I forgot to mention that from Thursday I am away from home, so away from internet access until Monday next week. I don't know how much of this will get written before then, but here's the next chapter.

The doctor came into the room, flicking through the sheaf of papers she carried. She sat down behind her desk as Ruth looked on nervously.

"Well," the doctor started but before she could say anything else Ruth interrupted.

"Please don't start talking medical to me, just do it in plain English, quick and fast, so I don't get anymore worked up than I already am."

"I'm sorry," the doctor replied. Ruth closed her eyes as she felt the disappointment run through her. "Its not impossible that you'll conceive just…"

"Very unlikely," Ruth finished accurately, nodding her head even when she felt like crying. "I'm never going to be a mother am I?" she asked.

"I can't answer that for you," the doctor replied. "All I can tell you is that all the tests we ran show that your fertility potential is very low. It isn't impossible but your age doesn't help. It isn't in your favour.

"You know how to kick a girl when she's down," Ruth said, sadly looking at the desk.

"There are other options if you want to start a family," the doctor started. Ruth shook her head.

"Thank you but no," Ruth said. "I can't. Thank you for your time." She got up and left the doctors surgery feeling flat. She had wanted to get checked because it had been months and nothing had happened. She knew that Harry and herself weren't exactly the youngest parents in the world, but to be told it was never going to happen was heartbreaking. She had been walking down the street completely oblivious to where she was going when her phone started to ring. She brushed her tears aside and looked. It was Adam. "Yes?" Ruth sighed as he began to describe the latest problem. He finished with a "where the hell is Harry?"

"Don't call him," Ruth said firmly. She did not want him interrupted from the hospital. She had no idea how long he'd be but she wasn't going to be the one to tear him away from his newborn child, especially as it now looked likely there would never be another one.

"But we need Harry to get into contact with the Americans.

"No, I'll do it," Ruth said getting into her car to head back to Thames House, all the while staying on the phone.

"You need his protocols Ruth."

"I know that," she replied turning the engine on. "I've been sleeping with him for nine months, do you really think I don't have his codes?" Adam didn't bother to reply to that, trying not to think of the horribly vivid images going through his mind of Harry and Ruth in bed together. Ruth hung up and drove as fast as possible to Thames House.

Harry came back onto the grid to silence. Everyone had gone home except for Adam who was stopping off at the American embassy and Ruth who was typing viciously. She stopped when she heard the pods whirr and got up when she saw him. She gave him a gentle kiss and enjoyed the feel of his thumbs caressing her waist.

"How did it go?" Ruth asked. "I'm sorry I didn't call, I got distracted hacking into the US networks." Harry raised an eyebrow but didn't comment on her work ethic by spying on an ally of the UK.

"Healthy baby boy," Harry said briefly. "Jamie Thompson," he added. He couldn't help the small smile that spread over his face at that and Ruth felt as if her heart was being shredded as he looked at her. She covered it with a smile. "We'll know in a few days," Harry said. "Whether he's mine. I told the doctor to call me no matter what time of day or night."

"Of course you did," Ruth said with a smile. "Did you get pictures?" Harry's face paled as if that thought hadn't occurred to him.

"I never even thought about a camera," Harry said in wonder.

"You're hopeless," she said, genuine humour lighting up her face this time.

"His eyes… they look like yours, funnily enough," Harry admitted to her, his own face shining with happiness. "That knowing bright blue." Ruth felt herself go cold but didn't say anything.

"Have you eaten?" she asked, changing the subject with ease. "I haven't and I don't know about you but I'm starving." He shook his head and kissed her again before she picked up her coat and they left the grid together.

"No…" Ruth groaned sleepily as the phone rang. Her head was resting on Harry's chest and she was wonderfully warm and didn't want to move. She felt a Harry shaped hand stroke her bare back as he shifted to answer the phone.

"Yes?" he said in a gruff voice. "Okay," Harry said after a moment and logic caught up with Ruth. It would be the DNA results, because unless it was a grid related emergency, no one else would call at this time of night. Harry had threatened a massive NHS health cut if they didn't call as soon as the test results came in, which was the result of the late night / early morning call.

"Yes, James Thompson," Harry said as his free hand entwined in Ruth's hair. She looked up at him, biting her lip anxiously. His facial expression gave nothing away, even to her who knew him so well. "Thank you," Harry said ending the call and putting the phone aside.

"Well?" she asked.

"Jamie's mine," he said quietly. She felt her heart sink but nodded in silence as Harry let it sink in.

"For you, I'm glad," she said honestly. "You won't get to experience the joy of having a newborn child in your life again."

"Hey, just because it hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't," Harry said reassuring her, pointlessly.

"No it won't happen," she said. Harry looked at her with a mix of curiosity and worry. "You were busy, with Jamie being born and the Americans throwing their weight around so I didn't tell you, but I had some tests done, just to check everything was as it should be. It turns out that it's very unlikely that I'll ever conceive a child."

"You should have told me," Harry said in his deathly quiet voice. "I am never too busy for you. How could you not tell me?"

"Because if Jamie had turned out not to be your son, you would have lost the possibility of two children in one week," Ruth said. "I couldn't do that to you."

"You care about me too damn much," Harry said pulling her in for a tight hug as she sobbed quietly against him. When her tears had been spent she dried her face and looked at Harry through slightly watery eyes.

"I'd like to meet James," she said quietly. "At some point, I'd like to spend some time with your son." Harry nodded. Of course she could. Frankly he was amazed that she would want to. She was an amazing woman, he had already known that.

"I love you," he whispered into her ear before kissing her gently. "So much," he added. "So very much."

I have mental images of my lovely and loyal reviewers priming shotguns for me! Sorry! Don't hate me too much!