Ok, this is a slightly shorter chapter, but it was written rather quickly to get it up asap. Although the date on this will say 5 Nov, because of time zones 8.1 still hasn't screened yet (but is imminent). I am sure my version of events is quite different to the script - see what you think.
Harry's eyes fluttered open slightly, connecting briefly with Ruth's. Her eyes were concentrated on him, and there was a moment of recognition from him before his eyes closed again. His head rolled to the side and he felt Ruth's hands on either side of his face. It was a sensation he remembered with clarity from their farewell at the dock: Ruth comforting him with a gentle touch, and a kiss.
Just like back then, Harry felt incapable of moving. At the dock it had been shock and incomprehension, but this time it was due to the fact his body had just been subjected to physical trauma. Trauma that left him utterly exhausted and in extreme pain.
All of a sudden he felt a drop fall onto his cheek. Opening his eyes again and focusing on Ruth, he realised it was another tear escaping. He battled to clear his throat and say something to stop her from crying.
"Ruth." He croaked. "Don't ... I'll be alright."
Ruth raised her head and her brow furrowed as she glared at him. "How can you be alright? Look at what they've done to you. You can barely move!"
Harry tried to sit up, and failed, slumping back to the floor. "I will be alright. I just need a bit of time."
Ruth made a snorting sound as she attempted to wipe the tears from her face, and then gingerly helped Harry to a position where he was able to sit, leaning against her. His head rested on Ruth's shoulder and she could feel him wincing as he tried to convince her that he was already on the mend. What a load of bollocks, she thought as he told her it was really only his back that hurt.
His attempts to cheer her up did seem to be working a bit, thought Harry. He could sense a slight smile had materialised, and was pleased that her mind had been diverted, at least for a moment, from the reason they were both here. He had no desire to return to that reason, but there was no choice given they would probably not be left alone for long.
"Ruth. They'll be back again soon. They haven't got what they want yet, and they are going to keep trying."
"Harry, I don't know if I can do this. Not if they ..." She was thinking about the torture he had been subjected to, and there was a shakiness that came into her voice.
Harry didn't know if she could take it either. He didn't want to ask her to go through that, but wasn't sure that they would take him away again. That was the whole point of having both of them wasn't it? To try one, and then the other. Expecting one of them to give in.
"Ruth, if they take you out of this room ... you tell them. You tell them where it is. And we'll sort something out, okay? We'll find a way to stop them later."
"Harry, it won't come to that. They can't be far away now ... Lucas and Ros, I mean."
At that, Harry twisted his head to look directly at Ruth. "How do you know? You've seen them?"
Ruth realised she had just let slip that she hadn't simply been abducted. Harry knew MI5 wouldn't know she was here if she hadn't already been to see them. She wouldn't know about Lucas – he was gone before she had joined MI5 - if she hadn't already told them of the existence of the clandestine operation.
It all started to click into place for Harry. Of course. There would have been a ransom demand, probably broadcast online. Had Ruth seen it and come out of hiding to let the team know about the operation?
Ruth could see Harry's mind ticking over and responded to the unasked questions. "I ... I wasn't sure what to do. But they said you were dead. There was a video of it. And I couldn't believe it. Then they traced me. They were coming after me, and I had to get out. There was nowhere else to go, I couldn't think of anywhere else. So I just picked up the phone and rang Thames House."
So simple, thought Harry. A video, the Internet, and a phone call. And now she was here, caught up in this world again.
Enjoy - I hope to have some more written soon.
