Hello! I've really enjoyed reading all of your fantastic D&M stories.
They've inspired me to write a story myself, but because of the language barrier (English isn't my first language), I was afraid of posting it.
Thanks to the encouragements of NightOwl22, and her feedback/suggestions/comments, I finally found the courage to post it. I really hope you will like the story, and that you'll let me know what you think of it. Please forgive me if my English isn't perfect, but I'm working on it!
Prologue
Neither of them had noticed the hooded man across the street wearing a black sweatshirt. Only when Dempsey heard a male voice furiously shouting out his name, did he see him standing on their driveway. Shocked, he noticed that the man was pointing a shotgun at her!
He drew his gun, and ran towards her to protect her. "Nooooo,… not her…!" he cried out in despair.
But it was already too late. He heard the loud bang. She looked startled at Dempsey wincing in pain and clutching her chest. He managed to catch her just before she fell. He sank to the ground next to the car, holding her tightly into his arms as if he could keep her alive by pressing her against his body. In no time her blouse was covered with blood, just like his shirt and his arm. He gently removed some hair from her face, to look into her eyes. Her gaze was fading away slowly, and he felt her body become weak in his arms.
Devastated, he called out her name, without noticing the growing tumult around him…
Chapter 1: Counting down the days.
It was already late in the evening when Harry arrived at her house. She put her car keys and purse on the hallway table and hung her coat on the coat rack. She plonked on the couch in the living room, tired from the long and exhausting day but also satisfied that she had been able to accomplish all she had at the museum. Now she was home, she finally had some time to do some more research. She took one of her books and started reading. But she didn't get past the first page when her mind began to drift away.
The exhibition was due Saturday, which meant that she only had two more days to get things done. The professor seemed pleased with the preparations but, nevertheless, these last days were hectic. She really loved her work in the museum as history had always been a passion of hers. Ever since high school, it had fascinated her to explore and search how life on earth used to be in prehistoric time, and try to reconstruct parts of it. She was looking forward to the exhibition, even if it meant that her work at the museum was coming to an end. On the one hand she was looking forward to it, but on the other hand she felt quite anxious.
She was thinking how the peace and quiet in the museum was a pleasant change compared to the dangerous and exciting work at SI10. It also gave her the chance to put some distance from Dempsey for a couple of weeks, and sort herself out before working with him again. She wondered if it was normal for partners at the MET, who were working together intensively for such a long time, to start caring about each other the way she cared about him. Or was it because he was always so reckless and working with him was so intense? Sometimes she could still see the image of him lying on the floor, as if Crazy Joe had shot him. It all seemed so real, it still sent shivers down her spine, even now. Maybe these visions would disappear once started working with him again.
She wondered how Dempsey was doing in her absence. She hadn't heard anything from him since the day they closed Daish's case. Would he be missing her? Or had he been teamed up with another –probably male- partner and, would he like the change? She couldn't help feeling disappointed that she hadn't seen him or heard from him for so long. Only about two weeks ago he had practically begged her to come back and threatened to resign himself if she didn't return. Yet, he hadn't even contacted her once ever since! But, then again, even if he had tried to reach her, she hadn't been at home much as she had been very busy with her work. Another possibility, of course, was that he was working on a case –maybe an undercover job- and he didn't have the time or the opportunity to contact her.
She had no right to blame him. After all, she hadn't tried to contact him either! She'd justified it by blaming it on her work, she had just been too busy to call him. But, was that the truth, or was she fooling herself? Wasn't she just too proud to take the first step? Or was the real reason for her reticence that she was afraid to hear he was coping well without her? The thought made her anxious, but she quickly dismissed it - how terribly selfish of her! After all, she had abandoned him, so she had no right to be jealous. Either way, if he didn't show any interest in her work, why would she even bother to contact him? Next week she would see him again anyway and, deep down, she was really looking forward to it. She was silently counting down the days…
Her memories brought her back almost two weeks, after Daish drove his car into the water and Dempsey threatened to resign also if she didn't come back to SI10. At first, she didn't believe that he meant it, knowing how much he loved his job. But when he clumsily admitted that he didn't want to continue working at SI10 without her, she began to doubt. After all, only a few hours ago he had cried out from the top of his lungs at the museum that he needed her. And, as well then as now, he seemed quite genuine.
She was still struggling with her thoughts when she hesitantly picked up the RT to answer Chas's call. "This is Charlie Five to Control. Come in, please…" she responded, looking at her partner with uncertainty.
When she saw the broad, smug grin on his face, she couldn't suppress a smile. Yep, he had done it again! He'd managed to ease her into his reckless way. Damn you, Dempsey! How is it possible that you always manage to disrupt my life like that? And how is it possible that you succeed every time! The fact that she had answered the RT, however, didn't necessarily mean that she'd be able to come back! She also had to persuade Spikings, and that would only be possible if she was absolutely sure about her decision.
The entire ride to the office, she'd sat silently in the passenger seat. She had accepted his offer to drive her car, knowing she had to quickly make up her mind whether she wanted to come back or not. She kept struggling with her thoughts and feelings, and Dempsey seemed to have realised it too, as he drove slowly and in silence, giving her the opportunity to think things through. It was so bloody difficult! Whatever decision she made, it would affect them both and there would be no turning back!
She tried to imagine the consequences if she decided not to come back. She knew her father would be more than happy for her to trade her dangerous job at SI10 for a safer and quieter in the museum. But would that work give her enough satisfaction after a while? She had been working there for a few days now, and she already missed the action and excitement of her work as a detective!
And what about Dempsey? What would he do if she didn't come back? Would he actually resign also? She feared he would go back to New York, and then she would probably never see him again. Would she regret it for the rest of her life? There was a time when she wished he would return to his homeland. Yet, she was always goaded by him, for some strange reason. And now it was too hard for her to imagine a life without him. Sometimes, at home or even at work, her thoughts went out to him, without even realising it. How on earth could this ever happen? Did he think the same way about her?
But what if she decided to come back and work at Dempsey's side again? Would things be the same as before and would she be able to cope with the fear of him getting hurt? Perhaps Joyce was right when she said that he had more chance of staying alive if she was at his side.
Another thought had crossed her mind and it annoyed her immensely. She had worked really hard to get this far in a men's world! And she didn't let anyone stop her before, not even her father, who had been so worried about her decision to join the police. Joyce had been right again. She would be absolutely mad to throw away her career over a man. No way, would she allow him to rule her life! After Robert, she had taken control over her life. She had become an independent woman and it was going to stay that way!
By the time they arrived at the office, she'd regained her determination. She had to get a grip, put her emotions aside and look at things rationally. Just like she had always done before! She would negotiate her return to SI10 with Spikings, right after finishing the project at the museum. She estimated this would take her another two or three weeks. Enough time to let everything cool off and go back to normal. And then, she would go back to work with Dempsey, just like before. Hopefully Spikings would agree to it.
When they arrived at the office, the Chief Superintendent was already waiting for them, his face like a thundercloud! First, Dempsey got the full brunt of his rage. The boss expected him to explain why he had asked for Harry's help to arrest Daish. And, although everything had turned out rather well in the end, her partner had been given a serious scolding, as he had no authorisation to ask a civilian for help in a case! She felt sorry for Dempsey, but she was in no position to help him this time. To her surprise, however, he handled the situation very well. He must have realised that it was very important not to rub Spikings up the wrong way right now.
Then Spikings turned to her, and never had she felt her heart pounding so hard before. She decided not to beat around the bush and immediately make a case for her return. She knew that the boss always preferred to go straight to the point. But she'd never thought that he would give her such a hard time! He'd made her practically beg for her job back! She was very relieved when he finally agreed with her decision to return. He even granted her leave for up to two weeks to finish her work in the museum. After that time, he said he'd expect her back at SI10 with a clear head!
As for working with Dempsey again, Spikings had more reservations. He knew very well that he had promised Makepeace two years ago that she only had to work with the brash Yank for one year. But he had never reconsidered that decision as he hadn't thought Dempsey would stay here that long, nor that they would become his best team of detectives. But maybe now the time had come to reassess that partnership.
At hearing Spikings' suggestion, both Dempsey and Makepeace had objected simultaneously. Neither of them wanted another partner. Harry couldn't imagine working with anyone else any more. In the past, she had worked with a few detectives, but never for a long time. And she'd never had so many challenges and so many successfully solved cases before, then with Dempsey. Meanwhile, she got used to his way of thinking and handling peculiar situations, even if he didn't always follow the rules. In fact, she even learned to interpret the rules differently at times, to Spikings dismay. By now, she thought he was the best detective she had ever known and the best partner she could possibly have. But, no way, that she would admit it to him as that wouldn't be good for his –already too big- ego!
At first, Spikings had looked dubiously at them but, in the end he had given them the benefit of the doubt. It would only take two more weeks for her to finish her work at the museum, and then they would be reunited again. Until then, Dempsey would have to work with the other colleagues. She was confident he would manage though. When she left the office, he told her that he would count the days until her return. She had simply smiled at him, thinking that, in fact, he could be really sweet…sometimes. If only he meant it!
Harry was startled from her reverie when she heard the shrill of her doorbell. It was already late at night and she hadn't been expecting company this evening. She laid her book on the coffee table, got up from the couch and went to the front door.
Could it be him? Her heart started beating a little faster with every step she came closer to the door. By the time she reached the door, she could already imagine seeing his face with his unmistakable mischievous grin. It would be typical for him, to visit her at this late hour. She even reckoned she should be grateful that he didn't just break into her house, like he often did! That man was full of surprises. But, the more it would have annoyed her earlier, the more she kind of liked it now, as there was never a dull moment with him around.
She made a mental note to remind him of the late hour, even though she knew it wouldn't have the slightest effect. When she turned the key and opened the door, she expected to look straight into his eyes, and hear him say "Hiya, Harry…!" with a cheerful voice.
Great was her surprise, when she looked into two other pairs of eyes that stared at her doubtfully. She certainly hadn't expected to see them at her doorstep now, and she instantly got a very unsettling feeling…
(TBC)