"So, what has he got?", Harry asked when Dempsey sat on his chair.

"Who?"

"Spikings?", she said.

"About what?"

"About Laurie. He said he had something on Laurie"

"Oh, he couldn't find it"
She raised her eyebrows at him.

"You spent there so much time to come back with nothing?"

Dempsey shrugged his shoulders.

"What did you talk about?", she asked.

"The surveillance", he lied. "He wanted to know how it went. Have you got something here?"

"Yes", she said and took her notes. She looked at him from the corner of her eye. She had a feeling he didn't tell her everything about his conversation with Spikings.

"So?", he pushed her.

"I've got a few names worth checking. One is of Wilson's ex-wife, Sarah"

"What about her?"

"Well, during the trial she testified against him saying she had no idea about his actions and he had cheated her"

"Don't tell me. They're on again"

"That's right", she smiled. It used to annoy her she was never able to surprise him. Now she loved it when he knew what she was going to say before she did.

"Let's go and talk to her then", he said. "I assume you've got her address"

"Of course"

"So, you talked about me then", she said when they were driving to Wilson's ex-girlfriend.

"Sorry?"

"Back in the office", she added.

"I don't get it"

"You and Spikings. You talked about me"

"No"

"Yes", she said. "So what was it about?"

"Nothing really"

"Dempsey, you know I know when you're lying"

"I'm not lying"

"No, you're just not telling the whole truth", she said and turned her head away.

"Ok", he said. "Spikings was asking me how you were"

"He asked you if I was ready to go back to work, didn't he?"

He opened his mouth to protest, then looked at her and closed his mouth.

"He did", she said. "So. What did you tell him?"

"The truth"

"Which is?"

"I told him you were fit for duty"

"And you believe that?"

"Yes", he assured her. "Don't you?"

"I don't know", she said quietly. He looked at her and then unexpectedly drove onto the pavement and stopped the car.

"What are you doing?", she asked surprised.

He turned to her.

"Harry, maybe you should take a few days off"

"Why? You don't think I'm fit for work after all?"

"I do! I really do, but if you have doubts…"

"It's not that"

"Then what is it?"

"I'm a bit scared"

"Of what?"

"Of whether I could do my job well", she hesitated. "And whether you should rely on me"

"I know I can rely on you. I trust you. "

"But it's different now"

"Honey, your father's death influenced your life, but it didn't change Harry – the cop"

"How can you be so sure?"

"I saw you in the office today. You've still got the same spark. You still see things I don't see"

"What do you mean?", she smiled.

"You know", he smiled. "One reason we're such a good team is that we compliment each other perfectly. I have read the file on Wilson too, but it was you who noticed the thing about his girlfriend"

"Oh come on, hardly had I opened my mouth when you knew what I was going to say about her"

"You see? I was right", he said triumphantly.

"About what?"

"About us"

"Us", she echoed.

"Like I said - we compliment each other perfectly", he said. "We're a great team and…", he hesitated, as always felt too nervous to speak.

"And?", she smiled encouragingly.

"I think we'd better get going", he said.

She looked away not to allow him the sight of disappointment in her eyes. Dempsey felt angry with himself for being such a coward, for being so lousy at expressing his feelings. Why couldn't he tell her what he wanted to. Why was it so difficult? He didn't use to have similar problems before. 'Because this is different, you fool', he thought to himself. 'Because for the first time in your life you have someone so precious that you just can't risk losing'

He looked at her. She was still staring out of the window, but he could tell she was cross. It made him wonder.

A few minutes later, they were knocking at Sarah's door, but there was no reply. A friendly neighbour informed them that Sarah was probably at work and should be back in about an hour as she usually did. They discussed it and finally decided to wait in the car. They went back to their car and for a long while sat there in total silence, neither knew what to say.

He opened his mouth a few times, but then closed it. He realized they hadn't really had a chance to talk since that kiss at her place. He smiled at the memory. She had taken him completely by surprise and he couldn't even say how much he loved it and how much he wanted to tell her what he felt about her.

"Harry, about that kiss…", he started, the nervousness felt in his voice.