mucho thanks em!! here's the first upload... grrr for finals or i would have more up!!! hope everybody enjoys...

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Zaf sighed and looked over at Jo. "This is the fourteenth personnel file I've looked at this morning, and I can't see Juliet accepting any of them as a replacement for Ruth."

"I know, they all seem so I don't know…"

"Useless?" chimed Zaf in helpfully.

"Yes… well that isn't a word I would have used. But none of them are a patch on her, and if this Jennifer Marx is as difficult as everyone claims, I don't think she'll just take some ok replacement."

"Yeah I know, but I wouldn't tell Harry or Ruth that there's a possibility we aren't going to find someone." He leaned in towards Jo, "did you see them yesterday… that was more than just a thanks for all your help boss kiss, doubt they'll be wanting separated any time soon."

Jo whispered back, "yeah, I know. Bet they just had a lover's tiff before, and they are back on again. I'm going to use my social skills to find out from Harry's driver if there are anymore dinner plans on the hori..."

Jo was interrupted by Adam who had leant in between the two junior officers with a mischievous grin on his face, "no don't mind me, carry on carry on."

"Adam… we were just talking about how hard it is to find someone to replace Ruth".

"Oh shut up Zaf! So Adam…" Jo looked at him innocently, "have you any Harry and Ruth gossip? We think they're back on with that kiss in the meeting room yesterday."

"Well Jo, Zaf, what can I say I'm the senior officer… but I'm not about to go up and ask Harry Pearce about his personal life am I? I like living in the UK don't want to be shipped off to some remote corner do I, have Wes living with goats or something. Now please get on with the task at hand. We do have other work on as well so as soon as we find Ruth a replacement, the sooner everything goes back to normal." He turned to walk away, "well apart from Harry and Ruth of course" he winked to Jo and turned on his heel towards his own desk.

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Harry was at his desk with a small mountain of files lying to his left hand side, one open in front of him, reading the text carefully and murmuring in approvement of what he was reading now and then. He heard the tap at the door and it flew open.

"Yes Ruth…" He had become so used to her regular visits he needn't even check to see if it was her, he knew by the entrance. If the door flung open it was Ruth in a hurry, if it was a quiet knock it was a somewhat concerned Ruth, and if it was a tap on the door as it opened it was Ruth with information. He turned now to see her standing in the door, looking somewhat frazzled, her hair was in a messy pony tail, she had bags under her eyes and she gave Harry a weary smile.

"Harry… I've run over the two personnel files you gave me as potentials, neither will work. The first..." she flicked to open up the file, "the first is a Miss Jessica Thatch. Well she is good yes, but they've only placed her in section A for about 2 months, I'm highly doubtful they will let this Marx woman take her away so soon. The second…. Mr Jack Green well he's had too much operational experience, not enough time in the office, you need a desk spook. Have you got any more you want me to check over?"

"Well Ruth as I only gave you the last two half an hour ago; it's not really likely is it?" he said as he smiled warmly at her.

"Ah ok… well I'll go do some actual work then. I'm glad it's an easy work week or we wouldn't have time for any of this."

As she turned to go he called her back, "Ruth would you just take a quick look at this file, I've only got half way down, but to me it seems somewhat promising, but then again you are the analyst."

Ruth walked to behind Harry's chair and leant over his shoulder to read the file. She loved opportunities like this. It gave her a valid excuse to be so close to him, and if anyone was looking, she was of course doing exactly what she appeared to be doing, reading a file over her boss' shoulder… while she took in his cologne and everything else of course.

"Hannah Rodgers… 31… Oxford… a first class honours in classics… minor in economics… published at 25… joined the service at 27… been working in section b… due for a move… accomplished analyst... speaks French, Spanish, German and can read Arabic, Hebrew… um hum.…and in her youth she won a prize in programming… so I'd imagine she can hack into things then… Well Harry you're the boss would you have her instead of me? That's how we'll know she's up to standard. I'm sure you've given her personal information some thought too of course."

"Well I wouldn't have her in this department no Ruth as we have you, but if we needed another analyst yes I would be apt to hiring her. She seems career orientated as well which may prove to be useful; this move may be just what she's looking for: possibility of bigger and brighter things."

"Yes Harry." Harry closed over the file, yet Ruth continued to strain her neck over his shoulder. "So, you'll approach her and ask her if she want's the job then? It's all going to be a bit suspicious though, you're not even from the right security office."

"Quite. Not to worry I'm sure I'll be able to call over to section A speak to the head of department and get his consent, reference and all that… make sure she isn't too good to be true. But it all seems to be fitting nicely into place yes."

"Yes Harry." Finally, Ruth withdrew herself from behind the desk and made her way towards the door. "You will tell me if you get it sorted won't you? It's only a couple of weeks before the taskforce is due to be set up and I just need to be ready if it falls through."

"Don't worry Ruth it will all work out, and I'll let you know when I can of course. I think I had better let the troops know they can get back to what they are being paid to do, now they've had two days of freedom with this but we can't really forget the terrorist threat from within and outside our borders can we. So back to the exciting terrorist threats we go."

"Yes Harry" God, Ruth thought to herself, how many times had she said "yes Harry" in this one conversation, she sounded like a dazed and love struck teenager, not the 30 odd year old woman she actually was. You'd think after three years of working together the effect would have worn off but no, he still reduced her to limited and simplistic vocabulary with one look. "Right then I'll get um back to work then." Turning and walking away she made her way to the desk as Harry followed her out, to announce that the potential candidate had been found and they could stop offloading their work to the other sections, though only after they'd all enjoyed a liquid lunch as a reward for their "hard work". Jo and Zaf threw each other suggestive looks.

"Liquid lunch he's never given us one of those before… in the middle of the day… when we've done sod all work for the last two days, it must be love." Jo laughed as she threw her coat on and replied, "It must be!"