This chapter is tied to 4-3, and I'm tweaking some of the script for this chapter.
They hadn't left the grid until late, and Ruth was just getting out of the shower when her phone rang. "If you want me to come into work now, you're dreaming," she said as she answered the phone. "I need some sleep."
"Actually this was more of a personal call," Harry said, his voice low.
"Oh," she said. "Well in that case, you're more than welcome to keep me up." He chuckled lightly down the phone and she shivered, very aware that all she wore was a towel wrapped around her body. She left the bathroom and perched on the edge of her bed, the phone glued to her ear.
"How was Zaf?" he asked.
"I don't think he'll make things awkward," she said. "He was actually concerned for me."
"Oh?"
"Seemed to think you were just using me."
"Ruth, I'm…"
"I know you're not," she said softly, cutting him off. "Don't worry."
"That's good," he said. "Listen, I have something to tell you."
"Oh no."
"What?"
"You're using your grid voice. Go on."
"For operational reasons, I'm going to have to send you back to GCHQ."
"What?" she said faintly, feeling her lovely happy bubble burst well and truly. "Why?"
"This is not an indication of how much I value you," he said. "I need someone there, to supply information that we can use to topple Sampson from his annoyingly high perch. I just… I need someone I can really trust, and there's no way I'm relying on anyone who's already there. Not when it's this important."
She paused before replying. "Juliet been on the phone? Giving her marching orders, has she?" There was a loud silence on the phone. "I'm sorry, that was snide."
"Ruth…"
"I'm sorry," she repeated. "I accept your history, but being confronted by it everyday at work is not easy."
"I thought you'd appreciate me letting you know about GCHQ before work tomorrow. I don't want you to… I don't want to spring in on you."
"I know. Thanks." She sighed, as the conversation had taken a turn she hadn't intended to. "It shouldn't be dangerous, should it?" she asked as the thought occurred to her.
"No, you'll just be handing information to Adam's legend. You'll be fine."
"Good," she said. "Just checking."
"Shall I come over?" he asked. "If you really want to delve into my history with Juliet… well, I wont lie to you, but I wouldn't really want to do it on the phone."
"I'm fine," she said. "I shouldn't have said that. It's none of my business."
"Well you're clearly not fine with it," he said. "Not that I blame you."
"Harry, detailing your past liaisons will not help me in any way, shape or form. Trust me. I shouldn't have said that. Just forget it."
"Okay," he said.
"We should go," she said, feeling awkward. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Goodbye Ruth." Harry hung up and she collapsed backwards on the bed. Way to put your foot in it, Ruth. Beginning to get cold, she went to get ready for bed. Hoping that tomorrow would be better.
She didn't get to speak to Harry about anything but the operation for more than a week. She'd begun to think that maybe he was avoiding her after her ill advised words on the phone, but then again they were incredibly busy.
When Ruth returned to the grid near the end of the operation, the way Harry looked at her, so soft and warm, let her know that he'd missed her, a thought which reassured her immensely. He was telling her to collect more information from the safe house.
"I wont have to meet Morgan again?" she asked.
"Probably not," he said, eyes not leaving hers. "But if it is necessary I'm sure you could carry it off with your usual aplomb." He kept looking at her as he carried on. "News from Westminster?" His eyes slid away from hers to the rest of the group as he continued and she couldn't help the smile that spread onto her face.
What an idiot. Ruth could hear Adam coming up the stairs, even as the knife dug into her throat. She was very aware that if she moved an inch or two, that would be it. It would all be over, and she'd be dead on the floor. Why had she gone into the house?! Adam looked at her and she knew she looked frightened. He held his hands up, his eyes on her as one of Moran's cronies tied him up. Ruth instinctively knew this wouldn't end well and the fear that took hold of her as she and Adam were bundled in the back of a truck was so prominent she could taste it.
She and Adam were bounced around in the back of the truck as they drove. Only their hands were tied, they weren't gagged or blindfolded and their feet were free. While this should have been a good sign, Ruth didn't see it like that. She saw it that their captors had no need to restrain them.
"They're going to kill us," she said.
"We'll be all right," Adam said. Even in the dim light, she could see the thoughts racing through his mind. How to get out of this situation. The main difference between a field agent and herself. She couldn't fight off the panic.
"I need you to do something for me," she said to Adam. "If I don't get out of this and you do."
"Ruth, you'll be fine," he said.
"Please." He caught her eyes in the darkness and could see that she was very close to falling apart.
"Fine," he agreed.
"I need you to tell Harry that I love him." There was a silence, which was shocking when they were in a van that was rocking so much. She closed her eyes and shook her head. "Please Adam, just do it." She didn't want to examine his face too closely.
"Okay," he said. "But I wont have to."
"Moran will kill us," she said simply.
"How long has that been going on?" Adam asked. "You and Harry?"
"Do we have to talk about this now?" she asked as the van went over a rather large bump in the road, emphasising her point.
"What else are we going to do?" he asked. "How long?"
"Long enough," she said. "It's not some fling, Adam, we just wanted to keep it private." He didn't reply.
The van drew to a stop and Ruth could feel her heart in her throat. Oh God. They were both yanked out and thrown forcefully on the ground as the van hurriedly drove off. Ruth and Adam were alone.
"I don't understand, why've they let us go?" Ruth asked as he untied both of their hands, using his teeth on his own bindings.
"They haven't let us go," Adam said, looking around. But Ruth found him first. Moran, aiming a crossbow at them. She was so shocked she froze. She couldn't move out of the way, all she could do was shout.
"Adam!" She felt him push her to the ground as the whiz of a bolt went over their heads.
"Run!" Adam said as they headed for the trees. She did, following him, knowing at the same time that Adam was bound to be faster than her. Once under cover of the trees, they looked around. All of the landscape looked the same.
"We're not getting out of this," Ruth said.
"Go. He wants me more than you. Go and get back up here."
"I can't leave you," she said.
"Of course you can," he said. "Go." She hesitated then did as he said. The whistle of another bolt head caught her attention before she'd gone more than ten paces. She watched as Adam ran towards Moran and decided to take action. She might be slower than Adam but two were always better than one.
Unaware of where the impulse came from, she picked up a tree branch and whacked Moran around the head with it. He crumpled to the floor. Adam moved quickly and grabbed the crossbow, aiming it directly at Moran. But the fight seemed to have gone out of him.
"Shall I hit him again Adam?"
"Only if you want to," he said, a slight smile tugging at his lips. Suddenly the branch felt as heavy as concrete and she dropped it, at the same time as she heard sirens coming. Clearly they'd followed the van and back up was on the way. Adam didn't budge from his position until Moran had cuffs on and was being led away. Zaf had arrived with back up and he gave Adam a phone which was clearly already connected. "Harry."
Ruth turned away from him, not wanting to feel the heat of his accusing stare. She looked over the landscape trying to get her heart rate to slow down. Trying to stay calm. It wasn't until Adam tapped her on the back of the shoulder that she turned.
"Harry wants to speak to you," he said. She nodded and took the phone. Now that they were no longer in danger, what she'd revealed to Adam seemed foolish and silly. But at the time, she'd needed Harry to know, when the fear of imminent death had been on her. She put the phone to her ear.
"Ruth?" He sounded incredibly worried and concerned. "I can hear you breathing," he said when she didn't reply. "Ruth, I need to know you're safe."
"I'm here," she said, feeling Adam's eyes in her back.
He exhaled in relief on the phone. "Are you all right?" he asked urgently. "Are you hurt?"
"Yes, no," she said. "I'm fine and I'm not hurt."
"Are you sure, you sound… restrained," he said. She was being careful about what she said because she could guess Adam was listening to her side of the conversation.
"Eavesdroppers," she said. "I'm just being careful."
"Okay," he said. "I am… worried about you."
"I'm in one piece," she said. "Promise."
"Good."
"Listen, I'm going straight home. I don't think I could cope on the grid. I just want to go home."
"Of course," he said. "I'll call you later."
"I know. I should go," she said.
"Please take care," he said, almost pleading.
"I will. Bye Harry." She disconnected the phone and threw it back to Adam. Both he and Zaf looked like they were in conversation, and Ruth's paranoid mind thought they were talking about her and Harry. They probably were. She shook her head because she couldn't deal with that now. All she wanted to do was to go home.
More soon! Thanks for reading and especially reviewing.