The Conversation

Harry rested his head against the leather head rest of his office chair. The conversation with the new Home Secretary had gone well. Ros had been right, Janet Crowther was on their side. It seemed odd considering the antics of the previous three men to occupy the job. He narrowed his eyes as he mentally recalled the individual betrayals of the Blake, Lawrence and Towers.

"Harry." He turned as the office door opened. Adam stood in the doorway. "Lucas called. He's with Ruth and the kids at the safe house."

"Good." Harry kept his voice low. "Safe house 30 is unknown to anyone but us. I want it kept that way."

Adam nodded. It was unlike Harry to use a safe house off record but he understood why. Harry frowned, waiting for Adam to continue.

"Is there a point you are trying to convey? Or is this a new MI 5 I haven't been taught? Telepathy was never my strong point."

Adam smirked as Ros appeared.

"Home Office pathologist has finished dissecting the first death."

"Nice." Adam pulled a face.

"No." Ros narrowed her eyes. "The boy and I mean boy in the van that blew up ten days ago has been identified as a run away. Jamie Groves. Aged 19, petty crook. Five foot eight inches tall - according to the length of his left femur. "

"Sian got that from one bone?" Adam asked as they followed Harry onto the Grid. "Calum, say nothing." He paused as Calum pretended to look innocent. Malcolm sighed heavily.

"Drop the juvenile smut. You're paid by MI 5 not Viz comics." Ros snapped. Harry approached the middle of the room, making sure he had everyone's attention.

"Briefing Room. Now!"

"Great." Zoe sighed as Beth got to her feet. "Another chance to show how little we know."

"C'mon." Zaf smiled at his fiancé. "It'll be fine." Zoe smiled slightly, sighing as she did. It didn't reach her eyes before it turned into a yawn. Zaf watched her head into the Briefing room with Beth and Dimitri trying not to show how worried he was.

Xxxxx

"The internet connection is secure?" Ruth asked as Gracie curled on the sofa with the rag doll Ros had bought her. The blonde wooly hair caught in her gingers as she hugged it tightly.

"Malcolm set it up. The online and actual security is the best. And before you ask Terri, Graham and Cath and the kids are safe. Graham has taken Terri to Paris for the week. Catherine, the kids and cats are in another safe house just outside of Leon. Near Carrie's grandmother so they are fine and yes both cats had pet passports."

"Scarlet?" Nick asked just as the little terrier appeared.

"Best guard dog in the world." Ruth smiled as Nick fussed the ageing dog. Ruth tapped Lucas' shoulder before walking into the kitchenette. He followed, closing the door behind him.

"This is far from over. I know Harry and while I understand him wanting us safe I also know him too well not to see what's going on."

"Ruth?"

"C'mon Lucas. You are a spook. I know you see it too. He's not coming back from this. They tried to kill us both. They went after the kids. Harry." She paused. "He's going to face Towers alone. And he will kill him." She paused.

"No Ruth."

"Towers will kill Harry." Ruth paused. "Or Harry will kill him. I know my husband. He's not a vengeful man but he is protective of who and what he loves. Either way, unless we find and stop Towers and Moran before Harry gets to them, before they strike again the whole Section will come down like a pack of cards." Lucas stared her in the eye. He knew she was right. There was no one else who knew Harry better and there was no one else Harry would willingly die to protect.

"It won't come to that."

"Once I'd have asked you to promise me. I've seen too much to expect that now. Look after Ros, she'll go wherever Harry leads."

"And she has a self destruct button." Lucas paused. "Don't underestimate them, Ruth. They are the best at what they do."

"So are Moran and Towers." Ruth paused. "Please, just."

"I'll do my best. That I can promise. My kids need their godparents around for a long time yet." Ruth smiled slightly as she watched her friend leave the flat.

Xxxxx

"Erin's informant is dead. Alec just called, they're at his flat. It seems a bullet to the guts and a cross bow bolt to the head was a message." Adam stared at the polished oak desk as he spoke. Harry grunted in disgust, remembering Ruth's report of Adam staring at the madman with a crossbow. He knew how terrified she had been undercover. Finding May's body had been the first time she had been forced to think on her feet, maintain a cover story when her life and Adam's depended on it. He smiled slightly, remembering how proud he had been of her, how he was still amazed by her on an almost daily basis. He knew Moran using the crossbow to kill Erin's informant had been a warning. It wasn't just Harry that knew exactly how scared the apparently mousy book worn had been.

"And we have an ID on the van man." Ros leant against the wall as she spoke. Dimitri frowned as the image on the computer changed to show a happy, smiling teenager.

"Doesn't look like a suicide bomber." Zaf stated.

"Looks like he should be in school." Beth frowned.

"He may have been the bomber, doesn't mean it was by choice." Ros paused.

"19 year old. Jamie Groves. Dropped out of uni last month. Was studying history and politics. No obvious signs of radicalisation. Cautioned by police aged fifteen for pinching fags from an off licence. Mum, Gemma Groves aged. 46. Sister Donna aged 14 and deadbeat dad."

"Don't tell me." Zoe ran a hand over her face.

"Moran got in touch the day he was released." Ros paused. "Dimitri , Beth talk to the mother. See why two of his kids died for their father's cause. Adam and Zaf get to Whitehall. Make a general nuisance of yourselves. Calum."

"I'll go through Towers financial records. No stone unturned." Ros smiled slightly as he left.

"Electronic footprint." Tariq stated. "We all have them. It's not just Ruth that can hack."

"She doesn't hack." Dimitri smiled. "You know that." Ros glared for a moment before shaking her head. It felt as if Moran had the team on the back foot and she didn't like it.

Xxxxxx

"I hate this." Alec stared around the scruffy former council flat as Erin pulled latex gloves from her pocket. Rolling her eyes she looked around the living room for any signs of life.

"You've searched flats before." Erin stared. Alec took a deep breath.

"Yeah. Doesn't mean I like it. Anyway the owners were usually still alive and in custody."

"You can't have everything." Erin snapped. Alec crept closer to her.

"True." His eyes remained on the small box near the radio. Erin followed his line of sight before seeing the flashing red light.

"Out now." Erin stated as she bungled Alec ahead of her. Covering her head with one hand she fell to the floor, half dragged there by Alec. Heat scored her back as the door blew off it's hinges. Car alarms screeched and sirens wailed as Erin gingerly rolled onto her back as Alec coughed.

" I seriously hate this case." Alec coughed. "Seriously hate it."

"Grid. Order a clean up team." She ignored her bleeding hands and knees as she struggled to sit up. Silently she couldn't help but agree with him.

Xxxxxxx

A/N more soon