Shadows
Harry turned sharply as she realised Dempsey was looking over her shoulder. About to grab her gun she stopped as she realised it was Dave stood in the doorway.
"Get the ambulance." Harry stated firmly. Dave nodded before turning to run for help. Harry returned her attention to Dempsey who seemed to have fallen unconscious again. "Dempsey." She paused. "James, open your eyes." She brushed his dark hair away from his face. Bruising around both his eyes and the trickle of blood from his ear frightened her more than she could ever imagine. Basic first aid training came back to her as she gently lowered him to the ground. She knew bleeding from ears was not good following a head injury. It was clear Dempsey had been seriously beaten. Trying not to cry she slipped her jacket off, resting his head gently on it, praying that Dave would hurry up with the ambulance, no longer caring if the team had made any arrests. All that mattered was the man in front of her.
"Come on James. I don't want to have to ring Ashley or your Mum. Not with news that'll break their hearts. Come on." She lifted her hand from his hair as she heard him take a shuddering breath. The ambulance crew were at her side in seconds as she squeezed his hand before stepping away. Dave stood at her side as the ambulance crew loaded Dempsey onto a stretcher before carrying him out of the room. Harry folded her arms across her chest as Dave ushered her out of the room.
"Go with him." Dave spoke calmly before Harry nodded following the ambulance crew out of the room.
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Spikings looked up as he headed into the hospital waiting room. He had left Dave back at the office with other junior members of his team, pulling rank and leaving them to do the donkey work of an operation concluding. He saw the younger officers sat on plastic chairs, looking dejected as they waited.
"Chas. Harry." He sat in the chair opposite.
"Sir," Harry paused.
"Chas, did you get that cut sorted?"
"Aye Sir. Just a scratch." The Scotsman touched his head carefully. "Nurse put some glue on it."
Spikings nodded, leaning forward in his seat he looked directly at Harry. "You?"
"I'm fine, Sir." She paused as a nurse called out for family of James Dempsey to follow her. She sighed, getting to her feet. The nurse smiled before heading towards her.
"You want us with you?" Chas asked as both he and Spikings got to their feet also. She shook her head then stopped and nodded. Spikings smiled at the nurse.
"This is Harry Makepeace. His fiancé. Chas and I are, friends of his." He watched as Chas smiled slghtly.
"Ok." The nurse smiled slightly, the West Indian accent unmistakable. "The doctor has just sent James for a head scan. If you'd like to follow me she can tell you more about James' condition." Spikings ushered Harry towards the Family Room knowing that whatever the doctor had to say it would affect more people than just the blonde in front of him. He glanced at Chas before looking back at the impossibly young nurse, knowing that somehow, whatever happened his team was never going to be the same again.