I do not own Spooks.

Zaf frowned slightly as Catherine ushered him towards one of the hard plastic chairs that lined the hospital corridor. Sniffing slightly she took the tissue he offered her.

"You ok?" He asked the younger woman.

"Shouldn't I be the one asking you that?" Catherine asked. "It's your best friend that I've just told you about."

"Ruth is stronger than anyone I've met." Zaf smiled slightly. "She doesn't look like it but she is."

"She lives with Dad." Catherine sniffed. "She has to be."

Xxxxx

"Tariq." Calum stepped into the kitchenette to see the baby of the team staring at a small monitor. "You ok?"

"Testing my blood sugar. Hold on."

"I've got a Mars bar in the fridge." Calum stated. Tariq smirked, once he and Calum had fought at every opportunity, neither wanting to be outdone by the other. Now they were mates, it made life in the Grid so much easier.

"Thanks." Tariq nodded. "7.3. Not bad, not bad at all."

"So you're ok?"

"Yeah. Why Ruth?" He looked up as Calum shrugged.

"Why anyone? Over thirty people were hurt. Why little Gracie? What harm can a toddler do?" Calum sighed. "Tariq, bad people want to kill us."

"And we have to stop them." Tariq grabbed the bottle of Lucozade from the counter before heading back to the Grid. Calum shook his head sadly before pulling out his mobile phone. "Cath, hey sweetheart." He closed his eyes as he listened to his fiancé. Maybe just maybe things were beginning to look up.

Xxxxxx

Harry frowned slightly as Ruth blinked rapidly. The tube in her mouth had been replaced by a small nasal tube running to a oxygen outlet on the wall. Clearly panicking Ruth tried to sit up, pulling the IV line in her arm as she did.

"The baby." Ruth struggled for breath as Harry grabbed her hands. "Van. Gracie. The van, she saw it. I."

"Gracie is fine. She's beautiful." Harry held Ruth's hands firmly. "Ruth listen. Gracie is at home. She's with Terri and Graham. She's fine."

"I."

"She's been asking for you. Nick and Catherine were here. Zaf's outside with Catherine now. Ruth bit her lip as her eyes filled with tears. "It's ok, it's going to be ok?"

"Harry." She held his gaze as she spoke. His heart broke a little as she looked around the room, clearly terrified. "I saw. I saw him."

"Who?" Harry had an awful feeling he knew what she was going to say.

"The van. Gracie." Ruth paused for a moment. "She's really ok?"

"Yes." Harry smiled. "Bump on the knee and a very nasty fright. You saved her life."

"I'm her mum." Harry nodded as she spoke. "The van was outside the bank. Gracie saw it first."

"Ok."

"He was just a boy. He looked right at me. His eyes looked already dead, like he was expecting it." Tears filled her eyes once more.

"It doesn't matter. Not now." He kissed her hand. Ruth screwed her eyes shut, ignoring the pain in her back and stomach.

"It does. He couldn't have done this alone." Harry nodded.

"Did you recognise him? The boy?"

"No. I don't think so." She paused. Harry felt his blino run cold as she spoke."But he knew me. I'm certain he recognised me."

Xxxxxxx

Lucas crossed the Grid to where Ros was sat staring at the computer screen in front of her. The same image replayed again and again.

"Hey." He pulled Adam's abandoned chair nearer before sitting down. "I just called Carrie. The kids are fine." Ros nodded once.

"This is too much of a coincidence."

"Ruth being there was bad luck." Lucas nodded. "I spoke with Nick, he said he stayed at home watching cricket with Harry and she decided to take Gracie to get some groceries. She was cooking a big lunch for the family. Remember Cath and Calum are supposed to be getting married next weekend."

"Why now?"

"You've watched this footage a million times." Lucas handed her a mug of coffee. Ros frowned before resetting the footage.

"Thanks. Look, you see the abandoned pub at 10:10. The van parked there at 10:25."

"Yeah."

"The grocery shop next to the pub doesn't open until 10:30. There's a few other shod around but it's nowhere near as busy as a weekday."

"So why pick a Sunday morning?" Alec asked as he joined them. "Massive potential for disruption and carnage any other day of the week. Less so on a Sunday."

"And why at that specific time?" Lucas asked.

"Ruth and Gracie-Jo walk into shot at 10:33. You can see the baby pointing at the van." Ros turned the footage on, all three spooks watched their friend step into view. Ruth could be seen watching her daughter, engrossed in whatever conversation they had been having. Then Ruth stopped abruptly as she moved to cross the road.

"Ruth looks right at the driver."

"Yeah." Alec paused. "Yeah, she has to have seen him."

"Couldn't miss it." Lucas agreed. Ros ran her hands through her short blonde hair, angry and exhausted.

"Who did she see?" Ros frowned as the image of Ruth backing away as she got herself between the pram and the van. Alec swore as the screen changed to fuzzy black and white. Ros narrowed her eyes before reaching forward and turning the film back to the beginning,

"We've missed something." Ros stated. "I've missed something." Lucas glanced up to see Malcolm frowning as Ros spoke. Both were concerned about the Section Chief but neither willing to voice it.

"Ros!" All eyes snapped to where Erin was sat listening to the 'traffic' from GCHQ.

"This had better be good." Ros snapped. Zoe nodded, turning the computer screen to face her.

"We know who the bomber was. And why he did it." Erin stated as Lucas narrowed his eyes.

Xxxxx

Harry stepped out into the hallway as the doctor arrived to examine Ruth. Catherine got to her feet as she saw her father appear.

"Harry." Zaf got to his feet. "How is she?"

"Shaken up." Harry ran a hand over his face. "Tired. Confused."

"Dad." Catherine bit her bottom lip.

"I'm fine. Zaf, will you take Catherine home please." Harry watched as Harry raised his hand. "Lucy and Charlie need their mum. Gracie and Nick need their big sister. Goodness only knows what stare Graham is in."

"He's not an idiot." Catherine stated. "Well, not a complete one."

"He's right." Zaf handed her jacket to her. "Come on. I'll call the Grid, let the others know she's awake." He ushered Catherine away as Harry nodded gratefully. Catherine looked back before stepping away from Zaf and hugging her father tightly.

"Take care." Catherine whispered. Harry kissed her cheek.

"I will. Go." He smiled as Catherine hurried away.

Xxxx

Ruth watched as the doctor wrote on her chart. He had spent the last ten minutes with the nurse as they checked her wounds across her back and abdomen. She had no idea if he could tell her anything but she had to know.

"My back?"

"Wounds are healing nicely." The young doctor stated. "I'm happy with the wound on your left leg. Is it painful?"

"No."

"Ah."

"Ah?"

"Ruth, can you move your right leg?" Ruth frowned. "And the left?"

"They didn't move." Ruth bit her lip. The doctor didn't answer. "My legs don't work." Ruth snapped.

"Early days." The doctor smiled. "The epidural you had to control your pain may have been a little strong. We'll try again later."

"I'm paralysed. Aren't I?" Ruth stated as Harry walked into the room. He froze as he heard Ruth's words. Memories of Juliet's accident flooded back. The doctor turned to see Harry in the doorway.

"Ah, Mr Pearce."

Harry ignored him as his eyes met Ruth's. Tears had already filled his eyes as he crossed to her. Ruth froze as he reached her.

"It's ok." Ruth hugged him as her back burned. "It'll be ok." He whispered as he wondered who he was trying to convince.

Xxxxx

a/n please review