Sorry for the delay in updating, and thanks for all the reviews and feedback. Probably two more chapters to go after this. Apologies for the sweary words in this one.

Friday

Even from several yards away Alec could see a difference in him. His back was straighter, his pace brisker, and his face, shorn of stubble, had lost the sharp angles and deep hollows. He headed over to the bench, brushed ineffectually at the little pools of rainwater, and sat down, envying Harry his ubiquitous long wool coat as he did so.

Scarlet reached him first, and he lunged forward to pat her at arms length before she could jump up and decorate his jeans with pawprints.

'Hello, Alec. Happy New Year.'

'You too.' The two men shook hands then Harry sat down beside him.

'Haven't seen you for a while. How have things been?'

Alec knew he wasn't enquiring after his health, or wondering if Santa had been good to him. 'The JIC met yesterday. They've agreed to appoint a new Section Head.'

Harry pursed his lips. 'Good, good. And...?'

'They thanked me for stepping into the breach in the interim.'

'Ah. I'm sorry.'

'Don't be. It was never on the cards anyway. I'm hardly a poster boy for the Establishment, am I?'

Harry looked amused. 'And I was?'

'Um, Home Counties, boarding school, Oxbridge, Army. We're not exactly talking boy from the wrong side of the tracks, are we?'

'Well, when you put it like that...So who's name's in the frame, do you know?'

'Hal Weatherby.'

Harry started. 'Hugo's son?'

'Yup. Do you know him?'

Harry considered. 'It's years since I last saw him. His background is the civil service not the security services, so I don't know... He's not got his father's brains but he's a grafter, and from what I've heard of him he's a decent bloke.' He paused to hurl Scarlet's ball towards the copse.

'A decent bloke. Well, he's gonna have a helluva steep learning curve.'

'Do you think you'll stay?'

'Dunno. Haven't made my mind up yet. So, come on.' Alec slapped his hands on his thighs. 'Who's the lucky lady?'

'What lucky lady?'

'Oh, come off it, Harry. Last time I saw you, you were a mess. Not eating, not sleeping, face full of fuzz. And now you look much more like your old self so I can only assume you're getting some.'

'Eloquently put.'

'Come on, spill.'

Harry was all too aware that it wouldn't take Alec long to find out. 'Sally Chapman.'

'Sally Chapman?' Alec looked at him. 'Our Sally Chapman?'

'The one and the same.'

'You jammy bastard. Christ, I phoned her cos I thought she might be able to sort your head out. I never thought...isn't that against some oath or other, shagging your patients?'

'I'm not her patient,' said Harry mildly. 'I haven't been since I got fired. Anyway, she came to see me as an old friend, not in any professional capacity.'

'So things are going well then? With the two of you?'

Harry was unable to prevent a bashful smile stealing across his features. 'Very well,' he admitted. 'It...yeah.'

'Wow. Well, I'm glad to see you're back on the horse. As it were,' he added hastily, seeing Harry's expression. 'And on that happy note, I'd best get back to the Grid. Given the news about Weatherby I take it you'd like me to tell the team about your cunning plan?'

He squinted up at him. 'What cunning plan?'

'The smear campaign.'

'Oh.' Harry's face clouded over. 'It doesn't really matter any more. Tell them whatever you like.'

'Well, that went well,' said Ruth sarcastically.

Alec looked up. 'Did you want something, or did you just come in to bust my balls?'

'There's no need to be crude. But I do think you could have handled it better...'

'Oh do you, Ruthie?' He eased back in his chair. 'Well, how exactly would you have handled it?'

'I wouldn't have had them feeling stupid for believing you and bad for not believing in Harry.'

He splayed his fingers. 'Not sure that answers my question.'

'What you said to me the other day would have been better.'

'Ohh, so I do get it right sometimes then? My god. Praise indeed.'

'I didn't say you got it right, I said it would've been better.'

Alec rolled a coin up and down his knuckles. 'They might feel a bit silly now, but they're big boys and girls; they'll get over it. Christ, anyone would think it was you guys whose names got dragged through the mud, not Harry's. I'm just surprised that he thought you of all people would be taken in.'

Ruth took a step nearer him. 'He thought what?'

Alec shrugged. 'That's the impression I get. He wasn't fussed about whether I came clean or not, which kind of implies that as far as he's concerned the damage is done. While he wanted you all to believe it he was disappointed that you did. Fuck knows why; he's done plenty in his time that he's ashamed of.'

'No. No, you're wrong. He knows me better than that.'

Alec was saved from responding by the phone on his desk ringing. He glanced at the display. Towers. He frowned.

By the time he hung up, Ruth's desk was in darkness. She had gone.