head, "Ilya and Elena Gavrik – I don't believe it." He muttered bemusedly.

"Better start believing it." Harry muttered, reaching for Ilya's gun, just as Towers said sharply.

"Give Dimitri your gun."

When Ilya did not move, Harry frowned confusedly at this lack of obeying orders from the British Home Secretary; especially since he was vastly outnumbered three to one.

"Give Dimitri your gun Harry." Harry's frown deepened and he looked up, only to be confronted with the barrel of Dimitri's gun. He may as well have been shot, because Harry felt as wounded as if he had been so; the sharp stab of betrayal seeping within him.

"No." he heard Ruth whisper heartbreakingly, as it suddenly dawned on both her and him what was going on – what had been going on for the last six months or so. "No Dimitri… please… not you…"

But Dimitri did not spare Ruth a glance as he aimed his gun perfectly steadily at Harry; his expression may well have been made of stone by the way he stared at the older man. "The gun Harry." He said calmly, holding out his free hand.

"Honestly Ilya," Towers tutted, whilst the Russian smirked satisfactorily, disengaged himself from Harry's grasp and strode over to join the two newcomers. "Allowing yourself to be caught off-guard by the likes of Harry Pearce and Ruth Evershed. It's fortunate for you that we arrived when we did."

Harry swallowed as he realised the full picture of Coaver's dying words. Three people who were in on the plot. Ilya Gavrik, Elena Gavrik and the third party… the British Home Secretary. And most importantly… Dimitri.

Dun dun dun... so sorry to do that to you. The question is... what'll happen to Harry and Ruth now? I have to apologise for any spelling mistakes/ letters missing from words, as my keyboard has been playing up of late and because I'm quite a fast typer, it's a little bit slow and can't catch up. I'll try to update as soon as possible to let you know what's going to happen next. I'm not giving any spoilers this time ;) Please review if you want more :) xx