Mothers instinct

Tariq sat in the edge of the hospital bed glad to have his IV drips removed and his favourite NME t shirt on. He stared at the wall, deep in thought. He knew Beth had been in an explosion, that Ruth had been abducted. Dimitri has filled him in on recent events earlier in the day.

"You should be resting." He heard his mother's voice as he turned to see the middle aged woman walk into the room.

"Mum."

"Look at you. My boy." She took his face in her hands. "I know you and your father have always been very close but you do know that you and your sisters are my world."

"I know." He smiled slightly as she nodded once.

"Good. Because I know I spend too much time worrying about the girls but you know Sabrina is highly strung - I don't know where she gets it from. And Sunita! That child will make my hair grey!" Zee sat opposite him. "I want you to leave your job." She raised a hand. "Don't get me wrong. I know it's important and you have good friends there. Dimitri and Beth are a lovely couple but you can make new friends." She stared at him. "As your mother."

"No." Tariq stared at her. "There is no way I'm quitting. None. Me ending up in here is nothing to do with Work. If it was I'd be dead." He watched as she shook her head.

"Stubborn boy. You get that from your father!"

"Yes I know I do." He watched as she glared at him. "Dad is stubborn but he knows I love my job. Absolutely love it, and I'm not just good at it. I'm outstanding at it. I make a difference. We all do. Yeah, Dim and Beth are cool but Section D isn't just a job. It's my second family and I love them as much as I do my job."

"You kill yourself for a job that would have you replaced in a day!"

"Only they haven't. Have they? Three weeks in a coma and I know at least one of them has been here daily. Malcom, Ruth, Calum, Cath. Even Harry."

She sighed heavily. "What if I lose you? My only boy."

"I'm not going anywhere Mum. Let me live my life my way. I could have a job in Asda and get beaten up by racists. It doesn't matter where you work, there's always going to be idiots."

She hugged him tightly, praying that her intelligent but stubborn boy was right.

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Rana sat in Harry's office flanked by Ruth and Lucas. She knew they were determined to help her get her daughter home and the guilt of being the one to give information away made her feel sick.

"I don't ring him." She explained as Harry sat behind his desk. His face dark and impenetrable. Ruth knew he had gone into full on Spook mode. Harry was fully in control. She quirked a slight smile as an incredibly inappropriate thought came to mind.

"He rings you. Yes, we've examined your phone records." Harry explained. Rana nodded. She had suspected as much.

"I'm sorry. Look, I know I'm going to prison for what I did. I accept that. But my little girl doesn't deserve any of this." Rana watched as Harry nodded.

"No, no she doesn't." Harry conceded. "Rana. I'm going to give you some information. Sensitive in as much as I am risking my life as well as those of my team by giving it to you." He pulled out a small square memory stick as Ruth narrowed her eyes. "Cook is an evil bastard who won't think twice about having your daughter killed. Get him to meet you."

"He said he won't hurt her. Not if I do as he says."

Harry nodded. "I believe he won't. He'll get another to do his dirty work for him. Just as he did when Tariq was beaten half to death. Or when Ruth was kidnapped." Rana's eyes widened.

"My baby. I did all what I did to get her back! Parkinson and Cook said if I told you what was happening, if I didn't cooperate they'd kill Francesca in front of me!" The sobs wracked her body as her thin frame shook. Harry remained impassive- with only Ruth able to tell he was empathising with her."

"He's not going to touch her." Ruth spoke calmly. "We will be with you. You'll get her home."

"You've been where I am now. Secrets for a child's life. You told me."

Ruth nodded. "My son. He was eight at the time. And now he's fine. Almost six foot, happy as can be." She smiled. "We got him home and he's fine. Just like your daughter is going to be."

Rana wiped her tears away.

"Yeah?"

"Yes." Lucas spoke for the first time. Harry beckoned through the glass panel wall for Malcolm to join them. The technical officer appeared.

"Yes?"

"Take Rana and endure any tech she uses is undetectable. Rana, this is where we need you to make a choice. Who do you trust? Us or those that would use a child to blackmail you? Do this and not only will we end this whole nasty incident you get your daughter home and may be able to avoid prison."

"I." Rana got to her feet as Malcom beckoned her to follow him. "How?"

"Leave the details to me." Harry effectively dismissed them all as Ruth silently prayed the meet would go to plan. A child's life depended on it.

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