I tried to imply some Lucas/John in this but it was difficult so sorry if it doesn't come across. I liked the parallels between Ruth/Lucas in series nine and I think its a shame they weren't picked up on further. Ironically, the only times I ever believed for a second in the Lucas/John plot were the Ruth/Lucas scenes of 9.8. I've had a terrib;e night and day so reviews are love.

Lucas: The only person I was ever afraid would find out...was you.

Lucas to Ruth Spooks 9.8.

Ruth had her arms resting against Millennium Bridge. She was waiting for Jo. Of course it had been Jo who had approached her initially, but Ruth had missed knowing people, so in the end she had asked Jo to keep meeting her. She started when it was Lucas, not Jo who stopped by her side.

"Where's Jo?" she said shortly. She wasn't in the mood for Harry's games.

"Couldn't make it. To be honest, she's worked herself up about Bibi. She's made the situation her own personal project."

"Did Ros say that?"

Lucas smiled. "How did you know?"

"Experience. So you've told me Jo couldn't make it. You can go now."

"I came as a favour for Jo, yes, but I also wanted to speak to you myself Ruth."

"You don't even know me!"

"Not really no. I know that the people that did, value you, love you a lot," he smiled again, "and that's enough for me."

"Still doesn't explain why you're still here." Her blue eyes searched his but she couldn't read him; there was something about him... there was a hidden darkness, a fierceness that she didn't understand.

"We're not so different Ruth. I know things have been hard..."

She snorted in disbelief.

He held up his hand to cut her off. "No. Listen Ruth. Please. You don't know much about me do you?"

She shrugged. "No. Malcolm said you knew Tom."

"Yeah. He was a good bloke."

She nodded and he took it as an invitation to keep talking. "I know a bit about hardship Ruth. I was caught by the other side, put in prison in Russia for eight years, tortured. I never had any companionship but my captors. I came home and my wife had moved on. There was nothing left but Harry and MI5."

"Don't you dare talk to me about hardship, Lucas." Or about Harry was the unspoken implication.

He didn't take offence. "I was angry at Harry too. For a long time. After all he never tried to get me out. Not really."

Ruth was interested in spite of herself. "He wouldn't would he," she said bitterly, "duty always comes first."

"It was necessary. People like Harry are necessary, but that doesn't mean they don't feel the unjust, unfairness of it all."

"You're very loyal for a man who had eight years of his life stolen from him."

"Loyalty is all I have left. There's one thing you should know about me Ruth. I'm always loyal to those who I consider my friends. I don't leave anyone behind."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because Ruth, we all know that you're upset now, but someday, maybe a day quite soon, things won't look quite so grim and you'll realise there are people who care about you waiting."

"First Malcolm and Jo and now you. Why don't you all just leave me alone?"

"Come on Ruth. I'm a field officer, not an idiot. Jo told me that you wanted to keep speaking to her."

She looked out at The Thames and refused to look at Lucas. He sighed. "All I'm saying is that good days follow the bad and when that good day comes, we'll be waiting for you."

"I still don't see why you care?"

"Does everything in life need a reason?"

"I'm an analyst Lucas. Yes."

He sighed again. "You'll learn things the hard way like I did. Sometimes there is no reason, no all revealing answer and we have to take a leap of faith."

"I find that hard to do," she whispered.

He put a friendly arm around her. "I know Ruth. God help me, I know." He looked grim and frightening and for a second Ruth was afraid, but then the moment passed.

He's just Lucas, she thought, just Lucas.