Non-stop workout

Not mine, everything belongs to Kudos, BBC et al…

After glancing at each other they knew their mission. Pushing off from the wall with their now freed arms, Ruth launches herself at Hyde. Harry takes out the woman. Harry and Ruth decide in their solitude before their captors returned that once they learned who had the most fighting experience it would fall to Harry to take on that one, be it Hyde or the woman. Ruth will go into battle with the rock Harry has brought down with him from his trip up the wall.

With all the strength she has, Ruth launches at Hyde's most vulnerable body area, forcing him to double over. Then she bashes the base of his skull with her weapon. Not sure if she's killed him, she knew he wasn't going anywhere but to a hospital or morgue.

Harry meanwhile, uses just one quick twist to the female's neck, to take her out. He has no doubt she is dead. There is no other option he reasons. He looks up to see if Ruth needs his help, and goes to where she stands over the man's body. At the same time CO19 with Beth, Dimitri and Alec come bursting onto the scene. Harry quickly tells Ruth to knell down with her hands behind her head.

As they both do so, the lights from the weapons held by their rescuers come to rest on them. Beth tells the extraction team to stand down. "That's Harry and Ruth. Stand down. Do not fire."

Weapons are lowered. She, Dimitri and Alec go over and help Harry and Ruth stand. "Just in time I take it," said Alec with sarcasm, noticing the two bodies on the ground. "I tried to tell Beth you didn't need our help."

Ruth with a quick return said, "Well we could have used it a little earlier." Then the two set about telling of their adventure. "In the end we did what had to be done," summed up Ruth. Beth managed to pull Ruth to the side and ask if she was "really okay," glancing at Harry. "Ruth if you want me to take you home just says the word."

"No. I'm fine. Everything is fine. I'll stay with Harry."

"If you're sure," said Beth wondering if Ruth suffered Stockholm syndrome.

"She's sure," said Harry coming up behind them, so quietly was his arrival that Beth didn't notice till he spoke. Glancing at both them she could tell matters are settled between the couple, for that is what she sees, a couple.

Harry puts his arm around Ruth and walks her out from where they'd been held captive. As they step into dusk Harry pulls Ruth to him and they kiss. Both know how close they came to losing each other.

After a brief discussion with the team, Harry notices the roadster had been brought to the scene. Not sure if it had been brought by Hyde and his accomplice or the team, he decided it would be the best ride home along the coastline toward the cottage, and he and Ruth climb in. It fires up without hesitation.

"That's my girl."

"Are you talking to me or the car Harry?"

"Well, to be honest, the car. It's always listened to me much better than other females." Not sure if he'd overstepped a boundary, he relaxed when Ruth chuckled saying. "Women have more sense than automobiles," replies Ruth with a smile.

Harry changes the topic. "Think it will be a lovely night for a drive. Are you hungry, we can stop in the village and get something to eat."

"Well I never finished the shopping."

"Then stopping to eat, and then on to home."

Home had such a nice sound to it. If only, thought Ruth.

While both were in need of a shower, they'd decided they were hungrier than dirty and could brave the disapproving looks of a few.

They quickly downed their meal and were back on the roadway. "We'll have a drink when we get to the cottage."

"Harry, do you think we should be thinking about how we are going to handle this situation when we return to the grid?" Ruth asked the question not sure how they should proceed in the future.

"Yes, and I think we should carry on just as we are. We're together. There is no shame." Harry was emphatic about how he wanted to be seen with Ruth in public and private. "We can work this out. We can be together on the Grid and at home."

There was the word home again. It was exciting to Ruth and scary. "It is a big step for us. We've gone from zero to 60 in what relationship time is seconds."

"I would not call eight years seconds. More like an eternity for me." Ruth understands Harry's point.

Ruth can tell Harry is beginning to worry that she will be like a deer spotted by people and dash off away from him into the forest. "Harry, don't worry. I'm not running away. Not this time. There's no boat waiting to carry me away from you. There's no inquiry waiting to take you away from me."

They continue down the roadway. There is a full moon. In spite of what they'd been through that day, the evening seems romantic. Only two spies could say a day of being held as hostages is romantic. They are still making their way toward the cottage. Harry place his arm around her shoulder with one hand on the steering wheel. She reaches over and squeezes his thigh. They were becoming comfortable with each other. Life seems good for now.

As the roadster starts to round a curve, the breaks of the car seem to fail. The steering column isn't responding to directions. Harry has removed his arm from Ruth and is trying to maneuver the vehicle. The car is weaving back and forth. Then suddenly they are careening down an embankment. Both yell. Then everything is black.