Harry came onto the grid the next morning late. He'd waited outside his house and watched as Jane appeared, as he thought she would to pick up some of her things when he left. Once she'd left with a few more belongings he'd driven to Thames House.

"What the hell happened to you?" Adam said loudly as Harry appeared. Ruth looked up at that to her boss slash ex lover. He had a clear red handprint on his face and the way his eyes bored into hers… it didn't take much for her to work out what had happened. Harry didn't reply to any of the stares and went straight through to his office. Ruth waited about ten minutes before following. She didn't know how much her colleagues were aware of their relationship but she hadn't heard gossip beyond the general private flirting they displayed when they had been unable to help it.

"I think I'm joining you in the divorced club," Harry said with a sigh.

"The handprint on your face was a little bit of a giveaway," Ruth admitted sitting opposite him.

"She was angry," Harry said. "And I can't blame her one tiny bit. I actually think I got off lightly considering. Your ex husband can throw a punch too."

"God, he came to see you? What a bloody mess," she said shaking her head.

"I deserve it. If I'd lost you like that I'd be living in a whisky bottle."

"Just because she left you doesn't mean that I'll be coming running back to you," Ruth said accurately.

"If she hadn't stormed out, I'd still have left her."

"I think I know that," she said.

"You think?"

"Fine, I believe that, is what I meant," she edited. "But I need time on my own. Without you confusing every single thing I do." Harry didn't react except for the slight twinkling of his eyes.

"I understand," he said slowly. He reached across the desk for her hand and she allowed him to hold her gently, fingers entwining. "Whenever you're ready, I'll be waiting for you."

"No you won't Harry," she said, but there wasn't any malice there. "You are not a faithful man, and I'm not in the business of changing people, it never works. I'm not saying I've been innocent in this, far, far from it. You have a history of sleeping with whoever is available. You won't wait for me."

"Ruth…"

"I don't expect anything," Ruth said. She let go of Harry's hand and stood up, looking at him sadly. "I'll work on the Iranian links the Americans have given us and give you the report later."

"You do that," he said, watching her leave. He hadn't expected her to fall into his arms but the way she was talking, it was like it was never going to happen. She never expected them to ever make it work, and that wasn't what he wanted. He wanted to be with her because he loved her more than he thought possible. When he met his wife all those years before he thought that was love, and maybe it was. But this with Ruth was more ferocious, fierce and unstoppable. The other women he had slept with behind his wife's back had been lust, attention and simply sex. He never felt for any of them the way he felt for Ruth and she didn't see that. Maybe time would be the answer, he thought to himself. It was all he could give her.


A few weeks later they were alone on the grid late again. Ruth didn't look like she was concentrating on her work particularly. She looked thoroughly miserable. Harry shut his computer down and made sure everything was tied up for the day before leaving his office and locked it behind him. "Are you okay?"

"Not really," she said. "Simon's put our house up for sale. I loved that house. So hard to find an affordable house in London that I liked."

"Your flat?"

"It's a place to lay my head," she said. "Its not really home."

"You seem more upset at losing your house than losing your husband."

"I saw the divorce coming. I never thought he'd sell it though," Ruth said. "I guess it really is over."

"Yes. If its any consolation my kids hate me."

"I bet they hate me as well," Ruth said shaking her head. "Breaking up their parents marriage like that."

"They don't know about you," Harry said honestly.

"Why?"

"Because you don't deserve the hatred you'd get."

"I think I do," she said. "I feel awful whenever I think about it."

"Let me take you home while you wallow in guilt."

"No thank you," she said with a slight smile.

"Its not about us," he said. "Its late, its dark and I don't want you wandering the streets, its not safe."

"I'm a spook, I think I'm able to make it home in one piece."

"I'm sure you could but, for me, for my own peace of mind, let me take you home."

"Fine, but you aren't coming in," Ruth said.

"I'd expect nothing else," he said with that horribly attractive smile. She stood up and slipped her coat on as he watched with a look in his eyes which was slightly less than innocent.

"I mean it."

"I know you do," he said sincerely. They left the grid quietly and he took her home, behaving like a perfect gentleman. Except for the glint in his eyes.


I'm not exactly sure how to bring them together as most people seem to want. I'm sure I'll get there in the next chapter or two, but in the meanwhile hope this satisfies.