It didn't take Harry long to realise what Tom had spotted. A car had rounded the bend and was inching slowly towards them. Tom instinctively fingered the handgun in his pocket, whilst Harry's arms tightened around Charlotte.

"Expecting company?" He asked, dread pooling in the pit of his stomach.

"Yes." Tom replied shortly, squinting to identify the driver. "One man. Some friend of yours – Dimitri Levendis. Erin Watts texted me just as I was coming to collect you. Said that this Dimitri wanted to see you off. I take it you know this man?"

"I know Dimitri. He was one of my officers. I don't know if this is him. I don't recognise the car."

The vehicle was looming ever closer. Thankfully, the driver didn't seem that intent on launching an attack. They just continued cruising leisurely towards them. Harry strained to catch a better look. Just when they were about a dozen yards away, he caught sight of Dimitri's young, chiselled features and heaved a heavy sigh of relief.

"It's alright, it's Dimitri. Stand down." He directed.

Tom let go of the gun. Dimitri slowed to a stop behind them and got out of the car, hovering uncertainly.

"I should go and meet him." Harry murmured.

He glanced helplessly down at Charlotte. Grace had told him that whilst she was so much stronger than she had been, her immune system would be compromised for some time. He didn't dare take her out into the pouring rain.

"Don't be ridiculous." Tom muttered, clearly sensing his predicament. "He can sit here for a bit. I need to check that everything's in order with the plane, anyway."

And before Harry could utter a word, he was up and out of the car, jerking his thumb at Dimitri to indicate the vehicle. He then strode purposefully towards the airstrip, the tail of his dark coat billowing in the wind.

A little in awe of this enigmatic figure, it took Dimitri a moment to follow his meaning. But after Tom had disappeared inside the cockpit, the young man spotted Harry and Ruth still inside the car and slid smoothly into the driver's seat. He had in his hand a large duffle bag, which he hauled into his lap before closing the door. He huffed out a breath and ran a hand through his damp hair.

"Harry. Sorry for taking so long. I had to ditch the other rental car."

"It was getting to a point where I didn't think we'd ever see you again."

"Well, I'm like a dog with a bone." Dimitri said grimly, turning slightly in his seat to examine Ruth. "Plus I have a vested interest." He frowned, taking in her clammy skin and generally ill complexion. "She should have been allowed more time to rest."

"As soon as we're out of the country, I'll take her to a hospital." Harry assured him. "Charlotte too."

Dimitri nodded, though he still looked concerned. "Where will you go?"

"I don't know. But even if I did, I wouldn't tell you. Safer all round, that way."

"I understand."

Dimitri glanced down at the baby, wrapped warmly in a blanket, sandwiched between Harry's arm and chest.

"She looks like Ruth." He commented.

"I know. She's going to have me wrapped around her little finger when she's older, no mistake."

There was a pause; not entirely awkward, but not comfortable either. It was a lapse in conversation between two people – mentor and mentee – who had trodden such an intense journey together, that they really did not know what to say now that it was coming to an end.

"I'm sorry, Harry." Dimitri mumbled after a while. "It should've been me that had to run. Not you."

"No." Harry said firmly, catching the younger man's eye to communicate how much he meant his words. "No, Ruth and I agreed that this was what had to be done. We've both had it with the service. But you... you can still make a difference."

"You're leaving me with some pretty big shoes to fill."

"I have no doubt that you will fill them admirably." Harry told him with a smile.

"More than admirably." Came a small voice from the backseat.

They turned to see Ruth, stirring and stretching as much as she was able to within her cramped confines. Her eyes fluttered open, firstly taking in Harry and Dimitri, then her surroundings.

"How long have you been awake?" Harry asked softly, happy to see her awake, but also fervently hoping that she had not heard his rather embarrassing exchange with Tom.

"Not long, I think." She murmured, yawning and lifting her head from the window. "I felt a car door slam. I think that's what did it."

"Probably me that disturbed you then, Evershed." Dimitri smiled, giving her a little wave. "I just got here."

"Dimitri." She smiled back. "It's good to see you."

"It's good to see you with your eyes open." The young man teased lightly. "Whenever I've visited in the last week, you've always been asleep. So rude."

"Sorry." Ruth bantered back, her twinkling eyes showing that she saw the humour in his gentle rebuke. "I've just had a baby and I think I might've nearly died or something."

Dimitri tutted in mock disappointment, "Oh, is that all?"

Ruth gave a breathy chuckle. Harry wished she wouldn't talk so lightly about her dying – as technically, she had briefly died on the operating table. But he didn't have it in him to berate her. Not when she was clearly using every ounce of energy she had to stay positive, and indeed communicative. He watched as she stole a glance out of the window, clearly searching for some kind of clue as to their location. The barren landscape with its narrow, battered strip of tarmac must not have provided her with many answers because she asked quietly:

"Where are we?"

"No idea. An airstrip of some sort." Harry answered. "Tom drove us here."

"Where is Tom?"

Harry nodded to the tiny aircraft which was clearly visible through the rain-splattered windscreen.

"He's getting the plane ready."

"Tom Quinn can fly a plane?"

"Apparently so."

Ruth thought about this for a few seconds.

"Well, I suppose he had to do something to keep him busy after Five." She mused.

"Yes, but I never imagined he'd become Biggles." Harry joked feebly.

"Tom Quinn is many things." She reasoned. "But Biggles he is not."

"Not in that coat." Dimitri quipped, before he chuckled and shook his head. "You know, Calum said that Quinn was the most conspicuous guy he had ever met. In his words, 'he may as well have tattooed 'Spook' on his forehead."

Harry frowned, "When did Calum meet Tom?"

"He was there with Erin when she delivered the drop from Malcolm."

"Malcolm?" Ruth repeated confusedly, turning to Harry. "As in... our Malcolm?"

"It's a very, very long story sweetheart." He soothed her, seeing the bewilderment written all over her lovely face. After all, she hadn't been conscious during most of the tribulations of the last week.

"Yeah, let's just say that you've both had a little helping hand from some guardian angels." Dimitri grinned.

"Guardian angels?" Ruth pressed, her curiosity piqued.

"Namely Malcolm Wynn-Jones, Beth Bailey, and – obviously – Tom Quinn." Harry reeled off.

Ruth shook her head dazedly. Rather than having been unconscious for only a few days, it felt as if she had been out an entire year. So much seemed to have happened during her time in the hospital, and she wasn't quite sure her foggy brain would let her comprehend it all.

"Like I said, it's a very long story. But it can wait." Harry said gently, quick to try and quell the anxiety that was clearly starting to bubble under the surface. "I'll tell you everything one day soon, I promise. But for now it's probably just best to..." He trailed off lamely, searching for the right phrasing.

"Go with the flow." Dimitri inputted helpfully.

"Quite." Harry nodded.

He could see that Ruth had so many questions whirling round in that enormous brain of hers, and that not knowing exactly what had happened was torturing her. But he could also see from the slightly glazed look in her eyes that she was exhausted and in pain, and was in no condition to be combing through the fine details of the last week. He wanted to reach out and hold her, but he was currently half a metre away, cuddling their little girl. So he just settled for flashing her what he hoped was a bracing (and not a patronising) smile.

"Alright." She whispered eventually, deflated.

Her eyes lowered to her now flattened belly, whilst her fingers plucked despondently at the frayed sleeve of her over-sized duffle coat.

"You should have seen it all though, Evershed." Dimitri piped up, keen to lift her spirits. "Malcolm came back for one last op' and really saved our bacon; Beth Bailey pretended to be you, her friend Steve (who's not called Steve) pretended to be Harry, and essentially, you both went tumbling into the Thames."

Ruth's deflated expression promptly changed to that of confusion, and then concern, "What does that mean for Beth? Is she alright?"

"She's fine." Dimitri assured her. "We did an old switcheroo drop. A bit of misdirection to draw CO19's attention and your decoys got safely away. Cadavers then took their place and drove into the Thames. Cadavers courtesy of Malcolm's friend at the mortuary."

Harry exhaled in a low whistle, "Goodness, you all have been busy, haven't you?"

"It should take the pressure off you." Dimitri shrugged. "Officially, you're dead, so they won't be looking for you exactly but..."

" – But we still need to leave." Harry finished.

"Yeah." Dimitri's happy, boyish face became grave and weary. "I think so. You'd be spotted all-too easily if you stayed."

Harry and Ruth glanced at each other. They had already known that. They had known what 'dying' would entail for them as soon as Ruth suggested it. For Harry, it meant building a new life for himself with the woman he loved and their newborn daughter – and although that was an altogether exciting prospect, it also meant leaving behind his two other children. But he could only imagine how much worse it was for Ruth. Whilst she did not have any family to leave behind, it was also the second time she had had to die for the sake of someone she cared for; for the sake of a country that didn't even know or give a damn about the sacrifices she had made.

"It's okay." Ruth murmured. "We understand."

Dimitri just nodded wordlessly. He wasn't welling up exactly, but he seemed to be on the cusp of something incredibly raw and emotional.

"Thank you, Dimitri." She said softly, reaching for the young man's hand. "For everything."

There was no mistaking the meaning behind her words. She was thanking him not just for the part he had played in getting them to safety, but for his instrumental role in bringing down Levrov's plot, and most of all, for his support throughout her gruelling ordeal. Dimitri returned her gentle smile and squeezed her hand tightly. He didn't say anything. He didn't need to. Harry forced himself to look away. The moment seemed too private to intrude upon. He knew he had no reason to be jealous: Ruth and Dimitri had never been interested in each other that way. Their relationship was purely platonic. But both had been there for each other when they had no one else and that bond would never be forgotten, no matter how much distance was now being put between them.

"You'll take good care, won't you?" Ruth pleaded, her voice barely above a whisper.

"'Course I will." Dimitri answered, flashing her one of his cheekier grins. "You know me. I fight sharks for fun."

Ruth smiled tremulously and squeezed his hand back.

"And take care of Erin." She instructed. "She's brilliant at her job, but she's not nearly as tough as she makes out."

Dimitri nodded. He had seen fragments of this more vulnerable Erin; most prominently after Ilya Gavrik's death.

"She'll need you. And you'll need her. It's good to have someone by your side who understands." She caught Harry's eye and quickly ducked her head. "Just don't... don't leave it as something that was never said. If you love her, tell her."

"And if she doesn't want to listen?"

"Make her." Harry advised, thinking back to his own shredded heart as he watched Ruth sailing away on that barge five years ago; how he had immediately regretting not telling her those three oh-so-important little words.

"And if she doesn't love me back?"

"She does." Ruth assured him softly. "Trust me, she does."

There was a pause, during which Dimitri considered his mentors' words, and they simply allowed him to mull things over.

"I don't know what we'll do without you two." He confessed sadly. "You've just always... been there – permanent fixtures. Now I'm being left with poor Erin who's stressed about being acting Section Head again, and Calum who's... well... Calum."

"Calum's a good man." Ruth assessed quietly. "He likes to make out that he doesn't give damn, but actually, I think he just cares too much to let show. Tell him he has a kinder heart than he lets on."

"I don't think it'd sound quite the same coming from me." Dimitri smirked. "Plus, if I said that, I'd never hear the end of it."

"I know you're friends really." Ruth teased, a small smirk playing on her own lips.

Dimitri neither confirmed nor denied this. He merely shook his head and muttered, "You're too soft, Evershed."

Harry happily sat back and watched the exchange, though his attention was ultimately drawn by something out of the corner of his eye. He turned to find Tom stepping off the plane, clearly satisfied by all his checks. Within seconds, he was heading back towards them. Dimitri noticed this too.

"I suppose this is goodbye, then." He sighed forlornly.

"I suppose so." Harry agreed.

The rain had let up, and it made sense to get Charlotte and Ruth transported to the plane during the rare dry spell.

Dimitri tugged the handles of the duffle bag. "I went to your place, Harry; managed to sneak out some stuff I thought you might need."

"How on earth did you manage that? Surely it's under scrutiny?"

"It was. But when the call came through that you're... well... dead, they didn't deem security necessary anymore. The house was just locked up and the agents reassigned. And anyway, they've become used to me appearing there from time to time. I've been feeding your dog. And walking her, when I've had time."

Harry's stomach lurched. Scarlet! How the hell had he managed to forget Scarlet?! For years, she had been his constant companion; the only living creature at home keeping him from sinking into the depths of solitude. And yet as everything became so hectic, he had completely forgotten about her. Had Dimitri not had the forethought, or indeed the decency to feed her, the poor dog would surely have starved! Ruth must have had the same thought, because she stared back at Dimitri, aghast.

"Is she... is she alright?!" Harry spluttered sheepishly.

"She's fine. Just a bit attention-starved."

"Poor Scarlet." Ruth whispered.

"I didn't bring her, because I thought a dog might be a bit much whilst on the run. Plus she'd be a sure-fire way to identify you."

"Yes." Harry conceded miserably. "Yes, you're probably right."

"Don't worry. I'll find a good home for her."

Harry hesitated. "I hate to ask, but I don't suppose you'd consider adopting her?"

Dimitri smiled, almost shyly, which was a rarity for him. "I love dogs. I worked with a few back in the SBS, but that was very different from keeping a household pet. And I didn't like to presume."

"She's yours." Harry said firmly. "At least I'd know she's gone to a good home."

"I'll take good care of her, I promise."

"I know you will. Just don't let her get her own way too often. She can be a little spoilt. And I warn you, she has a strange affinity for chewing ties."

"Noted."

The driver's door opened, and Tom poked his head inside. His face was its usual blank canvas, though for a split second, Harry could have sworn he saw a hint of jealousy in Tom's eyes as he witnessed the bond of a new team; a team which had functioned and thrived without him. Until now, of course.

"I hope you've said your goodbyes." He told Dimitri coolly. "Because we really need to be going."

"Yep. Okay." Dimitri shrugged , raising his hands in defeat and climbing out of the car. He flashed Tom a cheeky grin then shoved the duffle bag into his hands. "Oh. Thanks very much."

There was a shocked pause. The display of masculine supremacy escalated dramatically. Tom turned a remarkable shade of puce, puffing out his chest in outrage, whilst Dimitri opened Ruth's door and extended his arms.

"Ms Evershed." He purred. "May I?"

"Oh, for Heaven's sake." Harry grumbled, nestling Charlotte carefully against his chest and opening his own door. "Why don't you just pee all over us?"

"Please don't." Ruth murmured as she reluctantly allowed Dimitri to pick her up.

"I second that." Tom growled.

Stony-faced, he strode around the length of the car and shoved open the boot, slinging the rucksack full of baby supplies over his shoulder. He sauntered past the remaining three and made his way back towards the plane. Alone.

"I think you've hurt his feelings." Ruth observed quietly.

"Bruised his ego more like." Dimitri retorted, following in the other man's wake. It wasn't hard to spot him leading the way – not with his conspicuous black coat billowing madly in the wind.

"Dimitri – "

"Come on, Evershed." The younger man scoffed. "He started it. I just wanted to say goodbye and he chivvied me along like a pompous arsehole."

Ruth raised an eyebrow. "'He started it?' You're starting to sound like Calum now."

"I'm actually offended by that."

She gave a breathy laugh, but her cheeriness was short-lived. Within seconds she was hissing and curling in on herself, clapping her hands over her tender abdomen. Dimitri stopped in his tracks.

"Ruth – "

Harry had only been a few steps behind, and immediately sensed that something wasn't right. He hurried as fast as he dared with the baby in his arms and came to a halt beside them.

"What's wrong?" He demanded, taking in Ruth's crumpled state.

Though still deathly pale, her cheeks took on a faintly pinkish tinge as she shied away from their fussing. She shook her head and prised a trembling hand away from her stomach.

"Nothing." She muttered, wincing every now and then but otherwise righting herself. "Nothing, it's fine."

"You're quite clearly not fine, Ruth." Harry said sternly. "We don't want you developing another infection."

"I'm okay. Just a bit... sore, that's all."

"You don't know that. You're not a doctor."

"No, but I'll see one." She promised softly. "I'll see whatever quack you want to drag me to once we're out of here. But please... just... just give me this. Just let me say goodbye without me having to be the damsel in distress again. Just let me be me for a few moments."

And how could Harry argue with that? How could he ignore the plea in her voice and the desperation in her eyes? How could he deprive her of the normalcy she so desperately craved when she had been through months and months of hell? Ruth had endured so much, but he knew how much she hated playing the role of 'victim'. Her experiences had made her vulnerable, and her inner demons still held immeasurable power over her, but he was also starting to see glimpses of her sweet spirit flickering to life once more. Yes, he was worried about her, but surely he could afford to stop coddling for at least a few minutes.

"Okay." He agreed quietly.

Ruth flashed him a grateful smile. She must have known how hard it was for him to take that small step back. Still hesitant, Dimitri looked to Harry for guidance. The older man nodded and motioned towards the jet, as if to say 'go on'. The group set off again, a little quieter and Dimitri a whole lot more careful than before.

The plane's interior was not exactly inviting. The seats were drab and battered, and a few of the seat belts were broken. Commercially, the thing was a death trap. Harry could see how Tom was able to wangle such an aircraft. But then, with no questions asked and very little time, he supposed it was the best the man could do. He checked and double checked the seat belts across a random row. Satisfied by their sturdiness, he let Dimitri set Ruth down gently into a seat. She winced, but made no more indication of her pain.

"Alright, Evershed?"

"Fine. Thank you."

A small gurgling noise captured her attention, and before she knew it, baby Charlotte was suddenly bawling her little eyes out. Perhaps the damp air and fierce wind outside had disturbed her, because now she was most certainly awake and was wriggling restlessly in Harry's arms. Harry hushed and rocked her so tenderly that it made Ruth's heart swell, but Charlotte did not seem willing to settle.

"Can I try?" She asked quietly, tentatively; still unsure of herself as a mother.

Harry blinked at her, astonished. "Of course you can. You're her mother. You never need to ask permission."

Ignoring the protests of his knees, he knelt down and lowered Charlotte into her mother's arms. He kept a loose hand under her back, testing the strength of Ruth's grip until he was sure that she was strong enough to hold her. Then he let go and sat back on his haunches, watching his two girls together. He was certain he had never seen a more beautiful sight. Charlotte didn't exactly stop crying, but she stopped wriggling, quietening as she gazed up at her mother's face. Ruth smiled and started whispering strings of hushed words to her that neither Harry nor Dimitri could make out. But they didn't need to hear the words to know what she was saying.

"You're going to be a great mum, Evershed." Dimitri told her earnestly.

Ruth's smile wavered. For an instant it looked like she might cry. Then she swallowed and flashed Dimitri a small smile before focusing once more on her daughter.

"I think she might want feeding again." She murmured.

Dimitri's eyes widened. "I think that's my cue to leave, then."

"As much as I hate to say it, you're probably right." Harry admitted, heaving himself up from the floor. "Don't doubt that we enjoy your charming company, but if you stay any longer, Tom might just take off with you still onboard"

Dimitri grinned, "Not that I wouldn't love a good holiday but... "

" – But Erin's waiting for you." Ruth finished knowingly, not even glancing up from the baby.

Dimitri tried and failed to hide his bashful blush. "Yeah."

There was another silence as the three comrades tried to work out how best to negotiate their final farewell. In the end, Harry took the lead.

He stuck out his hand and the younger man accepted it immediately. The handshake was strong and firm and full of sincerity – everything he would have expected from a man like Harry Pearce.

"Dimitri."

"Harry."

The two men nodded briskly then parted, leaving Dimitri to turn to Ruth.

"Evershed..."

For a long thirty seconds she seemed quite determined to avoid his eyes, concentrating solely on Charlotte. Undeterred, he bent down and placed a hand over hers, stilling her movements.

"Ruth."

Slowly, ever so slowly, her eyes met his, and he saw that there were tears gathering in those bright blue orbs.

"So many goodbyes." She lamented quietly. "I've said so many goodbyes."

Both men's' hearts splintered.

"I know." Dimitri murmured. "And I know you've had to do this exile thing before. So to do it again – for me – shows so much more courage than I can even imagine."

Ruth shook her head, a single tear falling unchecked down her cheek.

"I don't want to say goodbye again." She admitted, her voice trembling with the strain of keeping her emotions in check. She felt Harry place a gentle hand on her shoulder, sending a rush of warmth flowing through her worn-out nerves.

"Then let's pretend it isn't goodbye." Dimitri suggested. "You never know. You were exonerated once before. Maybe we can get it to happen again."

"We both know that isn't likely."

"Maybe. But come on, Evershed. You specialise in the improbable. You see connections where no one else does, and crack codes that most would consider impossible. You know better than any of us that the odds can be beaten."

Ruth gave a ghost of a smile, clearly appreciating the younger man's efforts, but looking just about as convinced as he himself was. Still, she made no further attempt to contradict him. Hope, after all, was a great deal more alluring than despair. Even a fool's hope.

"You take care." She said instead.

"You already said that."

"Dimitri..."

"Fine, yes. I'll take care. Make sure you do too."

"I'm serious."

"So am I." He declared. "And... one more thing."

"What's that?"

"Let yourself be happy, Evershed. You deserve it." He chanced a glance at Harry. "You both do."

There was a pause. The two older spooks were both taken aback by his forthrightness. Yet they realised almost immediately how much they had needed to hear those words. They tried to think of how to respond, but before anyone could say anything else, Dimitri pecked Ruth on the cheek, clapped Harry on the shoulder and made a lightning exit. Had they been able to see his face, they would have seen the wetness in his eyes.

For a moment, time seemed to stand still. All was quiet, save for Charlotte's gentle snuffling. Both former spooks were trying to recover from Dimitri's shrewd words. Then Tom appeared, his face tense and surly from his precious humiliation.

"Has he gone?" He asked in a clipped tone.

"Yes." Ruth answered faintly. "He's gone."

His expression softened as he realised she was blinking back tears. He cleared his throat uncomfortably and strode over to the door, effectively sealing it.

"Well... buckle up. Let's get moving."

Ruth didn't really respond, still immersed in her memories of minutes ago. It was Harry who acted first. He shook himself free of his reverie and quickly strapped in his family. Tom lingered a few seconds, seeming tempted to say something, before he shook his head and retreated back to the cockpit. Harry had barely fastened his own seat belt when the engines jolted into life.

Charlotte, who had calmed in her mother's arms, began screaming full pelt, clearly bothered by the overwhelming sounds around her. Ruth cooed and rocked the little girl as best she could, but this time she wouldn't be pacified.

"If she needs feeding, it might be best to do it now." Harry advised over the engine noise. "It could distract her and ease pressure on her ears."

Ruth frowned, "How do you know that?"

Harry smiled wryly. "Experience."

Blushing, she nodded and allowed him to help her undo the topmost buttons of her clothing. It took very little persuasion to guide Charlotte to her breast. The beautiful little thing seemed grateful for the distraction, and despite her reluctance to feed at the hospital, she now began to suckle almost desperately. Ruth couldn't help but wince at the sensation, but was supremely grateful that Charlotte had stopped crying. She smiled at Harry, relieved, and he grinned back, pressing a gentle kiss to her temple.

"Harry."

"Hmm?"

"I love you."

Even now, hearing those three little words coming from her lips made his heart flutter.

"I love you too." He said, covering her hand with his. "So very much."

They felt the ground lurch beneath their feet, once, twice – and then they were off. As they moved down the runway travelling down the runway, they could see Dimitri standing by his car watching. His shoulders were hunched, the collar of his jacket up against neck, in a bid to block out the fierce, unforgiving wind. He raised a hand in farewell, but the plane was moving so fast that they had no time to respond. In a split second their friend was had gone, and all they could see was a blur of colour as they lifted off, climbing higher and higher into the grim, grey sky.

Harry felt Ruth's hand twist to clutch at his, and he gripped hers back with equal fervour. This was it. There was no turning back now. The journey they were embarking on was beyond the realms of familiarity. They were quite literally venturing into the unknown, and it would be dishonest of him to deny that he was scared. Bloody terrified, in fact. But as he gazed across at Ruth, his beautiful Ruth, and their absolutely adorable daughter, he somehow knew that they would be okay. And he knew without a shadow of a doubt that whatever challenges they faced, they would face together.

Dimitri carried on watching, carried on waving until the plane was a mere dot in a ludicrously large sky. And even when it disappeared from view, he carried on waving, trying to cling to the memory of his friends for just one more minute. He only stopped when he realised that his hand was going numb. He sighed and dropped it back down to his side. He allowed himself a moment to reflect: on the two mentors he had been lucky to know, on the whole sorry business that had led to their departure, and on the mighty burden that now rested heavily on his shoulders. He sighed a second time, more forceful than before, steeling himself against his inevitable return to the Grid.

The light was dimming and he knew that in a couple of hours, darkness would descend. Spots of rain began to fall once more, filling in potholes across the uneven landscape. Droplets bounced off murky puddles and merged with the muddy ground. Dimitri could feel it dampening his clothes, his hair, his face, but he didn't hurry towards the car for shelter. He actually found the rain quite therapeutic in its own way – like it was washing away the crud that the Gavriks', Towers, Levrov and all the other bastards had brought with them.

He was contemplating all of this when he felt his phone begin to vibrate against his thigh. At first, he was tempted to ignore it, tempted to stay wrapped up in his thoughts for a little while longer. But it gradually grew more and more insistent, and he knew that he had to answer. He tutted and reluctantly accepted the call.

"Yeah?"

"Oi, Admiral! Where are you?"

Dimitri rolled his eyes. "Seeing off our friends."

There was a slight pause. "Everything okay?"

"Fine. They're gone. It's over." He muttered, aiming a kick at the muddy ground. "What's up?"

"Oh right, yeah. Er... Erin says 'get your arse back here now'."

From the other end of the line, he could hear Erin's exasperated tone.

"That wasn't what I said, Cal! I said: 'can you make your way back here, please'."

"Okay, okay! Erin says 'get your arse back here now – please'."

"Cal!"

Dimitri couldn't help but let out a small chuckle. Trust Calum to manage to annoy and cheer him up simultaneously. He yanked back the sleeve of his jacket to consult his watch.

"I can be there in about thirty-five minutes. What's happened?"

"New operation. We've had intel from a valuable asset that the Turkish mafia just made a deal with a Columbian drug lord on British turf."

He frowned. "Isn't that a job for Six?"

"Yeah. But not exclusively. Not when our asset has proof that our unlikely alliance are planning on testing the first shipment of a new, potentially dangerous, experimental drug on members of the British public. Two days from now."

"Shit."Dimitri swore, checking his watch again. "Screw speed cameras. I can get there in twenty."

He quickly ended the call and hotfooted it over to the car, jumping in and starting the ignition. His foot was just hovering over the clutch when he suddenly stopped. He glanced up at the spot where the plane had disappeared and managed a small smile. He would keep doing this for them. They had passed the torch down to him; saved him so that he could make a difference, and he made a silent vow there and then that he wouldn't let them down.

"Good luck Mama and Papa Bear." He whispered.

And with that, he sped away, hurtling a mile and minute towards Thames House. Two of the greatest pillars of moral strength that MI5 had ever seen were gone. But it was clear that the terrorists and evildoers didn't just stop because two officers had left. If anything, Dimitri suspected that they would come in droves, bigger and bolder than before. And he intended to be ready. He intended to stand on the wall and face them head on until the day he met his maker. Just as Harry and Ruth would have done.

And there we have it. The final chapter. After nearly nine years and two long hiatuses, we made it. Thank you to all of you lovely people who reviewed and inspired me to keep going. Thank you to everyone who read All We Were and All We Are, and thank you Kudos for the wonderful show that is Spooks. The very best to you all x