22
Erin pushed her foot to the accelerator, knowing they didn't have much time to get to Air Traffic Control. She knew there was a very good chance the helicopter which should have landed over an hour ago on the Helipad on Thames House roof was going to end up in the River Thames. The idea that the helicopter was not only going to be forced to crash land in the river with not only Ros and the others on board but the various tourists and Londoners using the Thames and the surrounding areas being caught in a potential explosion terrified her. She knew there was a very good chance not all of Section D were going to be going home and that thought terrified her.
"Cath said Alec really laid into Ruth earlier." Calum stated as Erin swerved the car towards Heathrow. She nodded.
"I heard."
"Catherine was seriously pissed off. Good job Harry wasn't there. Does he have a death wish?"
Erin sighed. "You know Ruth can handle herself." Calum nodded.
"Just don't get it. I thought he got on with Ruth."
"Yeah, well." Erin shrugged as she got to the car park. Planes landing and taking off along with the general noise of the airport where the Air Traffic Control was based caught her attention. Calum got out of the car, jogging to keep up with her.
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The helicopter got lower and lower. Ros felt the nausea build as the pilot tried to keep the helicopter level. He seemed to be struggling with keeping the aircraft straight. Zaf fell slightly as Ros swore. The pilot swore as he pulled the helicopter controls towards him.
"I'll go as low as we can - Zaf, get the side door open. You three jump."
"What!" Zaf glared at the back of his head.
"Don't argue. Just FUCKING JUMP. I can take this down and get myself out but not sure I can get you out." Zaf looked at Ros who nodded as he pulled the safety release catch on the door. Moments later the helicopter lurched the the side. The helicopter lurched dangerously as the altitude dropped another few feet. The pilot shouted for them to jump. Ros grabbed Katya, practically dragging her out of the back of the helicopter as Zaf closed his eyes before jumping. Moments later a fire ball erupted behind them.
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"What!" Catherine ran to the window looking over the Thames as the building shook. Ruth was at her side a second later. She felt the blood drain from her face as the helicopter hit the Thames Embankment before exploding. She swallowed hard, trying to keep her composure as she realised her friends had been killed. Catherine covered her face with her hands as Malcolm rested his hands on her shoulders.
"No."
"We don't know anything yet." Tariq frowned. "Tracker's still active."
"What?"
"Ruth. Contact Harry."
She nodded, knowing how devastated he was going to be. She forced herself not to think about Lucas, Zoe or the children who would probably not have a parent at home that night. She turned to her desk, picking up her mobile before going into Harry's office for some privacy.
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Adam swerved the car as he saw the helicopter getting lower and lower. People were running from the area as uniformed police arrived, evacuating the area. He glanced at Lucas who already had his seatbelt off as he saw Dimitri, Zoe and Beth pull up just behind them. Zoe was running from the car towards the helicopter as it hit the Embankment. Adam fell silent as he followed his friend.
"No." Zoe shook her head. "It doesn't end like this." She had fallen to her knees as Beth reached her, wrapping her arms around her. "Not like this." She was shaking, apparently in shock as she turned to Beth.
"Hey." Beth hugged her as she burst into tears, not caring that the men on the team were there to see her cry.
Lucas stared at the helicopter, memories of the hotel bombing years earlier hitting him like a tonne of bricks. He could barely breath as he looked at the burning remains of the helicopter as sirens and car alarms filled the air. He shook his head, trying to clear his mind as he felt the phone in his pocket vibrate. He ignored it as he stepped closer to the burning aircraft as a plume of smoke snaked its way up into the air. Adam handed him his phone.
"Can you lot stop bloody looking at the fireworks and get some help over here." Ros' voice came through the phone as Lucas smiled and shook his head.
"You ok?"
"Always." Ros snapped, ignoring the burn on her shoulder. She looked over to Zaf who was helping the pilot get to his feet. "Tell Zoe, Zaf has used up another of his nine lives."
"Will do." He smiled. "Ros."
"Later." She softened her voice as Zaf reached them. Adam and Beth ran back to the car as the others joined them. Dimitri glanced at Beth, knowing that he would react the same way Lucas had should it have been her caught in the explosion. Minutes later they were driving towards the site, still unsure of what they would find.
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Ros got to her feet, annoyed that the screen on her phone had cracked. She made a mental note to see if one of the Geek Squad would be able to fix it. She had one hand on Katya's arm as she pulled the woman to her feet.
"Don't even think about it." She tightened her hold on her arm as Zaf caught up with them. The heat from the fire behind them made him feel sick. He took hold of Katya's other arm as she began to struggle. He pulled her a step forwards away from the fire as Adam called his name.
"About time!" Zaf smiled as a single gunshot wound ran out hitting Katya between the eyes. Ros jumped back, looking around for the gunmen as Zaf yelled for the pilot to take cover. Dimitri and Beth looked around with guns drawn as it became clear the woman had been killed by a sniper. Lucas made his way towards Ros as she stared at the dead woman.
"Why? After all that?"
"It wasn't one of us." Lucas said calmly, assessing his wife for injuries as he saw she was shaking slightly. Zaf got up from the floor, fighting the urge to vomit when he saw the body of the dead woman in the space between him and Ros. "Someone really didn't want her to talk to us."
"Or anyone else." Ros closed her eyes as she spoke. "Its not over, is it?" She paused as Lucas sighed. He had a feeling she was right.