A/N: Wow. What a response to the first chapter. 22 reviews. I think that's got to be the most for any chapter I've ever written. It's made me really nervous though – I hope this second part lives up to expectations!


Chapter 2

The following Wednesday...

Adam Carter finished reading aloud the conclusion of his report and looked up from the paper to find he did not have an audience. Harry stood at the window staring out and Ruth was staring at a point on the floor between them. Adam glanced down but couldn't see anything of interest. "So?" he asked, his eyes flicking from one to the other, "Any questions?"

Two faces turned toward him. "What?" they asked simultaneously.

"Am I the only one listening to me?" Adam asked pointedly.

"Sorry Adam." Harry sat down in his chair. "I have some prep work to do for a meeting with the Home Secretary later today and my attention is...divided. Leave the report here. I'll go over it and get back to you." Harry shuffled some papers, not looking at him.

Adam looked over at Ruth, his expression quizzical. He hoped she could offer some insight into Harry's behaviour, she normally could and after their closeness at Jenkins' leaving do, he assumed she would know what was wrong with him. She merely shrugged back noncommittally. They rose from their chairs and made their way toward the door.

"Ruth," Harry called after her. "A word please."

She stopped, glancing at Adam. He leaned toward her and noting their boss' mood, wished her, "good luck."

When Adam left and the door was closed, Ruth turned to face Harry. He looked at her steadily and she returned his gaze. "We should talk," he said.

"Okay," she agreed. He rose and walked around the desk, taking a seat on the end of the corner sofa with his arms folded across his chest. She took the opposite end, mirroring his posture. They sat in companionable silence a moment.

"Ruth, the other night was..." he stopped, searching for the right words.

"Actually quite nice." she offered, blushing as she spoke. The memories had flooded back to her a few hours after she'd left Harry's house. She remembered every minute of their night together vividly. She was extremely thankful that her memories had returned; she didn't know if she would be able to live with knowing she'd slept with him but not knowing what it had been like. Especially considering it wouldn't be happening again.

A slight smile toyed with the corners of his mouth. "It all came back to you then?" he accused.

"Yes; all of it…in great detail."

"So, what does that mean?" Harry asked meeting her gaze. "What happens now?"

"Nothing." His smile faded. "We can't do this; we have to maintain a professional relationship." Even as she said the words she hated them; what she wanted to say was that of course they could have a relationship outside of the Grid and that they would be able to fathom their way through it.

"Of course," he nodded looking down at his hands. "I understand."

"No you don't," she said simply. He looked up again and waited to hear the rest of it. Her eyes searched her face as though wondering how much she should say, what words she should use. "If it was just about you? About us? About the way I feel? Then it wouldn't be an issue. ."

"But?" he prompted gently.

"But right now you're the only one on the JIC standing up for what's right; and stopping this service from being turned into merely a firm of decorators; only to be wheeled out when the powers that be want a whitewash! We can't give them any excuse to force you out Harry. We can't. And shagging your senior analyst would be just the ammunition they needed to take you down. God knows who they'd bring in to replace you. Oliver Mace probably or someone equally as vile. I can't have that on my conscience Harry; I can't."

He sat very still for a moment, thinking. "Well," he sighed deeply, "It isn't the first time my personal has come second to the needs of the service." He sounded resigned; lost." I suppose, at least, we'll always have The George," he said, referencing Casablanca; one of her favourite films.

"Right, I'd better get back." Ruth said, hating to see him so forlorn; knowing that she'd done this to him. She smiled at him apologetically, "I'm sorry Harry, I really am. I-i-it's not what I want; you have to know that. It's just…" she shrugged; she'd given him her reasons.

As she approached the door, Harry saw his chance slipping away; if he didn't convince her to give them a go now, he'd lose her forever. "If it's not what you want then don't do it," he implored. She stopped, but continued to face the door, knowing that looking at him would make her task more difficult. It didn't deter Harry however; he ploughed on. "Ruth, you and I both know that what happened between us wouldn't have happened if there hadn't being some underlying feelings; strong ones at that. You're not the kind of person who engages in drunken sex to satisfy a need and neither am I…not anymore at least. I haven't looked at another woman in three years; not since you were seconded here and you've as much as admitted already that you have feelings for me. So why are we denying ourselves? Because it's in the best interests of the service? Well do you know what I say Ruth? 'Bugger the service'. I know too much for them to try and oust me; just watch them try!"

"Harry…"

"No Ruth! I've given too much to the service already. I lost my marriage, my kids, my friends…I won't add you to that list."

"B-b-but…I'm not yours to lose," she countered, finally turning to face him. She got lost in his eyes immediately.

"You became mine to lose the moment you allowed me to kiss you outside the pub." He leant forward and whispered into her ear, "Please Ruth; we could be so good together! You know we could! Don't walk away from this. From us." He backed away and perched on the corner of his desk, knowing that she would need space to make her decision.

After a few seconds of consideration, she approached him and stood in between his legs. He couldn't look at her though, worried about her answer. "Harry?" Her tone was soft and she sounded….happy? That thought gave him a spark of hope and he slowly lifted his eyes until they met hers. She was smiling. "Harry I…I know it won't be easy but…you're right. We should try."

Relief flooded through him. "Do you mean that?"

Ruth nodded. "I'm not in the habit of lying Harry. I wouldn't do that to you; I couldn't."

He smiled at her then. "Have dinner with me? Tonight? I know a place I think you'll like."

"I'd love to," she beamed, stretching up to kiss him; their first kiss since that night. It was full of energy and passion and Ruth was grateful that the blinds were closed. The kiss was better than either of them remembered, probably down to the fact that they were sober now. When they finally broke apart a few minutes later, both were breathing heavily. Composing herself, Ruth reluctantly pulled away. "I should get back to work," she explained and headed for the door, turning back as she reached it. "What time are you picking me up?"

"Is seven too early?" he asked.

"No, seven's fine…barring any national emergencies of course."

"Trust me Ruth; it would take a direct hit with a nuclear weapon to prevent me from taking you out tonight."

She flashed him a hundred-watt smile. "I'll see you later then."

When she left his office, she was still smiling. Adam glanced at her and then at the office. Harry had opened his blinds and was looking out over the Grid; his eyes following his analyst to her desk. As she sat down she noticed Harry's eyes on her and she blushed, and glanced around, conscious of her colleagues. Watching his boss and his colleagues, everything clicked together in Adam's head; their sudden closeness, the awkwardness, Ruth's smile, Harry's gaze and the way everything seemed to be sorted now they'd spent some time alone. He grinned to himself; he'd won Zaf's book.