Blind Side

"Harry." Ruth stepped into his office as he loosened his tie. He looked exhausted, his tie taking the brunt of his temper.

"Bloody idiot."

"Thanks."

"Not you Ruth, that's the one thing you've never been nor will be."

She blushed slightly, leaning against the closed office door.

"Jo is on her firearms course, Ros has gone to speak to an asset. Adam and Zaf are chasing a lead in Battersea. Malcolm and I have been the only ones on the Grid for most of the day."

"Ok." Harry frowned. Part of him was glad he had forgotten to open the blinds that morning. Ruth pressed herself against the door. She knew she was babbling but the sight of Harry looking so dishevelled and somewhat lost had shaken her.

"Ros called in. She wasn't here long. Gave me this." Ruth fumbled with her watch as he watched her. He raised an eyebrow.

"What's this?"

Harry took the paper from her as she refastened her watch. He unfolded it as Ruth looked anywhere but at him.

"Names. Ros said she didn't want to be seen as condoning what her father did. She got these names. These are the men that murdered Colin. On her father's orders." The words tumbled out of her as she tried not to let her voice shake.

"I see."

"How did the dead drop go?"

"A waste of time." Harry sighed. "Ruth; if anything comes of this you never gave me this paper. Ros never spoke to you and Malcolm knows nothing." He stepped closer to her. Ruth narrowed her eyes.

"Harry."

He was so close she could catch the scent of his aftershave as he held her gaze.

"I mean it. Ruth, if anyone takes the fall for what might happen it's going to be me. I don't intend to risk losing you or anyone else."

"I found that Intel. He was murdered in cold blood. Ros said it herself, it was intended to rip the heart out of the team. That's what Colin was."

Harry nodded, his heart beating a little faster than he was sure was healthy as Ruth rested a hand on his chest. They had been through so much. Losing Danny; Fiona's death, Baghdad and now this. Yet the small, almost mousy woman in front of him remained stronger than ever.

"I won't risk losing you." He spoke quietly, remembering Juliet's words in hospital. He knew she was right - he loved Ruth. His analyst frowned slightly, before reaching up on tiptoe to kiss his cheek.

"We can do this Harry. Together."

Xxxx