Lost

Harry stared at the back of the bathroom door. The young WPC had left a few minutes earlier; leaving her to gather her thoughts. Sighing she knew Harrington was a nasty piece of work. The woman procured heroin and cocaine to sell on the streets of London. She used her legitimate business interests to act as a front for the drug smuggling she really made her money from. Gripping the edge of the sink she tried to fight the nausea. Drugs always made her feel uneasy. She had seen them destroy so many lives. The fact they now had a dealer in their patch that was part of a much larger syndicate made her feel sick.

"Cmon Harry." She said to herself. "You have to do this." She glanced at the door knowing she had to face the rest of the world sooner rather than later. She glanced at her reflection in the cracked mirror. The reflection in the glass told her just how visible her upset was. She loved her work - loved the unit. Being treated differently to the men broke her heart. She knew Dempsey would be over protective - it was his nature. She knew the team would remember her encounters with the Nightclub killer and the Thriller killer but it didn't mean she couldn't do her job.

"Harry." She looked up as Dempsey stood in the door way. The American smiled slightly, taking in her appearance.

"I have paperwork to do."

"So?"

"So I should be getting on with it. As should you." Her clipped tones managed to mask the hurt she felt. The way she avoided eye contact told him enough.

"Princess."

"Detective Sargent Makepeace." She corrected. "You know? Your partner who has undertaken more than one undercover op?"

"And every time you do. Every single time I can't breathe." He stepped towards her. Harry found she couldn't look away. "My gut tells me you can do this. Of course you can. But Harry, my heart says I dun wanna risk losing you."

"James."

He looked up as she held his gaze.

"Harry."

"I thought you were different. Robert did this."

"What?" Dempsey stared at her in disbelief. "I'd never lay a hand on you. Ever. You know that."

She nodded.

"Of course I do. It isn't that I meant." She bit her lip. "He controlled me. Every move, what I did, who I saw. It took me a long time to recover. You were the one who made me see not all men are like that. I fell for you."

"Harry."

"But you're trying to control me. To stop me doing my job. I can't go through this again." She slipped her engagement ring off, curling it into the palm of his hand. "I love you and I'm sorry but I just can't."

He closed his eyes as she kissed his cheek. Moments later she slipped past him; lost forever.

Xxxxxxxx