Back to reality

Malcolm walked through the pods relieved that his goddaughter and her family had got away from the chapel unscathed. It wasn't like Section D to have a peaceful wedding. He smiled slightly remembering the drama that had surrounded his own wedding. Glancing at his wedding ring he crossed the room to see Tariq had already begun working.

"No sign of Adam or Zaf for the last two hours. A device was found in the bin outside the Registry Office and another at the end of the road outside the Ale House pub. No deaths but three hospitalised with minor injuries." Zoe explained, the worry in her voice evident.

"Oh God." Ruth whispered as she overheard her friend. Minutes later she was at her own computer, shoes discarded as she concentrated on finding out what had happened to her friends.

"Ros." Harry barked as he walked onto the Grid. "My office. Now." The blonde woman closed her eyes before marching in after him.

Xxxxxx

Zaf coughed, clinging to his ribs as a million imaginary knives seemed to stab him. He felt sick, his stomach churning at the smell of burning metal and flesh.

"Adam." He rolled onto his side as he saw the prone body of his friend. "Adam!" He hissed. "Cmon mate." He dragged himself across the ground, desperate to see if his friend was still breathing. A groan from Adam reassured him but he still had no idea how badly either of them had been hurt. Sirens in the background along with the raised voices of the bomb squad officers reassured him that help was on the way.

"Stay still." A male voice ordered firmly. Zaf closed his eyes.

"Adam."

"Is breathing. He's had a crack on his head. Zaf, stay as you are. Paramedics are on the way." Henry Garvey leant down. "Wait." Henry touched his arm. "Becka called 999, some idiot had to be watching - set an ied off. Cheep, nasty but effective." For the first time Zaf noticed the Staff Sergeant from Red Troop also had a nasty head wound. Adam groaned as Zaf realised Henry was right, they were trapped.

Cxxxxxx

"Status report."

"Two devices diffused, one activated. No sign of Adam or Zaf for last forty five minutes. Comms down. All field case officers are out chasing leads." Ros folded her arms.

"Ok." Harry paused, immediately worried about the two younger men.

"Red Troop and Bomb Squad have been assisting with evacuation of civilians from the area. Beth put a media statement out saying there was a police incident but otherwise media blackout has been achieved."

"Without you threatening anyone? Ros, I'm impressed." Harry smiled slightly.

"Must be my natural charm."

"Clearly." Harry smirked.

"Another spanner in the works. It seems we have a ghost." She stepped towards the desk as Harry watched her. The office door slammed open as Ruth appeared in the doorway.

"Ruth?"

"Adam and Zaf have been found. Trapped in the cellar below the pub in Central Square. They're alive." Ruth smiled slightly. "Henno Garvey is there with them. Looks like he saved Adam's life."

"That boy has nine lives." Harry sighed in relief. "Ros? Ghost?"

"Who told you Nick Blake was dead? I only ask because it seems you were misinformed."

"Heart attack four years ago." Ruth glared. "He has to dead."

"People could say the same for you and me." Ros replied. Harry swore fluently, tugging on his shirt collar as he did so.

"How?"

"We saw him on cctv. It's him, Harry. Unless he has an evil twin or should I say one as bad as him."

"If he did fake his death why now?"

"He did try to have us all killed once." Ros spoke calmly. Harry nodded as Ruth's eyes widened.

"What? When?"

"You were already dead at the time. It was before Zaf was abducted by the Red Backs. The second time Harry was shot." Ruth shot Harry a look, he knew there would be a discussion later but he wasn't looking forward to it.

"Where was he sighted?" Harry decided to keep the discussion on track. The phone on his desk began ringing just as Tariq ran in. He pressed a few keys on the palm top device he held.

"New toy?" Harry asked as Tariq grinned. He answered the phone on the fourth ring.

"Pearce." Tariq held up a finger indicating that he needed more time to trace the call. "Where are you?" Harry paused. "Forgive me but I'm not used to talking to dead men, Blake. How's Nightingale treating you? Killed anymore innocent people recently?" Tariq counted down from three, Harry ended the call as Tariq reached zero.

"That was him." Ruth stated. Harry nodded.

"Did you get it?" Ros asked as Tariq smiled.

"Yeah. I just cross referenced the mobile signal with the landmarks of the area the signal passes through. Triangulating that with the cross reference gives up a location." Tariq was clearly delighted with his new toy. Harry and Ros exchanged puzzled glances.

"And in English?" Ros stated.

"I know where he is." Tariq stared at her.

"Go on." Ruth but her lip.

"Hyde Park. Near the fountain."

"I'll get a team together." Ros snapped back into spook mode, Harry nodded as Tariq bounced back to the Grid. Ruth smiled at the baby of the team. Ros ushered him into thesis Grid leaving Harry and Ruth alone.

"That's what too much red bull and not enough sleep does."

"The boy is a genius." Ruth smiled as she watched him jog towards Malcolm.

"Cometh the hour, cometh the geek." Harry touched her hand.

"What did Blake want?"

"Me and Ros on mortuary slabs." Ruth closed her eyes as her temper began to build. She knew what was coming next. Harry squeezed her hand.

"He said he is bringing Armageddon to such an extent the UK government will never recover. That Nightingale are stronger than ever. He wants to meet."

"No." Ruth shook her head. "Harry, you are not a twenty five year old field officer anymore."

"I can't risk the lives of anymore people. Attacking that area of London was a warning. I have to do this."

"When?" Ruth knew nothing she said would change his mind.

"Six am tomorrow. I would like him to be in the interview rooms before then." Ruth closed her eyes. She felt sick as Harry hugged her.

"Come home. That's all I ask. Don't make me have to tell the kids you're not coming home." She could already feel the tears behind her eyes threatening to fall. Harry kissed her hair gently.

"I'll be home with you and the kids. I promise." Ruth tightened her hold on him, knowing he was making promises he might not be able to keep.

Cxxxxx

A/N please review