Dead Drop

Dimitri sat in the car waiting for Beth to return from the dead drop. He knew she had wanted to go alone but he knew Ros was right to insist he went with her. He had known she was more than capable of attending a basic information collection but he couldn't help but think they were missing something. He couldn't put his finger on it but with the chaos and drama surrounding Harry's sudden departure from the Grid he did wonder if their eyes had been off the ball. It was an idea he hated. Lives depended on them being able to focus, whatever the situation they were in. His thoughts went to Ruth, Catherine, Malcolm and Will. He knew they were the ones closest to Harry. He had to admit he didn't envy any of them, knowing how it felt to be the relative waiting for news and not being able to do a thing to make things better. He was startled from his thoughts as Beth got back in the car.

"You ok?"

"Yeah." He smiled slightly as he started the engine. "Was thinking."

"Careful." She teased. "That's Ruth's job."

"It was her I was thinking about." He shook his head. "I remember what Mum was like when my Dad was ill. I think if Dad hadn't made it then we'd have lost Mum too."

"Don't." Beth sighed.

"I don't want that for them. You said it yourself, Ruth and Harry don't work apart."

"He got to the hospital. He has every chance of coming through this. You heard Catherine when she called. He is in theatre. The docs know what they are doing." She looked out of the side window as Dimitri drove them back towards Thames House. She sighed heavily, hoping against hope her contact had left her useful information and they would have something positive to tell Harry when he returned to the Grid. She couldn't think of him not coming back, it was just unfathomable.

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"Ruth?" She turned as she headed towards the coffee machine.

"Zaf." She sighed as he hugged her tightly. "You should be in work." He pulled back to look at her, shaking his head.

"I should do a lot of things." He teased as she raised an eyebrow. "You ok?"

Ruth sighed heavily as she watched her best friend for a moment, considering her answer. She nodded once.

"Have to be." She mumbled as Zaf shook his head.

"Not with me, you don't have to." He pulled her back into his arms as Ruth finally let the barriers break as she sobbed her heart out. Zaf stayed quiet, knowing false promises that everything would be ok would be useless. He knew Ruth was an analyst, the daughter of a doctor. She knew there was a very real chance things would never be the same again. Instead he hugged her tighter as she seemed to calm in his arms. "Where are the others?"

"I told Graham to take the kids home. Gracie was practically asleep. She's terrified I am going to get sick too."

"Poor kid." Zaf sighed as he thought of the clever little girl that was a carbon copy of his friend in many ways.

"Nick and Catherine are headed to mine too. Catherine is in no fit state to work. I didn't think sending her back to the Grid was the right thing to do."

"Course not." Zaf sighed. "So, you're here on your own?"

"No." She paused. "No, Harry is here." Zaf nodded as he ushered her towards the plastic chair of the waiting room. He knew better than to contradict her. Ruth sat, resting her hands in her lap as she fidgeted with her wedding and engagement ring. Zaf sat next to her. "Thanks for coming, Zaf."

"You don't need to thank me." He looked at her closely for the first time since he had arrived. "We're friends."

Ruth nodded.

"And you can tell me when you aren't ok. You know that? You know Harry has the best docs and nurses looking after him here." He stated rather than asked. Ruth smiled slightly, nodding in agreement. "He's looked after. What I'm worried about is who is looking after you?"

Ruth turned to him with tears in her eyes as a nurse called her name. Zaf squeezed her arm as they both stood up and turned to the nurse.

"Mrs Pearce?"

"Yeah." Ruth felt her heart rate sprint upwards as Zaf stood calmly next to her. "This is mine and Harry's friend, Zaf." The nurse nodded, smiling slightly.

"The operation went really well. Harry has been taken to the ward. Coronary Care. I think he would like to see you."

"He's alive." Ruth blinked, unsure she had really heard the younger woman. The nurse nodded.

"He is. And he is awake and asking for you."

Zaf smiled at her. "Told you, that husband of yours is stubborn. Heart attack isn't going to stop him. You go, I'll call the Grid and Catherine. She can tell the others. Yeah? Go. Get some good news for little Squeak." He hugged her before sending her off with the nurse. He shook his head before pulling his phone out of his Parka pocket. For once something good had happened. While he knew Harry still had a long way to go, his recovery was definitely a step in the right direction.

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a/n sorry for the delay in updating -RL very busy. Please review.