First test of altering events of an op
Well at least I haven't waited almost a year to update this time. Hope I can live up to the high hopes some of you have. Sorry for so many typos. Will try to do better.
The team was seated around the conference room table as Harry disseminated the information Ruth had collated. Tom had that crease between his brows, and posed the question all had been thinking, "How did you develop these scenarios of possible outcomes?" Ruth was not unprepared for this. Quickly she reeled off statistics indicating the probability of the child being willing to die and that it would make no difference the comments made by the Algerian.
"Should the Algerian agent approach the child, all he will succeed in doing is getting himself blown up along with the child. Give him enough time to clear the area, but there is nothing else that can be done. Is this clear?" Ruth used a forceful voice in her statement, one none expected from such a young member of the team. Harry stared, thinking, Who have I hired. This isn't the same woman I interviewed. Harry was also finding himself drawn to her. She seemed familiar, someone he had known for years rather than just a day.
In her Report Ruth even provided the name of the child to be used. "I think our best option is to have this child taken into custody through social services. Have him examined to see if he can be returned to a happy life of a child. If not I fear we have a future terrorist in plain sight."
Tom thought for a moment. "Wouldn't it be better to let the child proceed and we might gather others from the fold."
Harry started to comment but was interrupted, "Once you have the evidence against the ringleader the group will splinter and there will be no need to gather others in because only one will have been trained to take this course of action through to its completion. We get the adult agent in, gather the evidence, and then withdraw with as little loss of life as possible."
Harry had closed his mouth, and then looked at Ruth, "Thank you Miss Evershed. However, I think the more senior members of the team can work out the logistics of what route we should take."
Ruth knew Harry was in head of Section D mode, which meant he wasn't going to listen to her advice. She knew him too well. The old Ruth would have stood down. The new Ruth, the one with a second chance wasn't about to let the dominos start to fall so quickly. She decided to play to his ego, the one she had yet to shatter. "Your right Sir Har….Mr. Pearce." Ruth had quickly stopped herself from saying Sir Harry as he had not yet been knighted. "I just am so enthused being here I couldn't stop myself." This time she used a voice that indicated innocence, and one she hoped would fool Harry long enough to let him consider the options she presented.
"Well," said Harry, "Tom you go find this Algerian chap, and set up a meeting. We'll find out if he's for real or if we need other options."
"Oh he's for real," said Ruth without thinking. Quickly she added, "There is just so much intel about him. He loves this country. That's why he's here." Ruth had not put that in the report but knew it to be true from the reports Tom had to write after the bomb went off killing the man and the child bomber.
Harry seemed to like this answer and then looked at her for a moment longer than normal saying, "Good work. Let's see what we can do with all this information. Ruth a moment please after the others leave." The others took that as their key to leave. They'd never seen anyone challenge Harry openly and survive to tell about it. They expected Ruth was in for a verbal rebuke if for no other reason than being right, but usurping Harry's role as the authoritarian of the group.
Ruth was expecting this as well, and had prepared her arguments. As Harry approached Ruth smiled nervously, and started to blather on about statistics thinking that's what the other Ruth would have done. She hoped this would keep his anger at her to a minimum.
Harry approached and leaned on the table with one thigh resting on it taking about half his weight from his body. He smiled. Ruth smiled back with a blush. "Miss Evershed, eh Ruth, would you have dinner with me tonight?" Ruth had expected many things to come out of Harry's mouth, but not this. Is it possible he was already in love with her this early in her arrival at MI5? Or could he be the Harry of old just trying to add another notch to his bedpost? No matter what, no matter how much she felt like running, she told Harry, "Yes," Ruth replied with just one simple word.
"What time shall I pick you up, and do you have a preference of where you'd like to eat?"
Ruth responded, "I'll leave the details to you."
"That's good. I know a place. I think you'll like it." At these words from Harry, Ruth's mouth opened and no comment came out, there was just a memory of a similar conversation, that that conversation was at least three or was it four years in the future.
Ruth decided to push this a little further, "You've already made a reservation." Sheepishly Harry said yes. "I might have said no."
Then Harry responded, "Then I'd be like the chap waiting for the girl making the rolls dance. What was the name of that movie?"
"Gold Rush. You won't have to wait I mean. Yes I'll meet you there."
"No, I'll pick you up at your place and drive, said Harry . Ruth was feeling elated. Then Harry added, "We'll talk about your place within the team and when and when not to offer operation plans to a well-seasoned team." This time his voice wasn't as pleasant.
Ruth started to worry that she may save the world, and team members but never have Harry.