Time?

Harry ignored the speed limit as Ruth explained how Lucas had returned to the Grid. His foot on the accelerator as Ros seemed to revert even further into herself.

"Paramedics are here." Ruth's voice came through the comms. "Catherine has put a tourniquet around the wounds and Mike has started some IVs. Antibiotics and fluids I think."

"He's awake?" Ros spoke for the first time since they had left the site of the car fire. Ruth paused.

"Yes. Intermittently. He said this was a warning. I need to hack the records of the old Section B. Harry, we knew this cloning project linked back to then. We know the Russians are involved."

"Do it." Harry ended the call before turning the car around.

"Harry?"

"Hospital. City General has a trauma unit. The paramedics will take him there." Harry explained. Ros frowned slightly, not liking the idea of a delay in getting to her husband but knowing Harry was right. There was no way they would get to Thames House before the ambulance left.

Xxxxx

"45 years old. Multiple wounds to both legs and torso." Mike stated as the paramedics lifted Lucas into the ambulance trolley. The injured man groaned slightly at the enforced movement but didn't wake. Catherine bit her lip as the paramedics settled him and began treatment. Moments later Lucas was wheeled away as Calum pulled his wife into a hug. Ruth narrowed her eyes, surprised at the amount of anger that surged through her.

"Ruth?" Dimitri got to his feet. "Spill, Pearce."

"This is getting personal now. And it's escalating. One man is already dead. There's been hoax calls on two of the Section. We still don't know who Juliet's doppelgänger was and now Lucas has his legs blown apart and somehow ends up back here." She pulled at the button on her cardigan as she spoke. Malcolm nodded.

"I'll get the security footage from all external cameras. Tariq can help me freeze frame dissect them." He headed over to his desk as he silently prayed the dark haired man he had befriended would be ok. He had no idea what would become of Ros if he wasn't. Ruth covered her face with one hand for the moment, aware that she and Adam were the most experienced officers present.

"Calum, arrange security at the hospital. We don't know whoever did this to Lucas is related to the clones and there's nothing to say they won't try again." She began pacing the office as Adam and Dimitri looked at each other.

"Dimitri talk to the lads in Security. Someone has to have seen them dump him outside."

"What can I do?" Will perched on the edge of Harry's desk as he spoke. Zoe shrugged her shoulders as Zaf and Beth left the Grid.

Xxxx.

"Lucas John North." Harry flashed his ID badge at the hospital receptionist as he spoke. The balding man who looked back at him seemed unimpressed by the MI5 logo.

"Are you family?"

"I'm his wife. Harry is his brother in law." Ros only half lied as the receptionist grunted before agreeing to ask a nurse to speak to them. Harry led her towards the grim family waiting area before she could really make the man quake. He knew antagonising the support staff was not going to get them any information on Lucas' condition.

"Harry."

"They got him here. That's a start." He ushered her towards the faded plastic chair as she felt herself withdraw from the world around her.

"Yeah."

"Ros, he's strong and he's survived worse than this."

"You don't know that. You have no idea what he has survived." Ruth hissed. "You don't see what I do."

Harry nodded. He knew what she was saying. He had read the reports and knew what the FSB were capable of. What he didn't know was how it felt to survive half of what the younger man had been through. He stared at his feet hoping his friend was going to pull through once more.

Xxxxx

Stan shook his head as Dimitri leant on his desk. He genuinely liked the Section D staff but knew they had a problem staying out of trouble.

"I didn't see anything. Only arrived as the ambulance left." The Jamaican man handed Dimitri a mug of tea. "Will he be ok?"

"Dunno." Dimitri paused. He thought of his time in the SBS, seeing the men he worked alongside injured and killed still gave him nightmares. He drank his tea as the middle aged security guard transferred the day's footage onto a memory stick for Malcolm.

"Lee and Eric will be back from their rounds soon. Drink your tea, you look like you need it."

"Sound like my Mum. She thinks a strong cup of tea solves everything." Dimitri smiled as he thought of the tiny powerhouse of a woman that had raised him.

"If only it were that simple eh son? If only."

Xxxxxxxxx

A/N filler chapter- more soon x