Over a dinner of risotto, Harry told Ruth about his visit from Nicholas Blake, and what Blake had revealed about his Nightingale source. Ruth was not nearly as surprised as Harry thought she would be, commenting that it wasn't that unexpected really. "It was bound to be someone close to the Americans. I mean, we know Samuel Walker was also aware of Nightingale, and it's likely that he got some of his information from Jeremy Cartwright too."

They discussed the implications of Cartwright deciding to pass the information onto Blake, and what possibilities there now were of bringing Nightingale down. Having wrapped up the Firmitas investigation, Section D were doubling their efforts on the Summit Hotel bombing, but Ruth told Harry she would check out the Ambassador's connections on the quiet. If there was anyone linked to him who could be considered suspicious, they could identify the key players, and that would lead them to the culprits who could be prosecuted.

Harry tried to persuade her otherwise. "I'm not sure that would be the ideal approach."

"Why? What do you think we should do then?" Ruth asked.

"During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." Harry quoted. "So we start a revolution. First find the evidence, and then, bring it all out in the open. We have to make sure they have nowhere left to hide. There needs to be no room for this to happen again."

"And how are you suggesting we do that?"

"Well, we know there were several rotten apples in the CIA. At least. And the Home Secretary's tip off came from the American Ambassador. The cousins have far too many fingers in this pie as far as I'm concerned. So we start by working out exactly who in the CIA knew about Nightingale, and what they knew. That means getting inside Grosvenor Square. So tomorrow, I need you to take a little trip inside their mainframe. Download anything you think might be relevant, and get it to me. I'll take a look at it, and then we can decide on our next move."

"Hang on a minute, Harry." Ruth shook her head in confusion. "What's with all the I and we in this conversation?"

"You and me, Ruth. We're the only ones who know about this at the moment."

"You are not supposed to be working, Harry. You're meant to be getting better."

"I'm going stir crazy here, Ruth. If you don't give me something to do soon, then I'm just going to walk into Thames House and find it myself."

"What makes you think they'd let you in?" asked Ruth.

"Who's going to stop me? They all know me as the Head of Section D."

"Not at the moment you're not."

"Ruth ..." Harry's eyes were determined but gentle in their pleading, and Ruth felt her defences crumbling.

"Okay, okay. I can tell this isn't going to work." She sighed, reluctantly conceding defeat. "I'll see what I can do. I suppose we always end up discussing work in one form or another anyway. At least this way you might stay at home long enough to actually get well."

Harry shot her a victorious look, but as she narrowed her eyes, he quickly replaced his smug smile with a grateful one. "Thank you, Ruth. It'll stop me from going completely spare, and I'm sure I can do just as much here with a laptop as I could on the grid. Besides, this way I don't have to deal directly with those jumped up idiots from the CIA. And of course that means there's much less chance that I'll have another heart attack."

Ruth's expression changed to one of disapproval, and Harry realised his attempt at a joke might have been going a little too far. He raised his hands in mock surrender, and she visibly relaxed again.

Borough Market was pumping with traders bustling about and spruiking their wares, and customers wandering around the stalls. Harry had taken the advice of his doctor, and was truly entering into the spirit of looking after himself. The market was full of fresh fruit and vegetables, and organic and international food, all perfect for his new eating regime. There were delicious smells that wafted around the walkways, and up into the railway arches, enticing people to purchase the food on offer.

About to make his way back to the tube station with a bag of groceries, Harry succumbed and bought a piping hot chicken pasty. It was a small but relatively healthy concession to his new diet. One that would stave off his hunger until he got home. He'd just taken a bite when his phone rang. Taking it out of his pocket and looking at the screen, Harry swallowed a mouthful of chicken and answered the call. "Ruth."

"Hi Harry."

"So did you find anything?"

"No, it was no good. I know I've managed it before, but the CIA seem to have added some newfangled contraption to their firewall. Kept blocking me. It's going to take time to find another back door."

"Okay. It was always going to be a long shot. We'll just have to find another way." He paused, stepping sideways to get out of the way of a passing cyclist. "Are you coming over tonight?"

"Well, if you want me to, yes."

"Of course. We can talk about what to do next."

Ruth's heart fell a little, and she wondered if that was the only reason. Over the phone she heard loud voices, and realised Harry must be out. "Harry … where are you? I can hear people shouting."

"Borough Market. People everywhere."

"Borough Market?" Ruth's voice rose a little. "Harry, I'm impressed."

"No need to sound so surprised. I do know how to cook you know, and how to shop. I've just not had a lot of time, or inclination, to do so in the past. If you turn up tonight, I'll provide you with proof."

"Well, I can hardly say no to an offer like that, can I?"

Harry could hear the humour in her voice, and smiled to himself. "I hope not."

"I'd better go Harry. This is meant to be under the radar after all, and there's a pile of files on my desk that I've been ignoring. And if I don't get started, then I won't leave here in time for dinner."

"You'd best attack those files then. And I'll get cooking. Bye Ruth."

"Bye Harry."

"This really is very good, Harry. You've been hiding your culinary talents. I mean, smoked salmon, broccoli and lemon fettuccine ... and now ricotta torte. I had no idea."

"I'll say it again. You don't need to be so surprised. I'm not a complete Luddite in the kitchen, Ruth. I never have been. My mother taught me well."

"I can see that. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to - "

"It's alright, Ruth," he chuckled. "I'm just teasing. I'm pleased you liked it. Perhaps it will make up for some of the many meals you've cooked for me of late."

"There's no need to make up for anything Harry." They were both a little embarrassed now, each unable to meet the others eyes, so Ruth changed the subject. "What are we going to do about Nightingale?"

"The way I see it, we've got two options. Or perhaps it's one. I think we might need to let Malcolm in on this, and get him to work on that back door, but that will still take time. So first we'll take the more direct route and visit the cousins at their office."

"Grosvenor Square?"

"Yes. I can get us inside by making an appointment with the Head of Station or one of his senior officers. Once we're there I'll keep them occupied, find an excuse to be shown something on the computer, and then distract them while you download the necessary files." Ruth was frowning at him, but he went on. "Malcolm has a little gadget he's been working on for quite a while, and I think now's the perfect time to put it to the test."

"I agree Malcolm would be a great help, but I don't think us actually breaking into Grosvenor Square is the best idea you've ever had."

"Can you think of a better one?" He looked her directly in the eyes. "Besides, we wouldn't be breaking in. I'd get us an invitation, on the pretext of bilateral cooperation or something."

"You really think they'll fall for that?" Ruth raised her eyebrows.

"You're forgetting Ruth, I've had a lot of experience in the field. I know how to talk my way into places, how to convince people to trust me."

"That may be, but you have to admit it has been a while since you've been in the field Harry. Besides, this isn't any old group of people you need to convince, and word has gotten around about your hiatus."

Harry sighed with frustration and closed his eyes briefly, taking a moment to compose himself. Don't make the same mistake as last time. "Ruth. We don't really have anywhere else to go with this right now." He looked back up at her. "I believe I can make it work. But I can't do it without you. I need you with me on this, Ruth."

Ruth stared back at him, then looked away, shaking her head. "Alright. But I'm not happy about this Harry."

The evening that had started with such promise, ended with an uneasy truce.

I love Borough Market, and it's been a filming location for Spooks in the past, so I was happy to be able to work it into the story :)

Harry's quote is from George Orwell: During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.