Sorry this has taken ages to update.

Thanks to the Peas xx

Chapter 3

Harry was the last to be seen. He decided to turn on the charm as Kate led him along the corridor towards the medical room.

"Any idea how much longer I'll be here? I know you're busy but I'd really like to get things sorted out and get home." He gave her his sweetest smile and was amused to see a slight blush appear on her face.

"It'll be a while longer; the computer system's only just come back online and there's a bit of a backlog."

"Well, if there's anything you can do to get me and my colleague bumped up the list, I'd be grateful. Very grateful."

Kate was momentarily lost for words as a rush of inappropriate thoughts about how he might show his gratitude filled her mind. He was definitely a cut above the people she usually dealt with and there was a certain something about him.

Emma sighed as she heard the door open and sent up a silent prayer that her last patient might prove to be quiet and well behaved. As Harry walked into the room, she appraised him discreetly, noting the ripped blue shirt he was wearing seemed very much at odds with the rest of his appearance. He smiled at her and she could feel her cheeks start to burn. He was definitely the most attractive man she had seen that evening.

She directed Harry towards the examination couch. "So, er, what h-have you been up to then?"

"I seem to have got involved in a bit of a fight."

"Oh right. Did you get hit?"

"I got punched in the ribs a couple of times. It's rather painful."

"Well, we'd better get you out of those clothes…er, I mean…" Emma was certain she could have heated the whole police station with the blush that covered her face as she realised what she'd said.

Harry attempted to save her from her embarrassment and removed his jacket. It was something of a struggle and he was forced to ask for assistance to take his shirt off.

Emma had to concentrate to stop her hands from trembling as she helped him slip the cotton material off his broad frame. As she turned round to pick up her stethoscope, she caught Kate's eye. The police officer grinned at her and raised an eyebrow.

Harry surreptitiously watched the exchange and bit back a smile. Despite the pain he was in, he was rather enjoying the attention he was getting from the two attractive young women. A pang of guilt struck him as he thought about Ruth. Then he began to feel uneasy; if she found out what had happened, the dull ache in his side would be the least of his worries.

Emma's examination of Harry was thorough and professional. As he'd suspected, his ribs were bruised. They would be painful for a few days but there should be no lasting damage.

"So, he's fit then?" Kate asked, teasingly.

"Oh yes. Definitely fit – for interview." Doctor Radcliffe attempted to glare at the policewoman but couldn't stop herself from smiling.

"Right then, put this on."

Harry looked at the T-shirt Kate handed him. "Do you really expect me to wear that?"

"Well your shirt's torn and covered in beer. You don't really want to put it back on do you?"

"I'd rather wear it in it's current state than wear that."

"Actually, I rather like Bon Jovi."

Two pairs of eyes fixed on Emma and then Kate cleared her throat.

"Er, so do I."

Harry watched them, unaware both women were picturing him in the black tour T-shirt.

"Can't you find me something a bit more…dignified?"

"Um, what? Sorry?" Kate eventually realised Harry had asked her a question.

"I said, can't you find me something else to wear?"

"There isn't really a great deal of choice, " she said somewhat unconvincingly as Harry's forlorn expression began to melt her heart. "I suppose…well, there is something. Em, will you be OK for a couple of minutes if I leave you with Mr Pearce?"

"Oh yes, I'll be fine. Take your time."

Kate gave the doctor a quizzical look before starting to walk out of the room. "I have to leave the door open, OK?" she called over her shoulder.

Harry was beginning to feel cold and rather exposed. His headache was getting worse. All he wanted to do was take some painkillers and go home and sleep. The prospect of warming himself in Ruth's bed was more appealing but he knew the chances of that happening were slim. And he certainly wasn't in a fit state for anything physical.

"Are you feeling OK?" Emma enquired at the sound of the heavy sigh from her patient.

"Yes, well apart from the ribs. And I've got a bit of a headache too. I just want to get out of here." He saw the look of mild disappointment on the Doctor's face. "Sorry, it's no reflection on your medical skills."

"Oh, n-no. It's fine I quite understand. Generally I can't wait to get away either."

"I expect most of your patients leave a lot to be desired."

"Yes, they do. It does tend to be the least appealing members of society I get to see…not that I'm suggesting that you're in the same category." Emma knew she should probably just stop talking but her mouth seemed to be ignoring instructions from her brain. "Q-quite the opposite actually. You're very attract-, um, I mean you're obviously not like my usual patients…"

"Right, here we are." Kate reappeared clutching a clear plastic bag. "It's a bit unorthodox but it's just a shirt so I don't think it counts as impersonating a police officer."

There was a pause as Harry tried to organise his thoughts. He'd been so busy trying to work out if the doctor was chatting him up that he hadn't given the policewoman his full attention.

"I'm sorry, what were you saying?"

Kate waved the plastic wrapped item at him. "Uniform shirt for you. Instead of the T-shirt. It should fit."

As Harry finished fastening the buttons of the new shirt, he looked up to find both women watching him intently.

"Er, can I make my phone call now?"

"Phone call?" Kate looked distracted for a moment. Her mind had been filled with images of Harry in full police uniform and she hastily pushed them away. "Oh, yes. Yes, of course you can."

Emma regretfully watched him leave the medical room and wondered if she could get his phone number from the custody records. She was sure she could come up with a valid reason for needing it.

-----

Adam gripped the telephone receiver tightly and looked anxiously at the clock on the wall. 'You are through to the voicemail of 070-'

He cursed and disconnected the call. Where the hell was Zaf?

"No luck?"

Adam turned to face the custody Sergeant. "No."

"Anyone else you can ring?"

"Er, well I'm not sure." The only options left were Ruth and Jo.

"You must have more than one friend in the world," the policeman remarked, dryly.

Adam was trying to think of a witty response when Harry returned to the custody suite.

"Is Zaf on his way?"

"Um, no. His phone went to voicemail."

The older man sighed. "Bloody typical."

"We'll have to ring Jo or," Adam stopped for a moment, wondering how his next suggestion would be received, "Ruth."

Harry closed his eyes and rubbed his hand over his face. "It'll have to be Ruth, but I'll phone her."

-----

"You stupid, stupid man!"

Jo watched, transfixed, her wine glass halfway to her lips as Ruth seethed into her phone.

"What about Adam?" There was a pause as the caller replied. "And Zaf?" Another pause. "What do you mean, you 'don't know where he is'?"

Jo leant across the table, trying to hear the other half of the conversation and mouthing 'what's happened?' to Ruth.

"Where are you? OK." She snapped her phone shut without saying goodbye. Not a good sign.

"I cannot believe those two idiots."

"What on earth is going on, Ruth?"

"Harry and Adam have managed to get themselves arrested and lost Zaf in the process."

"Arrested?! What for?"

"God knows," Ruth drained her glass. "Come on, we'll have to go and sort things out."

Whilst they were in the taxi, Jo's mobile rang.

"Zaf! Where are you?" She moved the phone so that Ruth could hear what he was saying.

"They've been arrested as well. They're at the same police station as you-"

There was a strangled noise in response.

"Zaf? Zaf, are you OK? Alright. We're about five minutes away so we'll see you soon."

Jo frowned as she ended the call. "I think he's worried about bumping into Harry before we get there."

Ruth snorted. "Oh I think Harry will have other things on his mind."

-----

"Can you confirm that you know these gentlemen?" Kate gestured to the three dejected and dishevelled male spooks who had sheepishly followed her into a side office where Ruth and Jo were waiting.

Ruth nodded. "Yes. Yes we do." Her tone suggested she wanted to add 'unfortunately' to the end of the sentence.

"OK. You chaps can wait here whilst I get your friends to sign the paperwork."

As the door closed behind the women, Harry addressed his younger colleagues. "Right, we need to get our story straight."

"Harry, I'm really sorry about this. I was trying to help you and Adam." Zaf was starting to babble in his haste to explain what had happened. "This bloke bumped into me and then he started to have a go and it got nasty-"

"I'm not worried about that, Zaf. I'm far more interested in coming up with something those two," he pointed in the direction their female colleagues had gone, "will believe."

As they collected their personal belongings, all three men felt reasonably happy with the version of the evening's events they had agreed. It wasn't a complete fabrication, more lying by omission. So long as Ruth and Jo didn't ask too many questions, they should just about get away with it. Hopefully.

"Zaf! Zaf! Hang on a second." Emma was waving as she hurried across the custody area.

"Physiotherapist. I said I'd recommend someone." She pushed a piece of paper into Zaf's hand. "It's…it's good to see you," she continued.

"Er, thanks Em. Yes, you too."

Seeing Jo glaring at the young medic spurred Harry into action. "Right, I think we should be on our way. Thank you, Doctor. I hope we haven't been too much trouble."

Em blushed as Harry gave her a warm smile. "Oh no, no trouble at all. Like I said, you're a very pleasant change from my usual clientele."

It was Ruth's turn to glare as Harry switched his attention to Kate. "I'm sorry for any inconvenience we've caused you PC Poddington. Thank you for being so understanding."

"No problem. I'm glad we've been able to sort everything out."

"Come on then." Jo swept pass the doctor and the policewoman and grabbed Zaf's arm, causing him to yelp loudly.

Deciding she didn't want to spend the rest of the evening sorting out a domestic dispute, Kate offered to escort them out of the building.

Thanks for reading. Hopefully there won't be such a long wait for the final chapter :)