AN: I've realized that in my rush to share some pieces I've missed other important factors in the story and have taken it entirely away from my outline and plan, so please bear with me as I not only develop the story and tie up loose ends but also bring it back from the land of spiraling out of control and into outline land. If I don't we're going to wind up with a hot mess.

Monday, April 11th, 18.47

Both were still starring at the picture as the car rolled up to a stop light. In the few minutes they'd been riding in silence, Harry's hand had moved round her waist to rest palm down against her stomach. Fingers gently moving back and forth, he traced the alphabet around her navel; his thoughts on nothing and everything at once.

Shifting herself closer to his side, Ruth let her head fall against his shoulder as her hand made its way towards her middle. Fingers sliding between his, she let her hand rest over his; stopping his movement and the flutters of arousal he was creating. Feeling his arm tighten around her, she smiled as his other hand let go of the ultrasound and settled on top of hers; effectively holding her to him.

Quiet for a few more seconds, she watched out the window as they slowly started to move again. As the car turned onto the A4 for their drive to Chelsea she voiced something that had been bothering her before her appointment that afternoon.

"Harry. What happened to Sam?"

Lifting his eyes from her lap, he settled them on the top of her head as the question she asked flitted through his mind. "Sam? What about her?"

"What happened to her? One day she was on the Grid like normal and the next she just never showed up. Every time I or someone tried to bring her up we were shot down. I meant to ask you about it that ... day before everything happened but we never got around to it."

"I fired her."

Turning her head to look at him, Ruth tried to sit up but found herself held firmly in place. "Fired her? Whatever for?"

"She was a mole."

"Harry that's months in the past. You said you were giving her a second chance."

"And I did." He said, unable to keep the anger he was feeling from turning his voice into a growl. Arms tightening, he pulled her even closer to his side. "She had her second chance and she turned on me; the department; again."

Wincing at the force of his hold on her, she shifted to try and loosen his grip. Feeling his hands tighten around hers she sighed and pushed against him, giving up at finding a better position. "Harry let go. I can't breathe."

Frowning and a bit startled at the realization he'd hurt her, he quickly let go of her and made to move across the seat. "Are you alright?" he asked, his eyes sweeping over her.

Grabbing his arm, she held him in the seat and settled back against him. "I'm fine. You were just squeezing me too tight." Feeling him tense against her, she moved his arm around her again. "You don't have to let go. I don't want you too. Just try not to squeeze the air from me again."

Loosely lying his around her, he tried to relax as she leaned against him. "I'm sorry."

"It's alright." she said softly. Squeezing his hand, she relaxed against him, trying to get him to do the same. "What happened?"

Knowing she had a right to know; and that telling her to wait to later could cause some tension; he sighed and looked out the window. "I'm sure you figured out someone told Peter's defense things that were happening both on the Grid and privately."

"Yes." she said slowly, her fingers sliding over the exposed skin of his wrist absently. "It was Sam?"

"It's a bit more than that but Sam played a part."

"Why? Why would she do that? I thought she was my friend."

"She is - was. She'd been led to believe she was doing you a favor; that the evidence against Peter was a plant."

"What? How?"

"Juliet."

Her fingers stopping, she looked up at him confused. "What?"

With a sigh, Harry leaned back against the seat, pulling her with him until she was resting against him. "We still don't know the whole story and I didn't want to say anything until we knew but it looks like Juliet is working with someone."

"To do what?"

"Force me out of Thames House. And before you even say it, I'm not letting you walk away to try and protect me."

"But Harry..."

"I'll explain what I know; I promise; but answer me this. How was it for you being separated this last week and a half? Because for me it was hell."

"It was the same for me. But this is your job we're talking about."

"No this is a vindictive ex with an agenda we're talking about. I've done nothing that'll get me kicked out of Thames House. No matter what she comes up with. So don't even think of leaving me to try and save me."

"Harry..."

"We're not having that conversation. Even if you weren't currently carrying my children I wouldn't entertain the idea of you sacrificing yourself for me. My job isn't worth it; I'm not worth it. We'll figure out what she's up to and come up with a solution." Lips pressing against her hair, he closed his eyes a moment before continuing. "Promise me you won't leave again."

Resting her hands on his arm, she waited a moment before nodding. "I won't leave again. No matter what."

"Thank you." Looking out the window, he told her what he knew. "After the trial, Malcolm did some digging into everyone working not only on the Grid but who had access to it. Adam did some own investigating of his own. None of us knew what they'd find but we knew someone had to give his attorney the information he had. His attorney - after the trial - did you ever look him up?"

"No. I was too shocked."

"I figured. Jonathan Lindsey is Juliet's husband."

Turning, she looked at him in shock. "But Juliet...her last name...it's Shaw."

"It's actually Lindsey. A fact that is buried very deeply in her personal file and not something many in our line of work know."

"But you do." Her tone wasn't accusatory but there was an undertone of hurt to it.

"I'd honestly forgotten but yes; I knew. She used it during our affair years ago. I hadn't thought about it in years. Not until Adam followed him to dinner one evening and told me what he saw did I remember."

"So my ex's attorney and boss," she said slowly, her hands resting on his arms, "is the husband of the woman you've been sleeping with on and off for over twenty years."

"Yes. Ruth I swear I didn't know."

"Did he; Peter; know before he asked me out?"

"I ... I want to say no but we don't know."

"So this entire ordeal may have been a set up?" Tensing, she thought about everything that had happened over the last eight months and wondered if it had all happened because she knew Harry. Because someone had figured out that she'd be a weak point in his staff. "Everything that happened might have been avoided?"

Fingers spreading across her stomach, he held her to him as the fear that she'd leave him returned. "Yes." he answered softly.

She was quiet as she thought about that. Even if it wasn't true, someone somewhere might one day decide that she and the children were the weak point in getting to Harry; to furthering their point and making him do what they wanted. Fear gripped her at the thought of her babies in danger. But the danger is there no matter what. she thought. Running away won't change that. It might make it worse. And leaving would only serve to make both Harry and herself miserable. Moving her hands down his arms, she gripped his fingers with hers.

"Why'd she do it?"

"What?" he asked, confused at the change of direction. He'd fully been expecting her to say she couldn't do it; that she wouldn't put herself through the disaster that was his life at times.

"You talked to Sam before you fired her. Did she say why she turned against us?"

"She uh, she thought she was protecting you. From me. She cared about you and Juliet played on that. Told her all the things I'd done wrong in not only my career but also the parts of my private life she knew. Twisted it until she convinced Sam to share the happenings of the Grid and what she observed in her quest to get me thrown out of Thames House."

"Sam was protecting me?"

"In the beginning. Later she..." he stopped, wondering how to put the next part without hurting her too much.

"Later she what?" Sensing his hesitation, she twisted in his arms until she was looking at him. "Harry, what changed?"

"She's sleeping with Peter."

"What? Why would she do that?"

"I don't have an answer to that."

Shuddering, she met his eyes.

"What?" he asked, seeing the change in her face.

"The reason I asked; tonight; is because she's on the guest list."

"Who's on what guest list?"

"Sam. This morning I ran through the guest list to see who'd be there. Get an idea of who we might want to engage in conversation. I came across Sam's name as part of Juliet's staff. She's attending tonight's dinner - with a plus one."

"We're not going." Turning towards the front, Harry met the eyes of his driver in the rearview mirror. "Mark take us home."

"What? No. We have to go."

"No we don't. There is no way in hell I'm letting you walk into that building. Not without knowing what to expect."

"Do you honestly think they'd try something there?"

Looking down, he met her eyes. "I'm not willing to take that chance. Not with you. Or the twins." he added almost as an afterthought.

"Harry I'll be fine. They're not going to do anything in a room with over a hundred other people."

"You don't know that." Lifting a hand, he brushed it against the side of her face

"No, I don't. But even if they do, you'll be there."

"Ruth, I can't lose you."

"I'm not going anywhere. Not anymore." Leaning up, Ruth pressed her mouth against his; her eyes watching him.

Hand sliding into her loose hair, Harry kissed her softly before letting his forehead rest against hers. "I don't like this. Not one bit. We'll go for the dinner but we're leaving as soon as we can."

As the car pulled to a stop before the old factory, Harry ignored the people milling about outside and looked down at Ruth. She'd settled against his chest for the last ten minutes of the drive, her fingers tracing up and down the row of buttons in silence.

"Sir?"

Lifting his head, Harry met the eyes of his driver and nodded. "Ruth? We're here."

Head lifting, Ruth met his eyes and smiled. "Ready?"

Leaning down, he brushed his lips against hers. "Let's get this over with."