I imagine this to take place after Harry is threatened with the enquiry.
"No," Ruth said firmly. She was watching Harry who was sitting behind his desk in his office. Everyone else had left the grid and, as usual they were the only two left.
"They are going to hang me out to dry," he began slowly. "Let me retire. Let me leave with my head held high."
"I will do no such thing," Ruth said trying hard to refrain from shouting.
"Ruth…"
"No!" she said loudly. "Do you know what they will do if you retire? Have you even thought about it? I was called into the DG's office today to discuss the latest situation in our department. He dropped some very heavy handed hints that if you left, I would be seriously considered as the next section head."
Harry had not expected that. He raised his eyebrows and thought hard for a moment or two. "Would that be such a bad thing?"
"Harry!" Ruth shouted, shocked. "Yes it would be a bad thing."
"Why?" Harry asked, his mouth twitching with a barely concealed smile.
"Because," Ruth started and then she came to a stalling point. "That's your job," she finished lamely. "And I don't have your appreciation for whiskey."
"Ruth, remember Cotterdam?"
"I'm not likely to forget it am I?" Ruth said trying to skate over the painful memory.
"You knew," Harry said quietly. "You knew that there was a drop even when I told you to forget it. Even when I told you that you were wrong."
"But I wasn't wrong," Ruth said smiling.
"No. You weren't," Harry said. "You also weren't wrong when you decided to put Lucas under surveillance."
"I wish I had been."
"Your instincts are always right Ruth," he said calmly. "I can think of no one else who could handle being section head the way you could." There was a heavy silence which Ruth tried to break.
"Well it's all academic because you're not leaving," Ruth said. "And even if you did I could never do what you do."
"You could Ruth," he said.
"Fine maybe I could, but I wouldn't," she replied. "I wouldn't come into work everyday knowing…. Knowing that you wouldn't be here."
"I'll be leaving anyway," Harry said. "Even if I wanted to stay they'll find a way to get rid of me."
"Since when were you one to give up on a fight?" Ruth asked, her blue eyes twinkling.
"I'll tell you what," Harry said. "I won't give up the fight if you go out to dinner with me. Tonight. Now. Before you can think about it and change your mind."
"That sounds like a very good idea," Ruth said, unable to stop smiling as they both left his office together.
This is one of my favourites. Hope you enjoyed it. More to come soon.