RedFlash

Harry marched towards his office as the team began to appear. All looked tired and frustrated - the news of the attack on Church Street Mosque already the headline story on all major news channels meant they all knew exactly why they had been recalled.

"We didn't see this coming." Catherine flopped into her chair. Ruth nodded. Her jaw set firmly it was clear she was as angry as her step daughter.

"No, there was no intelligence or chatter to suggest the Mosque was a definite target." Ruth replied. Harry emerged from his office.

"Briefing Room!" He yelled as the Pod doors whooshed open. "Bloody Nora!"

"Adam." Beth and Erin exchanged glances.

"There was a red flash?" He answered as calmly as possible.

"Yes; but you just had part of your lung tissue removed." Zoe glared at him. Adam shrugged.

"Brain still works."

"That's debatable." Ros smirked as she ushered the team into the Briefing Room. Pausing she turned to see Ruth still staring at the computer screen in front of her. "Ruth?"

The analyst wiped her eyes quickly before pulling away from the computer.

"Sorry."

"What is it?"

Ruth took a deep breath as she looked at the Section Chief. "Ruth, I won't ask again."

"Good."

Ruth stepped past her into the Briefing Room aware that Harry had realised she had been crying the moment he looked at her. She just hoped the rest of the team would be concentrating on the matter at hand.

Xxxxx

Masood sat next to his son's bed deep in thought. He knew Tariq had been targeted deliberately and he knew his son's friends and colleagues would be true to their word. They would find and finish those responsible. He sighed heavily, only that wouldn't turn back time. That wouldn't make him insist that he collected his son that fateful night. Tears whelled in his eyes as he took the boy's hand.

"Tariq. You listen to me." He whispered. "You had more tests and more scans today. All your organs and brains examined." He swallowed hard. "The doctors say your lungs were badly bruised, your kidneys have been damaged and they want to keep an eye on that." He explained calmly. "Nice doctor actually. Very kind. Anyway she told me your brain function is apparently normal. You are NOT brain dead. You are still in there my boy so, it's time to stop playing silly buggers and wake up." He looked up to see the nurse appear in the small side room. "I think you are enjoying bed baths too much." He winked at his son before stepping out into the corridor.

Xxxxxx

"This man was in Baghdad the same time as you?" Zaf asked. "Ruth? You were in Baghdad?"

"Yes."

"But."

"Classified." Harry stated firmly. "Cook is a gun for higher. Sewer rats have more morals than him. If he is involved then he is the mastermind behind these attacks."

"Only, he won't get his hands dirty." Ruth paused. Her voice cracked slightly. "Someone else is always the patsy who takes the fall."

"So? He's behind the petrol bomb? Tariq's attack and Rana being followed?" Erin glared at the image on the computer screen. Ruth nodded slightly.

"He's the organ grinder, the rest are the monkeys."

"Well it's time we put the monkeys back in the zoo." Ros glared as she pushed herself away from the wall. A moment later she was handing out tasks to the team. Adam winced. "Carter, you are going back to the hospital."

"No." He snapped.

Ros and Ruth both raised their eyebrows.

"It's but a flesh wound eh?" Zaf smiled as he mimicked Monty Python.

"You die and Ill kill you. Ok?" Beth smiled as Adam nodded.

"Fair enough." He agreed. Harry rolled his eyes, watching each of the officers leave. It was when Ruth started to stand that he rested his hand on hers. She sighed before sitting back down. Once the last officer had left the room he turned his chair to her.

"Ruth?"

"I'm sorry." She blinked. "I'm fine really, just didn't want you to worry."

"Ruth? Now you have me more worried." His voice low as his Yorkshire accent came to the fore. She smiled slightly, holding his hand in her smaller ones.

"Sorry, I don't mean to. It's just seeing that man again after all these years. Brought back memories of going to Iraq. Of all that happened to us there." She held his gaze.

"It's where I fell in love with you." He breathed as she held his gaze. "Or I should say when I realised I had done already."

"I was terrified every time we were separated."

"I still am." Harry brought her hand to his lips. "That's nor what upset you though?"

"Not the only thing." She sighed. "The youngest victim of the Mosque bombing was eight years old. A little girl, she's not hurt anyone. It's just." Tears sprung to her eyes as Harry pulled her to her feet and held her. He knew they'd find those responsible but the death of a child hit them all. Ruth breathed in his aftershave, calming herself as he kissed her temple. She knew she was being irrational- that she wasn't putting the necessary distance between her heart and the case but she didn't care. This time it was a little too close to home.

Xxxxxx