23
Ros stared in the mirror above the sinks in the women's bathroom. She could barely remember feeling so exhausted. Her hair was soaked from her shower but she was relieved to be out of the clothes that had been ruined by the helicopter explosion and Katya's shooting. For a moment she was thankful that they all kept at least one complete change of clothes on the Grid. She She leant her head forward, gripping the sink as she let her thoughts drift back to the shooting.
"Ros."
She turned to see her husband watching her. "Before you ask the police took Zaf's clothes too. Evidence apparently." He stepped towards her. "He's fine, knackered but he's ok. Zoe is with him. Harry and Alec are on the way back in."
Ros nodded slightly, tucking a strand of wet hair behind her ear. She couldn't shake the feeling that they had missed something. She knew Katya could not have been working alone. She turned back to the sink as Lucas rested his hands on her shoulders.
"Ros."
"Let me know when they get back. I'll be out in a minute. Just need to sort this out." She gestured to her hair. Lucas kissed her temple.
"You look fine."
"I could be wearing a bin liner and you would say that."
Lucas smiled before turning her. "And I would be right." She rested her hand on his cheek as held her gaze. "I saw the explosion. I."
"Yeah." Ros held his gaze. "Brought back a few best forgotten memories."
"I was too slow back then too." Lucas sighed as the guilt built in his gut. "Ros."
"Hardly." She paused. "You did your job. Same as today. Lucas."
"I thought. I saw the helicopter hit the ground. I." He closed his eyes as Ros pulled him into her arms.
"You should know by now, Lucas. You don't get rid of me that easily." She felt his lips on her cheek as she closed her eyes.
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Zaf buttoned the shirt he had kept in his locker as Zoe walked in. Her eyes still red she frowned at him as he seemed to have a little trouble mastering the buttons. She stepped towards him, tears still in her eyes as she batted his hand out of the way before buttoning the shirt for him.
"Zo."
"Did Mike look at your hand?"
"Yeah." He nodded. "The middle and index fingers are broken. I landed awkwardly when we jumped. They'll heal."
Zoe nodded. She swallowed hard, avoiding his gaze as she finished buttoning her fiancé's shirt for him. She rested a hand on his chest, above his heart as he rested his hand over hers. Both fingers were bandaged together, aching when he moved his hand. "I lost it."
"What?"
"I thought you were dead." Her eyes flickered up to his before focusing on his hand. "I saw the explosion. I." She closed her eyes as Zaf pulled her to him, holding her tightly to him as she wrapped her arms around his waist. "I thought. I."
"Its ok." He kissed her hair as she buried her face in his neck. "Its ok. Survived the Redbacks, survive this." He let out a humourless laugh as Zoe pulled back.
"Don't." She looked him in the eyes. "Don't say things like that. You're not Superman." She watched his eyes darken for a moment before he kissed her. Zoe relaxed, holding him to her as he backed her against the male shower room wall
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Ruth turned towards her computer as the realisation her friends were still alive sank in. She looked up to see Harry and Alec emerge through the Pods, having been delayed due to the road blockages caused by the helicopter crash. Neither men looked particularly happy.
"Adam." Harry nodded to him. "Get Ros in my office as soon as."
Adam nodded, running a hand through his short blonde hair all he really wanted to do was go home to be with Carrie and his kids. He had a feeling that was going to have to wait until they found out what Katya really had been up to. Harry passed Beth's desk, squeezing her shoulder.
"Good work today."
"Thanks." She sighed, knowing he had been reluctant to send both her and Zoe on the driving course. In that moment she couldn't help but wonder if letting Katya go would have been better than having her assassinated in front of them. Either way the threat was still there as far as she could see. She braved a look towards Catherine and Ruth who both seemed to be absorbed in what they were doing, until Alec reached them. Catherine quietly got up and walked away before she could say anything. Alec sighed, sitting in Catherine's abandoned chair.
"Ruth."
"Looks like there was one shooter." Ruth tapped a few keys on the computer in front of her. "I'm cross referencing the bullet with the types of weapons used by known terrorist organisation."
"I owe you an apology." Alec frowned. "I."
"You read my HR file when I was gone. When I was supposed to be dead."
"Yeah."
She looked him in the eyes, her expression bordering on cold. "Don't believe everything you read. I was in deep cover, never expected to come home." She frowned as the memories came back to her. "I was never a traitor. And I never will be."
"What can I say?" Alec felt incredibly guilty. For a moment Ruth felt sorry for the former IA man. She knew Harry would have had something to say once he was out of their earshot. She sighed.
"Nothing." Ruth answered honestly. "Let it go. Its done. But don't ever come at me like that again. Not about something like that. People have died for less. A rumour, a bit of gossip getting into the wrong hands." She thought of Sarah Wynn-Jones and how easily Tessa and her cronies had pointed the fingers at her and Yasmin Thomas.
"For what its worth. I am sorry."
Ruth smiled slightly as she nodded. "Good." He smiled back.
"What do I say to Catherine?"
"Leave her to me. She's just a bit overprotective. Has been since that time I nearly died."
"Which time?"
"Exactly." Ruth smiled at him. "We're ok." She looked up as Harry appeared in the doorway. "Catherine? Trace this bullet back. Tariq, can you?"
"On it." Tariq nodded as he took a swig of his pop before turning to the digitalised image on the screen. Ruth walked into the inner office as Harry closed the office door behind her.