Overnight Therapy

Lucas & OC, Rated M for later chapters, spoilers for season seven
Lucas North has someone to confide in and take care of him when the nightmares and bad flashbacks happen.

Overnight Therapy - Prologue

music: "South City Midnight Lady" by the Doobie Brothers

timeline: Between episodes 7.02 & 7.03

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"Hello Donovan, Harry Pearce here" Harry said trying to keep his voice under control.

"Good Morning Harry, how are you? And what do I owe the pleasure? Donovan responded keeping his voice neutral having an excellent idea what this phone call was regarding. He had been briefed by his London agency not more than an hour ago.

"Is she available? Can she come straight away? I have all the arrangements in place here in London. We make the retrieval this evening." Harry responded trying to keep the desperation combined with irritation out of his voice. He knew Donovan would have already been briefed. He really wasn't in the mood to have his old counterpart in the CIA give him the run around. This was too critical.

Donovan paused for several beats before responding, "Harry, I………..oh, hell, here's the deal. She retired from active service two years ago…….I can't make any promises but however, there was a stipulation that should a rare occurrence such as yours happen, she would consider taking on the assignment. All I can do is call and see if that is still in affect. Lucas always did intrigue her."

Harry was taken aback. It had never occurred to him that the one person in the world that could most help Lucas North adapt back into normal everyday life rapidly would not be available. "Donovan, please," Harry said not finishing the sentence, a clear note of desperation in his voice.

"Give me an hour, what is the best way to reach you?" Donovan responded. He felt for Harry. It was something that weighed heavily on the minds of those in charge, losing an operative only to recover them after such a long period of time. Knowing they were most likely damaged or wondering if they were irrevocably broken.

"This is my mobile number. It is the best way to contact me." Harry said.

"I'll be in touch," Donovan answered and hung up.

Harry sent up a silent prayer that Donovan would be successful in persuading her to take the case. He detested asking for assistance outside of MI-5 but in this instance felt if Lucas had any kind of a fighting chance, it lay in the hands of this woman. The only reason he knew of her services was Donovan sharing the information on her miraculous track record right after Lucas had been detained by the FSB. Donovan had promised that all Harry had to do was call once Lucas had been recovered and he would send her to him straight away. He never had dreamed that it would take so long before he would be able to make the phone call to ask for her.

Donovan was one of a handful of people that he would trust with those things most near and dear to him. And his former protégé was very dear to him indeed. No more had he finished his musings on the subject his mobile was ringing. He noted the number registered unavailable before picking it up on the second ring, "Harry Pearce"

With no preamble she began, "Donovan gave the terms of my services, correct?"

Harry breathed an audible sigh of relief knowing who was at the other end of the mobile, "Yes, however that was eight years ago."

"Well, nothing has changed. But just so we are crystal clear on them, no one other than you knows who I am and what I do. You don't contact me, I contact you. If you do need to pass information, go through Donovan. I deal with no one but you. Absolutely no surveillance of any kind will be tolerated inside the apartment or flat whatever you call it. I know you have a way to fake the surveillance, so make it happen. You get my drift. If I find that anyone else has knowledge of me and my services, I disappear, no ifs, ands, or buts. In order for this to succeed, Lucas must believe in me unconditionally. Donovan will get the current file to me. Any updates or insights you can provide me after the recovery will be critical. Unlike what you are used to doing, you must be totally candid with me. The smallest detail could make or break him. I'll leave the mundane details such as enumeration to you and Donovan. Donovan is the only other person besides you in the world who knows exactly what I am being called upon to do and must be kept that way, understood?" she spouted without seeming to take a breath.

"Understood," He agreed. And with that, she hung up. Harry just shook his head in utter relief and disbelief. Donovan had secured her services taking less fifteen minutes to do so. He rang him, "Donovan, what can I say?"

"She tends to come off a bit brusque, but trust me, you wouldn't want to leave the care of Lucas to anyone else on the planet Harry. And by the way, she didn't even hesitate to take him on," Donovan said. "But, I must caution you that she means every word of her conditions. If they are not followed to the letter, she will disappear without a trace faster than you can say blimey."

"I am your debt. And, I will abide by her terms. I assume she still has her security clearance. As far as any operative in MI-5 will know she is the representative for the Developing Contractor doing renovations to Thames House and that is why she will be quartered in our housing. I have arranged the paperwork so it appears the Developer is letting the flat." Harry responded, a definite note of relief in his voice.

Donovan picked up on it and smiled into the phone, "Yes, her security clearance is still in tact. More than likely it is higher than yours and I put together. She feels it is best not to arrive till Lucas has moved from the safe house into his own place. That will give you time to assess him and forward your findings. I suggest we reinstate our old network to pass information. I believe you and I are the only ones left on active duty that would be aware it exists………….And Harry, remember this isn't going to happen overnight. She lets the subject develop in their own time. But no matter the length of time, the results are stellar."

"Good suggestion on the network, I'll be in touch Donovan, Goodbye for now and thank you again."

"Glad I could be of service Harry, and you are most welcome. Goodbye."