H/R? Oh, yes.

:)

Reconciliation: Chapter 25

After he shuts the bedroom door, he makes his way back outside, stepping into the night. He flips open his mobile and makes his first call.

"I don't want to decommission you, Beth," he says, "but make no mistake, I will if I have to. You have 24 hours to be back on the Grid. Not a minute more. Or you will be out of a job." He leaves out the part about his own job being in jeopardy if she fails to do so.

There's a long silence on the other end.

"Again, I'm sorry about what happened." He goes on. "But staying there is not going to bring him back. It will, however, cost you your job. To say nothing of adding fuel to the situation, both internationally and internally. I don't think," he adds more gently, "this is what Kai would have wanted in any way, do you?"

"Somehow," she says quietly, "I feel it's my fault. That I could have..."

"There is nothing further you could have done. You tried. And I know you don't want to hear this, Beth, but it is commendable that you tried."

"Commendable? I failed."

"But you did try. You did all that you could."

"If that were true, I would have saved him."

"He made his own decision. True, not the one you—we—had all hoped for. But his and his alone." He pauses before going on. "And now I need you back here. To be briefed. And to speak the truth—for Kai."

"Beth?"

"I'm on my way," she finally says.

After he ends the call, he looks towards the house. Commendable? He chides himself for his insensitivity. How would he have liked if he had failed with Ruth and someone said commendable? He sighs out loud. The Service, he knows, asks much of his officers. At times too much. From all of them. He sighs again.

This is getting him nowhere, and he knows it. Expertly, he flips his mobile open.

"Harry," Dimitri answers immediately. "How's Ruth?"

"She's resting now. And after she's properly checked out, I expect to be back in the next day or so. In the meantime, I've spoken to Beth who assures me that's she's returning on the next plane. You, in turn, need to assure me that she is. I want her briefed as well when she does so. Last, if the Home Secretary wishes to see her before I get back, which is a distinct possibility, go with her. She needs support. Kai might not be the only victim in this debacle. It isn't only the Chinese who want to exploit this, I'm afraid."

"Politics." Dimitri says.

Yes. Bloody politics. But he says only. "She could use a friend as well."

"I understand, Harry."

"Good." He clears his throat before going on. "Another thing. I want you to get in touch with a Captain Stefanos. He runs a tug, the Argos, between the islands. As you now know, Ruth hitched a ride with him this morning. Find out who was on that run from Cyprus to Crete. We're looking for an American, a young man, late 20's, average build with light eyes and brown hair who goes by the name of Steve. Probably an alias. I want him. " He pauses. "And one other thing. Tell Stefanos that it's for… Jo. "

"Jo?"

"Ruth's alias on the Argos."

"Ok. But what did this guy do?"

"I'll let you know. After you find him." He says grimly.

He hangs up soon after and finally makes his way back inside. The house is quiet, Melia and her husband Petros most likely asleep. Taking a glance down the hall where her room is, he hopes that Ruth is asleep as well.

He yawns. He could do with some shut-eye. But there's the question of where he should sleep. Or even if he should. Plus, if Melia or Petros should find him sleeping on the couch while Ruth is in the bedroom, it will at best, appear odd. On the other hand, Harry reckons, he can just say that he didn't want to disturb his wife. His wife. Unconsciously, his face becomes softer, making him look years younger.

He pauses for a moment. Then he settles into the easy chair next to the couch, putting his feet up on the footstool there. His eyes close. Just for a few minutes. He thinks. Just for a few minutes.

He knows there's a hand on his shoulder. But it's her unmistakable voice which pulls him out of his deep sleep.

"Harry?"

He opens his eyes. In the dim light, he can make out her form standing in front of him.

"What?" He says, then clears his throat. "Are you all right?"

She doesn't answer right away. "What is it?" He says, rising from the chair. "Are you all right?" He asks again, peering at her in the in the dark.

"Harry," she whispers. " It's ok. It's just that it's morning, and I wondered where you were."

Harry looks around incredulously. "Morning?" He looks out towards the window and sees it's true. A fine edge of light is creeping over the horizon.

"Nearly," she says and smiles.

"How are you?" He says again, searching her face. "Really?"

"Better. I slept. But you ..."

"Good. That's good—"

"-You spent the night out here." She finishes.

He drinks her in. She's wearing the same outfit he last saw her in and presumably slept in. Her hair is loose and messy. And she's wrapped back in the shawl. He thinks she's never looked more beautiful. Then he realizes that she's talking to him, and he focuses on what she is saying.

"You need to get some rest, too, you know. Proper rest."

"I'm fine." He says.

"You could have …." She turns her head fractionally towards the bedroom.

"What?"

But she says nothing else.

Neither of them speak for a moment. Then he says, "What time is it? Actually?" He looks down at his watch on his wrist.

"It's time, Harry, for you to bring me to the hospital."