Hmm, I seem to have got a bit carried away with this fic so this isn't the last chapter after all.

Unbeta'd so please forgive any mistakes. :)

Chapter 4

As soon as they were outside the police station, Ruth demanded an explanation of the evening's events.

"There was this woman-" Harry had barely begun before she interrupted him.

"Really? What a surprise."

"No, it wasn't like that. Her husband-"

"What? Caught you flirting with her?"

"No, Ruth. If you just let me explain. She was arguing with her husband and it started to get a bit out of hand, so we, er, we intervened."

"Intervened?"

"Yes."

"And somehow this intervention ended up with you all being arrested?"

"Yes."

Harry's monosyllabic answers were doing nothing to placate Ruth.

"I think you've missed out the bit which explains how you all got injured, why Adam is wearing that dreadful T-shirt, and why you seem to be wearing part of a police uniform."

Zaf and Adam looked at one another. They were both desperate to know how their boss was going to talk his and, by extension, their, way out of the current situation. The only positive thing that had come out of the evening was incontrovertible proof that Ruth and Harry were together. There was no other explanation for their section head's pained expression and seeming inability to defend himself against the inquisition he was being subjected to.

"A few punches got thrown. It was nothing really but the police turned up and we, um, we got arrested…" Harry trailed off, withering under Ruth's gaze.

"What's wrong with this T-shirt?" Adam was tugging at the garment and looking between it and Ruth.

"Well Adam, apart from being a shade of green previously unknown to mankind, it says 'If you think I look good in this, wait until you see me naked'."

"So you don't think it's me?"

"Er, I'd shut up now if I were you, mate," Zaf whispered loudly at his colleague.

"Come on, I think we should go home." Jo knew there was little possibility of getting the real story of what had happened until she got her flatmate on his own.

Taxis were proving to be thin on the ground and it took some time before they flagged one down. Zaf, obviously not feeling ready to be left on his own with Jo, hurriedly invited Adam to share their cab.

After waving goodbye to their colleagues, Harry decided to test the waters with Ruth. "Er, your place is on the way to mine, more or less. We might as well share too."

Her reply was indistinct.

"Cooee! John! Cooee!" A shrill voice rang out from the direction of the police station.

Harry cursed profusely under his breath as he spotted Amanda hurrying towards him as fast as her stilettos could carry her. He scanned the street, praying a cab would appear. Some higher power took pity on him.

Ruth wasn't entirely sure what had happened. One minute she'd been trying to work out why a strange women in high heels was waving and shouting in their direction; the next she was being hauled across the street and bundled into a taxi.

"Harry! What was that all about?" she asked him, breathlessly, as the cabbie accelerated through an amber traffic light.

"I thought you wanted to get home."

"I do but preferably in one piece. Did you hear what that bus driver called you?"

"I've been called worse."

"I'm sure you have," she muttered.

-----

The cab had stopped outside Ruth's house but neither of them moved.

"What are you waiting for, Harry?"

"I didn't think you wanted me to stay."

"You've been injured and probably shouldn't be left on your own, although it's no more than you deserve."

Harry got out of the taxi as quickly as he could and tried to retrieve his wallet from his jacket. Ruth appeared beside him.

"Don't worry," she said as she handed the cabbie a twenty pound note, "you'll be paying." It was clear she wasn't just referring to the taxi fare.

Sighing loudly, Harry followed her into the house. He stood in the kitchen, near the door, as she fussed over the cats.

"I'm really sorry, Ruth. About everything. I promise I'll make it up to you."

As she finished washing her hands, she turned to look at him. "We'll talk about it tomorrow. You should have a bath and get some rest."

"I think I'll just take a couple of paracetamol and go to bed."

"You need to have a bath, Harry, otherwise you won't be able to move in the morning."

He moved closer to her and leant down to kiss her. She pressed a hand against his chest to stop him. "You're not forgiven yet and you stink of beer. Go and get cleaned up."

Ruth had just switched the kettle on when he called out to her. She hesitated in the kitchen doorway and he called again. Despite still being angry at the evening's events, she was concerned about him. Cursing under her breath, she went to see what he wanted.

"What's the problem?" Ruth tried to sound irritated at being summoned but felt her resolve crumbling at the sight of Harry sitting on the edge of the bath, his shirt unfastened and sporting his most endearing little-boy-lost look.

"I've undone the buttons but I need you to give me a hand to take it off. Sorry."

She helped him remove the shirt and was about to go when he stopped her. "Um, I don't think I can manage to get the rest of my clothes off by myself."

"Harry-"

"Please Ruth. I'm not in a fit state for hanky panky, am I?"

Still feeling suspicious of his motives, she agreed to help. As he settled himself into the bath, he gave her a cheeky smile.

"I don't suppose you fancy getting in with me?"

"No," she lied and left the bathroom before she could change her mind.

-----

Having enlisted Ruth's help again, this time to get out of the bath, Harry decided he would have to use devious means to avoid spending the night in the spare room.

"I really am sorry about this evening, Ruth." He struggled slightly more than was necessary as he tried to wrap a towel round his waist. "Oh dear," he said, sounding anything but regretful as it fell to the floor. "Could you…?"

Ruth glared at him but eventually picked it up. Against her better judgement, she placed it round him and, as she was securing it, she was unsurprised to find herself pulled against his body.

"What do you think you're doing?" she asked half-heartedly, distracted by the soft kisses he was placing on her neck.

"I think you know the answer to that." He pressed his lips against hers before she could reply and drew her into a passionate kiss. His injuries had slowed him down though, and his attempts to get her top off were not very successful.

"I think you might have to do most of the work," he mumbled against her mouth. It took him a moment or two to register that Ruth was removing his hands from her body.

"You really are pushing your luck," she admonished him.

"Er, sorry, I'm just trying to apologise…"

She left the bathroom without saying another word and her footsteps sounded particularly loud as she descended the stairs.

Harry sighed and headed for Ruth's bedroom. He would gamble on her not throwing him out of her bed once he was settled in it. There was always the chance she might go and sleep in the spare room but they both knew how uncomfortable the mattress was in there. Plus there was that stubborn streak of hers; she would be very reluctant to be turned out of her own bed, no matter how annoyed she was with him.

So will Ruth forgive Harry? What will Jo do to Zaf? And will it lead to months of physio? Find out in the next chapter ;)