The roof was deserted as Ruth rested her hand on the rail around the edge of the roof. She knew that both Calum and Harry thought it was too early for Catherine to return to work, but she had argued at least she would be where they could make sure she was safe. After the shooting on the Grid, she did wonder how safe it really was. Her hair blew across her face as she tried to concentrate on the case. Peterson had abducted her years earlier, had been almost sadistic with her. The thought of him with Catherine made her feel physically sick.

"Ruth?" She turned to see Harry approach her.

"You know she isn't going to let this go." Ruth watched as he reached her. "Peterson should be in prison. He should be stuck there until he rots. Not out, walking around like he owns the place."

"I know."

"At least if we are with her, we can protect her." Ruth looked out over the cityscape. She felt sick at the thought of the man being anywhere near her stepdaughter. Harry rested a hand on her shoulder as she closed her eyes. "He already knew she was having physio. He."

"Ruth." Harry turned her so she was facing him. "I know."

"Zoe pulled his medical records." Harry explained. "He was let out of prison on compassionate grounds. He's dying, Ruth."

"What?"

"Brain tumour. Inoperable. I want Mike to look at the scans."

"How did I miss this?" Ruth shook her head as Harry held her shoulders, looking at her.

"You didn't miss anything. This only came up in the last ten minutes. Medical records are difficult to obtain, but the prison records had it. Adam is heading to the hospital with a warrant, see if we can get any more details. Save you from getting caught accessing NHS records." He watched as Ruth raised an eyebrow. "I know you could get through the system." Harry smirked slightly as she looked away.

"He's looking for revenge." She sighed. "He's dying, nothing left to lose."

"You think he went after our Catherine for revenge?"

Ruth nodded. The idea of it made her feel visibly sick. She knew her stepdaughter had a life before MI5, that she was more than capable of looking out for herself but the idea that the man who had tortured her, had given her to Mace was even on the same planet as her children made her stomach churn. Harry seemed to consider her words, blanching slightly as he realised, she was right.

"He is tying up loose ends."

"Yes." Ruth closed her eyes as Harry let out a breath. He frowned slightly as he thought of the three men dead in the flat, the premeditated attack on Catherine. "Going after anyone who wronged him. Catherine refused to use him in her documentary. I gave evidence that put him in prison. It was our operation that put an end to the UK arm of Nightingale. That cut his funding." She seemed to trip over her words as the thoughts streamed together.

"Ruth."

"So, he's dying. He's taking out people who he perceives wronged him. Section D. That would be Ros, Lucas and me. Mace is dead, can't go after a dead man. Catherine, Jamie and Leon stopped him peddling his nonsense, made him feel small. I bet a woman like Catherine putting him in his place dented his ego. Then Lucas shot him, while the team rescued me. Ros shot Mace. Peterson ended up in prison." She frowned as Harry said her name again. "He's not going to stop."

"Ruth."

"He's evil, Harry. We thought Mace was bad but this man." She paused, tears filling her eyes as Harry tilted her chin to look in her eyes. "He."

"You never told me. I just realised; we were focused on Mace. On putting him out of action, getting you back. You never told me what happened."

"I gave Adam my statement."

"I didn't read it." He paused. "It didn't seem right. I thought you would tell me, if you wanted to. Eventually. You were alive. That was all that mattered. All that still matters." He sighed as she blinked back a tear. She sighed as he kissed her gently.

"You didn't need to hear it. Mace was dead. I was with you. I just did what I do best. Block it out." Ruth sighed. "It was over, I didn't think dwelling on it would do any good. I didn't think I would see him again. Besides, so much had happened I was sort of used to being close to being killed by that point."

Harry swore under his breath, knowing that he would never and could never get used to the idea of her accepting danger as she did. "When will you understand that you matter? That without you. I."

"Hey." Ruth smiled slightly as tears slipped down her cheeks. "I know. I know that now." She brushed a tear away from his face as his eyes closed under her touch.

"I."

She kissed him chastely as he forgot what he was going to say. He pulled back as the door to the roof crashed open. "Tariq." He rolled his eyes.

"He's on the phone. Ros is talking to him now. I have a trace running." He turned, sprinting back into the building as Ruth and Harry followed.