Harry was used to being driven, although rarely in his own car and certainly not by one of his junior officers. Today though, by the time that they had reached the outskirts of London, not only was relieved, but grateful that Ros had thought him worthy of being driven. Because in addition to Dimitri being able to cope in a crisis, as well as being the best marksman that the service currently had, he now knew that he was a calm and competent driver. One who didn't interrupt you with mundane chatter or the insistence that the radio was stuck on a channel that went back to the dark ages. All of which would be essential when the moment arrived. Important for now because they had precious cargo on board. One with blonde hair and one with dark and getting them back to the safehouse and settled in, took precedence over anything else that he might be thinking about. Including Lucas North and how he personally intended bringing an end to this fiasco.

'You go on in sir and I'll bring the luggage,' received his now worn out response of 'Harry, Harry will do.'

Not that he had the strength or was inclined to argue. Much in the same way when Jo had called him sir after Ben had been killed and she'd asked him if she could go and speak to his parents, rather than him do it. At a time when he hadn't corrected her, because it had been said out of respect and because he'd only just arrived back on the grid to face up to what Connie had done. Not only physically but mentally exhausted and not so long ago. Time during which so much had happened. Not least of all, Ruth walking back into his life and how in the space of a few short weeks, she'd turned him into a submissive softie. Something that he'd need to put to one side if he was going to see this through.

Opening the front door and ushering them both inside, he turned to wait for Dimitri. Behind him the chatter that he imagined was going to play a large part in the next few days was disappearing in the direction of the kitchen, with the added promise of a cup of tea if he wanted one. Catherine asking all sorts of questions about the house and who it belonged too, and Ruth seemingly quite happy to tell her and offer to show her around. Rightly so, because for better or worse, Catherine was involved in this and he could hardly shut her out. That and getting her to sign the official secrets act, especially if her mother ever found out, or worse still the reason why, he'd face up to if it happened.

First things first, he needed that cup of tea and a quiet evening with Ruth and his daughter. The perfect distraction that would prevent him from overthinking things, or more importantly changing his mind.

.

In contrast to someone who had been described as being contained when it came to spilling the beans about anything remotely personal. Something that was required of him in his job, or that was what he'd instilled in himself, his daughter had inherited her mother's 'let's get this all out in the open' attitude. Like most journalists, interrogation through the back door as opposed to torture during dinner, had been the way that she'd gone about it. Him digging his heels in, he hoped hadn't spiked her curiosity even further, although he was still none the wiser as to how much she actually knew about his relationship with Ruth. The two of them had of course been together for the best part of a day and a night until Dimitri had rescued them. Not that Catherine had been awake. Although Jo intimating that they 'got on', went some way to explaining the knowing looks and a smile which was suggesting that he was supposed to bare his soul. Apart from not knowing where to start and was it really any of his daughter's business, he hadn't had the opportunity to discuss their future with Ruth herself. He knew what he wanted. He had absolutely no doubts whatsoever. A discussion that would have to wait until Catherine was back in her own home. Something else that had got him thinking.

Up until the moment that Ruth had arrived on Malcolm's doorstep, Catherine, and Graham to a lesser degree as ashamed as he was to admit it, had been the only people that he'd truly loved. Now though if Ruth did say yes to living with him permanently, then apart from Malcolm, Catherine would be the only person that he'd be open to discussing it with. In fact, if he was being honest with himself, he was craving her approval. Something that reminded him of his own father and how very early on, in fact just after he'd received his commission, which had coincided with his brother dying, how his father had asked for his support. A man who had lost so much and was desperately trying to hang on to what he had. Something that he would need to keep in mind when he had that all-important talk with Catherine.

That was for later. For the moment and as the clock moved relentlessly towards bedtime, more than anything else he needed a decent night's sleep. Sleep that he knew wouldn't come easily, because it was too soon for him to tell Ruth the truth about his plans. Failure to do so would mean that he'd be breaking the promise that their relationship would be free from secrets. Secrets festered, they destroyed you. Worse still if she found out. Because there would be no coming back from the brink if she threw him aside because he'd kept her in the dark. No matter how sound his motives might be. As her boss or as the man that she was now living with, was the conflict of interests that he'd always known would come. A battle which he couldn't afford to lose on either count. Made all the more difficult, because Ros was the person that he needed to speak to first.

.

'Now let me get this straight. You're suggesting that you want to meet Lucas on your own, at a place of his choosing and that I just have to sit back and let you get on with it?'

'That's exactly what I'm suggesting.'

'And do you also think that you'll be able to sell this madcap idea to Ruth?'

'Probably not.'

'Probably! Harry you're insane to be even considering it.'

They were sitting on the bench at the end of the garden, him having told Ruth that he needed to talk to Ros on her own. Something that she'd accepted without question and was making them some coffee.

'Lucas is my responsibility Ros. Remember I was the one that sent him to Russia?

'That's as maybe, but the real question here has nothing to do with Russia or what happened there. It's whether you remember that he's not actually Lucas? Or has that bang on the head, which he inflicted by the way, affected you to the point where you're not thinking clearly?'

'Don't be obtuse Ros, I'm being serious. For years now in Bateman's mind, he's been Lucas. At least he was until Vaughan turned up.

'Yes and I've been Snow bloody White, but we both know that's not true don't we.'

'My point exactly,' was at least said with the glimmer of a smile before he continued. 'Years he spent in an interrogation unit. Years during which whatever he might have done, he's more than made up for with the lives that he's saved. He needs absolution Ros and I'm going to offer him a way out. One that doesn't involve either of us being the main player at a funeral.'

'Which is?'

'A new identity and a one-way ticket to a place of his choice. With the proviso that he never comes back.'

'As opposed to him going to prison for murder and Christ knows what else if we bring him in. We're talking about the man that kidnapped Ruth and your daughter. Honestly Harry, I can't believe what I'm hearing. Why on earth would you want to do this?'

'Because I can Ros. Because for once in my life I have a chance to save one of my colleagues, rather than watch them sacrifice themselves to the cause. Call it a gift, call it what you like, but I need to do this Ros, no matter what the cost to me personally.'

'Which will be your job if Towers finds out. He's already been questioning where you are and what we've all been doing for the past few weeks. There's only so much time before he comes calling for somebody's head on a plate.'

'More than when I shot Katchimov or when we used Connie as a means to get a result? Come on Ros we're spies, you know how it is. You and I more than any of them, have bent the rules to get a result.'

'And what happens if you're wrong and Lucas kills you?'

'Complete deniability on your part and with my blessing. That and the promise that you'll see that Ruth and Catherine want for nothing.'

'Assuming that I go along with this, am I allowed to ask when?'

'Before the end of the week. Once I've had time to put my affairs in order. Just one more thing before you go. Have a word with Malcolm would you and tell him that I need a private chat. Tomorrow if you can spare him.'

.

'I need a legend backstopped to childhood. I need a passport, a bank account and some cash. As soon as you can arrange it Malcolm.'

'Not a problem, whose it for?'

'Lucas.'

'Lucas! That's bordering on the insane Harry.'

'Bordering, that's one better than Ros. She suggested that I ought to be committed.'

'And she's right, if you're going to do what I think you are? Look at them Harry, your whole future is sitting over there and you're prepared to throw it all away,' referred to Ruth and Catherine, who were chatting on the same bench where Harry had sat with Ros the previous morning. With smiles on their faces, in complete contrast to the last few days.

'You of all people Malcolm, I hoped would understand my motives.'

'And I do Harry, but just for one second, can we pretend that we're having this conversation as one friend to another. Have you thought what will happen if anything goes wrong?'

'Of course I have, but as my friend and the only person alive who knows that I've spent a lifetime in the service surrounding myself with a high wall in an effort to prevent me from getting close to anyone, please believe me when I say that I'll do my best to ensure that it doesn't.

'But there are no guarantees.'

'In which case I know that I can rely on you to pick up the pieces.'

'That goes without saying Harry, although I hope you intend telling Ruth what you're planning? Because if you don't, not only will it stop her believing in anyone for the rest of her life, but I really don't want to be the person that has to wipe that beautiful smile off her face. Or to tell her that she was the last thing that you remembered before Lucas pulled the trigger. Because believe you me, she will be.'

'I know that and I will tell her. Although I wasn't going to until Ros convinced me that I had to. Look, if it will make you feel any better, I'll tell her today. But only if you've got time to take Catherine out somewhere. For lunch or better still for dinner. A couple of hours or so should do it.'

'A couple of hours! Well best of luck with that Harry. Because knowing how Ruth feels about you, my advice would be to stand well back when you tell her.'