16
Ros glared at the television as she thought about the day's events. The operation had gone dramatically wrong as far as she could see but she knew it was because they hadn't had all the intel they had needed. She narrowed her eyes as Lucas sat on the sofa behind him, his hands resting on her shoulders.
"Ros."
"Kids ok?"
"Kids and dogs sleeping." Lucas kissed the top of her head as she relaxed back into him. "You know Amy has worked out something is upsetting you. She asked if we had been fighting."
"What did you say?" Ros frowned. She had always tried to protect her kids from the reality of her work life. She knew as they got older that would be more and more difficult but somehow getting a nine year old to sign the Official Secrets Act seemed a bit extreme. Lucas sighed.
"I told her work had been horrible but that no we hadn't been fighting."
"She's ok now?" Ros wondered if she should go to her, knowing that there had been a time when her and Lucas had come close to divorce - after she had kept him at arms length following her attack by Harrison just a few years earlier. Amy and James had been babies then, knowing nothing about it. She was determined they never would.
"She's fine." Lucas sighed. "Apparently one of her friends in school has parents who are getting divorced. She wondered if that would happen to us. If she would end up living in two houses."
Ros turned to face him, her eyes filled with concern. "You're stuck with me North." She rested her hand on his face, her thumb running over the five o clock shadow that was already there. He smiled at her before kissing the palm of her hand.
"Wouldn't have it any other way." She moved to sit next to him on the sofa as the newsreader continued to talk about the undisclosed diplomatic incident that had put an end to the Climate Change Conference. Lucas sighed as he rested his arm around her shoulders, knowing that while the rest of the world saw Ros Myers, Ice Queen he got the real Ros and for that he would always be grateful.
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Ruth slipped her shirt off, glad that she had kept her denim shirt on the Grid and had something dry to change into when they had got back from the hotel. Now she was beginning to feel the ache in her ribs as she moved; knowing that the gunman's kick to the ribs had caused more damage than she had thought. She looked in the mirror, wincing as she saw the purple bruise that was forming across her rib cage.
"Shit." She muttered as she knew she was going to be reminded of the kick for the foreseeable future. Ribs were a 'long job' as Mike had once told her. She was just glad Harry had realised what she had been trying to tell him and not retaliated. The last thing she wanted was for anyone else to get hurt, least of all him.
"Ruth." She turned to see her husband in the doorway to the shower. His eyes widened as he saw the bruise darkening her skin. She sighed.
"Its not as sore as it looks." She bit her lip.
"You have a boot print on your ribs. If that bastard wasn't already dead."
"Harry." She raised her eyebrows. "I am fine."
"Ruth." He stepped into the bathroom. "You should be in the hospital. In A&E. At least let Mike check you over."
"No, I am fine." She took his hand as he stepped towards her. "This will fade. Bruises heal." She smiled slightly. "Not the first time I've had damaged ribs. Just don't expect me to be running around the Grid for the rest of the week."
"You're actually taking time off?" Harry couldn't believe it.
"No." She rolled her eyes. "I'm needed there. I just wont be moving around the place as fast as I could normally." Harry kissed her forehead as she rested her hands on his shirt covered chest. "Not a word to the kids. I mean it."
"Nick isn't stupid."
"No, I know but I wont have him or Gracie worried about me. Its my job to worry about them." She stated firmly as she picked up her towel. "Promise me, Harry. That boy has worried about me enough since I came into his life." Harry sighed, knowing she was referring to her relationship with George. She rarely spoke of it but he had a feeling the doctor hadn't been the sort of partner anyone would want for someone they cared about. He pushed the anger down before stepping back. "Are you sure you don't need any help?" He smirked as Ruth raised an eyebrow.
"I think I can manage a shower by myself." She smiled as he shrugged his shoulders.
"Well, if you need any help washing your back." He watched as she blushed, loving that he could still make her blush after so many years together. "The offer is there."
"Thanks." She made to unclip her bra, wincing as Harry turned back to her.
"Here." He unclipped it without a problem. "Call me if you need me. Ok?"
"Ok." She smiled slightly as he left the bathroom. She watched him go, knowing that he blamed himself for her getting hurt when as far as she saw it there was no need.
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"Well, this is bullshit." Catherine read the report on the screen. "I am seriously not liking this Katya woman."
"You'd never guess." Calum handed her a mug of coffee. "Ruth put LO orders out on her to all police forces, the Border Force, Customs, every port and airport as well as the Eurostar. We will find her."
Catherine sipped the hot liquid before nodding. "I know, but its taking too long."
"Cath." He sighed. "You are starting to sound like Harry."
"You say that like its a bad thing." She smiled as he pulled a face.
"In our bedroom it is!"
"Calum!" She laughed as he took the laptop from her, shutting it down for the night. "I was."
"Going to get some sleep before Charlie and Lilly think their Mum is the walking dead. You know what you are like when you are knackered. You don't function when you need to sleep." He pulled her into his arms. Catherine sighed.
"I just want to see the link. Find the missing piece."
"And you will."
"A conference used to cover an illegal arms deal, a prince ambushed and Russian spies? Its getting more and more convoluted. I can't help but think we are only just seeing the tip of the iceberg." She paused as he held her. Calum sighed deeply. He couldn't shake the feeling his wife was right.