Bring me to life
Ruth stared at the dark liquid in the cardboard cup. The steam hitting her face as she debated whether the expresso was safe to drink. She certainly needed the caffeine hit. Being Ruth Evershed once more was proving to be exhausting. Staring at the liquid she realised just over three years in hiding had changed her. Sighing she looked up wondering if such changes were merely part of the ageing process, like grey hair or if they were exclusive to the spook trying to find out who they really were after the cover they had so expertly created was blown apart.
"Ruth?"
"Hi." Harry sat in front of her once more. Only this time there was no laptop, no terrorist and no eight year old to be saved.
"Hi."
"Are you ok? Ruth?"
"Yes. I think so." She glanced at him as he watched her. "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you. Or call you all those terrible names. On the bridge or with Mani. I." He covered her hand with his noticing she was shaking slightly.
"Nothing to apologise for." His voice washed over her like honey. "The merchandise you asked about. It never left Iraq. We were to transport it to England but events conspired once we left Kuwait. Samir and Yusef managed to get it out of Baghdad but Samir was killed in a shooting the next day. Taliban."
"He was just a boy."
"I know. But the Americans, Iraqis or Tessa never got hold of the uranium. It was smuggled to the power station on the border with Iran. It's safe. Only myself, you and Yusef know the truth."
"It's safe."
"Yes."
"Good." Ruth winced as she sipped her drink. Harry smiled slightly.
"Worse than the Grid?"
"About the same. I've bought my own. The worst memory of that place is the how awful the coffee was, especially late at night when the filter was clogging up." She pulled a face. Neither mentioned they were holding hands.
"That's the worst?"
"There are others. Tom leaving, Fiona and Colin dying. Leaving you."
"Ruth."
"It had to be done. We both know that. We can't change the past."
"If wishes were horses."
"Harry."
"Don't come to work today. Come in tomorrow. Ros isn't due to go undercover until then. Rest."
"I've had three years off."
"Ruth."
"I'll come in at lunchtime."
"Still as stubborn as ever."
"I know you are." Ruth smiled as Harry chuckled.
"Mule."
"Pedant."
"Ruth."
"Yes, Harry."
"Welcome home."
Xxxxxxxz
A/n just fluff I know. Thinking of a new story where Harry has to go back to Baghdad to rescue Adam when an op goes wrong. Sort of my version of Greater Good. Would anyone be interested? Will be up after sand castles has been finished.
