Truth

"Not here." Harry stated firmly as Dempsey stared at her. "Cmon."

"What are you doing here?" He fell into step beside her, relieved that she was at least willing to talk with him. He had half expected her to run. Harry sighed.

"A job!"

"What? Not the stripper! Harry, you're."

"Bar maid." Harry raised her eyes to his. "That's where the cocaine is being sold. Dempsey; how did we meet? Do you remember?"

Dempsey smiled at the memory.

"How could I forget? Thought I was meeting a guy. Harry Makepeace. Had to be a guy? Then you turn up and Spikings lets me make an idiot out of myself."

Harry smiled at the memory. In one fell swoop James Dempsey had been forced to reevaluate all his preconceptions about women in the force. Part of her couldn't believe that had been less than five years earlier.

"You did that."

He shrugged.

"My point is, I was undercover then. Ok? So it went wrong in the nightclub. I admit that. But I was bait then. It's the only time I've put myself on the chopping block. It won't be done again." She stared at him. "My decision. Not yours. As barmaid I get to gather information - pull in all the Intel I can get. I'm barely noticeable."

"Harry." He smiled at her. "You are always noticeable."

Harry raised an eyebrow.

"James."

"Can we talk? I don't want things to end like this. Not like this." He touched her arm. Harry nodded.

"Ok."

"My place is nearer."

"Now?" Harry bit her lip. "We're working."

"I think it's important. Us, that's important."

His eyes bore into hers. She sighed.

"Ok, ok."

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"Harry called." Chas stated as Spikings walked towards him. The clunk of typewriters and the television in corner almost drowned him out. Spikings poured milk into his tea before nodding.

"And?"

"She's been to the club. Had an interview under the name Sally Dempsey. I'm putting together the rest of the legend."

"Ok. Sally?"

"There was a picture of Worzel Gummage and Aunt Sally on the cover of a magazine. It stuck in her head, I guess. Anyway, that's our in."

"She's a smart girl. Bloody good copper."

"Yes Sir." Chas knew Spikings hated the idea of her going undercover but he wasn't about to lose face by making a deal out of her disobeying orders. He gulped his tea.

"You and Dave. Find Dempsey. Make an appearance at the club, low profile. See how the land lays."

"Yes Sir." Chas sighed, knowing that at least his heavily pregnant wife would be glad he had some overtime.

Xxxxxxx

Harry leant against the breakfast bar as Dempsey set about making them both coffee. She watched him as he worked; his back to her.

"I'm not like him." Dempsey turned, handing her a mug of black coffee. "You know that. If we are breaking up then please don't compare me to your ex husband. Break up because you don't love me anymore."

"James."

"I could never raise my hand to a woman. Any woman or child. I'm not like him or my father."

"I shouldn't have said that. I know you'd never behave in such a way." She rested the mug down on the breakfast bar. "I have to do my job."

Dempsey nodded. He understood what she was saying. He knew being a cop was in her DNA; that she had gone against her family to get the job she had always wanted.

"I was worried." He looked at her. "I am worried. You've been hurt twice because I was too slow."

"No I haven't."

"Harry." He blinked, looking away. "I thought you'd been killed. That night in the van with the Thriller Killer. The guy from the nightclub. Harry, you never would have been taken if it wasn't for me. I ain't even gonna mention my old man."

Harry nodded, stepping closer towards him.

"You always find me. I'm always ok." She touched his face. "James."

"I mean it." He ran a hand through his thick, dark hair. "I don't blame you for wanting to get away from me. Harry, you should. You should get as far from me as you can. Don't quit. I will." Tears filled his eyes as she shook her head. "Because you're right. I did try to stop you doing you're job. I'm sorry. I can't do that."

"Hey." She stepped closer to him. "I'm going to do my job, so are you. I was angry."

"Yeah, I know."

"You forget. I got in that car with your father. I agreed to go on both jobs. Not you. Me. Detective Sargent Makepeace - me. I can do this but I need you to back me up."

"Harry, I."

"I should never have said you were like Robert. I'm sorry."

"I." He closed his eyes.

"Are you shaking?"

"No."

"James." She touched his face.

"No, I'm not shaking. The rest of the world is just shaking." He kissed her gently as he felt her hand slide to the back of his neck. Harry smiled as his hands pulled her closer.

"Can we?" He closed his eyes as he rested his forehead against hers.

"What?"

"Try again? Harry, I."

"Shut up, James." She smiled as she kissed him. "I thought we already were."

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