Title: Nothing At All

Summary: There goes yet another wasted opportunity. DISCLAIMER: I don't own Spooks or its characters. No money is being made, this is only for fun.

Genre: Angst/Romance

A/N: Short, angst-y and of course, much RH shippiness.


Nothing At All

BY

Sakura


(Begins when Ruth and Harry are seated on that bench at the Embankment in S2, Ep 10)

It was all rather funny how such a crisis as this would help bring them together. After consulting Sam on the whereabouts of Zoe, Danny and Tom, Ruth wasn't really surprised when he asked or rather ordered her to follow him out of Thames House to this bench by the river.

Their conversation was short and to the point, but it was still a note-worthy change in their acquaintanceship that appeared to be evolving into something more.

"I think Tom Quinn's on the blink." The obvious and blunt statement came on an exhalation of air, she could tell that this situation bothered him far more than he was willing to admit to her–or himself. "No, no, not Tom." Her dismissal only forced him to see that this was all too real. He turned away from her and stared at the boats traveling past the Houses of Parliament. The wind changed direction and blew the scent of faint tuberose in his nostrils. Harry hoped she didn't notice the slight relief of his tension triggered by her mere presence.

"He's been running an op on his own for his own purposes and I'm having nightmares about what they are." Harry didn't bother keeping the bitterness out of his own voice. He resented anyone who dared defy his command in order to use the advantages of working for MI-5 for their own purposes. Even if that person was a friend of his.

"What are you saying– that he's acting against the interests of the service?" Ruth's voice was hushed as if she suspected that someone was listening in on their conversation, butthe urgency wasn't lost on either of them. "Yes." Harry nodded, focusing on her face.

"Harry, Tom Quinn is your brightest and best!"

"It's the brightest and best that can go bad so spectacularly."

Ruth leaned back in the bench, trying to process what he was telling her. She glanced at him and moved on. "What are you going to do?"

Harry pressed his dry lips together, acknowledging that she had finally understood and was ready to hear what course of action he planned on assuming.

"Issue a warrant for Tom Quinn's arrest. The police will pick him up on an anti-terrorism charge." They both turned away from each other at that point, each coming to terms with what had to be done. Ruth watched a few pigeons as they flew from the top of the Clock tower and away into the clouds.

"This is going to be so ugly." Ruth sighed audibly and froze when he met her gaze with intense worry and another emotion she couldn't decipher.

"I know," She wasn't prepared for what he asked next, "Will you stand by me on this Ruth?" She just couldn't say no, at that moment she would've done anything he asked her to do and more. She nodded, frowning, and replied, "Yes."

Before she could stop herself, she tentatively reached out and rested her hand over his.

"Yes I will."

to be continued...