Disclaimer I do not own Hu$tle. I just wish I did.

Together?

Stacie closed her eyes as she sat in the parked car around the corner from where she had dropped Ash off. It was still dark, almost the middle of the night and she couldn't help but worry that the fixer had just walked into more trouble than any of them had ever expected.

"Be ok." She mumbled under her breath. "Please Ash, don't do anything really stupid."

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Emma closed her eyes as she felt Mickey rest a hand on the small of her back and usher her out of the nightclub. She was relieved they had found her but annoyed and she didn't really know why. She avoided Mickey's gaze as they followed Carole, Sean and Danny back through the crowd.

"He knows what I am." She half whispered as Mickey turned to her, barely able to hear her over the noise of the fire alarm.

"Doesn't matter." He almost breathed the word in her ear as her eyes fluttered closed.

"Of course it does." She hissed. "Another job gone wrong because of me. Mickey, I never should have come home." Emma stepped away from them as Mickey closed his eyes and swore. Carole and Sean huddled together as she pulled her mobile phone from her pocket and began to ring a taxi to take them home.

"Emma."

"She's right, luv." Carole started as Mickey whirled around to face her. "He does know who she is. Of course he does, he aint bloody daft, is he? Rachel Morgan will 'av twisted the knife there."

"And?" Danny stared at the dark haired woman.

"We can still take this piece of scum down."

"And how do you suggest we do that? He put me in hospital back in the States, left Stacie terrified he was going to kill us both and now he's done God knows what to that kid." Danny shook his head. "Nah, it's too dangerous."

"Emma is not a kid." Mickey automatically jumped to her defence. "She knew what she was going into."

"Yeah." Sean ran a hand through his hair. "So go after her. Or do you really think she's right? That she's messed it up because if you want her to go, you are going the right way about it."

"I." Mickey stared after the blonde as she walked away, head bowed.

"Go after her." Carole smiled. "We can still do this. He aint got a clue who I am."

"Carole." Mickey warned as the grifter raised an eyebrow.

"Go."

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Ash stared at the dark haired woman as Nikki Page's words ran through his mind. He knew the police woman was right. If he was caught with Dean or Rachel he knew he was going to prison. For a moment he wondered if that was what Rachel really wanted. Revenge on him for finally having the guts to admit what his friends had known all along. It was a mistake to marry her.

"Rach."

"Ashley."

"Need a word." He pushed past her, deciding that if he was going to get in trouble there was no point in half measures.

"I think we said all we had to when you put me in prison and filed for divorce." She hissed as he turned to face her.

"Where's your boyfriend?"

"Piss off Ash."

"Nah, see I can't do that."

"You did once." She glared at him.

"A man died." He rounded on her. "And when I say man I mean kid. What was he? Twenty? Twenty one? 'e died because you sold him out. Poor kid."

"Why are you here?" She pulled herself up to her full height as he narrowed her eyes.

"I want to know what you are playing at. You and Dean."

"I assure you, Ash. I am not playing."

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Stacie checked her watch for what felt like the tenth time in as many minutes. She knew what Dean was capable of and the thought Ash was in there, without back up made her feel physically sick. Her mobile rang as she tried not to jump out of her skin.

"Eddie!"

"Sorry luv. Everyone is back at mine. Where are you?"

"Waiting for Ash." She sighed. "I think I may be a while."

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"Emma." Mickey stepped in front of her as she finally stopped walking. "Please."

"Please? Please what? Stop messing up? Stop letting these idiots get away with everything? I never joined your crew to slow you down but that's what I am doing. Don't you see? After that man did what he did, after that I can't do this anymore."

"You can."

"No." Emma stared at him. "I can see it even if you can't. Or wont."

Mickey closed his eyes as he touched her hand. Emma sighed heavily, it was the first time she had almost broke down since they had come home from Cardiff. Part of her wished she had stayed there.

"You helped sell him the monument in Roath Park. That was you."

"No." Emma shook her head. "No, it was you and Albert."

"I don't want to loose you."

"Why?" Emma held his gaze.

"You know why?"

"Do I? Because it seems to me, the Mickey I saw in Cardiff was one thing but the Mickey here? Different man altogether. It's like you can barely be in the same room as me." She wiped a hand across her face, angry with herself for becoming emotional. "Was that just a con? Because you need a girl on the team? Well, you don't have to pretend now. Carole's here and Stacie."

"I was giving you time. After everything that happened." Mickey held out his hands in surrender as she raised an eyebrow.

"Time." She shook her head. "Time?"

"Yes." He risked stepping nearer to her. "Emm, I haven't changed how I feel about you."

"Mickey." She glanced at the floor while Mickey spoke. One hand daring to touch her waist.

"I thought you had changed how you felt about me." He rested his forehead against her as she closed her eyes.

"No."

"Because, Emma Kennedy I broke the golden rule of grifters the day I met you." She pulled back a little and frowned.

"What?"

"I fell for you. Hook, line and sinker. And Sean, Ash and Albert all saw it, even if you didn't."

"But?"

"Why didn't I make a move? Nerves? Respect for your brother's wishes. Just back in the UK, just avoided a lengthy prison sentance in Austrailia." He shrugged his shoulders. Emma swore as their mobiles began ringing instantaneously.

"Sean." Emma sighed.

"Albert." Mickey frowned.

"We haven't finished this." Emma kissed his cheek before answering the phone. Her brother was clearly panicking, as was Albert as Mickey tried to calm the older grifter down. Both looked at each other as they ended the call.

"Oh my God." Emma looked away as tears filled her eyes.

"They've got Ash."

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A/N Is Ash ok? More soon?