Harry and Ruth wake early and ready for work. They take a few minutes to eat a light breakfast and chat about the planned day ahead. "Harry you haven't forgotten about Zoe. It's important from the chatter we've picked up. They want to make the services look good policing themselves. All the while, they really only want a scapegoat for an officer who gets himself killed. "What?" Harry is surprised Ruth knows this much. "Harry you don't realize how much the powers that be want to send her down and not just a slap on the wrist." Harry winced. Slap on the wrist was the exact phrase the DG had used in describing the planned "show" trial. " Do you have any suggestions Ruth."
"Yes. Do you know a man named Oliver Mace?" Harry looked horrified. "Know him he is more deadly than a venomous viper. He's not some one to mess about with or you may be the one in jail." Ruth muttered under her breath, "or dead." She recalled the recent death of someone who thought Mace was protecting him. Danny had been particularly hard hit by the incident. It was one case she hadn't changed an outcome as she had been distracted by Sam. She recalled it was around this time she fell hopelessly into a fantasy about a man whose name she didn't even recall now. Sam kept asking her what she was listening to and it wasn't what had been her obsession in that other world. She was a little piqued when she realized Harry was spying on her at the time when she stumbled onto - was it Fortesque? This time around she was only listening to tapes related to issues where she remembered the outcomes, but was short on details so she started reviewing the tapes that might bring out those details she always stresses to team members.
"Harry I think I have found enough information to at least send Oliver Mace on the run for awhile. It seems there are several off-shore accounts that linked to Mace. He covered the trail good. I've uncovered it good. I think it best to send him on his way," before she ended up in Greece. She didn't say the last part but thought briefly of George and Nico. These were happy thoughts, knowing without being part of their life, George would grow to be an old man and Nico would at least have a father. Those are thoughts for another time. Briefly she thought is this world real? Am I just a second from dying or is this a true second chance and if so why am I getting this second chance. Regarding these questions she had no idea of where to start, but she had gotten a head start on Mace. That slimy Oliver Mace would not best her this time. She also knew it wouldn't be long before Zaf made an appearace. She smiled thinking of the handsome young spy, who if not for Harry, would have her heart. She thought of learning how Zaf died. She was already building files on the group who captured him. They were ruthless and she wanted justice for him. She wanted it in this world as well when she thought of what they did to Jo too. Just in case something happened to her she'd leave notes so others might not perish or be caught up in spy-craft to the point they no longer saw danger.
She hoped Adam and Fiona would both live to raise their son Wes. See the great young man he manages to become. It's not yet time for Jo to join the team and hopefully Sam won't be leaving the team due to the loss of Danny. So much was running through her brain that Harry had asked twice if she was ready to go. "Yes," she'd stumbled through the answer with a curious Harry wondering what she was thinking, knowing it wasn't about him because she hadn't heard him say a word after mentioning Mace.
Harry knew how dangerous Mace could be and Mace needed to go, and if he was behind much of what is going on, then he would weigh his options including taking Mace out, but Ruth must never know. While Ruth seemed less skittish, he still knew she was very sensitive to operations involving assassination. Ruth though was not the shy young girl inside she was a decade ago. She knew what was coming and knew that there would be changes. That reminded her to make a note about her step-brother's girlfriend. She really didn't want to relive that episode, but that too is in the future. For now her goals are to keep Danny alive, and Zoe out of jail. Ruth believes once Zoe marries she will leave the service. Zoe had talked about it. How Tom was better off being out of the game as she phrased it.
Danny would have to accept Zoe would not be his great love, but perhaps he and Sam will find each other. A mental note Ruth added to her growing list of items that needed to be corrected. What had happened before her arrival she couldn't change, but she could and would make sure to keep as many people safe as possible. Even Forestal was still alive and she had not been tied up to a handrail in his home. There were many facts she had, and some things she would have to fill in as she didn't know all about everything. She did know what directly impacted her life with Harry and Oliver Mace was a key player who had to be taken out. She was going to get way ahead of some issues so she and Harry could retire to that beautiful life by the sea in their small cottage with the green paint peeling off the door. Odd she hadn't thought of that since being here. She was to busy correcting all the mistakes of her life over the last 10 years. Ruth also thought what will the consequences be for changing history? Will there be consequences? For now Ruth thinks she will let the consequences be what they will be as long and she and Harry are alive and loving each other in the end.
Harry comes in after seeing the DG and everyone can tell he's not happy. He's slamming doors and yelling at anyone who crosses him, and only stops when Ruth steps into his line of sight. "My office. Now!" Ruth obeyed as Harry didn't use this tone with her often. Once inside his sanctuary, the binds drawn, Harry asks, "Just how did you know about the trial? Mace's involvement? All of it. Tell me now!" Ruth knew now was not the time for the truth -she would be sent to Tring. "Harry what has happened?"
Harry took a deep breath and said "well in my conversation with the DG he practically accused me of bugging his office. Said there was no other way to know what I was telling him. Yes Mace is blackmailing him to try and tear apart MI5 with MI6 left to be Mace's toy. The DG is furious because the plan is spoiled. Zoe won't be disgraced. Mace is going to have to leave as I told the Home Secretary about Mace's accounts located in various financial institutions around the world. The DG won't get the chance to become Home Secretary."
"Well isn't that all good," said Ruth. Normally Harry would agree but he liked the current DG and didn't want him leaving disgraced. "Later today the DG will resign. The Home Secretary will have authorities arrest Mace on terrorists charges, as well as a murder charge, and then expect some rough seas." Harry thought she'd be upset, but at the mention of Home Secretary, Ruth's mind went to another time when they learned just how corrupt the Home Secretary can be and how dangerous. He was the one who wanted Ros killed and made it happen then Ruth suspected Harry killed him although the official report said heart attack. "Harry who is the Home Secretary?" Harry looked incredulous. Ruth that's a strange question. You know all this information but you don't know the name of the Home Secretary?" Ruth interrupted "Just humor me."
"Ruth you've seen his name one hundred times it's Nicolas Blake. The most honorable man to hold that office in a long time." Harry noticed Ruth had turned very pale. "What is it Ruth don't tell me he's part of this plot. This rot invading our Security Services walls."
"No Harry he's not part of this plot, but he may be part of the rot. I don't have all the details yet." That much was true. Blake in that other world gave her life again but he also took lives...lives Harry may not know now, but will know in the future. Ruth knew she'd said too much. This was a man Harry admired. She steadied for Harry's response. "I think you are wrong this time Ruth. Where is your evidence?" She'd just told him she didn't have any. " Why would you want to bring down the one descent man in government? I think I need a little space." With those words the conversation was over. Ruth knew she wouldn't see Harry tonight. Perhaps that's for the best. Ruth thought she needed some time to write in her hidden diaries. She couldn't write with Harry in the house. She needed to write down everything she remembers and go from there. Heartsick that Harry was upset, she knew he would eventually see reason. Before leaving his office she turned and asked, "what about Zoe and the trial?"
Harry stopped in all that had happened he'd forgotten what started this. " That's over. There will be no trial, no slap on the wrist. Zoe can get married and march off into the sunset with her photography boyfriend." Harry said it with a touch of disgust in his voice, knowing he was dangerously close to losing what he has with Ruth, but for just a moment he didn't care and Ruth could tell. " Well that's good," said Ruth. She turned and walked out of the office. Then when it was 5 she turned off her computer and made her way to the exit minus Harry. Harry had stayed in his office the rest of the day and avoided her. She knew it might take time to right things but they would be righted. Mace would not win. She and Harry would eventually make up. Right now she needed to think and she needed some space herself even if she would miss Harry in her bed. She knew Harry thought he was punishing her, but she wagered she'd sleep better tonight than he would because he doesn't know what is ahead for them, and she knows what they have to avoid. She'd forgotten just how much Harry liked Blake. That was a mistake she didn't need to make again. Ruth arrived home, took off her shoes, ran a hot bath, opened a bottle of wine and then soaked, relaxing in the bath, sipping her wine and letting her mind go blank for just a minute.
That's when it happened. For just a flash maybe less than a moment she knew she was in that other world, the one she'd left behind. She was on the ground outside and Harry was above her telling her how much he needed her to stay with him. It was only a split second. Then she was back with her glass of wine. Ruth didn't want to think about that other world she had things to change. Things to make right and maybe both world would mesh together and be her perfect world. That night she did miss Harry in bed with her, but she slept soundly. Harry, across town, was tossing and turning. He was upset that he had been harsh with Ruth. He was upset he didn't understand what was going on. He was missing her, Ruth's scent, the feel of her next to him, the way they made love with abandon. Harry was asking himself, what he'd done. He wanted to get out of bed and go to Ruth's home, no their home and climb in bed next to her, but now he fears she will turn him away. He still had doubts about her information on Nicolas Blake. However he had no doubts about the way he felt about her. He loves Ruth and if he has to chose between Blake and Ruth there really is no choice. Ruth holds his heart. No matter how much he may lose his temper he will always love Ruth. Now how to go about making up.
The next morning when Ruth arrived on the Grid she found two dozen roses waiting for her on her desk. There was a note in his handwriting. It read simply: I am a fool. I was wrong. Please forgive me. I love you more than life. Love, Harry xx
Ruth smiled and then smelled the beautiful aroma of her flowers. She looked to see if Harry was in his office. He wasn't. This disappointed her a bit. It would be nice to share a moment before everyone arrives on the Grid, but that will have to wait. Zoe's trial was averted. Mace was gone but not dead. She pondered if there were things that might happen she had no knowledge of. Then for a moment she remembered what happened the night before when she was relaxing in the tub drinking wine. Was she lying on the ground dying somewhere and Harry trying to save her, or was she imagining that moment. It was unsettling. She pushed it out of her mind and went on writing up her daily report. She was a bit unsettled but marked it down to missing Harry.