Spooks is owned by BBC/Kudos
Section D's annual karaoke night was always what Ruth liked to call "highly entertaining." It wasn't very often you got to witness Adam and Zaf belt out sex bomb at the top of their lungs or witness one of the assistant techs try their luck with a rather irritable Ros. She had her sights set on Malcolm after all.
The deal was that every member of the grid had to sing at least once. It was tradition. Harry was nominated to sing after Adam and Zaf, especially as he'd refused to participate the last two events. He didn't mind this year though, he had a plan he wanted to put into action. He just hoped his singing voice was up to scratch.
"Do you want a drink?" Harry yelled over the music as somebody he wasn't familiar of sung an appalling version of somebody to love.
"Yes please, I'll have a whisky if you don't mind," Ruth yelled back, smiling as Harry grumbled something about the karaoke being stupid before working his way through the reasonable crowd to get to the bar.
"So what song are you going to sing for us tonight Ruth," Jo squealed excitedly as she flicked through the book of choices that was laid out in front of her.
"Oh I'm not sure, "Ruth began, moving her chair closer to Jo so she could peer over her shoulder at the book.
"I hear Malcolm and Ros are doing their own version of don't go breaking my heart," Jo laughed as she watched the older woman try to stifle her own laughter.
"What about you?" Ruth enquired, genuinely interested in what the young blonde would want to sing.
"I was thinking about starting with something mellow, like secret smile, you know that "nobody knows it, but you've got a secret smile," song?"
Ruth nodded and scanned the song list that lay in front of her. She wanted something jazzy, something sexy and lively. Of course it had nothing to do with the fact she wanted to aim her song at Harry. She'd finally plucked up the courage to do something about their ever increasingly confusing relationship. If only she knew that Harry had the same plan in mind.
Moments later Harry returned with the drinks and sat down silently next to Ruth. It wasn't like Harry to get nervous, but if he mucked this up he would look like a right fool, but only in front of the whole of Section D, but in front of Ruth as well.
"You alright Harry?" Zaf chirped, as he sat himself down at the opposite side of the table.
"Just fine Zafar," Harry mumbled, taking a generous gulp of his whisky before placing the glass back down.
"You're up next!"
As somebody to love finally came to an end, Adam bounded towards the stage eager to introduce the next act.
"And now, it's one from the big man at the top! Harry has finally agreed to sing a song after two years of persuasion! Let's hope his voice is up to scratch, it's Harry everyone!"
Harry rose from his seat nervously and braved a look in Ruth's direction.
"Wish me luck," he whispered, before turning and shuffling his way through the crowd.
As Harry began the first few opening lines, the trembling in his voice was apparent to everybody in the audience.
"When a man loves a woman, can't... can't keep his mind on nothing else. He'll trade the w-world, for the good t-thing he's found."
Jo nudged Ruth exciting on the shoulder as she began to realise what song it was Harry was actually singing.
"It doesn't mean he's singing to me," Ruth replied sharply, before returning her gaze to the man in front of her. But how she wishes he was.
"If she's bad he can't see it, she can do no wrong. Turn his back on his best friend if he put her down."
Harry managed to pick her out from the crowd, and realising she was watching him intently became more confident and bold in his performance.
"When a man loves a woman, spend his very last dime, trying to hold on to what he needs. He'd give up all his comfort; sleep out in the rain, if she said that's the way it ought to be."
Before anybody knew what he was doing, Harry removed the microphone from the stand and jumped off the stage. I really shouldn't have drunk all those whiskeys, he mused quietly before brushing his doubts aside and searching for their table.
She watched him approach her, and she knew that Jo was right. He was singing for her, to her. He'd been planning this all along. She felt her cheeks begin to burn as he finally found his way to her and knelt down at her feet.
He could feel everybody's eyes on him at that instance, but he didn't care. He had enough Dutch courage to tell how her how he felt, and he was going to show her if it was the last thing he did.
"Well, this man loves a woman... He can do no wrong; he can never own some other girl. Yes when a man loves a woman, I know exactly how he feels, 'cause baby, baby, baby, you're my world."
As the song came to abrupt end, the hall was lapsed into a moment of silence before Adam wolf whistled and started to cheer, spurring the rest of the hall to do the same.
Harry's eyes were fixed on Ruth as he slowly placed the microphone onto the table.
"I, umm, I..." Harry trailed off, unsure what he could possibly say to justify his actions.
"It was beautiful Harry," Ruth whispered, reaching down and cupping her hand to his face.
Harry smiled, before slowly getting back onto his feet.
"I need another drink, I'll be back in a minute," he laughed before once again disappearing into the crowd.
As Adam grabbed hold of the microphone he couldn't contain his excitement as he was eager to introduce the next duet to the stage. He could laugh about Harry's song later.
"Ladies and Gentlemen," Adam's voice boomed out across the hall. "Next up tonight Malcolm and Ros from Section D shake things up a little with some good old Elton John!"
As the song began to get into full swing, Ruth watched in amusement as Ros and Malcolm really got into it. She couldn't help but laugh along with Zaf and Jo as they began to prance carelessly across the stage, so intent on singing to each other.
"Did you ever have a book on those two Zaf," Adam smiled, nudging him in the arm as he finally made his way back over to their table.
"Didn't think the ice queen's heart would melt,"
"One thing's for certain, I don't think Malcolm will be breaking it any time soon!"
As the song came to a close and a breathless Ros and Malcolm bowed to the applauding crowd, Adam fought his way back over to the stage, once again taking hold of the microphone.
"Give it up one more time for Ros and Malcolm everyone!"
Adam's request was greeted once more with applause and wolf whistles from the crowd.
"What song are you going to sing for us tonight then Ruth?" Harry purred as he finally reached the table.
"I haven't, umm thought about it," Ruth mumbled.
"Nonsense, you should sing a song with Jo, she looks as if she could do with a hand,"
Ruth stifled a giggle and playfully slapped his arm as she turned to watch Jo fight with herself over what song she should sing.
"Maybe you should sing with her," Ruth replied, "Maybe this time you won't have an urge to start singing to audience members!"
Harry smiled and once again rose from his seat, pulling Ruth up with him.
"Come with me," he whispered, grabbing her arm and yanking her through the crowd until they finally made it to the staff only sections round the back.
Once he was sure they were alone, he forcefully pushed her up against the wall, and leant into her ear.
"You shouldn't question your boss' actions Miss Evershed," he purred. "And for that you are going to get severely punished!"
"Oh yeah," Ruth bit her lip in anticipation.
"Oh yeah," Harry repeated, "but not until I've heard you sing."
He backed away from her, smiling in satisfaction at the flushed look Ruth was sporting before straightening his tie and making his way back to their table.
Watching him leave, she followed him quickly with renewed purpose. She was going to find that book, grab Jo and sing the raunchiest song she could find.
Let's see how well he'll hold his nerve this time.
Please review!
Not sure whether to do one more chapter, after all, I'm sure everybody would like to see what happens between Malcolm/Ros and Harry/Ruth – More importantly, I wonder what Jo and Ruth could possibly sing?! – Let me know what you think!