More fluffy insanity..

Adam and Harry watched the Home Secretary's black limousine and the police escort vehicle pull smoothly away down the gravel drive.

"Thank God they've gone," Adam remarked, and then yawned, widely.

"Problem?" Harry asked, as they climbed the steps back into the hotel.

"His protection detail drove me crazy during that power cut last night. I had to update them every fifteen minutes. Bloody ridiculous."

"Just SO1 doing their job, Adam."

"Right," the younger man replied, giving his boss a sideways look. It wasn't like Harry to be quite so magnanimous where the police were concerned. Clearly, whatever, or more accurately, whoever, Harry had been occupied with when the lights had gone out, was responsible for his generous mood.

As they neared reception, Harry slowed down. "I just need to do something, you go on ahead."

"Don't worry, I'm not in any rush," Adam replied, curiosity piqued.

"It's fine; go and get some breakfast."

The commanding tone of Harry's voice indicated that his equanimity that morning wasn't going to last indefinitely. Adam decided not to argue and walked towards the dining room.

After making sure his colleague was out of sight, Harry turned his attention to the receptionist. "Good morning," he greeted the pretty blonde, giving her a boyish smile, "I wonder if you could do something for me?"

---

Ruth was drying her hair when her phone rang.

"It's me," Harry announced. "Are you OK, managing all right?"

"I'm fine, I was just…yes, I'm managing," Ruth replied, deciding not to reveal she'd just had a shower. That would only spark a lecture from him about taking unnecessary risks or, even worse, set them off on another double entendre laden conversation.

"Good." He paused. "I've arranged for room service to bring you some breakfast. I didn't think it would be a good idea for you to try and get to the dining room, not in your condition."

There was a silence as Ruth carefully thought about her reply. "Thank you, Harry," she eventually offered.

He rang off after saying goodbye, leaving her pondering on what he would tell the rest of the team to explain her absence at breakfast. She briefly contemplated calling Jo but decided that, without knowing what Harry would say, she was more likely to encourage speculation than dispel it.

---

"How does he do that?" Zaf asked, watching Harry make the attractive waitress taking his breakfast order blush and smile.

"Well, it's like this," Adam began, using a tone more suited for speaking to his son than a colleague. "You pick up that red folder on the table with the word 'Menu' written on it, read the list of items printed inside-"

"Ever thought of becoming a comedian, mate?" Zaf replied, sarcastically, "because I really wouldn't bother."

Adam grinned. "You're only jealous."

"Jealous of what?," Jo cut in, plonking herself in the empty chair between her colleagues.

"Our boss's success with women," Adam explained, ignoring the pleading look on Zaf's face. "He can't understand why Harry's chat up lines work and his don't."

The young female spook laughed. "Probably because Harry is more subtle, more charming, funnier…" she tailed off, realising, rather too late, she was setting herself up for some serious teasing.

"Something you want to tell us?" Zaf asked, grinning widely.

Jo ignored him and changed the subject. "Where's Ruth?"

Both men shrugged.

"Haven't seen her yet," Adam offered, pouring himself another cup of coffee.

Jo looked thoughtfully at Harry and then stood up. "Back in a minute," she said, vaguely, and then casually strolled towards the buffet where an array of cereals and fresh fruit were laid out. She kept one eye on the entrance to the dining room as she filled a dish with slices of grapefruit and orange. On her way back to her table, she took a slight detour and headed towards her boss.

"Morning Harry. Sleep well?"

"Good morning, Jo. Yes, thank you," Harry replied, mildly surprised at the question.

"Is Ruth all right? It's just I haven't seen her this morning."

"She's having breakfast in her room. She's twisted her ankle."

"Oh? When did she do that?"

"Last night. Down by the lake-" Harry abruptly stopped, realising the beguiling tone of voice his young officer was using had nearly made him say too much. "She, ah, she rang me, earlier. To tell me."

"Oh, I see." Jo smiled sweetly, determined not be given the brush-off quite so easily. "Adam didn't mention it, though."

Harry was prevented from replying by the arrival of his breakfast. After the waitress had left, he pointedly picked up his knife and fork. Sensing she wasn't going to get any more information, Jo continued on to her table.

"So?" Zaf quizzed, not even giving his colleague a chance to sit down.

"Apparently, Ruth's twisted her ankle. She did it last night." Jo stopped and took a mouthful of grapefruit, deliberately chewing it slowly. "She did it down by the lake."

"Ha!" Zaf exclaimed, loudly. "I bet they were skinny dipping!"

"Jesus, mate," Adam hissed. "Do you want to say it a bit louder? I don't think they heard you in reception."

The younger spook briefly looked guilty, and turned his attention to his breakfast.

"Mind you," Jo remarked, after a few minutes. "I think he ordered everything on the menu, so he must have been doing something to make him that hungry."

"Clearly, you've never been to the Regency café with him after an all-nighter," Adam commented before shovelling a forkful of scrambled egg into his mouth.

Zaf's reply was lost in a coughing fit as he almost choked on his toast.

"An all-nighter on the Grid, mate. Don't get too excited, and stop spitting crumbs everywhere."

"But that still gives credence to my theory," the dark-haired spook said, enthusiastically. "He's worked up an appetite."

"Oh for God's sake," Ros muttered, as she passed her colleagues. "Don't you lot have anything better to do with your time?"

"What's the matter, Ros? Wouldn't Malcolm let you touch his sensitive equipment?" Zaf asked, his face a picture of innocence.

"So funny, Zafar," she replied, icily. "Have you and Adam enjoyed sharing a room? I hope you've not been squabbling over the mirror."

Jo laughed. "They drew up a rota and pinned it to the bathroom door. It was very precise, down to the last second."

Ros smirked as both men scowled at Jo.

"She's joking," Adam said, trying to retain some credibility.

"Of course she is," Ros replied, clearly not believing him for one moment. "Right, I shall leave you children to play."

"Hang on," Jo said, "I want to ask you something."

The older blonde raised her eyebrow in response.

"Don't you think there's something different about Harry this morning? I don't know, a certain…"

Ros discreetly studied her boss, who was enthusiastically tucking into his breakfast. "I suppose there is an air of dishabille about him today."

"Des who?" Zaf asked, grabbing the last piece of toast just as Adam reached for it.

The two women looked at each other and rolled their eyes.

"Dishabille, Zaf. Carelessly or partially dressed," Ros explained, slowly and carefully enunciating each word. "Something that Harry manages to carry off rather successfully. And something," she called over her shoulder as she started to move away, "you could never hope to emulate."

"Blimey," Zaf said, after a few moments. "I don't know what it is Harry's got but he should bottle it. He'd make a fortune."

---

There was the sound of voices and the door to Ruth's room opened just as Harry got to the top of the stairs. A tall, dark-haired man stepped into the corridor, followed by the young receptionist Harry had spoken to earlier. She gave him a radiant smile and murmured, 'hello again' before following her male companion down the hallway.

"Who was that man?" Harry enquired as he strode into the room.

"Doctor Wright, the hotel's in-house medic," Ruth replied, rather put out by the inquisitiveness of the question.

"You never told me you wanted a doctor. I could have arranged that."

"Well, I didn't think I did want one but the receptionist offered when she rang to get my breakfast order."

"I didn't know Doctor Kildare was on the bloody menu," Harry remarked, acidly.

"It's Doctor Wright, Harry, as I think I mentioned," Ruth replied, glaring at him. "And he's very nice. Very professional. He's given me some painkillers."

"So long as he isn't Mr Bloody-Right", Harry muttered under his breath.

"I didn't quite catch that," she retorted, with a look that suggested she'd heard perfectly well.

"I said I hope they help you sleep tonight. How was breakfast?" he added, in an attempt to change the subject.

"Fine." Ruth said, shuffling about in the chair she was sitting in.

"Need a hand?" Harry asked, moving towards her.

"I think it would be better if Jo helped me."

"Oh." He stopped, halfway across the floor, suddenly at a loss as to what to say or do.

"Well, I don't think you have any shoes that'll fit me. I need to borrow Jo's trainers." She pointed at her damaged ankle. "I can't get my own shoes on."

"Ah, right," he laughed. "Thought I'd upset you there for a moment and I wouldn't want to do that. Not ever."

Ruth could feel herself starting to blush as he gazed at her. "No, I ah, I know that."

There was a long silence as Harry continued to look at her and Ruth felt compelled to study the pattern in the carpet.

"I suppose I should let you finish getting ready," he finally said. "Do you want me to send Jo up?"

She shook her head. "No, I'll ring her; I think that would be better."

"Yes, you're right." He walked towards the door, stopping to smile at her before he opened it. "I'll see you downstairs."

More fluff soonish.. ;)