Okay, penultimate chapter everyone. I never thought I'd manage to finish this story at all, so thanks to all of you who have stuck with it. I hope you like this slightly longer chapter, and I'll try to write the last one as soon as possible.
"Yes, yes I'm coming" Harry grumbled, obviously annoyed at the very persistent knocking on his front door, even though it had gone midnight.
As he opened the door he was surprised to find a very flushed looking Ruth standing on the other side.
"Ruth, what are you doing here?" He asked as he quickly ushered her inside the house.
"The Home Secretary, he called, and, and he told me.." Ruth stumbled over her own words as she tried to catch her breath.
"Slow down Ruth, and take a deep breath. What on earth could have happened to get you in such a state?" Harry said, looking concerned.
"Towers called me at home," Ruth started again.
"Yes, I think we've established that," Harry replied. He took her hand and led her into the sitting room, motioning to sit down on the sofa. "Now tell me what happened," he said as he took a seat next to her.
"Well, for a few weeks now I've been going through your files, finding out about operations you have taken part in throughout your career, to see if there's anything the committee can use against you during the inquiry. Dimitri has been helping me to gather all the information," Ruth explained.
"I think it's very kind and brave of you and Dimitri, and I'm very touched that you're going through all this trouble for me, not to mention putting your own careers on the line. But I told you that I'm not going to fight this," Harry said.
"The way things are right now, you might not even get a chance," Ruth mumbled.
Harry looked surprised. "Why would you say that?"
"That's what Towers was calling me about. All the research and background checks Dimitri and I have been doing are useless. Apparently they want to use you to set an example, and the inquiry will be a mere public display," Ruth continued. "They will hang you out to dry, Harry, and nobody is going to be able to stop them from doing so."
Harry didn't seem so much surprised, but rather disappointed. "I see. And why would the Home Secretary be telling you all of this in advance?"
"He's always been on your side Harry. From the moment you first got suspended, he urged me to try and find a way to clear your name. And as soon as he found out that we couldn't he contacted me, because he knows that I'm the only one who can persuade you."
Harry raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Persuade me to do what, exactly?"
"To run while you still can. Towers doesn't know exactly when, but he suspects that they will warrant your official arrest in the morning, and by then it'll be to late to flee. They'll alert every major airport, seaport and train station in the country. If you want to get out of here, you'll have to do it now." She looked at him pleadingly. "Please, say that you will go."
He shook his head. "I can't Ruth."
"Why on earth not?" she asked, her voice raised.
"I'm too old for this. I had hoped to retire at some point in the future, and spent my remaining years doing absolutely nothing too thrilling or stressful. Now I know that's never going to happen, but I don't want to spend the rest of my life on the run."
"After I left I didn't have to run," Ruth protested. "My life was simple, and calm, and peaceful."
"Until Mani's men came after you," Harry retorted.
She shook her head. "That doesn't mean the same thing is going to happen to you. At least it's worth a try."
"You do realise that if I go, we'll never be able to see each other again?" He reminded her.
"As long as it can guarantee your safety, it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make," Ruth answered, now practically on the verge of tears.
Harry grabbed her hands and held her tight. "Well I'm not willing to make that sacrifice, not again. Not now that I've finally got you. I can't let you go a second time."
"And I can't just stand back and watch as they drag you off to prison for the rest of your life!" Ruth shouted, pulling back her hands. "There's a good chance they'll leave you in there until you die, do you realise that?"
"At least we'll still be able to see each other occasionally," he said, ignoring her outburst.
"You really think they'd allow me to visit you?" she huffed. "Me, the woman you gave up a state secret for? I can't imagine why they'd let me."
Harry said nothing for a while, whilst carefully considering her last comments. "I'm so sorry to have dragged you into all of this. I have loved you for as long as I can remember, and I've dreamt of us being together for years, but sometimes I wish that Mani's men had never found you."
Ruth shook her head. "Harry, don't say that. Why? You just said that you didn't want to let me go."
"And I don't, ever." Harry continued. "But I do realise that it's incredibly selfish of me to think like that. And I know that your years in Cyprus must have been the happiest of your life."
She moved closer to him again, tears threatening to fall at any moment. "I was happy there, I can't deny that," she said. "But it was always second best, because you weren't there with me".
"But George gave you everything I never could; a quiet life, a family".
"Yes, and I loved all of that, but I would have loved it more if it had been with you," she said, cupping his cheeks with her hands. "I often dreamed of living that life with you".
"And is that still what you want?" he asked. "Because you know that I can't give that to you."
"Up until a few years ago, maybe," she answered. "But I've changed, I'm older now, and these are no longer the things that I want. All I really want is to be with you."
"But no matter if I run away or stay here, that's not going to happen now. So what's the point in running?" Harry said.
"At least if you go, I might be able to find you again later. We could have a chance, if we're lucky. But if you stay here it'll be a lost cause. So I'm begging you please, Harry, just go."
Harry put his head in his hands and sighed. "After all these years, with the amount of training I've had, and I have no idea where to starts. Say I do leave, where will I go?"
Ruth opened her bag and retrieved a big envelope. "I got you a bunch of passports, and some money to get you started. Once you're on your way you'll know where to go, trust me."
"How did you get the passports without going through the official channels?" Harry asked as he accepted the envelope.
"Malcolm," Ruth answered.
Harry grinned, in spite of the seriousness of the situation. "I should have guessed."
He suddenly pulled her close, enveloped her in a big hug and kissed the top of her head. "Alright then, I will go."
Ruth played with Scarlet for a bit, whilst nervously glancing at the clock every two seconds. Harry had gone upstairs to pack the bare necessities. She was glad that she had finally been able to persuade him to leave, but at the same time she was absolutely terrified. All the worst case scenarios of things that could possibly go wrong were going through her mind. And even if he did manage to get himself to safety, she was afraid that she wouldn't be able to cope without him. She knew it was selfish to think like that, but after all they'd been through over the years, the thought of losing him again was almost unbearable.
After about fifteen minutes she heard him coming down the stairs, and soon he appeared in the doorway, carrying a black holdall.
"Ready to go then?" Ruth asked as she got up, lifting Scarlet up off the floor as she went. Normally the dog would be too enthusiastic and squirmy to be picked up, but even the little Jack Russell seemed to sense the gravity of the situation and kept perfectly still.
Harry took a deep breath. "As ready as I'll ever be, I suppose."
He stepped out into the hallway, and returned moments later wearing his coat. He scratched Scarlet behind her ears lovingly. "Now you be a good girl for Ruth," he told the little dog, who had started to lick his hand enthusiastically.
Ruth tried to stifle a sob, and failed miserably. Harry pulled her close, and she buried her face in his chest.
"Hey, don't cry," he whispered, trying to soothe her. "As soon as I get myself to safety I'll find a way to contact you, I promise. We'll see each other again very soon."
She looked up at him, her clear blue eyes brimming with unshed tears. "I'm gonna hold you to that."
She reached up and, placing one hand on his cheek, kissed him hard. He responded to the kiss immediately, knowing full well that it would be the last one for a very long time to come. For a moment they were suspended in time, neither of them wanted the kiss to end, because they knew they'd have to part their ways after that. But all too soon the kiss did come to an end, and even Harry had tears in his eyes now, which he didn't bother to wipe away.
They walked to the door, and after they were sure that nobody was watching them, Harry stepped outside.
"Please be careful Harry," Ruth said.
"I will," he said. "I love you."
"I love you too," she replied.
He quickly kissed her one last time, and then walked off without looking back.
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