It only took a few minutes to walk to the Golden Eagle. Once inside, he located the two men he was looking for. They were seated in a dark corner and by the looks of the glasses on their table, the two men had been imbibing for some time. Christopher stepped to the bar and ordered an ale. Settling at a table near the door, he sipped and he waited.

Finally Ledford and Long walked to the door, right past Christopher's table. He stood as they walked out. Not far behind them, Christopher was able to follow the pair as they walked along the road. He saw Long nudge Ledford and point to a lone woman leaving a pub up the street. "Remember that bird we had last year, Terry?"

"Oh, you mean the tall bird. Had a right bit of spunk to her, didn't she?" Ledford cackled.

"Yup. Bet she ain't forgot us none," Long chortled.

"Guess not. You putting yer letters on her... that was a good 'un. Bet she can't take a piss wit' out thinking of you."

"You too," Long laughed. "Yer letters too. Wonder where she is now. She was a nice piece; wouldn't mind having her a'gin."

"Tha 'un would be a good replacement, I'd wager..."

Long nudged Ledford. "Yer readin' my mind."

It was then that Christopher's anger propelled him into them. Grabbing the shoulder of the shorter Ledford, Christopher spun him and landed a solid right on the man's jaw before either knew anything. Ledford staggered backwards and Foyle turned to face Long, whose fist was already flying toward his head. Christopher ducked enough that the swing missed. Lunging into the taller man, Christopher's head hit him just below his ribs and the former detective heard a satisfying grunt as the man staggered back into the wall. Bu then, Ledford was back in it grabbing Christopher's left arm. Christopher spun and landed his right fist in Ledford's gut, doubling him over.

Things took a bad turn for Foyle when Long grabbed him from behind, wrapping both his arms against his body. Foyle looked up in time to see Ledford coming for him again. Leveraging against Long, Foyle swung his legs up and kicked Ledford in the chest. The motion made Long drop him and Foyle scrambled to get his footing.

But his back was to the wall now and he had no escape route. Both villains started for him and Christopher made an instant decision to go for Ledford, deeming him smaller and easier to take out. Plus he'd suffered more blows already. Launching himself at the smaller man, Christopher landed a glancing right followed by a solid left and the man went down.

Long was all over him though. Fists seemed to be flying from everywhere at Christopher. Ducking one, the second grazed the side of his face before another one hit him solidly in his stomach and sent him to the ground. Long was over him, fists hammering, right...left...right... Somewhere in his fading consciousness, Christopher heard the sound of police whistles. And then things went dark.

When he awoke, DC Hadley was watching him. The young man said nothing while Christopher took in his surroundings. "Wull, least I'm not at the nick," he quipped finally.

Hadley almost grinned. "No sir. In hospital. You took quite a beating last night. The ambulance brought you here."

Christopher was immediately alert. "Last night? But... my wife; she'll be worried."

"I've sent an officer around to collect her, sir. She should be here soon. Before she arrives though..."

"You want to know why I was out that late and how I ran into ... those two."

"I believe I know already. I just need to know who threw the first punch."

Christopher sized up the young man, wondering how much he actually knew. "I did. I knew they'd be at the Golden Eagle. I went there and I followed them into the street. They were following a young woman and talking about... Wull, she wasn't safe. And I threw the first punch."

"Because of the woman they were following or because of your wife?"

Foyle's eyes narrowed. "Rather not say," he replied.

Hadley glanced around the room and then took a step closer to Christopher. "It's a shame those two attacked you last night, sir. Bad lot they are. We do have them down at the station. After we're finished with them, other constabularies all along the coast want a piece of them. Good thing you were able to detain them long enough for us to nab them."

Christopher looked sharply at Hadley through his barely open, battered eyes, the policeman in him taking hold. "You heard what I said, didn't you DC Hadley?"

"I did, sir. Every word. And I'll tell my sergeant every word you said to me and also what I said. But I don't think anything will come of it considering the records of those two. I'd be surprised if you hear anything more about it."

Hadley's attitude disturbed Christopher. He had thrown the first punch, attacked Ledford and Long and should be charged. But frankly, he was too tired and too sore to give it more thought at the moment. "See you do," he finally sighed.

Sam rounded the corner just as Hadley turned to leave. With a quiet nod, he disappeared through the doorway leaving Christopher to deal with his very aggravated looking wife. Christopher decided that it was best not to say anything until she'd had her piece of him. He didn't want to wind her up her further.

"Chrisopher Foyle, what ... why... you left last night... After you said you would up to be soon... Why?" Her face betrayed her worry as she looked at his though. She wasn't so much angry as frightened, he recognized.

"Sorry love," he said remorsefully. "I... well, I knew from Hadley that those two were about and I thought to see what they might be up to. Thought Hadley might nab them if someone knew where they were. "

"And just how did you plan to tell DC Hadley where they were when they were pummeling you nearly to death?" She screeched. Christopher couldn't ever remember hearing Sam screech before. It was that and the unadulterated fear in her expression that finally enlightened him as to how foolish he had been.

Reaching out to her, taking her hand in his bandaged one, he sighed. "I'm sorry, darling. Wasn't thinking, was I? Just... after what they did to you, I couldn't let them get away again. I am sorry I've worried you though." He watched as Sam's ire melted and she bent over him for a kiss. Trouble was, his lips were in such a dire condition, she hesitated. Finally, she decided on a peck to his cheek and even that was tentative.

Straightening up, she tried to look angry at him again but as she took in the various bruises and cuts on his face, all she could do was make a sympathetic face. "Your face," she moaned.

Christopher considered his injuries. He knew his cheeks had taken a beating because his eyes weren't much more than open slits and his jaw hurt terribly. He thought his nose might be alright; at least, it didn't hurt. Both hands were bandaged but that's because of the damage he'd inflicted to his knuckles in the brawl. As he took a deep breath, he groaned. His ribs were none too happy with him either. He wondered briefly what other injuries might make themselves known. "I'll be alright in time," he said with confidence, wondering how long a time would be required to heal. "And those two are in custody now, so it was worth it. They were following another young woman when I stopped them."

"Oh," Sam said in surprise. "I... yes, I suppose. That... what happened... to me... I'm glad it didn't happen to her. But you must promise that you won't do something so foolish again, Christopher. I... when they told me what had happened, I couldn't breathe. I ..." tears trickled from her eyes, "I don't know what I would have done if the news had been... worse."

Christopher had felt remorse for worrying Sam, but seeing her in such a state made him ashamed of his behavior. "Sam, I'm truly sorry for worrying you so. I promise, nnot happening again."

She sat in the chair next to his bed with a sigh of relief. "Thank you." Christopher was pleased to see the tension leave her expression as she relaxed a little, although she seemed to be chewing the inside of her cheek, a bad habit she'd picked up from him no doubt. "Has the doctor said what your injuries are and when you'll be able to come home?"

"Haven't talked to the doctor," Foyle replied. "I had just awakened when you came in. I think my ribs... wull, won't be straining them anytime soon."

"You've got broken ribs?" Her alarms were sounding in her head, Foyle knew.

"Nno... don't think broken; just battered a bit. Just feeling rough is all. Please don' worry, Sam. Don't think anything is broken so I'll be back to normal before long."

It was another hour before the doctor came in to check on Christopher, who was dozing. The doctor smiled at Sam and gave her a reassuring nod. "He'll be fine," the doctor said. "Your father took quite a beating but nothing's broken. Won't look pretty for a couple of weeks and those ribs will remind him of his adventure for a month or two, but he's in no danger. I'd say he can go home this afternoon if you'll be there to watch over him for a few days."

Sam's brow furrowed. "He isn't my father, doctor. Christopher is my husband. And yes, I will look after him," she replied acerbically.

The doctor's eyes widened. "Oh, of course... I'm sorry for ... well, I just..."

She waved his words off. "You aren't the first to make that mistake. We knew it would happen when we married; actually worried Christopher. But yes, I'll look after him even though I've a good mind to make him suffer more for scaring me as he did."

The doctor chuckled. "No need to worry about him suffering, Mrs. Foyle. I expect those ribs will remind him often. I'll make the arrangements and he two of you should be on your way soon."

"Thank you, doctor," she said. "And thank you for taking care of him. He's a very lucky man to have had such good care."

The doctor eyed Sam appreciatively. "Yes, he is; very lucky indeed."