Milner replaced the receiver and rested his head against the back of the chair as he replayed the conversation he'd just had. Mr. Reid had required surgery for the knife wound he'd received but was expected to make a full recovery, Mr. Foyle was on his way to inform Mrs. Reid and didn't expect to be in until much later if at all.

Given how long Mr. Foyle and Mr. Reid had worked together and their close friendship that not even their incredibly high standards professionalism could conceal, it made sense that Mr. Foyle's priority was the Reids at the moment. That said the raid this morning had been nearly a month in the making and Mr. Foyle trusted him to handle the aftermath, which would largely determine if their suspects got convicted.

Not only did he trust him to manage all of the many details, Mr. Foyle hadn't even hesitated. Hadn't said he'd be in later to ensure things were under control or even pressed him for any details of the proceedings, just a cursory inquiry as to whether there was anything that required his immediate attention.

Milner knew Mr. Foyle valued his work and he knew that he was thorough, good at following up loose ends, dotting his I's and crossing his T's. This unspoken statement of confidence had still caught him by surprise and Milner couldn't help smiling at the paperwork on his desk as the little voice that always questioned if he could truly do his job with one and a half legs fell silent.

He gave himself another minute of contemplation and then got to his feet, finding the moment it always took to be sure of his balance less irritating than usual. He would check on the constables who were logging the evidence, inform Sgt. Rivers of Mr. Reid's condition and then see if any of their black marketers felt like talking.

Elaine Reid's breath caught painfully in her chest as soon she opened the door and saw Christopher Foyle standing on the doorstep without her husband, his driver a few steps behind him; she had been a policeman's wife too long to miss the implications of such a visit. She paled, her knuckles going white as she gripped the door to stay on her feet "No"

Foyle had expected this type of reaction and quickly reached out to catch her elbow, "He's all right Elaine he's alright. Come and sit down and I'll tell you everything while Sam fixes us some tea"

Which was how Elaine found herself steered into her own living room and settled on the settee as delicately as if she were made of glass, a blanket wrapped carefully around her shoulders before Foyle crouched in front of her, pressing his handkerchief into her hand, his voice warm and reassuring as he repeated, "Hugh's alright give you my word"

By the time Sam emerged from the kitchen with the tea tray the shock was starting to ease, not that she objected to the tea that Christopher pressed into her hands. Once she'd finished half of it she felt steadier, "What happened?"

Her voice shook a little and Foyle frowned worriedly as he settled his own teacup on his knee and took a deep breath. "Hugh might have mentioned the black market case?" She nodded, Hugh had always told her what he was working on, now due to the Official Secrets Act, the details were very thin on the ground but she knew there was considerable manpower being invested in tracking down black marketers in Hastings.

Foyle took another sip of tea and then continued with the careful pauses that, although common to the cadence of his speech, also left Elaine aware that she was receiving an edited version of events.

"Well this morning there was a raid and Hugh ended up on the wrong end of a switchblade; it turned out to be little more than a deep flesh wound but he lost a fair amount of blood so the doctor's going to keep him in hospital for at least a night."

She let out a tremulous breath, "Oh Hugh and to think I thought he'd be safer once he became Superintendent"

The smile she forced was a weak one and clearly didn't fool Christopher in the slightest as he reached over and took her hand squeezing it gently, "I've seen him and the Ward Sister said you could come for a brief visit. If you like Sam and I can drive you over now?"

Elaine nodded, "Please"

Foyle nodded, "Of course" he released her hand and glanced at the clock, "We have plenty of time before the girls are home. Why don't you go and get ready while I do the washing up?" Elaine gave him a grateful smile and within twenty minutes they were enroute to the hospital, although thankfully at a much less frantic pace than their earlier trip had required.

Hugh was asleep when Foyle and Elaine approached the bed and Elaine leaned over and brushed a kiss to his forehead murmuring, "Hugh? Darling can you wake up for me?"

There was a pause and then Hugh's eyes opened, "Elaine? All right? What's…"

He moved as if to push himself up on his elbow and Elaine placed a hand on his chest, "I'm fine darling, lie still"

Hugh squinted, clearly still trying to determine what was going on but he did as his wife said until he caught sight of Foyle and started, groaning as it pulled his stitches, "Christopher! What are you doing here?"

If Hugh wasn't suddenly the colour of his sheets Foyle might have smiled at the scandalized tone of his friend's voice. As it was his brow furrowed as he said quickly, "You're in hospital Hugh and Sam and I brought Elaine to see you"

Hugh frowned for a moment before his expression cleared, "Oh right" He looked up at Elaine, taking her hand and giving it a comforting squeeze. "I'm alright love, just a few stitches"

Elaine shook her head murmuring, "Oh Hugh." Her voice was thick with tears and Foyle quickly caught her elbow, guiding her into a chair before announcing that he'd fetch them all some tea and tactfully retreating.

Hugh's heart ached more than his stab wound as he watched his wife begin to cry and he tightened his grip on her hand. "Darling please don't cry"

She laughed tremulously through her tears, "I suppose I knew what I was getting into, I mean you did ask me to marry you immediately after running into a burning house" She leant forward and rested her head on his shoulder, "You are entirely too brave Hugh…when I saw Christopher at the door…oh Hugh I thought…"

Hugh looked stricken as she began to sob, "I'm so sorry love. I promise I'm alright"

By the time Foyle made it back with tea a nurse had clearly taken pity on Hugh as he was propped up on numerous pillows, which enabled him to hold Elaine properly as he murmured softly into her hair.

He nodded over her shoulder at Foyle's unspoken question and pulled back slightly to brush a kiss to Elaine's cheek, "Christopher's brought us some tea love"

Elaine straightened, wiping her eyes with her handkerchief before accepting a cup of tea with a grateful if slightly watery smile. Foyle and Reid had a silent discussion about his ability to drink his tea without doing himself further injury, before Foyle carefully passed him the cup and sat down with his own.

He took a drink and then gave his friend an assessing look, "Well you must be behaving if they haven't thrown you out yet Hugh"

Reid rolled his eyes, "Says the man who tried to go home with freshly broken ribs"

"I had things to do"

Reid snorted and Elaine shook her head in fond exasperation, "You're as bad as each other you know"

Foyle looked down, "Mhmm well Hugh has always been a bad influence" As he'd hoped Elaine laughed and Hugh shot him a grateful look before attempting, unsuccessfully, to look offended.

Wincing slightly as he shifted Hugh looked at Foyle, "Any chance you can talk them into letting me go this evening Christopher? I can't say I'm keen to sleep in this bed any longer than I have too"

"Can't say I blame you Hugh but no, you'll have to stay put until the doctor says otherwise. And before you complain I don't recall you being anymore obliging the last time I was in your position"

Reid scowled and Elaine patted his arm, "Christopher's right Hugh, the girls and I will be fine, the important thing is that you rest."

Hugh paled suddenly, "The girls…"

Elaine gave his hand a reassuring squeeze, "Are fine Hugh, they're still at school they have no idea anything's happened."

Hugh closed his eyes in relief and then tightened his grip on her hand, "Do we have to tell them? Couldn't you just say I'm working late at the station?"

Elaine smiled softly, loving the lengths Hugh was willing to go for their daughters, but shook her head, "And what would happen if they want to keep you tomorrow night as well? Or if they do release you tomorrow and then the girls swarm all over you like usual and rip your stitches? I know you want to protect them Hugh, but in this case I think not telling them would do more harm than good."

Hugh considered this and then looked questioningly at Foyle who nodded, "I agree with Elaine Hugh, I…" He hesitated running his tongue over his lower lip before continuing, "I wanted to hide some of my injuries from Andrew when he was young but…" He took a deep breath, one hand going to straighten the already straight knot of his tie, "Rosalind always overruled me…turned out she was right"

He offered them a weak smile before he took another sip of tea and Hugh was struck once again by the knowledge that Christopher still loved Rosalind as much as he had when she was alive and most likely always would.

Hugh cleared his throat, "Alright, I just hate to worry them. Gracie is still a little young to really understand but Maggie will fuss"

Elaine sighed, "She will but you'll be fine and that will go a long way to reassuring both of them." She smiled at him, "After all 'you're the bestest policeman ever"

Hugh's answering smile could have lit a bomb shelter and Foyle smiled at his shoes, remembering when Andrew had expressed a similar sentiment and then breathing carefully around the ache of nostalgia and the ever-present knot of worry that had accompanied all thoughts of his son since he'd been posted.

When he looked up again the Ward Sister was starting to hover so he politely excused himself so that Hugh and Elaine could say goodbye in private and went to wait in the hall. Elaine looked tired when she came through the door and Foyle immediately offered her his arm, "Alright?"

"Yes thank you Christopher just tired. Hugh would do this on laundry day"

Foyle chuckled, "His timing could stand improving. Now let's get you home. Do you want me to help you explain things to the girls?"

Elaine smiled, "You are very kind to offer Christopher but I think we'll be fine, besides I'm sure you're needed at the station."

Foyle shook his head, "Milner will have everything in hand, I'll call and speak to him but unless something has changed I don't plan to go back in until tomorrow morning. Obviously you know best but the offer stands"

Elaine smiled gratefully as he handed her into the back of the car, "Thank you Christopher."

In the end the decision was taken out of their hands because when Sam pulled up outside the Reids again Maggie and Grace were coming down the block and Grace raced towards the car calling, "Hello Mr. Foyle!"

Foyle pivoted from where he was helping Elaine out of the car and gave her a warm smile, "Hello Grace, did you have a good day?"

"Uh huh, we did skipping at lunch and there wasn't a spelling test. Mummy why were you in Mr. Foyle's car, where's Daddy?"

Elaine's smile faltered and Foyle was quick to cup her elbow, saying gently, "We'll talk about it inside Grace. Sam, you can take the car back to the station and go home for the night, I'll walk from here"

Sam hesitated, her desire to help readily apparent but Foyle shook his head slightly and she nodded, "Yes Sir. Goodbye Mrs. Reid" and with a friendly wave to Grace and Maggie she pulled away as Foyle followed the Reids up the steps.

Once all their coats had been hung up Foyle smiled reassuringly at Maggie who was looking worriedly at her mother, "I think we could all do with some tea, why don't you girls go and wash your hands and then you can give me a hand?"

Maggie nodded and caught her sister's hand leading her upstairs, Elaine watched them go and then turned to Foyle, "Thank you Christopher"

"Not at all, I'll just put the kettle on and as I said before, I'm more than happy to explain things to them if you want?"

Elaine hesitated, "You truly don't mind? I thought I could but…" She trailed off and Foyle touched her arm lightly, eyes warm with understanding.

"Happy too"

Which was how he found himself very gently explaining to Hugh's daughters that 'Daddy had gotten hurt while he was at work but the doctors and nurses were taking care of him and he'd be just fine and back home in a day or two'

There was a pause while they took this in and then Grace, scowl firmly in place, asked, "Did you catch the bad men Mr. Foyle? The ones who hurt Daddy?"

Foyle nodded, "Yes we did Grace"

"Good! I hope the King says they have to go to prison forever and ever!"

Foyle nodded, deciding it was not the time or place to explain how the court system worked, "I hope so as well but as I said your Daddy will be just fine. He just needs to rest and not lift heavy things for a week or so"

This seemed to satisfy the little girl because she nodded, saying cheerfully as she reached for a biscuit, "He can have my dolly while I'm at school, she's not heavy and she'll make him better"

Foyle's lips turned down into a smile, "I'm sure she will Grace"

Maggie was still frowning when Foyle looked over at her, "Do you have any questions Maggie?"

"Is Daddy in hospital?"

Foyle nodded as Elaine drew her oldest daughter closer, "Yes he is, but he's very keen to be home again so I know he'll be back as soon as he can"

Maggie nodded and looked at her mother, "Did you see him Mummy?"

"Yes I did, he was a little sleepy from the medicine the doctors had given him but like Mr. Foyle said he was already getting better"

Maggie nodded and although she still looked worried she didn't ask any more questions until she came into the kitchen where Foyle was washing the dishes, "Mr. Foyle? How did the bad man hurt Daddy?"

Foyle finished drying a cup and placed it down carefully before turning to the worried little girl in front of him and offering her his hand. She took it readily and he led her to the table, gesturing for her to sit down and then crouching in front of her so they were on eye-level. "Your Daddy got a cut on his side but the doctors have stitched it up so he's going to be fine"

"Why did they cut him?"

Foyle sighed lightly, "You know how we have our ration books to make sure no one takes more than they should?" Maggie nodded seriously, "Well these bad men had stolen things and were trying to sell them for far more than they were worth and they didn't like your Daddy stopping them"

Maggie smiled proudly, "Daddy doesn't let anyone be bad, and he's not scared of the bad men because he's so tall and brave"

Foyle nodded, lips pulling down at the corners, "That's right, your Daddy does his job very well and nothing is more important to him than keeping you, your Mummy and Grace safe"

Maggie nodded, "I know but I wish Daddy were home so I could give him a hug and tell him I love him. If he's not home at bedtime we hug Mummy twice and then she hugs Daddy for us when he gets home"

"I see, well why don't you do that tonight and then you can hug your Daddy for each night he missed when he's home again?"

Maggie's smile grew wider, "Daddy likes it when we give him extra hugs, especially if he has a bad day" She hesitated, studying Foyle thoughtfully and then wrapped her arms around his neck, 'Thank you for keeping Daddy safe Mr. Foyle"

Foyle swallowed hard, holding her gently as he murmured, "I promise I will always try and keep your Daddy safe Maggie, just as he and I will always try and keep you and Grace and everyone else in Hastings safe"

"I know, you and Daddy are the best policemen"

Foyle wasn't quite sure how to respond but was saved the trouble when Grace called for Maggie to come and make a card for Daddy and she hurried off. Alone in the kitchen again Foyle listened to the rise and fall of voices in the lounge and silently vowed to do everything in his power to make sure Hugh always returned home safely to his family.