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Harry closed his eyes as Gracie wrapped her little arms around his neck. He wanted to scream, rage against the unfairness of it all but knew with a 2 year old that needed him he had to be strong.

"Daddy."

"I know Baby." He opened his eyes to see the little girl staring at him. "You have your mum's eyes."

"No! Gracie's." She smiled at him as he shook his head. She had also inherited Ruth's ability to make him smile, even in the darkest of times.

"Dad?" He looked up to see Graham sat opposite him. "You ok?"

"Yeah." Harry paused as Gracie hugged her big brother. "Ruth threw the pram over and got between the bomb and her ."

He nodded as Graham sighed. Catherine appeared in the doorway as Harry spoke with Nick just behind her. Hugging her father she pulled back as Nick sniffed.

"Terri has the kids. Cal has gone straight to work." Catherine explained. "How's Ruth? They wouldn't tell me anything when I got to reception." Harry looked away as tears filled Catherine's eyes.

Xxxxxx

"CCTV from the scene." Calum stated. "Shows a van parked outside the bank. Apparently abandoned."

"Police say a set of skeletal remains were found in and around the van." Zaf stated. Ros nodded.

"Suicide bomber? Why? Why there? And who?"

"Not Nightingale's style." Erin frowned. "And no way of knowing who would be on the street at 10 am."

Ros pressed a button on the screen in front of her. Suddenly the screen filled with a grainy image of a Central London street. A van parked on its own came into view. Malcolm cursed under his breath as he watched a figure that could only be Ruth stare at the van for a moment before pulling back on the pushchair.

"She saw someone." Tariq frowned. "She looks straight at the van windscreen."

"Who? We need an ID on the skeleton." Alec snapped.

"We need Ruth to wake up." Zaf cursed as the Briefing Room door opened. Adam appeared in the doorway. Ros held his gaze.

"I left Harry with his kids." Calum nodded. "There is nothing to suggest this is a personal attack."

"How are they?" Beth asked. Adam sighed.

"Gracie is ok, bumps and bruises. Shaken up but they've discharged her."

"Thank God." Dimitri looked at the hardwood polished table. It was more what Adam wasn't saying that bothered Ros.

"And Ruth?"

"She has head, back and abdominal trauma. She basically saved the baby's life."

"Maternal instinct." Zoe frowned. "She's going to be ok? Isn't she?"

"Honestly, we don't know." Adam finished.

Xxxxxxx

"Ah." The door opened to reveal Harry sat in the awkward plastic chair, next to Nick who looked more lost than Harry had ever remembered. Catherine nursed a Luke warm coffee while Gracie slept in Graham's lap.

"Does Ruth have any family other than us?" Graham asked. Ignoring the pointed look from Catherine he continued. "Cousins? Aunts and Uncles?"

"Grey!" Catherine hissed.

"A cousin. On her father's side. Lives in Halifax I think." Harry sighed. "They send Christmas and birthday cards. Ruth's father had two sisters, Jessie and another. I forget her name. Both dead now." The doctor cleared his throat as Harry looked up briefly.

"Is this Ruth Pearce's family?"

"Yes." Nick stated. "Ruth's my mum. This is Graham, Catherine and Gracie my brother and sisters and my dad, Harry." Catherine bit her lip as she heard Nick refer to Harry as his dad rather than step dad. She knew Harry hadn't missed it either.

"I'm Dr Shaw. I've just been with Ruth." He sat down. Harry held his gaze but remained silent.

"How is she?" Graham asked, clearly the only one who was able to put words together.

"Ruth is very unwell. She has a contusion on her brain, possible spinal injuries. We also removed some shrapnel from her thigh. We have put her in an induced coma. Do you know what that is?"

"You're keeping her asleep." Nick sighed. "I saw it on ER. It's repeated. You give her drugs to knock her out. Mum is. My mum." Nick hitched his breathing as he tried not to cry.

"Can we see her?" Harry asked. The doctor nodded.

"Two at a time and only for a few minutes. She's got a machine breathing for her, drips giving her medication and various other tubes." The doctor nodded.

"You and Nicky. You go." Catherine stated. Harry squeezed the young boy's arm as they followed the doctor out the room.

Xxxxxxx

"Suicide bombers." Ros hissed. "Suicide bombers in London again. How?"

"Because psychos are well travelled these days." Alec glared. Ros curled her lip slightly.

"Lucas, take Beth get to the scene. See what you can find out. Erin, you and Alec get to the foreign office. See if. 6 have found anything."

"Ok." Beth nodded as Lucas headed towards the pods. He knew how close Zaf, Ruth and Ros were. He worried they wouldn't be able to remain objective when the heart of the team was fighting for her life.

Xxxxxxx

"Ruth ." Harry took a deep breath as he walked towards her. Nick rubbed his hand over his eyes.

"Wake up mum." Nick whispered as Harry watched his stepson.

"She's strong. She's the strongest person I've ever met." Harry watched as Nick sniffed. Ruth lay on the bed, her head heavily bandaged. IV lines snaked to both her arms as a tube hooked her up to a respirator from her mouth. Machines bleeped rhythmically as Ruth lay silent.

"Come back to us, my love." Harry kissed her bandaged forehead. "Gracie Jo is fine. Thanks to your bravery and instincts she's ok. Graham has her now." He closed his eyes before kissing her again.

"We need you Mum." Nick whispered. "Don't go."

Xxxxxx

A/N more soon