Thanks for the lovely reviews. I'm posting this as soon as I've written it so apologise for any mistakes.
Two days later Harry had been deemed fit to go home much to both of their happiness, as long as he took everything easy. Ruth was anticipating this to be a hard thing for Harry to do, but wanted him out of hospital too badly to argue. He hated how weak he'd become, it exhausted him just standing and walking a few steps and most of all, he hated Ruth seeing him like this. By the time she arrived at his hospital room that morning he was already sitting in his wheelchair and he was looking out of the window. He was drawn into his shell, she could see that already.
"Harry," she said quietly. He didn't turn to look at her. "You know this is temporary," she added. "The chair's just to help you get around. Or alternatively you could stay here in hospital until you can walk properly on your own. Which means you won't be able to go home for several weeks." Still no reaction. Ruth sighed and sat down on the bed, he was facing her but still his eyes wouldn't look at her. "Harry, look at me." She stayed silent for long minutes until he did. He had a steely look in his eyes and she knew that he hated his own helplessness. She reached out and held his hands tightly in her own. "Talk to me."
"Ruth, I can't talk anymore!" he said harshly. "Things I want to say get lost in the sieve of my mind. I can't walk, I can barely stand. What am I supposed to do?" Ruth closed her eyes, trying to calm down. Her losing her temper wasn't going to help matters. She let her hands squeeze his lightly.
"You need to stay calm," she said. "Do you trust me?"
"You know I do," he said in a low voice.
"It will get better," she said as he shook his head. "Harry, it will. You have to give it time. And I know you're not the most patient man on the planet." That was enough to make his lips twitch slightly. She smiled and the sparkling of her eyes was enough to break the tension. "Let me take you home," she whispered quietly. He nodded once as a nurse came in with the discharge forms. He quietly signed them but shook his head as Ruth went to push the chair.
"My arms still work," he said in a low voice. Ruth didn't argue with him and they silently left the hospital.
Getting Harry into her car was the next challenge. He wanted to do it by himself but it became clear relatively quickly that he couldn't manage it. "Stop being so stubborn," Ruth said firmly. He sighed and gripped hold of her hand tightly, to support himself and try and stay upright. He managed to manoeuvre himself into the passenger seat and closed the door with more force than was necessary. Ruth flinched at the loud bang but said nothing as she folded up the chair. "Just in case," as she'd told Harry when they'd had this argument yesterday. She knew he was determined not to use it though.
The silence was getting oppressive by the time she pulled up to Harry's house. She switched the engine off and sighed without moving. "Can you say something?"
"I don't know what to say," he said. "I want to call someone but I… I can't think of her name." She waited. "Tall, dark long hair… she has a daughter."
"Erin?" Ruth asked.
"Yes," Harry said relieved. "When we're inside I'd like to call her."
"Okay," Ruth said trying to hide her surprise. She opened her door and unlocked Harry's front door before trying to help him inside. He quirked an eyebrow as something occurred to him.
"How did you get a…"
"Key?" Ruth finished with a smile. "How long have I worked for you?" Harry nodded and didn't reply. He kept hold of Ruth's arm tightly as he slowly walked inside. Ruth was silently pleased by how he was managing. Apart from cutting off the circulation to her hand he was walking relatively well. He collapsed on the sofa and she saw he looked exhausted by that simple journey. She went into the kitchen and tipped a lightly whisky into a glass, ignoring both the earliness of the hour and the fact he shouldn't be having alcohol with his painkillers.
She handed him the glass and he smiled a small, genuine smile. "I shouldn't," he said.
"Then don't drink it." Ruth looked at her hands for a second, knowing he would. Sure enough when the glass was handed back to her it was empty.
"Thank you."
"So you want to call Erin?" she asked, trying to talk about normal things.
"Yes." Ruth got up and handed him his phone. He found the number for the grid and dialled. Ruth could tell that he wanted privacy, even if he didn't say it. "I'm going to go out. Get some supplies," she whispered while waiting for the call to be connected.
"Thank you," he replied, feeling a spark of electricity as her fingertips brushed the back of his hand. Just as the front door closed Erin answered.
"Are you in the middle of a crisis?" Harry asked quickly.
"No, not presently," she replied. "I would have visited you in hospital but Ruth was always there and I didn't want to intrude. I felt that I'd be in the way.
"That's okay," he said quickly. "I'm not coming back," he added. His mind couldn't find the word resignation so he tried to continue without it. "To the grid I mean. I'm finished with work."
"I know," Erin said quietly. "I guessed. Being stabbed can rearrange your priorities."
"Yes it can." Harry sighed. "There was a box in my desk. Did Ruth…?"
"She took it with her Harry," Erin said quietly. "It isn't here anymore."
Harry swallowed uncomfortably. How was he meant to propose if she had the ring? And he couldn't exactly ask for it back without her working out why he wanted it. "You can clear out my office," he said. "There isn't anything else important to me there."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. Thanks Erin." Harry paused before adding something he'd been thinking about ever since he'd regained consciousness. "About Ruth. Has she…?"
"Has she what?" Erin said completely confused.
"Quit? I just want to know what she's going to do."
"You could always ask her," Erin said slyly.
"Erin."
"I don't know," Erin said. "Although judging by the amount of time she's been spending at your bedside, Towers wouldn't be that surprised if she did."
"Towers," Harry repeated quietly. That was the name he'd been looking for. "Erin, there was something else too. Can you do me a small favour?"
I'm not actually sure what Harry's asking Erin but oh well! Leave a review and I'll try and figure it out...