Disclaimer I do not own Dempsey and Makepeace :(

Back to Reality?

The rain pelted the London streets as Chas stared out of the car window. He was watching the Jewellery shop across the road, knowing that the tip off could have been a fake but knowing that Spikings was right not to dismiss it out of hand. For a moment he wished the idiots that they were chasing operated in August, at least then he wouldn't be freezing.

"Charlie Foxtrot 1 to Charlie 2 over."

He snapped into life.

"Nothing here, anything with you?" He sighed as he watched an elderly woman exit the shop.

"No." Makepeace huffed. It was her first day back on the job and she was bored. The armed robbers were still causing problems and the effect it was cleary having on Spiking's blood pressure was not good. She palced her radio back on the dashboard as Dempsey glanced at her.

"You ok? Princess?"

"Fine."

"You ain't regretting coming back?"

"Regret being sat here on a Monday morning in the rain? Freezing cold in a car that you still haven't taken to the garage to get the heating fixed? What's to regret?" She smiled slighly as Dempsey stared at her. "No. I'm not regretting coming home." She sighed as he took her hand in his as they watched the rear of the shop.

"Good."

"Dempsey?" She nodded towards the black Ford Escort that had parked opposite the lane.

"I see it."

Harry tapped her wallet as she reached for the doorhandle. The rain bounced off the bonnet of the car as they heard Chas and the others begin to mobilise.

"Harry." Dempsey caught her eye as she raised an eyebrow.

"I'm back, Dempsey. Let me do my job." She smiled a little as she left the car and ran towards where shots were already being fired. Dempsey nodded, he couldn't help but worry bur she was right. If she was going to do the job then he had to back off and let her do what she had to do. He threw open the car door a second after she had and ran towards the shop. His heart almost stopped in his chest as he heard several more gunshots in quick succession followed by the words no police officer ever wanted to hear.

"Ambulance needed. Officer down. Repeat officer down!"

'###################

Spikings stood in his office as he watched the team through his open door. It had been a very long day and the prospect of meeting his divorce solicitor was not something he was looking forward to, especially as he had just telephoned one of his officer's father to tell them their only child was in hospital due to a gunshot wound to the leg.

"Chas?"

"Sir?"

"Have you spoke with the hospital? I'm going down there after I've dealt with that bloody lawyer."

"Yes." Chas sighed. "Dave will be ok. Flesh wound. He should be home in the morning but off work for a couple of weeks." He shoved his hands in his pockets.

"At least those idiots are off my streets." Spikings sighed as he heard Dempsey and Makepeace bickering in the outer office. He rolled his eyes. "Nothing seems to change. Are those two alright?"

"You know them." Chas smiled.

"Yes." Spikings growled. "I know them. What I want to know is are they back to normal? Has anything changed with them?"

"Don't know what you mean Sir." Chas lied.

"I am sure you don't." Spikings sighed. "Well, go on. Send the others home. I'll see you tomorrow."

Chas nodded and walked out of the office. He couldn't help but notice that his friends were sat just that little bit closer than usual. He knew Spikings had noticed it too.

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It was already dark by the time Harry opened her front door. The nerves that had coursed through her at the start of the day had all but gone. Now she had proved to herself that she could do the job as well as the men if not better she felt lighter. As if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She sighed heavily as she closed the door behind her.

"Dempsey."

"Yeah." He wandered into her living room as she shrugged off her jacket.

"You don't have to stay."

"I know." He smiled.

"James."

"Listen." He walked towards her as she stood in the doorway. "There aint no where I got to be. If you want me to go then I will."

"You know I don't."

"Ok then." He pulled her to him as she smiled slightly.

"I wonder how Dave is." She sighed as she rested her head on his shoulder.

"He's young. He'll be fine."

"I thought it was you." She closed her eyes as he hugged her tighter. "I heard the shot and I thought it was you. Then I saw Dave on the floor and felt guilty."

"I know." He kissed her hair as he spoke. "I am never going to stop worrying about you too babe."

"Can we do this? Us I mean and do our jobs." She kept her eyes closed as he closed his eyes and breathed in deeply. He prayed this wasn't her beginning to put the barriers back up. He didn't know if he could stand it if she was. She knew how he felt about her, as far as he was concerned he's shout it from the rooftops if she would only let him.

"I think so. I ain't gonna deny things have changed but we can do this."

Harry smiled as she pulled back slightly to look in his eyes.

"You know? I was hoping you would say that."

Dempsey smiled as she reached up and kissed him.

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A/N Thats all folks unless you want an epilogue.