Chapter Text
Disclaimer not mine
Headache
Zoe was angry, suddenly nothing else mattered but making sure her daughter was safe. She had no idea why someone had tried to take Emma now but she had a fairly good idea who would want to steal her daughter. It made her feel sick to think that her greatest fear had nearly happened. Will had warned her once that if she tried to run away he would make sure she couldn't. She felt the tears spring to her eyes as Zaf drove through the quiet streets. She was determined not to cry, fear and anger welled up inside as she swore if the woman claiming to be Claire Younis was still there she would not be responsible for her actions. She was just glad that Carrie had the sense of mind to check with them before she let Emma go with a stranger. Right at that moment the bombings, Myers and Davidson were the furthest thing from her mind. Zaf pulled the car up outside Carrie's as Zoe already had her seatbelt off and was heading for the door. Zaf frowned in surprise as Ros appeared from around the corner.
"Ros?" Zoe glared.
"Ruth is going to have to get me off a few speeding tickets too" She looked as Zaf smirked slightly. It was normally Adam that was trying to charm Ruth in to removing points from his licence.
"What are you doing here?" Zoe narrowed her eyes as she walked up the garden fence.
"Amy" She spoke quietly. "Let's just say since she came along I have a new perspective on things" Zaf was knocking on the door as they reached him. It was Wes that answered.
"Hello mate" Zaf stepped past the young boy.
"Hiya uncle Zaf. There was no way that was Claire. I met her loads of times. I knew it wasn't her" He closed the door behind them.
"Nice one Wes." He looked at Carrie as she emerged in the doorway.
"Claire isn't on my list of people that can take Emma. Only members of Section D are along with your Mum Zoe, so I couldn't let her go even if it was her" She hung back slightly, her dark fringe covering her face. She turned and led the three spooks into the kitchen.
"I thought your brother was staying with you" Ros sighed as she walked in to the kitchen. Amy immediately recognised her Mum and put her arms up to her. "Hello shorty" She picked up the dark haired little girl and hugged her slightly before turning to the others.
"He did" Carrie sighed "But he had to go. She must have been watching" Carrie kept her eyes down, trying to cover her arms as she dipped her head. Emma was wrapped around Zoë's waist.
"It's ok Emms" She could see Wes and the girls had been crying but Amy just seemed tense. She seemed to have inherited Lucas and Ros' traits of keeping quiet when others exploded. Zaf was livid as he walked towards Carrie. He took her smaller hand in his and pushed her cardigan sleeves up.
"This isn't right" He stated as he saw the bruises. Ros swore as Emma's eyes widened. She knew bad language when she heard it.
"Carrie?" Zaf was talking as calmly as he could. He could see his friend's girlfriend had been on the receiving end of a beating. He brushed her fringe out of her eyes and closed his eyes in anger when he saw the bruising around her right eye. He knew Adam was going to go berserk. He looked across at Wes. For the first time he realised the young boy had probably saved the day.
"Wesley Carter" Ros started as she placed Amy in her high chair before walking to the young boy. "Who hit you? Who hit Carrie? Someone needs to tell me what is going on" She looked at the twelve year old.
"Wasn't going to let her touch the girls was I? Dad says you never ever hit girls" He sounded defiant. Ros couldn't help but think that Adam had done a good job.
"That's right" Zaf interjected. Emma had released Zoe and was stood looking at Zaf. Dark eyes wide as she listened to the conversation.
"This Claire turned up, said she was to collect Emma. I answered the door because Carrie was giving Amy her tea. She said Emma's dad had sent her to get Emma and then when I said no chance she said she was your sister. But I knew she wasn't so when she tried to push me out of the way I yelled for Carrie and tried to stop her getting in. She hit Caz so I pulled her off. I must have bumped myself then" He shrugged.
"You hero Wes" Ros smiled. "Well done" The young boy shrugged and sat at the table as Emma began crying. This time it was Zaf that picked her up.
"Shh" He soothed as Ros pulled out her mobile and set about arranging a safe house and extra security for Carrie and the children.
"I don't want to go with Daddy. She said I had to" Emma clung to Zaf as he picked her up. "I want to stay with you and Mummy" Emma clinged to him.
"You are not going anywhere I promise" Zoe sighed. Her anger was beginning to build again.
"You are staying with us Emma" Zaf soothed as he looked at Carrie. Her bruises suggested more had gone on than they had been told.
"Ok. I told her I had a daddy here. She was a nasty lady I don't like her. I told her you were my daddy" Emma looked at Zaf as both Zoe and Ros exchanged glances. Both knew Zaf had been more of a father to the little girl than Will had ever hoped to be, the question was what was Will playing at and how would they stop him?
"Right" Ros replaced the phone. "The Sun Hill safe house will be ready in the next twenty minutes. I've also given Claire's description to the plod. Pack some things Carrie, you can't stay here. Not until we catch these people. And we will catch them" She held Wes' gaze as she spoke. She knew the young man believed her. Carrie nodded as she began gathering things she and the children may need.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Ruth walked back to the van where Malcolm was listening in to what happened. She looked around before opening the sliding door on the side of the white transit. He turned and removed his head phones.
"Are you ok Ruth?" He could see his friend was still angry
"Yes. Thank you Malcolm" She sat on the bench next to him as he tapped her on the shoulder.
"Tariq called. Harry is ok" She nodded before frowning. "How did Tariq know? Oh don't tell me. He hasn't. He has hasn't he?" Ruth rested her head against the metal of the van wall. Malcolm nodded once before making his way to the driving seat. They knew Adam was already driving back to the Grid.
"He must be feeling better" Malcolm mused.
"I'll kill him" Ruth sighed as she recalled the fear she felt when she had found him so ill next to her. Malcolm couldn't help but laugh.
Xxxxxxxxxxx
Harry sat in his office looking out on to a near empty Grid. He was worried sick that something would happen to one of his team. He had called Whitehall and arranged to meet his contact there; he hoped Sophie could help him find out who in Government was helping Myers. There was no way a coup de tat would be able to happen without someone in Parliament helping. He replaced the phone knowing there was little more he could do until his team returned. The headache he had lied about not having to the doctors was slowly getting more and more intense as he gave up and took the paracetamol that Ruth had left in his desk drawer months ago.
"Yes" he barked as Ruth walked straight in to his office. He hadn't even heard the Pods open.
"What the hell do you think you are doing? You should be in hospital" She was glaring at him. Harry nodded.
"I'm fine" He stood and walked around his desk, briefly looking out in to the main Grid. There was no one to be seen. He briefly wondered where Tariq had gone.
"Fine? Fine. Well that's good. Only you weren't so fine two days ago when you could barely breathe. When you couldn't even whisper my name due to pain" She blinked as she fought back tears. "Harry, you had a bleed in the brain. You didn't know me. You had to have brain scans, now correct me if I am wrong but doctors tend not to order life support machines and CT scans for people who are fine" Ruth hissed as he raised a hand to silence her. She was not going to be silences for anyone.
"You selfish bastard. I nearly lost you" It was then the tears fell as she covered her eyes with her hands. She kept her eyes covered as Harry pulled her in to his arms and let her cry on his shoulder.
"I'm ok Ruth. Really because of you I am ok." He whispered in her ear as he kissed her hair. "Don't cry Ruth, I'm sorry please don't cry" He held her a little tighter, his headache now forgotten as he concentrated on his wife. Ruth pulled her self together as she stepped back slightly out of his arms.
"I saw Blake" She watched as he nodded. He had expected as much when Tariq had skirted around the issue.
"And?"
"And I think he is as guilty as sin. He said he was sorry for my loss. Your deaths haven't even been officially announced yet. It's only speculation that the people that died in the bomb were you and Ros. He has arranges for me to meet Davidson tomorrow at 3. Only it's not just me going. Ros will be there too" Harry smirked.
"That is going to be interesting" Harry wiped away a tear from her cheek before leaning and kissing her. Ruth suddenly wished they weren't at work. Harry reluctantly released her before pushing her hair away from her face.
"You don't go alone. We'll sort something out but neither of you go alone. I can't let Ros live out her death wish tomorrow. If Davidson is there I think Myers will be around. It's time we ended this Ruth. And I intend to get my team back safely if it is the last thing I do" Ruth nodded as she pulled him back in to a kiss. That was what she was afraid of, it being the last thing Harry did.
authors note. Please review. Just a filler chapter. More soon xx
