Another forrestsc requested fic. Set just after 8:3. I know Jo died in this one, but I'm keeping her alive in this fic. Also at the time Blake was Home Secretary, not Towers, but I prefer writing Towers so have changed it in this fic. Enjoy.

"What a first day back," Ruth said as she rubbed the crick in her neck. The Bendorf Group had been evacuated with only two casualties but it caused a mountain of paperwork which Ruth thought she would never get through. But she'd had enough for the day and no matter who tried to stop her she was going home.

"Its not normally quite as exciting," Jo said. Ruth glared at her, contradicting her powerfully just in her gaze. "Alright. It is. You know how it is."

"Yes, I do," Ruth admitted. "Its coming back to me vividly at this moment in time. The death."

"Are there any other perks of the job?"

"What do you mean?" Ruth asked confused. Jo didn't reply with words, instead she nodded her head in the direction of Harry's empty office. He was currently in Whitehall in a meeting with William Towers on today's disaster. "Thin ice," she told Jo.

"I know he's the reason you're here," Jo said, keeping her eyes on her computer screen.

"Jo, drop it," Ruth said with such sadness in her voice that Jo was surprised. "There will always be something there between Harry and I, but its missed chances. Nothing more."

"Then why are you here?" Jo asked sincerely.

"Because I have to be somewhere," Ruth said. "I know this job, I can do this job and its easy. And I do feel usually, like I make a difference."

"It does make a difference," Jo said. "Go home and get some sleep. You might feel slightly more positive tomorrow."

"Yeah, sounds good," Ruth said with a tight smile. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye Ruth." Jo watched her friend leave feeling sad. Ruth clearly had a darker outlook on life than she had three years ago. Reality seemed to have beaten the sparkle out of her eye. But then again, maybe one of these days Harry would bring it back. Because despite her protestations, Jo knew how much Harry meant to her. Jo sighed and opened up a new email and continued working.

"Home Secretary, we could not have foreseen that the eight most powerful men on the planet would be kidnapped and held at gunpoint on British soil."

"I know that," Towers replied. "I've been standing up for you, but there's nothing I can do. It was either you had someone overseeing operations, or they wanted your job."

"My job?" Harry said. "No one could have prevented this. No one."

"I think deep down everyone knows that," Towers continued. "But the Americans wanted some reassurance to know this won't happen again. After all it was their secrets that have been published all over the world, and I daresay will appear in the tabloids tomorrow morning."

"God that was bad," Harry said, remembering some of the things that had been broadcast online earlier in the day.

"So you have no choice. Someone's going to be watching over you for the next few weeks. Possibly longer if something goes amiss."

"Fantastic," Harry said sarcastically.

"Do you want to lose your job instead?" Towers asked.

"No," Harry said firmly. Not now Ruth had just come back. Maybe a few months ago he might have agreed, but not now. "So, who has been given the dark deed of watching over us?"

"Annabelle Scott," Towers said. "I have her personnel file which I thought you'd want to take home and peruse at your leisure."

"A woman?" Harry asked surprised.

"Is that a problem?"

"No. I'm just surprised." What Harry really meant was with his prolific history of affairs with women he'd met in the service, he was amazed they'd send a woman over to Thames House. His history wasn't exactly secret either.

"She's brilliant," Towers was continuing. "The most intelligent woman I've ever met."

"You haven't met Ruth Evershed yet," Harry said quietly before he could stop himself. Towers looked at him curiously. "Ruth is a wonderful analyst," he continued. "The best I've ever worked with."

"Hmm," Towers said with a raised eyebrow Harry didn't like at all. Getting up, Harry took the file and decided to have a thorough look at the new arrival.

"When will she come over to the grid?" Harry asked.

"Tomorrow morning," Towers said with a grin as if he knew how much that wasn't appreciated. "Do make her welcome won't you?"

"Yes William," he said. Harry took one final look at Towers before leaving his office and heading straight home, file in hand.

More soon ish!