Ruth
The briefing room was almost too quiet as Harry read the name and address on the parcel.
"Ruth Pearce, Senior Analyst." He ran a hand over his face. Ruth looked away, unable to meet his eye. She heard Catherine swear as Zaf let out a breath.
"First Malcolm. Now Ruth." Zoe frowned. "Why would Juliet go after Malcolm and Ruth?"
"We don't know she has anything to do with this." Alec snapped.
"He's right." Zaf stated. "We don't. Juliet may just have been there when Malcolm was shot, saw it all and did nothing to help him."
"Equally as guilty as if she pulled the trigger." Catherine snapped. "Ruth, you have to go into protective custody."
"No." Ruth stated firmly. "Whoever this is wants me to do exactly that. They want to frighten me. They want to make me run."
"Ruth." Harry looked her in the eyes, his gaze pleading with her to agree with Catherine. Ros pushed herself up, walking to the large computer screen on the wall behind them.
"One assassin. Three shots. Two hit Malcolm. One hits the wall behind. We know the weapon comes from MI-6. Zoe, find out who the weapon was last assigned to. Catherine find out who and when arms are being dealt, who specialises in contraband stuff like missing service weapons and ammunition."
"Right." Catherine paused.
"Alec, stick with Natasha like glue. Three officers are now under threat." She turned to him. "Malcolm, Ruth and a sleeper agent."
"Like Rose all over again." Ruth sighed as Adam looked away, remembering the sleeper agent murdered when they had investigated a Right Wing group intent on causing a civil war in the UK. The 'tree branch' incident had become part of Section D history but few knew of the events leading up to it, or how Ruth had been held at knife point following her discovery of the dead sleeper agent's body. Harry nodded once as Ros continued giving out tasks. Adam got to his feet, the first to leave the room as Catherine felt Calum rest a hand on her shoulder.
"We will get who is behind this."
"I know." She nodded, jaw set firm in a way that always reminded him who's daughter she was. He squeezed her shoulder gently before letting her go. He paused on his way out of the Briefing Room knowing that if Malcolm didn't recover and if they didn't protect Ruth and Natasha he had no idea what would happen to Catherine. This was personal, more so than most of the other cases they had worked on. He glanced over at the image on the computer screen, hoping that they caught Juliet before anyone else got hurt.
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Sarah watched the heart monitor bleep quietly as she held Malcolm's hand. Will had nodded off in the chair near the door as the nurse slipped in and out of the room checking and dealing with things as the need arose. She sighed as she felt her own eyes grow heavy. She blinked, not wanting to fall asleep.
"He's nodded off." She spoke quietly to Malcolm as she nodded at Will. "He's out on his feet. There are so many who love you, Malcolm. You know that. Catherine has called, Graham has been here. He's a good lad. And well, Will hasn't left. I'm guessing he is using Ros and Harry as an excuse not to leave. You know how he is." She sighed. "I wish you would wake up, fy cariad. I really wish you would." She swallowed hard. "Its ok, I know you need to rest but you need to think about waking up soon." She brought his hand to her lips. "Ok? For me?"
She sighed as the monitor continued to bleep. No one in the room noticed the shadow in the doorway. No one saw the figure leave.
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"Ros is right." Harry stated as he stared out over the Grid. Ruth sighed as she tilted her head watching him. "Don't tell her I said that."
"She knows." Ruth turned as the woman they had spoken about left the Grid with Lucas. She knew Alec and Beth were with Natasha, the rest were out, following leads and trying to track down the woman they had seen in the CCTV. Juliet Shaw had been an amazing field agent, there was no way she as going to be found unless she wanted to be found.
"You know Juliet better than most of us." Ruth paused. "Where would she hide?"
Harry sighed. "Too many bridges were burned. Especially after the whole Yalta business."
Ruth nodded. "I asked Zoe and Catherine to go through her old records. We know she had ties to 6. We know there is someone out there who has access to weapons and bullets from 6."
"We know someone is threatening you." Harry turned to face her, his eyes filled with fear. "Ruth."
"And there has been in the past. I'm still here." She stated firmly.
"A safe house."
"No."
"Ruth."
"I am not uprooting the kids. I am not going into hiding without them." She took his hand as he watched her. "They need consistency. And that is something our lives have precious little of as it is. You know that."
"Ruth, I."
"I am not going to take risks. I am not going to be blasé about all this. Malcolm is on life support. A bullet, literally with my name turned up here. I am not going to risk my safety but honestly, is there ever a day when we aren't at risk? When isn't there someone out there who wants us dead?"
"Fair point." Harry sighed, knowing that she was right. He glanced out over the mostly empty Grid, suddenly realising that they were mostly alone he pulled her to him, hugging her tightly. Ruth wrapped her arms around his waist.
"Harry." She whispered. "Someone who is supposed to be on our side did this."
"Friendly fire." Harry held her to him. "I know. I just don't know how Juliet is caught up in it all or if she is the instigator."
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AN - Is anyone reading this? please review
