I lied. More HR fiction from me. I've changed my name from Hannah337 but it is still me, I promise. This has been inspired by xxmentalistxxspooksxx "what they forgot to mention" and is set post 10:6. Ridiculous in places but hopefully enjoyable.

She was home. Ruth looked at her front door, breathing heavy. "Are you okay?" Harry asked. She closed her eyes in frustration as she got out of the taxi.

"For the fifteenth time, yes," she said glaring at him. But she couldn't stay mad at him for too long. Especially when an arm slid around her waist at the same time as he unlocked the door with his other hand. Ruth walked into her kitchen and sat down as she wondered how long she'd continue to live her. Her other house… her dream house was waiting for her. She wondered absently if she'd ever live in it. Her thoughts were distracted when Harry put a hot mug of tea into her hands. Her fingers wrapped around it from habit and she took a sip.

"You know you're the only one who ever puts sugar in my tea," Ruth said as Harry sat opposite her.

Harry looked so crestfallen that she felt slightly guilty. "I can make you another…" he started.

"No," she put her hand on his lightly. "That's not what I meant. I was just making an observation." She took a reassuring sip and he relaxed slightly. Ruth took a deep breath and felt a sharp pain in her left lung. She managed to hide the pain but her eyes closed. She was back, lying on the cold ground, Harry's hand caressing her face as he thought she was dying. His other hand trying to keep her blood from flowing out of her body. The pain… the white hot pain that went through her just before her heart temporarily stopped. The gasp that she made when the adrenaline burned through her bloodstream. Back in the present she felt Harry's grip tighten on her hand.

"What is it?" he asked in a low voice.

"I was thinking," Ruth started. "Well… remembering. I thought I was going to die. I thought…"

"Its okay," he said in a hollow voice, his eyes boring into hers. "I thought that too. But you didn't. You're here."

"Were you… serious?" Ruth asked. "About our life together. Its okay, if you didn't mean it. We both thought I had a matter of seconds before I died. I know you were trying to comfort me. I know that you were trying to make it…. easier for me to leave."

Her eyes were locked with his as he leant forward and brushed his lips against hers. So soft and gentle. It was wonderful. When he broke away from her she was shocked and slightly embarrassed at how fast her heart was beating, just from that simple touch.

"I know that's only the fourth time I've kissed you, but yes I meant it."

Ruth nodded happily. Then thought about it. "Fourth?" she questioned.

"When you left five years ago, three weeks ago when the Americans wanted me and… when your heart stopped."

"No wonder I don't remember that one," she said sadly. "Although I will admit my heart wasn't exactly steady when you kissed me just then." Harry looked at her intensely and then the moment was broken by his mobile phone ringing. Sighing Harry let go of her hand and answered it.

"Yes," he said sharply. "I don't know." Harry looked at Ruth for a second and then it seemed as if he had decided something. "Dimitri, I want you to do something for me." A long pause during which Harry kissed the top of Ruth's head briefly. "Okay, go into my office. Third desk draw has a false bottom. Lift it up and you should find a letter in there. I want you to deliver that to the Home Secretary for me." Ruth stared at him as she knew what he was implying. "Thanks Dimitri." Harry put the phone down and looked at Ruth as she tried to work out what to say.

"You're resigning?" she asked blankly.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because you asked me to leave the service with you," Harry said with a smile. "So I want a little glimmer of happiness with you. However brief it may be."

"I hope it won't be brief," Ruth replied with a small smile. She looked out of the window and it was with a shock that she saw it getting dark. She hadn't realised how much time had passed. She suddenly felt very uncomfortable as unsaid implications almost threw themselves into her mind. "Do you want to stay here tonight?" Ruth asked, without knowing where that came from.

"I… are you sure?" Harry asked.

"Yeah, it'll be nice," she said with a blush and a smile at the same time. He smiled back at her. He noticed her closing her eyes for a second.

"You look tired," he murmured.

"I feel tired," she replied with a smile. An echo of their conversation a few weeks ago. She got up and he stood up at the same time. She leant into his chest and he carefully wrapped his arms around her, wanting to be careful of her injury. She pulled her head away from him so she could look into his eyes. "I love you." Without pausing for breath he kissed her hard. It was so passionately wonderful that she forgot to breathe. Which wasn't a brilliant idea with a recently collapsed lung. She pulled away from him when she started to feel light headed.

"Sorry," Harry said sincerely. "I keep forgetting…"

"Don't apologise," Ruth said. "Please, don't ever apologise for kissing me, especially when you kiss me like that." There was a second or two of silence when she blushed.

"What is it?" Harry asked, intensely curious about where her thoughts were wandering off to.

"I would really like a bath but… I can't get this bandage off by myself. Can you help me?"

"Of course I will," Harry said, a small smile twitching on his lips. His lustful thoughts however vanished when they got up to the bathroom. She moved to unbutton her blouse when Harry's hands took over, quickly but gently. "I must admit that I never imagined the first time I undressed you was because you needed help getting a bandage off. I'm slightly disappointed," he added in a teasing voice.

"Hmm," Ruth said with a smile as her blouse fell to the bathroom floor. She had her back to him and felt a hand on her shoulder. Closing her eyes, she let his presence comfort her. She felt Harry's hands on her back, pulling the bandage free, slowly unwrapping it. Every time the bandage slipped from her left side she sucked in her breath. It hurt, every little movement made a twinge of pain go through her.

"Sorry," Harry murmured into her neck, knowing this was hurting her.

"Its okay," she said at the same moment the bandage fell away. Harry's hands were on her ribcage, carefully avoiding the wound. After a minute he turned her around and looked at the red scar on her white skin. She felt embarrassed but his gaze was immovable. "Harry…" she started but got distracted when he knelt on the floor and set his lips on her wound carefully and gently.

"Does that hurt?" he murmured against her skin.

"Only a little," she replied with her eyes closed. She wanted to focus on how Harry's lips felt on her skin rather than anything else. But he moved, just far enough away so that it wouldn't pain her. Kissing her stomach slowly, making his way to her right side. "Stop Harry," she breathed heavily. He got to his feet and the disappointment etched on his face was clear. "Not that I'm not enjoying myself because I am," she clarified. "But I feel at a disadvantage." For the first time Harry looked at her white bra, fully appreciating the way she filled it and a blush appeared on her cheeks. "Harry… let me have a bath, and I promise this conversation will be continued later."

"I'll hold you to that," he assured her. He turned away and closed the bathroom door behind him, but not before she saw the glint in his eyes. Ruth went to lock the door but then she changed her mind. She'd leave it unlocked and see if that might encourage anything to happen. You never knew, she thought to herself as she turned the taps on, moaning slightly as she had to bend to do it. She needed a bath, she needed to feel clean, she thought as she lowered herself into the water. Her eyes closed of their own accord and her hand drifted to her stomach. The skin Harry had just touched with his lips. It was certainly going to be an interesting evening.

A review will make me smile! (Even though I lied that I wasn't writing anymore HR fics. Couldn't even last a week. No self control...)