Post 9.3, ignoring the Lucas/Vaughan scenario.

Disclaimers as ever.

"A fiver"

"Push the boat out, Tariq" said Lucas dismissively.

"All right , a tenner"

"What you doing?" Beth asked as she joined them by the coffee machine.

"Tariq, reckons that Harry'll be talking to Ruth again by tomorrow. I don't, or rather, I don't think she'll be talking to him."

"You didn't say that" protested Tariq.

"Well, that's not a very clear bet then is it?" concluded Beth.

"Ok, a tenner on them still not talking tomorrow, whoever's fault" Lucas clarified.

"Done" said Tariq.

Harry had spent most of the previous day snapping at her and Ruth was still decidedly unhappy with him, she was at least thankful that he'd spent the morning in meetings.

The situation was affecting everyone on the Grid. She knew that. The team were all unaware of what had caused the sudden friction between them, they had no idea about his proposal, nor her answer. What they did know was that the two of them were, ironically, bickering like the married couple they had refused to become. She actually stopped and laughed at the thought.

"Glad you're having a good time, Ruth" It was an icy blast that accompanied Harry as he crossed from the pods.

She shook her head and went back to her desk.

Harry sat down. He hated his own behaviour and yet everytime he vowed to be reasonable he heard himself say something ever more sarcastic and spiteful to her. What was wrong with him? "She said no, get over it." He said it out loud. Then he turned to pour a large whiskey.

Tariq walked to Lucas's desk and held out his hand. There was a sigh as Lucas dug in his wallet and pulled out a ten pound note. Tariq looked annoyingly smug. Ruth glanced up, curious.

"Tariq's just said he's going to nip out and get us all a proper coffee." Said Lucas as Tariq's smugness seeped away.

"What do you fancy, Ruth?"

"Actually, an earl grey would be lovely, thanks Lucas. Nice of you to go Tariq".

"No problem" he muttered as he crossed to the pods with various shouts of "latte' and 'espresso' ringing in his ears.

Ruth caught Lucas's eye "nice boy" she said quietly. Lucas smiled.

There was a knock at Harry's door.

Come in." He didn't look up straight away but when he did it was Ruth standing there. For a moment he just looked blankly at her.

"We really are in trouble now." He hadn't meant to say it out loud.

She looked at him a little confused and then realised he was referring to the fact that she hadn't just walked in, like normal. They were so far from normal.

"Harry, I need to ask you something?"

"If it's about work then go ahead"

"It's not"

He sighed. He didn't know how much more of this he could take.

Ruth took a deep breath. She knew something had to be said, something had to change.

"When I said that it was easier to be open at work about who we are, I didn't expect it to be like this…. I didn't really want us…. I wanted to say that we…"

Despite himself he felt the hope flutter in his chest and hated himself for it.

"Harry, it's just that…."

Tariq opened the door.

"What!" screamed Harry banging his hand on the desk.

Tariq flinched. He'd done it again, walked in on them at the wrong moment. If he hadn't then maybe they would have made it up and be talking again and he could have claimed his tenner back. Bugger.

As it was he just said "I've brought Ruth her tea."

He stepped hesitantly across and passed the cup to Ruth. Harry was glaring at him.

"You brought Ruth her tea." Harry repeated calmly.

Tariq misunderstood "Oh sorry, I didn't get you one. I can always nip back out"

Through gritted teeth Harry replied "No thank you. I'm just fine" and then he looked up and smiled, but not in a good way, "Now, if you don't mind, Tariq".

Tariq walked back out onto the grid, noone looked at him but he did have the distinct impression that there were more than one pair of shoulders hunched, shaking with laughter as he went to sit down.

Harry tried to remain calm.

"Go on Ruth, you were saying"

What was she saying? She still didn't know the right words. Still didn't actually know what she wanted to tell him. She did want to say he was been childish and irritating and unprofessional and bloody minded and unreasonable and god, he hadn't stopped pouting for about a week and a half. But, you know what, she loved his pout. She loved him, even though he was being a sodding idiot. Maybe that was what she needed to tell him.

"Harry, you're being a sodding idiot" was all she got out before Lucas ran into the room. Harry was about to lose it in spectacular fashion until Lucas said "The Home Secretary has been taken. The kidnappers want to talk to you".

"Half a crown and they can have him" said Harry, but nonetheless he got up to follow Lucas, in his heart quite glad that he never got to hear the thing that followed 'Harry you're a bloody idiot" Actually whatever it was he couldn't disagree with the first part.

Ruth puffed her cheeks and again wondered if this just wasn't meant to be.

Chapter 2 to come