Thanks for all the lovely and encouraging reviews! They really mean a lot...

She next saw Harry when he arrived late on the grid, this time in a shirt that wasn't rumpled from spending the night sleeping on her sofa. His eyes lingered over her for longer than she was used to and she blushed under the intensity of his gaze.

"Ruth, where's the latest Russian…"

"Here," she said, holding out the relevant file for him. Ruth almost jumped backwards when Harry's fingers brushed against hers as he took the file. There was electricity between them, now more than ever and he smirked slightly, as if knowing what effect he had on her before walking through to his office.

Throughout the rest of the day they were both too busy to do anything more than try and catch some Iranian terrorists. Harry had to meet the Home Secretary leaving Ruth to go home without so much as a goodbye. However, her day was not without any events at all. When she got home she found Graham sitting on her doorstep.

"Hi," he said quietly, standing up. "I brought you a coffee to try and give you incentive to let me in. I want to talk to you."

Ruth smiled as she took the proffered drink. "Thanks," she added, unlocking her door. "Come in." He followed her into the kitchen slightly warily. "God that's good coffee," she said as she took a sip. "So what did you want to talk about?"

"Dad," he said simply. Ruth nodded and sat down, and Graham followed suit. "He seems… different. I went to see him last night."

"How drunk was he?" Ruth asked.

"He wasn't," Graham said simply. "Why?"

"When he arrived here, he was absolutely smashed," she said. "That's not really the point though."

"I was expecting him to be angry," Graham said. "Shout at me, criticise me or something like that. But he didn't. He just seemed… different."

"Look, I know he wasn't a great father to you," Ruth said. "Even he would admit that. But whatever you think, he's not stupid. He learns from his mistakes. He never wanted to go years without talking to you."

"Does he tell you this?" Graham asked in surprise.

"No," she said with a smile. "I've known him eight years. As bad as it sounds… I know what he thinks a lot of the time without him having to say it."

Graham rubbed his eyes tiredly in a move that reminded her of Harry. "I want to hate him," he admitted. "But I can't. We're too damn similar and stubborn for our own good."

"Yes," Ruth said simply. "Your father I meant," she added at the look on his face. "Very stubborn, and always convinced he's right. Even when he isn't."

"How have you worked with him for so long?"

"Because he hasn't turned into one of those political idiots keeping the service at arms length," Ruth said. "He has a belief that he makes a difference in this job. Or he used to at any rate. He seems to have become a bit… disillusioned of late." Graham raised his eyebrow at her so she continued in a very quiet voice. "He got a bit unhappy when… he proposed and I said no."

"Why?" Graham asked. She glared at him slightly. "Sorry. None of my business."

"If you want to know, ask your father why on earth he thought a funeral of one of our friends would be a good location for a marriage proposal. Because I'd quite like the answer to that one myself."

"Oh God," Graham said, making Ruth laugh. "What made him think that was a good plan?"

"I have no idea at all," Ruth replied. "Look, please give your father a chance. I know how much he hates that his children don't talk to him. It meant an awful lot when Catherine asked to see him at the airport last week."

"She says he's changed."

"I don't know," Ruth said. "Because I don't know what he was like when you were younger. I didn't know him then. But he is a good man. And in our line of work, good men are rare, trust me."

"Are you…" Graham shrugged as he tailed off.

"Go on."

"Catherine mentioned a few years ago that dad was totally heartbroken. He wouldn't say anything specific but it sounded like she'd died. Was that… you?"

"Yes," she said. "I had to fake my death and then leave the country for three years or so. He had to pretend I was dead. I wouldn't have said he was heartbroken though."

"Catherine did," Graham said. "The first indication to me that he had a heart in the first place."

"Don't talk about him like that," Ruth said sharply before she could stop herself. "I mean… please don't assume he's heartless," she edited in a softer voice.

"He's not good on subtlety," Graham said. "I know you care for him, but you might have to tell him before he does anything."

"I'll think about it," she replied honestly.

"Okay," Graham said with a smile. "I'll leave you to it."

"Thanks for the coffee."

"You're welcome," he said. "I'll see you around."

"Bye." Ruth was left in thought as she ran a finger around the rim of the coffee cup. He had a point. She really should talk to Harry.

I thought I should include a bit more Graham, so I hope this is okay. I foresee a HR reunion relatively soon!