As requested, another chapter by the end of the day. There'll be more HR in the next chapter, this one's a little minimal.
Once back on the grid, Harry marched through to his office without so much as glancing at anyone at all. From Ruth's experience, this was not a good sign that all was well. It took a good couple of minutes for her to work up the courage to go in. She raised her hand and knocked. "Yes?"
She opened the door, biting her lip in her nervousness. She felt like asking what's wrong, but then wondered if that was too obvious and stupid a question. "Close the door behind you," he said before she could make her mind up about what to say.
"How was the meeting?" she settled on instead.
"I loathe Edward Green," Harry said.
"The head of six?" Ruth asked. "What's he done this time?"
"Just being a pompous idiot who refuses to do anything but sit behind a desk and drink whisky while his agents die in Iraq. He fights me on every single point, its getting irritating."
"I'm sure if you mentioned the blonde twenty something he's currently cavorting with behind his wife's back, he'd quickly come around to your way of thinking," Ruth said.
"How did you find that out?" Harry asked in surprise after a moment of stunned silence.
"I like to keep a close eye on people who can be manipulated," she said evasively.
"I'll remember that for the future," he said with a slight smile. For a moment, yesterday had been forgotten by both of them, but in the silence the memories were coming to the foreground very quickly.
"I'm sorry," she said. "Last night got completely out of hand. There really was nothing going on."
"Would you have told me you'd seen him?" Harry asked bluntly. "If I hadn't bumped into Graham, would you have mentioned it?"
"Yes," she said honestly. It might have taken her a few days to gather up the courage, but she could never have kept that from him. It would have driven her slowly insane.
"I don't know what to say to you," he said after a moment. "The thought of any man with you at all hurts me… but then to see that…"
"Forget me," she said, even though her heart was sinking. "You need to talk to him. He's your son. He's more important than me."
"I wouldn't say more important," he said before he could stop himself. "I'm sorry for walking out. Not very mature is it?"
"I don't blame you," she said with a smile. "I should get back to work."
"Yes, you should," he said quietly. She nodded and left his office, leaving Harry even more confused than before.
That evening, Harry had had a few more whisky's than he probably should have had. He had called Graham up and asked if he could please come over tonight. They needed to talk. The phone conversation to his work had been filled with a lot of long silences rather than anything else before he reluctantly agreed before hanging up. Which left Harry sitting in his lounge, drinking and wondering if Graham would actually turn up. He was five minutes late already, and to be honest Harry didn't blame him. Suddenly there was a knock on the door, and he raced to answer it.
"I don't know how long I'll be staying," Graham said before Harry could get a word out.
"Come in," he replied. "Please," he added as it was clear his son was hesitating.
"Alright." He entered the house, looking around warily as both men went to the lounge. The silence became very oppressive very quickly. "Dad, were you having me followed?"
"No," he said honestly. "I've known for a very long time that you don't want me involved in your life. So I removed your details from the network at Thames House. I thought that would be… best."
"That's what Ruth said," he admitted.
"Then why ask me?"
"Because she's loyal to you," Graham said. "She'd lie if you told her to, of that I have no doubt."
"She doesn't lie," Harry replied. "She's an inherently honest person."
"So unlike you," Graham said.
"I don't want to fight with you," Harry said. "I just want the best for you. I want you to be happy."
"You don't really show it you know dad," he said.
"I know," he replied. "I've never been any good at showing my emotions."
"No, you haven't," he agreed readily. He looked at his father and had the fleeting desire to laugh. "She's too good for you. Ruth," he added at his fathers blank look.
"I know," Harry replied.
"What does she see in you?"
"I have absolutely no idea at all," Harry said.
"You should make a move you know. She's beautiful, and I think you take it for granted that she's always going to be there for you." Graham turned to leave when Harry said nothing, considering his words.
"Wait!" Harry called. "Can you give me your phone number? I don't want… to lose contact with you. Please Graham?"
"Okay," he relented. He scribbled his number down and then passed it to his father.
"Thank you," Harry said with such sincerity that Graham knew he'd done the right thing.
"Bye dad," he added before vanishing through the door. Harry all but collapsed into his chair, with his sons phone number grasped tightly in his fist.