Just to get you all caught up with the spoiler in the story description and after all you do need some conflict to keep the story going…..

Bradshaw looked on with irritation as the Yank briefed SI10's officers. The guy seemed to effortlessly wield authority over the odd balls that made up the team under Spikings command.

'You guys, your job is to go in and be punters at the clubs, you've all got your specific locations. If you see D.I. Makepeace you don't make contact unless she's in trouble, if she's in trouble then you give her back up. If you see her, you call in and tell me and I'll join you. When I go in Watson and Jarvis are my wingmen, they cover my ass while I secure Harry. Everyone got that.'

They all nodded and did the various checks for guns, ammunition and I.D., before they left.

Bradshaw was looking dangerous. 'What am I supposed to do in your grand plan, so far you've failed to give me a location, Makepeace is my partner I should be the one to go in.'

Dempsey looked dangerous but didn't respond immediately and he caught Spikings' eye and reigned it in. 'You get to man the R.T. with the chief and work with the Met if we need back up from the uniforms.'

'Doesn't Jarvis usually do that,' Bradshaw sneered. 'I'm not an office boy; I'm a field trained operative. The Sergeant didn't seem to realise his charm offensive was running a bit thin. So far, he'd lost Makepeace and now potentially insulted Detective Inspector Jarvis who used to be Spikings runner the job now designated to Fry.

'I'm comfortable with D.I. Jarvis as my backup,' Dempsey responded his gaze battling with the other man's. He didn't trust Bradshaw and he weren't having him along. He could see Spikings was on the same page both of them were critical of the officer's role as Harry's control.

The American got a coffee and paced the floor until the reports started coming in, he was running on adrenaline; concerned for his former partner if anything had happened to Harry he'd tear Bradshaw limb from limb. It was only his bloodthirsty imagination that was keeping his heart's fear at bey.

Spikings signalled him and handed him a location, 'Harry's been sighted, she appears to be dining with Angelo Fiorelli who seems somewhat besotted with D.I. Makepeace, I understand that expensive jewellery's involved.'

Dempsey took in a deep steadying breath and then nodded, the team's relief at finding their colleague was palpable, Harry was popular and well respected and they'd all feared the worst. 'I'll play the original cover, Sharon's husband Sam Jackson,' he went into the locker room and changed into his tuxedo, dress shirt and dark dress pants he left the bow tie as a ribbon around his neck; changing his clothes gave him time to reign his emotions in. 'Ain't no way anyone's schmoozing my girl,' he growled as he checked his gun and ammo. 'Right let's get to it, follow my lead you've got my back,' he threw at Watson and Jarvis.

Bradshaw looked furious but manned the R.T. with all the teams and reported regularly to Spikings as to what was going down. 'Dempsey's going in, I predict a bloodbath but then I'm new to SI10 so what do I know,' Makepeace's partner added tersely.

'He knows what he's doing,' Spikings lit a cigarette. 'The Captain is more than familiar with the territory and my guess is he'll extract the girl without breaking her cover. I'm not entirely sure I want Makepeace to continue with this operation but that's a decision that can be made later.' He dragged on the cigarette and viewed Bradshaw through the haze, 'when this is over we'll have a chat you and I but that can also happen later.'

-oOo—

Harry viewed the heavy diamond bracelet around her wrist with some trepidation. She'd managed to keep Angelo sweet so far and played hostess in the club. Her role was to make sure the gentlemen attending were never without drinks or canapes and to ensure that the girls guided them to the gaming tables in the other rooms. It was a highly sort after position as it didn't involve favours to any of the punters.

Angelo had been fixated with her since the moment he'd seen her talking to Rowena at the Dorchester and she'd played the flirtation game but she didn't know if she could fend him off for much longer. Now Dempsey would say go with the cover but she really didn't want to have sex with Angelo Fiorelli for the sake of a possible collar. They could arrest Angelo for illegal gaming but that was small beer compared to the string of robberies and she was still short of evidence on that so there was no chance of a conviction.

Bradshaw had been a waste of space and never seemed to be around when she tried to contact him; she'd almost been tempted to phone Chas or Spikings but knew that it would end her partner's career and she tended to handle these things personally rather than officially.

'Don't you like diamonds,' Angelo's voice sounded rather petulant and it had an underlying thread of anger lacing the silky tone. He took a drag on his thin cigarillo as his gaze wandered over the blonde in a possessive manner.

'Well of course,' she smiled at him. 'I can't accept it though it's too expensive,' she saw his dark eyes narrow and she supposed as a former escort her refusal to accept the gift would seem a little off. The music hummed around her and Harry almost wished she smoked; she felt a little nervous and intensely aware of her vulnerability. Fiorelli owned these people, not the punters of course but the rest of them, if he said jump they said how high. Normally if she was working on something like this she'd have Dempsey or Hargreaves as her back up and her odds would be better.

'I'd be offended if you refused my gift,' his fingertips moved the bracelet on her arm and then picked up her hand admiring the diamonds and the way they sparked in the light. 'It's beautiful, like you although maybe sapphires are your stone.'

Harry's eyes widened as she heard a familiar voice and she wondered if she was hallucinating her mind creating her dark knight in leather and denim or in this case a tuxedo. Her heart began beating like a drum and then she remembered Dempsey would have returned by now and she recognised this game play. 'Sam,' she said in a voice that held alarm.

Angelo looked at her, 'what is it?' He was annoyed at the interruption of his charm offensive, he was a handsome man and most of the girls here would be flattered by his attention. Was that why he found her so fascinating? She was different to the rest of them she had more self-respect, and some kind of inbuilt confidence that he found irresistible and all he knew is he wanted her more than any other female he'd ever met.

'It's not what? It's who, it's my…. Harry's pulse rate had rocketed as soon as she heard the American accent at the bar and if she looked flustered it was absolutely genuine. Her skin went cold then hot and she could feel herself trembling. Keep it together idiot, she chastised herself as she turned to face her ex-partner.

'Sharon baby,' Dempsey swaggered over his warm gaze travelling over her possessively and that wasn't an act either as he didn't want that piece of scum touching her. 'You never write you don't call, who's this schmuck and what's this?' Dempsey flicked a finger against the bracelet. He turned and viewed Fiorelli dangerously, 'you coming on to my little piece of paradise,' he acted drunk but the belligerence was genuine.

Makepeace quickly intervened getting back into her role. 'He's just a friend Sam, gave me a job when you left me high and dry. You gave me up when you went back to New York, you bastard,' she threw a drink in his face.

The American didn't like that much and could see Makepeace was determined to stay in role. He decided to be a world class jerk as they needed to make the extraction quickly before Fiorelli's goons had a chance to get organised. He wiped his face with a napkin and glared at her. 'Guess you've forgotten what's due to your husband.' He turned to Chas and Watson, 'here she is guys, my very own ball and chain, till death do us part,' he grabbed her arm and pulled her out of her seat. 'Now you,' he pointed his finger at Angelo, 'you leave my girl alone. She ain't working here no more,' he grabbed the bracelet and yanked it off her wrist and dropped it in Fiorelli's drink. 'There you go, scotch on the rocks, and don't think of messing with me,' he parted his jacket and showed the gun. 'She ain't giving notice, she's done.' He slung a belligerent Sharon over his shoulder and took his gun in his other hand.

Harry thumped Dempsey on the back as carrying her was bound to affect his aim if this ended in a fight, he slid her down his body his gaze on Angelo and his monkeys who were hanging back somewhat after they'd seen the Magnum. 'Take her to the car,' he growled at his protection and then they all moved to the door and made a controlled exit with Sharon giving her unreliable husband a blistering earful.

-oOo—

Harry was puzzled as to why Dempsey was leading the operation to retrieve her but was somewhat grateful to be out of what had become a very difficult situation. 'I did wonder when the cavalry would turn up but I hardly expected you to lead the charge Dempsey, where's Sergeant Bradshaw?'

'Welcome back James, good to see you,' her former partner responded sarcastically. 'Thanks for saving my ass,' he added pointedly. 'Bradshaw's back at the office making tea for Spikings. That guy can't find his ass with two hands so I declined to involve him in the retrieve.' He turned to look at her as he was in the front passenger seat and Chas was driving. 'What the hell were you thinking, you don't keep contact with your control are you crazy?'

'Well I did try but he never seemed to be in. I had to vary the times of the call due to my, shall we say, difficult situation. Angelo Fiorelli never took his eyes off me so nipping out to make a call wasn't that easy.' Harry was aware that the operation had gone somewhat pear shaped and she could imagine that her old partner would have more to say on that subject as he'd always been very protective when they'd been partnered.

Dempsey was mad at her for risking herself and seeing Fiorelli all over her hadn't improved his temper. Why was the guy so obsessed with her; had she been giving him some? That thought didn't sit well with him. 'You should have called yourself in,' Dempsey growled at her.

'Pot calling kettle,' Harry responded with her usual cool sarcasm, she remembered a number of times when the Lieutenant had disappeared when she was his control. 'How did you know I had reprised my role as an up-market Sharon Jackson?' Her curiosity got the better of her and she ignored Dempsey's negative body language.

'Rowena, one of the girls working the Dorchester, she identified you Shar so Sam the man was the natural choice to maintain your cover though going back would be high risk. They're bound to check us out, specially as I was packing.'

Chas drove into SI10's car park and the team walked into the offices to meet with the Chief Inspector and Sergeant Bradshaw. 'Good to see you Harry,' Spikings looked relieved. 'I conclude the extraction went well I haven't had any complaints from the Commissioner about mayhem in the metropolis.'

'We had the element of surprise,' Dempsey responded picking up a piece of pizza that someone had thoughtfully ordered in. 'And I don't think Fiorelli wanted to risk Tinkerbell here, getting caught in the crossfire.'

Harry crossed her arms over the décolletage revealed by the sapphire blue, sequinned cocktail dress she was wearing and looked put out. 'I haven't got enough information for a conviction on the robberies yet, all we can book them for is illegal gambling, a smart lawyer would get them off with a fine and tax evasion.'

'You're not going back in,' Dempsey growled at her. 'It's too risky, we'll have to get the information some other way,' he accepted a mug of coffee from Spikings secretary who smiled at him happily as he was a something of a favourite with the ladies.

That got a disdainful flick of the lashes from Makepeace who was always sarcastic about the Yank's ability to charm the gullible women in the Met.

'It's hardly your call,' Bradshaw bit out. 'We've been on this case for months' sir, what's it got to do with Dempsey,' the rest of the officers sensed a fight and a palpable thread of excitement pulsed in the dingy offices.

'Oh, so you were on the case,' Dempsey turned on him. 'Hard to tell, since you didn't know where your partner was and the addresses of Fiorelli's clubs were in Sergeant Hargreaves file and you couldn't remember the locations. You're a fucking investigative genius, numb nuts.'

At that point Bradshaw went for the Yank and the desk got barged aside as Dempsey got the guy up against a wall and was yelling in his face.

'Sir, do you think you could… intervene,' Harry suggested in a cool tone as she winced at the decibel level and the rather colourful language employed by her former partner.

'Put him down Dempsey and that's a formal request from SI10 to the NYPD, Captain.' Spikings smiled at the brief glimpse of surprise on Harry's face at the job title. Promotion was like catnip to the female of the species and Dempsey's macho charm seemed to have won over even the aristocratic Lady Harriet Winfield.'

'Captain,' she qualified sounding the title out. 'I quite liked Lieutenant it had a ring to it,' she was oblivious to the dark heat coming her way from the American as she was used to his moods.

'If I ever impress you be sure to tell me,' he drawled sarcastically. He loosened his grip on Bradshaw and let go of his throat, 'don't ever try that again,' he slammed at the other officer. 'This time I was nice.' He came back over to Spikings and Makepeace. 'Seriously though, the guys got some kind of thing for Harry and she ain't safe going back in.' His dark eyes met those of the blonde officer and the battle of wills was only too apparent. 'No way princess, for once you're gonna listen.'

'Ha, D.I. Makepeace didn't listen to you either which proves my point,' Bradshaw wasn't' about to be silenced by this lot of miscreants.

'I am here,' Harry responded she was getting ticked off with the male contingent. 'Perhaps we can sort this out in the morning as I'm tired and I haven't been back home for weeks…

'You ain't going nowhere on your own Harry, the guy's gonna look for you and he'll be gunning for me so what you got Fry, we need a safe location.'

'He won't be looking for me at my place,' the female detective protested.

'Good we'll go there then,' Dempsey gave her a wince of a smile. 'Got a few things I need to go over with you angel so let's go, and if we could have a few uniforms to patrol the area that would be swell.'

Harry glared at Dempsey as he was more than obviously staking some kind of claim on her which to be honest might have been thrilling if she didn't know he was going to read her the riot act about the recent operation. 'Look Captain Dempsey, I really don't think….

'True, your brains fallen out and I'm gonna see if I can put it back, after you Inspector,' he took her arm and guided her out of the offices much to the amusement of the team and much to the ire of Bradshaw who had his own opinion of the ex-partner's relationship which he was only too willing to share.

-oOo—

Harry walked into her house and sighed with relief, it was good to be home. She was very aware of Dempsey's presence as he circled around her and then came up to her well and truly invading her personal space. It forced her to look up at him and her breath hitched slightly at the warmth in his gaze and the challenge; it did something to her pulse rate that she really didn't want to think about.

The blonde got her defence in first, 'Bradshaw hates being paired with a woman so he plays everything by the book and only being available for my calls at 6 p.m., the stipulated time, would be his way of making a point. I called when I could but it was difficult with Fiorelli breathing down my neck all the time. Don't look at me like that Dempsey I played it the best way I could,' she fired back as his gaze mocked her.

'So, Fiorelli buys you diamonds; guys don't usually provide the ice honey unless they are getting something for it; that's guy code 101,' he tipped up her chin and searched her eyes and got a furious flash of sapphire for that one.

'I would say how dare you but unfortunately I know better,' Harry jerked her chin away and moved away from him only to be hauled back. 'Dempsey what the hell do you think you're doing, look I'm tired and….

'And I've flown all the way over the ocean; been away for six months and you ain't got a hello for me. C'mon Harry we're better than that,' he ran his hands soothingly down her arms. 'I don't like that punk pawing all over you; he's a psycho in a business suit; you ain't safe with him angel. Guy's like that don't play nice, or if they do it don't last long. I'm back now and you ain't working with Bradshaw for another minute; you're my partner and I'm still looking out for you.'

Harry sighed and met his gaze her expression contrite, 'I'm sorry I should have welcomed you back properly, do you want a drink?'

'Better,' he smiled at her with a warmth that made her skin heat, 'yes I'd like a drink, scotch on the rocks,' he grinned at her his childish smile appearing.

'Got no bleeding rocks here mate, you'll have to do with a lump of ice,' she took on Sharon's personae as she made her way to the drinks cabinet swaying her hips in the manner of the earlier incarnation. 'So, Sam the man, what have you been up to apart from the trial and of course the promotion. Is this just a flying visit or are you coming back to work?' Harry asked the question lightly but she knew in her heart that she wanted him back to stay and hardly dared hope that he would want that too. It didn't occur to her to make that desire overt; it wasn't her way.

'Got an appointment with Spikings and the Commissioner to discuss that tomorrow; depends what they've got to offer. I'm good at what I do but I ain't being tied up in red tape so we'll see.' He accepted the drink off her and clinked his glass with hers. 'Partners,' he raised a toast, 'I'll always be there for you princess, want you to know that.'

'Thank you,' she smiled at him softly with a hint of shyness, 'and I'll always have your back Dempsey, you know that too.'

He nodded and put his drink down and took hers off her and enveloped her in a bear hug which took her off her feet and he laughed when she gave an outraged gasp. 'C'mon Makepeace it's just a hug,' he put her down on her feet and smiled at her as he went over to her couch and relaxed putting his feet up on her coffee table. 'So, can I stay over,' he winked at her.

'That's rather presumptuous,' she sat down next to him. 'Bradshaw's an ass I'm going to ask for a divorce,' she sipped her wine and her eyes slid sideways to glance at him.

'Yeah you can cite unreasonable behaviour, a guy should be glued to the phone waiting for a classy dame like you,' he looked amused as he sank the whisky. 'Only took me a couple of hours to find you Makepeace, on your scent in a hot damn minute.'

'Thank you for that image James,' she mocked him but her blue gaze held a hint of flirtation which he didn't miss.

I got a homing instinct where you're concerned,' he leaned over and gave her a brief kiss on the mouth and then gave a low moan and moved in for the kill.

Only to find her fingers on his lips. 'Not tonight Dempsey, I've overdosed on male admiration for one night thank you very much.' She could see he didn't like that and her blue eyes were amused at that sulky, brooding thing he did so well. 'We haven't seen each other for six months you can't just walk in here and expect me to fall into your arms. I mean what have you been doing in all that time; did you see Simone?'

'And if I did would that bother you,' his gaze narrowed on hers as a becoming flush of colour warmed her cheeks.

'Well if you did or picked up with any of your old contacts as it were I would want to know,' her blue eyes met his; the challenge only too apparent. She may as well have said, 'your move.'

'What I did or didn't do don't matter,' he took her wine off her. 'I came home and my first thought was to find my partner,' he tipped up her chin and his eyes moved from her soft mouth to her eyes and then back to her mouth again. Her lips quivered and he groaned and that was that, his mouth took hers in a punishing kiss that had her pinned against the back of the couch.

Harry was initially side tracked by the warmth of his lips and the passion that immediately distracted her until his answer to her question rattled around her brain. She pulled away from him and took a couple of deep breaths to steady herself. 'What did you do that doesn't matter,' her blue eyes searched his and what she saw made her feel uneasy.

Dempsey shrugged, 'I was running deep cover; got into a situation where I had to make certain connections; it was tough.' He knew Makepeace would pick up on the certain connections part, she was smart and she knew what deep cover meant to him.

'You slept with someone,' Harry's gaze held his and he didn't look away and he didn't look too guilty about it. 'And for how long did this go on?' Her heart felt like it was breaking in two but she didn't show it.

'Three months,' he sat up and picked up his glass, 'then I arrested her two brothers and the attraction waned.' It hit him then that he'd hurt Harry, she'd tried not to show it but he'd seen a flicker of pain in her eyes. The fact he'd upset her shocked him as he'd never thought of his actions having an impact on her. It had seemed like another world back in the big apple and he'd been determined to get the job done; wipe out Coltrane's evil and get even for Joey.

'I see, so it was a successful operation,' she summarised getting up and taking her glass to the sink. 'It's late shouldn't you be going.' She just wanted him to go so she could deal with this in her own way, she didn't want to lose it in front of him.

Dempsey frowned as she turned on the frost, this was ridiculous. He was undercover it was part of the job. 'It didn't mean anything Harry, it got the job done and that was all there was to it,' he ran a hand through his hair. 'I had a health check afterwards and I'm clean.'

'Good to know,' she said icily. 'I know you're the job, Dempsey. How you do that job though is entirely a matter of choice. I don't always like your choices and that's my prerogative now please leave, I'm tired and I need to sleep.'

Harry had that stubborn look on her and he didn't think she'd change her mind any time soon so he got up and walked to the door, 'I had to set things straight over there so I could come back here. Life is hard princess,' he turned. 'You're over reacting Harry, it meant nothing to me just a means to an end, I'll see you in the office tomorrow.'

'Goodnight,' she said coolly and then when he closed the door she collapsed into a chair and put her hands over her face, despair filling her soul. Typical Dempsey, get the bad guys screw the consequences, she wanted to cry but the tears wouldn't come. She took the ring from around her neck and found its box and popped it inside, it would be returned when she found the right moment because if this wasn't the trigger to end their faux engagement then she didn't know what was.