Monday, September 10th, 1984 - 140 Gower Street
By the time Monday comes around, Ruth's heart is feeling fuller than it has done in years. The weekend has been even more fun than the days leading up to it, and they've all had a wonderful time. The weather had cooperated and they'd taken a trip to the beach, played a lot of rather exuberant board games, went to the cinema, and generally had as good a time as was humanly possible. Harry had been very engaged with the children and seemed calmer and more content than she'd ever seen him. It had been a pleasure to watch, and when the children had gone home last night, had lead to one of the best nights of passion either of them had ever known.
They'd arrived together this morning in Harry's car that she'd driven, as she's been doing since he came home from the hospital, but no one seems to have thought anything of it. Perhaps it's because she's the newbie and, therefore, the person Harry would be most likely to ask for assistance, with him being Section Chief. Or perhaps they'd all been far too happy to have Harry back to notice or question whom he arrived with and why.
He'd been greeted very warmly by everyone, which had pleased him no end though, of course, he did his best to hide this from them all, effortlessly adopting his Grid persona the moment he'd entered the building. He'd kissed Ruth softly before they'd exited his car, drawing the kiss out as long as possible, knowing it would be the last one for some time. Even if everyone on the Grid had already known about them, he wouldn't have been able to kiss her there; they've already agreed to keep their interaction at work within the boundaries of professionalism. Work is work, in his mind, and his Grid persona essential to his ability to function as a leader in the murky world of espionage, not to mention its importance for Ruth too, so she's not seen as being the recipient of any kind of special treatment or favouritism from him. It wouldn't do either of them any good in the long run, and luckily for him, Ruth seems to agree.
The moment they'd stepped onto the Grid and after he'd been swamped by well-wishers, been teased a little, and had his crutch admired, saying a friend had designed it for him – knowing that admitting it had been Ruth would have raised an awful lot of questions that she wasn't ready to deal with just yet – he'd been accosted by Reynolds, who'd expressed his pleasure at having him back and in one piece before inviting him into his office.
Reynolds had told him he needs to visit the medical officer before he can begin work, insisting that he do that this morning, before promptly moving on to discussing the current ops, as if the medical clearance he needed was just a formality and something he didn't really care about in the slightest. He'd missed this, he'd realised in the middle of their conversation on how to use their various assets and agents most effectively to counteract the various threats that had reared their ugly head since his medical leave began.
"Very few people know this at the moment, Harry, and I know I can be assured of your discretion," Jack had said then, seemingly out of the blue. "I'm moving over to Six in the new year and I want you to replace me here." Harry had been momentarily speechless, so he'd continued, "You're a first rate agent, whose dedication, experience, quick thinking, and strong leadership few can rival, but let's face it - you're getting old, Harry. You've already got a dodgy knee, and who knows what new challenges you'll face as a result of these injuries? I'd like to put your name forward for my post, Harry. I know I couldn't leave the section in better hands."
"Thank you, Sir," Harry had finally managed to reply, "for your trust and your faith in me. I have been thinking a lot over the past week, and I too feel that it is time for me to move behind a desk. I'd be honoured to accept such a promotion."
"Excellent. Excelllent, "Reynolds had practically beamed. "I'll suggest you and I'm sure you'll make the short list. You should be called to an interview soon. Better start preparing... Right, well, if there's nothing else?"
"Actually, Sir," Harry had seized the opportunity, "there is one thing," and he'd placed the S24 on the table.
"Ruth Evershed?" Reynolds had murmured, his eyebrows lifting in surprise. "Our new analyst?"
"Yes," Harry had nodded.
"That's rather… quick, isn't it?"
"It is and it isn't, Sir," Harry had attempted to explain. "We first met years ago, on holiday, but never exchanged contact details, something we both regretted later, so our current relationship is something we both desire very much."
"She's more than ten years your junior, Harry," Reynolds had frowned, "and you may very well be her boss soon. I would be remiss if I didn't ask how serious this relationship is for both of you, especially with you seeking promotion. There will be questions asked when this becomes known, Harry, make no mistake about it."
"I know, Sir," Harry had nodded. "That is why I am telling you now."
"And?"
"I can only speak for myself," he'd murmured, "but it's serious, Sir. I intend to marry her one day."
"Very well," Reynolds had agreed. "No vetting is necessary obviously, so I'll just sign this and get it added to your files." Harry had thanked him and turned to go, but before he'd managed to do anything more than stand up and strap his crutch back on, Reynolds had added, "No wonder she'd seemed so distraught when you'd been caught in that blast."
"Yes, Sir," Harry had agreed, not really knowing what else to say.
"Take my advise, Harry," he'd said then, coming round his desk to shake Harry's hand, "and marry her soon, or at least, get engaged before you become Section Head. It'll make life easier for both of you in the long run." Then before Harry could reply, he'd smiled and added, "Send Miss Evershed to me, would you?"
And that's how Ruth finds herself in Reynolds' office, feeling a great deal more apprehensive and nervous than she has done at any point until now.
"Relax, Ruth," he says with a smile as she walks into the room, "you look like you're about to be marched in front of a firing squad."
She smiles at that, feeling some of the tension leave her at his words and making an effort to relax her shoulders. "Yes, Sir," she murmurs. "Sorry, Sir."
"Please, take a seat," he invites and waits while she sits down. "You've only been with us a short time, Miss Evershed," Reynolds continues retaking his own seat behind his desk, "but so far I have been impressed by your enthusiasm, dedication, and the willingness and speed with which you're learning the ropes."
"Thank you, Sir," she smiles shyly, pleased to get such praise from him. She doesn't know him that well, but he seems like a fair man and a good boss, so she's glad to have gained his approval.
"You're a hard worker and a good team player, Miss Evershed," he continues, leaning forward to rest his forearms on the edge of his desk and giving her a hard stare before adding, "however, I cannot pretend not to be concerned when my most senior officer tells me that he is head-over-heels in love with you, barely a month after you've joined our section."
She swallows, quickly dropping her gaze to her hands as she seeks to control her body's reaction to his suspicions. Breathe, she tells herself, you knew this would happen. She takes a deep breath and then another, seeking to control her fear and hold onto her love for Harry instead before she lifts her eyes once more and sets her jaw determinedly. Whatever it takes, she reminds herself sternly before opening her mouth to speak.
"I'm sorry you feel that way, Sir," she replies, her voice firm yet respectful. "I assure you, you have nothing to fear from me, especially where Harry is concerned. I respect him and love him too much to ever do him harm. I'm sure he has explained to you that we met and fell in love more than three years ago, Sir. This isn't a mere fling, not is it an attempt by either of us to use the other for our own ends. I'm not seeking any special treatment at work, Sir, least of all from him, though I know that is what most will believe."
"He is more than a decade older than you, Ruth," he murmurs, softening his gaze a little and leaning further forward, giving the impression of really caring about her all of a sudden. "Does that not worry you?"
"No," she shakes her head. "Why should it? I know he loves me. He has more than proved that to me, Sir, as I hope I have to him."
"Very well," he sighs as he leans back in his chair. "Let us hope all will turn out well in the end. Thank you, Miss Evershed." And with that, she is dismissed.
"You all right?" Sophie asks as she passes by her desk.
Ruth sighs and shakes her head to clear it as she lifts her eyes to her colleague and smiles. "Fine," she says. "You?"
"Yeah," she smiles. "Fancy a cuppa? I was just going to go down to the canteen, see what cakes they have in today."
"That sounds very tempting," Ruth admits with a smile, grateful for the distraction. She's been dwelling on Reynolds' words much more than she knows she should.
Once they're seated at a table by the wall, Sophie opens the conversation by saying, "Harry's looking a lot better than I thought he would."
"Oh?" she questions cautiously, lifting her tea and blowing gently across the surface of the hot liquid.
"He looks like he's actually rested," Sophie continues. "The last time he was injured, he came back looking like he hadn't slept for a week and had subsisted entirely on a liquid diet while he'd been away if you know what I mean."
"Did he?" she murmurs, trying to sound disinterested and taking a bite of her cake.
"Then again," Sophie smiles mischievously, "last time he didn't have anyone to look after him."
Her eyes dart up to hers in alarm before she can stop them and she can't help silently cursing herself as Sophie gins triumphantly and exclaims, "I knew it!"
"How?" Ruth can't help asking, realising that it's pointless to deny it. After all, she'd decided just a few days ago that they should tell people, and now that Reynolds knows, it's only a matter of time before everyone else finds out.
"At the hospital," her companion smiles, "the way you looked at each other, and then I mentioned James and you gave me a completely blank look like you didn't know who I was talking about." Ruth sighs and nods her head in defeat. That's what you get for working with spies, she thinks. They don't miss much. "You don't waste much time, do you, Ruth?" Sophie grins.
Ruth blushes in embarrassment before lifting her chin defiantly and saying, "It's not like that. I fell in love with Harry a long time ago and I'm not ashamed of it."
"But you've only just met," Sophie frowns.
"Actually we met on holiday in Greece, three years ago," she explains, dropping her gaze to her hands that are fiddling with her cup, "but we never exchanged phone numbers. Harry was using a legend and I hadn't been vetted, or at least, he didn't know I had been as I had already been recruited by GCHQ at the time. I was going to give him my number, but then we missed each other on the last day and I couldn't. When I came here for my interview, that's when I realised who he was and I was..."
"Understandably upset," Sophie breathes, looking really interested now.
"Yes," she nods. "I thought he'd… used me, but it turns out I was wrong. Anyway, to cut a long story short, it didn't take us long to figure out that we were, are, still in love with each other."
"Gosh," Sophie sighs, "That's so romantic."
"Is it?" Ruth frowns, never having considered the possibility that people might see her relationship with Harry in a positive light.
"Of course it is!" she replies, looking a little scandalised that Ruth doesn't realise. "To meet like that, spend – what? A week? - together and then think you'll never see each other again, only to be reunited by chance and find out that you're both still secretly in love with each other? It's the stuff of novels, Ruth. Wait until I tell the others."
Ruth is momentarily alarmed by this before she remembers that she was planning on telling everyone anyway and this might actually be a wonderful way for them to find out, seeing as Sophie seems to be completely enamoured of their story and will probably tell it all in a very positive light. Perhaps even Jason and Lucas won't mind in the end.
In the end, that's too much to hope for as Lucas seems visibly upset later that day when she goes around collecting mugs to make everyone a cuppa.
"Tea?" she asks as she stops before his desk.
"No thanks," is his quick reply as raises his eyes to glance at her before turning back to work, his wounded gaze making her drop her own with shame. What has she done, she thinks dismally as she turns away from his desk and makes her way to the kitchen, her guilt making her stomach churn and her legs feel like lead.
"He'll get over it," Jason murmurs, making her jump, so lost has she become in her thoughts.
"What?" she stammers, taking a step back from him, the kettle she's just been filling clasped tightly in her hands.
"Lucas," Jason smiles. "He'll mope for a bit and then he'll be fine."
She thinks about this for a moment as she turns away and she flicks the kettle on. "Really?" she can't help asking.
"Of course," he grins. "His pride's hurt. That's all," he adds. "Harry beats the crap out of us in pretty much everything, all the time, despite being old. It's not easy having him to compete against."
"But you're on the same side?" she replies in disbelief.
"We're men, Ruth," he laughs. "We're always competing against each other, even when we're on the same team."
"How... exhausting," she smiles, shaking her head at him.
"It can be," he agrees. "Don't worry about Lucas. He'll come round in the end."
"Like you?" she asks hopefully.
"No need," he grins. "I knew you didn't fancy me from the start, Ruth. Besides, I choose to look at it in a very different light."
"Oh?"
He leans in and says cheekily, "I kissed Harry's girl and got away with it. How many men can say that?"