Honesty
Harry looked at the man in the dock as the Defending counsel spoke. She had no idea what had been said; only that George Castle had flown to his feet demanding that the statement was retracted. The Judge looked directly at her.
"Miss Makepeace, would you like a glass of water?"
"No thank you, your Honour." Harry looked up. "I'm fine." She took a steadying breath knowing the old man in the wig was well aware she was lying. She was far from ok. In that moment she wished her pride hadn't got in the way of her having Dempsey in the room. She rested her hands on the wooden platform of the witness box as George asked her his next question.
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Dempsey threw the plastic cup in the trash can as he waited outside the court. Spikings had gone to make some phone calls while Chas just sat in silence.
"Chas?"
"Aye."
"In there. The Defending seem to be clutching at straws, yeah?"
"Oh aye. They know those scumbags are guilty as sin. There's two counts of murder they have pleaded guilty to. Abduction and assault on a police officer they are playing dumb on. Has she said anything to you?"
"About what happened in that van? Not much. They told her you and I had been shot. I was dead and you weren't far off. The mental torture did the most harm." He ran a hand through his hair. He remembered the time he and her father visited her at the hospital; the nights she woke up shaking, silently sobbing as he held her. He closed his eyes as he realised they'd not even kissed since they had found her - he'd not wanted to push her and she had retreated so far into herself he didn't know if she would ever be the Harry she had been.
"Have you asked?"
"Kaye took her statement." Dempsey stared at his feet. "I told her I won't push her. I'm here when she wants to talk."
Chas nodded. "She did that when her and Robert broke up. You know he's scum." Dempsey nodded. "She had to leave him; he'd have killed her. You know when I was younger I thought only weak people stayed in relationships like that." He shook his head. "Then I met Harry Makepeace. She is the toughest woman I've ever known. Scrap that- strongest person. If this has broken her then we have no idea what happened."
"She's only human." Dempsey swallowed hard.
"I know." Chas sighed. "Don't let her push you back. She will think it's protecting you. "
"What would you do? If it were Jackie?" Chas sighed heavily.
"Jackie is different. I'd be on trial for killing the bastard that hurt her." Dempsey nodded. "With Harry? With her I'd let her rant & rage at me if she needs. I'd push her slightly not to bottle everything up. Not to push me away." Chas looked at his friend. "You love her. Don't let her retreat too far into herself."
"I." He looked at the door to the court room as it opened. Harry stood there, shaking slightly as the door closed behind her. She caught Dempsey's eye as he crossed the room to her. She shook her head before heading straight to the ladies toilets. Dempsey swore under his breath; unable not to see how haunted she looked. Without thinking he followed her into the toilets.
"Makepeace! You in ere?" He called, relieved that no other women were in there. He slipped back, silently placing the 'out of order' sign on the outer toilet door. "Harry?" He noticed one cubicle had been closed. He paused for a moment wondering if Harry had actually needed to use the bathroom for its intended purpose.
"Harry." He sat outside the toilet door, aware she could hear him. "I know you are in there. And I know what you did was probably the hardest thing you ever did. But I'm ere. I dunno if that's worth a dime but you can push me away all you want but I'm here." He slumped on the floor, his back to the toilet door. "I dunno what else to do. You know me Harry. I ain't no good at this stuff."
The door creaked open slightly. He looked over his shoulders at her.
"I wouldn't say that." She composed herself as best she could as he got to his feet. "Just." She raised her hands in front of her. "Don't."
"I ain't gonna hurt you."
"Don't you see?"
"How? What!" He stared her in the eye. "How can I see anything when you push me away?"
"I'm poison."
"Help me out here because Princess I am lost." He stepped towards her. She bit her lip in a bid to stop the tears.
"Robert, Swabey. They were right. I'm poison. I. I should have died."
"No." Dempsey stated firmly, the tone of his voice made her flinch. "You are not. Harry."
"It's all my fault. He killed himself because of me. I should have died in the first van. Not his brother." She frowned as if just working it all out. She folded her arms.
"No." Dempsey stated firmly. "I am not listening to this."
"Maybe you should before I cause you any more pain. It's what I do." She closed her eyes.
"Oh my God Harry. What did they do to you?"
Her eyes avoided his, looking anywhere but at him. He blinked back his own tears as he thought about Chas' words.
"Harry?" He rested a hand on her shoulders as the dam finally broke. She shook violently as he pulled her into his arms and let her cry.
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