Home Run - Chapter 13

[Tea Lady]

Thanks for still reading guys. This is it. The final chapter. Big thanks to JHyde.


Chapter 13.

After banging on the front door a dozen times or more and getting no response, Harry decides to leave and move his car off the driveway, before his actions are brought to the attention of the local police. He parks down the road, behind a row of cars. It is just far enough out of sight, but still well positioned so he can watch the comings and goings from the safe house. Harry wants to be close in case Ruth needs him, but as it approaches midnight, the lights remain switched on in the house and his mobile phone has remained silent.

In his most maudlin moments these past few hours, Harry has even reconciled with himself that if Ruth does leave, she will not be totally lost to him; that he will know where she is. Not like before. He could remain in her life somehow, keeping the hope alive in his heart that she will find her way back to him again, someday.

Sighing heavily, Harry stretches out in the car as best he can, his shoulder tight, but with the ache easing. Instead the pain seems to have moved to his chest. All Harry wants to do is storm back to the house, smash the door down and do whatever it takes to make Ruth see sense. Tell her that she does not have to do this; that there is an alternative, that she is strong and can learn to live with the guilt, if she chooses to engage her old life again. But Harry knows that time is against him, against them.

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It is now a few minutes after midnight and Ruth is brushing her teeth in the bathroom, reflecting on what happened earlier in the evening. While she and George had not argued again since returning to the house, they have barely spoken. Just pleasantries between them, mainly for Nico’s sake. The three bags containing all their worldly possessions are packed and now waiting by the front door, to be taken with them to the airport. All Ruth could feel while packing was numbness. She was packing to return to Cyprus. The safe haven she had sheltered on, for almost three years, and made her home.

Climbing now into the double bed, Ruth lies down, still wearing her day clothes. There does not seem any point changing into night clothes as they will be driving away from this house in only three hours. George had said goodnight an hour or so ago and had picked up a blanket off their bed and returned downstairs in silence. Ruth assumes he would be fast asleep on the sofa by now.

Waking with a start from a particularly vivid dream, Ruth looks at the bedside clock. It is nearly 3am. Surprised that she has been asleep and alarmed at the time, she quickly rises from her bed and picks up her mobile phone from the side dresser. There is not much time as George will be awake in a matter of minutes, so she creeps down the hallway, the phone clasped tightly in her hand.

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A short distance down the road, Harry is still awake. He has not let himself sleep and has been picking at a packet of chocolates he had found discarded in the glove compartment. He had watched the house fall into darkness and now, a little after 3am, the lights have flickered on again. As he raises himself up in his seat, focusing intently on the house which is just down the road from where he is parked, he watches in horror as the front door of the safe house opens and three people exit. Suitcases and bags are loaded quickly into the boot of the car and after a few moments, the three people drive off. They are heading in a westerly direction. The direction of the airport. Harry cannot believe it. Ruth is gone.

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Malcolm did not normally go onto the Grid on a Saturday morning, but after finding no answer at Harry’s house, he decided to try the next obvious place. Worried about his old friend, Malcolm had purchased two coffees and some warm bagels as he was sure Harry would be awake, even if he did not want to talk. Malcolm hoped the small gesture would be appreciated under the circumstances.

Entering the Grid, Malcolm immediately notices the bright glare of a desk lamp through the glass of Harry’s office. The two coffees are now stone cold so Malcolm leaves them on his desk. There is no staff on the Grid. Not yet anyway. It is too early.

As Malcolm slowly pulls open the door to Harry’s office, he is saddened by the sight that greets him. Malcolm knows now, that Harry was not able to stop Ruth leaving. Slumped over on his desk, Harry is sleeping with his head resting on a pile of papers, still wearing yesterday’s office clothes. There is an empty whiskey bottle and crystal glass standing on the desk next to his head.

Malcolm tentatively approaches the desk and leans down, turning the desk lamp off. Picking up the empty bottle, hoping to dispose of it discreetly, Malcom then closes the blinds. No one should see Harry like this, Malcolm says to himself.

Closing the door behind him, Malcolm returns to his desk. He will leave Harry to sleep off the alcohol for a while longer, then he will drive him home. Turning on his computer, Malcolm sits down sadly at his desk and starts on the bagels.

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Startled, Harry tries to move his head up off his desk, but the pain in his bruised shoulder, which has now moved to his neck, is making that extremely difficult. Someone is shouting his name. He can just about register that, but his brain does not seem to be functioning as it should. The effect of half a bottle of whiskey consumed in the early hours of that morning. Again, Harry hears his name, and he manages at last to open his eyes and lift his head up slightly.

“Harry, Harry! Wake up!” Malcolm is now shaking Harry’s arm quite violently, trying his best to stir him.

Harry manages to focus and is suddenly aware of Malcolm standing over him, seemingly in the grip of some panic.

“Christ, Malcolm, what is it?”

“Harry, It’s Ruth.”

“What? What’s Ruth? She‘s gone Malcolm. You‘re too late.”

“No - no, I just checked the flight manifests Harry and only two people on that booking boarded the flight.”

“W-what?” Harry can’t quite comprehend what his old friend is trying to tell him.

“Ruth didn't board the plane, Harry. She checked in, but never boarded. It took off with just George and the boy on board.”

Shocked and still a little confused, Harry looks down at his watch. It is 8.15am. “The flight left over two hours ago Malcolm. Where the hell is she?”

Malcolm leans forward over Harry’s shoulder and taps quickly on the keyboard sitting on his desk. Up comes the image from one of the cameras back at the safe house. It is just a grainy black and white image, but Harry can clearly make out the figure of someone sitting in the lounge.

Grabbing his suit jacket off the back of his chair, Harry dashes out of his office, almost tripping over Malcolm as he does. His friend is left looking at the door before racing out after him.

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They had squabbled like an old married couple, all the way through Thames House to the car park, when Harry finally relented and let Malcolm drive him. The half bottle of whiskey has still not worked its way out of his system, and Harry is in no fit state to drive.

After a measured drive through the streets of North London, which has annoyed Harry no end, Malcolm pulls his car up on the road outside the safe house. Harry has just finished drinking the second cup of cold coffee that Malcolm had brought them.

“I’ll be parked down the road, Harry. Just call if you need me…or…if you don’t.”

Smiling, Harry replies, “Thank you, old friend.”

Malcolm nods his head in recognition and Harry climbs out of the car, his legs a little shaky. The combination of alcohol, little sleep, a rush of caffeine, and the emotional rollercoaster he has been on these last few days. As he tentatively rings the doorbell, Harry tries to tidy his dishevelled appearance somewhat by tucking his work shirt in fully and smoothing his wild hair down. He has left his tie somewhere, but has no idea where.

An eternity seems to pass by, but eventually Harry sees the shadow of a figure he knows so well, approach the door. It opens slowly and there once again they stand, face to face, simply staring at each other.

All Harry can say is, “Ruth.”

And her only reply is: “Harry.”

She gives him a sad smile and turns away, her shoulders visibly sagging and walks into the lounge. Harry follows, closing the door quietly behind him.

They sit opposite each other. One on each sofa, just like last time. Except the house somehow feels different.

Harry is the one to break the silence, stating the obvious first. “You didn’t leave. I thought you had gone. I watched you leave…I watched your car drive away.”

Ruth sighs and rubs her eyes roughly, “Yes. I went with them to the airport, but only to say goodbye. I wanted to spend as much time with Nico as I could. You see…I will never see him again, Harry.”

Harry now knows. Knows the decision Ruth has made and its consequences. He has to ask, “And what about George?”

“He knew, Harry. He guessed last night that I would not be going back with them. He realised…that what I felt for him…was not enough for me to give up my life here.”

“Was - was he angry, Ruth?”

Snorting a little at the question, Ruth looks down at the floor. “A little…I think he was more disappointed. Disappointed in me. I let them all down you see, Harry.” Ruth looks up and tears spring to her eyes.

Harry can not bare to see her like this, so forlorn, so unsure, so he moves from his sofa and joins Ruth on hers. Reaching over, Harry takes her hand in his. He has not noticed her wedding band before, but Ruth sees Harry stare at it as he continues to hold her hand gently.

“You will get through this Ruth, I promise. I will help you, if you let me.”

Ruth nods her head but it causes one of the tears to fall down her cheek. “I don’t have anything, Harry. I’m here. I’m finally home. I’m not running from anything or anyone anymore, but I don’t have anything. No job, no money, no house, no family.”

“Stop, Ruth,” says Harry softly. “You have friends. Lots of friends that care very much for you.” Harry squeezes her hand a little tighter with these words and a hint of a smile appears on Ruth’s face, as she wipes away another tear. “You also have money, Ruth. Well, quite a lot of money actually. I was going to tell you yesterday. There is a compensation payment for £250,000. It’s all yours. That should be enough to get you a place round here, Ruth and…”

“No! I don’t want it!” snaps Ruth.

“But Ruth, it…”

“You said you wanted to help, Harry. Then send it on to George. For the children. Make something up but don’t say it was from me.” Ruth looks at Harry pleadingly. “Please do this for me, Harry.”

Reluctantly, Harry agrees to her wish and nods his head. “I will arrange it, Ruth.”

“Thank you, and there’s something else.” Ruth pulls her hand away from Harry and picks up her handbag, which has been sitting on the floor next to the sofa. Harry watches as Ruth inches off her wedding ring and places it in the bag. It is not for Harry’s benefit, but Ruth now feels that the ring belongs to someone else. Someone who no longer exists and it is not hers to wear. Neither of them say anything. Then, Ruth fishes in her bag and takes out her mobile phone.

Removing the memory card from the side of the phone, Ruth asks, “Can you give this to Malcolm, Harry. It’s encrypted so I can’t get the photos developed myself.”

Taking the card from Ruth, Harry has to ask, “What’s on the card, Ruth?”

“Photographs…of Nico. These are the only photos I have of him. I took them…before we left the house this morning.”

“I understand. I will make sure Malcolm gets it, Ruth.” Carefully, Harry places the memory card in his inside jacket pocket. Then, Harry finds the courage to ask the question he has wanted to ask, ever since Ruth returned. “What are you going to do now, Ruth? I mean, do you want to come back to the Service? There’s a job there if you want it.” His voice is full of hope.

Ruth has to think for a moment before replying. “I don’t know, Harry. I really don’t. I need some time to decide what I want to do with my life now. Everything has changed so fast.” She sees the sudden flash of fear cross Harry’s face. Fear that he will lose her again, so quickly. She hurries on: “But what I do know, is that I want you in my life, Harry. I’m not quite sure what that means yet and I can’t sit here and promise you anything, but if you give me time Harry, I‘ll…”

“I’m a very patient man Ruth,” interrupts Harry, in a low soft soothing voice, which brings a smile to Ruth’s face.

They sit there, caught in the moment, when Harry’s mobile phone beeps and brings them back into the room . Taking it out of his pocket, Harry reads the text message to himself:

*Harry. Do you need me? M*

Harry laughs and explains, “It’s Malcolm, Ruth. He’s my taxi driver and mother this morning. Er…Ruth, do you have plans today? I mean, would you like to come back to my place?” He is nervous, fearing it may be too much too soon.

Ruth frowns a little, urging him to clarify. He attempts to explain. “Well, Scarlet will be desperate for a walk and I owe her a trip to the Heath. We - we could both take her there for a walk and there’s a lovely little tea shop next to the bandstand. We could stop there and…

Ruth gently places her hand on Harry’s, which has the desired effect. He ceases his rambling and looks over at her, waiting for her response. He does not have to wait long. “Yes Harry. I would like that. I would like that very much.”

The End.


Note: I hope this ending is OK folks. Written before 9.1. I didn't think it deserved fluff. I have in my mind though that Ruth doesn't return to 5 and finds happiness out of the service, with Harry still in her life.

[lwhite53]

This is a good and right ending TL -- thanks.

[Beatriz]

That was lovely, Tea Lady, I really enjoyed it. Very sweet end No rush of things that's the best way

I adore Malcolm!!!! Marry me Malcolm!! (seeing that Harry has plans...)

[Obsession]

Yeah, totally agree about the non-fluffiness. It wouldn't be right. The whole story is well written and had me checking this page more often than I care to think in anticipation of each new chapter. I liked how Ros and Malcolm care for Harry. Good story. Thanks

[Silktie]

Lovely ending, thanks TL. You had me going there a couple of times - when Ruth sneaked through the house with her phone, I got very happy thinking she was going to call Harry, but no. Then, when Harry saw the three of them drive off to the airport, I got depressed thinking she was actually going back to Cyprus, but no again. Woot! I now have a mental picture of Harry and Ruth walking Scarlet together, which is just lovely.

[Elphie]

Thankyou so much Tea Lady!! Ive been avidly reading this fan-fic since it started and there was not one thing that was wrong with it!!

The ending was fabulous but I'm sad that the story is over

Thanks xx

[Nia M]

Lovely ending

[Ceridwyn2]

All is right with the world again! Love the dynamics in this story. All the best!