9 Trouble

Ros walked back to the car, aware that Lucas was waiting for her. She knew her asset had no reason to lie to her but she couldn't shake the feeling there was more to the murder of John Morgan and the attack on Lydia Morgan than they were being told. She got into the car, slamming the door just as the rain started.

"Anything?" Lucas asked. She raised an eyebrow as he started the engine.

"Not sure." She paused. "He is usually reliable. Worked with her, but."

"There's something not sitting right?" Lucas drove away from the North London address he had been parked outside. Ros nodded once, knowing she would give the microdot she had been handed straight to Malcolm to decipher. She knew whatever those going after the former Prime Minister were they would think nothing of killing anyone who got in the way. Lucas swore under his breath as Ros snapped her attention to him. Lucas rarely swore but when he did she knew it was because he was either angry or scared. She turned in her seat.

"Friends?"

"Didn't plan on making any." He hissed as he began weaving in and out of the traffic. "Might end up taking the scenic route back to the Grid."

Ros nodded, checking her gun as Lucas slammed on the breaks. A moment later they were being dragged from the pool car as shots were fired. Ros fired her gun, hoping that whoever was gripping her by the neck would let her go. Lucas hit the ground hard, his head making a sickening thud against the tarmac as Ros was hit over the head with her assailant's gun.

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Beth walked over to the bench facing the Thames as Dimitri held his head in his hands. She knew he didn't like talking about his past, his time in the SBS was generally a taboo topic. She knew he was proud of his team and his work but it was never something to be openly talked about. She sat on the bench next to him.

"You ok?"

"Yeah." He nodded as she raised an eyebrow.

"Don't lie to me, Sailor Boy."

"I'm not." He turned to face her. "I am not lying. Why did you follow me?"

Beth sighed slightly. She knew he was upset, but getting the man in front of her to open up was like getting blood out of a stone.

"I saw you with Ruth and Catherine. Something upset you. Ruth looked worried."

"And if she is worried?"

"So am I." Beth touched his hand. "She's not the best analyst in MI 5 for nothing." She smiled as he turned his hand, holding hers.

"Do you remember how we met?"

"Pirate ship, of the coast of Tangier. Going after Abib." She paused. "I thought you were the Captain. Thought you were fairly hot back then too, if we're being honest."

Dimitri smiled. "Thought you did."

"Dim."

"I'd just joined. That was my first job with the Section." He paused. "A week earlier I had been on an SBS job where a friend was killed. Right in front of me. Bullet straight through the neck." He paled at the memory. "Died instantly."

"That's awful." She felt him tighten his hold on her hand for a moment. "You didn't tell me."

A wry smile crossed his face. "You know, I don't talk about it. But he was dead. Was. Until he apparently turned up on the footage from the CCTV cameras Tariq gave to Cath."

"Oh my God."

"Nathan Michael Johnson died in front of me." He shook his head. "I know he did. We went to his funeral. His wife." He shook his head. "How? How can he be a part of a hit squad?" He closed his eyes for a moment. "I thought he was one of the good guys. He took the bullet for me. It should have hit me."

Beth shook her head before standing to pull him into her arms. He hugged her tightly as he buried his head in her shoulder finally letting the tension go.

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Ruth crossed the Grid as Harry appeared in the doorway of his office. "Ros?"

"Not back from meeting her asset." Zoe answered as she picked her jacket up from the chair. "Ruth, I'm going."

"Nowhere." Harry snapped. "Ruth, Redflash everyone who isn't on the Grid."

"Harry."

He shot her a look. Ruth nodded, picking up her phone as he headed towards the Briefing Room announcing that they were all expected to be there in the next few minutes. She watched him go, wondering exactly what had been said in the office while she was with Catherine. She glanced at the monitor, relieved that Beth, Dimitri, Adam and Zaf had sent back the code needed to confirm they were on the way back to the Grid. Only Ros and Lucas seemed to be missing. Ruth frowned slightly, waiting a moment wondering what the problem was. When there was still no answer she pressed the button on her phone that would speed dial Ros.

You have reached my voicemail. This means I am busy. Leave your name and number and I will return the call.

Ruth cursed under her breath before dialling Lucas' mobile.

This is Lucas' voicemail. Leave a message. Thanks. Bye.

She put the mobile back in her pocket, her gut churning. Something had gone wrong at the meet. She knew it. Something had happened, meaning Lucas and Ros were out there on their own.

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a/n is anyone reading?