"Ruth."

She jumped slightly as she felt his warm breath wash over the back of her neck.

"H-Harry?"

"A letter was left on my desk last night. I just wanted you to know I am glad it's not your resignation."

The words had been spoken softly, but he knew from the change in her posture and the way she was now wringing her hands together that it had been the wrong thing to say.

Ruth was still trying to figure out if there was an underlying compliment in what he had just said. He was glad it wasn't her bloody resignation. So professional, so impersonal. She didn't know whether to laugh or cry at his bluntness.

"You're glad that it wasn't my resignation?" She eventually choked. She couldn't think of anything else.

"Yes."

He may not have seen Ruth for a while, but he knew her well enough to know she was not happy with him.

"Harry I..."

"Ruth," Harry interrupted, desperate to get himself back on steady ground. "I have to rush off for a meeting, I'm late already." Harry looked at his watch before turning back to face Ruth, who had sat with her back to him for the entire duration of the conversation. "We'll continue this later on. There are some files for you to be getting on with yes?"

She nodded slowly and watched in part confusion, part frustration as he stalked off in the direction of pods, and entered them, disappearing from view as he emerged the other side.

Some time later, paperwork completed and desk tidied, Ruth glanced at her desk clock and realised, quite seriously, that she would have to run like her life depended on it in order to catch the last bus. As she ran out of the building as fast as her bulging bag would let her, she saw the bus turn the corner and approach her stop. Having made it just in time, she flung her arm out to signal the bus to stop, bundling her way on and rummaging through her bag until she found her oyster card.

Whilst allowing herself to catch her breath, she pulled her phone out of her bag and glanced at the screen.

1 new message.

Intrigued, she clicked it to open and felt her heartbeat begin to quicken when she realised who the sender was.

Ruth, sorry I didn't handle earlier too well. I'm not very good at overcoming professional barriers. You should yourself I'm a limited man. Get home safely, I hope to see you tomorrow. Sweet dreams, H x

She smiled to herself and thrust the phone back into her bag. She couldn't wait for tomorrow to arrive.

His hand slammed down on the arm clock and the annoying ringing came to an abrupt stop. He sighed loudly and rolled over on his side to check the time. 5:30. Sometimes he bloody hated his job.

He sat up and flicked on the bed side lamp. Finding his phone, he allowed his eyes to focus on the bright screen before trying to figure out if anybody had left him any messages. No one. Not one message. Part of him was selfish enough to think that Ruth might have replied to his text, no matter how cold he had been with her. Reasoning with himself, he figured he had more or less done everything wrong at every possible turn during their brief encounter the day before. She'd come back after the death of her husband and after losing her step son. She had taken the first step in restoring their relationship, by opening up to him as best as she could. And all he could do was compliment her for not resigning. Bloody idiot.

Manoeuvring himself out of bed he made himself a promise. By the end of the evening, he would have spoken to Ruth, put his own mind at rest and moved past it. But for now, he had to get ready for the day ahead.

Please review! More to come! Harry's still being very limited with feelings - who knows what he's going to do? :P