"Makepeace!"

Spikings voiced boomed once more as he shouted Harry into his office. He'd left her for around half an hour because he knew she would want to compose herself. He knew Harry cared for Dempsey. He'd seen with his own eyes the way she had been when Dempsey was befriending Myra. She had been like a lost soul, wandering around the office. Her eyes heavy, her complexion pale. Sick with worry.

Makepeace entered Spikings office and shut the door softly behind her. She looked concerned and a little worried. Her eyes were still puffy from crying, so she kept her head firmly down. Spikings was sat behind his desk. One look at Harry and he couldn't shout at her. He didn't have the heart.

"Sit down, my girl," he said softly. Harry looked up, her eyes widened in surprise. She didn't know what Spikings wanted, but she couldn't bare him being nice to her. She was feeling so fragile, she'd rather him yell at her so she could stand there stone-faced. She hesitated for a moment but sat opposite Spikings, pulling the seat in gingerly.

Spikings rested his elbows on the desk, his hands tucked underneath his chin. He hardly knew where to begin.

"I think we need to have a little chat."

"Sir?"

"Oh, don't come the innocent with me, Harry."

"I have no idea what you're talking about." "Sir" She added. She felt she sounded a little abrupt.

Spikings could see he would have to go about this the hard way. He didn't want Harry to know he'd heard her and Dempsey in the filing room, but if something jeopardised his team, it was his duty to sort it out. He sighed heavily.

"Where is the Lieutenant?"

Harry answered truthfully. "I have no idea, Sir."

"Where did you last see him?"

"Erm.....he said he was going to do some filing." She rolled her eyes. Dempsey? Filing? What a joke.

Spikings met Harry's eyes and indicated that he didn't believe a word.

"The truth, please Sergeant."

"I don't know where he is, Sir. I haven't seen him for a while."

"How are things with you and the Lieutenant?"

"How do you mean?"

"I mean, how is he coping after everything with Coltrane? I presume you and he have talked?"

"Dempsey handles things his own way, Sir."

"Yes, I know. Has he told you his plans to stay in London and continuing working here?"

"Not directly."

"Well, he's staying here. Here with you."

Harry's eyes met Spikings one more time. They brimmed with tears which she desperately tried to blink away.

"He's very good at his job. And he seems to have settled here. I can see why he wouldn't want to leave. Not right away anyway."

"Do you think that's the only reason for him staying?"

Harry answered automatically. "Yes."

"You don't think there could be anything else keeping him here?"

"Like what, Sir?" What was he getting at? Did he sense something between her and Dempsey?

"Alright Makepeace, enough with the coy cobblers!"

Harry hung her head, her eyes fixed to the floor. Spikings leaned over more closely to Harry.

"Harry, have you ever wondered if Dempsey has come to care for you?"

Harry swallowed. She didn't have a clue how to handle this situation at all. She didn't know where this was heading but she wanted to draw a line under it and fast.

"Sir, the relationship between me and the Lieutenant is purely platonic. He is my work partner and that is all."

"And how do you feel that partnership is working out?"

Harry paused. "At the moment, not so good considering I don't have a clue where he is."

"My girl, you are the best detective I have in this place. I don't want you to get lost in..... he struggled for the right words.......emotional turmoil."

"Sir, I am more than capable of doing my job."

"I know that, Sergeant. My point is that from now, Dempsey doesn't have to be your partner anymore. He wishes to stay here and that's his choice. There is no reason for his decision to have any repercussions on you."

So Spikings was giving her the opportunity to be rid of Dempsey? True, there would have been a time when she would have jumped at the chance. But now? She knew there was no way she could work without him. And moreover, she didn't want to.

"I understand, Sir."

"And?"

"I want things to stay exactly as they are."

"And you are positive that you can continue as before? You are quite sure that any personal feelings between you and the Lieutenant are........under control?"

Harry looked up at Spikings who gave her a knowing smile. How much did he know? And how did he know? Was he offering her the chance to be rid of Dempsey so that they could be a couple outside of work? She answered Spikings in the affirmative, making it sound much more confident than she actually felt.

"Yes."

Spikings stood up from his chair. He was relieved, it had to be said. He was sure that if Harry had wanted to pursue anything with Dempsey, she would have taken the opportunity to be rid of him as a partner. She had proved that working with him was what she wanted and he knew how strong her work ethic was and how she wouldn't wish to jeopardise that.

"Very well. You may go."

Harry rose slowly and made for the door.

"Oh and Harry, if circumstances ever change......."

"You will be the first to know, Sir."

Spikings let slip an involuntary smile.

Harry was going to leave but something stopped her. She wanted to know what the point of this conversation had been.

"Sir, has Dempsey said something to you?"

"What about?"

"I don't know. I'm just wondering why mine and Dempsey's relationship has caused you concern."

Spikings licked his lips. Now it was his turn to be uncomfortable.

"Harry, I am not blind. I have watched you and Dempsey for more than two years now. You are excellent together. You're a team. It is only natural that feelings can progress......"

"Sir, any feeling between us has to be purely professional........doesn't it?"

"Oh of course, 100%. If the powers that be in Head Office suspected anything else, Dempsey or yourself would be transferred......" He paused and looked at Harry, raising his eyebrows.

Harry felt like she was on the same wave length at last.

"And if someone slightly lower knew.....?"

"Then he would not wish to see it, hear of it, evidence it in any way, nor wish anyone else to be aware of it during working hours. Nor would he expect it to impact upon the job that you are being paid to do."

Harry's eyes widened. Was Spikings actually giving them consent here?!

Spikings continued. "But if word were to reach higher ears, there would be nothing I could do. And you know as well as I do that news travels very fast around here."

Harry understood. Spikings wasn't opposed to "Harry and James" but he was advising against it. Which is what Harry had been professing all along.

"Harry, you and Dempsey are my team. My best team, and I wouldn't want to lose you. But I must know that your partnership is strong and that it will continue to be so. You know how important this job is and how disastrous the consequences can be if things go wrong."

Harry understood all too well and nodded.

"I understand, Sir. You won't lose this team. You have my word."

Harry turned and exited the office. Spikings sat down again, content for now. He could only hope that everything worked out.