Ruth walked out to the main waiting room of the Cardiology ward intent on calling home before calling the Grid. She couldn't shake the feeling that Harry had stated he was going to retire. She felt sick at the idea of Section D without Harry. She knew if he went through with it, if he really left then she would too. There was no way she would be able to stay on the Grid without him. She ran a hand over her face as Mike approached her.
"You ok?"
"Yeah." Ruth smiled. "Yeah, now I know he is going to be ok."
Mike smiled and nodded. He squeezed her shoulder as she felt the adrenaline leave her. He ushered her into his office before handing her a mug of tea. "He needs you on form, you know that."
"As always." Ruth sighed.
"More than ever now. He wont leave MI-5. Cut him in half and Section D is running through him like a stick of rock."
Ruth smiled slightly.
"Its the shock of becoming so ill so quickly. He's probably got anaesthetic still in his system."
"Maybe." Ruth sighed. "He's going to be ok? Isn't he?" She looked up at him as Mike sighed.
"You know he's not a young man anymore."
"I know he's seventeen years older than me and I feel like I'm 90." She sipped her tea. "This has aged me."
Mike smiled. "He's not an easy man to live with I bet."
"He has his moments." Ruth smiled. "You know what he's like."
"What I am worried about is how you are. You need to look after yourself." He watched as she closed her eyes. "Gracie and Nick need their Mum."
"I need them just as much." Ruth placed her mug on the desk. "I'm fine. I am always fine. I have to be."
"No, you don't. Ruth, please don't make yourself ill trying to be everything to everyone." Mike squeezed her hand. "Go home, get some rest."
Ruth nodded. "I'm going to call a taxi."
"No need." Mike smiled. "Zaf has been waiting for you. He's in the car park. Let your friends look out for you. Ok?"
Ruth smiled. "Ok," She got to her feet as Mike walked her out of the office hoping that both his friends would be alright.
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"Catherine?" Calum looked up as she walked into the Grid. She headed towards him. "What? Your Dad?"
"Is doing ok." She smiled as he hugged her. "Honestly. Terri has the kids and I need to be useful." She looked around as Will headed towards where Beth and Dimitri were sat. "Feels wrong, Dad and Ruth not being here."
"Tell me about it." Calum sighed. "And even more weird that its a natural illness that put him in hospital rather than someone out to kill him." Catherine shook her head.
"Trust you to think of that."
"Yeah, well. You get fed up of the bad guys trying to kill us." He hugged her again. "You be careful. Don't push yourself, ok?"
"You are telling a Pearce to be careful? Do you know me at all?" She smirked as he kissed her forehead.
"Yes, which is why I know there isn't any point in trying to talk you into going home. But I am allowed to worry." He stepped back. "You know that, yeah?"
"Yes." Catherine smiled at her husband. "I know." She stepped towards her desk hoping that she was going to be able to find something that would find the link they needed. She logged on her computer as Ros appeared in the doorway of the office, calling Erin as she appeared through the Pods. Malcolm looked up as Erin jogged down the Pods.
"Ros, you want to see this." He nodded at his computer. Ros and Erin headed towards him.
"What?"
"I used Ruth's facial recon system. The one she and Tariq updated. Seems an old friend of ours in part of the protestors on the motorway this morning."
"Robert Malloy." Ros frowned. "Did Richard tell you anything about him?"
"No. He didn't give me any names. The Cousins don't see them as a threat." Erin folded her arms. Ros closed her eyes, wishing she knew what Harry would do. All her instincts told her to get to the motorway and drag him in, as Acting Section Head she knew her place was on the Grid. She swore under her breath. "Dimitri, Adam. Bring him in." She nodded at the screen. "Catherine, find out anything and everything you can on him."
Catherine sat at her desk, grateful that Ros had given her a task. She began typing, knowing that she had to find the man who seemed intent on resurrecting the nightmare that was Shining Dawn. Resting her head on one hand she knew she agreed with the legitimate protestors, even if she didn't agree with their methods but Malloy was something else. She glanced up as Adam and Dimitri left the Pods, sending up a silent prayer her friends would come back in one piece.
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Adam drove towards the motorway knowing that they were going to have to pull something out of the bag to get the police to let them get to the front of the line of traffic waiting for the blockade to be moved. Dimitri sat in the passenger seat reading the texts Catherine was sending him. They knew what Malloy looked like, it was what he was capable of that was the unknown factor. Adam pushed his foot to the accelerator as Dimitri read out the text.
"Beth and Erin are on the way too."
"Does it need four of us to bring him in?" Adam frowned. Dimitri shrugged.
"No idea. Beth's the explosive expert." He couldn't help the pride that crept into his voice as he talked about his girlfriend. Adam nodded. "How many people are protesting?"
"Few dozen." Adam guessed. "Then add in the number of people policing it and in the cars waiting to get passed. Could be a massacre waiting to happen."
"According to Catherine, he has no previous for violence or anything like that. Does have previous for blackmail, extortion with menaces. Usually gets his sidekick to do the dirty work." Dimitri read the text before pressing the speed dial on the phone for Catherine. "You know who the sidekick is?"
"And hello to you too." Catherine huffed. "He was released from prison in 2018. Then went under the radar. Sidekick is Leslie Alderman. Met him when he was released. Seems she has a thing for ex-offenders. Nasty cow. Has convictions for GBH, Common Assault and drug running. Not a nice young lady. Sending you a picture now." She ended the call as the phone bleeped to tell them a picture had arrived. Adam frowned as he pushed his foot to the accelerator. He couldn't shake the feeling they were missing something. He just hoped his gut instinct was wrong.