Makepeace had been tetchy all day and Dempsey didn't know why. There was a time he'd have goaded her, tried to break through the defences she sometimes threw up without warning. But he'd learned by now that keeping his mouth shut and his eyes open was the most sensible tactic.

Mack and Dave had come into the office loud and lairy fuelled by their success in banging up two local wideboys they'd been following for weeks. The air was heavy with testosterone as Mack switched on Radio 1 and started singing along.

Only Dempsey saw the tightening in Makepeace's jaw, only he heard the small sigh of irritation she blew through lips pursed together so tightly they'd lost all colour. Lips that were often pink with promise, lips that he longed to kiss. Dempsey gave his head a small shake to dislodge these treacherous thoughts.

Harry looked up from the typewriter, her voice was tight, 'for God's sake, will you turn that racket off!'

Everyone in the office knew that tone of voice but Mack couldn't help but kick the hornets' nest, he muttered 'women' as he switched off the radio.

Harry stood up abruptly, scraping her chair along the floor, she banged her pile of papers down, snatched up her bag and swanned out.

Mack looked innocently around the room. 'What's eating her, time of the month or something?' He and Dave laughed loudly. 'Shouldn't be allowed to come to work when they're all hormones, giving us guys a hard time, it's….' The words died on his lips. He hadn't seen Dempsey get up and cross the room, the first he knew was a hand on his neck and the sound of Dave beside him spluttering as Dempsey lifted them both up by the collar, one in each hand.

'She's twice the cop you knuckleheads will ever be.' he hissed 'so crawl back into your caves and give us all a break.'

Mack opened his mouth with a retort which he swallowed back at Dempsey's warning stare as he let go of them, grabbed his jacket and followed his partner through the door.

Harry was nowhere to be seen so he loitered around outside the ladies' cloakroom, and tried to look nonchalant when she emerged.

'What are you hanging about for Dempsey?'

'Waiting for you' he tried a charming smile which had no effect at all.

'Thought I could buy you a cup of tea, c'mon we both could do with a break.'

Harry sighed in irritation but followed him down the corridor.

They sat in silence in the canteen sipping watery tea from plastic cups.

'So what's up with you Makepeace?

'Nothing's up with me. I'm just a little tired of the constant machismo in that office.'

'Ah Harry, don't let these meatheads upset you. They're just pumped up cos they nabbed the Doyle brothers, they gotta have their moment.'

'Well I'm sick of it.'

'Harry…'

'Oh don't start Dempsey, I'm tired, I have a headache and…' she stood up and started to walk off. Dempsey quickened his step to catch up with her.

'Harry.' He took her upper arm and pulled her to a stop.

'What?' her voice was like steel.

'Harry, I think you could do with a hug.'

Before she could say any more he'd folded her into his arms and she didn't resist. His grip was firm, his hands were steady on her back and she could feel the warmth of his breath against her hair. Harry felt herself relax as she took a deep breath into his chest inhaling that familiar scent, a smell of safety and warmth and maleness.

There was a snigger as a pair of women passed, 'don't mind us' they said dissolving into giggles.

Harry stiffened and stepped away. 'They're from the third floor posse, we'll be all over the building by tomorrow morning.'

Dempsey looked at his watch 'you underestimate them Harry, by three o'clock I'd say.'

Her smile made his heart sing a little, 'feeling any better?'

'Yes,thank you. You were right, I did need a hug.'

Dempsey shrugged, 'any time, Harry.'

XxXxXx

They'd been watching the building for two hours and no one had come in or out. The tip-off had said that there was a drugs haul being planned for the following week and that this was the alleged base for planning, personnel and weapons.

But so far it just looked like any other suburban semi on a Tuesday afternoon.

Dempsey sighed, 'you know I wonder if we've been sold a dummy on this one. Two hours and nada.'

Harry moved in her seat, 'how much longer do you intend to sit here?'

'You're sitting here too Harry, this wasn't my idea.'

She said nothing and turned away to look out the window. She'd been friendlier since their hug in the corridor but it was five o'clock and they were both hungry and tired and Harry had clammed up again.

He watched as she squirmed in her seat.

'You not comfortable?'

'I'm fine.' She snapped. 'Look, this is pointless, let's call it in and go home.'

'Huh, if you want but maybe just another half hour Harry, what if things hot up the minute we leave.'

'Whatever you say,' she huffed.

Dempsey watched as she closed her eyes and saw her rub her hand over her abdomen as a wince of pain crossed her face.

'You got stomach ache?'

'It's nothing.'

Suddenly the penny dropped. He reached over and laid his hand over hers, no longer afraid of her scorn. 'Harry if you have stomach cramps you should go home, have a hot bath, come on, I'll drive you'

'Dempsey I don't need special treatment.'

'I know, but a hot bath…glass of wine, you'll feel better.'

Harry watched as he started the engine 'You're so annoying you know, being nice when I want to be angry with you.'

There was an awkward silence as he parked outside her house, neither wanted to be one to suggest he came in. In the end Dempsey said,'uh anything I can do?'

You could come in and rub my back until I fall asleep. Harry thought of his arms, firm around her, the scent of him that made her want to climb inside him and never come out, the feeling of absolute safety.

'Thank you. I'm okay from here.'

She didn't miss the small look of hurt that flashed across his face.

'Thank you. I mean it Dempsey.' She said softly.

Dempsey badly wanted to reach across and pull her into his arms, he wanted to be the one who ran her bath, poured the wine, filled her a hot water bottle, lay beside her on the sofa.

Instead he said. 'Yeah I'll see tomorrow, hope you feel better.'