A short update so you won't think I've gone on hiatus for another five years. Just will be unable to update for a few days. Not my best chapter, but there's so much to right that went wrong. More will be on the way...

Ruth knew the days were drawing close when they might lose Danny. She and Harry had their love but she knew she'd never tell him how she really anticipates the future. Tonight he was late attending a meeting. Ruth reviewed her notes. The terrorists as she reversed engineered the operation should be on English soil. She had not been able to prevent that part of the plot. What she did manage to do was convince Adam to sweep his home for listening devices, which he found. Surprised he started to remove them, but Ruth suggested otherwise. Feed them what they wanted. Ruth explained her understanding is they work as like Adam and Fiona this pair worked as a couple, with third party help. The would-be terrorist was fanatical in part over the loss of family in Middle East. Ruth knew the woman would be more reachable as she was the one carrying the explosives inside her. The trick was how to draw them out without getting Danny killed.

As predicted Zoe had left the service shortly after her wedding. It had been a beautiful event. Ruth was asked to be a bridesmaid as Zoe had few female friends. Fortune had smiled on all that day. It was quiet and not imminent threats prevented all of the team from attending. Harry had managed to take a day off too. He beamed as he saw Ruth in her dress. He imagined the day they'd have their own marriage. Ruth still dodged the question of marriage.

At times her friendship with Danny brought Harry's jealous streak. She noticed he paired Danny with Fiona often. On the occasion she had time to talk with Danny, and Harry was about, Harry would find some reason to call her into his office. Ruth understood but she also recalled how Danny had meant so much to her in the months she settled into work at MI5. This is something Harry doesn't know as they had fallen into a relationship more easily this second time around. No whispers were ever heard about she and Harry. They seemed a natural couple to everyone. Ruth wondered at times why it couldn't have been this easy the first time. Yet she did understand. She wasn't the naive girl she was the first time she experienced this trip through life. She understood they could have a relationship and work together. She thought briefly of Elena and although Harry knew he was not the father of her child, she knew that would be a matter for the future. Hopefully they'd face it together and not let it pull them apart. Nicholas Blake was still a sticky issue for them. Harry still had complete faith in the man. Ruth knew how Blake would betray Harry not once but twice. She still couldn't confide this to him. Harry is a man who lives for the facts, not a possible fantasy. Ruth truly loves Harry but also knows his limits and his faults. His loyalty while admirable is also one of his biggest faults.

Still the day was drawing close for the Mideast peace conference to begin and the couple in question had yet to do anything that they could be brought in for questioning. Ruth knew the day of Fiona's birthday they would be sitting outside Adam and Fiona's house listening. It would cut matters close but Ruth knew that would be the only time they could catch them with the illegal listening devices and woman with the explosives implanted in her.

Timing would be everything.

On the morning of Fiona's birthday, Adam and Fiona carried on. "I wouldn't trade you for the whole world," he told her. Meanwhile Danny's killer would be sitting outside with the woman. Ruth corrected herself, the people who planned to kill Danny or Fiona would be there and hopefully caught. Just as the couple were listing to Adam and Fiona CO19 approached the car. A signal jammer was triggered and as CO19 took the couple into custody the man tried to trigger the device unsuccessfully. Now they had grounds to charge the couple with more than wiretapping. They had try to kill members of CO19 a clear terrorist act. Ruth relaxed. Danny would be alive at the end of the day. Sam would still be at work tomorrow. She and Harry could maybe take some time off in the near future. Then Ruth remembered Fiona still has another husband who thinks she's dead who may ruin the future for Adam, Fiona and Wes. Still, Ruth thought there's time...

Since her one flashback when she and Harry had fought, she'd not experienced any other events and Ruth was starting to believe she and Harry may just make a life for themselves. Maybe she contemplates a child in her future.