Monday – Still 4 days left until the game!
"Right, are we ready to begin?" Harry stood at the end of the table, palms firmly flat on the surface. He watched as his team made noises that vaguely assembled 'hmm' and 'yeah', but he wasn't too sure. "I've called you all in for a quick ten minute chat because Juliet has so kindly handed me more information about the upcoming weeks in regards to our charity work."
This was greeted with more groans and unhappy mumbling.
"I know it's not ideal," Harry continued, "but the five a side women's event was announced last night."
Zaf snapped his head up from the table so quickly he nearly gave himself whiplash.
"What do they have to do?" He asked eagerly.
Ros sniggered.
"Hopefully it involves tying up annoying agents and severely torturing them?"
Harry chuckled.
"I'm afraid not Ros, but I've been told it's five a side hockey for the ladies."
Adam and Zaf gave each other an exaggerated high five. Ruth just looked mortified.
"I've also been told that every female on section D has to participate as we are quite short on numbers." Harry risked a glance at Ruth before wisely deciding to change the subject. Jo looked like she was about to burst with excitement.
"Moving on," Harry said, breathing deeply as he turned over a sheet of paper on the table. "I have also been informed that our last training session before Friday's game is tomorrow evening, same place and time. Although this charity event is to help others in need, I do ask that we all keep our minds on the job in hand, which is of course protecting this country."
Harry straightened himself up and started to stretch himself out.
"You're all free to go."
Harry watched as his chattering spooks all tried to bundle themselves out of the meeting room door at once, and tried not to laugh at the state they were all getting themselves to over the charity work. He turned his head back to the meeting table, expecting it to be empty and unoccupied.
"Ruth," he exclaimed in mild surprise. "Is everything ok?"
He took her nervous silence and wringing of hands as a definite no. He closed the meeting room door and sat down softly in the seat next to hers.
"Ruth," he tried again.
"I don't want to do it Harry," she mumbled into her lap.
He covered her fidgeting hands with his own, and if he was shocked by his actions he didn't show it.
"I know it's not your ideal Ruth, just like the idea of playing football with men who are significantly younger than me, well, maybe not Malcolm but you get my point."
Ruth giggled slightly and looked up to meet his gaze.
"I've never been really good at sports though."
"Even if you're as bad at sports as I am, it won't make me love you any le..." He trailed off, his features absorbing the shock his statement had just created. "I mean, it doesn't matter if you're good at sports or not, it's the taking part and helping out others that matters. Heaven knows you're good at that Ruth."
-x-
"I can't believe that we were given such a good sport to play, I would have cried if they'd given us netball." Jo had been jabbering on about Harry's news ever since she had returned to her desk. She'd loved sports ever since she had been little, and had even been in her college hockey team. She saw it as an opportunity to be superior to Ros in something for once.
-x-
"At least I have a stick to hit people with," Ros spoke with slight humour in your voice.
"You are you going to hit first then Ros?" Adam smiled as Ros contemplated her answer.
"Anybody that gets in my way."
Her response was met with a howl of laughter.
-x-
"So what do you think?" Fiona was perched on the edge of Sam's desk.
"I think it's about time we show the boys how it's done."
Fiona tilted her head to one side.
"Perhaps, but football is really a lads sport. Hockey's a weird one for them to choose."
Sam laughed.
"Who cares, it'll be a laugh. Besides, how many proper lads are there on section D?"
Fiona put her hands up in mock surrender.
"To be honest I don't think our hockey team will fare much better, not with Ros as captain."