At work they spent the next two weeks setting up for Adam to follow an illegal immigrant trail from Turkey to the UK. It seemed that Muhammad Yazd ,the founder of an AQ splinter group was going to use this network to get into the UK. Adam was going to follow him. It was dangerous, risky but Adam was determined. The trail was being sponsored by a Middle Eastern prince, which meant that it started to get political. Which meant Ruth had to deal with Juliet's presence on the grid, much to her chagrin.

Adam had been on the truck for two hours by the time Ruth felt she needed a break from the witch breathing down her neck all bloody day. She went up to the roof for some fresh air. The truck wouldn't be stopping for another hour, and Zaf was following it too, which meant she wouldn't be missed for ten minutes or so. What shocked her was the speed that Harry came up to the roof after her. She'd barely looked over the sky line and he was next to her.

"Are you alright?"

"I don't like that woman," she said forcefully. "I hate that she's here."

"No, I meant…"

"I know what you meant," she said, her eyes blazing angrily. "Please don't make me regret confiding in you."

"Juliet won't be here long," Harry said, moving to slightly safer ground. "Its just until Adam comes back to the UK."

"I know," Ruth said. "It doesn't mean I have to enjoy her presence here."

"I'm sure you don't," he said. He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her neck gently. She smiled at the touch and then became distracted as her phone rang. Harry kept his arms around her as she fished in her pocket and got the phone out.

"Yes?" Ruth said quickly. He could tell that the conversation was serious because her body went stiff. "No, that's fantastic," Ruth said quickly. "Absolutely. Yes, I'll be down there to sign tonight. Thank you very much. Goodbye." Ruth stood stock still as she absorbed the information.

"Ruth?"

"Someone wants to buy my house," she said, smiling widely at him as she turned around. "In a weeks time, if all goes well, I'll have the money in my account. Wow."

"That's brilliant," Harry said sincerely. "I get to wake up next to you everyday from now on."

"You've been doing that anyway," Ruth said tartly. "I guess I really do live with you now." She smiled and looked so happy that Harry couldn't help but kiss her deeply and passionately. His hands started going under the heavy fabric of her coat and underneath her blouse, cold fingers teasing her warm flesh. Ruth was thrilled. This was the first time that he had initiated any sort of contact between them in weeks. His right hand went higher and squeezed her breast gently when they were interrupted. The door to the roof banged open and Harry didn't let her go, but he did move his hands to a much more respectable position. He turned and saw Malcolm, much to his surprise.

"What is it?"

"Zaf's about to call in and Juliet wants you back on the grid," Malcolm said calmly. "I thought it best that I find you rather than her."

"Very wise," Ruth said under her breath making Harry chuckle.

"We'll be right down," he said to Malcolm. The techie turned and went back down as Harry planted a lingering kiss to Ruth's lips. "We'll continue this later. At home."

"Mm," she said. "I look forward to it." Still with that slightly wicked smile on her face, she led the way back to the grid, leaving Harry slightly stunned and wishing the day would pass exceedingly quickly.

Ruth came in last that night. She'd been down to the estate agents who had required her signatures on several documents. Harry had sat down on the sofa and was enjoying his whisky, a smile on his face when Ruth came in. "Why do you look so happy?" Ruth asked, sitting next to him. "We had a foreign prince assassinated on our soil."

"Because none of it was my fault," he said taking a fortifying sip of whisky. "It was all Juliet's who will be facing some very awkward questions at Downing street right now."

"You're crowing," Ruth said, smiling. "A man died and you're crowing."

"Well, that was regrettable," Harry said. "I wouldn't have wished him dead at all, but I am exceedingly glad Juliet's getting the blame."

"Will she resign?" Ruth asked .

"No." Harry said firmly. Ruth frowned at him. "I told her not to. I said that whatever happens neither one of us should ever resign. Next time it might be my job on the line. It'd be nice to have her in my corner if it came down to it."

"Hm," Ruth said.

"That was a loaded Hm," Harry said.

"Why?" Ruth asked, leaning against his body on the sofa as his arm draped over her. "She caused a member of a royal family to be murdered. Let her resign."

"She has the best interests for the country," Harry said. "In spite of the fact that I disagree with her, she's British to the core. And I think it would be very unlikely that she could be bought either. Better the devil you know. God knows who could fill her post if she does leave."

"That's true," Ruth said. "It might be another woman you had an affair with."

"Ruth…"

"I'm just bitter and pissed off that I have to see her most days at work," Ruth said shaking her head. "You should ignore me."

"How did it go at the estate agents?" Harry asked, changing the subject.

"I no longer own my house," Ruth said smiling.

"That's great," he said holding her tight. "You have to put up with me now."

"I think I can manage that," Ruth said with a smile. Harry quickly put his whisky down, and then pushed her into the sofa cushions, lying on top of her. He kissed her deeply and felt her sigh happily into the embrace. "I love you."

"Mm," he said, kissing her neck as his hands went to her blouse buttons. "I love you too."

6 months later

Ruth stood up and watched in horror as Harry was guarded as he forcibly left the grid. Once the pods whirred shut around him and he was out of sight the silence was oppressive. Until Juliet's heels clicked on the floor and everyone turned to look at her. Ruth felt a level of loathing towards her which she never had before. "He's not allowed contact with anyone from this section until his suspension is over. One way or another."

"We live in the same house," Ruth said bluntly. Juliet stared at her and for the first time Ruth appreciated that this woman didn't like her, just as much as she hated Juliet.

"Not this week you don't," Juliet said harshly. "He's in a safe house."

"That's not fair," Adam said, quickly coming to Ruth's defence. "You can't just kick him out of his house."

"Its done," Juliet said quickly. "Meeting room in five minutes." Ruth knew that everyone was looking at her but she ignored them. She sat at her desk and started venting her frustration out on her keyboard instead. Soon enough the noise levels kicked up and everyone went back to work, collecting files to try and come up with a solid plan to find Lewis Khurvin.

Ruth opened her front door feeling so alone. She'd so rarely been here without Harry and it felt wrong and lonely. She'd only gone ten hours without him and she missed him already. She leaned against the door, needing a few minutes to gather her courage and face an empty house. Before she could even move there was a knock on her door. Opening it she saw Zaf briefly. Before she could say anything, he handed her a small parcel and then left without saying a word, just with a brief smile on his face. Ruth closed the door quickly, so that anyone watching her wouldn't see (and she knew she had people on her. She'd been a spook for too long not to notice). She went through to the kitchen and opened it. There was a letter and a mobile phone. She turned to the letter first

Ruth,
You will be being watched, so be careful. I'm guessing you already know that. After all, you are brilliant. The phone is untraceable and it connects to one I have. Thank Zaf for being our delivery boy. As long as the alarm hasn't been tripped, they won't have planted bugs in the house, so we should be okay to talk. I can't wait to hear from you. Sorry I left so abruptly. I didn't think they'd actually kick me out. Find Khurvin. He's the solution to this mess, I can feel it. Look after Scarlet for me. Hope to speak to you soon. Love you, Harry.

Ruth got the phone out of its box and put the fresh SIM card into the phone. Then she took it upstairs and went into the bathroom. She ran the taps, just in case a bug had been planted to cover the noise of the call, and dialled through to the pre-programmed number. It only rang once and he picked up. "Hold on." She heard something which sounded like a door being locked and then the same trick she was using, running a shower. "How are you?"

"How are you?" Ruth asked. That was the most important thing. After all, he was the one who'd been kicked out of his office and his home all in one day.

"I'm okay," he said. "Really. I'm pissed off more than anything else. How dare they march me from my office for one bad judgement call."

Ruth smiled as this was the Harry she was used to. "The CIA have sent over some photos. They are very angry."

"Photo's of what?" Harry asked.

"Khurvin at a fist of Islam training camp," Ruth said. "From the two week gap we knew about. I don't believe for a second they're genuine but Malcolm's had a look at them, and he's convinced."

"You don't want to believe they're genuine," Harry corrected. "You're so loyal to me Ruth, I don't know if I deserve you."

"No you don't," she said firmly. "I could tell that the instant I met you." Harry laughed and it was so good to hear. "Are you okay?"

"Yes," he said. "I miss you and I really want to go to bed with you next to me, but yes I am okay."

"We're working on it," Ruth said. "Its bloody cruel to keep us apart like this."

"I know," Harry said. "I hate it just as much as you do." Silence bloomed across the phone line interrupted only by the cascading water on both ends. "Ruth, I love you. Whatever happens."

"What happens, is we sort out the mess and you get reinstated," Ruth said firmly.

"Will you love me if I lose my job?" he asked, needing an honest answer to the question.

"You're not going to."

"Ruth, please answer the question," Harry said in a low voice.

"Harry, I don't love you because you're head of section D. I don't love you because you work at MI5. I love you because of the man you are. Your job isn't who you are. Although I do like working with you."

"Thank you," he said sincerely. "I needed to hear that."

"You're welcome," she said. Then she lost her concentration because there was a whining and scratching at the bathroom door.

"Have you been ignoring my dog?" Harry asked, a smile in his voice.

"Yes," Ruth said. "I'll go and walk her now."

"Bye."

"Talk to you tomorrow night," Ruth promised. She knew Harry was nodding, even without seeing him.

"Bye." Ruth disconnected the call, removed the SIM and the battery before turning the taps off and opening the door to see a very eager dog. "Come on then girl," Ruth said, determined to distract herself from Harry's possible demise.

"Oh for Gods sake Juliet, have a heart!" Adam shouted at her. She was seated behind Harry's desk and Ruth wasn't the only one who hated this turn of events. "I went to see if he was okay. After thirty years of service to be unceremoniously booted out after one mistake! Its hardly fair."

"You're in line for his job you know," Juliet said with a raised eyebrow. "Be careful."

"You think I'd take his job out from under him do you?" Adam questioned.

"It's a promotion Adam. You should be pleased. Unless you're concerned about the reaction of the wide eyed naïve analyst out there."

"Don't talk about Ruth that way."

"What is it that this woman seems to have over everyone?" Juliet asked, genuinely confused. "She seems to command loyalty, respect and everyone seems to like her even though she's such a mouse."

"She's a decent person, although I do understand if the concept is a foreign one to you."

"Adam, I realise that since the loss of your wife…"

"Don't talk about Fiona," Adam said harshly.

"Shall we just concentrate on Khurvin?"

"Lets," Adam said, his eyes on fire. He left Harry's office (it would always be Harry's office no matter who sat in it) and almost literally bumped into Ruth. "I can't stand that woman."

"Me neither," she said. "What did she say?"

"She offered me Harry's job," Adam said before thinking of his audience. "Don't worry, he'll be back here soon."

"You could take it," Ruth said quietly. "If he doesn't come back. You'd be a good substitute."

"Thanks Ruth," he said with a smile. "That means a lot coming from you." She smiled tightly. "I have a break in to plan."

"You do," she agreed. She sat behind her desk and started monitoring surveillance, her heart heavy.

Harry had been swiftly reinstated once it became clear that the CIA were in it up to their necks. It had become clear that the fault wasn't Harry's. So Ruth rushed home, as fast as she could, wishing the taxi would hurry up. She'd been taking public transport to work, as Harry usually drove her in. As it rounded the corner to her house she smiled. The lights were on. Harry was home. Either that or a rather stupid burglar. Ruth doubled the fare and handed the money over, hurrying inside. She'd barely shut the door and Harry had pounced on her kissing her deeply and fantastically.

"God Harry," she breathed when she could drag air back into her lungs again. "I've missed you terribly."

"I know," he growled in response, his hands sliding under her skirt, squeezing her thighs. "You're wearing stockings," he whispered as his hand suddenly found bare flesh, biting her earlobe.

"Mm," she said with a grin. "I heard you'd been forgiven so I went shopping. I wanted a memorable evening."

"Mm," he purred in her ear. "I need to see you. Now."

"Do you think we can make it upstairs or not?" she breathed.

"No," he said as he licked her neck. "I can't wait." she smiled, because the honest answer was she couldn't either.

Half an hour later Ruth found herself lying on the floor in the lounge. Harry reached for a blanket on the back of the sofa and draped it over them. "In case it wasn't clear by that greeting, I'm pleased to see you," Ruth said with a smile.

"I gathered that," Harry said stroking her gently. "I'm glad I'm home."

"So am I. And I'm glad you'll be back in your office soon. I hated seeing the witch there."

"Well she's been sent back to where she belongs. An office in Whitehall."

"Mm," Ruth agreed. Her hands started wandering and for the moment, they both forgot about talking. Other things were more important.

Thanks for the reviews. Series 5 is fast approaching...