Happy New Year folks. Apologies for the delay in posting and a belated thank you to all who read and especially to those who reviewed.

Seeing the flare of hope in Harry's eyes Charles was quick to apply a corrective. "Harry it's an outside chance based on guesswork."

A statement greeted with a snort, "Charles my entire career has been based on taking outside chances." Pausing for a moment he added, "So can you please explain what you are proposing and how I can help."

Charles half wished he'd kept his lips zipped because he knew Harry wasn't going to relish what came next.

Leaning forward he informed Harry, "Apart from discovering who subjected Ruth to this treatment I'm not sure that you can." Treated again to the Pearce glare Charles speculated, not for the first time in his dealings with Harry, as to the possibility that prior to their arrival in Section D the staff were covertly sprayed with some form of invisible but protective forcefield, as he continued.

"I think I need to explain my theory more fully." When the man sitting opposite him reverted a bristling wordless mode Charles began an internal debate as to whether the Pearce roar, every bit as legendary as the glare, might be preferable to this uneasy silence.

"Basically Ruth seems to have been trained into the conviction that you are the enemy." Only to be interrupted by Harry,

"You said yourself that you thought she'd suddenly cracked and realised I wasn't."

"True but only be sufficient to veer by a whisker. The plain fact is that she still shot at you and the scream when she realised that she'd missed suggests to me that she was angry, frustrated and possibly afraid…"

"What of?

Harry's growing frustration was matched by Charles, who replied with more than a hint of exasperation, "I don't know. I'm a doctor not a mind reader– my best guess is either retribution for failing or fear of what you would do to her." Adding, "Don't forget she tried to shoot herself. Whether she was being ordered to do so or wanted to punish herself for failure, again that's anyone's guess." Taking advantage of a pause while Harry processed these theories Charles returned to his original theme.

"However what her veering does imply is that anything she feels strongly about like her… er… submerged affection for you, remains capable of breaking through."

Harry protested, "But if I can't get near her because of the unknown risks where does that get us?"

"It suggests a very narrow pathway. Until we have a clearer idea of who and what did this to her, and that I'm relying on you to investigate, we circumvent any reference to MI5 and its works." Seeing a nod from Harry he pushed on,

"The human mind is a bit like a multi layered sandwich so if we can drill down to the basic Ruth – the things that she enjoyed outside of MI5 – or to put it into modern parlance, whatever floated her boat, we might begin to retrieve her true self."

Half anticipating an explosion he looked at Harry whose forehead was wrinkled as he took these suggestions on board. Eventually with a sigh he advised Charles, "I understand the concept but sadly we all end up so consumed by the job it's difficult to separate ourselves."

"After years of untangling traumatized Intelligence personnel I realise that, but Harry can I ask a personal question? What do you do to relax?" Harry responded with a fleeting and unexpected grin, "I don't suppose my whisky intake gets the medical thumbs up."

"Not really but more to the point it scrambles your brain rather than occupies it."

That gem of clinical advice produced a derisive snort. "It's obvious you've never tried out the merits of various malts with reference to how they are processed and matured." Having enjoyed the look of exasperation on Charles face as he relented, "But otherwise I suppose music – as long as it isn't Wagner - and I'm quite partial to the odd Shakespeare play."

"Exactly, so what about Ruth?" As he asked the question Charles seriously wondered how much Harry actually knew about Ruth beyond her involvement with Section D. Was the so called romance merely an intense, if unconsummated office affair, Harry himself had just commented on how enmeshed they were in the job. Glancing at the man he noted that Harry seemed lost in thought which was probably not a good sign.

Just as Charles had given up hope of an answer Harry asked, "Got a paper and pen Charles?" As Charles reached for his memo pad Harry advised, "This is just off the top of my head but hopefully will give you a starter for ten."

Pencil poised Charles waited.

"First of all Ruth is a Jane Austen fan, I once encountered her reading Persuasion on a London bus. She also read classics at Oxford and I'd guess, knowing her questing mind, that anything on the mythology of most cultures would be a reasonable bet but possibly begin with Greek, Roman and Celtic." Allowing Charles few minutes to write this down Harry continued, "She speaks several languages."

Charles interrupted, "That might be useful for later but until we know who is behind this…." He tailed off at a nod from Harry, "I'd agree although I doubt the French were involved in this – Italian might be okay, the various Mafia's tend not to trouble our section, but I'd avoid German or Russian." Adding as an afterthought, "And American English." Leading Charles to expostulate "Surely you don't think…"

Harry gave a weary sight, "Probably not, but some elements of the CIA have spared no effort to try and restore my extradition order so I can't discount the possibility of a rogue element."

Charles understood the point but felt obliged to state, "But Harry there is serious money behind this which a rogue …" to be halted by Harry's saying, "But they could have teamed up with another rogue group and some of the Arab states are awash with cash. " With a half deprecating and half proud smile he added "I've made a lot of enemies in my life."

Charles smirked back, "I know, I've frequently had to patch up those caught in the crossfire."

Harry sighed, "And now Ruth." Pulling himself together, Harry didn't do self pity, at least not in public, and recovering Ruth was currently his main focus, "She's also a skilled musician and sang with a choir."

"Any idea of the repertoire?"

Harry produced one of his rare smiles, "I can do better than that. They were good enough to record some CD's which I of course bought copies of…I'll drop them in." Waiting for Charles to finish scribbling he added, "When Ruth er died….I was under house arrest but her mother needed help to sort out her flat and books. Malcolm offered but it was going to be such a long job in the end many were placed in storage for later sorting. "

Charles wondered where this was going, "Sadly soon after the funeral her mother also died without the books being sorted and…" Harry seemed almost embarrassed, a rare sight Charles would normally have savoured, "I've kept the items in storage ever since. I think Malcolm made a list, if so we'll ping it over to you and you can ask for whatever you think might be useful."

Charles seeing that hope that was blossoming in Harry' eyes could only trust his theory would work but for now contented himself with saying, "That is all very helpful, Thank you Harry."

Having sort of striped his soul bare Harry felt he deserved some reward so in a voice that suggested no argument would be allowed he informed Charles, "Now I want to see her."

Only to be informed equally firmly, "She's my patient and the answer is no."

Thanks for reading. If you have a moment a review would be appreciated.