Dempsey looked over at Harry as they watched Mara and Coltrane as they were escorted from the damaged manor house. Danny had dragged his partner off after the face to face with Coltrane and Butch had told him the girl was dead, his relief when Makepeace called his name had sent a shockwave throughout his body and it hit him then that life without Harry didn't mean much.
The Sergeant was holding up well; her professional demeanour still in place, when he questioned her on caring about him she'd just brushed that off by saying that she had to say something to stop him shooting Coltrane. And then there was the elephant in the room, their probable differences of opinion on his manner of protecting her while they were in that house. He wondered if she'd replayed that night as often as he had, on the other hand maybe she'd level charges against him but he had a feeling that wouldn't be Harry's style. If she went for payback she'd probably deliver it herself which was also a matter of concern cos he was feeling kind of raw about the princess.
Harry was aware of her partner's gaze but she ignored it as she wasn't sure of how to deal with the situation she'd found herself in and didn't want to address the issue until she'd thought about what had happened between them. They had undoubtedly been in danger of their lives as the man called Danny had definitely been deeply suspicious of Dempsey and would most certainly have had no qualms about forcing himself on her. Was it better to be subject to that level of intimacy by her partner; somewhat less traumatic she supposed. Dempsey had been more Lupino than James and she knew that he lived the cover and she was less adept at that. She also knew it took him a while to shed the characters he took on.
They both got into Spikings car and buckled up as Chas fired the engine. 'Well I suppose that turned out all right then,' Spikings said sarcastically. 'It wouldn't hurt once in a while for the two of you to follow orders and we will have a little chat about that when we get back to the office. Obviously after you have written your reports as a high profile case like this with a fellow police officer involved is a delicate matter.'
'Yes sir,' Harry answered politely although in her mind a long shower was a first priority. Spikings had a point if they had followed orders they wouldn't have been forced to maintain the cover.
Dempsey didn't give any smart retort which was unusual for him but he was too busy wondering how to discuss what had happened with Makepeace to focus on what Spikings had said.
'And we need to discuss your situation Lieutenant; you now have no reason not to go back to the NYPD unless you'd prefer to permanently move to the U.K.'
The American's head yanked up as if he was a puppet on a string and he swallowed hard. 'Do I have that option chief are you saying you'd offer me a job here?' He'd always thought Spikings would be glad to see the back of him. He'd subliminally monitored Harry's body tensing at the question and wondered if she wanted to get rid of him.
'I might be persuaded but we would need to discuss that Dempsey,' he lit a cigarette enjoying the moment as he saw the uncertainty on the Yank's face in the rear view mirror. He was well aware that without the Lieutenant the success rate of his department would not be as spectacular as it had been but then his budget would have been under less strain as the Yank had a habit of damaging cars and causing mayhem hence the ruined conservatory of the property they'd just left.
'You'll have to testify against Coltrane anyway so that will give you time to go and see your mother and pick up the threads in New York so you may want to give your future some thought.'
Dempsey nodded and glanced across at Harry who was looking out the window and stoically avoiding any eye contact with him. He groaned inwardly, he'd probably been too heavy with her and hoped to hell he hadn't hurt her. She was alive though, they both were so sometimes the ends justified the means. Harry should never've come after him like that but then in her way she'd been protecting him and he knew that even if Lupino hadn't thought to acknowledge that. No Lupino had seen the threat and moved to neutralise it and that had meant Harry had to take the rap for it.
Harry bit her lip wondering if Dempsey would prefer to go back to New York, she knew he missed it sometimes and found life here challenging. After what had happened between them then maybe that would be best; she didn't want to think about any of it. She just wanted to go home and crawl under the bedclothes and block it all out although she knew that was stupid. Anyway there was a report to be written but not before she showered the last couple of days off and assessed the damage. She could of course put the Lieutenant on a charge and go and get the necessary photos of any bruising that she'd incurred but she knew she wasn't going to do that. His actions had convinced Danny and the other low life, Alec and their cover had held until Coltrane had come face to face with her partner. Lupino had acted instinctively to protect them both and that was that.
-oOo-
Dempsey went to the locker rooms and showered; Watson was in there and sniggered when he saw the scratches the Yank had on him.
'Romantic encounter Jim, looks like you took some damage,' he laughed at his own joke. 'Some chicks like it rough,' he smirked enjoying the Yanks discomfort.
Dempsey hauled on a shirt to hide the evidence of Makepeace's protest; the material clung to him as his body was still damp. 'Yeah, yeah laugh it up; you had to be there…. I got all sorts of damage, cuts from glass, bruising from a couple of fights, life is hard and then you die. What can I say?'
'Maybe Makepeace will extend a little TLC; can't believe you've never got past first base with her man, you're running around with her all day; saving her life and her saving yours and you still don't get your leg over; unbelievable.'
'The Sergeant's my partner not my date you meathead…. Dempsey was well aware he was likely to over react cos guilt weren't pleasant and the guilt was mainly about the fact he'd embarrassed himself while making out with Harry. What was he some horny teenager, dull colour ran under his skin.
'She's a fox, she's hot... Guess the Yank charm don't work with Harry, you can't say you've never noticed…. All the guys would kill to be in your shoes.'
'Yeah really, well there are drawbacks…. Of course he'd fucking noticed she was hot; there were days when he just wanted to sink inside her and stay there forever and instead he had to go take his turn making the tea.
'Yeah running around with a stiff dick… Watson laughed as he got a towel in his face for his ill-timed humour. 'C'mon Jim, you gotta have all that going on.'
'Shut the fuck up, Harry's my partner and you ain't talking dirty about her capiche,' he slammed the other officer into the lockers as his raw feelings intensified his anger.
'Okay, okay don't get so touchy… Just what everyone says,' Watson eased his collar and went to the urinal. Typical Yank no sense of humour, can give it out but can't take it, idiot!
-oOo-
Harry sat pecking away at the typewriter; she really should take a keyboard course. Dempsey was hammering away at the keys as usual he'd be finished way ahead of her.
'You okay,' her partner's gruff tones were levelled at a pitch where only she would hear the soft question. 'It was a heavy gig we should talk.'
'Not yet,' Harry responded in a defensive tone. 'I don't think I could…. Look, I need to get on with this if you don't mind.'
'We're alive to write the damn report Sergeant, that's all that matters…. His dark gaze ran over her she still hadn't looked him in the eye since that night or if she did her gaze skittered away.
'Yes we're here to tell the tale,' she agreed in an even tone. 'And if you don't mind I'd like to get on with it,' she returned to her painfully slow typing and then swore under her breath as she hit the wrong key and had to use correcting fluid.
'You'll be here all night at that rate,' he mocked her. 'And I'll be right here with you Sergeant because we need to talk and I ain't leaving until we do.'
Harry acknowledged that and decided at the earliest opportunity to give him the slip because she had no idea how to handle that conversation.
'And if you try and run out on me then I'll track you down so I wouldn't waste the effort on doing that….
'Just leave it Dempsey, I need some space and I don't need one more second of your Lupino personae thank you very much.' She got up and went out to the canteen to get a break just to find him at her shoulder. 'Why are you doing this?' Harry hissed at her partner.
'I'm doing this cos we need to get over the necessities of the last operation. Look Makepeace I didn't ask for a female partner; you're hot, guys go for you and that makes the undercover roles kind of difficult! If I had my way dames wouldn't be doing field work but it ain't my call.'
'All right Dempsey you've had your say but can I just ask for time out; you know that American term that says I get a break; just bloody well leave me alone!' She accelerated and took a turn into the female locker rooms and locked herself in.
He was tempted to follow but thought better of it, might be better to leave her to it for a while. Harry had every right to react to the situation; he couldn't imagine how he could have saved her life without maintaining the cover but the fact he really went for her made it worse; he wanted Makepeace no doubt about it and that made him question himself which he hated.
