I haven't stolen them, I'm borrowing without permission, with every intention of giving them back (well, maybe!)

"Harry, let me in!" came Judy's voice through the thick wooden door. He let out a heavy sigh as he got up to answer. The look on Jude's face as their eyes met told him she was ready to let fly.

"What do you want Jude?" he asked in his most surly manner.

"We haven't seen you in days Harry. I was worried."

"Did Fuller not mention I quit" he snapped

"He mentioned you were thinking about it."

"There's nothing to think about. I'm done." he said softly.

"You turned in your badge?"

"Not yet"

"Why? If you want out why do you still have it?"

"Do you want some coffee Jude?" he said trying to change the subject.

"No. Harry, we missed you. Everyone's worried, wondering where you are." she said with concern.

"Oh, I'm great Jude!" he snapped viciously, "How do you think I am?"

"Why don't you tell me?"

"I've just spent two days being held at gunpoint by a madman, so, you know, I'm a little shook up!" he barked at her. Then more softly he said, "I'm sorry, It's been a tough week."

"You're not the only one who's hurting Harry. We all need each other right now. Why are you cutting yourself off?"

"I'm not. I'm just dealing with this the best way I know how."

"You're not dealing Harry, you're hiding. You haven't even asked me how Hanson is!"

Harry suddenly looked extremely guilty and turned his eyes to the floor.

"How is he?"

"Hanging in there. Just. He still hasn't regained consiousness and he's got a machine breathing for him Harry!" she said trying to get through to him.

"Is he going to make it?"

"The doctors can't say. They've done everything they can, it's up to him now."

Harry nodded. "I'm going back to Vietnam" he said suddenly.

"When?" she asked tears begining to mist her large dark eyes.

"Couple of days"

"Were you going to tell us, or just go and leave us wondering?"

"I don't know."

"God, Harry, were you even going to go see Hanson before you went?"

"I can't"

"He's always been there for you. He went to jail for trying to get you justice. A few days ago he saved your damn life Harry, and you can't even spare the time to go and visit him. Shit Harry, Bookers been there everyday since, and they've never been the best of friends. He might die Harry."

Harry sat down on a chair and let let out a loud sob.

"Oh god, Jude. It's my fault. Tom's dying and it's becuase of me. I threw dirt at him for weeks and now..."

She rushed over to him brushing his hair back and kissing his forehead.

"It's not your fault. You didn't make Crane come after us. None of us knew he had another gun."

"He took a bullet meant for me. It should be me back there, not Tom".

"Harry, he did what any of us would have done. It's just he was closest. Nine times out of ten that bullet would have missed both of you. Please come back with me Harry" she pleaded with him. "If Hanson does die and you leave without seeing him you'll never forgive yourself".

"And if the last memory I have of him is lying dying in a hospital bed I'll never live with myself"

"Please Harry" she begged tearfully. "After everything we've been through this is how you want it?"

"Just go please" he said as he stood to hold open the door. With one last look hurtful look at him, Judy left.

"How's he doing?" Booker asked as he stood in the doorway to Hanson's room with Blowfish, who had hold of Clavo's hand.

"No change. The doctors don't say much." Fuller answered. He was stuggling to be strong for Hanson's mom and his young officers. Doug had never been so glad to see Booker and Blowfish and went over to pick up his little boy. "Hey buddy, I've missed you."

"Tommy esta bien?"

"Not yet pal" Then he turned to Margaret and said, "I'm sorry, Mrs H, this is Dennis Booker."

"Hello" Dennis said offering his hand.

"Doug said you helped get Tommy out of prison"

"Yeah well, he should never have been there in the first place." he said with a faint smile

Mrs Hanson had hold of her son's hand and was stroking it as if by doing this she could rub life into it again. "Please come back honey" she was saying, "Don't leave us again". She had been there for hours and her composure was begining to give way.

"Mrs H?" came Sal's voice, "Why don't we take Clavo outside for some air. Let Tom rest awhile" she looked up at him and allowed him to help her to her feet.

"I won't be far Tom" she said as she kissed her son's cheek before Sal and Clavo led her away.

As they left the room Judy put her head round the door. "Captain, can I talk to you?" Fuller obligingly stepped into the hallway leaving Doug and Booker alone with Tom.

"Captain I'm woried about Harry." she said, clearly agitated. " He says he's leaving for Vietnam in a couple of days and he's refusing to see Hanson."

"That's his choice Judy, and honestly right now I have other things to worry about than Harry's self indulgent pity" he said gesturing towards the door of Hansons room. "I have to put together a case against Crane and in the meantime someone I care deeply about is fighting for his life".

"Do you care for Harry? He's blaming himself Captian."

"We've all tried to get through to him Hoffs. It's his choice what he does now. If I know Harry," he said more kindly, "he'll be here."

"I'm not so sure" Judy replied.

"These machines are driving me nuts!" Doug said through gritted teeth as he slammed his fist into a nearby wall. "I can't stand this waiting and not being able to do anything."

"You've been doing great man, being strong for everyone. But it's just us now, you don't have to be strong for me!"

"If he doesn't pull through I'm gonna kill Crane myself."

"He'll be taken care of!"

Doug let out a shakey breath. "He's my best friend. What would I do without him? You know I keep thinking what we're going to do if doesn't wake up and I feel sick. But then I start wondering what we're going to do if he does wake up. I mean, you saw him, he's a mess up there" Doug said tapping a finger to his head as he spoke. "I want him to wake up, Dennis, more than anything, but there's a small part of me that thinks maybe it's best if he doesn't, and I hate myself for it."

Dennis sat down opposite Doug."Hey, he's going to wake up and he'll work through it. He's a fighter Penhall. It's going to take more than this to stop Tommy"

"All we went through to get him back, it can't all be for nothing right?"

"Right!" Booker replied. "You want me to find Sal, make sure Clavo's ok?"

"Thanks man!"

"No problem. If you need me, you know, I'll be around." Doug gave him a greatful smile. "See you later Tommy" he said as he got up to leave.

Doug sat there watching his friend and listening to the maddening noise from the monitors. He was trying so hard to will Tom's eyes to open that when his eyelids began to twitch he thought it was his imagination, until he realised that Tom's eyes were actually wide open. It was only for a split second but it was unmistakeable. Jumping to his feet he rushed out into the hallway where Sal and Booker were taking care of Margaret and Clavo, and Judy and Fuller were deep in conversation.

"He opened his eyes" he burst out as he came through the door, "Tom's eyes, open" he said struggling to get his words out. A nearby doctor hearing this made his way to Hanson's room. As they all crowded round the doctor shone a light into Tom's eyes. He turned to face them all and said "I'm sorry, he's still not responding."

"But he opened his eyes!" Doug said distressed. "I saw it!"

"This isn't like in the movies. Sometimes coma patients open their eyes. It's a reaction to hearing familiar voices. That's one of the reasons we tell people to talk to them. Stimulates brain activity." Then he saw their dejected and deflated expressions and he said kindly, "Hey, it's still a good a sign." before offering an appologetic smile as he left the room.

"But, he looked right at me" Doug said still unable to process what was happening.

"It's ok Doug." Fuller said, "You heard the doctor, it's a good sign"

"Come on honey, open your eyes please" Mrs Hanson was saying softly to her son as she held his hand.

"I can't believe this is all happening again!" Judy said distressed as she looked into the faces of her companions.