Ruth had been happy when she left the roof. Well, not happy, per se, but she was feeling lighter. She and Harry had finally gotten to talk. They had an understanding, that they'd be together here and they'd figure things out off the Grid, too. And now after telling Beth the good news, she and Harry could go home together and take comfort in each other as they both needed.
But then Lucas told Ruth that Beth had nowhere to stay in London and didn't she have a spare room? Ruth was tasked with being Beth Bailey's babysitter. Ordinarily, she would be a little annoyed but otherwise accepting. Now, though, she had other concerns. The engagement ring hidden on a chain against her chest was practically itching to be put back on her finger. And now she couldn't. She couldn't have Harry come to hers because Beth would be there. And she couldn't go to his because Ruth was supposed to be watching Beth.
Initially, Ruth had wanted to keep her engagement with Harry a secret just so that they'd be able to figure things out for themselves without gossip and questions and whatever else getting in the way. As much as she hated to admit it, Ruth could not deny that if Malcolm had not brought the public whisperings about their relationship to her attention, she and Harry could have been happy together a lot earlier on. Maybe she still would have run, maybe Harry would have done something to drive her away even before Cotterdam. But maybe they would have been a little further along with things before the world threatened their little bubble of romantic happiness. Maybe they could have been strong enough to get past it.
Ruth shook her head. Things weren't like that anymore. She was not the same woman now that she was back then. But the fact remained that she was not ready for their engagement to be public knowledge just yet. She wasn't sure what Harry thought about it, but she was rather certain that Beth Bailey was not the first one they wanted to find out.
After cursing under her breath at Lucas, Ruth was able to catch up to Beth in the lobby of Thames House and give her the good news. And she informed Beth that she'd be staying at Ruth's until she could get a permanent place of her own in London.
"You don't mind?" Beth asked warily.
Ruth wasn't really in the mood to pretend like she was looking forward to having a roommate forced upon her, particularly a woman she'd barely spoken two words to before this moment. But she also wasn't going to be rude about it. "You'll learn that we're a team here. In every sense. You need somewhere to stay, and I've got a spare room. So long as you don't leave wet towels on the floor or drink my wine without asking, we'll get along."
Beth smiled. "Thank you, Ruth. I really appreciate it."
"Come back down to the Grid with me. I'm going to start the paperwork for your clearances. We'll finish it up tomorrow, but I want to get something in the system now. After that, we can go home."
There was a flash of something in Beth's face as she walked at Ruth's side. "You know, I can't really remember the last time I had a place to call home."
Ruth knew the feeling. Though she wasn't going to divulge that to Beth right now. Possibly at all. People who knew of Ruth's exile and return understood not to talk about it. Though of course everyone but Harry who'd known the whole story was dead or gone. Anyone who didn't know usually didn't need to be told.
A strange thought entered Ruth's mind, a vision of sitting on the sofa with Beth, sharing a bottle of wine and talking about their lives, Ruth revealing Cotterdam and Mani and all that came between and Beth telling of her various mercenary exploits. It had been a long, long time since Ruth had a girlfriend to confide in. Might be nice to have a flatmate.
Harry came back down to his office while Ruth was at her desk with Beth sitting beside her. Ruth's heart sunk. They'd been through enough today, especially Harry, and now she had to disappoint him again.
"Beth, I'm going to print off some things for you to read over and sign. I've got to talk to Harry for a minute, and then we can go," she said.
"Fine by me."
Ruth quickly printed off the paperwork, locked her computer, and handed the pages to Beth. She didn't bother saying another word as she went to Harry's office, opening the door without first knocking. As usual. She slid the door closed behind her.
"I'm ready to go home when you are," he told her, glancing up with the smallest hint of a smile.
Her heart sank deeper. "Beth…"
"Yes, I can see she's accepted the position, thank you."
She shook her head. "Lucas caught me as he was leaving. He doesn't trust her, and he said she's got nowhere to stay in London so—"
"He's instructed you to have Beth stay in your spare room," Harry surmised.
Ruth nodded.
Harry sighed. "I suppose that means no more sleepovers at yours for a while."
"Or at yours, if I'm supposed to keep an eye on Beth."
"And we can hardly have a quick shag in the bathrooms at work," he grumbled.
"Well, we could, but I think that's a terrible idea," she quipped.
His lips twitched. "At least we got to have last night."
Harry's words caused the lightness to creep back into her mood. "Last night was perfect, Harry," she told him softly.
"I quite agree. And I'm sorry both that we won't be able to repeat the experience for a while and that you've been saddled with a flatmate."
Ruth gave him a soft smile. "We'll manage," she said, repeating his words to her from up on the roof.
"That we will," he vowed.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Harry," she said, giving one last nod and turning to leave his office before she lost control and fell into his arms again.
She could feel his eyes on her as she walked back to her station. A familiar feeling. A comforting one at the moment. But she forced herself not to think about it. She approached Beth and asked, "Ready to go?"
Beth stood and picked up her bag. Ruth gathered the signed paperwork into a folder to revisit tomorrow. She got her coat and purse and led the way back to the pods.
"I do have to warn you, I have been known to be a bit haphazard with my things. Clutter, some people might call it," Ruth said as they headed toward the Tube station.
"And what do you call it?" Beth asked, bemused.
"Erm, well, I suppose I just call it being too busy and distracted to put anything in a proper place," Ruth replied. She felt herself blush, which was somehow more embarrassing than admitting to her chaotic sense of organization.
Beth gave a little laugh. "Well, I can't fault you for that. So long as you don't find yourself missing shoes and running late for work, I'm sure you're just fine."
Considering that exact thing had happened to Ruth a week ago, she remained conspicuously silent.
And that silence seemed to strike Beth as extremely funny. She laughed properly at that. "Oh Ruth, I'm sorry," she apologized after she caught her breath again. "I don't know why I found that so funny. I suppose after a day like I've had, it's nice to just have something to laugh about."
Ruth was painfully reminded of Sam Buxton and Danny Hunter and Zoe Reynolds and the way they'd all go to the George for a laugh after work sometimes for just that reason. It had been a long time since the team had gone out for drinks together or had a laugh. Perhaps that was a mistake, letting that tradition leave with all those people Ruth had lost. Beth was right, it was nice to have something to laugh about after a hard day.
"If it makes you feel any better, I've not owned more than two pairs of shoes at a time in the last five years. Everything I own is in a storage locker or this bag," Beth added.
"Traveling all the time makes acquiring possessions rather difficult," Ruth answered knowingly. Again, she would not explain herself on that score. Not just yet.
As the train pulled into the station and Ruth and Beth boarded, Ruth found herself wondering if Harry had left for home yet. She hoped he had. He needed to unwind and he needed to get some rest. Perhaps she could check on him later after Beth got settled. She wished she could kiss him goodnight. But of course, as she'd reminded him today, there were things more important than their going to bed together. And they'd have to find a way to go on.