Someone should have warned me that writing Harry and Ruth fan fiction is very addictive! Hope you enjoy.

Ruth was tapping her pen irritatingly against her desk, trying to work up the nerve to go into Harry's office. It didn't usually take her long, after all she barged into his office everyday like clockwork. The only one who could get away with barging in too. Which had been made painfully clear the week before when Dimitri had tried it after Beth had dared him to.

Harry's shouting had been heard by everyone, even Tariq who had been experimenting in the forgery suite with something technical and complicated and emerged looking confused at Harry's raised voice. It had been even more funny for everyone when Ruth didn't bother knocking about half an hour later and they saw Harry smiling at her through the glass of his office. Ruth had emerged and found Beth, Dimitri, Alec and Tariq trying not to laugh at her.

"What?" she asked in an innocent voice, not understanding their reaction.

"Nothing," Beth said firmly, trying to make the boys shut up before they embarrassed Ruth. Back in the present, Ruth threw her pen on the desk and walked into Harry's office slowly. She knew this was not going to be a pleasant conversation.

"Hi," she said quietly as Harry put the phone down and turned to her. A charged silence fell as Ruth sat down.

"Anything… I can do?" Harry asked after an entire minute filled with nothing but meaningful glances.

"I… I need a few days off," Ruth said quietly. "I know I'm meant to clear it at least three weeks before I leave but… something's come up and I'd really appreciate it if you could speed up the process for me."

"Oh," Harry said surprised wondering how he'd cope without Ruth on the grid for a few days. Getting the time off for her wasn't a problem. The problem was he would have to manage without her. "Yeah, I'll clear it for you. I hope everything is okay?" The hint of a question in his voice was clear. He was concerned, she could see that but she didn't know what to tell him.

"I'm fine," Ruth said surely and honestly. "Um… one of my friends from university called. He's had some bad news and he's not in a good way. I just… I need to go and see him."

Harry swallowed, trying to ignore the pain that went through his heart when Ruth mentioned "him." And the jealousy.

"Of course," Harry said trying to hide his irritation. "Take all the time you need."

"Thank you Harry," she said sincerely. She reached across his desk and grasped his hand tightly. "Thank you," she repeated.

"You're welcome," he said quietly. "When will you leave?"

"Tomorrow," Ruth said quietly. "If that's okay? I'll stay late tonight and make sure everything is finished properly."

"I'll sort out your leave for you. Don't worry about it." Ruth nodded gratefully and reluctantly withdrew her hand from Harry's, feeling that to keep it there was crossing the unspoken boundary between them.

"I should get back to work then," Ruth said, leaving Harry with a small smile on her face. Harry watched her through the glass of his office, trying to hold onto the feeling of her hand on his. He sighed as he watched her begin typing on her computer. How on earth was he going to cope on a Ruth less grid?

"Right, the latest terror threats are listed in here according to their importance," Ruth told Beth, handing over a thick file. "The Israeli delegation are on their flight out of the UK and should leave British air space within the next thirty minutes so they shouldn't give you anymore problems."

"Ruth, stop worrying and calm down," Beth said. "We won't fall apart when you leave the building." Beth's gaze fixed on Harry's office. She wondered if she dared to mention that Harry would miss her terribly. Then she decided that she didn't dare.

"Okay," Ruth said shutting her computer down. "I hate letting people down, that's all."

"You're not letting anyone down," Beth said. "Not even Harry."

"Mm," Ruth said, biting her lip, very unconvinced. "Anyway, I have to go now. I'll see you soon."

"Yes," Beth replied, flicking through the file Ruth had given her. "Be sure you say goodbye to him before you go."

"I don't need you to tell me that," Ruth said sharply. Beth said nothing more and hid behind her computer screen. Ruth walked into Harry's office and waited for him to put the phone down before speaking.

"I'm off now," she said in a quiet voice.

"Okay," Harry replied in a slow and sensual voice that seemed to make her heart pound faster.

"I'll be back before you know it," Ruth said, wanting to break the charged silence that had fallen over them.

"Yes," Harry replied, thoroughly unconvinced. "Well, I hope you have a safe trip. Where are you going?"

"Exeter," Ruth said firmly. "I'm going to catch an early train tomorrow morning."

"Okay," Harry said. He paused and then let his self control go and decided to take a chance. "Will you call me? Just so I know that you're okay."

"Of course I will," she replied almost instantly, feeling her heart race when she realised that he worried about her. Still, even after everything they had been through. "Don't let the grid blow up in my absence will you?" A hint of teasing in her voice.

"We'll all be waiting for you. I'll be waiting for you." Ruth swallowed, feeling the situation start to spin away from her and out of control. But try as she might, she couldn't tear her eyes away from his. All of a sudden he seemed much closer to her. He swiftly put his hand on her cheek before she realised it, his fingertips caressing her skin softly.

"Come back soon," Harry said, a notch above a whisper.

"I will," she replied as slowly as she could, wanting to keep his hand on her face as long as possible. All too soon his touch vanished and Ruth felt empty.

"Bye Harry," she said and quickly left his office. He watched as she picked up her coat and waved goodbye to Beth. Her eyes locked on to Harry's one last time and she left the grid as the pods swished shut after her.

I'm not entirely sure where this is going. I have a vague plan but I never seem to stick to my plans! I'd love a review. xxx