Moving into episode 4-9 now. Thanks to all those who are sticking with this long fic!
Ruth had slowly started moving some of her possessions into Harry's house, but what with her current workload, it was very slow going. And she'd not even thought about moving any of her books over to his, though most of her clothes and shoes had been moved. One morning, Ruth agreed to have Harry drive her into work. She'd previously resisted, not liking the idea of announcing her private life to the grid. But since everyone who mattered knew about them anyway, and since Fiona's death… well, Harry driving her to work seemed so trivial in comparison.
"So, are we going to need a room dedicated to a library?" Harry asked casually, thinking it was better to talk about that, than the fallout he was expecting at work today from Lewis Khurvin. "When you move your books in?"
Ruth looked at her hands in her lap and smiled. "I actually had a look at them all the other day. I own more books than I thought I did."
"How many hundreds are we talking?" he asked.
"I don't know. But I don't tend to throw out books ever. So I have… quite a few." He smiled as he pulled up to a queue at the traffic lights. He squeezed her hand tightly.
"I like having you with me," he said. "It's… nice."
"Nice?" she asked.
"Well, I was struggling to think of the right adjective," he said. Unable to resist, he leaned across and kissed her briefly. Even though they were moving forward in their relationship, he knew she'd be uncomfortable with them showing affection at work, so he reasoned it would be at least eight hours before he'd be able to do that again. His fingers lightly brushed through her hair before he turned back to the road, the traffic light just changing to green.
"Have you told Graham I'm moving in?" she asked.
"Not in so many words," he said. "We don't really… talk very much. I'm too afraid of saying the wrong thing and I think he's quiet because he thinks I'll kick off. Like before. You're not exactly at the house for longer than usual, what with work."
"Mm," she said. "You do know you'll have to talk to him sooner or later."
"Yes, but I'm avoiding it," he said.
"Harry!" Her shout was unnecessary. He'd already seen the car swerving towards him. He sharply braked and jerked the steering wheel away, watching in silence as the driver kept weaving down the road.
"Christ," Ruth said, watching as the erratic car mounted the pavement behind them, colliding with the wall. "I think my life just flashed in front of my eyes."
"Are you all right?" he asked seriously. She nodded, taking her phone out of her handbag to call the accident through.
"Shall we just try to get to work in one piece?" Harry nodded and drove on.
Apparently the days unusual events were just getting started. It was still quite early in the day when Juliet came marching onto the grid with a lot of security. Ruth stood next to Adam, watching as Juliet and Harry were clearly having a loud argument.
"What exactly does Juliet think she's doing?" Ruth asked bewildered as the entire grid looked on. The blinds were open, so they could see everything, and they were clearly both angry. After Lewis Khurvin shooting those two MI5 officers yesterday, Ruth could only imagine what was being said. She watched in silence as Harry was marched from his office, clearly in disgrace. His eyes landed on hers for a long moment before he was almost frogmarched from the grid. Ruth couldn't believe it as Juliet addressed the team. Not many of her words permeated Ruth's frozen brain, but enough did. Harry, suspended? He could lose his job. No, she wouldn't comprehend that. Because if Harry left the grid, she knew that her own job would become much less enjoyable. She loved having Harry on the grid with her, and if that disappeared… well. Best not to think about that until absolutely necessary.
Juliet was speaking and Ruth drew her attention back to the present moment with difficulty. "…and no contact from anyone from section D."
Ruth opened her mouth to argue, but Adam's tight grip on her arm made her keep hold of her tongue, though with difficulty. Nothing would stop her from seeing Harry, certainly not the word of that cow.
"Adam, I need a word with you," Ruth said. Adam nodded, his eyes flicking upwards. Ruth took the silent hint and within ten minutes they were both on the roof where they were reasonably sure no one could overhear them.
"You don't seriously expect me to not contact Harry, do you?" Ruth started.
"Give it twenty four hours," Adam said firmly. "I'll meet him to discuss the case."
"Why you?" Ruth asked. What she really meant was "why shouldn't I go?" but didn't voice it.
"Ruth, you will be being watched. People know that you're… close to Harry. I think if you see him, it'll just be worse for him in the long run. I won't be so damaging." She inclined her head in agreement, though she didn't like it.
"If he's suspended for more than a few days, I won't keep away," she said.
"I know that," Adam said sincerely. "He'll be fine."
She smiled slightly. "Of course he will. I'd just rather he was here. When there's a crisis… well, I don't think there's a safer pair of hands to deal with it than Harry."
"Maybe not," he said. "This might blow over." He shrugged. "We have to go back. And it's freezing."
"Go," she said. "I just need to think."
"Don't be too long," Adam said. "The witch will be watching."
"Hm," Ruth said quietly. She looked over the city, thinking of the grid without Harry there. She loved her work, and she was good at it. But she couldn't deny that Harry was a bright spot in her working life. Even before they became a couple, it had been that way. Take away his personal attractions, she felt he was someone who honestly wanted the best for the country and the service. She dreaded to think of the state of section D were it to fall into the hands of someone like Mace. She sighed heavily and returned to the grid. Better get on with the case.