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Watching the Watchers?

"Watched." Harry almost whispered. He was terrified at the idea that someone had infiltrated the Grid, remembering the effect Connie's betrayal had. That somehow Cyberterrorists had wormed their way into the building. "How?"

"It's the only explanation I can think of." Ruth paused. Harry nodded. "I think I have proof."

"Go on."

"I had a little look in Section A's files a week or so ago. I got caught. I never get caught."

"Ruth?" Harry paused.

"I know. I was only looking for information they should have shared with us anyway." Ruth kept her voice low. "But I covered my tracks. Then I'm told that I've been caught, that next time I'm to ask. Calum was there." She paused.

"I see."

"It was embarrassing, Harry."

He smiled at her, knowing it was more professional pride that had been dented. Ruth liked to think no one would discover her little fishing trips in cyberspace but it was always possible she could be.

"And?"

"And what if my little fishing trip opened a cyber doorway? What if I literally let them in?"

"Ok, you are talking in a language only Malcolm and Tariq ever have a hope of understanding." He smiled as she closed her eyes. "I know I'm a Luddite."

"Every computer in the world has an IP address. An individual code that can be traced back to it. No one has been able to find mine. Yet."

"Until now." Harry frowned.

"What if I opened the door to a virus? Something that could look around in our files. See our alias' our legends? What if that was how they found out about Zoe meeting Tracey?"

"Talk to Malcolm. See if it is possible." Harry paused. "Until we know otherwise we shut down all electronic means of communication."

"Back to basics?" Ruth frowned.

"It worked in the past."

"We didn't have cybercrime in the 90s. Not to the extent we do now, Harry it's impractical."

"Yes." He paused. "But until I've spoken to Malcolm it's the safest way." He sighed as Ruth looked away. He tugged on her hand, pulling her towards him. She sighed as he wrapped his arms around her. "Not your fault. We will stop it. May even be able to turn it to our advantage." He kissed her hair, hoping his wife would stop blaming herself. He knew there was no way she would have left enough traces to be used by cyberterrorist. He also knew Nightingale had the means financially to do as they wanted.

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"Of course." Malcolm frowned as Harry stared at him over the desk. "How anyone could get through the Grid defenses I don't know."

"It shouldn't be possible." Calum stated. "It's state of the art."

"Yes." Harry nodded. "It shouldn't be. I know that, unfortunately so are Nightingale. I know we've updated since Tessa left us but she may still have a way to get through."

"If she does. She wont much longer." Malcolm huffed before walking back to the main Grid. Tariq shrugged his shoulders before turning to follow Malcolm back out onto the Grid. Harry ran a hand over his face as Calum watched him.

"You know something else?"

"Sit down Calum." Harry paused. "Brewer knew. Knows."

"Eh?" Calum stared at him.

"About Catherine and Charlie. He knew about the others aswell but he mentioned them by name. I need to know my daughter and grandson are safe." Calum visibly paled as he watched his future father in law. Catherine was his world. Her and Charlie were his family and with a new baby on the way he had never been happier.

"I'd die before I'd let anything happen to either of them. I know Charlie isn't mine." Harry watched, knowing the younger man adored the four year old. It had never seemed to matter to him that Catherine came as a package. He had to admire the younger man for that, knowing at the same age he may have found it difficult. "But it doesn't matter. I feel like I'm his dad. Surely that's enough?"

"It is for me." Harry smiled slightly. "Just look after them. These thug have come after Ruth already. I doubt their morals stop them attacking a pregnant woman and her son."

"I will." Calum got to his feet, silently deciding he would call Catherine, just to be sure she was ok. Harry nodded as Calum left the office. Brewer's words still in the back of his mind.

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"Oh come on Natasha." Adam followed the coffee shop manager into the back of the small shop.

"No." She snapped as she tied her apron. "I am not getting involved. Lee hasn't been in touch. I did what I could, I am not getting myself killed."

"I am not asking you to get yourself killed. I just don't want Zoe and Erin walking in there withough back up now she's dead."

"Who's dead?"

"Tracey Brewer." Adam stared at her. "Someone murdered her and faked her suicide."

"I am going no where near this. I run the coffee shop that almost got blown up when I first ran into you."

"Yeah." Adam continued to follow her around the room. "I know. You helped me save Zaf's life then too. As well as countless others."

"You are not going to give up are you?"

"No." Adam smiled. "No, I'm not."

"Ok, ok but if I get killed I'm coming back to haunt you." She watched as Adam rolled his eyes.

"Ok, 8am tomorrow. Thank you."

"Yeah, well you owe me one." She threw a tea towel at him wondering exactly what she had agreed to this time.

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Zoe slicked her short hair back behind her ears. She felt sick with nerves wondering if she could do undercover work anymore. It had been a while since she had gone to Newcastle with Adam and Zaf, even longer since she had been in the North Sea with Danny. Sighing heavily she knew she had to keep to the legend Malcolm had created. It wasn't just her safety that was at risk. Erin was depending on her.

"Zoe." Ros walked into the women's toilets to see her junior officer staring into the mirror. "Erin is on the Grid."

"Ok."

"You are able to do this." Ros stated rather than asked. "You were the one that created the in with Tracey. Now she's dead."

"Yeah." Zoe stated. "I know."

"So?"

"Someone was watching us. They knew she was meeting me. Now she's dead there is a fair chance they know who I am."

"Right. Natasha will be there. That may help."You will have back up."

"I know." Zoe turned to face her. "I always used to get like this before going undercover. It's fine." She pushed back from the sink before turning to face the Section Chief. "How do you do it?"

"What?" Ros stared at her, completely deadpan.

"This. You are married with two kids. Same as me, only me and Zaf aren't married." Ros continued to stare at her. "How do you do it? Turn off and go undercover? Tom used to say you put your real self in a box. Put it back on when you get home."

"I do what I have to."

"I'm not like you." Zoe sighed. "I really am not like you.." She walked out of the bathroom as Ros glared.

"No, Zoe you really are nothing like me." She glared before walking out of the room.

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"Anything?" Beth asked as she walked towards Ruth and Lucas. Ruth bit her lip as she shook her head.

"Adam is brining Natasha back in." He stated. "You and Dimitri ready?"

"The ops van is ready to go." Beth sat in Adam's vacant chair. "I'll be there listening in with Alec. As planned. Erin is used to going undercover. It's Zoe I'm worried about. It's not like she's been in the field much."

"She is a case officer, the same as you." Lucas stated. "You know that."

"Yeah." Beth nodded. "Yeah but she's out of practice. Ruth has been in the field more than Zoe has."

"And look how well that turned out." Ros stated as she joined them. "And as we are being watched we have to go about this the old fashioned way. We have to assume they are listening to everything. Malcolm and the others are going through everything but we can't rely on technology as much as we have. It's too dangerous."

"Back to basics." Lucas stated. He could see Ros was nervous, although he knew Beth, Dimitri and the others would never pick up on it he knew Ruth would. She was one of the few people who knew Ros well enough to pick up on the signals.

"Yes." Ros nodded. "For now." She looked up as Harry left his office. Ruth closed her eyes, knowing he would have taken her fears seriously. He marched towards the small group as Ruth looked up.

"Ros. The Home Secretary want to see us."

"Now." Ros glared. "We're in the middle of an active op."

"I am aware of that." Harry held her gaze. "But it seems Nightingale have been in touch with him."

"Tessa?" Ruth narrowed her eyes. "Has she?"

"I have no idea. Towers thinks his position has been compromised."

"Right." Ros grabbed her black leather jacket. "Lets see if he is being paranoid or can actually make himself useful." She nodded as Harry led her out of the Grid, knowing that Lucas and Ruth were watching, more worried than ever.

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A/N Filler chapter. Is Towers to be trusted? Is Zoe right to be worried and can Calum protect his fiance? More soon. Please review.