Ok so this be the last chapter I'm sure you'll be glad to hear! Hope you all liked it and thanks for all your lovely reviews!! It proved a bit longer than I originally was going to make it… got a little bit carried away me thinks! x

------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Well Adam, it's been finalized."

"Which way Harry… finalized she's leaving or finalized she's staying."

"Finalized she's staying." Harry breathed slightly easier and relaxed as he finally said it out loud, "but Juliet… bugger that woman" Harry said under his breath quietly. Adam catching the statement gave Harry an inquiring look but when his boss refused to comment he pushed the issue no further. Instead, the two slowly drank the amber liquor in front of them, each savouring the moment for different reasons. Harry, settled in his mind at last, was as Juliet had so forcefully stated, not going to let this opportunity pass him by. Adam, glad of his colleague's future and the possibility of a few quid going his way smiled genuinely at Harry as he downed the last drop of his glass.

Harry didn't know whether he wanted to go throttle Juliet or kiss her! God how that woman infuriated him, stating she wouldn't give information on Ruth until he told her whether there was a budding relationship in the making or not. He reckoned she had sat on the information for as long as she could, and finally she felt the need to tell him. Yet she had just done him a huge favour and he wouldn't forget it. Her bloody timing though, she could have waited another ten minutes when Adam wasn't in the office watching his every move and reaction. When she had finally said the secondment had been officially blocked he had tried not to show his emotions to the junior officer. Adam wasn't Zaf for sure, but he knew that Adam would be apt to stoking the office fires of gossip when he felt the need; even if it was simply to impress the junior officers below him. Although he had shown little reaction to the news during the phone call, as he sat in front of Adam with his head in his hands, all the concern and worry swept over his head, and he was silently beaming behind his hands which disguised any reaction he was showing. As his eyes finally met Adam's, he had regained his lack of expression, yet his eyes were shining in the office light before Adam: a sign of a man close to tears, but whether they were tears of joy or despair Adam could only guess, well obviously till Harry had informed him of the block, then it was bloody obvious.

Harry glanced at the clock on his desk twenty two minutes past six. "Another one Adam? Everyone is making their way home I see, unless you have to be home for Wes or relieve the nanny?"

"No no Harry, I don't need to be home for a couple of hours yet, thought the operation was going to run on a bit longer." Really Adam didn't want to face the latter so he was prepared to sink a few more drinks with his boss, celebratory drinks and all that, a reasonable excuse.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

The empty bottle of scotch lay between the two men as Harry glanced at his clock again: three minutes to eight. It suddenly occurred to him that he hadn't actually told Ruth her position was secure. How selfish, revelling in his own thoughts he had completely forgotten about her. Well not forgotten about Ruth wholly, just forgotten to inform her of the news. Even as Adam talked steadily, with Harry nodding or tutting in what he hoped where appropriate places, his mind was drawn back to Ruth, they had a future together, provided she didn't push him away again. Really he had to tell her tonight, he had done her an injustice by telling Adam first, which couldn't really be helped, still if Adam informed her tomorrow before he could he doubted she would forgive him. But really he couldn't do it over the phone, it was something which needed to be done face to face. As Adam finally rose from his seat, throwing on his coat and heading towards the door Harry resolved to go around to Ruth's and inform her of the confirmation.

------------------------------------------------------------

Ruth swore loudly as she heard her doorbell ringing shrilly, waking her from a long awaited sleep: glancing at her alarm clock, half past nine. She decided to ignore the bell, staying wrapped up in her heavy duvet instead. How many people did she know would be ringing her bell truthfully? Of course she had friends, but they called, they didn't just turn up. It was more likely to be a collector or politician or someone Ruth really really didn't want to see. But as the bell rang again, Ruth pulled herself out of bed, pulled on her dressing gown and went to tell whoever it was to bugger off and let her head off back to bed in silence.

Walking from her bedroom, down the stairs, and towards the door in a half daze she pulled the door open and snapped hastily "what" before she had the chance to realize who the hell she was actually talking to.

"Sorry Ruth, did I wake you?" Harry spoke quietly, looking at his feet feeling uncomfortable. He had quickly pulled his head down to his feet when she had flung open the door, with her dressing gown hanging open around her pyjamas; it was well an awkward situation. Yet he couldn't help but notice the kitten images splattered, in essence, all over the white pyjamas, very Ruth Harry thought.

"Harry, shit… I mean… sorry I was asleep. Please come in." She motioned for him to come in, ushering him into the living room, closing the front door and quietly under her breath muttering shit repeatedly as she walked into the living room after him.

"I'm sorry Ruth I seem to have forgotten the advice I gave you. I brought some dinner… Chinese hope that's alright? I just thought… you didn't look like you had been sleeping much… thought you might want some company." Harry held up a large brown bag, which Ruth in her semi daze had only just noticed.

"Oh thanks Harry, I was in bed but I haven't eaten since lunch."

Ruth took the bag from Harry's grasp, and made her way into the kitchen. Harry could hear her clattering plates, glasses, knives and forks and banging drawers. He followed her into the kitchen, where she had poured him a glass of whiskey and herself a glass of wine. When they had finally sat down to their late dinner, Harry realized he still hadn't told her about Juliet.

"Harry, not that I'm grateful for the dinner it's delicious, it's just I was wondering was there any reason you came over. It's just I'm sure you didn't really make it your job to bring dinner around to all of your staff?"

"No that would be just you Ruth, and this is a personal call, it's nothing to do with work, well it is but I just thought you would like some company."

"Oh…ok"

"No it's just I had a phone call from Juliet today, and well she had the information we were both waiting on."

At his words Ruth had jumped out of her seat and made her way around to his side, her fists clenched at her side in frustration, God he was dragging this all out. Never a good sign! "Harry what did she say… Harry!?"

"Well do you want the whole conversation or just the information regarding you?" Harry said keeping his face straight and trying not to laugh.

Ruth at this point proceeded to hit his arm in frustration. "God Harry, please it would be nice to know. Is it a yes… is it a no? Am I staying or am I going?" Her face fell a little at his lack of reaction.

"Well I'm sorry Ruth…"

"Harry no! I don't want to go… Harry…" her voice faltered off and her eyes were shining with tears.

"You didn't let me finish. I'm sorry Ruth but you are stuck with us all for a bit longer on the Gr…" Harry was interrupted by Ruth throwing her arms around him and planting a kiss on his lips. Realising what she was doing she removed herself quickly from his embrace and took a few steps back, fidgeting with her hands.

"What I mean is… well thank you Harry that's wonderful news… I don't know what I could possibly do to thank you for everything…" her voice trailed off again as Harry got up from his seat and edged closer towards her again, her eyes darting across the room. She was determined to look anywhere but directly at him, she would just melt into his arms otherwise.

Harry continued to edge closer and closer until he was within an inch of her face. "Well Ruth, I had hoped that you would have dinner with me, maybe this Friday night at a nice little restaurant in town, and then maybe we would go for another date and perhaps another. I know you agreed to one but I was thinking that with all my efforts I should be entitled to a series of them." Harry chuckled. "That is unless you no longer wish to see me on a personal level?" His eyes constantly on hers, were searching for some kind of answer, some kind of sign, a momentary flick had passed through them he was sure, he was just unsure how to read it.

"Ruth…"

Ruth turned, putting her back between herself and Harry, simply to hide the tears welling up in her eyes. "Harry… I can't… I mean I still I can't face the whispers… the gossip… your job is everything to you I can't possibly jeopardize that with whatever I feel…"

Truthfully Harry couldn't believe he was hearing this… again might he add! The kissing and running was a habit he would have liked her to keep but this… this was a habit he wished she would just get bored of as soon as possible. "Ruth… we've been here before, the whispers and gossip of my staff is quite simply none of my concern. If they feel the need to fritter their time away talking about me I really couldn't care less. Please… look at me Ruth." Placing his hand gently on her shoulder he pulled her around so the two were yet again facing one another.

"No Harry I can't it's your career, your life's work. You've put your life on the line for it before, it's too important… too important for whatever we or at least I am feeling."

"And what may I ask are you feeling Ruth? I know how I feel, and I know I should have told you years ago… instead the whole situation has been dragged into a farce with both of us skating around our true feelings and trying to ignore what is blatantly damn obvious. So tell me Ruth how you are feeling, because I know I love you."

"Harry I said no! We can't, I'm one of your officers… even if I was happy with the whispers around the Grid you surely can't be happy with the whispers that will be at the levels above you? You're too important to be wasting your time on a passing fancy."

At this Harry couldn't contain himself any longer, he threw his hands up in the air and started to pace furiously around her, shaking his head and muttering to himself. Raising his voice angrily, "a passing fancy, a passing fancy? God maybe I was wrong about you, you are naïve if that's what you think this is. As for the upper level pompous swine, I honestly couldn't give a rat's ass what those people think. Not everyone is against this working you know. The only reason I ever brought myself to asking you on the first date was because Juliet informed me she thought you were in love with me…" at this point Harry paused taking in Ruth's pained expression before soldiering on. "Well she said that, and told me not to miss my opportunity and I realized she was right. What I had wanted all these years had been sitting at a desk outside my office, right in front of my bloody eyes for three whole years. I, well I had tried to ignore my own feelings, put them to the back of my mind and carry on with my routine way of life, which was still wholly affected by you and your presence every day, but when she said that and there was the faintest glimmer of hope you reciprocated my feelings I went for it. I thought sod it, I love her and we are wasting our lives away here in a will they-wont they relationship, which in my own opinion has been talked about long before we were made aware of it. I can bet you any money that Zaf, Jo, Adam even Malcolm could read the signs and note our own behaviours and attitudes towards one another before we had admitted these feelings even to ourselves. We can make this work Ruth, the boss thing that's just a formality in my eyes; do you really think I see myself as above you? You have a higher IQ than me, more common sense and a greater sense of duty than I could ever imagine having. I love you; I don't give a damn about what everyone else thinks or feels they can all go to hell. That's why the secondment was blocked, that's why I called in those favours, and that's why it's not a bloody passing fancy Ruth!"

"Harry…" Ruth reached for Harry's arm, but he pulled backwards, now the floodgates had opened he wasn't finished. There were three whole years of words caught up inside of him and he wanted them all to come flowing out now; when either the nerve or the numerous glasses of scotch had given him the strength to do so at last.

"No Ruth! How can you do this, toy with me over and over again? If anything you have been leading me on these past few weeks, suggesting there was hope when really there was none, hurried kisses and tight embraces. Did I not tell you I respected your wishes, do you honestly think I would have or will ever pressurise you into something you don't want to do? I would have tried to keep you on at the Grid even if we maintained only the work relationship that you feel keen to see kept intact. God if I've told you once I've told you over and over again, you are a vital and well-loved member of the team, without you we could have had some nasty bombs or terrorist threats simply carried out, as you, you Ruth are often the reason so many of the operations are a success. All I am asking you to do is tell me you don't love me… tell me you don't want to be with me… to see me… tell me you don't want to give yourself a bit of happiness and love that's being put right in front of your very own eyes."

"Harry… this is all so difficult."

"No it's not Ruth, you are the one making it hard on yourself. All you have to say is three little words. Three little words and that's it, done. Well I might swoop you up in my arms or something, but please Ruth just tell me… tell me the truth." He grabbed her hand and squeezed it gently, pulling her in close to him. "Ruth… please."

Ruth took a deep breath and said it. "I love you Harry": the phrase that had threatened to come out of her mouth so many times before, when she was daydreaming, when she was in briefings, when he spoke to her, the list was endless and she had done it, she had finally said it. Suddenly a wave of relief hit her, washing slowly over her. She was not only staying on the Grid she had finally told Harry Pearce she loved him. Taking her in his arms, Harry held her close; dumbstruck now she had finally admitted to herself and to him her true feelings.

"So that's a yes to the dates then is it?"

Ruth pulled back slightly and looked him in the eye, "I might consider it" she whispered before pulling him in for an eagerly anticipated kiss.

Harry was beaming inside, he had let a member of his staff under his skin, he had let his guard drop and he was glad. Holding the woman of his dreams in his tight embrace, finally feeling the contours of her body and her radiating touch, it really couldn't get much better than this could it?