Title: Blind Date
Fandom: Spooks
Characters/Pairings: Harry/Ruth
Rating: T
Warnings: None

Summary: Harry is set up on a blind date. It's make or break time for his 'relationship' with Ruth.

Disclaimer: I don't own Spooks or any of the characters or dialogue you may recognise. They all belong to Kudos/BBC.

A/N: Well this has been a labour of love! Not been easy to write as my other fics by any means, but I got there in the end, with a little help from HR always live on – thanks hun! So I hope it's not too terrible. Will be three chapters in total.

Chapter 1

Monday, 2.45pm

Ruth has just finished her weekly threat assessment; there's nothing major on there, just the usual assortment of mercenaries and nutcases. Still, she must sign it and deliver it to Harry before his meeting with the home secretary. Hitting the print button, she looks over at Harry's office; he's on the phone and his face is making it quite obvious that there are several other places he would much rather be. She reaches over and retrieves the pages from the printer before signing them with a flurry of her pen; if she takes these too him now perhaps she can rescue him from the nightmare of his phone call.

They've been doing a lot of that lately; rescuing each other. He'd helped her when her kitchen tap had sprung a leak and when she'd needed help assembling a flat-packed chest of drawers. She'd helped him choose a birthday gift for Catherine as well as walking Scarlett when he'd twisted his ankle whilst in the field.

In the months since Danny's death the two of them have become closer; his offer of a lift to the church and the way they sat quietly in the car beforehand, him whispering soft words of comfort, had been the beginning of the transition from colleagues to friends. They've shared several evenings in each other's company, usually after one of their 'rescues' or after a long day at work, when they've been left alone on the Grid, after everyone else has gone home.

She has learnt much about him in these moments and, although he hasn't lead a blameless life, she finds herself admiring him for being able to make the sacrifices and choices he has made for the love of his country. And she now considers Harry to be a close friend. Maybe even more. If she's honest, she knows that deep down her feelings for Harry have become more than platonic, she is falling for him. She won't tell him though; she hasn't got the confidence. She can only hope as they spend more time together, he will come to realise how good they could be together.

She enters his office without knocking, as has become customary for them, just as Harry is finishing his phone call.

"Yes I know that but…" The other participant in the conversation obviously gives a reply Harry doesn't like as he rolls his eyes. "Okay… Yes, I'll give her a call… Yeah, you too. Bye."

"Everything okay?" Ruth asks as he puts the phone down, expecting him to launch into a rant about the Home Secretary or the Americans, maybe even the Russians. She certainly isn't expecting to hear his next words.

"My father, in his infinite wisdom, has decided to set me up on a blind date." Ruth can't help the smirk that starts to form at the thought. "Laugh and you're straight back to GCHQ!" Harry threatens.

Ruth composes herself before she speaks again. "Sorry. I'm sure he's only got your best interests at heart."

"I know that," Harry concedes. "He keeps going on about seeing me 'with a good woman' before he dies. But it's still rather embarrassing to have your father get you a date."

"True," Ruth agrees, before her curiosity gets the better of her. "So… who is she?"

"Her name is Caroline Southern; she's a university lecturer. She's the daughter of a couple he knows from back home in Kent. She's coming to London this weekend for work and he's…"

"…suggested you take her out?" She is still struggling to contain her amusement.

"I'm not sure suggested is the right word. Forced might be a more appropriate adjective."

"I'm sure she's nice enough," Ruth comments. "Your father is hardly likely to set you up with a lunatic, is he?" She's trying to cheer him up, make him see the funny side but it backfires.

"You think I should go?" Harry asks.

"I…" Ruth is taken aback by the idea that Harry is actually considering going along with his father's plan. She thought he'd just brush his father off and tell him to stop interfering in his life, or something along those lines. But it appears no; he is actually thinking about it.

She wants to tell him not to go; to confess her feelings for him but she can't. She realises she gone and dug herself a hole she can't quite get out of without revealing too much. "If you want to…" she replies weakly. She leaves the statement hanging, hoping that he'll somehow sense her real feelings on the subject.

"You know what Ruth, you're right; I'm sure she'll be very pleasant. I think I will go. Thank you."

"Y-you're welcome."

"Did you want me for anything in particular?" he asks when she continues to stand there holding the manila folder.

"Oh, erm… I just brought you the threat assessment."

"Anything pressing?"

"Not so far," she informs him. A silence falls, but unlike the usual silences that occur between them, this one is filled with awkwardness and Ruth feels the need to get out. "Right, well I- I'd best get on."

Harry doesn't seem to notice her discomfort, and merely nods as she leaves, before picking up the phone and dealing a number. As she reaches his door, she hears him say, "Caroline? It's Harry Pearce? I believe you've been expecting my call…"

Ruth squeezes her eyes shut to stop the hot tears leaking onto her cheeks as she rushes out of his office. She feels like a complete fool; what an idiot she has been.

Wednesday, 10.35pm

Harry walks through the pods wearily; it's been a long JIC meeting and he feels drained. He is sick to the back teeth of politicians throwing their weight around. He looks around the Grid; it's practically empty, except for a solitary light. The sight of that lamp shining lifts his spirits immensely; it means Ruth is still there.

He approaches her desk; she's bent over a file and completely unaware of his presence. He takes a moment to watch her; and wonders for a moment why on earth he's agreed to go on this date on Saturday, when he's developed feelings for his analyst.

'Because she as good as told you too.' a little voice inside his head tells him. 'Because she wouldn't touch you with a ten-foot barge pole. She knows too much about you and your past.'

Realising that that's probably true; what would someone like Ruth want with an old man like him, he sighs, catching Ruth's attention.

"H-Harry? I didn't hear the pods. How was the JIC?"

"I hate politicians. I could do with a drink. Fancy joining me?" He gestures to his office, where a bottle of whisky lies in his desk drawer. It's a routine they have engaged in on many a night, so Harry thinks nothing of his offer.

Ruth wants nothing more than to accept his invitation and retreat into the sanctuary of his office with him, but she knows that she can't. For her own sanity, she's decided that she needs to put some distance between them and sort out her feelings for him. "I can't tonight. Sorry. I need to get home."

She stands and picks up her coat and bag. She knows if she hesitates, if she gives him chance to try and talk her round she knows she will succumb to his charms. "Another time maybe?" he calls after her, as she walks towards the pods.

"Yeah, maybe," she replies without looking back.

Harry is a little miffed by the rebuttal but thinks nothing of it. However, she continues to avoid him and brush him off on several occasions throughout the week and on a couple of occasions is even quite short with him which is most unlike her. When Saturday morning comes and goes without the customary text from Ruth, Harry is completely perplexed by her behaviour and wonders what he could possibly have done wrong. He doesn't have time to dwell on it though; he has a date to prepare for.