Disclaimer as before
rating for this is strong T.
In the Midnight Hour
Alec coughed as he grabbed his ribs. Every breath hurt but he knew the doctor was right, ribs hurt like Hell when they are broken and take ages to heal. He smiled slightly as Erin walked into the room.
"I called Juliet. She is glad you are alive and wants me to return you back to Thames House in one piece."
"Nice to know she cares." He coughed again. "You ok? Your mum and Rosie are going to kill me."
"No they aren't. They would wonder what we are doing home so late, with me looking like this." She pointed to her hair, matted with blood. "And mum won't swallow any lies that I come up with. She knows what I do and she will want to know why I've got blood in my hair and six stitches in my scalp."
"Never lie to your mother." Alec smiled. "Mothers always know." Erin smiled slightly before walking out of the room. "Back to the Grid Alec White." Alec nodded before following her.
Xxxxxx
Ruth lay in the dark. She hated being alone in a strange bed. Gracie and Nick were sleeping in the room next door with Scarlet on the end of Nick's bed. A gun and silencer sat in the bedside table drawer, keeping Ruth's mind working in overtime. She hated guns, aborhed violence but knew she had killed a man to save her life once and if it came to it she knew she'd fire the gun without mercy if it meant saving her children. Knowing sleep would be hard to find she rolled onto her back and tried not to think of Harry.
Xxxxx
"Ros." Harry barked as the blonde woman looked up. "Anything?"
"Ruth sent a secure email. Chatter from GCHQ is rife. They picked up a few online messages from disgruntled racists - and a few from equally pissed off Jewish and Muslim groups."
"Can't say I blame the religious groups getting annoyed."
"True." Ros agreed. "We've traced the dead boy 's family to a town in South Wales. Seems the police knew the kid well. He has a juvenile record, was running away from home every few weeks. Not a nice kid by all accounts."
"On paper, neither was Graham."
"This is not Graham. Don't draw parallels. I could just as easily say this could be my son in a few years. It isn't. It's Moran's boy and we need to know how and why he ended up blowing himself to Kingdom come " Ros watched as Harry nodded. He knew she was right.
"Where in South Wales?"
"Same town where the van was stolen."
"Take Lucas, talk to the woman." Ros frowned as Harry turned to look at her. "What?"
"Harry, I'm concerned about your judgement. I should be here."
"Thankyou for your concern but no need. London to Cardiff in good traffic is what? Less than three hours. Add another hour and what's to say Moran isn't using his ex? Talk to her. In person. I believe Tariq has the address." Ros watched him go. She knew she was fighting a losing battle.
"Ros?" She turned as she heard Lucas arrive.
"Cardiff. Well, Pontypridd to be be exact." She watched as Lucas appraised her. "You drive." He nodded, hoping she'd fall asleep on the drive down.
Xxxxx
The night was not proving conducive to sleep. Nick had been woken by Gracie crying. Apparently the toddler had wanted her Daddy. Ruth had broken down too at that point but tried her best not to let the children see. One settled toddler, one snoring teenager and three secure emails later Ruth finally felt able to rest. Laying on the bed in just her nightdress she closed her eyes. Only to snap them open a second later . Quickly and quietly she pulled the adjoining door to the children's room closed. The gun in her hand loaded and silencer attached she crept through the small flat. The sound of her own heartbeat threatened to drown out any noise the intruder could make. The alarm beeped silently as the figure in the doorway snapped the light on.
"Ruth." Harry had his own gun in one hand.
"Bloody Hell." Ruth quickly lowered the gun.
"Hello to you too." He crossed the room, taking the gun from her hand as she leant heavily against the bedroom door frame.
"You scared me."
"Sorry."
"Kids are asleep. At last." She paused. "He's going to kill you."
"Not if I have a say." Harry stepped nearer to her , relieved that both firearms were locked away. "I'm here." He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"I can't do this." Ruth sighed. "I can't keep mourning you." Harry frowned. He could see she was tired but he had no idea what she was talking about. "You told me once what it was like for you when I was gone."
"I did."
"You never asked me. Just because my faking my death was my idea you assumed I was ok with it. You had no idea how scared I was. How alone."
"I."
"And don't you dare bring George into this." She paused. "You know everything there is to know there. I was scared, looking over my shoulder, reading every obituary column I could find. Searching for your name." Harry held her wrists as they came up in front of her. "I was dead. As far as the world was concerned and if you needed me there was nothing I could do."
"Ruth."
"I can't do it again. I watched you as best I could. Just to see what was happening back home. I looked in the wedding announcement sections of the paper and online, half afraid you'd found someone else. Did I ever tell you that? I wanted you to be happy and now." Harry crushed his lips to hers, pining her against the wall as her fists held onto his shirt. The kiss finally ended as Harry turned his attention to her neck. Ruth 's eyes closed.
"Harry."
"I'm not going to die. Not yet at any rate." He slipped his hand under her nightdress, holding her to him as her hand reached his face. Ruth forced him to look at her.
"Harry."
"George was safety - at first. Then things got nasty."
"I know." Harry rested his forehead against hers. His thumbs drawing imaginary circles on her thighs.
"I deserved it." Harry moved to protest. No man had the right to hit a woman. Ever. "I thought I did. I'd walked away from the man I loved. Very Romeo and Juliet but it killed me. I can't do it again."
"You won't have to." Harry kissed her gently before taking her hand and leading her to bed.
Xxxx
A/N more soon. Please review. I'm not getting many reviews for this story so not sure if I should go on. Let me know