Kardia Mou (title amended/orig. Redemption) Please note: Rated M for mature

Summary: Harry and Ruth must deal with the past before they can be properly together. (This is the sequel to Expiation; although not strictly necessary to read the last, nevertheless, it should prove helpful in reading this story.)

Disclaimer: Kudos owns Spooks/HR. But my heart feels as if they were mine.

Prologue

"It's nice, isn't it?" Ruth says, standing in in her small efficiency apartment, little more than a room, really. But the small space is filled with light, white light, and from the windows, a touch of blue from the Aegean Sea is visible in the distance. "Perfect, actually." She adds. Then she turns to him. "Thank you for finding it."

He nods stiffly. "I'm glad you like it, Ruth."

She sighs. "Harry. Please. You said…"

"I know what I said." He looks at her and forces a smile. "And I am glad that you're pleased." He pauses for a moment. "I'll picture it when I'm home. With you in it, of course." He adds, his smile a bit warmer.

"Thank you." She glances at the small wall clock above the mini-fridge. "I think that we should get going."

He clears his throat. "About that..."

"No. Harry." She says, "I want to see you off."

He shakes his head a bit. "It would be better if you don't."

"But …"

"I'd rather you didn't. Really." He looks at her intently. "When you do come to the airport, it's to come home to me. For good."

She nods, a faint blush rising up on her cheeks.

"Remember you do have a home. Ruth. And…me. " He adds before turning to leave.

"I know that, Harry. I do."

He turns back to her. She is wearing the same outfit he first saw her in Crete, days ago when she was in such dire straits. So ill. Alone. Confused. And unkempt. But the long skirt and blouse are now spotless, thanks to Melia, the woman with whom Harry and Ruth stayed not long ago. Yet it isn't only the clean clothes that is different about her, of course. Her color is back, her hair shiny, and her remarkable eyes clear and as blue as the Aegean sea. She's put on a half a stone or so as well.

"You're staring at me, Harry." She says, cutting into his thoughts.

"Just trying to keep an image of you," he says. "Here." He places his hand on his heart.

She goes over to him, then. And just like she did whilst in hospital, she takes it and places it over her own heart. "Yes. Here. "

They stay like that for a long moment. Finally he says, "I don't really need to say how I feel, do I Ruth?"

She shakes her head. "No."

"Then see that you keep it in mind, will you?" He smiles, a truly genuine one this time. Then he turns away from her for good and walks out the door.

She turns from him, too. "Kardia Mou," she says, her hand on her heart. "Kardia Mou."

-end of prologue-

Kardia Mou.. My (little) heart; term of endearment (obviously!)

:)