A Rocky Road

a Spooks story

by RoadrunnerGER

Disclaimer: I don't own anything Spooks, the BBC and Kudos do.

Summary: They say that no matter how bad something is, it can always get worse. Long years of Russian incarceration have taught Lucas as much. The latest abuse he has to endure, though, has him teetering on the brink of an abyss.

A/N: My beta fed me with too much Spooks, causing my muse to throw this bunny about Lucas's imprisonment at me. Richard Armitage's good looks and amazing voice (God, I wish there was a single edition of HIM singing The Lonely Mountain!) certainly did not help shaking the idea off. It would not leave me alone, so I decided to save a few lines. I should have known better… Special thanks to my beta mandassina for introducing me to Lucas North and to Genevastar for providing the Russian translations. This story is for you. Enjoy!

Prologue

Moscow

August 26, 1999

Lucas inhaled deeply as he entered the Russian State Library in Moscow and the musty, dusty, tannic smell of millions of books tickled his nostrils. The sun filtering in through the windows cast rays of light with dancing dust which reminded Lucas of the famous black and white photographs of the Grand Central Station in New York. This was a perfect place to meet Katya Belousova, his contact, with lots of nooks and crannies where they could find privacy, miles of shelves in which they could disappear if someone was trying to be nosy, and hundreds of academics milling about so that a man carrying a book or a file folder would not look out of place. Also, just being surrounded by so much learning and literature soothed his ragged nerves.

He had been on edge since his plane had landed in Moscow, which, in a way, made sense; but the dreadful and irrational fear that his cover as a businessman had been compromised did not and the comfortable familiarity of books calmed him for the first time since he had arrived in Russia. He would have loved to use the opportunity to find some rare volume and delve into the depth of good literature. As he had a job to do, though, he had to forsake a good, calming read and concentrate on the mission.

They had agreed to meet in the recent periodicals reading room, which suited Lucas just fine. He had decided to arrive early and wait for Katya so that he could survey the surroundings and make sure they were not being watched, and that would be easier to do from the pages of a newspaper or tabloid where he would be expected to look up and glance around occasionally as he finished reading one article and turned to another. Were his nose buried in some lengthy Russian novel, the behaviour would be much more suspicious.

Upon entering the reading room, Lucas instinctively registered how many people were present. In the far left corner were two young men and a woman sitting at a table, studying piles of magazines. A man in his own age stood at a rack, searching the editions that were laid out there. He also knew that there were three persons behind him now, two women in the left corner and an elderly man to his far right. Even though it was more likely that the single man ahead posed a threat, Lucas tended to believe that he should rather be careful about the two women.

The calm that had initially filled him in the presence of so many books evaporated at seeing Katya waiting for him. Knowing that she had small children, he would have thought that getting them off to school would have made it impossible for her to arrive her before him. Trying not to be too obvious, he glanced about the room, looking for a sign that someone was watching them, waiting to catch them in the act of the exchange. Everyone seemed to be absorbed in reading, though. Still, Lucas knew they were here, somewhere, he could feel them. His professional instinct put him on high alert and made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.

The game he was playing had just turned infinitely more dangerous.

Lucas also knew he could not leave Moscow without Katya's information, but to make the exchange now would be foolhardy. Glaring at Katya as he approached, he dismissed the idea that she was unaware of the threat and tried to discern whether she was betraying him deliberately or being used against her will instead, but as she was a good asset he could not tell from her expression.

He greeted her with a hug and kisses on each cheek, like an old friend or lover, to a stranger it would be hard to tell.

"I did not expect to see you so early," he told her as they embraced. "Do the children not have school today?"

"They are at home," she replied without missing a beat. "My uncle is with them. They have contracted some kind of illness. A parasite, the doctor says."

Lucas's insides churned. So the FSB bastards are forcing her to betray me by using her children to ensure her cooperation.

He gestured her into a seat and leaned close when he sat down next to her.

"You should have phoned and told me you couldn't make it," he said. "We could have met another time." It was the kind of thing a friend or lover would say. It meant that if she had let him know she was under FSB scrutiny, he would have arranged another meeting place and time after things had cooled down.

"I had to see you today, Jim," she replied. "My husband knows and he's ordered me to break it off. He's waiting for me."

Oh, bloody hell! This was even worse than he had thought. The FSB isn't just suspicious. They know what we're doing.

"I brought you this," she rasped, holding out an envelope to him, "as a token of my love."

As he took the envelope and pocketed it, Katya began to weep, and Lucas was close enough to know that it was not an act. She was scared and remorseful. He took her hands in his own and felt a flash card drop into his palm.

Lucas's heart skipped a beat when he realized what was going on. The FSB had found her out and ordered her to make this meeting to catch him. They had planted false information and were watching now, even though Lucas had not spotted them yet. Furtively he scanned the room again. Was it the two young women, or had he misjudged the older man who now slouched in an armchair?

His gaze drifted back to Katya. What a mother with two young children was doing playing spy games, Lucas did not know, but even under duress she had managed to smuggle the information out and forward it to him. She looked up at him and just for a split second he saw determination burn in the reddened, tear-filled eyes. He felt like a bloody idiot, but he knew what he had to do. In order to protect his asset and her children, he had to take all the risk on himself.

Closing his hand around the flash card, he pressed a kiss to her temple and whispered, "Do not forget me."

Then he got up and strode purposefully out of the reading room in order to draw the attention of whoever was observing them.

It was his only option. Once he got out of the library he might have a chance to make it to the airport and out of the country before they could cut off that escape route. If he was forced to take another way he might have a major problem.

For now he made it out of the reading room unscathed. None of the people from there followed him. The question remained. Where were the FSB officers?

When he stepped between rows of shelves, someone was behind him. He sidestepped and backtracked on the other side of the shelf, which allowed him to get a glimpse at his pursuer.

Too easy.

This was far from being over and Lucas knew it. His priority now, aside from getting out of Moscow, was to stash the flash card. He had to reach the pre-arranged dead drop to ensure that MI5 got the information, no matter what happened to him. To do that he had to get out of sight of whoever followed him. Having memorized a map of the library, Lucas knew where to go.

Glancing furtively back he made sure that nobody was in sight and turned sharply right through a door to a staircase for employees. It was no coincidence that Lucas suggested the library for the meeting. In case he had to give up the information he would deposit it there. Another officer would come to retrieve it if he did not come home or make contact by the time he was due to report.

They think Katya only gave me the planted disc, assuming that I believe it to be the real information. Nobody will get the idea that the dead drop is here in the library.

He ran up the stairs and was brought up short by a man on his way down who attacked him. Lucas parried the blow and punched the other's Adam's apple. Choking, the man collapsed and rolled down the steps to the next landing. Without sparing him another glance, Lucas continued upstairs.

All right. Out into the hall and to the history section.

Unnoticed, Lucas entered the room and positioned the card inside a book in the non-circulating collection. Avoiding the CCTV he was in and out in the matter of a minute. Now all he had to do was to get home.

Bloody hell, first I need to get out of this library!

Leaving the building was easier said than done, though. He could not take the main entrance. That would be guarded by the FSB. The same applied to the other exits.

Unless…

Back on the ground floor Lucas carefully opened the door to the entrance hall. He did not see anyone who watched the door, but that did not mean that the FSB was not there. A handful of people moved in and out of the library. Not enough to give Lucas cover. He went back up to the first floor and took the corridor there to cross to the other side of the building. Once more he got down to the ground floor again to see if he could find a way out from there.

This time he could identify one of the officers. He stood near the main entrance from where he would spot Lucas at once if he tried to use that exit.

I need something to even the odds.

Spotting a big red button, an idea formed in his mind.

Okay… that might work.

As soon as the other spy looked in the opposite direction, Lucas slipped out of the staircase and strode over to his target. With his elbow he smashed the glass and pressed the button. The fire alarms going off alarmed everyone. Librarians shouted at the visitors to remain calm and find the nearest exit. Lucas joined the next cluster of people that streamed by and drifted toward the main entrance. The FSB officer was still there and Lucas averted his gaze in order to blend into the crowd.

"Von on!" someone shouted and two more men struggled against the throng.

Just for a second, Lucas contemplated ignoring them and trying and get out together with the people around him, but seeing that at least one of the officers pointed at him he realized that they had clearly identified him. He had to find another way.

Pivoting around he weaved in the opposite direction until he spotted two more sturdy men who were apparently searching for something.

Or someone.

The throng that was supposed to serve as cover now became a hindrance. Struggling fiercely, Lucas blazed a trail sideways and soon found himself back in the staircase, frantically searching for a way to block the door. As he could not spot anything suitable he ran. Up the stairs again. Racking his mind about where to turn. Judging by the pounding sounds behind him, the FSB officers were right on his heels.

Another door.

Another corridor.

Another room.

Lucas tried to put as much distance between himself and the hostile spies as possible.

How on earth did they find out anyway? How did they learn about Katya?

Questions he could not find answers for now.

Run!

A quick glance over his shoulder told him that the men were still hot on his trail and Lucas felt increasingly cornered.

Bloody hell! Can't I get out of sight for a moment?

Going to Moscow had seemed like the perfect opportunity to prove himself to Harry in order to get the promotion to Section Chief. Right now that idea backfired, though. All Lucas could do was keep running and trust his stamina and wit. As his feet pounded the floor, he tried to recall the map he had memorized.

Left!

Hiding somewhere was no option. They would just close the building and keep searching until they found him. Outrunning his pursuers seemed to be his only chance. At the next crossing, Lucas turned right and entered another big hall with rows of shelves.

A maze might be what I need.

Inwardly he laughed bitterly at that thought. Chasing through the halls of the library he already felt like a lab rat in search for cheese.

If they catch me only God knows what they'll do to me. I can't let that happen. I won't go down without a fight.

Lucas darted into one of the aisles and glanced back. At the end of the shelf he sidestepped and waited, trying to breathe as silently as possible despite being out of breath. It took only a few seconds until he heard footsteps. Stepping back out, he brought up his right arm and the other man ran into the heel of his hand, knocking himself out.

Lucas did not wait for the next one but vanished between the other shelves. Backtracking in another aisle, Lucas closed in on his next target. He came from behind and threw the man headfirst against a shelf board. When he struggled, Lucas delivered a fierce blow to the other's solar plexus that winded the officer. His knee connected with a chin, and Lucas grabbed his head, twisting it with a distinct snap. As the man dropped to the floor, Lucas took his gun.

Two down. How many more?

Hearing someone shout, he ducked deeper into the shadows. One of the spies alerted his colleagues. They gathered in the middle aisle and Lucas decided that that was his opportunity to get out, stalking along on the other side of the shelf.

"Derzhi! Davai! Davai!" one of them yelled just as Lucas passed the door.

Lucas ran.

Suddenly someone grabbed at his jacket. Where the man came from Lucas did not know. He had been sure that he had extended his lead. Wriggling out of the jacket, Lucas freed himself and chased down the hall…

…and ran into a locked door.

Lucas twisted around and darted along the way he came. Turning right he skidded to a halt once more. Ahead were two more men. Looking around he counted three.

Shit!

He was cornered. This seemed to be the crucial moment and Lucas did not intend to just wait and let them arrest him. Lifting the gun he fired at the lock and kicked the door open. It led into another staircase that he chased down.

Five on my heels and who knows how many more scattered throughout the library, searching for me. I have to get out! I have to get to the next exit!

His heart hammering in his chest, he kept running, the stairs seeming endless. On the ground floor he turned right and pushed through another door.

Run, just run!

Turning left he saw it, his way out. At the end of the corridor was an exit to the street. Once he was outside he had a better chance to escape.

His heart almost stopped mid-beat when two FSB officers skidded to a halt between him and the door.

No!

Desperate now, Lucas shot at the Russians, killing one and bringing the other down. He was only thirty feet from the door. He was sure he could escape if he could just get out of the bloody library! He jumped over the dead officer and sailed about two yards before he smashed to the ground.

Damn!

Horrified Lucas felt a hand around his ankle and kicked at the wounded Russian who struggled to keep his hold on him. Feeling the grip release, Lucas scrambled to his feet and made three more yards before a blow against his back made him stumble.

Nooooooo!

Kicking at the man, Lucas tried to incapacitate him long enough for him to reach the door. A grunt and a curse from behind made him dart forward and had almost made it when a body crashed into his back, throwing him against the door. Ignoring the pain, Lucas twisted around and punched at the first thing that was in his way. He hit the other's chin, throwing him back. Unfortunately the other officers caught up as well and charged at him. With a roar of rage Lucas lunged at the man on his left, trying to knock him out with the first blow. Alas he only hit the other's parry. With a kick to the side, Lucas fended the second one off.

That won't work!

Panic attempted to get a hold on him, but he forced it to the back of his mind. Fighting like hell, he tried to sell himself as dearly as he could, but even with his extensive close combat training it was an uneven battle against five equally trained FSB officers. A vicious blow to his right kidney made Lucas scream and his legs buckled. It turned the fight to the others' favour. Two of them managed to grab his arms while the others beat him ruthlessly.

"Vsyo!"

Whoever the thundering voice belonged to, it made the men stop as ordered. Breathing hard, Lucas swayed on unsteady feet and might have slumped if the men had not held him upright. When he lifted his gaze he saw another man approach whom he did not recognize. Clad in an expensive designer suit and wearing fine leather shoes he apparently was a high ranking officer.

Bugger! I didn't even make it out of the ruddy library! Lucas's breathing still was erratic and his devastation did nothing to ease it. It was not my intention to visit the Lubyanka on this trip.

The man came even closer and eyed their captive intently.

"Lucas North, I presume."

Shit! They know my name!

That he and Katya had been identified as spies was annoying, but realizing that his whole cover was blown filled Lucas with dread.

"Welcome to Moscow! We will treat you to Russia's hospitality. I am sure you will appreciate it."

Scratch that, I'm terrifi…

A blow against the back of his head knocked Lucas out cold.

tbc…

A/N: I think I will change the rating to M with the next chapter to be on the safe side.

von on! = there he is

derzhi! = catch him

vsyo! = stop!