Disclaimer : I do not own Spooks - all copyright belongs to BBC Television and KUDOS productions. No copyright infringement is intended nor should be inferred. I was thinking In From The Cold is getting a bit dark so here's some fluff :D Please review.

The Root of the Problem.

Ruth looked up to see Harry staring at the desk in front of him. It was clear he was not himself and she was concerned. Gracie had been teething, so they were both tired but it seemed to be more than that. Watching him sigh heavily she looked away, knowing there was nothing that could be said while they were at work.

"Ruth?"

"Yes, Tariq." She turned to see the baby of the team perched on the edge of Zaf's desk.

"Is Harry ok?"

"Yes, why do you ask?" Ruth fought to keep her eyes on the younger man rather than her husband.

"He barely said a word in the morning meeting and he hasn't yelled at me today." Tariq frowned. "I mean, not that he yells at me everyday but he has barely said anything."

"He's ok." Ruth smiled, aware that the youngest member of the team had probably been sent to ask by Beth or Dimitri who were also slightly worried about her husband. They just didn't think she had over heard them when she had made coffee earlier.

"Really?"

"Yes." Ruth smiled. "You try being talkative with a teething baby at home."

"No thanks." He pulled a face and wandered back over to his own desk. Ruth shook her head wondering if she had ever been as young as Tariq. Turning back to her work she tried not to worry.

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"Bloody thing." Harry mumbled as he put the cup back on his desk. He had been glad Ruth had brought him his coffee when they others were all out chasing leads on the ever present Nightingale but he knew there was very little he could hide from his wife.

"Harry." She walked back into the room as he winced.

"Has Ros made contact? Adam?"

"Not yet. Adam and Zaf are chasing leads and Ros is meeting a contact at the Home Office. You knew that." She frowned slightly. "Stop changing the subject."

"I'm not." Harry frowned.

"I heard you last night." Ruth watched as his eyebrows shot up.

"Excuse me?"

"When Gracie was sleeping you got up. I heard you take painkillers. You never take painkillers. I had to practically blackmail you to take them last time you were shot."

"Ah yes." He smiled. "Very effective form of blackmail I believe." He stood up and crossed the office to where she was stood.

"Harry. You are in pain." She touched his face as he sighed.

"I'm fine."

"You barely eat anything and you've taken Anadin today. I saw you with that cup. You never leave a cup like that." Ruth sighed as he wrapped his arms around her waist. "You forget, you can fool most of the people in this world but you can't fool me. I know you, Harry Pearce."

"True." He rested his forehead against hers. "I am fine. Honestly Ruth. I am fine, it's nothing serious."

Ruth smiled slightly as she pulled back. "I know, I've booked an appointment with your dentist. 3pm today. She said you cancelled the last one and she expected you to turn up. Especially as you were in so much discomfort."

"So much for patient confidentiality." Harry mumbled.

"Not her fault. I can get information out of people. She didn't want to tell me." Ruth kissed him lightly. "Harry, you need to have that tooth looked at. I can't have you and Gracie-Jo crying about your teeth."

"Ruth."

"A root canal is not the end of the world." She kissed him again.

"The dentist? Ruth? Really?"

"You've survived bullet wounds, torture, goodness only knows what else. You can survive the dentist."

"Ruth."

"I'll come with you." She smiled before stepping out of his arms. "You can do this Harry. It'll be fine."

Harry swallowed hard, knowing there was no way he was getting out of it this time.

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A/N Maybe one more chapter soon.