Disclaimer: This is for entertainment purposes only. I don't own Spooks/MI-5, or any of its characters.

[Status Quo]

Sometime after Season 8…

It had been a busy day on the grid, and Ruth needed a break. She glanced at the clock, and headed toward the pantry for a cup of tea – it wasn't nearly as bad as that for her to try to stomach the infamously bad coffee. Harry should have been back from the JIC meeting by now, she thought.

Almost on cue, a pair of hands gently reached around her waist from behind.

"Harry…"

"I KNEW IT!"

At the sound of the voice that most definitely wasn't Harry's, Ruth spun around brandishing her spoon like a weapon. Lucas was standing there, with the widest grin physically possible on his face. At the look of terror on Ruth's face, he stopped chuckling.

Oh Christ…now everybody will know, and we've been so discreet…

"Ruth, I'm sorry. I just wanted to find out for sure."

"For sure?"

"Ruth, we're spooks. It's not as if we weren't going to notice what was going on."

Ruth was still looking angry and slightly terrified.

"Don't worry. No one is laughing, despite what you may think. We're mostly just bloody grateful."

"Grateful?"

"A happy Harry makes for a happy grid. He's positively purring. No one has had a request for leave turned down, and we sometimes even have the semblance of a weekend. Much better than the fire and brimstone that was here before you returned. Our jobs are stressful enough without having to worry about Harry imploding in a fit of repressed angst."

Ruth couldn't help but smile a little bit at that image, especially as she was well aware of Harry's temper.

"Lucas, please don't say anything…"

"I told you, I don't have to. But don't worry; there is no way I'm getting into Harry's crosshairs." What Harry would think of this conversation didn't bear thinking about, as far as Lucas was concerned. "I'm liking the status quo". Lucas gave Ruth a playful wink, and meandered back to his desk, ignoring the questioning glance from Tariq on the way by.

** This is my first attempt at Fanfic! Please review!