Hello everybody. What better can we do at a few rainy days, than to write another chapter,… or to do some reading? I hope you'll enjoy it.

Thank you again for the nice comments on the previous chapter.

And thank you so much, Night Owl, for your great support in your limited time!

Chapter 7: Safe and Sound?

"We have reason to believe that you're not safe here any more, Leftenant," Spikings announced. "Apparently, there is an American hanging around this hospital, asking questions about you. The nurse he spoke to reassured us that she didn't reveal anything about your staying here, but we can't take any risks. You'll be transferred into a safe house within the hour."

Dempsey looked at him incredulously. "No way, I ain't gonna be locked up in some dull safe house!"

From experience he knew that these were usually small places where he would hardly be able to move. And on top of that, he would be monitored by one or two detectives, breathing down his neck constantly. He wouldn't last a day without going crazy! He needed space and fresh air. He needed his freedom, to be able to come and go wherever he wanted! He wasn't the criminal who had to be put away, and he sure as hell didn't wanna be treated that way!

Spikings reply was harsh. "There is no other way, Dempsey. We can't risk a shooting in this hospital!"

"There's always another way, Chief. Just gimme back my gun. I'll be ready for them!" Dempsey replied firmly, but Harry cut in immediately.

"…and get yourself shot again! You're still recovering from your last encounter with these men. You can't even stand on your feet without falling over," she exclaimed. "Oh yes, I know about your little escapade this morning. The doctor told me all about it. Why do you think they've tied you down to the bed? Oh really, Dempsey, you could have gotten yourself badly hurt again! You can be so terribly irresponsible, sometimes!"

"You're exaggerating Harry. I was just feeling a little dizzy when I got out of bed…"

"Exactly, that's because you weren't allowed to get out of bed alone yet! You lost a lot of blood, and you're still suffering from a severe concussion. You couldn't possibly face two professional killers. Don't be stupid!"

"Well I ain't goin' to a damn safe house either!" he refuted.

Spikings interjected. "All right you two, that's enough! Dempsey, there's no discussion about this. You are going to a safe house and that's final!"

At first Dempsey gave his partner a withering glance for not backing him up. Then he closed his eyes, shook his head and took a few deep breaths. This nightmare wasn't over yet, in fact it seemed as if it only just begun. If only he no longer felt so dizzy and have some of his strength back. He could deal with the pain. All he had to do was take a couple of painkillers, and he'd be out of there in no time to deal with things his own way. These bastards took him by surprise the first time, but now he'd be prepared!

Harry saw her partner cringe. She'd imagine him in a safe house, pacing around restlessly, driving everyone crazy, including himself. She knew it wouldn't take long before he'd try to get away. It certainly wouldn't be an easy job: protecting him from hit men was one thing, but keeping him calm and out of trouble would even be more difficult.

"There may be another possibility, Sir…" she started, making her partner look up, hopeful.

"Yes?" Spikings looked at her suspiciously, as he couldn't see any other option. He'd discussed it with Chas before and a safe house seemed the only feasible solution.

She continued. "I'll have to check it with my father first, but maybe Dempsey could go to Winfield Hall for some time. It is farther away from London and the assailants don't know about the place. As you know, it's a large estate and it's very quiet this time of year. The lieutenant would be able to recover and we can organize some protection, just in case," she proposed, casting a quick glance at her partner before turning her attention back to Spikings.

There was a moment of silence while both men were reflecting on the proposal.

Dempsey hesitated. "It does sound a hell of a lot better than a safe house, but I don't wanna bring your father into this, Harry."

"I wouldn't do anything to endanger my father, Lieutenant. But as there's no link between you and Winfield Hall, I'm confident these men won't be able to find you there. And as for my father, I don't think he'll mind at all. On the contrary, I'm pretty sure he would like to have some company."

Spikings frowned and then hesitantly replied. "Alright, if you're sure that your father will approve. You'll better check with him first, Sergeant, so we can start arranging the transfer. And you'll join Dempsey as you're familiar with the place. But if Lord Winfield has any objection to this, Dempsey goes to a safe house immediately! Understood?"

Harry nodded and left the room to call her father. Less than ten minutes later, she came back with a satisfied smile. Lord Winfield didn't have to think twice about granting shelter to the American detective. As Harry had expected, her father had reacted very enthusiastically. He would even arrange for the family doctor to come to the house every day to check on Dempsey's injuries.

The doctor at the hospital, however, had his doubts about the situation. He was responsible for his patients, and feared the American wasn't yet recovered sufficiently to be discharged from hospital. But on the other hand, Doctor Grant also had to consider the safety of his staff and other patients. Finally, he agreed with the Chief Superintendent and signed the discharge papers, giving Dempsey one more time strict instructions to wear his sling and take as much rest as he possibly can. He handed his patient a small box with antibiotics for the next few days and a larger box with painkillers. Then the doctor shook Dempsey's hand, wishing him good luck and a quick recovery.

Then everything happened very fast. Spikings took the necessary measures for Dempsey's move to Winfield Hall, while Harry was sent to buy him some clothes and toiletries in addition to the stuff he could borrow from some helpful colleagues. The Chief was adamant about allowing anyone near Dempsey's flat, fearing the killers were keeping a tight watch on it. On the other hand, Spikings also kept it under surveillance, in case the killers would become impatient and reveal themselves.

Harry was wandering around in the huge store, trying to find some suitable clothes for her partner. Maybe it wasn't exactly the clothes he would choose and she wasn't always sure of the size, but he'd have to settle for what she could find. He should even be grateful that she was doing this!

She was holding a couple of shirts in front of her, trying to imagine how he would look in them. It felt a bit strange to choose clothes for him. He certainly had a different taste in clothes than Robert. Her ex-husband always wore tailor-made suits, while Dempsey was dressed more casually. Yet, she thought her partner always looked very attractive.

Oh God, what was she thinking? All she had to do was buy him some clothes! Silly woman!

Back in the hospital, Dempsey inspected his new attire. At first, he was grumpy about the fact that a woman had to buy him clothes. What the hell did she know about a man's wardrobe, anyway? But as he looked at the stuff she'd bought, he couldn't deny that she actually had good taste. Once he was dressed, Harry watched him from head to foot and nodded approvingly. Yes, she had done a good job, the clothes fit him perfectly.

A moment later, Spikings entered the room. He stood beside Dempsey's bed, watching the American through narrowed eyes, both hands deep in the pockets of his beige overcoat.

"Something wrong, Chief?" Dempsey asked concerned.

Spikings raised one eyebrow as he looked at his detective. "No, Leftenant. Everything is arranged for your transfer. There is just one more thing I need to do, albeit with reluctance. But I'm afraid I have no choice."

The Chief Superintendent slowly took his right hand out of his pocket, revealing Dempsey's Magnum. The boss stared at the gun and let out a deep sigh. Until then, Spikings had refused to render it to the trigger-happy cowboy, stating that he was well protected while he was lying in hospital and he wouldn't be able to fire that heavy piece of artillery himself, anyway! But now, Spikings realized that Dempsey's life was probably in danger again, so he felt obliged to give him back his weapon. He handed him the gun, giving him permission to use it but only when strictly necessary! He chose to ignore the big grin on the Yank's face.

Once they were all set to go, Dempsey couldn't get out of the hospital fast enough. But when he stood up a bit too abruptly, the dizziness returned. He grabbed the bedside table to keep him from falling over. With his other hand he covered his eyes and held his head, trying to stop the room from spinning. He cursed loudly when the sling halted the movement. Before he had the chance to remove the damn thing, Harry hurried to support him and she guided him to her car, which was parked in front of the entrance.

They were closely followed by Watson and Joyce all the way to Kent. Spikings had arranged for an escort to Winfield Hall to ensure that Dempsey and Makepeace weren't being followed and to offer some back up if necessary. The detectives had been ordered to stay at the estate until they were sure that everything was safe.

Harry glanced from time to time in Dempsey's direction, who sat beside her on the passenger's seat. He'd closed his eyes, bothered by the bright light. It was a long drive and he slowly dozed off. She drove as carefully as possible, not to wake him and to avoid causing him any more discomfort.

Almost two hours later, they finally arrived safely at Winfield Hall. The old, imposing castle became visible when Harry pulled into the long driveway. She was relieved to be home, after an exhausting ride that took all her concentration. It had been a while since she was there visiting her father. At times when she was occupied with her work, she forgot how much she actually loved this place. As busy and noisy London was, Winfield Hall was very much the opposite -very peaceful and quiet. She had always been able to relax on the large estate. It reminded her of her youth, when she played carefree on the grounds, while her parents sat in the porch watching her. Or when they made their daily walks at the large estate. Harry would lead the way, followed by her parents, who walked arm in arm behind her. She smiled at the thought and it gave her a warm feeling inside. When she stepped out of the car she inhaled deeply, filling her lungs with the fresh and healthy country air.

She saw Dempsey stepping out of the car too, very carefully, trying not to lose balance by clinging to it. He was still using his free hand to shield his eyes against the bright light. Harry helped him walk from the car to the stairs, which led to the huge front door of the castle. Before they even got the chance to ring the bell, Freddy himself unexpectedly swung the door open. He had a big smile on his face, and his bright eyes were shining at the sight of them. Harry was happy to see her father so healthy and brisk for his age. He also looked very handsome, and if it wasn't for his grey hair, people would believe him to be at least ten years younger.

He greeted them enthusiastically, taking his daughter in his arms. "Harriet, my dear. It's been a while since your last visit!"

Harry hugged him and kissed him on the cheek. "I know Freddy. I'm sorry, but work has kept me rather occupied lately." She deliberately hadn't told him anything about her former resignation from SI10 and her work at the museum to avoid the inevitable questions. And now, as it was no longer an issue, it was best for him not to know about it at all.

Then, Freddy turned to Dempsey and shook his hand. "Good afternoon Lieutenant, it's very nice to see you again, despite the circumstances. I've already heard from our Harriet that you've had a pretty rough time. Nevertheless, I hope you'll feel better soon and I can assure you this is definitely a good place to recover."

"Thanks, Lord Winfield. I'm grateful that I can stay here for a while. I couldn't stand that hospital smell any longer. Ya know, breathing in some of this fresh country air makes me feel better already!" Dempsey said, overestimating his condition. "But I hope I'm not puttin' you out," he smiled faintly to the older man, trying hard to hide his discomfort.

"Good man, please call me Freddy. And it certainly isn't an inconvenience! I would really enjoy some company. And besides, it's a good opportunity to have my daughter here for a while. Most times she can't stay long as she's always busy with her work." He cast a quick glance to Harry and winked at Dempsey. "At least that's what she tells me…"

"And that is the truth!" Harry's stern voice came from behind both men. Then she pointed to Dempsey. "Now if you'll excuse us, I must see to it that our 'patient' here goes straight to his bed. Doctor's orders! Remember, Lieutenant?"

"Yeah right, as long as there's a good looking nurse to tuck me in." Dempsey grinned.

"By the sound of it, you've just had an overdose of healthy fresh air! Come on, off you go," she ordered, pushing him gently towards the door.

While Harry led Dempsey to his room, Watson and Joyce stood a little uneasy on the driveway, looking wide eyed at the huge estate. They had never seen Harry's ancestral home before, and were clearly impressed. Especially Watson was completely taken by surprise. Joyce, on the other hand, already knew of her friend's background.

Watson whistled as he admired the imposing building and the surrounding grounds. "This is unbelievable! Sergeant Makepeace actually grew up in this castle?" he asked, unaware that Freddy was standing right behind them.

"Yes, young man. This used to be her home," Freddy replied. "Would you like me to show you around, while Harriet is busy taking care of the lieutenant? I'm sure she'll join us once he's settled."

Watson and Joyce accepted Lord Winfield's offer gratefully and followed him into the house. In the meantime, Harry had led Dempsey to his room. She had ensured that he had the room next to hers, so she would be able to keep a close eye on him.

As they stepped inside, Dempsey looked around the large bedroom. He couldn't believe his eyes. Woow, this room was even bigger than the one he had last time he was here! That was already more than a year ago, when they had investigated the theft of Lord Winfield's jade. Not that he had been able to spend much time in his room, as their investigation had kept him occupied for most of the time. He wondered why they had given him this larger room, now. For some reason, he must have earned an 'upgrade' since then.

His mind drifted away to his own childhood…

As a kid, he could only dream about having a bedroom half this size. Instead, he always had to share a small, humid bedroom with his older brother! They barely had enough space for their beds, let alone for a big wardrobe! They always envied rich people –mostly for the space and the privacy money afforded them. If only his brother Frank could see this, he'd hit the roof for sure. Dempsey could well imagine what his brother would be thinking about the place: 'Some people just have all the luck, and it all depends on where your cradle stood!'

He quickly dismissed his thoughts, and continued to examine the room. There was a robust double bed placed against the wall, which was carefully made with a duvet and matching pillow. Next to the large wardrobe he noticed a door leading to a small bathroom. That way, he wouldn't even have to go very far to freshen up. He went to the window and threw a glance outside, instantly regretting it and shielding his eyes against the sharp light that seemed to pierce right through to his brain. He peeked through his fingers, and saw the window looked out to the driveway, giving him a good view of who was coming. Perfect!

After his inspection of the room, he carefully laid himself down on the bed in order to stop the dizziness and nausea. Without any arguments, he accepted the two painkillers and glass of water Harry offered him. He swallowed the two pills in one gulp, and instantly slumped his head back onto the soft pillow. Harry quickly closed the curtains to darken the room.

"Will you be all right? Is there anything else I can do for you?" she asked, surprised that he didn't object about going to bed straight away. He must be feeling awful, she thought.

"Yeah, there's one thing you could do: you could lie in bed next to me, to protect me from the bad guys who like huntin' me." He patted the king-sized bed, and grinned wearily at her. "I promise I'll behave!"

"You really are incorrigible!" she shook her head, smiling. Strangely she was rather happy to hear him flirting again. At least, it meant he felt a little better. She used to hate him for it, and now she'd actually missed his lewd comments.

"I'll leave you alone now. If you need anything, you can ring this bell." She pointed at the little bell -probably belonging to the kitchen staff- that was now placed on top of his bedside table.

Harry had just left his room, closing the door softly behind her, when he felt himself sinking away into the soft bed as if he were sinking into a swamp, slowly but inevitably. He happily inhaled the delicious scent of freshly washed sheets, which instantly made him forget about the horrible hospital smell he had to bear in the past few days. Oh yeah, this place was so much better than that hospital. No doubt he would be able to recover quickly, over here.

When she came back downstairs, Harry found Joyce lying on the couch in the lounge. The detective quickly sat up straight when she heard Harry enter the room. Watson was still busy doing a thorough search of the place, together with Freddy. But Joyce was bushed from the long ride to Winfield Hall and the tour through the big house. She obviously hadn't recovered sufficiently after the accident on the Daish case, before going back to work again. Even if she was only working part time for the moment, and Spikings kept her desk-bound. She had volunteered to escort Harry and Dempsey to Winfield Hall, to finally get out of the office for the first time after the accident. But she'd clearly overestimated her strength.

"Joyce? What's wrong? Aren't you feeling well?" Harry asked when she saw her friend rub her eyes.

Joyce looked up. "I'm fine, really. Just a bit tired, that's all. I thought I would be able to handle this by now."

Harry shook her head, a concerned look on her face. "I warned you it was way too soon to go back to work after your accident!"

"Well, you know what they say. When you fall off a horse, you have to get back in the saddle as soon as possible. But I'm only working part time on doctor's advice. And Spikings is still keeping me desk-bound!" she pouted.

"And perhaps even that is too soon, Joyce! Obviously, you haven't recovered enough! Your body needs time to heal, both physically as mentally! You're almost as bad as Dempsey! That man can't sit still for a moment either! I only hope he won't give me a hard time, once he's feeling a bit better."

"Talking about Dempsey. How are things between you two at the moment?" Joyce asked, as nonchalantly as possible.

Harry shrugged. "Fine, I guess. We haven't actually been working together. First, I was working at the museum, and then Dempsey disappeared and got himself almost killed. It has been such a hectic time!"

"Yes, I can imagine…But I've heard how worried you were when he was lying in hospital. In fact, they say you hardly left his side. And you know what the guys at the office are like. They seem to think there's something more going on between you two…" Joyce said, studying Harry's reaction thoroughly.

"That's ridiculous!" Harry exclaimed, wide eyed. "You know what I think of all that gossip, but I really thought that you, of all people, wouldn't go along with that! As you know, Dempsey is my partner! And yes, I admit I care a great deal about him. But I'm not having a bloody love-affair with him, if that's what you're thinking!" she cried out, indignantly.

"Alright, Harriet. I'm sorry. I was just concerned about you," Joyce apologised. Then she shrugged. "As long as you know what you're doing."

"Of course I know what I'm doing. I'm doing my job. And right now, my job is to protect my partner and make sure he doesn't get killed!"

At that moment, Freddy and Watson came into the lounge, and both women instantly became silent. The tension in the large room was palpable. To avoid further questions or remarks, Harry quickly turned to Watson. "And, how are things? Do you believe everything is safe, out there?"

"Yes, everything remains quiet. I don't think we were followed. So, I guess Dempsey is perfectly safe here. But we'll stick around until tonight, just to be sure. If that's alright with you, ladies?" Watson asked, looking searchingly at Harry and Joyce.

"Absolutely. Thank you, Watson." Harry replied, while Joyce nodded approvingly.

The rest of the afternoon, everything remained quiet. When dinner was being served, Harry went upstairs to ask if Dempsey wanted to join them. He didn't feel like eating, however, as the thought of food made his stomach turn. Harry felt his forehead, but he didn't seem to have a high temperature. She figured the long drive to Kent probably took its toll. She knew him well enough by now to realise that he wouldn't skip a meal, unless he was feeling absolutely terrible. So she wisely didn't insist. Instead, she gave him another painkiller and advised him to stay in bed. Perhaps he would feel better tomorrow, after a good night's sleep.

Immediately after dinner, Watson and Joyce returned to London, leaving Harry to watch over Dempsey...

(TBC)