3

Adam stepped away from the man he had been talking to as Tariq and Catherine jogged down the front steps of the hotel. He knew neither of them had been officers the last time they had been there, and by the look on Catherine's face he could see she had a lot of questions.

"Everything is in place." Tariq dropped his kitbag to the floor. "All working like a dream."

"No problems at all. Can we get back to London now?" Catherine headed back towards the small pool car she and Tariq had used to get there. Adam smirked.

"What?"

"Nothing." Adam smirked as Zaf joined them. "We are sure everything is in place? Nothing can go wrong here."

"Yeah, all my kit is in place and is working." Tariq looked slightly offended. "You know those on scene will be wearing wires."

"Just be glad Will has the job of being barman this time." Catherine teased, knowing the techie hated being in the field. He was much happier behind a computer screen than dealing with actual human beings. She got back in the car as Adam and Zaf headed to their own vehicle. It wasn't until Tariq was in the passenger seat that he spoke again.

"Why is this place such a big deal?"

"An arms deal going down at what is supposed to be a conference on Climate Change?" Catherine drove along the gravel path. "I have no idea."

"And sarcasm doesn't suit you." Tariq huffed. "I mean, yes we will do the job and hopefully stop the bad guys but there is more to this place than that. You can tell when you see the reaction in Ruth and Ros for starters. Then there the way Adam and Zaf nearly choked when Havensworth was mentioned."

"Ok, are you sure you don't want to be a field spook?"

Tariq pulled a face. "Er, no." He paused. "But I am right. Do you know what it is?"

"Ruth told me there was an op here about six weeks before she had to go into deep cover. Nothing special, just a surveillance op. Like this one."

"Do you believe her?"

"Why would she lie? Yes, I believe her." Catherine pushed her foot to the accelerator as she took the car onto the motorway. "There was an op there. I checked. And the time is right. Something about an Italian minister causing trouble was mentioned but nothing else. Ruth and my Dad weren't together then."

"Can't imagine a time when they weren't together." Tariq sighed. "It's like there has always been a them."

Catherine smiled. "You wouldn't have liked my Dad before he met Ruth. She's mellowed him."

"Harry has mellowed?"

Catherine laughed. "Believe it or not. Do not tell anyone I told you that." She shook her head as Tariq sat dumbfounded next to her.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Ros walked through the Pods before heading straight to Malcolm's desk. He looked up as she approached her, frowning slightly.

"Ros?"

"Can you check this for me?" She handed him the memory stick as he nodded once.

"Of course, what is it?"

"An asset gave it to me. I have no idea what is on it or if it has a virus but we need to check."

Malcolm nodded, immediately digging in his desk drawer to find his latest gadget. She stepped back, leaving him to it. She knew he would call her if he had anything to tell her. She took the coffee mug Lucas held out to her.

"So we know next to nothing about the so called convention." Zoe stated as she glared at the computer. "The Chinese are refusing to come."

"Not surprised." Will sat at his desk, looking as awful as he felt. Alec smirked. He knew a hangover when he saw one. Ruth crouched next to him.

"Paracetamol. Take it, and try to eat something. Ok?"

"Yes, work Mum." Will took the tablets and glass of water from him. "I feel like Hell."

"A night in the pub will do that."

"I wasn't." Will sighed. "I went home from here. I just." Ruth rested her hand on his forehead, pulling it away when she realised how hot he was.

"You are burning up."

"So, not a hangover then kid." Alec frowned, unnerved at being wrong.

"Get up to med bay. Go." Ruth gave him a pointed look as he got to his feet. He gripped the edge of the desk to stop himself from swaying. Alec grabbed his arm to stop him falling.

"Do as Ruth says. Med bay." He ushered him off the Grid as Ruth watched them go. She knew he teased her about keeping her eye on him and the younger members of the team but she couldn't help it. She just wished there had been someone there to keep an eye on her in the early days. She folded her arms wondering if she would have had the life she had if there had been such a presence on the Grid. In that moment she missed Jo, Colin and Danny more than ever. Sighing she turned back to the computer knowing she had to analyse the files she had on the conference delegates. A moment later she looked up to see Harry in the doorway of the office. He nodded to her once before calling for the team to be in the Briefing Room in one hour.

"Ros."

"What?" Ros placed her mug on the desk.

"Whitehall now." He handed her a file. "I think its time we found out what Crowther expects us to do with the Intel we have. Especially after the last debacle."

"I thought you had the JIC today."

"I do." Harry looked less than keen on the thought. "I'd like to go in there forearmed before Geoffrey Goddard and his cronies try to discredit us again." Ros smirked, knowing how much he disliked the career politician who had somehow got himself on the Committee. The idea of going up against him seemed like a welcome diversion from the case that seemed to be going nowhere. She grabbed her leather jacket.

"Bloody Hell." Ruth whispered under her breath as she read what was on her screen. "Harry, I think we have a problem."

(A/n Is anyone reading this? Please review if you are)