Fear

Ruth stared at the plain wall of the hospital 'relatives room' knowing that if she had been put to wait in there it was serious. She sighed heavily knowing in her heart that her worst nightmare was coming true. She knew Harry was not the fittest or healthiest of men his age group but the levels of stress his job put on his shoulders had been too much - over the years it had built up. Part of her felt deeply guilty for that. Hadn't she been the one who had persuaded him not to resign after the hotel bomb that had almost killed Ros? It had been her who had been the one who had 'died' so he could keep standing on the wall. In that moment she could have kicked herself. Arms folded she didn't realise Catherine had entered the room until the younger woman rested a hand on her arm.

"Have you called Grey and the others?"

"I." Ruth looked at her step-daughter. She bit her lip. "I was waiting until I had more to tell them."

"Its ok." Catherine paused. "I called Graham from the Grid, he's meeting us here. The kids are staying with Terri." Ruth sniffed slightly, guilt seeping in as she realised the young woman in front of her was probably about to lose her one remaining parent and was just as terrified as she was.

"Calum?"

"Drove me here." Catherine paused. "Told him to go back to the Grid."

Ruth nodded. She knew they still had a case to deal with, there was no way they could drop everything just because Harry.. She didn't want to finish the thought.

"Ros has taken charge. I am to call her as soon as I can."

"Ok." Ruth sniffed before pulling the younger woman in to her arms. "I am sorry. I am so sorry."

"What for?" Catherine pulled back looking Ruth in the eye.

"That your Dad is ill. That I didn't notice sooner. That." She closed her eyes as Catherine shook her head.

"Nothing to be sorry for. We both know how stubborn he is." She sighed as the door opened to allow Graham, Nick and Gracie-Jo to enter. The seven year old went straight to Ruth, hugging her tightly.

"Grey? What part of leaving the kids with Terri didn't sink in."

"He's my daddy too." Gracie snapped. "I am not a baby. I know grown-ups get poorly. And I refused to stay with Terri. Would have run away and come here. I told Graham that and Nick said if I was being a pain in the arse he was coming too."

"Language." Ruth raised an eyebrow.

"Well, that's what he said." Gracie shrugged as Nick sat down. The teenager looked shell shocked as he looked anywhere but at the adults. Graham sat next to him.

"Any news?"

Catherine shook her head, wondering why she ever thought her younger siblings would listen to her. If nothing else they had all inherited their father's stubborn streak - even Nick had picked up traits despite not being their biological sibling. Suddenly none of that mattered. Their Dad was sick and in that moment there was nothing they could do but wait.

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"How old is Harry, anyway?" Tariq asked as the Grid began to settle after the shock of Harry being taken away by paramedics.

"Younger than me." Malcolm sighed. "Right. Well."

"I'll make tea." Zoe decided as she headed into the kitchen.

"This is Harry." Tariq sighed. "Tough as old boots. You know what he's survived over the years. Bombs, attacks, the IRA. Stuff he never even thinks about now I bet."

"Yeah." Will nodded. "He's just." He sighed, feeling guilty that he had burdened his Godfather with the news of his diagnosis. Even now, weeks later he knew only a select handful of people knew he had HIV. Harry had left it to him to tell those he wanted to know, deeming as long as he was passed fit by Occupational Health it was fine for him to carry on - with the proviso he took good care of himself. Most of the Grid just thought Will was on a health kick after having pneumonia.

"What?"

"Always been there." Will shrugged. "Like my second dad, you know? They were best friends."

Tariq nodded, knowing his friend was worried sick. "Why don't you help Zo with the tea? eh? Something to do while we wait." Will nodded before heading to the kitchenette.

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"Hi." The door opened as Ruth felt Gracie nudge her. "Are you with Henry James Pearce?" The young doctor looked slightly shocked as he came to sit in the room. Ruth nodded.

"My Daddy is called Harry." Gracie tucked light brown curls behind her ear as she spoke. As far as she could see all the grown ups were being really useless.

"That's his nickname, Sweetheart. Like Squeak is yours. We all call him Harry but his mum and dad called him Henry James"

"Harry is better."

"It is." Ruth agreed as the doctor sighed. "Sorry, how is he?"

"Sorry but does one of you want to take this young lady outside?" He nodded to Gracie who pulled a face and linked her arm with Ruth.

"He's my daddy and I am not a baby." She looked him in the eye as Catherine smirked slightly. The little girl was certainly her father's daughter.

"She'll only eavesdrop." Nick rolled his eyes. "She needs to know. We all do." Ruth nodded.

"Right well. Harry has had a STEMI. Which means he had a serious heart attack. An ST elevated Myocardial Infarction. He is quite unwell at the moment but we have him on medication and close monitoring. He is being prepared to be moved to the Cardiac Catheter Lab so we can put some stents in his major arteries to keep them open. We've given him painkillers."

"So, he's going to be ok?" Graham asked.

"He's still very unwell but he is doing well." The doctor smiled slightly. "Seems he has a lot of fight in him."

"Always." Ruth sighed.

"Your friend, the one who gave him aspirin? Administered first aid?"

"Beth." Ruth frowned slightly.

"She did really well. Bought him time to get to us." The doctor got to his feet. "Do you want to see him?"

"Mum?" Gracie nudged her. "Go on."

"You'll stay here? Wait for me?"

"Oh yes." Gracie crossed her heart as Ruth slipped out of the room. It was only then that the tears began to fall. Catherine held her arms out to her little sister as Gracie hugged her tightly.

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