Set during the end of series 4 but with my own take on it from that point on. Just a small chapter to start with.
Ruth felt disgusted with herself. She had managed to talk Angela Wells into surrendering herself but she couldn't believe the lie she had told to make it happen. She felt as if she was sinking back into her past, a past she had wanted so desperately to forget and the memories were coming back more powerful than ever. Back at her desk she shook her head and closed her eyes, trying to clear the images infiltrating her mind.
"Ruth." She looked up and saw Harry watching her intently as she put her coat on. She couldn't read the look on his face, and if she was being honest with herself she didn't really want to either.
"I'm going home," Ruth said in a dead voice.
"Talk to me," he demanded gently.
"No."
"Ruth, we had to get her out of there, it was the only way."
"I'm going home," she repeated. She didn't want to talk about what had happened between her and Angela ever, but especially not to Harry. She didn't say anything further as she left the grid. As she stepped out into the London streets morning had dawned and she had never felt more tired in her life.
Harry watched her go feeling incredibly guilty. It had all seemed so simple an hour or so ago. He knew because of their history that Ruth had the best chance of getting Angela to give herself up. But he hadn't realised just how much this would hurt Ruth. There was clearly something in her past that she didn't want people to know and that conversation with Angela had brought it to the forefront of her mind. He could see it when he looked at her after she had emerged from that room. And he hated himself for making her look so broken. He needed to talk to her, but he also knew that she needed time. He battled with himself whether to go after her or not.
"Harry, what are we going to do with Angela?" Adam asked from behind him, drawing his attention away from the pods through which Ruth had disappeared.
"We can't let her go," Harry replied, unsure if it was his emotion over Ruth speaking rather than practicality. Adam nodded and they continued to discuss what to do with their rogue agent, for the moment keeping his attention away from Ruth.