disclaimer - not mine

A Reason to go on?

His vision blurred as he tried to work out what was happening. Ros was nowhere to be seen, leaving him to hope and pray she had escaped. Sighing heavily he knew Ros. She would never leave a colleague to die. It was how she had ended up stuck in the Thames with Adam and later in a burning hotel with Andrew Lawrence.

Five hours earlier

"Ros." He turned to her as the younger woman glared. "If Tessa is working for nightingale then we are probably going to be sold on."

"Yeah." Ros kept her voice low. "And we know she is. There is a definite connection to Brewer, you know that. It's the reason you are covered in bruises."

"You get the chance, just go. I've known Tessa a lot longer. I can get inside her head."

"And explain to me how I look Ruth in the eye again if you get killed. Stop being so bloody noble. I've had enough of it with Adam Carter over the years." Ros deadpan bed as Harry smirked.

"So you're telling you're scared of Ruth?" Harry smirked. Ros stared at him.

"I've heard what she can do with a tree branch." Harry couldn't help but smile as he heard Ros' words. As long as she could keep up the Ice Queen facade he knew there was a chance they'd be ok.

Xxxxxxxx

Now

"I need to speak to the Home Secretary." Ruth tried again - only for his latest PA to attempt to fob her off. Glaring at her state of the art computer she couldn't help but realise older spooks, those that had lived in a world before internet and email were so much more skilled than they were.

"I understand he is very busy." Ruth sighed. "I know what he does for a living. Can I take your name please?" Malcolm raised an eyebrow at her Sharp tone. "And your manager would be?" Suddenly the woman on the other end of the line became much more helpful. Ruth ended the call before burying her head in her hands.

"What's wrong ?" Tariq asked innocently.

"Margot tells me the Home Secretary is currently in a meeting with the head of domestic terrorism at MI 5 and is not to be disturbed."

"Frustrating woman." Malcolm sympathised. "But did she say anything else?"

"No." Ruth sighed

"Alec and Lucas will find something. Adam and the girls will be at the meet by now." Tariq shrugged. "I feel so useless without my gadgets."

"Indeed." Malcolm paused as Ruth got to her feet and headed out of the Grid.

Xxxx

"Adam Carter." Natasha snapped "I hate you. You know that?"

"Yeah." Adam laughed.

"Good, just as long as you do."

Natasha smiled back as Zoe rolled her eyes. Adam nodded to the CCTV camera on the roof of The Queens Arms.

"You're on candid camera"

'No we 're not." Zoe snapped. "Not since the techno lock down."

"That only applied to the Grid. If that camera is controlled by the Met we can send Beth over to chat up the guys in the control room." Erin smirked. "At least if we are murdered there will be a time for when we enter and leave the pub."

"Oh you're a proper little ray of sunshine. Bloody 'ell!" Natasha snapped before jumping out the car and heading towards the pub doorway. Zoe and Erin exchanged glances, knowing it was now or never.

Xxxxxx

Harry swallowed hard , trying not to feel nauseated at the taste of his own blood. He knew Ruth and Mike had been right - there was only so much a man of his age could take. He had to accept he wasn't the same age as Adam or Alec anymore . He was a grandfather - ad he wanted to see his grandchildren grow up. Screwing his eyes shut he pictured Gracie-Jo pulling herself along the sofa, getting used to the feel of her feet on the floor. He knew then if he died his youngest child would never remember him. That he could never allow.

"Ros? Rosalind?" He turned slowly to see his Section Chief laying a few feet away on her side. Her back faced him , the leather jacket gone only the white shirt remained. The streaks of blood the only indication Harry would have to be the one to get them home and stop Nightingale once and for all.

xxxxx

a/n please reviewx