Today was the review of the Winchester case Harry had been working on and Inspector Rory Parker from Fraud was due. Since Rory Parker saw himself as a hotshot his presence irritated the SI10 team as they had their own hotshot and a second was surplus to requirements.

Spikings gazed balefully out of his office and lit a cigarette and brought his attention back to the Yank D.I. 'As grateful as I am to have someone of Detective Inspector Makepeace's calibre in the team it's bloody annoying that most male coppers' feel it necessary to litter my office languishing after her. I mean D.I. Parker must have reviewed progress bi-weekly what's wrong with using the phone.'

'Yeah the guy's annoying,' Dempsey drank down the coffee like he hated it. 'I mean Harry's great but she kind of stands out from the crowd. When the two of us worked as a team we were kind of noticeable, the Yank with the classy bird. I mean undercover you're supposed to be invisible, I was good at that. Difficult to make Makepeace invisible though boss.'

'Very, well they're reviewing the case with me this afternoon and I'm keen to agree the action plan and get Parker's backside out of here.' Both men glowered as Fraud's hotshot appeared looking all smart and pressed and the pungent cologne wafted through SI10's offices.

'She's not dating him is she,' Spikings looked alarmed at the thought and secretly took pleasure from yanking Dempsey's chain.

The Yank glowered and shrugged, 'don't thinks so, well she's never said nothing but then she don't talk about that stuff much. Occasionally, there's a Julian or a Basil but she don't date cops.'

'Hmm well the Met's buzzing with Rogering Rory's charm offensive and bets are being taken about him taking the citadel that is D.I. Makepeace, I would be very annoyed if that happened; Bunny Schofield would just love that.'

'Bunny, is that like Mad Gordon,' Dempsey asked tongue in cheek, 'is he Fraud's chief? 'Why'd you have nicknames anyway? Is it like some kind of code?' Dempsey was getting his own back as he was well aware the boss had been sticking it to him about Harry dating another guy cos he knew that yours truly had a thing for her unrequited or not as the case may be.

'Never you mind. If you ever reach the higher ranks then all will be revealed, how are you getting on with your caseload I assume you're not in here to take the weight off and drink coffee.'

'No, I need authorisation to requisition a couple of RPG's and a helicopter, terrorist cell; going up against the big boys. Kilhane's leading it, told you about it last week.'

Spikings scratched his head and grumbled about budgets and overheads before signing it off. 'For that kind of money I want a result with a headline in every red top, you understand me detective.'

'Yeah, you want some kind of show pony and I'm trying to catch bad guys. I know it's all about the budget yada yada, I'll see what I can do.'

'If you would be so kind,' Spikings was his usual sarcastic self. 'What is that overpowering stench,' he grumbled irritably.

'Blue Stratos, he's an up-market kind of guy,' Dempsey grinned. 'Maybe he wants to anaesthetise Makepeace so she'll fall into his arms,' he walked out and headed for the Fraud D.I.

'Yo Parker, we're gonna start cross charging your team for rent, twice this week ain't it; half a day each time that's a whole day we can bill back. Spikings has budget issues; it could help.'

'He wouldn't have budget issues if you didn't run a demolition derby every time you requisition a car,' Rory retorted. 'You're a legend Dempsey.'

'D.I. Parker, perhaps you'd like to step into my office,' Makepeace tried to head off this particular confrontation at the pass.

Dempsey went into Harry's office and opened a window, 'don't want you and Joyce being overwhelmed by Parker's pheromones, he's turning me on and I don't swing that way.' He eyeballed Rory and the challenge was unmistakeable.

'Right well thank you D.I. Dempsey, I can take it from here,' Harry was getting annoyed now but the SI10 chaps weren't exactly welcoming to other teams and she could sense the wave of approval at Dempsey's banter from the heads down, earwigging team.

'Hope Spikings approves your action plan Harry, Winchester case has been on the books for a while; bit of a sitter as they say. Best of luck,' he added in a patronising fashion.

Hargreaves arrived with the coffee's, 'excuse me sir,' she said to the American detective as she moved around him. 'Oh good, the windows open; breath of fresh air, very welcome,' she handed out the coffees and her cat like eyes met Jim's, 'are you staying D.I. Dempsey as I haven't brought you a beverage.'

'Nope, leave you girls to it, got more important fish to fry; later Parker,' he left the room with his usual arrogant swagger.

'Right,' Harry said brightly, 'let's get on shall we.' She was used to the macho posturing of the male coppers so she took that in her stride, no point in reacting to that kind of nonsense. She summarised the salient points they were to put to Spikings and their recommendation for a number of arrests with supporting evidence for the Crown Prosecution Service. 'I think that's all pretty comprehensive, we'll see Spikings after lunch.'

'Lunch is my treat as SI10 are helping my division out on this case,' Parker offered.

Both females bristled at being Fraud's little helpers and Harry eyed Rory coolly. 'I think you'll find this is SI10's collar D.I. Parker as Chief Inspector Spikings doesn't really allow the team to help out unless he has full responsibility for the cases we take.'

'Well that's all semantics, we're one force when it comes down to it; my treat anyway. Sergeant Hargreaves can photocopy the case notes whilst we discuss tactics over lunch.'

Hargreaves would frankly rather photocopy the Encyclopaedia Britannica than have lunch with the pompous idiot and excused herself from the meeting. Harry and Rory departed to the pub as Makepeace was always polite.

'So you don't get wined and dined then Joyce,' Dempsey watched Hargreaves as she tackled the temperamental photocopier.

'I'm not the object of Rogering Rory's affections,' the Sergeant responded. 'Naturally I'm disappointed at that but someone has to tackle this beast,' she groaned as the paper got stuck.

Dempsey pulled out the screwed-up paper and then hit the machine in a targeted spot and it continued. 'Nothing to it, still time for you to get a dried-up pasty in the canteen if you're lucky.'

'Thanks,' she answered in a wry tone as she got on with the presentation packs. 'It should be the last we see of D.I. Parker until the trial that is. I imagine he'll ask Harry for a date; love to be a fly on that wall.'

'Harry's a past master at depressing the pretensions of male coppers; she gets practice every Thursday in the bar.' He decided to pop over to the pub for a swift one and occupied his usual place at the bar, he looked around and saw Harry had that patient look on her face as she listened to Parker's wooing, 'probably getting the line about dating cops,' he murmured under his breath.

Harry excused herself from Parkers romantic endeavours and joined Dempsey at the bar, 'if you've any generosity in your heart you'll join us; I'm going to have to be bloody rude; the man has the hide of a rhinoceros.'

'Never thought you'd have problems brushing off a guy, you were pretty damned hot at it as I remember,' he picked up his beer and headed for the table Harry was sharing with Parker as Harry popped to the ladies.

'Bugger off Dempsey, I want Harry all to myself and nobody invited you to lunch,' Parker wasn't having the Yank screw up his charm offensive.

Dempsey took a mouthful of beer and his hard gaze pinned the other officer to the seat, 'I'm SI10, Harry's SI10 and this is our local and nobody tells me where to sit; you got that meathead.'

'Hi,' Harry sat down on a stool next to Dempsey, 'how are things, Kilhane seems pleased I talked to him in the canteen this morning.'

'Ah well don't want to jinx it so we'll see,' he looked at his watch. 'Your meeting with Spikings is in half an hour shouldn't you be getting back,' he smiled in an aggravating fashion at Rogering Rory as Harry rose from her seat. 'Catch you later, Makepeace.'

-oOo—

Harry was drinking a glass of wine and contemplating the fact that she was actually spending the early part of the evening on her own whilst James was going to some kind of SI10 event that was only for the 'bloke,' contingent. He would pick up with her later. As a point of order they weren't old marrieds so in her estimation he should either have a pass for the evening or have arranged something with her, she quibbled at being something to be enjoyed later.

A persistent knock at her door surprised her as one, Dempsey had a key and two, it wasn't his E.T.A., she put down her wine and answered the door and was surprised to find Rory Parker on her doorstep. She looked at him questioningly as she hadn't given out her address on the Met information board so what on earth was he doing here?

'Hello D.I. Parker has there been some development in the Winchester case?' That was the only reason she could think he'd be at her address.

He smiled with a male confidence that really irritated the blonde detective. 'I used all my investigative skills Harry and found your address,' he lifted up the bottle of champagne he was carrying which was the best supermarket variety and a bunch of tired looking flowers. 'I thought I'd surprise you as the Yank interrupted our lunch date.'

A deep breath was taken as Makepeace wasn't one to deal with these situations without a great deal of patience, hence three years of fending off the said Yank. 'D.I. Parker, the lunch was a business lunch not a date and I don't date fellow coppers, it's difficult enough making your way as a female officer without all the innuendo and locker room chat that would ensue so I'm afraid your journey has been wasted.'

The smug smiled infuriated her. 'Well we can be discrete sweet pea, no need to broadcast anything to our fellow officers,' he moved to push past her and enter the house.

Harry put her arm across the door, 'I don't know how to be more direct about this Parker but no thank you,' she responded in a cool aristocratic tone and then was totally shocked as she was swept into his arms and kissed passionately. Her response was to knee him where it hurts most and she winced as she took in his physical distress. 'Automatic reaction, I'm afraid,' she regretted her actions but really enough was enough.

'You bitch. You lead a man on and then when he gets hot for you, you knock him back, you haven't heard the last of this,' he snarled as he headed back to his car.

Harry soothed her lip, she'd spent years fighting off this kind of assumption that she should be grateful for some male lusting over her and it really annoyed her. Admittedly it was nice to be attractive but that didn't mean a man had the right to her affections just because he fancied her.

She went to her bathroom to take a shower and wash Parker's touch off her and then noticed her lip had split due to the hard pressure of his mouth when he'd grabbed her and kissed her. Her lower lip was noticeably swollen. 'Bloody man,' she swore vehemently.

Harry was in her pyjamas when Dempsey showed up around 10 p.m. she was watching the television without really watching it.

'Hey babe,' he smiled at her and then noticing her injured mouth he frowned, 'what happened,' he sat down beside her.

Harry sighed and ran a hand through her hair. 'Parker arrived on my doorstep with a bunch of wilted flowers and some supermarket fizz and seemed to think I should be his reward. I said no, he grabbed me hence my bruised lip and I had to knee him in the 'crown jewels', to use your terminology, to get him off me. Apparently, he thinks I led him on and he told me that I hadn't heard the last of the issue.' Dempsey took it well, Harry noted as his face darkened ominously and his jaw squared. Jaw action was a sure indication of her ex-partner's mood.

He gave her a swift glance and got up and paced the floor for a minute. 'Okay, how do we play this? You want me to warn him off, cos if I do he's gonna say I got an interest not that I care about that.'

Harry folded her arms across her chest defensively, 'Parker is very egotistical and I get the feeling he'll do anything he can to get back at me. Normally I wouldn't ask you to intervene as it goes against the grain but I think in this instance….

Dempsey gave her a knowing look, 'you want me to let my inner thug out is that what you're saying? Makepeace you're a piece of work you know that.' He sat down beside her and tipped up her chin with his forefinger, 'he's bust your lip; must hurt.' His warm gaze swept over her. 'It's okay angel you can leave it to me.' He kissed her nose in a patronising fashion, 'must've killed you to ask.'

'Oh shut up Dempsey, the man just doesn't take no for an answer he makes your romantic efforts seem like irritating buzzing in the background. Look don't bother I'll sort it out myself.' She got up and made for the bedroom slamming the door to indicate lack of interest in any physical bonding.

'Time of the month,' James said under his breath and decided he wasn't going to get into a fight with her but he was too tired to go back to his place so he went to the spare room and bunked down there. He reflected on Parker's approach, guy like that had to have some kind of reputation in the Met and he'd sniff that out. It wasn't like Harry to ask for his support on an issue like this in fact normally she wouldn't so the guy must've rattled her.

The door opened and Harry stood in the doorway. 'I don't want to fight,' her blue eyes were vulnerable as she looked at him.

'Me neither,' he pushed back the duvet inviting her in and gave a sigh of satisfaction as she joined him. He pulled her to him and stroked her hair. 'It's okay Harry, I'll deal with it. I'd've never pushed you into anything; you know that,' his dark gaze was heavy on hers. 'The Lupino thing….

'Shush,' she put her finger against his lips. 'We've been through that James and it doesn't need revisiting. Please be subtle; I don't want you doing any kind of, 'hands off my woman,' thing that would get around the Met like wildfire.'

He kissed her temple and then her jawline, 'I know that babe, I'll be subtle. Guy like that's bound to have a reputation let me see what I can find. There's more than one way to skin a cat.'

'Hmm, James Dempsey and subtlety are not two things I'd normally put together,' she responded wryly.

'Yeah well, I'm a complex character maybe you ain't seen that,' he kissed her gently his tongue probing her sore lip. 'Nobody puts a finger on you Harry, nobody treats you bad; not on my watch.'

Very macho stuff the blonde detective acknowledged but such a total turn on, her mouth caressed his, 'James,' she whispered.

When Harry said his name in that breathy kind of tone it sent shivers up his spine and an urgent message to his dick, she was so hot. His fingertips traced down the line from under her breasts to her abs and he felt her tremble as her muscles contracted. 'Hell of a reaction, princess,' he growled in her ear as he teased the lobe.

'You have no idea,' her hips rose and and she gave a soft moan as his skilled touch dipped lower and grazed her thighs. Dempsey certainly knew his way around the female body that thought floated away as the intense pleasure replaced thinking and she cried out his name as she came.