Love Hurts

Ruth sat in the small 'audio/visual' room next to the interview room as she waited for Erin and Calum to start the interview. Her ankle burned and throbbed as if it was going to explode but she tried to keep her focus on the task in hand. She pressed the record button on the machine in front of her as Erin took her seat.

"Rana." Erin smiled slightly.

"This is crazy. This is nothing to do with me." She rested her head on one hand as she looked at Erin through heavily mascaraed eyelashes. Erin remained deadpan. It seemed all the men saw Rana as a victim - she wasn't so sure.

"Then this shouldn't take long." Calum tried his best charm smile, all the time wishing he was anywhere else. He barely knew Rana but the idea that somehow she could be caught up in the nightmare they found themselves in seemed absurd. The suspects were four men known to be racist - he just didn't see how Rana could be involved with any of it. But the trail all led back to Thames House and stopped at the unassuming librarian's door.

"Before Tariq was attacked. Before the night a man was murdered you said you'd been having some problems? People following you?" Erin started. Rana looked at her wide eyed and clearly scared.

"Yeah. It was about a week or so before. I told security as per protocol. Look, I'm not a spy. If I'm been no followed I assume it's someone with a grudge or a perv. I don't assume it's CIA or FSB."

"Fair enough." Calum nodded. "You know you had to report it? You work for MI5. Not exactly the same thing as a school librarian."

"Yes I reported it." She snapped. "There's been a few attacks near where I live. Police didn't seem that bothered. I filed my report and tried not to dwell on it."

Erin smiled. "Ok, well now is your chance to dwell on it." She looked the younger woman directly in the eyes.

Xxxxxx

Beth coughed as she looked up to the destroyed ceiling above her. She felt sick as her head wound began to bleed once more. She swallowed hard, knowing that there was no way she could free herself from her prison.

"Beth?" She touched her earpiece as she heard Lucas say her name.

"I'm still Ere. Not like I can actually go anywhere. Are the boys ok?" She gasped as the cement above her began to shift slightly. Rubble fell at her feet.

"Alec is being annoying, Will has a couple of broken ribs and Dimitri is worried sick about you." Harry interjected. Beth swore.

"Sir."

"Elizabeth as far as we know you are the only person trapped."

"There May be other bombs. We know they are planning something. They're repeating stuff we've already been through." She felt the exhaustion begin to overwhelm her. "I feel sick."

"It'll be ok."

"They know us. Parkinson and Cook and their croanies know us." Beth gasped. "Rana. I think she's the link."

Harry pinched his nose as he listened to Beth's voice become more and more faint.

"Ok, we've pulled her in. You just concentrate on staying awake." Harry stared at the bombed out building. "That's an order."

"Sir." Beth whispered as her eyes grew heavier. "Dim? Please."

"Lucas and Ros are with him."

"Thanks." Beth couldn't finish her the exhaustion washing over her as she finally gave into the darkness.

Xxxxxxxx

Ruth looked up as Zoe walked into the side room. Silently she slipped Ruth a scrap of paper. Ruth smiled; realising the significance as soon as she read it.

"I'll get this to Erin. It's over." Ruth sighed. "It's finally over."

Xxxxxxxxx