Set between series 4 and 5 for those who were asking. Thanks for the massive response to chapter one. Left me smiling :)
Walking into the banquet hall Ruth was struck by how very large the place was. She took her jacket off and left it in the cloakroom before returning to the magnificent hall. "Who owns this?" she asked in awe.
"Unfortunately it's wasted on the owner," Harry said, keeping her hand tightly in the crook of his arm.
"Ah," she said quietly. "Dare I guess Mace?"
"Yes," Harry said. Ruth drew her eyes away from the building itself, to the people around them. She felt like she stood under a bright spotlight because everyone seemed to be watching her.
"Why is everyone watching me?" she asked Harry, echoing her thoughts.
"They're wondering who the beautiful woman on my arm is," Harry said honestly. "And I'm sure the people who have met you don't recognise you without a stack of files or a desk phone pressed to your ear."
"Careful or I might start taking offence," Ruth said.
"I started that by saying you were beautiful," Harry said, catching her eye. "What offence can you take from that?"
She was spared answering by Nicholas Blake approaching them, one of the few men in the room she had actually spoken to before. "Ah Harry, good to see you," he said. "And hello Ruth."
"Home Secretary," she said.
"You're looking very lovely tonight," he said to Ruth.
"Thank you," she said politely.
"Can I steal Harry away from you for a moment?"
"Of course," she said. Harry squeezed her hand in comfort before letting her go reluctantly. Ruth watched him go out of earshot and then looked around the crowded room. She recognised no one and felt a moment of fear. But it passed and she went to the bar to get a drink. She needed some refreshment.
"Excellent, I'll send you the paperwork through on Monday," Blake said. Harry nodded in agreement, his eyes already scanning the room for Ruth. He couldn't see her. "I'll let you get back to your lovely lady then," he added.
"Thank you," Harry said. He left the Home Secretary, trying to find Ruth. It took perhaps three minutes for him to realise she wasn't in the main hall. It took him thirty more seconds to start panicking about where she might be. People were walking through a large doorway, back and forth so he followed that way. It was quieter out here, and clearly people went this way for private conversations or liaisons. He half hoped he wouldn't find Ruth here, as he didn't like seeing couples in covert corners and alcoves down this hallway. He kept walking and that was when he heard it.
"No!" He would recognise Ruth's voice anywhere, and he followed that cry of hers down a slimmer more private corridor. Half running by now, he heard more and wished he hadn't. "Stop it! Please!"
"Shut up you bitch," a male voice hissed at her. Harry ran around the corner and what he saw froze his heart. Ruth was pinned to the wall, Oliver Mace's hands all over her in a way which she was clearly not enjoying.
"No! I said stop it!" Crack. He'd slapped her face. That noise of Mace hitting Ruth jarred Harry into action. He ran to him and pulled him off of her bodily before punching him in the face, hard.
"I think she said no," Harry said, his voice taking on a dangerously quiet tone.
"God Harry, mind your own business, I'm busy," Mace, said his eyes glittering darkly.
"I think the lady in question was not appreciating it," Harry said. "Ruth?"
"No," she said, her voice shaking. Harry made himself not look at her and deal with Mace first. If he looked at her he ran the risk of falling apart. Harry punched Mace in the stomach, putting his entire strength behind it. The man doubled over, wheezing.
"I have not finished with you," Harry warned. "Get out of here." Mace didn't hang around for a second warning. As soon as he vanished around the corner Harry turned to Ruth. She leaned against the wall, her breath coming in gasps and she was shaking.
He put his hands on her shoulders. "Are you all right?" he asked, already knowing the answer.
"No," she said, her eyes wild.
"I'm not going to hurt you," he said firmly.
"No, I know that," she said, closing her eyes for a moment.
"God, you're freezing," he said. "Did he touch you?"
"Yes," she said. "But not… that."
"Good," he said firmly. "I'm taking you home."
"No, you have to stay for appearances sake," she said. "I know that."
"I don't care about appearances," he replied. "Come on, I'm taking you home." He took his jacket off and draped it over her shoulders. To him it showed how shaken she was that she didn't protest. He took her out the back, as opposed to through the main hall, not wanting to possibly bump into Mace, and he hailed a cab. Once Ruth was seated in the back of it, she started to come back to life.
"I only went to the ladies," she said. "I didn't think I was being followed, there were plenty of people milling around. But then he grabbed my wrist and pulled me away from everyone else. I couldn't push him off of me. Thank God you arrived when you did."
"I'm going to kill him," Harry said calmly.
"No you're not," Ruth said. "He's the head of the JIC. It would be awkward if he was found murdered."
"I don't care," he said fervently. "He can't touch you like that. God, I want to strangle him."
"No." She reached for his hand and squeezed. "I'm not against making his life unpleasant, but I don't want you to kill him on my account. Slimy weasel that he is."
"He could have…" Harry swallowed uncomfortably. "You could have been seriously hurt."
"I'm fine," she said. "Plus if you need someone to dig up dirt on Mace, I'm your best bet anyway."
"How true," he said, fighting to stay calm. Much to his surprise, Ruth leaned over the seat towards him and kissed him. He responded out of instinct, his tongue flicking over her lips, and the kiss turned intensely passionate. Then his brain kicked in.
"No," he said pulling away from her. "Not after that. You're not thinking straight."
"The difference is I want you to touch me," she said without a blush. "I don't need to think about it."
"God Ruth…" he whispered. "What are you doing to me?"
Not sure if Harry should leave her alone or go home with her ;)