Early Winter 2004
Harry could have kicked himself. How the hell had he been so oblivious that he'd assumed that Ruth texting Sam that she was home sick was at all acceptable? Ruth never took a sick day. Danny was completely right. But Harry had been so focused on the hacker and getting Adam up on the roof with the poisoned diamonds that he hadn't even given poor Ruth a second thought.
And now he was gripped with panic, waiting for Adam and Danny and their team to rescue her from Andrew Forrestal. He paced back and forth in his office, waiting for some news. He'd had to close the blinds, lest the others of his team figure out that his level of concern was unreasonable under the circumstances. And it was. He knew it was.
Harry took off his jacket and tossed it on a nearby chair. His shoulder was bothering him a bit; he knew at his age that he'd never fully heal from where Tom shot him. He sighed, rubbing the sore muscle beneath his braces.
Ruth was in danger and he hadn't realized it. Ruth was in danger and he might be too late. Ruth was in danger and he'd never… That sentence was too much for him to even think about right now.
The phone rang, mercifully interrupting his thoughts. "Yes?" he answered curtly after the first ring.
"Harry, it's Adam. Forrestal is dead. We're collecting the diamonds and the laptop now."
"And Ruth?"
"She's fine. A bit shaken. She's been tied with her arms above her head on the bannister of the stairs all night," Adam said. "Medics are checking her over now, but no lasting damage."
Harry had to keep himself from choking out a sob of relief. "When she's cleared, bring her back to the Grid. I need to speak with her."
"Sure," Adam replied.
After hanging up the phone, Harry practically collapsed onto the sofa in his office. He scrubbed his face with his hands. She was alright. Ruth was alright. At this moment, that was all that mattered.
About a half hour later, the door to his office opened tentatively. "Harry? Adam said you wanted to talk to me."
He smiled at her. "Yes, come in, Ruth. Close the door behind you," he requested. "Would you like a drink?"
Ruth closed the door and shook her head. "Not just now, thanks. Maybe later."
Harry nodded. "Later, then." He hadn't bothered to stand up from the sofa. He reached an arm out toward her. "Sit with me?"
A small smile crossed her face. She made her way toward him, and he watched her carefully. She was a bit pale. Looked tired and drawn. But just as Adam had reported, she was unharmed, thank god.
Ruth sat down beside Harry, and he immediately folded her in his arms. She held him tight, taking a deep breath and letting it out in a shaky exhale. After a moment, he loosened his hold on her. "Ruth, are you alright?"
"Yes, the medics let me go. I'm fine."
"Not just physically, I mean...Did he...do anything?"
He could feel her tense up in his embrace. "I realized it was him. The hacker. And I tried to run. Oh, I was so stupid, I should have figured it out sooner!"
"You, Ruth, are the furthest thing from stupid I've ever known," Harry assured her.
"I let him distract me, just because..." She sighed, burying her face against his chest. "I hate how he made me feel," Ruth admitted, her voice muffled against his shirt.
"And how was that?" he pressed.
Ruth pulled away and searched his face for a moment before averting her eyes to stare down at her hands in her lap. "He made me feel like he understood me. Like he was like me. Like we were the same."
Harry tried to find something else to say that wasn't some pointless cliche.
But Ruth continued before he could say any thing. "I'm alright, Harry. I don't want to talk about it." She rested her head on his shoulder with one hand on his chest.
Harry was still a bit worried about her, but having her here, nuzzled on the sofa with him, everything in the world felt light and warm for these few precious moments.
Despite telling him she didn't want to talk about it, Ruth began to speak more about Andrew Forrestal anyway. "He was so unhappy. He told me about it, how he knew he was talented and smart, but he wasn't ever ambitious, and he'd become lonely and bitter. He was so broken, Harry. And all of that from being alone and shunted to the side by everyone he'd trusted and cared for. I just…I can't help but be afraid that I'll end up like that, too."
Harry's hand squeezed her shoulder affectionately. "You will never end up like that, Ruth. You're far too good and kindhearted to break like he did. And you know, this might just be a job, but we are something of a family here on the Grid. Danny and Sam and Adam were terrified of what had happened to you when you didn't come in today. They would go to the ends of the earth to save you." He began gently rubbing her arm. "You're very loved, Ruth."
She shifted in his embrace to look up at him. "And what about you, Harry?" she asked quietly. "Were you worried about me?"
He sighed, "It took me far too long to realize something wasn't right. Sam got that text Andrew sent from your phone, but she and Danny both knew something was wrong and I didn't."
Ruth chuckled lightly, "I don't think I know how to text."
"Precisely. And when Danny reminded me of that fact, I knew they were right. Something was wrong. And I was a bit apoplectic, actually. I hid myself in here while I waited for Adam and Danny to find you."
"You hid?"
"I'll admit I rather wanted to break down and weep at the idea you were in harm's way," he confessed.
She smiled up at him. "When I found out you got shot, I did break down and weep."
Harry matched her expression. "You're not alone, Ruth. It'll be alright."
She didn't answer him, just rested her head back on his shoulder. Her fingers traced the lines of his braces. Harry pressed a light kiss to her hair and relaxed in the knowledge that she was safe and yes, they'd be alright.
