Thanks everyone. I found this chapter really easy to write, and LouBelle04 and pook there will be a Lucy / Towers conversation later.
Eventually he let go of her, his hands still staying around her waist She made a tiny little moan of satisfaction when their lips parted, which made him give her another brief press of lips. "I really have to go," he said in a hoarse whisper.
"I know," she said.
But after a minute he still hadn't moved away from her, their eyes glowing in the quietness. "I don't want to let you go." She smiled at that.
"I'll be here waiting," she said, and there was more meaning behind that than talking about that afternoon. He brushed her hair softly and then left his office, and leaving a breathless Ruth to think about what had just happened. When she came to her senses, and the immediacy of feeling Harry's lips on hers had faded somewhat, she left his office and was surprised to see Towers emerging from the pods.
"Home Secretary," she said with half a smile.
"Ah, Miss Evershed, just the person I was looking for," he said.
"Really, why would that be?" she asked.
"I've read Harry's report on you," Towers said. "It made for… very interesting reading to say the least."
"In what way?" Ruth asked, starting to get a dim view of where this conversation was heading.
"Your instrumental role in discovering several terrorist plots. The way you work diligently but it is almost never recognised by anyone at all."
"Just doing my job Home Secretary."
"Stop that, its William," he said. "And you are doing your job supremely well, I must say. I do believe you have been overlooked for far, far too long."
"Really?" Ruth said, feeling her heart beat rather quicker than normal.
"Have dinner with me at the weekend," Towers said. "I'd like to discuss your career opportunities. I think I could use someone like you in the Home Office. More sociable hours I think too."
"Er…" Ruth said, trying to stall for time, wondering what on earth to say to that. There was only one man she wanted to have dinner with and it wasn't the one she was currently speaking with. As if reading her mind Towers spoke again.
"Its on a strictly professional basis, Ruth, if I may call you that?" he said with a raised eyebrow.
"That's fine," she said. "Okay, I'll have dinner with you. It is purely professional though Home Secretary," she reiterated.
"William," he corrected. "I understand. I wouldn't want to come between you and Harry."
"What?" she said quickly.
"I know you both needed the enquiry to believe that the reason he saved you from Bateman was simply your value to the country, but I don't think anyone who knows the pair of you believes that. Harry doesn't give away state secrets for just anyone. You're… important to him."
"I'll go to dinner, but its on the condition that we do not discuss Harry," she said firmly. She did not discuss her feelings at the best of times and she had no inclination to do so with Towers.
"Okay," he said. "By the way, I called the grid the other day and a little girl picked up. Do you know who that was?"
"Loud and chatty?" Ruth asked. "With an infectious giggle?"
"That's the one."
"That'll have been Lucy," Ruth said. "Harry's daughter." Towers looked like he wanted to say something else, but much to Ruth's relief she heard Dimitri call her over the grid.
"Sorry, I have to…"
"Of course," Towers said. "Don't let me stop you." Ruth was relieved to see that by the time she reached Dimitri's desk, Towers had left.
"What did you want?" Ruth asked.
"Nothing," Dimitri said. "You had the look of a cornered animal. Thought I'd step in as your usual night in shining armour isn't here at the moment."
"Thank you," she said with a smile, choosing not to comment on Harry.
Harry was in the car, driving Lucy home who was smiling now that her face was free of foreign objects. "You alright there munchkin?" Harry asked.
"Yes," she said easily. "Its nice to have my face back."
"Good," Harry said.
"Where's Ruth?" Lucy said. "I haven't seen her for a while."
"She's at work," Harry replied. "If you want I can see if she wants to see you later? She can come around?"
"Of course she'll want to," Lucy said with confidence. "Ruth is nice." She said it so simply, as if that solved everything in the world.
"Yes," Harry said with a smile. He lapsed into silence as he remembered the feel of her lips against his. God he wanted a repeat of that kiss.
Ruth rang the doorbell to Harry's house that evening feeling nervous. She didn't have long to dwell on it because the door opened quickly to reveal Harry, with Lucy standing by his side.
"Ruth!" she said happily.
"Hi gorgeous," she said.
"Daddy's useless," Lucy added when they all went into the kitchen.
"I'm not going to argue with you, but why?" Ruth said to the girl who was skipping around happily.
"He can't do my hair!" she complained. "I want it plaited and he's useless."
"I am here," Harry said begrudgingly.
Ruth ignored him for the time being. "I can do it for you if you want?"
"Ooh, yes please!" Lucy said happily. Almost instantly she sat on the kitchen chair and turned her back to Ruth. Ruth ran her fingers softly through the girls long locks and face Harry for a second.
"Is she telling the truth?" Ruth asked. "Harry Pearce, head of counter terrorism in MI5 has been defeated by a little girls hair?"
"Do you want tea?" Harry asked, choosing to ignore that.
"Please," Ruth said as she began to plait Lucy's hair. By the time he handed her the mug, she'd finished an Lucy skipped off happily after saying thank you.
"I guess that's a skill I'll really need to learn," Harry said quietly.
"She's beautiful," Ruth said honestly.
"Well she doesn't hate me yet so that's something," he said. "Would you like to go out to dinner with me tomorrow night?"
"Yes," she said instantly. "No, damn it. Tomorrow I can't."
"Why not?"
"Towers asked me," Ruth replied. "I said I'd go."
"You said you'd go to dinner with another man?" Harry asked and she could see the hurt in his face.
"Its not like that," she said. "He read that report you wrote about me. You know, the one you still won't let me read. Apparently you made me sound so good that he wants to offer me a promotion. I think I should hear him out."
"You work for me," Harry said sharply.
"I know that," she said. "I probably won't go for it, but it is nice to know that I have value to someone. Besides you," she added as he gave every indication of interrupting.
"There's… nothing…?"
"Its professional," she said firmly, knowing what he was thinking. "I would love to go to dinner with you. Can you pick another night?"
"Sunday?"
"Okay," she said with happiness, pleased that he was so eager.
"And you can tell me all about what Towers… offered you."
"I will," she said. He reached across the table and squeezed her hand. They only broke apart when Lucy came bounding back into the room.
"Want to play!" she cried out. Ruth felt slightly bereft of Harry's touch but turned and smiled all the same.
"What do you want to do?"