September 2003
The meeting started out just as any other that day, Danny presenting information about gunrunners with ties to Al-Qaida. As she often did, Ruth watched Harry to pick up on any signs of his feelings on the situation. These gunrunners looked to be giving him particular concern. Ruth made a note to herself to take a closer look when she did her research. Tom had asked her to find out whatever she could on them, so she went right to it.
Ruth enjoyed this work, she really did. Digging into a problem, finding everything she could, being creative in where she looked and how she could get in undetected. She'd always had a curious nature, but when she was young, she had learned to curb it, to keep herself from making too much of a fuss. It was a habit she'd unlearned, much to her benefit in most cases.
As was her usual method in cases such as this, Ruth began her search in the registry, seeing if there were any files MI-5 already had on the persons or organizations she was looking into. In this case, these particular gunrunners seemed to have had a long history with the Service. There were plenty of old documents, reports of using various assets within the group for a variety of purposes, most of which were successful. On the whole, it seemed this group hadn't been much of a threat over the years. Their operation was mostly small, covering one particular shipping dock in Southampton for their imports and exports, and they'd stayed under the radar by providing information to the Security Services when requested.
One report in particular caught Ruth's attention. A simple surveillance mission which, upon quick glance, had absolutely no relevance to their current inquiry, but Ruth pored over every detail nonetheless. She vacillated for a moment, unsure of what she should do with it, but in the end, she decided to take the report with her. It wouldn't do to make a fuss over it now, not while there was work to be done, but later. Later, she'd get confirmation of her theories.
October 1993
"I'd like to take you away for the weekend."
Ruth sat up in Harry's bed and looked at him curiously. "You would? Where?"
"I'd quite fancy a cuddle on the beach, what do you think?"
She laughed, "Harry, it's nearly November! It'll be freezing!"
"Well we won't go in the water. And we can wear coats. I'll keep you warm," he promised.
Ruth considered for a moment and decided she very much liked the idea of getting to go away with Harry, to be together somewhere other than in his flat. She was immediately filled with images of walking on the beach hand in hand, actually having dinner together at a restaurant, feeling like they were really together and not just keeping their relationship secret. "Alright," she agreed with a smile.
"Good. And get all your reading and assignments done before we leave, alright? I don't want you distracted by schoolwork while I'm trying to romance you on the coast," he teased, pulling her back down onto the bed and holding her gloriously naked body in his arms.
"When are we leaving? And where are we going?"
"Meet me here on Friday morning with all your things. I'll hire a car so we can drive down to Southampton."
"That sounds lovely, Harry. Thank you." She pressed a gentle but lingering kiss to his lips. Did he know what it meant to her, that he wanted to take her away for the weekend? That he wanted to spend time with her away from Oxford, where they could just be themselves and not hide away? She hoped he did.
Ruth hurried back to her own flat soon after, excited to show off a bit to Liza that her chap was taking her away for the weekend, and wasn't she ever so lucky?
September 2003
Harry was working late in his office. He desperately wanted to crawl into bed with Ruth, but they hadn't made any plans for the evening, and she was still working at her desk, so there was nothing for it. But he saw her rise from her chair with a file in her hand. He could see the look on her face was one of business, not pleasure, but he couldn't quite bring himself to hide his own besotted expression as he watched her.
She entered his office without knocking, as usual. "Have you got a minute?"
"For you, Ruth, always."
She pursed her lips in mild annoyance. Certainly business, then. She dropped the file on his desk and frowned, waiting for him to review it and answer her unspoken questions.
Immediately, Harry knew what she was asking. It was a report he himself had drafted. "Southampton, November 1993," he read aloud.
"The same gunrunners we're handling now."
"Yes, back in 93, there was a rumor they were selling to the IRA. But there was nothing to be concerned with, as you read from my report right there." He closed the file and looked up at her, waiting for her questions or accusations before he gave any explanation.
"I knew. Somehow, I always knew."
He frowned. That wasn't the response he'd expected. "You knew what?"
"I knew you were doing something in Southampton more than shagging me on the beach."
"I think I'd remember if I'd shagged you on the beach, Ruth."
"Harry, you know what I mean!" she scolded. "Your attention was elsewhere, you were far too particular about the tables we were sitting at in the restaurants, you took me on walks by the docks. You were on an operation during our weekend away!"
He sighed, "It was probably extremely foolish of me to bring you with me on an operation. Actually, if Tom ever tried anything like what I did, I'd wring his bloody neck. But as you can see from the report, there is no mention of you anywhere. And I ensured that your presence did not compromise my operation in any way. And if you knew, why didn't you say anything?"
Ruth averted her gaze and Harry could detect a very slight blush in her cheeks. "I didn't want to spoil our holiday. I didn't want you to think I was being nosy."
"Well I'm rather glad you didn't say anything. I quite enjoyed that holiday with you, even if I was on operation."
She furrowed her brow with deep concern. "Please tell me just one thing."
"Anything."
"Was I in any danger?"
"No. I swear it. It was a surveillance operation only. I was sent down because I was closest, and it wouldn't have interfered with my op in Oxford to go, since it was only a few days and it didn't run any risk of contact with the gunrunners. I wouldn't have taken you with me if there was any chance you'd come into harm's way. But I hope you know, Ruth, then and now, there's nothing I won't do to protect you and keep you safe," he vowed quietly.
Ruth swallowed hard and nodded. She picked up the file from his desk and walked out of his office.
October 1993
"Harry, I absolutely love it here!" Ruth gushed, holding his arm and pressing a kiss to his cheek as they walked along the promenade.
He grinned with pure joy. They'd been very lucky with the weather in Southampton. It was unseasonably bright and though the wind was rather chilly, it wasn't as freezing as they'd expected. Harry couldn't believe his luck, getting to walk with a woman he adored on a sunny day without a care in the world.
Of course, that wasn't entirely true. At all. He was sent down to Southampton to check on Five's favorite gunrunning assets, those uncouth men who worked in the shadows on the docks with questionable legality and would happily sell their secrets for the right price. But the timing had worked out absolutely perfect for Harry to bring Ruth with him and have some much-deserved time to themselves.
They walked together, pausing to share a kiss here and there just because they could. Ruth had never been to Southampton, so she didn't know they were in fact walking away from the public beach and instead toward the docks. Harry had his eye out for anything to report back to Clive. There were rumors their assets were now working with the IRA, but nothing could be confirmed. As far as Harry was concerned, he was on holiday with his girlfriend unless he heard an Irish accent anywhere near those docks.
Luckily for Harry, he'd done his research before this trip. He'd booked a room for Ruth and himself at the Dolphin Hotel in town, the very same hotel where Jane Austen used to attend dances when she lived in Southampton. Ruth was utterly enthralled with the idea that she was walking the same halls as Jane Austen. Her enthusiasm worked in his favor, as he was able to let her babble on about whatever she wanted as he was sitting in the café and watching the kitchen where the younger—and more impressionable—dockworkers were known to work on the side. Harry had a feeling that if there was anything shady going on, it would be away from public view and likely away from the docks were inspectors would be around to ask questions.
There was a lull in the conversation, causing Harry to turn his attention back to Ruth. She was watching him very carefully, her brilliant blue eyes alight with suspicion, but she said nothing. And when he took her hand in his and pressed a gentle kiss to her fingers, she smiled, and all such suspicion was gone.
Harry scolded himself. He knew better. She was far too clever, and he needed to pay better attention. But how could he, when she was sitting there looking lovelier than ever, sharing his affection openly and freely for the first time? If only they could stay on holiday together forever. If only the darkness of the spook world didn't threaten to disturb their joy. But so help him, tomorrow they'd have the perfect day. Selfishly, Harry felt he deserved it.
