15 Minutes?

Ruth knew she should be terrified. Her ribs burned with every breath and her arms ached where they had been tied but she was furious. Anger seemed to seep through her bones as she lay on the cold stone floor. Light filtered through the small window above the door where she had been thrown through. The light seemed to spur her on, along with Jo's words which she still wasn't sure she had actually heard. The thought of Harry mourning her death wasn't something she was going to allow. Swearing under her breath she forced herself to sit up, knowing somehow she had to get out of the room before her captors returned to finish what they had started.

"C'mon, c'mon Ruth." She sat up and tugged on the restraints on her wrists, cursing as they cut into her skin. The plastic ties would leave scars as red angry welts came up on the skin. It didn't matter, in that moment Ruth didn't care if she dislocated both wrists, she was getting them free and going home,

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"Viral bombs." Ros snapped. "Beth, be careful." Ros snapped as she drove to the site she knew Beth and Erin were headed. She couldn't help but think they were being sent on one of Tessa's infamous wild goose chases. The woman had a way of getting into the heart of the team and ripping it apart - only for them to regroup just in time for her to turn up and try to destroy them again. Although she hadn't been on the team when Zoe had discovered her betrayal Ros knew it had hit the Section hard and Harry had become more distrustful and distant for a long time. Ruth's appearance in his life had made him softer in one way but Ros knew if he was allowed to go after Tessa alone then there was a very good chance he was going to go too far.

"Yeah." Beth turned slowly as she looked up at the London Eye. "Its up there. It has to be."

Ros agreed as she ended the comms link to concentrate on her driving. "Erin is talking to the management to close the Eye. Calum and Will are heading to London Bridge. I can diffuse most IEDs I've come across. But this."

"You can do this." Malcolm's voice cut through the airwaves. "You know this Elizabeth. Its just like any other device you have looked at over the years."

"Yeah? If they blew up I died. If this does, what does one of these Viral Bombs do? Kill millions - slowly and painfully."

"So?" Erin joined them. "We stop it."

Beth took a deep breath as she realised the extent of what she was going to have to do. The break in the rain seemed to come at the right time as Beth hoped it was a sign that things were starting to turn their way.

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Harry sat in the 4x4 staring at the safehouse where he had agreed to met Tessa. He forced himself not to think of his former friend turned traitor or what could be happening to Ruth. He knew he wouldn't be able to do what he might have to in order to stop the woman. He checked his gun, knowing that while he would not be the one to kill her in cold blood, if he had to do so to protect his wife, his team and stop her then he would use the gun without a second thought. He put the gun away as his phone bleeped that a text message had arrived. For a moment he thought about ignoring it but the second alarm made him look.

Dad & Ruth. Me & Terri got married today. Don't be mad at us. Nick and Gracie were there. See you soon x G

Harry couldn't help but smile, knowing that just a few years ago he would never have been sent a text by his oldest son but things had changed. Ruth had changed him and it seemed the former Catholic Novice had changed his son for the better. He put the phone away, knowing that he would reply later - when Ruth was safely back in his arms. The phone bleeped again - a signal that another message had arrived. He frowned as he realised this time it was Tessa contacting him.

Time up.

Harry glared at the message. He knew she was right. It was time Bathsheba was put to bed, for good.

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Ruth winced once more as she stared at her wrists. The left bled slightly as she pulled them apart once more. The plastic ties had cut into the skin but remained unbroken. Getting to her feet she whirled around, suddenly aware that she was no longer alone in the room. Ribs burning and breath stabbing her every time she moved Ruth gasped as she realised she was staring at her friend.

"Lucas."

"Sorry." He stepped towards her. "Ruth." He reached out to steady her as her knees buckled slightly.

"How? What?"

"Not just you that can be handy with a tree branch." He smiled at her as Ruth rolled her eyes.

"Never going to be able to forget that, am I?"

"No." He took his penknife out of his pocket, quickly freeing her wrists as she bit her lip in pain. "Hey, hey." He caught her as she slumped forward in his arms as the pain in her ribs and wrists became too much. "I got you, its ok." Lucas ignored the pain in his wounded side as he lifted her up, knowing Dimitri was just a few feet away dealing with the man who had beaten Ruth. While he knew Dimitri would stick to the rules, part of him couldn't help but wish Harry or Zaf had found the man before they had. Getting Ruth outside the cabin he called for Dimitri to bring the car as near as he could, knowing that they had to get Ruth to the hospital.

"Call Harry." Lucas ordered. "Stop him."

Ruth's eyes opened as she realised she was safe. "He's dead."

"Who?" Dimitri asked as he helped Lucas bundle her into the back seat of the car. "Ruth? Harry is ok. We are going to get you to him."

She shook her head, immediately regretting it. "Spencer. He's dead. Tessa had no more use for him." She leaned against the leather seat of the car as she held her ribs. "She'll kill Harry to. Tony was going to come back to finish me off. When she gave him the order."

"Not going to happen." Dimitri stated firmly.

Ruth smiled slightly. "I."

"Tony is on his way back to the cells. He isn't going to hurt anyone. Not now." Dimitri drove quickly towards the hospital, glad to be headed back towards the City. Lucas kept his eye on Ruth, not liking how she hadn't argued with him. Ruth hated hospitals with a passion, so agreeing to go or at least not arguing about going to A&E was out of character for her. He kept his worries to himself, silently hoping that his worries were unfounded.

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