Girl power?
Harry sat at the head of the briefing room table feeling slightly unsettled. With neither Ros or Ruth there he knew there was no way he was going to be able to soften the blow. He knew Lucas and Zaf, who had become a surrogate brother to both Ros and Ruth had to hear what happened to Ros from him. Both men stepped in to the room aware that they were uncharacteristically early for the briefing.
"Sit down. Both of you." Harry signalled to them both.
"You look like you've seen a ghost." Zaf smirked. "What we done?"
Harry ran his hand over his face. Lucas sat down, watching him intently.
"It's Ros."
Harry nodded once.
"I found out earlier but you were both away from the Grid. Lucas, she's."
Lucas visibly paled. His already alabaster skin took on an almost translucent quality. Zaf swore.
"If you tell me that."
"She's in the hospital wing of the prison. Apparently if it wasn't for my asset and her cell mate she would be dead. Kyla and Michael stepped in. Thank God. She's alive. Adam is visiting her as planned as Ruth is going in too."
"Get her out of there." Zaf paused as Lucas buried his head in his hands. He knew Ros would never walk away from an op. The hotel bombing years earlier had taught them all that.
"She's alive." Lucas watched as Harry smiled.
"Come on, Lucas." Zaf shook his head. "Nightingale, Mace, Jack, Tom And all the other scum she's faced couldn't stop her. Some fat slag isn't going to. Our Ros is tenacious if nothing else."
"Bloody minded." Harry mumbled. "But all the best spooks are. We can't pull her out of there yet. She's ok but the doctor said she's going to need hospital care for a day or so. Ruth and Adam will see her today."
Lucas nodded. He thought of his kids, both in school and wondered how he would tell them if the worst happened. A slight knock on the door caught their attention as Malcolm appeared.
"Sorry to interrupt." The older man looked on the verge of a heart attack or some sort of break down. Harry raised his eyes.
"You're late anyway. Where is everyone?" Harry got to his feet.
"Ah well."
"What is it?"
"You need to see this. All of you. Seems like there's a bit of bother at the prison." Malcolm avoided Lucas' gaze.
"And the justice secretary is on the phone waiting for you."
Harry swore under his breath before practically marching out of the office. Lucas and Zaf followed.
Xxxxxxxx
The noise was deafening as Ruth stepped out of the counselling office. Smoke and sirens filled the air as a younger woman barrelled into her. Ruth gasped, knocked off balance.
"In there. Now." Ruth was pushed back through the office door as the younger woman slammed the door behind her.
"What the?"
"Grace Portman Yeah? I'm Kyla. Rachel's cell mate. She can't make her appointment today." Kyla seemed terrified as Ruth nodded. "Only she ain't who she seems to be. Is she?"
"I won't discuss cases with you. Patient confidentiality."
"I know all that." Kyla waved a hand away. "Rachel took a pasting because she stood up to Gruber. Two things can happen when you do that. One." Kyla counted on her fingers. "You end up in hospital or b, the mortuary. The cow is psycho."
"Are you telling me you know who attacked Rachel?"
"Yeah but right now luv? We got bigger problems. Bloody riot in A block! Kicking right off."
"I thought something was." Ruth sighed. "What caused it?"
"Fuck me if I know." Kyla snapped. Ruth raised an eyebrow. The younger woman reminded her of a cross between Ros and Jo. For a moment she wondered if Ros really had cultivated an asset while she had been in there. "I dunno but I reckon it's got something to do with Gruber's lot. She's been spouting all that white supremacy crap. Winding people up." Kyla sniffed, hugging her arms tightly around her she looked as if she was about to cry.
"Right." Ruth's mind whirred as she tried to think of the best way to get them to safety. A prison riot hadn't been figured into their plans but she knew she had to find Ros.
"Rachel ain't who she says she is either. Doubt you are too."
Ruth's heart started pounding. "What?"
"I know an undercover cop when I see one. Don't worry I won't land you init. "
"I don't know what you mean."
Kyla raised an eyebrow. "Like I said. I'm no angel but if your lot are in ere after Gruber then I'll 'elp all I can."
Ruth smiled. "I'll have to get you to sign some stuff at some point."
"Aye. Contracts ."
"Official Secrets Act."
"Fuck!"
"Yeah. I know." Ruth smiled slightly. "So? How do you get to the hospital wing from here?"
Kyla ran a hand through her hair before leading Ruth out of the room. Ruth ducked her head as she followed the younger woman trying to block out the nerves that coursed through her as prison officers dressed in riot protection gear headed through the corridors. Kyla swore as she ducked out of the way before grabbing Ruth's hand and leading her deeper into the prison.
Xxxxxxx
Adam glared at the prison warden ran the metal detector over him. There had been no explanation for the delay in getting into the prison and he was beginning to get worried.
"Cmon mate. My sister is in the hospital wing."
"If it was serious then you'd have been called in before now." The burly woman snapped. Adam glared as she told him to wait. Sirens began to blare as she stormed away, ignoring the bedraggled and annoyed family members. Adam slipped behind the counter into the prison glad that the harridan seemed to have forgotten basic security protocols. He slipped away unnoticed as the chaos of the riot continued.
Xxxxxx
Ros glared at the ceiling, trying to work out why she was in a different area of the prison to where she had been headed. Sirens caught her attention as Adam appeared next to her.
"Alright?"
"What's?"
"According to your notes my darling sister, you have a fairly decent concussion, bruised ribs and a broken cheek bone." Adam appraised her as she tried to sit up.
"Yeah? Well you should see the other guy." Ros kept her face deadpan as Adam sat down next to her. "What happened ?"
"World War 3 by the sounds of things. Your sparring partner has thrown an almighty tantrum." Adam paused. Ros swore as she shifted position.
"Probably realised she's missing this." She slid a SIM card from the locket she had been wearing. "Took it when she tried to strangle me. Seriously Adam, I am taking that bitch down."
Adam nodded once. "No Ros, we are." He got to his feet before squeezing her hand and leaving the room.
Xxxxxxx
Harry glared at the television monitor as the news broadcast live from outside the prison. Zoe swore as the footage switched to show some of the prisoners on the roof. A fire seemed to be flickering in the corner.
"Adam, Ros and Ruth are in there." Catherine folded her arms. "We still don't know where the planned attacks are. What the Hell do we do now?"
Beth sighed as she realised Lucas and Zaf had gone. Harry narrowed his eyes before turning to his daughter.
"Work. That's what we do now." He headed towards the Grid as Alec joined them. Alec paused.
"Harry? Where are you going?"
"Where do you think?"
Alec swore. "Not in your own." Alec turned as Zoe suddenly realised she was the most senior person remaining. Her stomach flipped as she realised she had to keep the Grid on track - lives depended on it.
Xxxxxx
A/n can Kyla help? What has Ros found? Please review