The next day started relatively peacefully. Ruth was typing happily when at mid morning Annabelle approached her. "Can you take me through the terror watch list that section D is monitoring at the moment?" She asked pleasantly. Ruth nodded, bringing the file in question up as Annabelle grabbed a chair to sit next to her. Ruth started talking in a dead voice, explaining the ins and outs of the procedures, annoyed that she had only been here a few days, because these files weren't up to her usual standard. She hadn't put the polish or the required encryption on them yet, and she was sure Annabelle would realise that weren't as tight and secure as they should be.
"Look, I've only been back here a few days. I know they aren't up to code yet, but they will be."
"I'm sure," Annabelle said, her eyes glued to the screen. She didn't seem degrading in her comment, she actually seemed sincere. "Harry seems nice."
"Nice?" Ruth questioned, looking at the screen so she didn't have to look at Annabelle.
"Yes, nice," the blonde said. "Attractive too, you must have noticed. Not nearly as distant and unkind as men like that usually are around me."
"I doubt that you ever have that problem with men," Ruth said before she could stop herself. Annabelle smiled and Ruth felt it, even though she wasn't looking at her.
"Do you think he's available?" Annabelle asked. "I mean, there's no one in his file but I know he's good at keeping secrets too. So is there?"
"I'm not the person you should talk to about Harry," Ruth said quietly. Annabelle looked at Ruth's face and seemed to sense something more than what was on the surface.
"Am I…? I don't want to step on any toes. If you're… involved with him, just say the word and I'll back off. I'm only asking because he appeared single… but…"
"No, its fine," Ruth said, closing the terrorist file and turning to her. "Harry and I… There's nothing there. Just history."
"History?" Annabelle questioned.
"Yes, its just we've known each other for a long time. Nothing more," Ruth said quietly.
"So it would be okay if I… headed in that direction?" Annabelle asked. Ruth studied the blonde woman and wondered how the conversation had suddenly turned in this direction. Even more oddly, this new woman seemed to be asking for permission.
"Whatever you want," Ruth said.
"Well, I do like powerful men," Annabelle said with a smile that made Ruth's stomach turn.
"I know," Ruth said shortly. "I know who Charlotte's father is."
"Yes, well I was young and stupid," Annabelle said with a slight blush. "He was my recruiter, but I'm guessing you know that."
"Yes I do," Ruth said shortly. "What Harry chooses to do in his private life is none of my business."
"Okay," Annabelle said happily. "Glad I've cleared that up then. Thanks for showing me the terrorist lists." Annabelle went back to her own desk and Ruth turned to her computer, not wanting to catch anyone's eye. Not Harry, Jo, Annabelle or anyone else. She had told herself that she couldn't get involved with Harry again, because of so many reasons. George had just died, she had lost her life in Cyprus, and in spite of all that, all she could think of was Harry. Coming back to England she had realised just how shallow her feelings for George had been. Nothing with him was real, or at least not as real as the feeling she got when Harry looked at her. Two years with George made her feel less than two minutes in Harry's presence. As soon as she had seen Harry she had felt her buried feelings coming back to the surface, despite the fact she wasn't sure she wanted to jump into anything with him. The last three years of separation between the two of them didn't seem to matter, she saw with surprise. It was almost as if they weren't there because of the way her heart caught whenever he looked at her with those hypnotising hazel eyes. Which begged the question why had she just allowed Annabelle the green light as it were.
Sighing, she turned and saw Annabelle staring into Harry's office, and felt a dart of loathing run through her. The one thing that kept her slightly positive is that Harry wasn't looking at her.
Thanks for all the reviews so far everyone! More when its written.