Disclaimer: Still not mine.

A/N: Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to read, review, favourite etc. For those who asked, here is a short epilogue. Enjoy.

"That's you up to speed, Harry," said Chaz Devereux as he placed a slim manila folder on top of the pile on the desk in front of him.

"Thanks. And for looking after this lot." Harry nodded towards the main part of the Grid. "I hope they haven't given you too hard a time."

"No, they've been great. Very professional, very diligent. Although I can't really pass judgement on Miss Evershed."

"Oh? There hasn't been a problem has there?"

"No," Chaz replied, grinning. "It's just that she's spent so much time being liaised senseless by you that I've barely seen her."

"Funny," said Harry and then continued, "She's very good at her job."

"I'm sure she's very good at everything she does."

"Much like Adrienne, I'm sure. How is she, by the way?"

There was a momentary flicker of fear on Chaz's face at the mention of his PA's name but Harry saw it. Once again the Thames House gossip was spot on.

"As far as I know she's fine. Quite enjoying covering for the Deputy DG's girl."

"She's probably glad of the rest," remarked Harry, enjoying his colleague's discomfort.

"Now who's being funny?"

"Where to next?" asked Harry, deftly changing the subject.

"JIC for a month and then Six want to borrow me."

"Going over to the dark side, eh? Good luck with that."

"Now, now, Harry. We're all on the same side, remember?"

"Of course."

Chaz stood up and held out his hand. "Right, try to stay out of trouble and in the lovely Miss Evershed's good books."

"I intend to," said Harry as they shook hands. "On both counts."

-x-

Having seen Chaz Devereux off the premises and after conducting his first team meeting in several months, Harry returned to his office to start tackling the pile of files on his desk. He opened the first one and laughed as he saw the uppermost document – it was a postcard of Harry-the-penguin. Inscribed on the back of it, in unmistakeable handwriting, were the words: 'Welcome back. I've missed you. Rxx'.

Ruth was halfway through the weekly threat report when her phone rang.

"I need a word."

"Now?" she asked, looking across the Grid towards Harry. "And why are you ringing me?"

"Yes, now," he replied, "and I thought phoning would be more…discreet."

Shaking her head, Ruth ended the call and headed towards Harry's office.

"Unauthorised documents in files, Ruth," said Harry, holding up the postcard. "They could get you into trouble."

"Oh dear. What are you going to do?"

He stood up and moved towards Ruth. "What do you think I should do?"

"I'm sure you'll think of something appropriate. Or inappropriate."

"You have to admit, inappropriate is much more fun," he remarked before backing her up against the door and engaging her in a knee-trembling snog.

"So it's true what they say about men your age," Ruth teased as Harry's attention moved to her blouse buttons. "You're either insatiable or incapable."

"Oh, very amusing."

"I thought so. But," she continued, "as lovely as this is, we should stop otherwise we're both going to end up on secondment to some far-flung hellhole for the rest of our careers."

"Somebody has to catch us first."

"If you carry on doing that, they will."

Reluctantly, Harry started to refasten Ruth's blouse. "How did you know?" he asked.

"Know what?"

"How many weeks it would be before I came back to the Grid."

"What are you talking about?"

"You've given me one penguin postcard a week since we…well, since we got together, officially."

Ruth quirked an eyebrow at him. "So having sex makes it 'official', does it?"

"You know what I mean."

"Yes, luckily for you, I do. And it was an educated guess, Harry."

He laughed. "I'm not entirely sure I believe you."

Ruth straightened the collar of his shirt and smoothed his tie. "Well then, when we get home, I shall have to see if I can convince you."

"I'm looking forward to it," Harry replied, pulling her back into his arms. "But just to keep me going until then, I think you should kiss me again."

She didn't argue.

The End

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