Bouncing back

Beth swore as she left the car to join the others. She knew Tariq was rarely if ever wrong as far as his tracking devices were concerned . Her gut told her Lucas had been in the car; that they were too late. Screeching tyres caught her attention as Harry and Ros arrived on scene.

"We don't know anything yet." Beth stated as Ros ignored her. She marched towards Zaf, knowing her closest friends would not lie or try to placate her. Zaf shrugged his shoulders as Ros marched towards him.

"Ros."

"Harry is talking with Adam and Beth." Her voice was automated. The Ice Queen mode was clearly back in control. She had shut down to cope. Zaf sighed, knowing that the chances of her remaining calm were low.

"Ok, right. Look."

"Random car fire? The exact car that we think was emitting the signal from Lucas' tracker." Ros kept her eyes on the smouldering Car. "I'm not stupid."

"Fire crews state that there was blood on the metal work of the car. Around the boot mainly." Zaf continued as Ros seemed to become more withdrawn. He looked away, knowing if it had been Ruth, Zoe or even Erin he would pull her into his arms. Ros didn't work that way.

"And?"

"Ros."

"The car was blown to Kingdom Come. More than a few drops of blood were there."

Ros frowned, she could remember James and Lucas deep in conversation the evening before. The little boy had been explains the better points of Paw Patrol and Marvel Superheroes as Lucas had been trying to persuade their son to eat his tea. She thought of Amy. The six and a half year old was a real 'daddy's girl ' and adored her father. The thought of having to tell them Lucas was dead filled her with horror as Adam crossed to them.

"Bone fragments."

"Ros." Adam spoke calmly as the fire crews continued to work. "Ros."

"Don't give me platitudes. You know I've been here before. Only this time I don't think Lucas would set this up." Adam winced as she glared at him. Zaf looked at his feet. When Ros was hurt her default mechanism was to lash out.

"Exactly. Adam survived." The group turned as Harry approached them. "The fire officer said that not only is it definitely arson it is more than likely whoever was in that boot wasn't in there when it blew." He watched Ros got any sign of reaction as Beth and Zaf smirked. "There is no sign of any skeletal remains. He got out. If he was in that car. He got out."

Ros frowned for a moment.

"Not dead."

"So it seems." Zaf shook his head. Ros narrowed her eyes.

"If he's not dead, I'll kill him." She headed back to the 4x4 as Harry shook his head.

"Sort this mess out and get back to the Grid." Harry barked, worried sick about the missing man and the effect it was having on the Section Chief.

Xxxxxxxxx

Erin crossed the park, knowing that the rain was about to get worse. Pulling her collar closer to her age smiled as she saw Richard sat under the bandstand trying to avoid a soaking.

"Hi." She smiled as he approached her. He kissed her cheek as he led her back to the relatively dry bandstand. "All the hot weather we've had and the one day we decide to meet it rains."

"Typical."

"I've missed you." The CIA man whispered as he hugged her. Erin smiled slightly before pulling back.

"You look good."

"Thank you." He smiled. His voice washed over her like velvet as he took her hand. "Are you well? Rosie?"

"Rosie has gone on a netball tournament with school. Won't be home until Friday." She looked away, desperately missing her only child. Richard took her hand, squeezing the memory stick into her palm. She rested her head on his shoulder as she closed her eyes, enjoying the warmth from his body. Richard kissed her hair as she leaned into him.

"I know it's difficult at the moment." His voice soothed her as she rested against him. "I know this case is complicated. I know Lucas is your friend. "

"I keep thinking of the kids. Lucas adores them both."

"He's a good man." Richard stated firmly. "I've got you all the information I can. Hope it helps." He tilted her head towards him before kissing her lips. Erin held him to her until they had to break for air.

"When will I see you?"

"Tomorrow." She smiled as he answered. "I'll talk to you tomorrow. We'll arrange something then." Erin nodded before standing and walking away. She knew whatever he had on the memory stick was the key to ending the mess and getting Lucas home.

Xxxxxxxx

Ruth tapped her keyboard searching databases for any link between the former Section B and the Russians involved in the cloning project. The nausea built in her stomach as the headache began to get worse.

"Ruth?" Malcolm placed a cup of tea on the edge of the desk. "You look unwell."

"I'm fine." She looked up at her friend. "This cloning businesses. It's horrific. I knew it was adapted from the Nazi eugenics policy." She looked away. "But."

"It's still barbarically horrendous. Gut churning." Catherine joined in. "All the files on Bill Crombie are 'eyes only'. Couldn't get them out of the records room."

"Don't worry. I don't think Bill had anything to do with this. It's just Will being concerned that's all. Bill and Harry were friends. If someone had tried to make a doppelgänger of Harry then it's a natural assumption that Bill could be involved." Ruth leant back in her chair. Catherine slumped over her Work station.

"This case just gets more and more complicated and weird. I mean, seriously you couldn't make this shit up." Catherine groaned.

"Never say that." Malcolm smiled. "It makes the universe conspire to really test us."

Ruth smirked. "She's right. First we are led to believe Harry has been." She swallowed hard. "Then Juliet. This Darshan lookalike turns up, Lucas goes missing. We end up with Henry turning up on us and now we still don't definitively know who is behind this."

"All part of the job." Malcolm answered as the Pod doors slid open. Catherine looked up to see her husband and Will walk in supporting a badly injured Lucas. Ruth flew towards them as Malcolm called for medical help.

"Get Ros Back here." Calum half carried his weight through to the inner office as Will helped.

"Not dead then." Catherine followed them. "Uncle Malcolm is getting Mike and Ruth is getting Dad and the others back." She knelt in front of Lucas who had been dropped into the battered red sofa. "How?"

"Found him outside." Will explained. "Not a clue how."

"Legs shot." Lucas gasped. Catherine began pressing a cloth to the largest wound, just above his left knee. Lucas grimaced in pain.

"Sorry." Catherine paused. "I've seen wounds like this before. In Gaza." She took a bandage from Calum. "Knee-capping. Usually favoured by the Irish paramilitaries and certain other groups."

"Still got my knees." Lucas gasped on the verge of passing out. Catherine smiled. Dimitri ran in with Mike as blood began to pool on the floor at the end of the sofa.

"Paramedics have been called I take it." Mike stated as he checked Lucas' breathing. "He's going into shock. From blood loss no doubt. Catherine? Pass me that cannula. Sorry Lucas, you're not going to like this." Mike frowned as sweat covered the injured man's face. Lucas was shaking slightly as he lost consciousness. Dimitri and Catherine set about helping Mike set up portable oxygen and medication relying on their past combat experience. Both prayed Ros and the paramedics were quick getting to them. Neither knew how much time he had left .

Xxxxxx