It wasn't their case. But Spikings had asked them to give Violent Crimes a hand. The guy leading it was an idiot. David Johnson, a showboating asshole. He was fresh from something to do with foreign intelligence and trying to get a permanent role in something closer to home due to 'her indoors'. Dempsey had hated him from first sight and fast discovering that any idea Johnson had, was stolen from another. He'd seen it many times before. People easily swayed and influenced, like his late partner Joey. Too busy taking the high road and forgetting about the danger.

His attitude to women sucked. Dempsey tried not to linger on the similarities between Johnson and his own thoughts on women when he'd arrived fresh from the plane. Dolly birds from New York, a drunk, unfaithful ex and terrifying brave hearts from the mean streets of Brooklyn had shaped his views that were upended by Harriet Makepeace. Johnson seemed to shaped by a natural stupidity that made Dempsey wonder about the recruitment policy in the Met.

The lift doors in a lost corner of Scotland Yard opened and Dempsey looked up. He bit his lip to prevent a growl escaping when Johnson stepped in. He looked down, hoping that the creep hadn't registered the eye contact.

"Dempsey, I've been looking for you, bro."

Bro? What in hell? Dempsey looked at the London born and bred dick and tried not to laugh. "I'm right here."

Johnson looked around, "Here?'

"Yup, bit of thinking time." Demspey continued to look at the file and refused to react when the lift stopped with a dramatic groan as Johnson hit the emergency button. "When people think you're an animal, they tend take the stairs. Works for me."

Johnson laughed uncomfortably. "How's your side of the case going? Anything you can tell me?"

Dempsey wished he'd placed a bet when Harry told him to; he'd be very rich. She'd predicted versions of this scenario since she first heard Johnson was leading leading to their stealthy dance of avoidance. "We've got a few ideas."

Johnson spread his hands as he'd hoped the American would hand over all the answers. "And they are?"

"Focus on the movements of the victims, there's probably something in common." Dempsey suggested, throwing a crumb.

"Okay." Johnson's hand lingered over the emergency button to re-engage the lift. His wedding ring glittered. "And you have some suspects in mind?'

"Yup, I'll share with the team."

"Maybe I should do that, you being an animal…" Johnson chuckled nervously.

"That's nice of ya," Demspey considered for a moment, swiping his palm over his chin. "But my handler is delivering them to your boss and mine."

Johnson looked bemused.

"Sergeant Makepeace." Dempsey confirmed with a severity that surprised him. "Just remember she's worked on this too."

"I'll make sure she gets a mention in my notes." Johnson's hand paused mid-air as he replied noncommittally. "Doesn't it bother you, her taking the credit. The woman. We know who did the real work."

Dempsey leant back against the wall. He remembered gently telling Harry to go home last night as she sat at her desk trying to piece the report together, desperate to save another woman. This attitude didn't affect him, but he'd seen how she had to work twice as hard as he did.

"You put her name in your report." He took a step forward, gratified to see Johnson move backwards, and pressed the button himself.

"Can I ask a question?" Johnson spoke and Demspey gazed longingly at the roof hatch.

"Makepeace, have you tapped it?" Johnson made a move with his hips.

"What?" He replied, incredulous. It? Jeez. Did he ever refer to Harry in this way? Dumb broad echoed in the recesses of his mind.

"Fucked. I heard a few rumours about you both."

"So my sex life is being talked about?" Dempsey asked, incredulously.

"Well, Makepeace's… cos if you're not, maybe I should be."

DMDMD

It was the most satisfying injury. His hand was swollen and he could barely move it. He had even smiled as he'd arrived at A&E.

"Why did you do it?"

Dempsey looked up at the stern face of his partner. He wasn't sure he wanted to say why, she'd berate him for being a caveman and she could take care of herself. All of which was true.

"He was asking for it." He growled.

"He's got a bruise the shape of your fist on his face." She told him.

"It'll be an improvement. Give him character." He replied and then growled at her. "It hurts."

"Stop being a wuss. It's just an ice pack, it'll stop the swelling." And then with a smile she sat on the bed. "He came off a lot worse."

"Good." He said with satisfaction and then winced as a harrassed female doctor came in and poked at his hand. They watched as she put an X-ray up on the light box and pointed. She had the air of someone who had better things to do than attend to fights between grown men. Dempsey could see the reasoning.

"It's a minor fracture," The doctor explained, "I'll prescribe painkillers; a bandage and don't over use it."

A quip birthed and died on Dempsey's mouth as his partner gave him a shove with her elbow and bit her lip, her eyes danced with mirth.

"Thank you." He said politely, keeping a poker face.

"What I can't work out, is why Spikings and his boss aren't bearing down on you. Spikings actually laughed. Was it worth it?" Harry asked.

"Oh yeah." He grinned.

"What did he say." Harry asked, "C'mon."

Dempsey shrugged again. He couldn't even look at her. "He insinuated something about you and me."

"Ah." She covered his hand with the ice pack again. "You know Dempsey, I know what people say about us. I hear the rumours all the time, gossip in the loos. It's nothing new."

"Yeah I know but..." He tailed off, wanting to protect her.

"So what's so special about Johnson, apart from the obvious?"

"Ah nothing, he sailed a bit too close to the mark. I've got standards." Dempsey got up with a wince. "What?"

"You certain seem to have high ones these days." Harry observed and he got the impression that she knew he'd changed. She also knew Johnson better than he did. She followed him out and stood beside him."He's not worth it but I trust it was done with good reason."

"Yeah, it was." He was surprised at trust, and it must have shown.

She grinned. "You've probably given them all more fuel for the fire."

They shared a look before she announced, "I'll go find that prescription and we'll go home."

He smiled. Yep. Punching that asshole had been worth it.