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Feeling

Zaf jogged towards the hospital room where he knew Ruth would be. He hated to think he might have to be the one to tell her about Graham, but if that made her see how dangerous this man was then he knew he had to do it. Harry would be focused on the bomb threat to the Synagogue and Mosque on opposite sides of London. He reached the door to see an older woman walking towards it, clearly struggling with one crutch and the tiled hospital floor.

"Juliet."

"What?" She looked up to see him watching her.

"What are you doing here?"

"Same as you, I imagine." She snapped as she reached the door. "Once you leave the service doesn't mean you stop being a spook. I know something is happening. And I know it involves an operation I was once part of, at least peripherally."

"Saving your backside then." Zaf smirked.

"On one level. On another I have alot of respect for Harry. I'd hate to see him get killed or lose the one person that has stopped him from destroying himself over the last decade."

"Ruth's in danger?"

"It was her that stopped Moran. It was her intelligence that let you and Fiona get into Westminster. Yes, she's in danger." Juliet rested a hand on the doorway as a very indignant Ruth could be heard swearing from inside the room.

"Ruth!" Zaf snapped. "What?"

"That door isn't really that thick." Ruth stated. "I heard you. I am not staying here to get killed."

"You're standing up." Juliet smirked. "But."

"Physio is amazing, what can I say? They want me to consider spinal surgery to put metal rods in my back to stabilise it. No point if I am actually dead by the time the op is done." Ruth gribbed the edge of the bed as Zaf crossed the room to her.

"You have to be careful."

"Get me out of here." Ruth looked into his deep brown eyes. Suddenly it was years earlier when she was asking him to help her frame herself to save Harry. He nodded once, knowing he could never refuse his best friend. Especially when doing so could cost her life. "No offence, but why ae you here, Juliet?"

"I cared about Harry once. I don't wish to see him a widower." She grabbed a back from the floor. "You have day clothes in here?"

"Yes."

"Zaf, get the car. I'll help Ruth dress. Don't look at me like that. I've been where you are. You need help." Ruth glared at the navy blue holdall, knowing she was right.

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"Lucas." Ros breathed heavily as her husband's unconscuous body crushed her to the tarmac. Sirens whalled as the heat of the explosion burned her skin. She felt her pulse race, memories of dragging Andrew Lawrence out of the hotel and failing sprung back to mind. Lucas wasn't moving, she wasn't even certain she could feel him breathe.

"Lucas."

Suddenly the weight was lifted from her back as the Inam appeared.

"Are you ok?"

"Of course." Ros answered, looking around police officers talked while others pushed the crowd back. The German Shepard that had found the bomb sat staring at her as if wondering why she was upset. Ros smiled slightly, the dog had survived. She couldn't help but be pleased at that. "Lucas?"

"He protected you."

"He tried to do that." Ros sighed. "Is he?"

"Bloody Hell." Lucas whispered as Ros closed her eyes in relief.

"What the Hell were you playing at more like?" She crossed to him. "Lucas?"

"I think I'm going to ache like mad tomorrow. Not twenty anymore."

"No, you're 44. Are you ok?"

"Head hurts." He touched his hairline as his own blood trickled on his fingers. "You?"

"I'm." She paused. "Bloody furious. If this is Moran and that prat Towers I am going to make sure they regret every sorry second of their lives."

"She's ok." Lucas stated to the Inam who looked shocked at her controlled outburst. Moments later he was on his feet as Ros ushered him towards the pool car they had driven to the Mosque.

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Harry stared across the barren field as he tried not to think about Adam and Ruth running for their lives. The image of Ruth so much younger, so terrified twisted his guts. Narrowing his eyes he cursed as he felt Towers arrive next to him.

"Harry."

"Where is my boy?"

"Harry. Pleasantries please." Harry turned, glaring at the older man. Moments later he grabbed the older man by the throat; pinning him against an ancient tree that lined the field.

"Nine years ago Moran confessed to murdering two men. Their bodies were found on this field. Excuse me if I don't have time for common pleasantries. Where is my son?"

"Are you sure about that? It seems to me the only child you can be sure of fathering is the baby." Harry pressed his hand tightly over the older man's gullet.

"Answer me."

"Jane was always a bit free with her affections." Harry narrowed his eyes.

"He's alive."

"Where is he?"

"Safe at present." Towers glared. "Section D is a loyal band of followers. Loyal to a fault. It's not Graham you need to be concerned about." Harry swore as he felt the sharp edge of a gun pushed in his back.

"Time to go." Moran snarled as he pushed the gun further into Harry 's back. Harry swore as he turned to face him. Instinctively Harry grabbed the gun, hoping Malcolm had been able to follow him on his tracker. Both men grappled as Towers backed away. A single gunshot rang out as the struggle stopped.

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"Zaf, get the car." Juliet stated. "I will help Ruth dress. Go on."

Zaf glanced at Ruth who clung to the cupboard edge to hold herself up. It was clear there was very little strength or power in her legs. Juliet stepped forward as Zaf left the room.

"Ruth, these people tried to kill you and Adam once. They will again. You know the score, destabilise D and do as they wish hoping you lot run around like headless chickens."

"I heard the news. The Synagogue was blown up."

"Yes, well. It seems these vermin are stepping up their game. Feelings are running high. All the anti immigration propaganda does not help. Riots ten years ago, bombings now. They need to be stopped." Juliet huffed as she handed Ruth a navy shirt. "And with Graham."

"What about him?"

"He's been abducted." Juliet stated as she watched the colour drain from Ruth's face. "Alec is following a lead with Erin. He called me a while ago."

Ruth stared at the navy skirt as she tried to tug it on over her seemingly useless legs. "Get me to the Grid." She stated firmly as Zaf reappeared. Removing the cannula from her arm she looked her friend straight in the eye. "They've attacked my family, Zaf. Get me to the Grid."

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A/N more soon, please review