Happy New Year folks. Hope everyone is well and has retained some sanity during the challenging times we live in. This chapter largely recaps the events of my previous story - I apologise for the repetition but not only are some of the characters unaware of what went before with Harry and Ruth I can't be sure that all my current readers read my earlier effort. Once again my thanks to my faithful readers and reviewers. Now on with the tale.

The immediate response to the question Aaisha had just lobbed across the room was an almost total silence while the various representatives of Section D considered their position very very carefully. Knowledge of Harry's temper, combined with his unspoken embargo on gossip pertaining to the section leaking into the world beyond the pods, meant that they were struggling to reply. Equally it seemed a given that Aaisha, whose current laser like stare would not have disgraced Ros, was unlikely to accept a fob off. A temporary respite being offered by Danny enquiring, "Why do you think that anything is going on?"

Aaisha, not exactly appeased by this procrastination, snapped back instantly, "Because Ruth shies away or turns the conversation every time I mention Harry."

Any chance of trying to convince Aaisha that she was being delusional was effectively stymied by Ros pitching in, "I'd rather like to know the answer to Aaisha's question myself." Which if not helpful in providing a definitive reply did at least wrong foot Aaisha who shot a puzzled look, before Adam obliged with an explanation relating to this additional mystery. "Ros and I are new to the section so we can't help." Thus emboldened Zoe produced a further disclaimer, "Danny and I only know that after appointing Ruth, but before her arrival to take up post Harry had to go undercover, during which time they met up by accident and then …well not sure what happened but I agree, they do have some problem."

At which point eight pairs of eyes turned, boring into Malcolm, whose preferred role model of the Invisible Man was rapidly morphing into the masculine equivalent of the Lady of Shalott, although he was managing to restrain himself from crying out 'the curse has come upon me' It said something about the resilience Malcolm had acquired during his years in Section D that he was withstanding this pressure in favour of stating, "I'm not exactly sure myself."

His forlorn hope this would be acceptable vanishing when Zoe equally insistent informed him and the company at large, "Yes but you have a better idea than the rest of us."

Surprisingly it was Ros, temporarily trashing her reputation for unsettling all comers who came to his rescue, "Malcolm I don't think that anyone in this room is going to gossip – what is said in the room stays in the room." Transferring her attention from Malcolm for a moment to stare around the said room defying anyone to demur. Satisfied with the silence she continued, "If Harry and Ruth can't sort out their problems someone has to before it really begins to impact on the section." Then with a defining statement that even surprised herself added, "I owe Harry – we all know that my father's actions tainted me. I may have been cleared but very few section heads are willing to believe I wasn't complicit. After what my father tried to do to Harry I'm amazed he even agreed to meet me, let alone allow me into the Section ... so Malcolm talk."

Seeing that escape was impossible and recognising the truth of Ros' assertion about the effects on operational efficiency Malcolm, after carefully checking that all the recording machinery had been switched off, began to speak."

"Very well, but it is a bit tangled…"

Adam grinned, "Isn't always Malcolm – we'll do our best to follow."

"To begin with what Zoe said. Harry appointed Ruth and unusually for him to a permanent contract because GCHQ refused to release her on any other terms …due to the very short stay of the previous probationers." Danny interjecting for the benefit the two new comers and non spooks, "Harry had good reason – after the one that triggered a red flash for anything, followed by the one who keep running to HR every time she had to work beyond 4.30 and then…" he was semi silenced by a glare from Ros, "Just saying…"

Malcolm having taken the opportunity to gather his thoughts continued, "He had arranged to meet Ruth for an induction and familiarisation session prior to her taking post but a family emergency meant that she had to ask for a fortnight's delay – the emergency, which has some relevance to later events, was that her step brother a member of the Royal protection team, having been dumped by his partner Angela Wells." A statement greeted by a quick whistle from Adam occasioning a further pause, "got thoroughly drunk and threw up when on duty."

This time it was Aaisha who broke into his narrative, "I saw the TV coverage – Prince Philip didn't look thrilled, his trousers and HM Queen's footwear probably took some cleaning."

Wondering how many more interruptions he would suffer from those oblivious to the ticking clock Malcolm continued onwards, "Exactly and an investigation was threatened. The parents were distraught so Ruth had to ask for leave of absence. During that fortnight Harry was given some information that suggested a member of MI6." - deciding to abandon caution he added, "Giles Bamford Smythe, might be passing on very confidential information to Ilya Gavrick for profit."

Noting that this latter meant nothing to the wedding contingent he added briefly, "Russian oligarch, ex KGB, close to Putin and an old adversary of Harry's with a major personal grudge."

Taking a breath, "Harry wasn't sure that this would be correct but decided to investigate – a bit of digging suggested that the tip was sound but concerned a somewhat complicated set up – in that Giles would make contact via his gentleman's club which was a front for Ilya Gavrick, and if the information was to be sold on then he would drop it in a safe deposit which would be unlocked by a totally different operative sent in by Gavrick so the two sides would never met."

Adam having been in the country for longer and more recently than Ros interpreted the political background for the newbies, "And of course Giles was at school with one half the cabinet and had greased up the other half, plus was efficient at paper pushing and even better at self promotion so Harry had to get positive proof."

"Quite. So the team would be told that Harry was suffering from a life threatening attack, whereas in fact Harry would go undercover and substitute for the operative sent by Gavrick. A sting was set up in which Giles, promoted temporarily as Section Head, would receive an eyes only document known only to myself, Harry, Giles and the DG. When he sold it on Harry as the replacement courier would collect the document from the deposit which would, with other data provide inarguable proof of Giles guilt

Adam intervened gain, "I'm sorry Malcolm but I'm curious, what was set up that would be so tempting?"

Malcolm permitted himself a wintry smile, "The sale of the BBC to a private provider – with absolute secrecy due to the sensitive nature of the purchase."

Ros, after a second, began to laugh, "I can guess who thought that up – I'd always heard Harry was brilliant in the field – to my shame I thought the tales were exaggerated."

Malcolm commented back, "I have to say it gave me the odd sleepless night. – anyway it was all arranged as planned but unfortunately power went instantly to Giles' head so when Ruth turned up he wanted his own staff choice and demanded that she be sacked on the spot – that of course was not possible so he was not very happy."

Danny endorsed this, "As in sulked like a toddler."

Malcom wasn't about to argue, "A few days later another operation when badly wrong and Giles decided to recommend us all for dismissal, until Ruth managed to demonstrate that in fact it was not carelessness on our part but a lack of specialized Intel on how the terrorists communicated, so Giles was well and truly wrongfooted. As a result of which he wanted to be revenged on her."

Approaching the more personal pieces of the narrative, "He decided to force her to sleep with him which would of course compromise her in the future – she did try to refuse but he threatened to have Peter imprisoned for drugs and passing on vital information knowing that Peter is a suicide risk and further disasters would destroy the parents, he also said he'd implicate Ruth for leaking security data and would of course deny the conversation taking place if she went to HR. I couldn't intervene because Giles realising that his office was bugged that would have blown the operation."

"Fortunately by that time Harry had met Ruth purely by accident – he and I were meeting occasionally on the embankment near the National Theatre for an information exchange and Ruth happened to be on the way to pick up some leaflets from the various theatres. She met Harry under his alias as 'Horatio Prince', an occasional off the books employee of Harry. I'd doctored Harry's file photo and as he was sporting a beard and coloured contact lenses she was unlikely to recognise him if she did any digging."

Ros was nodding, "Especially when she had no reason to believe that Harry Pearce was anywhere other than in a high security hospital bed."

"Precisely. Anyway I'm fairly sure that that meeting would have been a one off, had it not been that after he vanished Ruth started to talk to me on an unrelated matter and then walked off in the same direction. I gather from what she later told me she was knocked off her feet by a skateboarder and Harry, who was nearby, picked her up took her for a coffee as she was shaken a…."

Adam intervened to spare Malcolm an obvious embarrassment, "Was attracted but thought there was no harm in meeting up with her again as she was a member of his staff and he was concerned about the earlier threat to sack her!" Malcolm shoot a grateful glance at Adam, who shrugged, "I met my wife in not dissimilar circs." Quirking with reminiscence he added, "and the danger tends to add as an accelerator to a relationship."

"I'm not sure about that, but when Ruth confided in me about Giles' threat I was able to suggest that she confided in Harry, who already knew from myself but to preserve his cover had to persuade her to tell him. He was of course incandescent at the way Giles was treating her." Zoe chuckled. "Lucky Giles wasn't in Harry's firing line then.."

"Harry having obtained the truth from her promised to help her out." Malcolm was now approaching the more awkward part of the story. "A short while previously when Harry was trying to gather Intel on how Giles has obtained information on another secret bid project he'd become acquainted with Giles' previous girlfriend, who had inadvertently been the source of the information." Clearing his throat while considering how to be delicate about the next revelation, Malcolm moved forward with this sordid tale. "Giles had dumped his ex for a more well connected female so his ex was angry and agreed to act as an asset, but wanted an even more personal revenge if possible."

Ros asked the burning question. "Dare we ask how Harry managed to become so well acquainted and persuade her?"

"I really don't know." That much Malcolm could say with truth – he had a shrewd suspicion though. "As she was about the same height and build as Ruth and as we knew Giles' er.. proclivities... included chaining to bedheads and various other types of role play it was agreed that she and Ruth would swap places." Seeing the curious looks Malcolm said, "No time for the exact details but basically Ruth persuaded Giles to blindfold himself, followed by some very exact timing involving Harry, a power cut and infra red specs, at the end of which Giles had been handcuffed to the bedhead instead of Ruth, with the other woman remaining with Giles as a substitute."

Adam interjected, "Sorry but I have to ask did the other woman get her revenge?"

Malcolm's utter dislike of Giles superseded any irritation as this distraction, "That was part of the deal and she certainly did – let's just say he ended up with a broken penis."

When the sound of choking from the female contingent had died down, the male one having greeted this revelation with winces, it was Ros who returned them to reality, "So he'd have blamed Ruth for that."

Malcom confirmed with a nod as he continued, "Harry smuggled Ruth out and kept her in a safe house while the operation was concluded, successfully I should add."

Danny agreed, "It was beautiful Harry at his very best. Giles had no leg to stand on." Zahra seeing that Malcolm had finished his tale asked in a puzzled voice, "But if he helped Ruth and saved her from being labelled as a traitor why…."

Adam with a view to a permanent posting into Section D spared Malcolm the explanation as he suggested, "I suspect that Harry has been sleeping with the other woman and possibly Ruth simultaneously."

Malcom acknowledged this, "I really can't be certain but…" leaving the tailing off to affirm.

Ros was wrinkling her brow,"But surely, even if that was so Ruth must know that sometimes operatives have to offer themselves up as honeytraps, it is implicit in the job description."

Before Malcolm could reply to the true but dubious morality that governed some information gathering Aaisha intervened, "Maybe but I know exactly why Ruth would have reacted badly to that revelation, especially if it was made in public."

All eyes swivelled towards her as reminded them, "I was at university with her and she became involved with someone who was pressing her to sleep with him. Personally I loathed him but Ruth did rather fall hook, line and sinker and decided to ….anyway we, that's the small group we went around in including Ruth, were invited to a party. Ruth was late in arriving, had an essay due.." A groan of memory wafted across from Zoe and Adam…"So Ruth turns up late ready to …well …goes in search of her beloved and finds him having a stand up knee trembler with one of our group….it turned out that he'd been screwing her while also dating Ruth. Ruth was shattered and as far as I know avoided men for the rest of her time in university."

Ros was considering, "So are you suggesting that if she thought Harry was only involved with her and then publicly discovered that…"

Aashia's reply was terse, "Exactly."

Ros was processing this further as she turned to the Section D regulars. "Harry therefore loves Ruth and she was keen on him until she discovered that he'd been, as she saw it, just using her as convenient fuck along with the other woman, but still can't get over him." Turning to Malcolm "Am I correct?"

Malcolm, wishing he was anywhere but here replied cautiously, "Possibly but Harry doesn't exactly emote with me."

Zoe groaned, "As for pumping Ruth – Danny and I have tried. No luck." Adam added his mite with. "I asked Fiona to see what she could discover and believe me if any one can wheedle a confession Fiona can but no luck at all – in one respect Harry made a good choice when he took her into the section, as a spook Ruth's brilliant.

Ros wasn't about to waste the rapidly diminishing window before she had to return Zahra to her loving father on such trivialities, "Malcolm as the person closest to these events and Harry's friend, in your opinion do you think that Harry and Ruth still want one another but he thinks he's blown it and she doesn't believe he's sincere?"

Malcolm's reply was almost dragged out of him. "Probably yes."

Eyeing the group with a stare that dared anyone to argue Ros asked, "So do we try to get them together for all our sakes, including the smooth running of the section?"

A few nods followed as Zoe asked "But…"

Ros cut her off sharply, "Very well. if you're all in I have an idea."

Thanks for reading. If you have a moment a review would be appreciated. Next up Ros's plan