Fire and Ice

Zaf drove the pool car towards the coordinates Malcolm had sent him. He knew both Ros and Harry were keen to get to Ruth but he was just as anxious as they were. The tension in the car almost palpable as Zaf negotiated the busy roads.

"How did she get out? I don't like this, what if it's a trap?" Ros tapped the car door as she spoke. Harry glared, knowing what she said was a possibility. It wasn't the first time that she had been used to attack Harry. He remained silent as Zaf drove through the city - barely legally as he reached the side of the road.

"That's the phone box." Zaf nodded to the clearly abandoned phone box. "Malcolm was certain."

"I told her to stay where she was." Harry snapped as Ros arched an eyebrow.

"This is Ruth." She opened the car door before heading the few yards to the telephone kiosk. Turning in a circle she noticed a thin line of blood on the concrete pavement. "Harry." He nodded once, feeling his stomach lurch he silently prayed they weren't too late.

Xxxxxx

"Dad." Tariq's voice sounded harsh to his own ears. "You ok?"

Masood smiled broadly. "Me? I'm fine son. Really. It's you that's given all your family and friends a nasty scare."

Tariq frowned, barely remembering how he had ended up in the hospital. "Your Mum is on the way back in with your sisters. Dimitri is collecting them. He's a good friend to you."

"Yeah." Tariq agreed. Yawning he frowned as a memory came back to him. "Taxi. Had to."

"You were attacked. Beth and Dimitri got you to hospital. Police say it was a racist attack."

"Shit." Tariq mumbled.

"I said that among other things. You are going to be ok." Masood stated firmly. Tariq sighed.

"Dad? I'm. Shattered."

"It's ok. Go to sleep now." Masood smiled, relief filling him as his only boy fell into a natural sleep.

Xxxxxxx

"So." Lucas looked at the computer screen over Catherine's shoulder. "Really we have two major cases on our hands masquerading as one."

"Looks that way." The young blonde checked her watch, mindful of how long it had been since her father had left the Grid. "Dad and Ruth were in Iraq just after the second Gulf War. We now know they only told Malcolm and Colonel Dempsey where they were going. A complete black op. Mani is dead."

"I know. I was here for that bit." Lucas frowned. Catherine shrugged as she glared at the computer screen.

"He tried to kill Ruth."

The young analyst took a steadying breath. She still couldn't quite comprehend the amount of times the team had faced death. Lucas glanced across to where Calum and Malcolm were sat.

"We also have some extreme right wing thugs taking pot shots at anyone who looks slightly Muslim. It's not just Rana and Tariq who have been targeted. I acquired some police reports for the last eighteen months. Zaf was right. Attacks and intimidation crime is on the increase. Not just Muslims but Jewish and Hindu places of worship have been attacked."

"Why wasn't it passed onto us?" Erin pulled a chair up; her long black hair falling over her eyes.

"Police thought it wasn't terrorist related so kept it to themselves. No one saw the pattern until we started going through it." Catherine explained. Erin nodded. She knew the junior analyst was doing her best but had a lot to learn. "It was only following Tariq's attack that we were alerted to what is going on."

"David Cook." Zoe stepped towards them as she carried an A4 file across her chest. "Is officially scum. He's in a relationship with this woman."

"Lucy Rees." Zoe continued as the team gathered around Catherine's death. Lucas swore, instantly recognising the woman in the photograph Zoe was holding. "One of the big names in Britain for Britain. And the ex sister in law of Parkinson. Apparently her sister - Sally saw the light and has nothing to do with them now."

"She's been in prison more times than I've been undercover." Beth paused. "So, she's having her way with a known loony. Those three are currently on the run from prison. What do they hope to gain? Two men are dead. If Ruth's theory that Cook recruited those three is right then what does he hope to achieve? At least with Nightingale we know what their objectives were."

"That's true." Erin nodded. "Distraction?"

"Start a race-hate War as a distraction?" Calum pulled a face.

"Well. We've had less reasons. Cook wants us looking for the three idiots which killed Ismael and left Tariq for dead. They think that while we are chasing them."

"They can do what they like and we won't notice until it's too late." Beth finished Lucas' train of thought. Erin nodded as she pulled on her jacket.

"Beth? Fancy meeting an asset?"

"Always." The blonde smiled before following her out of the Grid.

Dxxxx cc

"There." Harry turned, almost running towards the alleyway where the tassel of Ruth's right boot caught the sunlight. "Hi." He kneeled down next to her as she shivered.

"Hi." Ruth smiled weakly as Harry and Zaf made to help her stand.

"No!" Ros commanded. "Look at her leg. Bloody hell Ruth? How did you move on that?"

"Hurt."

"I bet it did. It's dislocated."

"Yeah."

"Bloody Hell." Ruth gripped Harry's hand as he swore. "What did they do to you?"

"Not now." Ros said. "We have to put it back in joint now. Zaf?"

He nodded as he looked at the ankle. Carefully Ros removed the ankle boot and stocking as she told Harry to remove his tie and Zaf his belt. "I'm going to tie your legs together to stop it coming out again when we are travelling." Ros explained. Ruth rested her head on Harry's shoulder; relieved he was there, even if she was in agony. Ros gripped the ankle as Zaf gripped the knee counting to three Ros gave a sharp tug, reading the bone. Harry kissed Ruth's hair before realising the pain had knocked her out.

"Ruth." He whispered as she flopped in his arms.

"Probably best." Zaf shrugged. "Cmon." He tied the basic support around her legs before lifting her. Moments later they were on the way to A&E as Harry cradled his wife in the back of the car.

Xxxxxxxxxx