Could be a one shot, not sure.

Disclaimers and all that. Set post 9.8 but without the whole inquiry thing.

"If there were ever two people who needed their heads banging together, it's you two."

"Malcolm." Harry's voice had a real note of warning.

"'I'm sorry Harry, but I can't help feeling responsible."

"I don't know what you're talking about Malcolm, but now is neither the time nor the place." Harry was aware of Ruth's discomfort. It was most unlike Malcolm to be discussing personal matters especially in front of the whole team, in the pub, only an hour after they'd buried Lucas. The others had chosen to keep quiet and let this play out.

"It's never going to be the right time or the right place, Harry, because the two of you will keep sticking your head in the sand, refusing to see what the rest of us know."

"Malcolm, enough," said Ruth putting her hand on his arm as he was about to have another slug of whiskey, it really was most unlike him, in fact she hadn't seen him like this since Colin had died.

"I'm not a betting man, but I'll lay you a wager that everyone around this table recognises what you won't." Malcolm looked challengingly around the table., "Beth, isn't it?" he asked as she wished he'd picked on one of the others.

"Yes,"

"You know what I'm talking about don't you?" She nodded "yes, I believe I do."

Malcolm turned to Dimitri, eyebrows raised.

"You don't have to be a genius", he said and nodded.

"Alec?"

"Took me about ten minutes to see it."

Harry glared at him.

All eyes turned to Tariq who looked a little confused, he hadn't really been listening to the beginning of the conversation and had missed the salient moment.

Dimitri helped him out by flicking a look between first Harry, then Ruth.

"Oh," said a relieved Tariq, "oh yes, it's obvious."

Malcolm turned back to Harry with a smug look on his face. "You see."

Ruth's eyes were lowered to the table, she had watched all their answers amidst glances to Harry to see if his temper would remain in check. He had given nothing away. She knew that they didn't understand the complication of their relationship, the past and all the things they'd seen, but perhaps their way of looking at it was the right way. She was pondering this when Malcolm spoke again.

"Harry, you love Ruth, don't you?" Harry wasn't sure whether it was a question or a statement but his old friend kept looking at him, waiting. The others were trying not to look at him. Ruth's head was still lowered.

"Yes."

Malcolm nodded. "Ruth, you love Harry, don't you?"

The team weren't as scared of Ruth so all eyes turned to her, including Harry's.

She lifted her head slowly and looked at him.

"I do."

Seven pairs of lungs momentarily stopped working.

No one spoke.

Harry looked at Ruth and Ruth looked at Harry.

Malcolm took Harry's hand from it's glass and pulled it across the table. He reached out for Ruth's and placed it gently on Harry's.

"Now, for heaven's sake, sort it out."

Suddenly the table was empty bar the two of them.