A father's son

Graham forced his battered body into a sitting position. Everything burned, he was freezing and burning at the same time. Slowly he fought the urge to be sick.

"Dad." He watched Harry pace the perimeter of the room. "Dad."

"There has to be some means of getting us out if here"

"Yeah." Graham closed his eyes. "Oh boy."

"Gray?"

"I'm up for going home as soon as the room stops moving." Graham sighed, his blonde head tipping forward. Harry nodded, he could see how unwell his son felt but didn't have time to wait for the cold turkey to pass.

"Focus."

"I'm going to ask Nick to be my best man. When me and Terri get married." Harry smiled slightly. "Do you mind? Only if it hadn't been for his letter you'd never have sent me to Cyprus and I'd never have met her."

"I think it's a fantastic idea."

"Well, he's my kid brother." Graham pushed himself to his feet, still shaking. "Can't have him end up like me." Harry shook his head for a moment wondering when the stubborn and obnoxious teenager had become a young man.

"Quiet." Harry nodded to a crack of daylight underneath the floor. "Games about to begin."

Xxxxxxxx

"Are you deadly serious?" Beth stared at Ruth across the Grid. "He's in this up past his neck. Ruth?"

"Yes he is." Ruth countered. "But Erin is right. He knows we'll have gone through every little facet of his life. It hadn't stopped him."

"But forcing his hand. Towers isn't the stupid politician we took him for." Zaf watched before shrugging. "It's time he knew he can't hide behind Moran. He's been associated with too much. He's almost as bad as Teflon Tessa."

"Do it." Ruth looked at Adam. "Call your friend in the media. Tariq, leak it on the websites. Social media." Ruth paused. "Dimitri?"

"Jackie still works as freelance. I could call her. Story will be on Sky, ITV and BBC in less than thirty minutes." He glanced at Beth as he spoke.

"Good. Issue a description of Moran in connection with the bombings. And yes, this is what Ros and I were talking about and yes, Crowther knows." She picked up her headset, ignoring the pain in her back before facing the computer. Things were going to hit various fans in the next few minutes, she just hoped it brought her family back together.

Xxxxxxx

"Moran thinks he's a bloody genius." Alec huffed as Ros slammed the car door. She raised an eyebrow.

"His bravado got the better of him last time. Trying to intimidate Adam was a mistake." Lucas stated calmly. "He slipped up once, he will again." Ros glared as she looked around her, knowing the garages and barn in front of her could house Harry and Graham who were hopefully still alive but she had no way of knowing.

"Chasing Ruth and Adam with a cross-bow was slightly over egging the pudding." Alec stated. "What? I was IA. I read reports."

"When you were sober enough to focus. This is too easy." She stepped back, pushing mike backwards as the glass windscreen shattered. A second shot had them scrambling behind the small garage. Ros glared at Mike.

"Stay down."

"Ok." She glanced around the side of the building. A third shot ran out, missing her shoulder by inches.

"Right place then." Alec pulled his gun. Ros raised an eyebrow.

"Stay with Mike." She stated as the affable medic glared. Lucas pushed himself away from the wall as Ros returned fire.

Xxxxxx

"I'm meeting her in ten minutes. That expensive cafe, this is going to cost a fortune." Adam sighed as he pulled his jacket on. Ruth and Beth exchanged glances.

"No you are not claiming it back. No paper trail." Crowther stated as Ruth smiled. "Get her to publish and I'll bring it up in PMQs in the next hour." The older woman watched as Erin crossed the room.

"Why?"

"Am I doing this?" Crowther smiled slightly. For a moment she reminded Ruth of an older version of Ros. "Because Bill Towers is a sexist, racist odious little man living under a veneer of respectability. Makes me sick. That's why. As I told Ms Myers. You are the antiterrorism experts. It's you I take my lead from." She headed out the Grid as Ruth smiled to herself.

Xxxxx

"Dad!" Graham hissed. "Was that gunfire?" Harry nodded once. He felt sick at the idea of any of his children caught up in the crossfire. It didn't matter how old they were to him Catherine and Graham were still kids who needed protecting, who needed their dad.

"Who's firing?" Graham ran a hand through his blonde hair.

"With any luck it's Ros." Harry spoke calmly.

"Someone must think we're worth something if we're being guarded." Graham stated. Harry nodded curtly, knowing the only value Graham had to their captors was as a bargaining tool and would most likely be butchered once his usefulness had been outlived. His own value included the secrets in his mind and the monetary value he could be sold for. Inevitably their capture was a distraction to the team. One which could cost lives. He shook the more morbid thoughts from his mind , determined to get his boy home. A creek of the door followed by a leather clad arm pushing a gun in front of it had Graham leap forward, grabbing the gun as Harry yelled for him to stop. The assailant quickly snapped his hand away from her.

"Ros."

"Nice welcome for the rescuing committee. Anyone would think you like it here." Ros snapped as Graham looked suitably sheepish. Harry smiled.

"Good to see you."

"Move, there's a car, quarter of a mile north. Can you do that?"

"I'm old, not dead."

"Stay here and you'll be both." Ros snapped as they hurried away from the garage.

Xxxx

The blue skies over London jarred against Adam's senses as he waited for the curly haired editor of the Daily World to arrive. He knew Beth and Dimitri had travelled to Canary Wharf to see their contact but he'd rather have been with Ros and Lucas in the thick of the action.

"Andy."

"Katie." He stood as the woman smiled at him.

"This had better be good."

"Might be." Adam smiled slyly. Katie sat down, glaring at him. She knew him well enough to know when the freedom of the press was being exploited but she couldn't bring herself to care.

"Go on."

Xxxxxxx

Another shot hurtled through the air as Mike half dragged Graham towards the car.

"Head down." He bundled him into the car as Lucas gunned the engine. Moments later Alec shoved a mobile phone into Harry's hand, almost dropping it as the car lurched dangerously to the side.

"Ruth." Alec stated. "Talk."

"I'm coming home." Harry spoke quietly as he heard her breathing softly. "Ruth, we 're both coming home."