Alone?
Ruth woke up with a start. She listened intently, unsure as to what had woken her. With no sound from either of the children's bedrooms she realised they were still sound asleep. It was then she realised that Harry was not in the bed with her. Her stomach lurched, for a moment afraid that the events of the previous evening had been a lie - that it really was her husband laying on the cold slab in the mortuary.
"Harry." She whispered before getting out of bed. Forgoing slippers and her dressing gown she made her way down the stairs.
Xx
Erin brushed her dark hair away from her face as she thought about the idea of surgery to be made to look exactly like another person. The thought made her feel sick. She wondered for a moment if Juliet really was the Juliet Shaw that had served with Harry in Belfast all those years ago. Perhaps she hadn't been turned? Perhaps she really was someone else and the real Juliet Shaw had been dead for decades? She sighed as she felt Richard rest his hands on her shoulders before kissing her head.
"Erin?"
"Sorry." She glanced up. "Thinking about Work."
He nodded, understanding that was as much as she could or would tell him. He smiled slightly before kissing her as her arms came to wrap themselves around his shoulders. Suddenly clones were the last thing she thought about.
Xxxxxx
"Harry?" Ruth walked into the living room as Harry stared at the unlit fire.
"I didn't mean to wake you."
"It's ok. Harry? No. No you are not doing this."
He shrugged, hating the fear and desperation in her voice. Ruth angry was one thing. Ruth, scared, hurt and angry was another.
"Ruth. I'm."
"Look at me." Her voice was deliberately low. She had to keep her emotions in check - the children were still asleep. "Are you leaving me?" She felt sick as he turned to her - crossing the small room in a couple of steps.
"No." Harry touched her face. "No Ruth. Never. You know that."
She met his gaze. "Then? Then what's with the bag? You being dressed and ready at 3am. I know I've not slept through a red flash."
Harry nodded. He kissed her forehead before resting his forehead against hers. A single tear slipped from her eyes as Harry brushed it away. "Don't cry."
"I'm not." Ruth sounded petulant.
"I have to do this."
"No. You are not a field officer. You don't have to do this. Harry, you are nearly 60!"
Harry smiled slightly. "And it's you that keeps telling me I'm not old."
"You're not! It's just I don't want you to go to Moscow. Because that's where you are going. I'm right, aren't I?, you're going to get yourself killed!"
"I won't send Ros or Lucas. Ruth, you know I can't do that." He whispered. Ruth nodded. She knew the Hell both of her friends had been through in the former Soviet Union.
"You were just going to go? Without telling anyone. Harry, you were going to go dark?"
"I didn't want to wake you." He knew it was a poor excuse the moment it left his lips. Ruth looked away.
"Ok, what if this cloning programme is still going on? What if they capture you and send a lookalike home to me? Would I know the difference? Has that already happened?"
"No." He held her hands. "I'm Harry Pearce. Warts and all." His Yorkshire accent becoming more noticeable as he tried to make Ruth understand. "Ruth, I won't let it happen." Both stared at each other for a moment; neither wanted to be the first to break eye contact.
"You come back to me. You come home to me and you tell me something only you and I would know."
He smiled slightly before kissing her passionately. Ruth felt her knees buckle as he deepened the kiss. All thoughts of Russia and clones slipped their minds as a mobile began to ring. They jumped back.
"The Star Wars Death March?"
"It's a Red Flash. Malcolm chose the ring tone." Ruth answered the phone. Her face froze as she listened to the caller. "Affirmative- on route." She hung up. Harry glared.
"What?"
"We need you here."
"What's happened?"
"Tomas Romanov has just been found dead."
"The Russian ambassador? Here?"
"Yes. We're needed on the Grid. Ros is already there." She ran upstairs to dress as Harry called Graham to look after the children. It seemed his undercover black op was going to have to wait.
Xxxxxxxx
A/N please review