Disclaimer I do not own Hustle.

Blast from the Past?

Ash sat on the sofa staring at the floor as he tried to work out what on earth had happened at the Ball. He knew he was just supposed to watch the others and be there in case they needed a quick way to get out. Shaking his head he couldn't help but smile, the entire team had been worried about how Emma would cope after everything that had happened with Joe, her ex and then the Russian mafiosa they had ended up selling a welsh landmark to. Now he had to try to work out why his ex wife was back and find out what she wanted.

"Ash?" Mickey walked into the room as Ash looked up.

"Ok?"

"Yeah." Mickey loosened his tie before sitting next to his friend. "You?"

"Why was she there?"

"No idea." Mickey smiled. "You know Rachel better than the rest of us."

"She told me once." He paused. "That grifting is in the blood."

"I agree with that." Mickey nodded as his gaze turned to the floor. "But Rachel wasn't like us."

"Nah." Ash sighed. "Last time I was in the nick I worked that out. I know they say there is no loyalty amongst thieves but bloody nora she must have really hated me."

"She was with Frankie's gang." Mickey turned to him. "You know what he's like. He doesn't care who he scams. Not like us. At least we only go after people that can afford to loose money and those that deliberately hurt others. Not like him."

"No." Ash nodded. "Not like him."

"What I don't get, is why you didn't recognise her. I mean Sean said he thought she looked familiar."

"Yeah." Ash nodded. "The lad did recognise her and to be honest I thought she looked familiar but Mickey, it's been ten years. Ten years since I last set eyes on 'er. She looks different. Lost weight for one thing."

"You didn't recognise your ex wife?" Sean asked as he walked in.

"Sean." Mickey warned as the younger man raised an eyebrow. "Why did I?"

"Because." Emma answered as she joined them "She hasn't been using her real name. Look." Emma dropped a magazine on the table as all four men just looked at her. Shaking her head she realised they had no idea what she was talking about. "Look."

"Rachel was in the magazine?" Sean scoffed.

"Yeah, the one I saw you reading. Didn't realise you were so into fashion and make up." Emma smiled slightly as Ash and Mickey smirked. "Look, page 5." Ash picked up the magazine and stared at the picture of Rachel holding hands with the man they had been trying to scam. He sighed heavily before shaking his head and throwing the magazine back onto the table.

"You think she's trying to grift the same man we are?" Albert frowned as he looked at his younger friends. Emma shrugged, knowing that it was a possibility.

"No." Ash narrowed his eyes. "No way. I mean it is possible, yeah of course it's possible." He looked at Mickey who had closed his eyes. Both men knew that Ash didn't want to talk about his divorce or the woman who had broken his heart as well as his spirit. Emma met Mickey's eyes for a moment as the room fell silent. For a moment she understood why Mickey had always told her that two grifters getting together were bad news. It wasn't because he hadn't wanted to be with her, it was because he had been scared she would treat him the way Rachel had treated Ash.

"Excuse me for saying." Albert walked towards them before resting his hands on the back of the sofa behind Sean. "We seem to have an answer phone message." Ash closed his eyes as he prayed it wasn't who he thought it was. The last thing he wanted was to hear his ex wife lie to him again.

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"Answer the phone. Please answer the phone." Stacie closed her eyes and tapped her foot impatiently as Danny chatted up a blonde woman she didn't recognise. She swore in frustration as she heard Mickey's voice on the answer phone.

"Well, I'm glad you still have the same number." She started as the tannoy announced her flight. "Mickey, Albert, Ash. I'm. Well, I'm coming home." She bit her bottom lip as she realised she was glad there had been no one there to answer her call. She was beginning to feel emotion just from hearing Mickey, she had no idea what she would have been like had Ash answered her call. "I can't explain over the phone. But please be careful. Jake and Rachel. Well, they are together and they are up to something. I'll explain if you want to see me. Please just be careful."

Albert frowned as he heard the message. He was relieved his friend was coming home. Stacie had always been a surrogate daughter to him but he couldn't help but worry. Stacie never really got emotional over anything but he could swear she had been close to tears when the message was left.

"Who's that?" Sean looked at the others as Ash ran a hand through his hair.

"Stacie Monroe." Mickey answered. "Her and Danny worked with us before you and Emma."

"She's coming home." Ash smiled slightly. "Why?"

"I think she'll explain that when she gets here." Albert smiled slightly. "Which should be in just a few hours."

"Yeah." Mickey smiled slightly. "I just want to know what happened to make her run back here. Where the Hell is Danny?"

"I guess that is something we'll find out soon enough." Albert glanced at Emma and Sean who had sat quietly on the sofa as the others talked about a woman they had never met. Emma smiled, Stacie Monroe was legendary but she had no idea what the woman was like or why she sounded so scared in her message. Ash stood up and walked to the window as the room fell silent. Emma nodded towards Sean as they both left the room closely followed by Albert. It seemed a quick escape to Eddie's bar was the best way to deal with what was happening. It was obvious Ash was upset but both knew there was no way they would get any answers from him or Mickey. It seemed only Albert was likely to talk to them at that moment. Emma just hoped that her friend would be alright.

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"Why now?" Ash stared out of the window as Mickey remained silent. "Why are they both back in our lives now?"

"I don't know." Mickey answered as Ash shook his head.

"What the Hell is Jake up to? Stacie told me about the scams he used to get her involved with. He's a nasty piece of work, Mick. A really nasty piece of work."

"Yeah." Mickey had met Jake Monroe once or twice and had taken an instant dislike to the sandy haired man. He knew Ash hated him on sight.

"And why the Hell is he caught up with Rachel? I know she's hard work but ..." He turned away.

"They are a good match, Ash. You must see that. Both grifters, both only concerned with money. Neither of them care who they hurt. You know if they are going after Dean it's only for money. At least we are trying to shut him down, stop him from hurting any other girls."

Ash rested his forehead against the glass as Mickey spoke. He knew his friend was right. Rachel had always been mercenary. That wasn't what was worrying him.

"Why was she crying?" He asked quietly. Mickey fell silent, he knew his friend hadn't expected him to answer. The tears had been evident in Stacie's voice. "What's Rachel and Jake done to her?"

"We'll find out when she gets here." Mickey stood as he answered. "You know Stacie better than any of us. She's strong. She'll be fine."

"Yeah." Ash sighed. He just hoped his friend was right.

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A/N This story has taken on a life of it's own. Please review.