If you haven't already read it, please read Missing first. This story follows on from the end of it.
Harry woke late for the first time in years. He would normally have been at work by now. Instead he stretched his left arm above his head, but only momentarily, because his cracked ribs and bruised body quickly reminded him he was injured and shouldn't be quite so adventurous with moving just yet. Pulling the bed covers up higher, he laid his head back on the pillow with contentment and thought about last night.
It had been an almost surreal experience. Seeing Ruth standing there, being able to touch her, was the last thing he had expected. If he had been asked, she was the one person above anyone else he wanted to see after the nightmare of the last three days. He just never imagined his daydream could turn into reality.
*****
As he stood in front of the bathroom mirror in the daylight, Harry inspected his bruises. Reflected back at him was a pattern of mottled colours. Dark purple, yellow and green patches stretched across his abdomen and around his back to just above his kidneys. His face was was still swollen and bruised, though at least the gash on his forehead had started to close. His split lip had dried out overnight and was cracking again, even as he carefully applied the antiseptic cream he had retrieved from the cabinet.
With his right hand, Harry gently pressed his fingertips along the bruising at the bottom of his ribcage. He winced and knew from experience that it would be a while before the pain would disappear and he could make any rigorous movements.
The steam from the hot shower was soothing and he stayed under the streaming water longer than he probably should have. It was only when his thoughts turned to what he needed to accomplish today, that he resolutely turned off the taps.
*****
Walking downstairs to make himself a coffee a short time later, he stopped at the partially open door at the top of the stairs. Tipping his head slightly, he peeked inside. Ruth was fast asleep in his spare bed, and she looked more at peace than he had ever seen her before.
Ruth had spent every minute of the last three days at Thames House - ever since Lucas and Jo had brought her back to London to help find Harry. Last night was the first time she had even thought about the fact she had nowhere in particular to stay. It seemed perfectly sensible to both of them for her to make use of his spare room. And it was always going to be the spare room. The thing that was never said that day she left, had hung silently between them last night. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence, but there was an unspoken understanding that neither of them was ready to talk about it or move forward yet.
As Ruth had so carefully put it last night, she was one of the 'living dead'. Someone who wasn't supposed to exist anymore. Just thinking about it in bed this morning, Harry was hit by the guilt he thought he had buried long ago. Why hadn't he tried to clear her name back then? There must have been a way, but there was no room for excuses now. He was determined to sort the situation out once and for all. And this time, Oliver Mace was not around to play his dirty little tricks.
Just the beginning. Please review. And if you have any ideas or suggestions for what should happen, let me know, cause it's not totally clear in my mind yet how to resolve Ruth's return.