Home Run - Chapter 3

[Tea Lady]

Thanks for all your kind comments guys and thanks to JHyde for the Beta.


Chapter 3

After struggling through the heavy London traffic for over an hour, the Lexus finally pulls into a private suburban driveway. Waking, Ruth immediately recognises the area. She even knows the street. It isn’t too far from her old house, which she had sadly left behind all those years ago. Perhaps only a mile and a half, she thinks excitedly. Ruth loved Ealing. It was the only place she had ever felt was truly “home” in England. She immediately starts to feel better. Glad they had managed to get them a house in an area she knew and felt safe in.

Climbing out of the car is quite an effort for Ruth and George. Fatigue has set in on the long drive and night is falling. George helps Nico and puts his hand on the young boy’s shoulder, but his short sleep seems to have reinvigorated him. Bounding up the path to the front door, Nico following Ruth’s lead. George struggles to keep up with the pair.

Before they can reach it, the neo-Georgian front door swings open. Waiting there on the threshold is Malcolm.

“Thank goodness!” is all Malcolm can say, before he almost pulls Ruth off her feet to embrace her affectionately.

Smiling, Ruth lets out a short laugh as Malcolm continues to squeeze her in his arms. It’s always good to see Malcolm, says Ruth to herself. She is so glad that he was the first person she had seen that morning from the Grid. A friendly face that she had so desperately needed to set eyes on.

Gently pulling Ruth inside, Malcolm realises he is creating a traffic jam in the doorway. Smiling at George and Nico as they follow Ruth into the house, Malcolm quickly moves his attention to ruffling Nico’s hair as the boy wanders down the hallway. Malcolm had become quite fond of the young boy after spending some hours with him earlier that morning, trying to keep him occupied while Ruth was back on the Grid.

Nico is looking over his new house with an unhealthy suspicion for someone of his age, thinks Malcolm. The events of the last few days has affected all of them.

“I’ve brought the backgammon with me, Nico. I thought we could…er...have another game,” calls Malcolm, as Nico disappears from sight pretending not to hear.

Watching, George smiles warmly at Malcolm. He was at least trying to help his family and he is thankful that there appears to be at least some kind people in this strange city. Sitting himself down in the lounge, George feels himself relax for the first time that day and allows himself to close his eyes. George doesn’t care what the inside of the house looks like, what furniture it does or doesn’t have, only that he, and his loved ones, are now safe.

“What are you doing here, Malcolm?” asks Ruth as they both move from the lounge into the kitchen, leaving George to rest. “Not that it isn't nice to see you again. I…just thought you would be busy, back at the Grid.”

“I..er..just came to check over the cameras in the house. This place has not been occupied for months Ruth and I needed to make sure they were all working as they should.”

“Cameras?” asks Ruth, frowning slightly.

“Yes, there’s one in the lounge, one on the upstairs landing, and outside to both the front and back. There’s a live feed into the Grid. They are Philips made XL400’s actually. Good quality Ruth, so you don’t need to worry. I thought they would still be working, but I didn’t want to take any chances.”

“Oh, do…do we really need them recording Malcolm? I mean everything is ok now, isn’t it?”

Malcolm takes a deep breath, “All I was told, was to make sure this house was ready. Oh and I purchased some provisions on the way here for you. Just some tinned goods, bread, milk. It will keep you going for a few days anyway.”

Ruth can’t help but smile. Same old Malcolm, she thinks. He hasn’t changed. She is certain it wasn’t his job to make sure the house was operating as it should and to do the shopping, but he obviously wanted to make sure it was done right. Right for her and her family.

But something is troubling Ruth, about what Malcolm has just said.

“Malcolm, you said you were told to get the house ready. Who told you to do that?”

“W-Well Harry of course. He phoned me from the hospital. He spoke to you didn’t he?”

Ruth was silent for a moment.

“No…I left the warehouse in rather a hurry. There wasn’t much time you see….did - did you say hospital, Malcolm?”

Sensing that he has somehow said the wrong thing, Malcolm rests his hand on Ruth’s shoulder reassuringly.

“They have taken Harry to St. James’ Hospital. Well I say 'taken' but Ros and Lucas had to practically bundle him into the back of the Lexus by the sounds of it and frog march him through the A&E department. Same old Harry.”

Malcolm lets out a slight chuckle but soon realises by the look on Ruth’s face that she has no idea what he is talking about. Her face turns slightly pale. The sunny Cypriot tan, seemingly vanished after only twenty four hours in the UK.

“Is there something wrong with him Malcolm. Is he all right? I don‘t understand?

“No, no, don’t worry Ruth,” he adds quickly, realising that Ruth is in danger of becoming slightly distraught. Malcolm continues, trying to ease her anxiety.

“He’s cracked a few ribs, Ruth and got some nasty bruising to his kidneys, but he will be fine. They discharged him after they thoroughly checked him over and stitched up his arm. He’s on his way back to the Grid as we speak. Oh, which reminds me, I should get going as well. There’s going to be one hell of a de-briefing after this fiasco.”

Ruth hadn’t noticed Harry. Hadn’t noticed his pain and discomfort when sitting heavily on the chair in front of her in that room in the warehouse. Or had she? She had seen the blood on his arm and on the side of his head. Ruth unconsciously shakes her head to wake her from her thoughts. This isn’t the time or place to do this and she turns her attention back to Malcolm.

“Thanks…thanks Malcolm. I appreciate it, really.”

Malcolm is relieved to see the panic leave her face. He felt it was all right to leave her now, that she would be ok.

“There’s a mobile phone on the kitchen table Ruth. All our numbers are programmed in there already. So if you need anything, anything at all…”

“Yes, yes of course. Thank you Malcolm. I-I just want to get back home now you see. Home to Polis. I’m not even supposed to be in this country am I Malcolm? I don’t even…”

Ruth’s eyes suddenly dip and she looks almost embarrassed to be saying these words, but she doesn’t finish her sentence. Interrupting, Malcolm gives her a sweet comforting smile.

“Don’t worry Ruth. It will be ok…. I promise. We will get you home to where you belong.”

With that, Malcolm walks out of the kitchen and Ruth hears the front door slam a few moments later. She can hear Nico banging about upstairs. He has obviously found something to amuse himself and she is glad for a few moments peace. A few moments to herself.

Ruth sits down heavily at the kitchen table and picks up the mobile phone Malcolm has left for her. She clicks on the address book and starts to scroll down the list of names. Suddenly there he is, second, after “Grid,”…… there is “Harry”.

TBC