Harry and Adam took the lift down to the second floor where the Security Officers were housed. Harry was ominously quiet and Adam almost felt sorry for his Security Officer, who was sure to get the full force of the older man's wrath. As Harry strode into the communal room, the officers that were scattered around all got to their feet. Even though he seldom stood on ceremony, Harry had a natural aura of authority that made those in lower ranks defer to him. Or perhaps it was simply a result of the esteem in which Harry Pearce was held in this building, Adam reflected. Either way, Harry barely noticed the movement, his eyes unerringly zeroing in on the man allocated to him.
"Percy, a moment of your time," he said, before turning on his heel and moving into the corridor.
Adam waited until Percy had passed him, then pulled the door to. No need to let Percy's curious colleagues overhear.

"You betrayed my confidence," Harry began, and the Security Officer flinched.
"I would never, sir!" he protested, stricken. It was a source of honour and prestige to be allocated to Harry Pearce, and he was proud of that fact.
Harry's expression became even more forbidding. "My dinner with Miss Evershed is a source of salacious gossip all over this building. I didn't tell anyone, and Ruth certainly didn't. Do you care to offer any explanation?"
Percy looked appalled. "I swear, sir, I never told anyone outside of your Section."
"But you did tell Joanna."
The Security Officer flushed and shuffled his feet. "Sir, I-"
"Beguiled by her feminine wiles, were you?" Harry asked icily. "Fooled by that innocent smile?"
Percy dropped his head. He looked like his world had just ended.
Harry let the silence stretch for a while, before he took a step towards the man and softened his voice. "Now listen to me carefully, son. You are my Security Officer. That means you are loyal to me and to me alone. Not to my Section, or to anyone above me, but to me. Unless you see me do something that endangers the safety of this country, you tell no-one anything about my movements. This is especially pertinent to my personal life. I trusted you with something precious and important to me, and you failed me."
Percy blinked miserably. "It will never happen again, sir. I give you my word. If you would give me another chance… You won't regret it."
Harry searched his face intently and was apparently satisfied with what he saw there. "There is a way you can make it up to me."
"Anything. I'll do anything," Percy said eagerly.
"One of your colleagues is providing information to Oliver Mace on what is happening in MI5. I want to know who, and why."

- 0 -

When they got back to the Grid, they found Jo and Malcolm in earnest conversation.
"Harry!" Jo called, her relief upon seeing him evident. She quickly relayed what she'd learnt, and Adam frowned.
"What the hell is Special Branch doing taking out one of our assets?"
"Perhaps they didn't know he was ours," Jo suggested. "It could be totally unrelated to our dealings with him."
"Even if that were the case, it's still an appalling failure of communication. Special Branch can't go around executing people without approval from the JIC, who is well aware that the Imam is our asset," Harry said testily. He turned to Adam. "Get out to the safe-house, and inform Ruth what's going on. Jo, I want you to go home with Ruth and stay with her. Once she is safely at home, I want Adam and Zaf to take a crack at the walk-in. I fear there is something more sinister than a possible attack on Britain behind all these machinations, and I want to know what it is."
He turned on his heel and marched off, leaving a gobsmacked Jo and Malcolm in his wake.
"Where are you going?" Adam called, and Harry turned around briefly. "I'm going to ask Oliver Mace why he allowed Special Branch to assassinate one of our assets."
Jo looked after him with alarm. "Adam? What does this have to do with Ruth?"

It was only when she asked the question that Adam realised the rest of the team still had no idea what the walk-in had alleged. "The walk-in claimed that there was a mole in MI5 that would assist the terrorists with the impending attack on Britain. He said he didn't have a name but that it was a woman who came over from GCHQ a few years ago, small and with brown hair." He paused as they stared at him in alarm. "There's only one person who fits that description."
Jo actually laughed. "That's ridiculous. Ruth?"
Adam didn't smile, and she quickly sobered. "We all know that, but Oliver Mace has said that she will be arrested if she sets foot in this building."
"Shit. No wonder Harry looks so agitated. What are we going to do?"
"What Harry ordered," Adam said firmly and turned to Malcolm. "I know you're the only one left on the Grid, Malcolm, and that it's getting late, but I need you to pull out all the stops on Misbah Asif. I think his sudden appearance is an attempt to divert our attention, and Harry's specifically. Due to the gossip about his date with Ruth, everyone in this building now knows that she may be a weak spot for him. It can't be a coincidence that she gets accused of being a mole shortly after this becomes known."
Jo looked guilty and Adam softened his tone. "It's not your fault, Jo. We all took part in the gossiping and we didn't mean anything malicious by it. But it stops now. No more gossiping about the private life of anyone in this Section. Okay?"
They both nodded. Malcolm said determinedly, "I'll get on Asif right away."
Adam smiled gratefully. "Come on," he said to Jo. "We'll swing by your place and pick up some stuff. You're staying with Ruth tonight – I don't want her trying to sneak onto the Grid and getting arrested. There's no telling what Harry might do then; he's barely in control as it is."

- 0 –

Safe-house, undisclosed location

Ruth stared at Adam in growing disbelief. They were closeted in the kitchen as he explained the situation to her, and her eyes kept flitting to the microwave clock behind his shoulder, aware of every second that ticked by. Zaf was there too, listening in silence. His eyes were troubled as they switched between her and Adam, and that even more than the words made her realise the seriousness of the situation.
Time.
She had always thought she and Harry would have enough time to sort things out. God, how naïve she'd been. Her hands toyed with a button on her coat restlessly. "You need to get me onto the Grid," she told Adam. "If I can get access to the systems, I can figure it out."
"No." Adam shook his head to emphasise the word. "You'll be arrested the moment you set foot in Thames House. We can't risk that."
"We could get her in unseen," Zaf said, still young enough to believe that they could conquer all.
"No," Adam reiterated, the blue eyes flashing. He would brook no opposition. "Oliver Mace has spies all over that building. He'll know, and then we'd lose the most important thing we have at the moment."
They both looked at him, and he added, "Time. Whilst Ruth remains free, we have time. The moment they arrest you, it'll be over. It will limit our options to the point where there will be nothing we could do."
He turned to Ruth. "You need to trust me. I won't let anything happen to you."
Just for a moment, she saw the old Adam; not the one worn down by his wife's death, by the burden of raising his son alone, but the brilliant, loyal, compassionate leader that he was capable of being.
"Adam-" she shook her head, but he did not let her continue.
"Harry won't let anything happen to you," he said with quiet emphasis, and tears sprung to her eyes.
She blinked them away. "Adam. You know as well as I do that once they turn the might of our intelligence machine against someone, it is impossible to stop it." She met his eyes squarely, and added, "There are things that not even Harry can prevent."
Adam watched her for a few seconds as he absorbed her words, her desperation, and then he almost smiled. "I think they forgot to tell Harry that." He took a step towards her. "Give him a chance – give us a chance. Go home, and stay there. Give us time," he said gently, and eventually she nodded.
The blond spook breathed a sigh of relief and turned to Zaf. "Come on. You and I are going to try and break Asif."
With a final encouraging look at Ruth, the two men departed, and she was left in the kitchen, alone.

- 0 –

Two hours later

Harry leant his head back and stared at Percy's profile, a million thoughts racing through his mind. It was late, after ten, and he was being driven home. The meeting with Mace had been a waste of time, the two men verbally circling each other like two wary dogs looking for an unguarded flank to sink their teeth into. The JIC Chairman had flatly denied any knowledge of a Special Branch operation against the Imam, disdainfully dismissing any evidence Harry laid before him. And deep down Harry knew they had nothing; as Mace rightfully pointed out, the badge could have been fake or stolen. Still, there was something in the man's demeanour which alerted Harry's every sense – he could swear he had seen a flash of relief in those cold eyes when he'd made his accusation against Special Branch. But why? He couldn't figure it out.

His thoughts went to Ruth for the umpteenth time that day. He wondered how she was, what she was feeling, and suddenly he wanted nothing more than to see her.
"Percy, take me to Miss Evershed's house please," he ordered, and the Security Officer's eyes met his in the rearview mirror. They were guarded and worried, and Harry knew what he was going to say before he opened his mouth.
"They've put a tracker on the car, sir. On Mr Mace's orders. He is to be informed if you have contact with Miss Evershed."
Harry fought down the flash of indignation that threatened to burst out. What was going on? Why were they wasting so many valuable resources on Ruth and him?
He forced a smile and nodded at Percy. "Thank you. I'll get out at the next traffic light, and you drive to my house as per normal."
The young man smiled. "I will, sir."

As the car coasted to a stop, Harry slipped out and darted around the corner. Once he was safely out of sight, he stood for a moment. He was taking a big risk, putting his trust in the Security Officer. He was gambling Ruth's future and his own career on the man's loyalty to him. Added to that, he knew that he was also risking Percy's career. He had to talk to Ruth; maybe together they could figure a way out of this mess.

- 0 –

Ruth stared mindlessly at the flickering images on the television. The sound was muted, but Jo was chattering away brightly to fill the silence. Ruth wasn't really listening, and she suspected that Jo knew that. Though it was unfair, she resented the younger woman's presence in her house, her sanctuary. Jo was simply doing her job and trying to cheer Ruth up, and she didn't deserve the sullen silence in response. But Ruth did not have the energy to hold up her end of the conversation. Her mind kept worrying at what had happened. Why was someone trying to frame her as a mole? Was the shooting of the Imam linked to it? Why did Mace so readily believe the accusations? What was Harry doing? Round and round she went without finding any answers. She was brought out of her trance by an unexpected sound. Someone was tapping lightly against the back door. By the time she lifted her head, Jo was already halfway across the room, and Ruth was surprised to see a gun in her hand. She motioned for Ruth to be quiet and carefully lifted her eye to the spy-hole. A strange noise escaped her as she realised who it was, and she lowered the gun.
"It's Harry," she said, and Ruth's heart leapt.

- 0 –

As soon as he was through the door, his eyes sought her out. She stood in the middle of the room, folding and unfolding her hands, and she looked exhausted and scared. For a moment he was overwhelmed by his feelings for her, and by a helpless rage at all those who were trying to harm her, and he couldn't find any words. He vaguely heard Jo say that she would make some tea, and then they were alone.
Ruth spoke first. "You shouldn't be here," she said, the gentle tone of her voice softening the rebuke.
He took a few steps towards her, gazing at her face intently. "I was worried about you," he answered softly, longing to touch her but not quite daring to, unsure about the boundaries of their non-relationship.
"I'm fine," she responded, but the slight quiver in her voice belied the words.
"Ruth," Harry sighed, and there was so much emotion in his eyes that she had to look away, "I won't allow them to frame you. I promise, I will sort it out."
Ruth began to shake her head almost before he'd finished. "Don't make promises you can't keep," she said, sounding so broken that his heart shattered.
On instinct he reached for her, and she stepped into his embrace willingly. Her arms went around him and clutched him close as she buried her face in his shoulder, and he held her tight against him and nestled his nose in her hair.
"I intend to keep this one," he murmured fervently.
Neither of them saw Jo appear in the door, and quietly withdraw again.

- 0 –

The Grid, Interrogation Room

Adam paced the floor behind Zaf, who stared at the man on the monitor. They had been going at Asif for hours, with nothing to show for it, and he was becoming worried. Either the man was truly convinced that Ruth was a mole, or he was a professional. He couldn't decide which option alarmed him more.
Zaf rubbed his neck wearily and looked at his Section Chief. "Do we step it up a notch?"
Adam considered. He wasn't sure their careers would survive if they crossed the vague line between interrogation and torture with this particular candidate, given Oliver Mace's interest in the case, but desperate times called for desperate measures. It was time for a bold play, but he would not ruin Zaf's career as well. He opened his mouth, about to send the younger spook away, when Malcolm burst through the door.
"You need to see this," he said breathlessly, before bolting back to the Grid.
Zaf and Adam shared a bemused glance before following the techie.

He was already planted behind his screen when they arrived, and the 3D modelling programme was open on it. He barely waited for them to take up position behind him before he launched into his information.
"I was looking at the footage again, taking it further back to see if I could get a glimpse of the shooter. Instead I realised something else about the shooting incident itself. Look at the moment the bullet enters the screen and Ruth's position."
One look at the two men's horrified expressions told him that they had already grasped it, but he said it anyway. "When the shooter pulled the trigger, Ruth was still upright. He had no idea that she would bend down to stroke the cat." He paused, and looked at them gravely. "It would have been a head shot. The Imam was not the target. Ruth was."

tbc