1
Harry stared at the paperwork in front of him. He knew Gruber was dangerous, that should Ros' cover slip for even a microsecond her life was in danger. Reading the information Ruth had left on his desk he knew Ros would be able to handle herself, it was Ruth he was terrified for.
"Adam." He looked up as his friend headed into his office.
"Ros is in situ. Using the alias Rachel Northey."
"Close to her real name." Harry nodded; knowing that hiding in near truths was sometimes easier to maintain than an outright lie.
"Yeah." Adam paused. "Our Rachel is doing a five year stretch for armed robbery. Divorced, one brother- me. Should we need to have another contact in there other than Ruth."
"How long?"
"Amy's birthday is in three weeks. Can't see Ros missing that." Adam sat down. "Ruth's cover is prison counsellor. Grace Portman."
"I see."
"It's a name she'll react to without a second thought. She can do this. Trust her."
Harry glared at his friend. "Would you be having this conversation with Lucas?"
"Ruth isn't a field officer but she will have back up. I'll be around and you know Ruth can carry this off." Adam watched as Harry narrowed his eyes.
"Racists and crossbow ring any bells?"
"Low blow, but yeah. She saved my life, you know she is a natural spook. Have faith."
Harry nodded. "I'm needed at Whitehall. Someone has to defend our honour to the JIC." He got to his feet. "Have some good news when I return, Adam." He headed out of his office, marching towards the Pods without a look back. Ruth bit her lip as she watched him walk away knowing the vitriol was all because he was worried about her and Ros putting themselves in danger. She just hoped he had no reason to be worried.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Feeling more chatty today?" Kyla asked as Ros pulled a comb through her hair. She shot the younger woman a death glare as the cell door was opened. Without a word Kyla pushed past her as Ros let a slight smirk creep over her face. She had a feeling that she was going to enjoy this job.
"Rachel."
"What?"
"That would be what, Sir." The thick set prison guard walked up to her. Ros kept her face blank as he squared up to her. "You mind me. You are here for the foreseeable and I could make your stay with us as pleasant or as unpleasant as I wish."
"Is that so." She glared, hating the bully in uniform in front of her. "Sir"
"Get yourself to the Governor's office. Now."
She stepped past him, smirking as she did so. It seemed she was going to enjoy a little of her time in the prison; even if it was only to piss off the guard who clearly had no idea she was a plant by Section D. The idea of taking down a bully was just an added bonus. She headed along the metal walkway of the prison knowing that the only person who knew who she was and why she was there was the prison governor. She just hoped the man would be able to keep her cover under wraps. Moments later she was inside the plus office.
"Rachel."
"Yes." She held his gaze as the bird like woman who was his secretary hurried past her into the outer office. He pointed to a chair opposite his desk.
"I understand you and your cell mate are settling in."
Ros kept her face neutral. "I know why you are here, but you will not be treated any differently to any other prisoners. I can't have that."
"I'm here to flush out a serious problem you have here. Treating me any different will get me killed. Now, do you normally call new arrivals here for a pep talk." She kept her eyes on his as he began to feel himself getting flustered.
"I won't have any trouble in my prison."
"Too late for that." She stepped away from the older thick set man with jowls that reminded her of a depressed blood hound. Memories of the last time she had been stuck in an office with a man came back to her as she struggled to remain focused. There was no way she was going to let her past jeopardise her present. She walked out of the office glaring ahead, ignoring the glare of the bird like Secretary who watched her as she left.
Xxxxxxxx
Zoe shut down her computer as Dimitri headed over to her.
"Back ground check done?"
"Yes." Zoe frowned. "Ros doesn't know what she's walked into. This woman."
"Gunther."
"She's." Zoe paused, trying to find the right words. Erin flopped in the chair opposite.
"A megalomaniac psychopath." Erin finished as her long dark plait hung over her shoulder. "Ruth will be wearing a wire but."
"This woman sold arms to AQ, IS and the IRA back in the day." Catherine approached them. "She's got less scruples than a cockroach."
"So?" Dimitri frowned as Adam called them all into the meeting room, clearly loving being the Spook in charge now Ros was undercover.
"We make sure both Ruth and Ros have the back up and all the information they need to take this bitch down." Erin hissed as she ushered Tariq and Will into the oak lined room. She slumped in her customary chair thinking how wrong the place seemed without the two matriarchs on the Grid. With Beth still recovering from her brain injury and Ros and Ruth away the team suddenly seemed to be very male dominated. She sighed suddenly missing the brash but astute blonde, the Ice Queen and the Mama Bear she hoped the op would go to plan.
Xxxxxx
Ruth hung her jacket over the back of the chair in the small grey office. The place resembled her mood. She hated not being on the Grid; but she had to concede that at least she got home every night which was more than Ros would be until the op was over.
"Come in." Ruth smiled as a young woman, about half her age stepped gingerly into the room.
"You the nurse?"
"No, sorry. I'm the new prison counsellor. Grace Portman." Ruth tried to smile slightly. The young woman pulled the sleeves on her shirt over her wrists.
"Oh right. I need my methadone."
"Sorry, I can't get any for you." Ruth watched as the young woman's eyes darted around the room. "The Nurse is in later. About 2 o clock."
"You can't give me my gear?"
"No."
"What's the point you being ere then? Fucking useless." She turned, marching out of the room, turning the file on the edge of the desk on its head causing it to crash to the floor. Ruth swore under her breath as she bent to retrieve the papers that had scattered. She jolted as she saw the familiar blonde who had arrived and began picking up papers.
"There you go."
"And you are?" Ruth asked as Ros raised an eyebrow.
"Pissed off. Could do with a chat." Ros watched as Ruth made a show of debating whether there was time to see her. Stepping over to the door she stepped out to talk to the guard about duty of care and patient confidence before ushering him away and closing the door.
"Right, well."
"Shall I lay on the couch?" Ros raised an eyebrow. Ruth rolled her eyes.
"Well?"
Ros handed her a small memory stick, causing Ruth to debate where to hide it. Slipping it into her bra she sat down.
"This is gonna be huge." Ros paused. "Whatever Gruber has in mind the Governor is a big part of it."
Xxxxxxx
A/N please review