Written for the International Day of Femmeslash! Not quite sure when this is set, probably around late season two. Feedback is love :)
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Zoe prides herself on her loyalty. She likes to think it's one of her defining qualities, along with her height and the fact that she's a spy, her loyalty makes her stand out.
One- Her loyalty to her country, to the service, to Tom. She knows ideologically which ones should be first, but over the years, the lines have blurred and faded until she can't quite remember if they were ever there at all.
Two- To herself. Below her country, the service, Tom, but there all the same.
Three- To Danny. To Harry.
Four- To Tessa. Even now, after everything. Tessa's memory is tainted with betrayal and broken promises, but the loyalty remains ingrained in Zoe, like dirt you can't wash out. Zoe thinks she'll never escape Tessa's influence. Sometimes she thinks she doesn't want to.
Ruth should be on the list, along with Colin, Malcom and the others. Her family, maybe, but things are complicated, and they rarely talk.
It's difficult to think of loyalty - to Tom, to the service- when Christine Dale sits opposite her in a meeting, rolling her ice-blue eyes at Zoe as Harry drones on about 'Inter-agency co-operation'.
Difficult to think of loyalty – to Danny, to Tessa- when Christine's hand lingers a touch too long as she passes Zoe a file.
Almost impossible to think of loyalty as Christine's body, Christine's lips press against her own.
Eventually, Zoe adds Christine to her list. Tentatively, faintly, near to Tom's name, but not quite next to it because Tom is safer, and on her side.
Zoe prides herself on her loyalty, no matter how tricky or conflicted it may be.