It took a couple of days to organise everything. Of course, Lord Windfield immediately agreed to the whole operation. Harriet even suspected that he actually quite enjoyed the idea of turning his house into a safe house and all the excitement that came with it. And, of course, he gets to have his daughter staying with me and looking after her. A win-win situation in his books. Although James was busy setting up everything and picking the team that was to follow them to Windfield Hall, he made sure that Harry used those couple of days to rest and recover from the operation she underwent barely hours before. Her surgeon was adamant that this was a very bad idea and it went against all his medical training but understood that the situation was extraordinary and showed the Lieutenant the medicines the Sergeant needed to take and how to clean the wounds and change the dressing should it prove difficult access to a professional.

Then, early on the D-day, James arrived at the hospital, ready to pick up his partner and lover. They will pick Ada up on their way to Windfield Hall. The day before, Dempsey had gone to the Children's house where she had stayed and informed her of the situation. The little girl had been so excited at the prospect of seeing her saviour again. She had talked non-stop about Harry and her castle, as she called Windfield Hall. Her enthusiasm was endearing and James thought she was really a very sweet girl. He had brought her a pretty dress and a few clothes picked by Angela, Harry's best friend, who had immediately acted upon her friend request because quite frankly Dempsey was out of his depth there. The little girl was over the moon and kept hugging Dempsey who was really warming up to that little bundle of joy. She was smiling and so much happier than the day he had first met her at the police station. Hopefully, they'll be able to make her forget what she had been through in the past few months. They had shared an ice cream that afternoon outside the Children's Centre and talked about what she liked to do and it seemed she loved animals. She used to have a cat but the cat stayed behind so she was feeling quite sad about that. James told her that Lord Windfield had dogs and that they even kept horses there and the little girl was in awe.

He tried to gently get more information out of her about her family back home and it seems like her step-dad was the only remaining member of her family and even then, she didn't seem to like him very much and he had been quite happy when O'Cryon took her away. Dempsey couldn't quite shake the feeling that if she had been his, there's no way he would have let her go anywhere. He felt quite protective of that little blond head and was actually looking forward to getting to know her a bit more.

"You got everything? Angela has packed you several suitcases worth of clothes…. I have the feeling she thinks you'll be away for months!", he stated a bit taken aback.

Harry laughed,

"That's Angie for you, I'm afraid. She's never been a light packer. I'm sure she would have packed clothes ready for any situation, from a royal ball to a mud run!"

"Crikey! She's never gone into hiding in a safe house, I take it then?", he winked

"Not really, no", she giggled

And then they were driving off to the Children's House ready to pick little Ada up. Harry grew silent as they approached the house."

"You OK, princess?"

"Yes, I'm fine. It's just that it's all becoming really real and I hope I can protect Ada. Last thing she needs is someone to disappoint her again. It's the first time I feel so responsible for someone's life. I mean we have a general duty to serve and protect as you well know but never did it feel so real. You see what I mean?"

"No, I understand. We all have an instinctive need to protect children. It's only natural, Harry. But I just want you to be careful and not involve yourself emotionally too much. It's only gonna be harder when she'll need to go back to Social Services. And as you said we don't want to hurt her even more than she has been already. She utterly idolises you, like some saving angel and I'm just worried that she's done a kind of transfer onto you after her mum died. After what you went through yourself, the past 6 weeks, your near-death experience, it's only normal that you'll be more fragile psychologically, so just be careful, OK? I'm just looking out for you, that's all."

"Sure, don't worry about that. I'll be fine", waving off his concerns as he parked the car by the centre. She was out of her car before he could say anything more, muttering to himself, "yeah, right Makepeace, you're lying to yourself I think". They were hardly through the reception that the little girl ran straight into Harry's arms, screaming in delight "You came, you're here!" and as Harry bent down to pick up the little girl, she couldn't help yelping in pain.

"Harry, be careful", interfered Dempsey, "Ada, remember what I said about Harry being injured so she can't lift you, we have to be very careful"

"It's OK, Dempsey. Don't worry Ada, he's just his usual overprotective self. I'm fine. Come here, give me a big hug, sweetheart" and the little girl just melted in Harry's embrace, with tears in her eyes, hanging onto her for dear life.

"I was worried you wouldn't come. I was so scared you'd change your mind at the last minute".

"Hey we're here Ada. Didn't I promise we'd come? We always keep our promises, don't we Harry?", smiled Dempsey, quite choked by the sight of the reunion he was witnessing.

"Are you ready to go on our special little trip sweetheart? Have you got your bag with all your things?" asked Makepeace, always the practical and organised good little copper.

"Yes, and I also have James with me" pointing to the old teddy she carried everywhere.

James couldn't help smiling and giving his partner a meaningful glance "James, hey?". He chuckled when she blushed and looked all embarrassed.

"Let's go ladies. We want to be there as quickly as possible." ushered Dempsey, moving the girls along towards the car. He could spot the unmarked police car that was to follow them all the way to the Kent village and gave them a thumbs up to signal they were ready to leave.