Title: Heatwave
Fandom: Spooks
Rating: M
Genre: Romance
Warnings: Scenes of a sexual nature in later chapters

Summary: London is in the middle of a heatwave. How does this affect Harry and Ruth and their relationship? Inspired by the stifling weather we're experiencing in the UK at the moment.

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

A/N: So this is inspired by the ridiculously hot weather we are experiencing in the UK at the moment. When I started this I hadn't intended it to be M rated but my muse had other ideas. What can I say? She's very insistent! Oh and thanks to HR always live on for checking this chapter over for me!

Chapter 1

Friday, 8am...

"God it's hot in here!" exclaimed Ruth as the pods opened and she stepped onto the Grid. Straight into a wall of heat.

"The air conditioning is on the blink," Malcolm informed her as he walked past. Ruth sighed; just what she needed… not. Britain had been gripped by the warmest summer it had seen for at least 10 years; with temperatures in the high twenties and no wind; making for quite an uncomfortable feeling for anyone who was required to exert themselves in anyway. Clothes were sticking to skin, sweat was running in rivers and people were coming down with heat-induced migraines left, right and centre. The tube at rush hour was hell and Ruth's walk from the station hadn't helped any; the only saving grace for her had been the fact that the Grid would be cool; thanks to the air conditioning. But apparently not.

"Things just aren't made to the same standard as they used to be," Malcolm continued, shedding his jacket as he walked back to his desk. "Harry's gone to see the DG to try and come up with a solution."

"We can't be expected to work in this heat surely?" queried Jo as Ruth sat down at her desk.

"I wouldn't put it past the DG." Adam remarked. "I heard his air conditioning is working just fine."

"Me too," said Malcolm. "It seems to be only the lower floors that are affected."

"What did the thermometer read when Harry left?" Adam asked.

"29 degrees."

"And it's gotten warmer since then; it must have!" groaned Zaf.

"They said on the radio this morning that this hot weather could be here for up to another two weeks," Ruth imparted.

Jo was not impressed by this information. "You are joking?! It's too hot to do anything! It's official – I hate this heatwave."

"Actually, it's not a heatwave." The team turned to Ruth in disbelief at her words. "Well, at least not officially," she continued. "The Met Office won't declare a heat wave until the temperature reaches 32 degrees in the day and 18 at night for two consecutive days. It varies by region of course; I believe the threshold for the North West is more like 28 in the daytime."

"That's ridiculous! I'd wager it's hotter here than in most European cities!"

"You're probably right." She glanced around her, noticing that most of the team were sat idly by. "I know there are no major threat alerts at the moment but surely there must be some work for us to be getting on with?"

"Not worth starting anything until Harry gets back," Zaf said. "Not if there's a chance the DG is going to send us home."

"Unfortunately Mr Younis, that will not be happening." Harry was back and he did not look happy. He was hot and uncomfortable from his walk down from the DG's office and was mightily pissed off. "Our Lord High Executioner has deemed that we must stay in work." There were groans from the assembled team. "His exact words were, 'the threat to this mighty island has not diminished simply because the temperature gauge has risen slightly'."

"Slightly?" commented Ruth with a raised eyebrow.

Harry nodded in agreement. "He has ,however, agreed to rearranging the rotas so we should have some relief in about two o'clock and he has instructed Internal Services to source some portable air conditioning units."

"They'll have a job," Malcolm replied. "Even if they can locate one that isn't already being used, then they'll pay through the nose for it."

"I did make that point and I told him quite clearly that our budget was not to be affected by this! Anyway, I suggest that we turn off any none-essential equipment and stations so as not to contribute to the rising temperature any more than we need to. Remember to stay hydrated and feel free to take more regular breaks for fresh air, but I don't think there's much of a breeze about." With that, Harry retreated to his office, loosening his tie and unfastening his top button as he went.

Adam gave a loud sigh. "Well, you heard the man; back to work."

Lethargically the team meandered back to their desks but Ruth wasn't optimistic about how much work would get done. It was just too hot. Even the slightest movement was exhausting and the heat seemed to shorten even the most diligent person's concentration span. It wasn't going to be a long six hours.

12.30pm...

Several hours later and the Grid's thermometer read 32 degrees and there was no sign of the promised air conditioning units. Malcolm had managed to procure a couple of fans from Internal Services as compensation but their range was very small and they only blew the warm air around anyway. The male members of Section D had removed any jackets and ties, untucked their shirts and unfastened their collars; including Harry. Ruth could see him through his office window. He had his sleeves rolled up, baring his muscular forearms and the top two buttons on his shirt were open giving her a tantalising view of his throat. It wasn't helping Ruth's already diminishing concentration span. She had caught herself staring at him several times in the last hour, neglecting her work to do so. A shiver went through her as she thought how she longed to touch that bare skin. 'No,' she thought. 'Not a good idea to go there.' Shaking her head lightly to rid herself of her thoughts she turned her attention back to the ancient Greek text in front of her wondering how much longer she would have to sit in this heat

For his part, Harry wasn't faring much better; he couldn't seem to take his eyes of Ruth. In an effort to cool down she had removed her light cardigan revealing a spaghetti strapped vest top which exposed more of her skin than Harry had ever seen. Certainly more than his synapses could cope with in this heat. When she had returned from her break earlier it was clear that she had splashed her face with cold water and Harry, who was stood by the printer next to Ruth's desk, had watched as a tiny droplet of water had ran down her neck and disappeared under the neckline of her top and down the valley between her breasts. Thankfully she hadn't noticed him staring and he'd been brought out of his trance by Zaf's request that someone nip out to get some form of ice-cream or ice-lollies for everyone.

There had been a bit of a scramble about who was going to go out for them; everyone desperate to escape the stifling confines of the Grid. In the end Zaf had pulled rank, claiming that as it had been his idea, he should get to go. He'd taken Jo with him.

Harry now looked at his watch; they'd been gone nearly twenty minutes. He began to wonder if they'd absconded when they reappeared through the pods. A couple of minutes later Zaf knocked on his door and presented him with a Classic Magnum. He also commented that as Harry's office was slightly cooler than the rest of the Grid, perhaps they could draw up a rota and each spend some time in there. A glare from Harry quickly put paid to that idea and Zaf retreated to the safety of his own desk.

Harry finished his ice-cream in record time, grateful for the cool sensation it brought, and decided to do a covert sweep of the office, making sure the ice-creams weren't being too much of a distraction. He soon wished he hadn't, as his eyes fell on Ruth, enjoying a refreshing rocket lolly. It had to be a form of torture watching her lips pressed to the cold surface, sucking lightly, her tongue catching the drips on the bottom, surely? Drops of melting ice were sliding down her hand and dripping onto the desk. Harry sat there staring, dumbfounded; he could feel his groin twitching. He stared at her until long after she had finished; watching as she licked unwanted stickiness off her fingers.

He was so enthralled in watching the way her tongue travelled along her delicate digits that he didn't realise she was turning to face him until it was too late and he was staring into her sparkling blue eyes.