Disclaimer: These characters belong to BBC and Kudos, as does the television programme Spooks/MI 5. No copyright infringement intended.
This story picks up from the end of Friends Reunited? It is a rewrite of the fic of the same name. I just wasn't happy with it when I read it through again. This is the last of my revisits as I have an idea for a story to follow on from The Spy's Daughter. Please review
Memories
It had been just over a week since Zoë had returned to the UK with little Emma in tow. She was just relieved that the little girl seemed to have settled into life in London so easily. It had also been a huge relief to find that her parents accepted her and the four year old with open arms. Her time with Will in Chile was beginning to feel like a lifetime ago. She wandered around the living room picking up various toys that her daughter seemed to have collected since they had moved into the pokey basement flat that had once been used by MI-6. Adam and Harry had managed to pull a few strings when one of Adam's former colleagues had told him the flat was for sale. She sat down and held the little rag doll Emma had brought with her from Chile and tried not to cry. It was just too much at times. She had loved Will, had been delighted to have a baby with him, but then it had all turned sour. Now she was home only to find that everything there had changed too.
Harry had been round to see her and stayed a few minutes, asking if she was ok, did she need anything? He'd also told her that technically she was still an MI 5 officer and would be required to attend a debriefing because of the events surrounding her return. The visit to the Grid had brought back reminders of her squabbling with Sam, Ruth sat typing in the corner and Danny and Tom's good natured bickering. She'd also been there when Lucahad been taken. He'd been the quiet, well spoken one. Not as guarded as Tom but not as cocky as Adam or confident as Danny. His dark hair and soulful eyes hadn't been ignored, but he was off limits. A married man and Zoë Reynolds didn't chase married men. It was too much trouble. Then one day he was gone. Just gone. An op in Russia had gone wrong and Danny had smoothly been taken into the team. For a couple of years it had been her, Ruth, Tom and Danny and that had been fine. Well, until Tom had gone and shot Harry - then all hell had broken loose. She could still remember the panic in Ruth's voice when she had found out, the fear that had pulsed through her veins when she had believed Tom had tried to kill Harry before killing himself.
It had been one of her darkest times on the Grid. Then there was the trial where she was made an example of. The way Danny had held her, as if he couldn't bare to let her go was still imprinted on her memory. A single tear slipped down her cheek as she remembered their tearful parting. Danny had been her best friend. He had been the one she had hoped would find her and Emma when things with Will were at their worst. The way Zaf and then Adam had found her had made leaving Chile easy. She had spent so long wishing Danny would find her and take her back to London that when Zaf had appeared on her doorstep battered and barely able to stand she had taken him in without question, despite the arguments it had caused with Will.
Zoe smiled as she remembered how Adam had found her. It had been one of the worst days since she had arrived in South America. The rows had been getting worse, Will was drinking more and more while becoming more and more violent. It had been a blazing row this time. Zaf had heard Will shouting at her - more insults, stating she'd run off with Zaf giving half the chance, that she was a bad mother. Emma was crying and then Zaf heard the scream, accompanied by a child's cry. It was then that he limped out of the bedroom and pulled Will away, unable to bear hearing this bull anymore - telling Zoë to take Emma out. So, the two had gone to the market, just looking over the stalls as a distinctly British voice could be heard talking to the locals. Zoë immediately went into Spook mode; no-one had a distinctly British accent. Those ex pats living in Chile had tempered their accents, many had picked up local dialect. This voice hadn't. Turning slowly, Zoë bent down and picked up her daughter only to find herself looking into the eyes of Adam Carter. A man she hadn't seen since before she left for Chile. He had the same lopsided grin as his eyes met hers and recognised his old colleague.
"Zoë Reynolds - I've been looking for you! Who's this?" Adam touched the side of Emma's face and was rewarded with a shy smile. Emma had already taken a shine to this friendly stranger.
"This is Emma, my little girl. Say hello Ems, this is Mummy's friend" The little girl responded with a shy wave. Strangers were rare and grown ups that were nice were even rarer in Emma's experience. But seeing as her mum seemed to like this grown up she was willing to play.
Shortly after the meeting in the market, Adam found out about Zaf. Still injured from his ordeal and now acting as her self appointed protector. They headed back to Zoe's place, unsure of what they would find.
The row between Will and Zaf had been spectacular. Zaf had obviously taken a few knocks but had been the better suited to fighting. MI5 taught you something at least! The only remaining evidence of the violence, a broken picture frame and broken crockery on the table. Again explanations between the three had been brief. Consisting of the barest of facts around how exactly Adam had managed to track them down. Deciding that while Will was out it was safer for all of them to just leave, Zoe threw a few things into a bag for Emma and headed out the door. Adam had contacts in Santiago - people he'd been stationed with in the Middle East that would provide them with a hiding place until Adam could contact the Grid and hopefully get them home.
So, it was in Santiago that Lucas and Tariq had finally caught up with the four. Tariq was slightly bemused by the whole situation. As was Zoe, who Lucas informed her didn't have to worry about Will bothering her and Emma ever again. So the email was sent by Adam and here they were, back in London. So much had changed. Zoe had a feeling that only Ruth and Lucas would know what she meant. She'd been to the Grid twice now and it was on that second visit when she was chatting to Ruth and Harry by Ruth's workstation that she'd learnt that Lucas was now divorced and that after a decidedly difficult relationship with an American woman he was single. What is it about Section D and relationships? Zoe mused to herself as she promised Ruth she'd at least think about coming back to work and that yes she'd take care of herself.
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It was just as she was entering the lobby of Thames House that she saw him walking towards the staircase. The same warm smile she remembered but instead of walking in with Tom as he had done all those years ago, this time a tall, slim blonde woman walked alongside of him - obviously in charge.
"Hi Lucas, Ros" Zoe smiled, Lucas once again used the charm smile she remembered so well from when Tom was in charge. Ros nodded and smiled, it was obvious her friend was quite taken with the petite brunette in front of her.
"Zoe, settled in well I hope. Look I have to get this to Harry" Ros fought the urge to roll her eyes as she headed towards the Grid. She knew better than most people that Lucas' taste in women was not always the best.
"Everything ok?" Lucas watched as the smaller woman blushed.
"Yes, yeah. Emma's settled in well. Harry is speaking to Human Resources about getting my clearance sorted so I can come back."
"That's great." Lucas smiled. "Honestly, Zoe I'm pleased for you. Look, Ros will be waiting." He nodded towards the corridor Ros had disappeared through a few minutes earlier.
"Ok, yeah. Um."
"What is it?" Lucas paused, unsure why Zoe seemed so unsure.
"Dinner."
"I know what dinner is."
"Yeah. Um. With me, tomorrow? Only if you want to."
"I'd like that." Lucas smiled. "I'll pick you up a at 7." He walked away, wondering what he had let himself in for. Zoe bit her bottom lip and smiled. Maybe, just maybe she could get her life back in Britain. Maybe it would be a case of home sweet home.
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A/N Shall I go on with this? I've deleted the original story - it was appalling but ths keeps the same idea and will still fit in chronologically with the other stories I've written. Please review..
:D