Prayers
The rain seemed to have abated as Lucas sat in the car next to Erin. He knew the brunette was as worried about their boss as he was but he had to admit he was secretly pleased Ros was basically confined to the Grid as she ran the Section in Harry's absence. He frowned slightly as Erin pulled her phone from her jacket pocket. She tapped a few keys, apparently answering a text as Lucas watched the car opposite pull out into traffic.
"Anything?"
"Tariq." She frowned. "Says the van is definitely owned by Damien Lloyd"
"One of the infamous SD alumni." Lucas paused, remembering the briefing notes Ruth had given them all. "Shouldn't he still be in prison?"
"Yes." Erin frowned as they discretely watched the bald headed man leave the house they had been watching. "According to Zoe's intel he is out on good behaviour."
"She's covering Catherine?"
"Yeah." Erin sighed. "Not the analyst either Catherine or Ruth are but."
"She's doing her best." Lucas found himself defending the last original female member of the team. When he had been sent to Russia she had been a junior officer - dangerously keen and scarily good at the job. He knew she would have picked up a few tricks from the Pearce women but Erin was right, there was no one that could match Ruth's analytical skills. He had no idea what was happening at the hospital but hoped his old friend and mentor was going to be ok. Erin frowned as the man they had been watching for the last hour made his way to the van. Lucas waited, knowing that while they could see him there was little chance he could see them. As the van pulled out into traffic Lucas started the engine, following him discreetly from a few cars behind.
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"I am not an analyst." Zoe whispered as she stared at the open files on her desk. She knew Ruth would have found something useful, would have at least an idea of what was going on or who was behind the explosion and the apparent copycat crimes of a now defunct paramilitary group. She closed her eyes, forcing herself to focus as she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Zo."
"Any news?"
"Lucas and Erin are following Damien." Zaf explained. "Erin just text Tariq. He's hacking into the bank accounts now."
"I do not hack." Tariq huffed. "I am an MI5 officer, we do not hack."
"Nope." Calum smirked, "We leave that for Ruth."
"I am lawfully gaining access to Damien Lloyd's financial accounts. He just doesn't know I am doing it." He looked up. "What?"
"That's hacking." Beth pulled her jacket on.
"No it is not. I am not a criminal." Tariq narrowed his eyes. "I am a technical expert."
"OK, ok." She smiled at him. "I'm off to meet my asset."
"Take Dimitri." Ros ordered as she stood in the doorway of Harry's office. Dimitri nodded, getting to his feet - glad for the excuse to get away from the computer.
"Its only Diane, I've met her loads of times. This should be a dead-drop anyway."
"I wasn't giving you an option, Miss Bailey." Ros shot her one of her patented death glares as Dimitri ushered her out of the Grid. Beth glanced at him for a moment before deciding that arguing with Ros was probably not the best idea she had ever had. She sighed as she felt his hand on the small of her back, wondering if she would ever be in the position Ruth was in. Blinking slightly she fell silent as she let Dimitri lead her through the Pods. Once on the other side of the main doors he pulled her into an alcove.
"Beth."
"So, Diane said."
"Don't care, not at the moment." He held her gaze as Beth took a deep breath. "I am more concerned about you."
"Me? Its not me in the hospital." She paused. "I'm fine."
"Are you?"
"I thought Harry was going to die in front of me." Beth blinked back a tear. "I dunno why I remembered the aspirin but I did. Girl I was in uni with, her uncle had a heart attack when I was visiting them. Remembered the paramedic giving him some." She paused. "What if I'd been wrong? What if?"
Dimitri nodded before pulling her into his arms. He knew Beth would never let anyone see her upset on the Grid but with him it was a different matter. He kissed her hair as she buried her face in his chest, breathing him in.
"You knew what you were doing. Harry is alive because you were there." He held her a little tighter as he kissed her hair. "You know that. I am so proud of you." He whispered as she pulled back to look him in the eyes. Beth blushed furiously as she stepped back from him. Wiping her eyes on her sleeve she headed towards the car as he followed. He sent up a silent prayer that whichever Saint looked after Spooks would be on their side. He knew if Harry didn't get well Ruth and Catherine would be devastated but he knew Beth would be heart broken too. He made a mental note to light a candle for her and their friends that night as he got in the car. Beth looked over at him as he started the engine.
"You're going to church later, aren't you?"
"Might light a candle." He paused. "I know, I know. But its the way I was brought up."
Beth smiled at him, her hand resting on his on the gear stick for a moment.
"Its one of the reasons I love you, Sailor Boy now come on or I'll miss the dead drop." She smiled as he drove off, knowing that she would be saying her own prayers before the night was over.