Robert Westhouse was about to commit a genocide in Nigeria in order to protect his oil interests there. Ruth's blood went cold at the very thought of it. It was incredible to think that things could still shock her like this. After all the hideous things in the world she'd seen and experienced, the depravity and villainy of mankind still shocked her. Maybe that was good. Maybe that meant she still had a soul.

But Beth's betrayal was still forefront of everyone's minds, even now using her to get to Chapman and figure out where and when Westhouse was getting the VXD. Beth went with Lucas to set Chapman out so they could follow. Ruth was on the Grid with Tariq and Harry, tracking Westhouse and Chapman both.

She listened in as Lucas spoke to Harry and Tariq, poised and ready to jump into action when anyone needed her. But for now, she could only listen and wait. Mrs. Westhouse was getting into the car to be driven to her golf lesson

How could a marriage function like that? Did Mrs. Weshouse have any idea what her husband was up to? Were their lives so separate that she didn't know? Did she not care? Had Robert Westhouse duped his wife by being an attentive husband? Normally Ruth would have chocked that up to men being bastards and women being more concerned with pretty presents and financial security than anything else. But seeing as she was now engaged to be married, the concept of marriage weighed on her more prominently than it would have otherwise.

Beth's voice came over the speakerphone. "In Iraq, we used to dress the important dignitary as the driver. Maybe Westhouse is driving that car."

And so everyone went to Foxhills Golf Club. Harry stood up from his desk. "I'll call the Home Secretary from the car," he announced.

"Harry," Ruth called after him.

He turned back and gazed at her, his eyes softening, and he gave a small nod of understanding. Ruth's hand made its way to her blouse, touching the engagement ring hidden on a chain on her chest. He promised her he'd be safe. He'd come back to her. He was going to marry her.

It was a foolish thought, she knew, but it was strangely comforting. She suddenly felt herself transported back to that Cotterdam mess. Sitting awake all night with Zaf waiting for the boat and just telling herself that she'd get out and everything would be alright. Harry loved her, so everything would be okay. Funny thing was, Harry did love her—though she wouldn't let him tell her—but nothing was ever okay ever again. Not until a week ago, at least.

But this would work out, Ruth knew. Westhouse was doing an exchange for the VXD with the Ukrainians, but he himself wasn't a violent threat. Of course, even if he was, Harry could still hold his own. Even at his age and the fact that he sat at his desk all day, his experience and training and instincts were still sharp. He'd confront Westhouse, surely, and seize the VXD and everything would be sorted.

Even so, the small voice in the back of her mind whispered to Ruth that her fiancé was going to prevent a foreign terrorist plot and that certainly wasn't a comforting predicament. And all Ruth could do was sit and wait for news of when it was all over.

"Ruth!"

She lifted her head to see Tariq hurrying toward her. "What's happened?" she asked, her heart sinking into her stomach.

"Harry's been shot at. Dimitri has the VXD, though, and he's bringing it here."

"Shot or shot at?" Ruth demanded. She felt a vice grip in her chest.

"Dimitri wasn't very clear, I just wanted to tell you the VXD was on its way."

"Tariq, is Harry alright?"

"I think so."

"You think!?" Even Ruth could hear the hysteria in her own voice. "I cannot believe he keeps doing this," she muttered to herself.

"He's been shot at a lot?" Tariq asked.

"I've been here a long time, and I've lost count how many times he's been involved in firefights. He was actually shot by his Section Chief a while back," she told him.

As Tariq marveled at that horrible circumstance, Ruth tried to keep her breathing even. She had to keep calm. If Harry was hurt, they would have been told. Harry was fine. He had to be fine. Oh god!

"I have to call him," she said, interrupting whatever Tariq had been saying that she wasn't listening to. She picked up her phone and dialed Harry's mobile.

"Yes?" he answered.

She exhaled audibly. "You're alright?"

"I'm in the car with Beth and Lucas to take care of Chapman. Dimitri will fill you in when he gets back to the Grid," Harry told her gruffly.

"Yes, fine," she replied.

He didn't say anything else, just hung up. That bloody rule of hers! She'd wanted to keep their work separate from their private life and make sure no one at work knew anything about their private life. It was a good idea, in theory, but now Ruth found herself desperate to have a cathartic cry and demand her fiancé talk to her and reassure her that he was safe.

Jesus, they were barely engaged and she was already a mess with worry over him. What was going to happen once they were married? How was she going to cope? Well, that was a problem for another day. One thing at a time.

Dimitri arrived on the Grid soon enough, thankfully. Tariq and Ruth greeted him, and she was calm enough by then to be able to ask him what happened without arousing suspicion. Dimitri explained that the Nigerians had been tipped off by Chapman of where the deal was taking place. When Harry walked out of the club carrying the bag with the VXD, the assassin opened fire, presumably mistaking Harry for Westhouse. Beth had been left in the car while Dimitri and Lucas provided backup to Harry, so she was in the parking lot and saw the gun just before the shooting started, and she was able to throw Harry to the ground and hide with him behind a parked car. No one was injured at all.

Beth had saved the day. Saved Harry. Ruth could almost forgive Beth for deleting files and wasting everyone's time after that. If Beth was going to stay on—Harry had said she'd need to go, but Ruth wasn't certain that would actually end up happening—then Ruth would have to have a talk with her. If they were going to be on a team together, they'd have to clear the air.

But that would have to wait. Harry and Beth arrived back on the Grid.

"Lucas is taking care of Chapman," Harry announced as he walked swiftly to his office.

Beth didn't say a word. She went to her station and started taking things out of the drawers. Ruth spared a glance in her direction and stood up, following Harry into his office.

She entered without knocking and she closed the door behind her. She immediately shut the blinds so they wouldn't be observed or disturbed.

Harry stood by his desk and warned, "Ruth, we're at work, and you said—"

"Shut up," she snapped. She crossed the distance between them and threw her arms around him. "Shut up, you stupid man," she murmured, her face pressed into his neck.

He returned her embrace. "This is a nice homecoming, though I could do without the verbal abuse," he quipped.

She pulled back, mouth open to scold him again.

But Harry just chuckled. "I know, 'shut up, you stupid man.'" He put his hand on her cheek and leaned in to kiss her softly.

Ruth hummed happily against his lips. She reveled in their closeness, the ability to hold him and touch him and kiss him and love him without restraining herself. She gazed up at him, seeing the love reflecting in his eyes as he looked back at her. "I was worried for you."

"I know," he answered, stroking her hair. "I didn't anticipate Nigerian assassins."

"None of us did. Bloody Chapman," she grumbled.

"Everything worked out."

"You should have called me yourself." Ruth didn't want to be the nagging wife, particularly before she became his wife, but it was worth saying. "I know I was the one who said keep work at work and not discuss our private life when anyone might find out, but we have to find some kind of balance. I need to know when you're in danger and when you've made it through things safely."

"Alright," he answered softly. "I hope you'll do me the same courtesy. Not that I anticipate you going into the field and being in any danger at all, but you do have something of a track record, Ruth."

"I suppose we both do. I told Tariq that I've lost count of how many times you've been shot at, and you did actually get shot by your Section Chief."

Harry scowled at that. Neither of them liked being reminded of the difficulties with Tom Quinn.

Ruth sighed. "Well, I suppose we should get back to it. You'll want to inform the Home Secretary."

Harry gave a curt nod in agreement, and they reluctantly stepped away from each other. "I do still want to speak with you later."

"Yes, alright. I'll come by yours tonight," she offered.

"Good." That soft expression came over his face again. Like he forgot where they were and what he was supposed to be doing and was just overwhelmed by his love for her. It was a look that used to scare her. It didn't scare her anymore. Not in the least.