A/N: Well here it is, the final chapter. Thanks for all your comments – they really mean a lot. I had always intended this story to stay in canon, so I hope you're not disappointed that there are no big declarations of undying love etc.

Chapter 3

Still 1st May 2005, 6.30am

Harry woke early, dressed and knocked gently on the door to Ruth's room. When there was no answer he opened the door a crack, assuming her to be asleep, but her was bed empty. Padding gently down the stairs he found her, curled up on an armchair in the living room cradling a cup of tea.

"Couldn't sleep?" he asked gently, careful not to startle her.

"No. I managed a couple of hours but even that was fitful." She paused, staring out of the window, before indicating to the cup in her hands. "There's fresh tea in the pot in the kitchen; help yourself."

"Thanks." Harry made his tea and then returned to the living room. Ruth was still on the chair, looking through a photo album. He didn't need to see it to know it was old family photos. He sat down on the sofa. "You were close, weren't you?" he guessed, wondering why she'd lied to him last night in his office.

Ruth sighed. "When we were younger, yes. As we got older we drifted apart. It doesn't mean I shouldn't be upset though."

"No, it doesn't," he agreed.

"There's so many memories here. I really didn't think it would hit me this hard. I can't help but feel guilty too; if I'd done more. I knew how much he was struggling. With the drinking, he was becoming a liability at work and you and I know there's no room for that in Royal Protection. You have to be on the ball all the time. After he was fired, his drinking became worse. If only I'd…"

Harry reached across and took her hand. "You can't blame yourself, Ruth. There's nothing to say he would have accepted your help anyway."

"But I should have tried," she whispered before changing the subject. She didn't want to continue talking about this, worried that she'd let something slip about the reasons they had drifted apart. She didn't want to discuss that with anyone, but especially not with Harry. "You're up early; I hope that's not because you feel like you're imposing."

"It's not," he assured, removing his hand from hers. "I have a meeting in Whitehall at nine. I'll need to leave in a few minutes."

"Of course," she accepted, trying to ignore the feelings that his imminent departure was creating. Whilst she was relieved that their moment in the early hours seemed to have been forgotten, there was also a part of her that wondered what it would have been like to feel his lips on hers. She chided herself for being stupid, it was just the emotion and the lateness of the hours. Harry wouldn't look at her twice; she'd heard the stories; he tended to go for glamorous women, not bookish, plain ones like herself. She knew the feelings she had for Harry were going beyond the realms of a subordinate and her boss, or even friends, but she knew she wouldn't act on them for fear of being rejected or humiliated. He was her boss for crying out loud! He'd probably think she'd lost her reason or was wanting a promotion. No, it was best for both of them if she kept her feelings to herself; buried them.

They finished their tea in comfortable silence and when he couldn't delay any more, he reluctantly announced he really had to go.

Ruth walked him to the door. "Take care, Ruth, and don't rush back to work. We'll manage…I'm not quite sure how, but we will. Your family must take priority."

"I'll let you know when I'll be back. I should have a better idea of what the arrangements will be later today."

Harry nodded. "Don't hesitate to call…if there's anything I can do."

"Thanks Harry. Goodbye."

"Goodbye Ruth," he whispered, bending down to place a chaste kiss on her cheek. She fought the urge to blush and look away. She kept her eyes on him as he drove off, watching him turn out of the gate. She spotted another car, waiting to turn in from the opposite direction and realised it was Angela.

She parked up, got out and make her way towards Ruth. "Hello Ruth."

"Angela, I am so sorry," she tells her sincerely but they did not embrace.

The blonde woman smiled sadly. "Thank you. That man, the one who just left, was that...?"

Ruth cringed inwardly as she realised where the conversation was going. But she decided to bite the bullet. "It was Harry Pearce, yes."

"How do you know him?"

"He's my boss."

"You work for MI-5?" Angela asked incredulously. She couldn't believe it; shy, bookish Ruth Evershed was a spy?

"Yes, Section D. I'm their senior analyst. But keep it to yourself. Mum and David think I work for the Department of Trade and Industry."

"Well, well. It seems you and I have more in common that we first thought." Ruth winced internally at that. They did, in more ways than one; they'd both loved the same man, not that Angela knew that.

Once Angela had gotten over the shock of finding out about Ruth's employment, the two women spent the next hour before her mother and stepfather were awake, talking about the various aspects of working for MI-5. Neither women knew at that point, that their conversation was the beginning of something that would culminate exactly a year from today, with devastating consequences.

7th May 2005 8.30am

Harry entered through the pods to see Ruth sat at her desk, talking with a couple of junior officers. He was surprised to see her in work; her stepbrother's funeral had only taken place yesterday morning. "Ruth, a word please," he called over the Grid

Excusing herself from her conversation, she followed him into his office, sliding the door shut behind her.

"Welcome back," he greeted with a small smile. "Although I thought we'd agreed you were going to take a few more days off."

"We did, but I'm fine honestly. There was no reason for me to stay after the funeral, plus there are just too many memories in that house. I'd rather be here, working; it keeps my mind occupied."

"Well, if you're sure." He wasn't convinced. She looked like she'd barely slept at all for the last couple of days, and she didn't have her usual colour in her cheeks.

"I am Harry."

"Good."

"Is that all?"

"Yes. Thank you Ruth." She took her leave and her hand was on the door handle when Harry spoke again. "It's good to have you back."

She merely smiled at him, slid open the door and went back to her desk. He watched her for a few minutes, wanting to be sure she really was okay and fit to be back at work, before Adam came bursting in.

"This has just been faxed in," he said, handing Harry a piece of paper. "Looks like these paracetamol deaths are an act of domestic terrorism."

Harry sighed and looked at his watch before picking up the phone. "I need to speak to the Home Secretary. I want Ruth, Danny, Sam and Malcolm in the meeting room in twenty minutes." Adam nodded and left Harry in his office, staring down at the fax in his hand, whilst waiting to be connected to the Home Secretary on a secure line. He suddenly had a feeling this was going to be one of those days and he was more than glad Ruth had decided to come back to work today; they were going to need her on this.

A/N: Please leave one final review?