Early morning

(Final chapter)

Harry tugged on his tie, keen to present the facade that he wasn't worried about going into the field. Meeting Blake was not a big deal - he had to make himself believe it, knowing Ruth and the others would see through the lies. He walked towards the band stand in the frozen park knowing Dimitri, Malcolm and Tariq were in the obs van in the near by street. Tariq had already hijacked the cctv feed so they could clearly watch events as they happened. Ruth was sat in a car with Lucas on the other side of the park. Lucas under clear instructions not to allow her to leave the car if anything went wrong.

"Alpha one." Malcolm spoke as Harry tried to ignore his earpiece. "We have eyeball."

"Got it." Alec, dressed as a tramp huffed as he watched a man dressed for icy weather walk past him. "Headed towards checkpoint."

"Got it." Ros stated as she jogged through the park, headphones masking her earpiece. To the rest of the world she looked like an average fitness freak out for a morning run. She knew Beth, Zoe, Adam and Zaf back at the Grid would be desperate to be where she was but they couldn't risk Blake seeing them. Zaf had played the tramp too many times and Blake would certainly expect Adam to be around. Damage limitation Harry had called it. None of them had liked it.

Harry rested his gloved hands on the bandstand in front of him, silently wishing he had a weapon with him. He could see Ros in his peripheral vision and prayed Blake would either not see her or leave her alone. He was Blake's target, no one else. Suddenly he was shaken from his thoughts by the sound of a safety catch being pulled off a gun. He froze for a moment.

"Hello Harry."

"This is not a social call." Blake's voice was deadpan. Harry narrowed his eyes, aware Blake couldn't see him. His gaze focused on the blade of grass free of frost on the field below.

"Shame."

"I thought you'd have more trouble believing my death didn't happen."

"I'm a spook. Nothing surprises me."

"Keep Section D away - I've no wish to ha anyone if I don't have to." His voice was dangerously low.

"Says the man with a gun to my head. Pull the other one, it has bells on." Harry snarled. His anger palpable in his voice.

"Trust. Something you have a problem with. I'm amazed you didn't try to stop your daughter from marrying a spook. Aren't you afraid history will repeat itself?"

"Fuck you, Blake." Harry felt the sharp pain in the side of the head as his knees buckled. Suddenly voices yelled in his ear piece. He was barely aware of hearing Ruth scream as he passed out.

Cxxxxxx

"And you say I've got nine lives." Ros raised an eyebrow. Harry touched the bandage gingerly knowing he was lucky to get awY with a concussion.

"You could have been killed." Ruth spoke quietly. "I."

"I wasn't." Harry smiled slightly as Ros and Lucas exchanged looks. "The note?"

"The one which Blake left with you?" Lucas stared at him. "No prints and written in Ancient Greek."

"What does it say?" Harry looked at Ruth who sighed.

"It's not over, Harry. He's out there and he will be back."

"What does the note say?"

"Roughly translated. Merry Christmas - the war isn't over. The birds wings are clipped but will fly again." Ruth held his gaze.

"If he wants to play silly buggers!" Ros smirked.

"Harry, this has gone on long enough. We've been firefighting for years. I say it's time we took the game to him. Let's end this."

Harry nodded, knowing that Blake would be true to his word. He had no idea how they would do it but Ros was right. Enough was enough.

Xxcxxxxx

A/N please review. A sequel may be in the offing if anyone is interested.