The Challenge Continues.

Sorry for the delay in posting, first my eyes, then my bronchial tubes conspire against me, and now I don't remember which meds I have already taken. Any I will try my best to produce a product without too many mistakes. I look back and say how did it get by me. I'm so sick I'm rewatching season 10, that is sick. Need to watch season two.

By late morning the incident involving a former MI5's officer's child had been handled through sending a team of psychiatric specialists to the boy's home and taking him to a facility where he could be helped. Harry had, after learning of the child's distress had taken it upon himself to oversee the situation. As he returned through the pods he looked at Ruth, as she looked at him, and Tom glanced at both of them.

"Ruth, my office please," it was said in the manner of a request, but everyone knew a request from Harry was just a polite order. Ruth's brow furrowed. She couldn't think what she'd done. Then Tom's brow furrowed trying to figure out what Harry wanted with Ruth, she really was starting to district Tom from his work.

Harry to Ruth, "How could you possibly know the psychological break that child was undergoing? You seem almost super natural in your abilities here. I'm not complaining, but I can't see how you connect all those dots no one else sees."

"I'm an analyst Harry. It's what I do. I see things others don't because the others aren't looking at all the data that crosses my desk." Her answer was simple the kind she thought would keep Harry from asking too many more.

He moved closer. Ruth couldn't help but feel the tension between them, but when would be the right time for them. There never before seemed to be a right time, so why had she be given this second chance. She could right so many wrongs. Harry placed his hands on her arms, and said, "good job today. So what does your crystal ball predict next."

Ruth didn't need a crystal ball she knew that Tom's breaking point was still under the surface despite his apparent interest in her. "I'll have to collate more information and get back to you." Ruth did decide to toss out one additional piece of information.

"While going through Russian files, I learned Elena was a double agent, actually never truly a double agent, she was sent to turn you. Sasha her son is not yours. His DNA is a match for Elena's husband."

With that she turned and walked out on a Harry who looked like he'd just been given a reprieve from a death sentence." He followed her out, "Ruth a moment."

She stepped back into his office. "How did you know I thought I was Sasha's father? I came across it in a file on a CIA official's computer, seems he thinks you are the father, but additional tests reveal you are not."

"Are you certain of this?"

"Yes. In fact Elena was playing you. She knew all along her parents were not tortured by the then KGB. Seems once you told that lie she was ready to go along with the KGB. In a report she acknowledges she enjoyed you in bed, but it was nothing more." Again, Ruth studied Harry's face and then she saw him relax. It was a look you rarely saw from Harry Pearce.

"So it seems a 20 year guilt I've been carrying was all a game. I'll have my revenge."

"No Harry," said Ruth, "We have many more important matters. There will be a point in the future where you may deal with her. My life might depend on it."

There was a knock on the door and it opened, this time it was time. "We have a situation," said Tom.

It was the time Ruth dreaded, they'd found the Charla Cartel operation and Tom and Zoe decided they should go undercover and make friends with the leaders lady friend. Ruth voiced objections but really had nothing to base it on.

During the operational session she did add, "Are you all here familiar with a former senior agent named Tessa?" Everyone in the room looked around at each other with a certain discomfort. Ruth knew she'd hit a nerve. She had never met her but she'd seen the result of her work before Tessa flew off to parts unknown.

"I see I've hit a nerve, but never mind. No matter what, you are not to use her, and additionally, I have reason to believe Tessa has left a mark or two behind on MI5. Intel suggests Sam is working for her but doesn't realize it." At this Harry bolted upright in his chair. "Calm down Harry, she's not done anything yet, and Sam thinks it's a training exercise. You need to call her in and tell her the bar is close. That's the code to end the cam and ask her for the device she was to use. I do know she's already acquired that item."

"Now I also have reason to believe that should this operation go pearshaped, the woman will die a horrible death. Are you prepared for that Tom?"

"Me. Of course. I've lost people in the field before." Tom replied in his usual monotone.

"This may be different. You will have to get to know her, but I have reason to believe that if certain information falls into the wrong hands then she will die and the cartel is not known for its niceties."

Once again Ruth was able to give the agents just enough information to let the events play out as planned without the unnecessary deaths.

After this operation, Ruth and Danny started talking more. It reminded her of the old days when she knew she could count on him. Both Tom and Harry also noticed. It wasn't long before Tom made his way to Ruth and asked her about a drink. She felt like she should say no, but also knew that she had to factor this into all that was taking place. So Ruth accepted. Harry did not have a happy look as she walked off the Grid with Tom's arm at the small of her back. Ruth just wanted to keep Tom on an even level, and make sure he eventually interacted with Christine Dale. If she did not know all that she did know, this would be the time of her life.

At the George, Ruth looked at Tom and said, "you know I'm not interested."

"Yes, but now that I've accepted it, I enjoy the kick I get out of watching the steam come out of Harry's ears when he sees you look, much less talk, to another man." They both laughed.

"Yes, but he is a man who cannot show his emotions easily," reminded Tom, "That's why I've decided you are good for him. Still if you decide to give up on Harry I'm available."

"Not for long Tom," with that Ruth glanced to where Christine was having a drink by herself. Tom got the message and decided why not give the beautiful blonde a chance. With that he got up and moved over to chat with Christine Dale. At the same moment Harry entered the bar and slid in the seat just vacated by Tom. "Buy you a drink?" Harry asked her a bit cheekily feeling more confident since Tom seemed to have moved on. Ruth smiled that shy youthful smile she had then and nodded her acceptance. She thought about timing.

Ruth was starting to see the respect and desire from Harry. In the past he'd respected her first and the desire came later. This time it seemed to be working in reverse.