Connection

Dempsey stared at the floor of the waiting room. He felt sick. Harry was alive. They had found her alive and awake but he knew he had been too long. He looked up as Spikings sat next to him.

"Your leg?"

"Doc said this is a walking cast now. I can put some weight through it but no running." Dempsey answered as he looked at the new plaster cast on his leg. Spikings sighed.

"Uniform picked Sarah Swabey up ten minutes ago. Arrested and in the cells." Spikings voice was low; aware other occupants of the waiting room could hear them. Dempsey narrowed his eyes. He realised he hadn't given the people who had caused all the heartbreak a second thought. Harry was all that mattered.

"We were too late."

"Harry Makepeace is strong."

"Sir." Dempsey ran a hand over his face. "She's also human. How much shit can someone take before they snap? Because she's reached her limit. You didn't see her in the ambulance."

"Go on." Spikings paused; he knew he wouldn't like the answer.

"She was awake but couldn't look at me. She wouldn't let me touch her. She didn't speak at all. Now you know that ain't her. She's broken. They did that to her. And it's my fault."

"And how do you come to that conclusion?" Both men stood to see Freddie watching them. Dempsey and Spikings got to their feet. "Before you ask, apparently the nurse was asked to ring me. So here I am. Although I'd rather thought one of you would have done that."

"I wanted to wait." Dempsey explained. "You know how she hates you to worry. She worries about you."

The older man smiled slightly, he knew Harry had always thought it her responsibility to look after him.

"I see. Well, you and I should have a talk." The older man's cut glass accent did nothing to stop Dempsey's nerves. He felt sick. Spikings shook Freddie by the hand before saying his goodbyes. "Come on." Freddie stated firmly as Dempsey regained some composure. He followed him out into the grounds.

Xxxxxxx

Chas sat at the small table in the interview room in silence as a uniform WPC stood just next to the door. He liked Sharon Grainger. She was a good copper but even she was disgusted with the woman sat at the table opposite him.

"You have the right to a lawyer."

She smirked.

"Don't need one."

"Fine." Chas leant forward .

"Is the bitch dead?"

"Who?" Chas glared.

"The blonde bitch." She scowled. Chas remained silent, knowing she was referring to Harry. There was no way the he was going to tell her anything about his friend. The interview room seemed almost claustrophobic as the woman opposite attempted to stare him out.

Xxxxxxx

"Now." Freddie walked alongside the man he considered his son in law. "You didn't call me because you knew Harriet would not want to have me worried."

Dempsey nodded.

"I understand she has been through Hell." Freddie looked at him. "You know that it isn't the first time."

"Have you spoken to her?"

"No. Not as yet. The nurse told me she was having a scan." Freddie explained. "Now I want you to tell me what's happened." He looked him right in the eye. "Now."

Dempsey ran a hand through his hair. He looked away for a moment.

"She was abducted."

"I know that much."

"I was too late. I let her down. I don't blame her for not talking to me. Not looking at me. I can barely look at myself." Dempsey looked away as the older man shook his head.

"Harriet Laura Winfield is tough. She has had to be from a very young age. Did she ever tell you what happened to her mother and sister?" Freddie sat on the bench near the car park. Dempsey frowned.

"She told me her middle name is after her mom. That her mom died when she was six. A riding accident. She never mentioned she was a sister."

"Charlie - Charlotte Rose was three. It wasn't really a riding accident." The old man's eyes clouded over as the emotion hit him. "They were headed home from the stables. Lovely summer day. They were hit by a car. Charlie and Laura died instantly. Harry was hurt. A broken collar bone and a nasty bump on her head. But that was the first time I'd seen her like this. Catatonic with grief."

"I never knew."

"She hides her pain. She was so close to her mother and sister. Once she realised they were dead and not coming home she stopped talking, stopped playing or doing anything little girls that age do. Completely shut herself off. Even her cousin Tommy who she had idolised couldn't get her to communicate."

"I'm sorry." Dempsey wanted to cry for the little girl Harry had been.

"I thought my little girl was going to die if a broken heart." Freddie paused. "I nearly did. But she needed me. Now, now my boy she needs you to help her." He looked Harry straight in the eye.

"How?"

"Let her do what she has to. Doctors and nurses can fix her injuries. You, you have to do what she needs you to do. Just be there. When she comes back. Be there." Freddie tapped the younger man on the shoulder. "And bring her home. Both of you stay with me for a while."

"Spikings."

"Actually it was him that called, not the nurse. You're on leave. As long as she needs you." Freddie got to his feet before heading hack towards the main entrance of the hospital. Dempsey took a deep breath. He knew Freddie was right. Whether she knew it or not Harry needed him.