He awoke to the sound of movement down the hallway. He slowly pulled his gun from under his pillow and held it tightly, trying to figure out who would break into his house at nine o'clock in the blooming evening. Then it hit him. Ruth.
After his sobbing had finally subsided in his office, Ruth had decided to drive him home. After all, he was in no state to be on the roads, and he was struggling to even keep his eyes open. It was unsurprising that the journey was conducted in uncomfortable silence. Harry was too worn out to even think about what was going on and Ruth was doing her job and trying to analyse every minute detail she had uncovered during the course of the day.
Once they had arrived, Harry insistently offered her in for a drink. He had hastily admitted that the thought of spending any time alone frightened him somewhat, and she hesitantly agreed to the offer when she made a mental note that he was not a man to get scared very easily. Ruth had rather intently taken over the task of making the tea, noting just how tired Harry actually was, and how much he was shaking.
"Go and sit in the living room, I'll bring your tea in when it's ready," she said, smiling slightly as he caught her eye and nodded in agreement.
After finishing the tea and joining him in the living room, they'd spent the best part of half hour in silence, not sure how to bring up the only topic on either of their minds.
"You should get some rest Harry," Ruth finally muttered, taking a brief glance at her watch. "I know it's only four o'clock but you look absolutely exhausted."
Realising that arguing with Ruth would only make matters even worse, not that they could get any worse, Harry drained the last of what was in his mug before silently standing up and making his way to the door.
"Thank you Ruth," he whispered as he passed where she was sitting. "I don't know what I'd do without you."
She waited and listened as she heard fumbled footsteps make their way to the upper floor and pad around on the floors above. After twenty minutes or so the air was silent once more and she was sure he had finally let sleep take hold.
As much as she felt insecure and afraid of what tomorrow was going to hold she decided that she would stay put on his sofa and rest herself. It was mid afternoon, she could nap and be out of his house by the evening, when she sure that he was ok. After all, he didn't want to be alone.
Harry placed the gun carefully back under his pillow, relieved he wasn't about to be faced by some maniac murderer, or even worse... Adam. Sighing loudly, he forced himself out of the bed and made himself look reasonably presentable before making his way out onto the landing. He had spent the afternoon laying in bed, thinking about Wes and what this meant for the future. He had already decided what he was going to do about the parental side of the recent revelations, but was clueless as to how he was going to win Ruth round again. He thought it'd be easier to just go with the flow.
Hearing Harry's bedroom door open, Ruth made a sudden dash for the stairs, desperate for him not to know that she had stayed. It was useless. The moment she had reached the second step she heard him softly call her name.
"I was umm, just leaving," she stammered, waving her arm about frantically trying to gesture towards the front door.
"Stay," he whispered, taking a few steps towards her.
"I'll see you in the morning Harry," she muttered and turned quick on her heel and continued to walk down the stairs towards the front door.
"Ruth... Please," Harry begged, his voice beginning to crack as he slumped on the floor. He'd given up. It was probably the first time in his life that he felt so utterly lost and out of control. It was the first time he couldn't bear to be at work, but it was also the last time he would be able to bear Ruth walking away from him again.
Ruth stood rooted to the spot, making it obvious to Harry she'd heard what he'd said, but not moving too quickly so that it appeared she was in fact desperate to stay and comfort him. Looking briefly in the direction of the stairs, Harry realised that she was quite attached to the step she was currently standing on, and might have to be prompted to make any form of movement towards him.
"Come and sit with me," he pleaded.
For the first time that evening, they finally met eye to eye as Ruth slowly made her way back up the stairs and sat beside him, gasping slightly as she felt Harry's cold fingers entwine with hers.
As Harry finally plucked up the courage to open up to Ruth about his situation with Fiona the unmistakable sound of the doorbell echoed through the hallways of the house. Pausing briefly to turn to Ruth, a look of horror and worry spread across his features as he heard a familiar voice boom through the letterbox.
"Harry! Let me in now or so help me God I break your door down by force!"
"Adam," Ruth whispered, suddenly wincing as there was an almighty bang and Harry's door came flying open.
"Where are you?" He growled.
Harry didn't have time to react as he heard angry footsteps bounding up the stairs.
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