I must be mad to start another multi-chapter fic while I've got so much course work to be getting on with, but there you go. I got the idea for this story more than a year ago, but I only just managed to start writing it down.

As far as the timeline is concerned, it starts at the end of 5.3 (first passage of this chapter blatantly copied from the episode) and it starts becoming AU sometime during Havensworth. Hope you'll enjoy it.

Disclaimer: I obviously don't own anything, apart from a couple of boxsets. If I did, Harry and Ruth wouldn't still be dancing around each other.

Ruth entered Harry's office just as Ros and Adam were leaving.

"The Americans want to talk to you about the bomb" she said.

"They're not getting it back."

"Grosvernor Square is on a secure line." She turned to walk away but stopped when Harry said her name.

"Ruth. Have you thought anymore about..?"

"I can't" she immediately said.

"Can't what?" Harry asked.

"Have dinner again. People know, they're laughing about it."

Harry looked confused. "Laughing? Why would they laugh?"

"I don't know. But it undermines you and that's not acceptable."

"I sit in meetings, listening to briefings that would chill the blood of any ordinary citizen. So whilst of course deeply hurtful, somebody laughing at me is not going to give me sleepless nights."

"We can't, Harry. I can't be talked about like that. I just...I can't stand it. Sorry."

Ruth hurried away so he wouldn't see the sad look in her eyes. In the meantime a gobsmacked Harry was left behind in his office, his eyes mirroring Ruth's emotions.

Ruth hid herself away in the ladies' after leaving Harry's office. The tears that had threatened to fall as she spoke to Harry were now flowing freely, and her tiny frame shook with the sobs she unsuccessfully tried to suppress.

She could scarcely believe what she'd just done. She'd had feelings for Harry for as long as she could remember, and for a long time she could have only dreamed of those feelings ever being reciprocated. She had been over the moon when Harry asked her to have dinner with him. And, despite her nerves, she had thoroughly enjoyed their dinner. It had outlived her expectations, and she definitely wanted to have many more of them. At the time she really thought it could be the start of something wonderful.

But when Malcolm had told her that everyone knew about her and Harry, she had panicked. A shy person by nature, the last thing she wanted was people talking about her. She had no desire to be the centre of attention whatsoever. What she had said to Harry about the gossip undermining his authority was true, but it was only a part of the truth. She really couldn't stand to be talked about. She had always been very nervous and apprehensive about changes in her life, and she was sure that if she continued seeing Harry not only her personal life, but her professional life, too, would change beyond recognition. It was more than she could take all at once.

It had pained her beyond belief to have to turn Harry down. She so wanted to say yes to another date, but she just couldn't. In her view, the only possible solution was to end it before it had even begun.

It had been a good ten minutes since Ruth turned him down, but Harry was still leaning against his desk in the same manner as when she had left. He couldn't move, couldn't seem to do anything. He tried to make sense of what had happened, but he just couldn't.

It had taken him a lot of courage, enhanced somewhat by a good single malt, to take that giant leap and ask her to have dinner with him. He had pondered the possibility many times, but never dared to contemplate it seriously until Juliet had asked him if he was in love with Ruth. Juliet really knew him too well.

Yes he was in love with Ruth, of that he was sure. He just didn't think she could possibly feel the same way. She was beautiful, talented, incredibly intelligent, and much younger than he was. So what she could possibly see in someone like him was something he had wondered many a time. But when Juliet had said that Ruth felt the same way it had given him hope.

When he had finally mustered up the courage to ask her to have dinner with him he was still terribly nervous she'd say no. But she hadn't. She had said yes. This could only mean that she was in fact interested in him, which was more than he had bargained for. He couldn't be more excited.

He had enjoyed their dinner immensely, and wanted nothing more than to take her out on a date again. The food, wine and conversation had been good, and despite the initial tension they had soon been very much at ease in each other's company.

Which is why he didn't understand why Ruth had just turned him down. Surely a bit of idle office gossip and the fact that it could possibly undermine his authority, something which didn't concern him one bit, couldn't be the reason. At least in his view it didn't seem enough reason to turn one's back on something wonderful.

He decided he would leave Ruth be for now. He knew better than to push her when she was feeling nervous or emotional. At this stage his persistence would only be counterproductive. But he knew he wouldn't, couldn't just leave it at this. He had never felt this strongly about anyone before, and he was pretty sure that she hadn't either. So he was determined to make sure not to let this opportunity pass him by.

Harry moved over to his drinks cabinet and poured himself a generous measure of single malt. After all he'd been through today, both work wise and with Ruth, he felt he deserved it.

What do you think, is it worth continuing with? Please review if you'd like to read more xx