1986

Makepeace entered the side ward, Dempsey was in bed, his left side grazed, bandaged or plastered together. Above his head hung some mistletoe, Harry smiled, she imagined it was well used.

Makepeace looked around the room, "so you sorted yourself out for Christmas then" she observed.

"Yeh, well it kinda turned out all right, I found somewhere that provided turkey and all the trimmings, a TV to watch the Queen and some pretty angels to mop my brow and even bathe me. What are you doing here anyway? I thought you were entertaining at your stately home?"

"I heard you'd been hurt"

"Yeh, but I'll live, how did you hear?"

"I have ears"

"How was Christmas at Winfield Hall?"

"Good, tiring, I've probably drunk too much and slept too little."

"I've slept too much and drunk too little"

"Here I've brought you a little something" Harry took a small bottle from her bag.

Dempsey smiled "and a cigar?" he asked.

"Don't push your luck", she passed him the bottle, and as he took a swig she looked around the room for somewhere to sit, "this room is rather sparse" she observed. Dempsey patted the edge of his bed, Harry sat on it. "I could use some company. Do you want to watch the Christmas Film?"

"Does that telly get a picture?"

"Just about" Makepeace switched the TV on and moved back to look at the picture on the small portable. "Here, there's just room next to me on this bed"

Harry sat back on the bed, picked up some fruit, offered some to Dempsey who refused. He stretched his right arm out over the back of the pillows

Dempsey took another swig from the hip flask "Here have a drink," Harry took a mouthful and as the film started fell back against the pillow, in towards Dempsey's chest, she kicked her shoes off and put her feet up onto the side of the bed.

Tiredness caught them both for different reasons;

Two nurses just off duty giggled as they made their way down the corridor, they had some small plastic medicine cups and a bottle of Baileys. I bet he snogs me longer than you said the blonde one; they put their heads around the door, and felt rather put out of place seeing Harry lying back into Dempsey's arm, both of them sleeping through the film.

Next Chas and Spikings arrived

"Ah look peace at Christmas" Spikings smiled

"Do we wake them sir?"

"What and listen to them spat?" He sat on the only chair on the far side of the room "No I could sit and watch this for some time I quite like Cagney and Lacey in silent mode; Christmas is about peace on earth after all."