I have shamelessly pinched someone else's idea of calling Dempsey's Mum Rosa. Whoever it was, thank you.

Harry's world contracted to the hospital room, to Dempsey's bedside. She existed in a cycle of sleeping, eating and sitting holding his hand.

Time stretched out unmeasured, it had only been three days since the shooting, but it felt as if it had been weeks, months. Her life before this was a distant memory that had happened to someone else, a different version of Harriet Makpeace . She watched as Dempsey's chest rose and fell, laying her hand over his heart to feel it beat beneath her fingers, reassuring herself that he was alive. The oxygen tube had been removed and his pallor was improved, but he remained unconscious.

Early the following evening Harry had fallen asleep, her head on top of his legs, she awoke to a tickle on the top of her head, something was touching her hair. She shot upright and saw Dempsey, his eyes half open and his hand stretched out to her.

'Hey you' his voice was raw and little more than a whisper.

She pushed herself upright on a wave of relief. 'You're awake!'

He gave a heavy-lidded smile as his hand found hers and linked their fingers, he glanced around the room 'what happened?'

She told him about Crazy Joe, about his surgery, how they'd all been so worried about him.

'Last thing I remember is going into that place with the tombstones, you saying it was spooky and then nothing, don't remember anything else.' He gazed at her for a long moment. 'How long you been here Harry?'

'Oh a few hours.' She sighed and remembered her vow to herself to be honest with him. 'I didn't like to leave you.'She paused. 'I thought you weren't going to make it.' She felt tears well up again.

Dempsey stroked a finger down her cheek. 'You don't get rid of me that easily honey' he whispered.

Before they could say any more a nurse came bustling in, taking blood pressure, temperature readings and checking the levels of the various bags of fluid.'I think we can probably move you into the ward soon' she said, 'I'll check that there's a room available.' She wheeled her trolley out promising to return with some toast and tea.

Dempsey lay back and shut his eyes, every now and again opening them, smiling drowsily at Harry as if he could hardly believe she was real.

After he'd wolfed down two slices of toast and a mug of dark brown tea he fell asleep again, not before making Harry promise that she'd go home for some rest. Her step was light as she walked out of the hospital, she could at last begin to believe he was going to come through this.

Back at Dempsey's flat she gathered up some toiletries, clean underwear and pyjamas to take in for him. The phone rang and without thinking she picked it up.

A familiar voice said 'Oh hi, is Jimmy there?'

She'd assumed Spikings would have got in touch with Dempsey's mother. It hadn't occurred to Harry, she'd been so focussed on her own feelings the rest of the world had seemed very far away.

She'd spoken to Rosa Dempsey once or twice before. The first time his mother had clearly insisted on talking to her and wouldn't take no for an answer, she smiled as she remembered Dempsey's mouthed 'sorry' as he handed the phone over.

'Harry, hey good to speak to you again' Rosa said, 'how's my boy behaving himself?' Harry knew that Dempsey's mum all but assumed they were a couple despite his 'just good friends' protests

Now she hesitated 'Rosa he's…'

She heard the panic in the older woman's voice. 'Harry, what's happened, he's okay isn't he?'

'He's in hospital, Rosa, he was shot, he's awake now, he's going to be alright.'

'Harry, why didn't you let me know?' she said, clearly annoyed. 'I'm coming over, it's about time I saw where he lived and I need to see for myself that he's okay.'

There was nothing Harry could say to dissuade her and they ended the call with an assurance from Rosa that she would let Harry know when she had some firm plans.

'Oh, what have I done?' she berated herself.

Back at the hospital Dempsey was still asleep, he roused as she slipped her hand into his. 'Hey' he smiled, 'here's a sight for sore eyes.'

Harry told him about his mother's phone call, 'and…' she added 'I'm afraid she's on her way over.'

His eyes widened, 'to London, she's on her way to London?'

'I did my best to tell her it wasn't necessary but….but I think she just needs to see you for herself.'

'Sounds like my Mum' he muttered 'well I guess she can stay at mine, don't know how much longer I'm going to be in here.'

The following day when she arrived Dempsey already had a visitor.

Chas stood up as she came in. 'I'm just leaving' he said, 'I've filled him in on all the news.'

'Anything I should know?' Harry had been signed off on compassionate leave at Spikings' insistence.

'Nothing that can't wait.' Chas smiled as he picked up his jacket. He nodded towards Dempsey, 'he's looking better.'

Harry gave a small smile as he squeezed her hand. 'You okay?'

'Yes, now I know he's not going to die.' She bit her lip.

'You take care' Chas said to them both as he shook Dempsey's hand and left.

Harry sat down and looked more closely at Dempsey, he seemed drowsier than usual.

'How are you feeling?'

'Yeah okay, a bit tired, they've reduced the painkillers, so feel a bit like I've been run over by a bus.' His speech was slurred.

'We don't need to talk,' she said, brushing his hair from his forehead and taking his hand in hers, her thumb stroking his palm.

'Hmm that's nice' he closed his eyes again.

Dempsey continued to improve, some days when she arrived he was sitting up in his chair. He was having physiotherapy every day and he insisted on pushing himself hard even though he was visibly drained after each session.

'You can slow down a bit, Dempsey. There's no hurry.' She chided him.

'I know' he sulked 'I hate being like this Harry.'

She took his hand and stroked along his wrist, 'I know you do, but I don't want you to wear yourself out, to have a relapse.'

He studied her face without saying anything, she could see him thinking. He broke into a slow smile as he leaned in and kissed her gently on the cheek. 'What did I do to deserve you?' he asked.

Harry smiled, 'you nearly got yourself killed, gave me a fright…I…' She realised this was probably not the time to say any more. 'You look exhausted, Come on let's get you into bed.'

'Ah Sergeant, it's not like you to be so forward' he smirked.

She said nothing, but her heart soared with the knowledge that the Demspey she knew…and loved was coming back.

In the end it was Spikings who picked up Rosa Dempsey, he'd insisted, unwilling to let Harry do the drive out to Heathrow. He brought her straight to the hospital. Rosa was a petite dark-haired woman with sharp eyes and a strong resemblance to her son, particularly when she broke into a grin. She pulled Harry into a tight hug.

'Jimmy said you were beautiful but you're even more lovely in real life' she said beaming. Harry's cheeks coloured and she didn't miss Spikings' smile as he pretended to cough.

'I need to be getting back to work' he said, 'lovely to have met you Mrs Dempsey and erm..do let me know if there's anything you need.'

It was Spikings' turn to blush when she said 'Mrs Dempsey huh? Call me Rosa' and planted a kiss on his cheek.

'That man has a gorgeous voice' she whispered as she took Harry's arm.

Rosa gave a cry of joy as she threw her arms around her son and wept openly at the sight of him. Harry saw Dempsey hurriedly wiping away his own tears.

'So you two meet at last?' he said when he'd composed himself.

'Harry and I are great friends now honey' Rosa beamed.

'Why do I suddenly feel scared?' Dempsey said, unable to contain his delight at having his two favourite women together at last.