AN: Kind of a short update, I know, but I hope you enjoy it anyway...

5th August 2011

Beth's wail of sadness is clearly audible across the Grid. "I can't believe you're leaving, Ruth! I can't believe we're not going to see each other every day!" Ruth's last official day on the Grid has arrived, and the usually tough Beth is taking it rather hard. Ruth sighs and pats her friend on the back with one hand as she tries to detach Beth's arms from around her neck with the other. "Beth – I don't anticipate never seeing you again," she half-shouts, exasperated. "It'll just be like us not living together. You managed that alright..."

Dimitri grins cheekily, and leans back in his chair, arms crossed behind his head. "Yeah, with a little help from yours truly," he gloats. Beth rolls her eyes and releases Ruth, much to latter's relief, and starts hunting for something to throw. "Charming as ever, Mr Levendis..." Harry's cultured tones float out across the Grid as he exits his office. Dimitri sits up straight in his chair, blushing a fetching crimson. Reaching Ruth, he cups her face with his palm, and asks, concerned, "Are you feeling alright, darling?"

Ruth stands up on tiptoes and kisses Harry chastely on the lips. "Mmm," she sighs blissfully.

Dimitri frowns slightly at the sight of their analyst entangled with their boss, and asks Beth musingly, "What has he got that I haven't?" Beth grins wryly at the mention of her boyfriend's old crush on Ruth, and points out, "Me." Dimitri turns his head towards Beth and nods, his eyes loving. "Good point..." he murmurs, and kisses her, allowing his arms to slip around her back and draw her closer.

And so it is that Malcolm, Tariq and Alec arrive back on the Grid to the sight of two couples kissing. Malcolm politely averts his eyes, studying the floor near his feet intently. Tariq's eyes widen at the sight of strait-laced Ruth pressed up against her desk, enjoying Harry's attentive ministrations, while Alec announces in mock-severity, "If we've split up into couples, I want to switch!" Aware now that they are being watched, the respective couples break apart. Breathing a little heavier than usual, Harry claps his hands together. "Right, you lot, let's finish up here, and get down to the George."

This announcement is met by general cheers, and a flurry of activity breaks out on the Grid as the team gather together coats and bags, and file last minute reports. Softly, Ruth runs a hand across the top of her computer and glances sadly over her neat and, for once, empty station. She swallows to get rid of the lump in her throat. Harry's eyes soften and he wraps an arm around her waist. Ruth flashes him a grateful smile and enters the pods for the last time.

Harry has managed to commandeer the George's small private parlour, and it is here that Section D relaxes in comfortable chairs, laughing and joking. Ruth is rather quiet and Harry stays close by, a hand buried in her loose hair. At last, Beth stands up and silence falls. Ruth shoots an inquiring glance at Harry and he shakes his head, eyes wide with innocence. Only the slight amused twitch of his lips gives him away. Ruth smirks, and turns her attention towards Beth.

Beth clears her throat, and begins her speech, well-rehearsed in the forgery suite at lunch for a week. "I'd just like to say that we're all really going to miss you, Ruth. You've looked after most of us on our first day, made us coffees, cleaned us up when we've hurt ourselves, been a shoulder to cry on... and given us all a good laugh that time you threatened to bitch-slap your computer." Everyone laughs, and Ruth ducks her head, grinning sheepishly. Beth continues, more serious now. "But more than that, you've been the best bloody intelligence analyst any department could have wished for. The best of colleagues and the best of friends..." Her voice quivers as she forces out these last words, and she has to sit down. Dimitri takes over. "What Beth is trying to say, Ruth, is..." He pauses for a moment, trying to find a word to express the gratitude of the team. At last, he settles for something simple. "Thanks. For everything. Here's to you, Ruth!" Everyone raises his or her glasses and Ruth blushes with pleasure. Tariq dives underneath his seat and pulls out a package, unusually wrapped in a gauzy dark blue length of material, tied neatly. He hands it to Ruth, with a sheepish smile and explains, "This is from us, to you. A little gift to show how much we appreciate you and everything you've done for us..."

Ruth fumbles with the knot on the scarf and then unwinds the material carefully, determined to save it. A large object tumbles into her lap. Picking it up, she discovers that it is a leather-bound edition of the Iliad, which she had discounted as too expensive to buy when she had seen it whilst shopping with Harry a few days previously. She looks up at him in disbelief and he flashes her a smug smile. "Open it," Malcolm suggests. She obeys, and finds that the flyleaf has been covered in messages from the team:

Evershed,

Look after yourself,

Dimitri

Ruth,

Miss you loads,

Beth xx

To Ruth,

Thanks for all your help,

Tariq

Dear Ruth,

Very best wishes for the future

Malcolm

Ruth,

All the best,

Alec

My darling Mule,

With all my love,

H x

Ruth reads the messages – simple words of friendship and love – with her lips slightly parted. When she looks up, the rest of the team can see that her blue eyes are swimming with tears. Never has she felt as much a part of a team as she does now, just when she's leaving. "Oh... you lot..." she sobs half-heartedly, and buries her face in Harry's kindly offered handkerchief.

As the party breaks up, with the team splitting off to find taxis, Ruth pulls Beth aside. "Can you do me a favour?" she asks, eyes shining with the delight of a newly-formed plan.

AN: So what is Ruth up to?