Harry's positivity of the previous evening had been replaced by nervous energy, which was why Ellie had driven him to the hospital. Prevented from going straight in to see Ruth, both of them were now sitting at one end of a less than comfortable row of chairs outside her room and in his case, was training his eyes on the large wall clock at the end of the corridor.

'Ten minutes and then providing that she wakes up calmly you'll be able to see her,' were already in excess of fifteen. Ellie knew this, she didn't need to look at the clock, because Harry's fingers were flexing as though he was about to give a piano recital. Only stopping when the door opened and they were greeted by the doctor that Harry knew as well as he knew anyone in Cyprus. Telling him that Ruth was awake and they could come in. Anything less and he would have no doubt tried to push past him in an effort to see her anyway, thought Ellie.

.

Ruth opened her eyes and as the fog cleared, several things came into focus at the same time. She was in a large room that she didn't recognise. She was lying in a bed that wasn't her own and she had an audience on either side of her. More importantly, amongst the several people who were looking at her intently, one of them was Harry. Fighting the urge to close her eyes again in case he disappeared, she attempted to smile at him. When that didn't work, she tried to lick her lips because her mouth felt dry and she desperately wanted a drink of water. Speaking being the only option left, she managed a few words. Words that even to her, felt as though they fighting their way from the bottom of a jar of treacle. Her hearing though was in perfect working order and no one had ever said her name in the way that he did.

Maintaining her her focus, became easier, the expectation didn't, until all but one of the white coats that were surrounding her bed, peeled away and faded into the background. With comments such as 'keep a close eye,' and 'if there's any change,' which she took little notice of. The only thing that mattered, was that the nurse who was standing next to Harry, was telling him he could come and sit next to her.

That done, a smiling Sister Bridget as she introduced herself, raised the back of her bed slightly and then went back to her station in the corner of the room. Leaving them alone in one of the bubbles that had always surrounded them when they were together and after a sip of water and with more standing by in case she wanted it, not too much because that might make her sick, they both found each other's hands and miraculously their voices. Ruth predictably wanting to know how Nico was and Harry not knowing where to start when it involved what she presumably saw as her family, told her Nico was safe and at home with his father. Changing the subject in an attempt to get the only answer that mattered to him and with his heart in his mouth, he finished the sentence that had been left hanging when they'd said goodbye. The 'I need to tell you something. I should have told you years ago and if I don't tell you now, I never will,' statement. The something wonderful response which had followed, which as far as he was concerned could reach new heights. With infinite possibilities if she still loved him. Just as well then that she did, given what had happened to her, although Harry was beyond thinking about that for the moment, he just needed to know. The answer coming, by way of the slightest of nods and a barely discernible yes. Both of which took a supreme effort he could see that and was why he had to make do with kissing her forehead, but not before he moved a stray lock of hair that had fallen across her face. Kissing her properly would require him to lean across her body and that he knew that was a long way into the future, given her injuries.

In the corner of the room and keeping a professional eye on Ruth to see if her condition changed, Bridget was also keeping a discrete eye on Harry. She had also listened to the few words that had passed between them and had been ready to step in, if it had become too lengthy. The man who over the past week, she'd grown to understand and in truth liked. The pent-up emotion and the fear that had never left him, all pouring out in one of the most extraordinary declarations of love she'd ever witnessed. Whether he appreciated that the road ahead to recovery, in terms of Ruth's mental well-being after what had happened would be a lengthy one, they hadn't yet discussed. But as an army nurse, with years of experience and who in recent years had dealt almost entirely with patients who had suffered not only physical but mental trauma, it was a conversation that she'd have to have with him. She just hoped he was blessed with patience. Because relationships, even strong ones, could shatter under the weight of responsibility that fell to the person who was the carer. Long term or short term it could be life changing and the old adage that love conquered all, wasn't always the case.

Harry had no such concerns, well not about his ability to be patient where Ruth was concerned. Although he was grateful, that Ellie who had insisted that she come with him, was due to come in in the next half hour. So that Ruth could meet her, rather than wait until they arrived at the house. To stop Ruth worrying as she invariably would, about the couple who had supported him and were now offering her the same kindness. Because in all honesty he couldn't explain it, even to himself. Had there been an alternative option? If there had, he hadn't been able to find it. Not one that would give them as long as they needed and with no short-term pressure to go somewhere else. To allow Ruth to get stronger and at the same time rekindle their relationship.

The following morning.

The journey from the hospital to the house was a short one. The location though, was more than an hour's drive from where Ruth had lived with George and that was a good thing, Harry and Ellie had already decided. With a completely different outlook, but still close to the sea, there was no climb down to reach the shoreline. Instead, the beach which was small, could only be reached via a narrow footpath and if you picked your time according to Ellie who was driving, was almost always deserted. He of course knew this, but Ellie's gentle commentary was helping and not only because swimming was one of the several things that had been recommended for Ruth's recovery. Now relaxing in the back of the car, with Ruth propped up by pillows on both sides of her, Harry was again appreciating the fact that Ellie had chosen to come with him. She was a very competent driver and as they drove through the small villages with their red brick roofs and gardens bursting with colour, she was taking her time. Allowing him to concentrate on Ruth, who with a supply of pain killers the size of bullets and having taken one before they'd left, was pain free. Insisting that she could walk out to the car on his arm, hadn't though been without incident and they'd had to stop several times to allow her to take a breather.

It wouldn't be all wine and roses though and what they'd also discussed, was the not so pleasant task of Ruth needing to talk to him about her experience in Mani's hands. When she was ready and that he mustn't push her. Not try to resolve all the problems in the first five minutes. Advice that Bridget had given him before they'd left the previous day and with the offer of her ongoing support if they needed it.

That she'd so far kept her emotions under control, meant that when Ruth did cry, it was guaranteed to be a lengthy outburst. Necessary apparently and another snippet that had come from Bridget. The realisation that she was safe. A kind word or something as innocuous as someone waving or saying it was a nice day, were amongst the long list of reasons that Bridget had witnessed over the years. The sooner the better and in Ruth's case was within minutes of them driving through the gates and Ellie parking up. Because Maddie who had been waiting as patiently as any six-year-old could, had been told by her mother before she left her in the capable hands of their neighbour, that the lady who was coming to stay with them was a friend of Harry's. That she'd been poorly, so would be tired, Maddie had understood. But it hadn't come with the instructions that she should refrain from shouting Mummy and Harry as soon as they climbed out of the car. Or that she wasn't to rush across the grass from where she'd been sitting and tell Harry what she'd been doing since she'd last seen him. Why wouldn't she when it had been two days? This friend of her Daddy's who read her stories, was teaching her to count without using her fingers and took her and her brothers swimming. A much nicer person than the lady who usually looked after them and who the boys had a naughty name for. Her actions worrying for Harry and Ellie, who having discussed that it was just as well her youngest was a girl, hadn't banked on Ruth's reaction to this small child telling Harry that she'd missed him. Only to be rescued from further trauma and like grease lightning by Ellie, who told them she'd put the kettle on and not to hurry. With Maddie in tow and with the promise that she could help her, as a way to avoid any protest from her youngest, she headed towards the house.

Neither of them knowing, that it was a combination of things and that Maddie shouting Harry, had only been the release valve. Turned on by the normality of hearing something as simple as someone offering to make them a cup of tea. That it had started from the moment that she'd left Harry and the loss that had only deepened over the years. Her relationship with George and Nico and what Mani had done, all combining to give Harry, for the first time in two years, the opportunity to wrap his arms around a sobbing Ruth. Ruth who was trying and failing to get him to understand, while Harry, who had closed his eyes and didn't care who was watching, was praying he was capable of getting her back to something that resembled well.

Tears that once they stopped, were kept at bay and stayed that way, even when Maddie made a lengthy appearance later on. This time to show her the book that she and Harry were reading. When Ellie produced a selection of clothes for her that she'd bought locally, combined with the offer of another cup of tea and that as Harry knew where everything was, she suggested he make it. That and a look at the guest bedroom which was spacious and comfortable and where there was a view of the sea from their window. That she could go back to bed or come out into the garden as and when she liked and as she hadn't eaten anything substantial for the best part of a week, what did she fancy? Offers that had been spread out over what had remained of the day and they'd negotiated quite comfortably all things considered. Until with the sun setting over the sea, came the inevitable call of 'bedtime you two,' from Ellie. Not directed at them, but at her two eldest children, but none the less struck a chord. At which point, unspoken boundaries sprung up as if from nowhere, which all those years ago in Baghdad, they'd simply marched on through. That though had been a one off, in the sultry heat and in the heart of a war zone. Where clothes had simply been discarded and nothing had seemed to matter, other than a desperate need which had seen them reaching for each other as though their lives had depended on it. Not that this was any different, but given the circumstances, Ruth to her horror realised that she couldn't simply throw caution to the wind anymore. No matter how much she loved Harry or wanted him, that she needed time to adjust to this new situation. Her body for one thing, in no way compared to that night. She was black and blue and her arms were covered in deep scratches. Besides Harry had also come over all fingers and thumbs in that department and she didn't want to add to his embarrassment or hers.

Ellie coming to her rescue and his. Asking Harry, 'if he'd take the last of the plates inside and wash up, while she helped Ruth get ready for bed.'

.

'It took me seven years to get a secondment to MI5 and now it's the last place that I want to be,' Ruth told Ellie, who was towelling her down after a shower. Ignoring the real issue which was to talk about sex and replacing it by something that wasn't even on offer. Not that it wasn't true, because she really didn't want to go back.

'Harry only wants what's best for you, so you just need to be honest with him,' sounded too simplistic to Ruth.

'Except I have no idea what that is and when I do decide, what if it's not what Harry wants?'

'Then you'll find a way between you, it's called compromising.'

'I've been doing that for the past two years, which is why I now need certainty and a sense of belonging. Harry gives me that, he always has, but it's the where that worries me. I have this yearning to be close to the sea and that rules out us living in London.'

Ellie noticed the us, she'd heard Harry say it and now Ruth had voiced it as well. This gentle woman, who without her clothes, was far more bruised than she'd imagined her to be. Horrifyingly so if she was honest. Worrying how Harry would react to seeing her, when she herself knew that all Harry wanted to do was to be with her. To look after her. Harry who she knew blamed himself for what had happened to Ruth and Ruth who was blaming herself. If she hadn't already known that they were perfectly matched, this ridiculous uncertainty would have seen her giving up. Not that giving up was in her nature, it never had been and was the reason that Paul had suggested that Harry stay with them and by extension Ruth.

Instead, suggesting to Ruth what she knew to be a fact. 'The things that have happened over the past couple of weeks, I would suggest have changed the way Harry thinks as well. So I can't imagine that he'll be rushing to get back to London either.'