Beth Bailey came back to the flat she shared with Ruth feeling like celebrating for the second time in as many weeks. She'd gotten the job with MI-5—Section D, in particular—just as she'd wanted. And now, after an absolute cock-up over the last two days with Chapman and the Colombians, she had managed to keep the job. And she meant what she'd told Harry and Lucas. She had learned her lesson.

And really, she should have known better. She'd known of Harry Pearce for a long time. She knew his history. She'd met him once before. And now she'd worked with him. She knew she should have told him. Her past was a complete mess, but covering it up only made it worse. There was nothing she had done that Harry would vilify her for now. She had told him she wanted to work for the Security Services because she wanted to be clean. Her past had been bloody and dirty and rotten. He knew that. She knew he knew that. She should have trusted him. But her past had made her who she was, and that instinct of self-preservation and deception was deeply imbedded in her. She'd done what she thought she'd needed to. She had been wrong. And she now knew she wouldn't make that mistake again. Harry and Lucas both had earned her trust, and she had to prove herself worthy of theirs, now that she'd been given this second chance. It was a chance she swore to herself that she wouldn't squander.

As Beth walked into the flat, she went right to the fridge to get a bottle of wine. She'd be back on the Grid at eight tomorrow, just as she'd promised Lucas, but for now, it was a Friday night and she'd celebrate her good luck.

"Pour me a glass, would you?"

Beth was startled by Ruth's voice, and she scolded herself for that. She was a bloody spy, she wasn't supposed to be caught off guard by her own flatmate. "Sure," Beth called back.

It didn't take her more than a minute to pour two glasses of pinot grigio from the bottle in the fridge and bring them into the living room. She handed one to Ruth, who thanked her.

"I didn't know you'd gotten home already. You were still on the Grid when I left," Beth said as she took a seat on the opposite end of the sofa. She kicked her shoes off and curled her feet beneath her, leaning back to face Ruth.

"Circle Line is actually quicker on the Tube," she said. "Bit more walking, but it is faster from Thames House to here in the evenings."

"That's a good tip, thanks," Beth replied with a smile.

"So Lucas persuaded Harry to let you stay on," Ruth then said bluntly.

Beth's guard went up. She had already underestimated Ruth enough. Mustn't do that anymore. "Yes," Beth answered warily.

"You lied to us, Beth. You live in my flat, you work with us in life and death situations, and you lied to us. You deleted files off my computer, which means you forged the security. Where did you get my fingerprint?" Ruth accused.

"Wine glass." There was no point in lying anymore. And Beth was done covering up for herself. This team…they were a team. They trusted each other. And Beth was one of them now.

Ruth shook her head, sighing in annoyance. "I hope you've learned your lesson," she grumbled.

"I have," Beth assured her. "Harry was absolutely right, it wasted everyone's time and led the team down the wrong path."

"Harry's usually right about things like this," Ruth interjected.

Wasn't that interesting? Ruth seemed to have a depth of loyalty to Harry that was unlike the others. Lucas challenged Harry sometimes, but that seemed to be more in line with the role of the Section Chief. Tariq followed instructions, and Dimitri was only about a month senior to Beth at Section D. Ruth and Harry had a very close working relationship. There was history there. A long history. And Beth didn't know exactly what it was, but she wondered if it was just working together for years or if there was something more. She had heard Ruth's name spoken with reverence at Thames House, and Beth had seen firsthand that she was an exceptional analyst. She deserved the spot she had at Harry's ear. But there was something else here that Beth couldn't quite put her finger on.

Ruth spoke again, interrupting Beth's thoughts. "I wanted to be sure we spoke and cleared the air. We're living together, and we're going to continue to be working together. And I'd like there to be a base level of trust and respect between us. But everything you've done these last few days…"

"No, you're right," Beth said quickly. "I was looking out for myself, like I always have, and I didn't bother worrying about the fact that I am living in your flat and we're on the same team. I know I don't deserve your trust, and I know its just words when I say that I do respect you, Ruth. I mean what I said, that I learned my lesson. I don't take this second chance lightly. I intend to earn it. From you, too."

There was a small pause as Ruth studied Beth's face. Beth found herself being transfixed by the pale stormy blue of Ruth's eyes. There was something mesmerizing about her. A twisting guilty feeling lodged itself in Beth's stomach as she found herself wishing she'd never done anything against Ruth. She certainly wouldn't ever again. This woman was as much a mystery as Beth herself always tried to be. There was a depth to Ruth Evershed that Beth Bailey could hardly comprehend just now.

"I know I'm only living here because Lucas wants you to keep an eye on me, but I really am grateful. I hope we can start again, you and me," Beth ventured.

Ruth nodded. "You can always talk to me," she said gently. "I know we're very different people, but as you said, we're on the same team. And if we're going to be living together for at least a little while, I'd like us to be friends."

Beth found herself smiling. What was it about this woman? She had this earnestness to her that was just irresistible. How could anyone ever not like Ruth? How could anyone hurt her and not feel like an absolute monster? Jesus, Beth must have been going soft if she was looking at this sad, gentle woman and feeling like this. Beth shook herself and just said, "I'd really like that."

"Good, I'm glad," Ruth replied with a smile of her own.

"Girls' night, then?" Beth offered. "I can pour us more wine and we can braid each other's hair and watch romantic comedies."

Ruth started laughing. "I think you'd hate that."

"Well, I wouldn't mind the wine part," Beth conceded.

"The wine part does sound nice, but I'm afraid I'll be away this weekend. Until Sunday sometime, actually."

It did not escape Beth that Ruth started fidgeting and staring at her now-empty wine glass. Beth smirked. "Going to see your special friend?"

"Yes."

"Can you tell me anything about him? Or her?"

Ruth looked back up, slightly surprised. "Him," she confirmed. "And I will tell you about him another time, I promise. He and I have been dancing around each other for a while, and we just recently decided to make a go of a proper relationship. It's still really new, and we're still figuring it out."

"Oh how cryptic," Beth teased. Once again, the depth of mystery of Ruth Evershed was absolutely fascinating.

A faint blush appeared on Ruth's cheeks. "I'm not usually this interesting. And all the intrigue will be gone once I actually do tell you about him."

"Alright, so you keep your secrets for now. But I think I'm rostered off on Sunday, so let's have a girls' afternoon with wine and you can spill everything about your boyfriend."

Ruth wrinkled her nose at that. "Oh he'd hate to be referred to like that."

"Well, what do you call him?"

"I don't call him anything other than his name," she said, her brow furrowed as though this was the first time she'd thought about it.

"Then we'll stick with 'special friend' for now," Beth decided.

"Yes, alright," Ruth chuckled in response. "But he's waiting for me, so I'd better get ready to head out. I'm glad we got to talk, though."

"Me too," Beth replied sincerely.

Ruth got up from the sofa to take her wine glass into the kitchen. She called behind her, "You can feel free to finish the rest of this wine if you want. I'll pick up more on my way back on Sunday."

"No, don't bother, I'll buy some after work tomorrow," Beth said. "Barring any emergencies, that is."

A small smile appeared on Ruth's face as she came back into the living room. "Alright, I won't stop you."

With that, Beth went to get another glass of wine while Ruth went to pack her things for the weekend with her special friend. She went back to the sofa and turned on the television, flipping channels mindlessly. Beth found herself wondering about Ruth's special friend. If they'd known each other for a while, it was probably someone at Thames House or maybe in the Home Office. Beth didn't imagine that people on the Grid had much opportunity to meet anyone else. Ruth especially didn't seem the type to be going out meeting men at clubs. And if this special friend would hate the term 'boyfriend' then he had to be someone older. That would make sense. Beth could see Ruth with some older man, maybe someone in a position of power.

Oh what if it was Harry? Beth chuckled to herself at that. In a way, it would make complete sense that the two of them were romantically involved. They had a sort of chemistry between them. But Ruth was a good girl. Beth could tell that without a doubt. And a good girl like Ruth wouldn't allow herself to get involved with her boss. That would be too messy and too risky. And on Harry's side, he certainly bent the rules when the occasion called for it, but seducing an employee seemed a line he wouldn't cross.

Beth put the thought of Ruth and Harry out of her head. They'd go well together if they ever managed to actually get together, but if they did, neither of them was the person Beth thought they were. And Beth had learned both of their characters quite well these last few days. So no. It wasn't Harry.

Ah well. Ruth would tell her on Sunday. She could be left in her curiosity until then.