6 Hours before the meeting

"Are you out of your mind?!" John growled in frustration, shutting his tired eyes momentarily after his wife had told him she was coming along to the meeting. "I can't let you go."

"You don't know how many men Davros will have with him and it's just you and Dylan there."

"Which is why you're staying here!" her husband said sternly. "You're pregnant and there is no way in hell I am letting you get anywhere near that warehouse."

Clara was sick and tired of everyone in her life treating her as if she was made of glass. She volunteered to go so that she could call for help in case things didn't go as planned. "I'll stay in the car."

"No."

"What if I bring Danny and the rest?"

John paused for a moment before he shook his head. "No," he repeated. "Clara, if anything happens to you, I won't forgive myself and I don't think I can live with the thought of you being caught in the crossfire."

"And I can't forgive myself if something happens to you!"

He exhaled through his nose. "Clara, this is dangerous."

"Which is why I insist on going with you."

The couple glared at each other. Neither wanting to admit defeat until Clara's gaze softened.

"I'll stay in the car with my bodyguards, I promise."

His shoulders sank and he knew he was defeated. There was only one thing left to do and that was to look for a safe place for her to stay put while he dealt with Davros and her father. "We'll leave in three hours."

Clara nodded. She had to make a phone call to Danny and inform him and the rest of the plan.

"But under no circumstance do you go anywhere near the warehouse."

"For as long as you don't put yourself in harm's way."

John raised his eyebrows. "There's no guarantee of that."

"Promise me you won't do anything stupid or reckless."

The DCS nodded.

When Dylan received word from his boss that Clara was coming along, he opposed the idea entirely but backed down after being reassured that she was going to be nowhere near the area.

"You still have time to change your mind," he coaxed, checking his Kevlar vest. He would have to put it on after leaving the house since the constables would surely start asking questions.

"I'm sticking to the plan we all agreed," Clara insisted. "And don't think for one moment that I'm just going to sit here and hope to God that nothing happens to John or you or my father."

Dylan shook his head. Stubborn woman.

John kept his silence as he knew there was no point in arguing with his wife.

"I'll be following from behind and don't forget to check your microphones," Clara reminded both men.

The DCI turned to his superior. "I forgot how bossy she can be."

"And you should be grateful since this bossy woman helped you prepare for the meeting," she said cheekily.

"Is Danny ready?"

She checked her phone. He was waiting for an order from her. She nodded.

"Right, just to go over the plan," John said. "We drive halfway through and then you'll switch cars at Barking," he reminded his wife. "Dylan and I will then head to the warehouse and scout the area."

Clara and her bodyguards were to wait at a B&B just two miles away and if anything went south, she needed to contact Rena.

"Are we clear?" the DCS asked, looking to Dylan before setting his gaze on his wife.

"Crystal," the DCI grunted.

"Would you mind leaving us for a moment?" Clara requested.

Dylan nodded and left the living room.

"Are you having second thoughts?" John whispered, feeling a bit hopeful.

"No," she told him. "I just wanted to say I love you."

He locked eyes with her before he cupped both cheeks with his hands ever so gently and bent down to capture her lips. Everything he wanted to say, it was all in that kiss.

"I should also remind you that we need to book an appointment with an obstetrician."

His lips curved into a soft smile. "Whenever is good for me after tonight."

Her face then became serious. "Come on, detective."

John silently watched as his wife picked up her coat and slipped it on. He was going to secure their future tonight. No more of this nightmare.

"This looks like it," Dylan commented as he entered the empty compound before moving to the back of the warehouse and looking for a spot to hide the car.

They had set off about an hour ago and as expected, no one had arrived yet.

The area was dimly lit with only a few of the lights from the building working. It would provide good cover for them during the meeting.

"Park behind that tree there," John instructed. As much as he was ready to arrest Davros, he wasn't entirely sure whether he should be armed or not. He hadn't carried a gun since he never needed one before and the thought of wielding such a weapon that could kill a person easily slightly terrified him.

"The warehouse is just one floor, so I'm thinking we could just camp out here and place a bug or two inside."

John nodded. "Sounds good," he said before a thought crossed his mind. "See if you can install a camera somewhere so we can get a feed of the meeting," he instructed, opening a black laptop to set up shop.

While Dylan stepped out to perform his tasks, John picked up the walkie talkie next to him. "We've made it to the warehouse."

"I don't see any of dad's cars or Davros yet," his wife replied, who was scouting the road from inside her vehicle.

"We got here early."

He spoke too soon, however, as Clara spotted a lorry escorted by two grey SUVs with one at the front and the other at the back. "I think I spotted the supplier."

John then spoke to Dylan via the earpiece. "You better hurry up because the supplier is here."

"Just setting up the camera, boss."

Just then, the black screen came to life with a greyscale view of the inside of the warehouse.

"How's the audio?" Dylan was heard asking through the speakers of the laptop.

"Fine, now get back here."

"The students have been asking where you were," Danny spoke to Clara, his eyes trained on the road with hands on the steering wheel.

"What did you say?"

"You had chickenpox."

Clara chuckled, serious demeanour faltering. "And they believed you?"

Danny grinned. "Seems like it since they stopped asking further questions, but they wished you a speedy recovery."

"They are learning, right?"

"I've heard Anna complain about Courtney's homework twice now, so that is likely a yes."

The schoolteacher shook her head.

Just then, the iPad in her hands came to life. It projected several views of the warehouse.

"Are you able to see the inside of the building?" her husband's voice crackled through the walkie talkie.

"Yep, pretty creepy if you ask me."

There was a pregnant pause. "It's an abandoned warehouse, Clara," John stated. "Left to rot for more than ten years."

Her lips curved into a smile as Danny watched her from the rear-view mirror. "Never doubted you, detective."

She set down the walkie talkie and continued to observe the video feed carefully. Not much activity aside from a few men unloading parcels from the lorry.

She was slightly startled when the passenger door opened and one of her bodyguards, Wayne, got in after returning from his cigarette break.

"You should probably wait outside until the smell wears off," Danny commented, scrunching his nose in disgust.

"Come on, mate," Wayne sighed. "It's bloody freezing out there."

Just as Danny was about to argue that their boss' daughter was sitting in the back seat, Clara spotted several black SUVs speeding past them. "That must be Davros," she said before picking up the walkie talkie to warn her husband.

"They're a bit early, aren't they?" John commented as he checked the time on the dashboard clock. Twenty minutes early.

"We've been observing for some time and he's always punctual," Danny explained as they watched the cars enter the compound.

"Any updates from Dave?" the DCS inquired.

Danny checked his phone for any unread messages. "No, he's been quiet since we left."

As much as he wanted to do nothing more than to arrest Davros at this very moment, he knew he didn't have enough manpower to do so.

A man in a white suit stood in front of the lorry, hands in his pockets as he patiently waited for his buyer to step out of the Range Rover, eager to get his money.

The driver stepped out and went to the other side of the car before pulling open the back door.

Davros stepped out, eyes full of glee while eyeing the goods.

"Davros."

"Mr Hennessy."

Hennessy then nodded to his men before one brought to him a brown box. He produced a knife and cut the side open as small amounts of white powder flowed out. "Just like you ordered."

Davros silently watched for a few seconds before making eye contact. He gestured a buffy man who had carried a silver suitcase. "2 million pounds as agreed," he commented while Hennessy opened the suitcase and checked its contents. "The rest will be deposited into your bank account."

Once he was satisfied, a flashed a grin. "Pleasure doing business with you."

"Start loading them into the cars!" Davros ordered. He found it strange that the man was already entering their vehicles. "Leaving so soon?" he remarked before a thought crossed his mind and the smile on his face turned into a frown just as Hennessy and his men rushed in.

The roaring of engines could be heard in the background, the sound getting louder and louder before tires screeched and gunshots were heard coming from outside. A vehicle crashed through the loading bay gate and chaos ensued.

Davros immediately took cover behind several crates. He was set up.

Outside, John and Dylan witnessed the shootings from the safety of their car. They couldn't interrupt just yet. "Jesus Christ, this was his plan?"

"I guess he really meant it when he said he was going to corner him," Dylan replied as he was just as baffled. "Wait, where's Davros?"

John began swiping through each feed, attempting to spot Davros. "Fuck, I think we lost him."

Both men exited the vehicle and immediately headed for the warehouse. A thought then struck Dylan. John was heading in there without a pistol.

"You need one," Dylan said as he handed his superior a spare gun after reaching the back entrance. "Look, I know you don't like carrying or using one but believe me when I say that this is for your safety."

John stared at the weapon, contemplating before making a decision by taking the pistol.

"Follow my lead, boss," Dylan instructed.

"Wait," John said as his eyes spotted a figure who was limping some distance away.

Dylan glanced at the direction of the DCS's line of sight.

The figure then tripped and fell.

"That's him," John said before chasing after the man.

Dave Oswald spotted Davros in his line of sight. He was crouched behind a metal desk. Both men made eye contact. Dave could see the fear in his eyes.

As his men pushed forward, slowly cornering their enemies, Dave raised the pistol he held with his right hand and aimed at Davros. He had a clean shot and pulled the trigger, but the bullet missed as Davros sprinted to the back of the lorry.

He took cover just in time as Davros pulled out a gun of his own and fired at him. He retaliated, firing blindly before taking a peek behind the car door.

Davros was gone but there was a trail of blood leading to one of the many shattered windows. Dave turned around and sprinted out of the building. He scanned the road and the surrounding area. A bullet flew past him and he took cover next to the old steel gate.

Several more gunshots were heard but it wasn't directed at him.

"We have you surrounded!"

John Smith.

Dave leaned against the pillar and glanced at the open field. He could make out two shapes hiding behind a tree. Perhaps he could seize the chance to flank Davros and so, he slowly moved from his cover before a bullet hit the pillar and he took a step back and returned fire.

The man inhaled loudly, trying to get his breathing in order.

John and Dylan, on the other hand, remained in their spot, unsure of how they could approach Davros without being shot at.

"Any bright ideas, boss?"

"Working on it," John grumbled, looking around. "Shoot the branch?"

Dylan raised both eyebrows before going with the suggestion. It was better than them doing nothing. He aimed at a branch and pulled the trigger before watching it fall to the ground with a thud.

John wasn't expecting anything out of it, but when he saw Davros limping across the field, he bolted after him.

Both Dylan and Dave had a clear line of sight of the man, ready to shoot him but lowered their guns when a black vehicle hit Davros as he was crossing the road, not being completely aware of his surroundings, sending him rolling two feet away.

"What the…"

Clara stepped out of the vehicle, glaring the criminal she just hit. He lay on the pavement, groaning pain. "That's for shooting my husband," she said quietly.

Dylan and the other bodyguard exited the vehicle hastily, wondering why the hell they allowed her to drive in the first place. They knew they had a lot of explanation to do.

"Jesus fucking Christ," Dylan muttered, not believing what he had just witnessed.

John handed back the gun he never fired back to Dylan before rushing over to his wife. "Are you ok?"

"Never better," she assured him, placing a hand on his arm before he wrapped his arms around her and hid his face in her shoulder.

Dave silently observed the couple. Is this it? Was it finally over?

The man on the ground chuckled through his bloodied teeth. "The daughter, the son and the son-in-law," he muttered. "The whole family's here."

Dave shot daggers at him, eyeing him carefully.

"You think you'll get to sit high up in that ivory tower of yours?" Davros continued. "You'll be investigated and put under a magnifying glass before the trial even starts."

"What makes you think I'm not prepared?" Dave said quietly, almost to the point of defeat.

Davros knew it was over for him. He lost everything. There was nothing to lose now. He rested his head on the hard pavement, looking up at the dark skies.

"Dad," Clara whispered before embracing her father.

Davros' hand slipped into the pocket of his jacket while everyone was momentarily distracted and produced a small pistol. He growled as he forced himself up, fighting against the pain and aimed the gun at Clara. Might as well take something precious of his enemy's.

A shot rang out.

But Davros never got the chance to pull the trigger as a bullet was lodged between his eyes.

Dylan lowered the smoking gun slowly, eyes cold and hard.

The DCI glanced at Clara, then John and finally, Dave. He didn't even realise that the pistol was taken from him until John placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

John and Clara quietly entered the home they share, both too emotionally and physically exhausted to speak or reflect over what happened just a few hours ago. It was around three in the morning. Before the police arrived at the scene, they had discussed the sort of statement they would have to give. Each one had to corroborate the other and explain why Clara was even there in the first place.

It would be one where she had secretly followed her husband, worried over his behaviour only to discover that her father is a drug lord. It wouldn't have been believable had Clara not lived with her aunt, but the constables didn't press further than necessary, so they took it as a good sign.

They stared at each other before John wrapped an arm around her and guided them upstairs to the bedroom.

No words were spoken when the door shut.

No words were spoken when they entered the bathroom, lips on one another.

No words were spoken when she unbuttoned his shirt while he took off her jumper.

No words were needed to convey what they were feeling.

As the couple basked in the afterglow, facing each other in bed, Clara spoke. "Are you going to be in trouble?" she murmured, closing her eyes as John traced her spine with his finger.

"I don't know," he replied. "Though I trust Kate to keep her word, so I doubt I'll lose my job."

He could tell something else was on her mind.

"As for your father, I honestly do not know what will happen to him," he sighed. He had discovered that everything about the meeting had been a set-up by the Four Dragons so that meant that Dave will be charged based on what little evidence Scotland Yard has on him.

"Thank you," she murmured.

"For what?" he asked. "I wasn't the one who hit Davros with a car or saved you from being shot."

She shrugged. "For trying to, for staying by my side."

He flashed her a tired smile. "Thank you for exactly the same."

They could feel a sort of weight being lifted. A burden that was finally rid of. Everything just seemed and felt right at that moment.