Sometimes never

Spiking stared at the paperwork strewn across his desk. He knew the reports and files were a necessary evil but it didn't mean he had to be enthusiastic about them. In reality he took Dempsey's view of writing reports but he could never let the American officer see that. For one thing, if he did Harry would probably have some form of heart attack from the shock.

"Sir?"

"Chas."

"Harry just called. Dempsey is sick - apparently he has a fever and she's been vomiting since 2am. Neither are fit for duty."

"Both getting ill at the same time? A little convenient?"

"Harry has never taken a sickie in her life and Dempsey wouldn't lie. He'd just say he wasn't coming in or not bother to tell us." Chas watched as Spikings nodded. He knew the young man in front of him was expecting him to explode. He almost felt sorry for the man but decided not to shoot the messenger - this time.

Xxxxxxxx

"Harry." Dempsey stood in the kitchen as Harry began making breakfast. "You just lied. You told an actual lie."

"I did not."

"Are you sick?" She smiled slightly as concern etched through his voice. Turning towards him she held his gaze for a moment.

"Yes."

"What's wrong? Harry?"

"I'm worried sick. About you. The stuff with your father."

"Will not stop me doing my job." Dempsey didn't want to lose his temper. He knew she had his best interests at heart. Running a hand over his face he closed his eyes. "Last night."

"I'm glad you told me and no, it doesn't make me see you as weak or anything less than the James Dempsey I know and love." He took her hand as she spoke.

"Princess."

"Dempsey, you're American. Surely you've seen a therapist about this? I thought that was what you did in America." He smiled.

"You've watched too much bad TV. We don't all go for the talk until you don't know what to do with yourself routine. It ain't been no ones business. He was in jail. He should still be rotting there. Who he is. What he does is not gonna stop me being me." He stopped as Harry reached up on her toes kissing him briefly on the lips.

"I wasn't lying." She ran a hand over his forehead. "Dempsey you're burning up."

"Baby you have that affect on me." He leered. She raised an eyebrow.

"Bed."

"Whoa! Now!"

"You. Alone. Sleep." She kissed him once more. "You were awake all night. I heard you. Go and rest, please. If your father does have a plan to do something here then we can stop him but you need to be at the top of your game."

"Ain't I always?" Harry tried not to think of the way he had woken her in the night, clearly terrified. In those moments she had seen the terrified boy he had been rather than the macho, in your face wise guy she had got to know since he arrived in England. He kissed her forehead before yawning and heading back to her bedroom.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxx

"There's a money laundering scheme operation going on in central London." Spikings stated as he poured himself a mug of tea. "The Chief Super wants us to look into it."

"Right." Chas sighed. The mountain of paperwork on his desk seemed to grow before his eyes. The quiet Glaswegian knew Spikings would be thinking the same thing.

"Find out all you can about a Clyde Evans. All we have so far is his juvenile record and the connection to a yank that entered the country four days ago."

"Yes Boss." He took the file from him before looking at the photograph. He raised an eyebrow, not really believing what he saw. The man in the shoddy surveillance photo looked like an older version of his friend. He hoped against hope that he wasn't about to be faced with what he thought he was going to be. He just hoped if the man in the picture was related to Dempsey they could stop him from going into the abyss.

Xxxxx

A/n filler chapter please review