It's still me. Lockwood. Just in case you were wondering.

This time I sort of agree with the baton being passed to me. I mean, anyone else might dispute my motivations. They might think that this whole story flip-flopping about was down to me being inconsistent, unreliable, flaky.

Couldn't be further from the truth.

It's important that you understand that. My character transformation (real- life and in Lucy's literary endeavours) had already taken place. I had learned my lesson. I was no longer cut off from reality. I did not present a "cold, dead heart" to the world at large, or at least my "family" knew who I was.

And I knew exactly who I was. I knew what my motivations were. I knew where I was heading. I knew what future I had. I knew who I wanted to be.

I also knew who I wanted to stand beside when I became that person.

My name is Anthony Lockwood, and I had every intention of reining myself in, so that I could be reliable, considerate, but most of all so I could be a fit and suitable "partner" to Lucy Carlyle for as long as possible. Until death do us part?

In view of our vocation, probably longer.

And by "partner" I meant, professionally and emotionally.

And that was the problem. Lucy and I crossed boundaries with our relationship. We were more than one category of couple. I knew what I wanted "us" to feel like. I just wasn't sure of the correct label to apply to it.

"Partner" was too business-like, and I could tell that was why some hospitals had a problem with the term on Next-of-Kin forms. It didn't say "I would die for you". It said, "Please will you co-sign my business lease?"

Don't get me started on "Life Partner".

"Boyfriend" was too juvenile, too temporary. I'd spent a very long time convincing people I was more mature than my age, so adopting a moniker which made me sound all 'secondary school behind the bike-sheds' was never going to work.

Holly and Lucy had put "fiancé" on the Kin form and I'm sure the romantics amongst you will have been hoping for me getting down on one knee, but let's be realistic. Lucy was only just an adult at this point. I was only slightly older and what I was absolutely clear about was that Lucy was her own person. I did not want that to change. Why fall in love with someone for their personality and then want to change them? I've never understood that approach. Take Lucy and George, for instance. They never asked me to stop being me. They asked me to value my safety more.

"Just reckless enough". I appreciated the distinction.

Did I want a long-term relationship with Lucy? – absolutely! I'd fallen so hard I could not see myself ever falling for anyone else.

Did that include marriage? If we lived that long, possibly. Marriage is after all a sign of commitment to each other. Done right, there is no imbalance of power.

Did I expect that one day I'd introduce Lucy as Mrs Lockwood?

Probably not.

The chances of Lucy, free and independent spirit that she was, adopting my name was remote to say the least. Even if we married. Even if that was what I wanted, and it actually wasn't the highest desire on my list. What I really wanted was to be the person that made Lucy Carlyle smile. The person who helped her build the safe haven she had never had in her childhood. The person who made her feel like she was safe.

I'd had some success at that already. A great warmth had surged through me when she told me "Portland Row is my home. You and George." And then again when, battered, bloodied, and bruised she had run to me for help. Of course, I had cocked things up spectacularly in the middle when I made her feel like she couldn't stay. I'll regret my decisions during those months for the rest of my existence.

The problem is that life never goes to plan, and as I walked away from Lucy's hospital bed, I had little warning that I was about to get an enormous kick up the backside.

But for the purposes of this story, when I talk about Lucy to other people, I'm going to stick to the only term that works professionally AND emotionally.

Lucy was my partner.

What she is now?

Well, you'll just have to wait for that.

We got a cab back from Lewisham to Portland Row. None of us could stomach the train and the tube. We were exhausted, emotional, and still covered in the dirt and detritus that comes with dealing with a major haunting. Holly baulked a little at the hit taking a cab from Greater into Central London would have on our company accounts, but when we asked her how she felt about joining the commuters on the platform at Lewisham her reply was unrepeatable.

By this point, it was actually earlier than you might have thought. Lucy was admitted to hospital about 1.30 am. She came out from surgery about 5 am. We were on our way back to Portland Row by 6 am. Any later and we would have been cursing the traffic, but on that particular day we were lucky. We pulled up at our front door, one person short, by 7 am.

Kipps was waiting for us, curled up asleep in the library. He might not have noticed us arriving had it not been for George tripping over the rapier stand sending several thousand pounds worth of steel blade crashing to the tiled floor within seconds of us entering the hall.

It took us several goes to get them safely re-stacked, we were that tired.

"How is she?" Kipps asked bleary eyed as he stood in the doorway. He knew some of what the doctor had told us because Holly had phoned him, but we had not spoken properly since she'd come out of surgery.

Holly glanced at me and answered the question. "Doing okay at present. Lucy regained consciousness while Lockwood was with her and managed a little chat, so we are cautiously hopeful. They sent us home for some rest. All okay here?"

Kipps nodded. "I've put everything away in the basement. The chains are checked and oiled. There's a nick in George's rapier which will need attention and you are running low on magnesium flares. There's some other stuff I can't remember off the top of my head. I've left a list on your desk."

There was a tightening around Holly's lips which was quickly replaced by a smile which didn't go all the way to her eyes. She nodded abruptly and muttered.

"I'll get right on that just as soon as I've slept, eaten and the shops have actually opened."

Kipps was oblivious to Holly's tone. That's unlike him. He zones in on Lucy and George's moods pretty quickly. Maybe it's a Holly thing. Maybe I'm not the only one who struggles to spot the real person beneath the façade.

I have Lucy to thank for the fact that I can now interpret Holly's body language a little better. Holly is one of the best personal assistants you could ever want and an amazing loyal friend, but I hadn't realised just how much of a control freak she is until Lucy started pointing out her little foibles. I hope, I understand Lucy a little better now, too. Was it so wrong of me that I recognised in that instant how much Lucy would have enjoyed Holly's irritation at Kipps' efficiency?

"Are you hungry?" George asked quietly. I flicked my eyes to him. He'd spoken little since Lucy's collapse, but I'd been too wrapped up in my own distress to be of any help. Food was always George's safety net. He used it to cushion himself and the rest of the family from the horrors of our world. I'd realised that from the moment I met him, and I appreciated it. I'd let out several belt notches since George moved in and I'd noticed Lucy looked much healthier once she was back eating George's food rather than whatever crap she was buying from that god-awful takeaway in Tooting. Her flat had reeked of aged lime and coriander.

He wasn't asking because we actually were hungry. He was asking because he wanted to cook for us; to take himself into the kitchen and go through the motions of food preparation which would help him forget the pain of the past twelve hours.

I forced a smile onto my face. "I could kill for a bacon butty, mate. Maybe with a fried egg in it?"

Holly caught on quickly. "I'd love that honey crunch muesli you do. I never manage to mix it as well as you. Shall I put the kettle on?" She didn't wait for an answer.

Kipps got in on the act too. "Were those sausages I saw in the fridge? They look like those ones from that place on Marylebone High Street, next to the Lavender Café. Best sausages I've had since my grandad was alive. He was a master butcher."

George brightened a little. "How about I just do an epic fry-up and be done with it? I'll have to use it all up anyway. I'll be cooking for one fewer if Lucy's…" His voice faltered.

I clapped him across the shoulders. "You need to cook the kind of spectacular fry-up that will have Lucy drooling from her hospital bed when we describe it to her. Then you can reprise it when she comes home in a few days' time."

He sighed. "She will come home, won't she, Lockwood?"

I started moving him out of the hall and down towards the kitchen. The sooner he was cooking, the sooner he would stop voicing the fears I had.

"Honestly George, you should have seen her! She was already bored and absolutely starving as she's missed several rounds of tea and biscuits in the past few hours. Let's go have breakfast and then get some rest and tomorrow we can go and see how much better she's doing."

Against all the odds, I slept for a few hours that day. It wasn't restful sleep and I woke disoriented just in time for tea. The hospital had told us not to visit Lucy until tomorrow, so the first thing I did on waking was to call the ward for an update.

"Miss Carlyle has had a comfortable day." They informed me. "She's managed some sleep and a bit of food. She still has a temperature, so we are waiting for the antibiotics to fully take effect, but it's positive signs right now. I will tell her you called. You can visit tomorrow evening."

I hung up feeling a little better and suddenly very hungry. I made my way down to the kitchen and was surprised to see Kipps at the dining table. He had changed his clothes, however, so at some point he had made it home. I could have made a sarcastic comment, but I appreciated his support. We nodded at each other as George busied himself at the oven.

"Smells good, George. Some sort of casserole? And mash? Lovely!"

George glanced over his shoulder. "Comfort food." He announced. "Almost as good as a cup of tea. Any news from the hospital?" He asked casually, but I knew both guys were eager for my reply.
I nodded. "She's comfortable. Managed some food and sleep. They've said we can visit tomorrow evening. So, I think let's take tomorrow evening off. I'll let Holly know to cancel…"

"…Already done!" A voice announced from the stairs to the basement. "I assumed it would be the case and called the Murphys as soon as it was a decent hour this morning. Wasn't a big job, but we'd all be too distracted. You look a bit weary, Lockwood. You ok?"

Kipps snorted. "He looks like crap." He confirmed. "And we all know why. None of us are going to sleep properly until Lucy's back home."

George started plating up the casserole and veg, so I moved to the kettle to make a pot of tea.

"Lucy's in the best place." I confirmed. "They'll look after her. We need to focus on keeping things running smoothly back here. Once we are allowed in to see her, we should take advantage of the split visiting system. One half of the team working, the other half visiting Lucy."

When the tea was made, I moved the teapot to the table and was surprised when, out of the corner of my eye in the darkness of the garden, I saw a brief flicker of green. It spoke of Other Light, ectoplasm and unwelcome manifestations.

"George…When did we last update the lavender by the back door?"

George looked up in confusion. "I think you'd get more feedback on that if you asked Holly. She's so much better with plant life than me."

Holly frowned. "Why are you asking, Lockwood?"

I pulled a face. "Just call it a feeling."

"What sort of feeling?" Kipps asked in a nosey tone. I shrugged.

"The kind of feeling where I really wish Lucy was here."

Kipps snorted. "Yes…well…"

I held a hand up. "I'm not talking about my love life, Quill. I'm talking about the fact our colleague is the best listener who ever lived. And yes, I am counting Marissa Fittes in that. There's a visitor in the garden."

Holly was on her feet and making for the hall and the rack of rapiers. George went for the simpler option of reaching for the salt cellar next to the Aga. Kipps leaned back in his chair and picked up an iron skillet.

I shook my head. "Relax. I think it's a visitor of the familial variety." I raised my voice. "Am I right, Jess?"

Then she was there, in the room. My sister. Standing in our family kitchen. A room I hadn't seen her in for almost a decade. I cast my mind back and remembered the last evening we had eaten together. I remembered her standing at the Aga, cooking cod in parsley sauce using one of those 'boil in a bag' things. Jessica wasn't the greatest cook, but she tried her best and after we'd eaten it, she gone upstairs to unpack the crates.

I hadn't particularly liked cod in parsley sauce even before she died. I bloody loathed it now.

Tonight, Jessica wasn't near the Aga. She was by the window seat, as far from the cast iron aga, saucepan stack and the entrance to the basement as she could be. She was more substantial than on any previous visit, I noticed, which reminded me of the events of the past few days, so dramatic at the time, now paling into insignificance alongside Lucy's troubles.

Yet again, Skull was with my sister. As always, the only difference in his appearance being his facial expression. He had a whole range of twisted features and disgusted looks to choose from.

On this occasion he looked…confused.

I was starting to get used to seeing them together, which concerned me slightly. Two spirits who could have absolutely nothing in common. I felt for my sister, having to drag him around with her everywhere and wondered why the Skull wouldn't leave her alone.

Then I remembered Lucy saying Skull had told her it was the other way around. Jess was trailing him.

I wondered why they were there, and how on earth I was going to communicate with them in Lucy's absence.

"Hi Jess." I said weakly, picking up my cup of tea and taking a sip to try and hide my nervousness. Not from the ghosts in the room, but from my three colleagues.

"Anthony." Jess replied simply.

I dropped my teacup back onto its saucer with a loud clatter and had an immediate coughing fit.

One word, she'd spoken.

Which I had heard.

"I can hear you, perfectly!" I croaked an exclamation. "How?" I glanced from Jessica to Skull. The latter opened his mouth to say something, no doubt obnoxious. I waited expectantly. His lips moved, and yet, I couldn't hear him.

He screwed his lips up, scowled menacingly, folded his ghostly arms, and "leaned" against a cupboard, obviously frustrated. I shared his frustration. Evidently, I hadn't suddenly become a Listener overnight. I could not communicate with Type Threes. I had not joined Lucy in the ranks of agent skills. My ability to hear ghosts was limited to my sister.

Jessica glanced uneasily at Skull and then took a step closer, as though taking charge.

"It's a side effect of you releasing me from my source." She told me succinctly. "You're on my 'channel' if you like, it's permanent and yes, I'm a Type Three. Now if we've got all the unimportant questions out of the way, I need to ask you an important one. Where's Lucy?"

I knew the expression on Jessica's face. It was the face of an older sister deciding she was in loco parentis. It brooked no nonsense. It was pointless to argue. Behind me, the dinner getting cold on the table, I could sense George tensing, plus Holly and Kipps shifting uneasily in their seats. Without turning, I raised a hand to forestall their questions. I heard George sigh, turn, and put the dishes back in the oven to stay warm.

"Lucy is in hospital." I told Jessica in a matter-of-fact manner I didn't really feel. "She was taken ill during last night's case."

I flinched as Skull reacted to the news and held up my hand again, this time to stop him from launching into a tirade which I would not be able to hear. Or worse, ghost-touch me in a furious rage.

"Lucy's appendix burst." I explained. "No one is at fault. We got her to the hospital as soon as we could. She's had it removed and is showing signs she is responding well." I turned to Jess. "Please can you keep our friend on a short leash? I don't want any of us ghost-touched because of a medical incident which none of us had any control over. And for the avoidance of doubt, even IF I had known Lucy was ill, keeping her at home might have killed her as there would have been no one here to call the ambulance when she collapsed." I took a deep breath. "And, as he very well knows, Lucy is extremely important to me. So, he can back the fuck off."

Jessica turned to the Skull and said something quietly. He responded with much gesticulation and several (visibly rude) words, which Jessica dismissed in a manner not too dissimilar to that she used when I refused to do my homework aged 8.

When she turned back to me, her expression was concerned. I watched her start to raise a hand in my direction, as though to rub my shoulder. Thankfully she remembered at the last minute, but I'd already flinched away. I saw the flash of non-judgemental hurt in her eyes.

"How are you doing?" She asked. "Seeing Lucy so sick…That must have been…frightening."

I nodded. "I've had better days." I confirmed. But I wasn't in the mood to share my fears and concerns about my partner. "Why do you need Lucy?"

Jessica sighed. It was gentle, just a soft cool breeze past my ear.

"We needed to talk to her as a matter of urgency." She explained, as I translated for the others. "We've made progress on finding Ezekiel." She looked meaningfully at me. "And it's not good. Not good at all."

Skull rolled his eyes at her statement and mouthed in exaggerated movements.

"FUCKING UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE YEAR!"

"I understood that!" Kipps said from the end of the table. "You should talk like that more often, Skull."

Holly slapped him on the upper arm. "Don't encourage him. You know what he's like."

"Shh!" It was George now. "This sounds important. Go on, Jessica."

I nodded my agreement and, once again, translated for the others.

"When you and Lucy separated Marissa from Ezekiel, you didn't banish him completely. We knew that. You are also aware that Thomas followed him and got trapped in the in-between."

Kipps held up a hand. "Hang on a second. Are we talking The Other Side version of in-between or somewhere else? Because are we talking multiple layers of The Other Side or what?"

Jessica shrugged. "All I know is that the place I retrieved Thomas from was not The Other Side, nor was it what the world in general rather inaccurately calls "Heaven"."

"Let's keep it simple." I suggested when I had finished repeating Jessica's words. "Ezekiel disappeared into a maelstrom which may or may not be an unknown dimension on the Other Side. Thomas- slash-Skull followed him and you managed to retrieve Thomas. Correct?"

"Yes. But prior to that, for the fifty or so years prior to that to be more accurate, Ezekiel was connected to this world. To Marissa. He had a conduit and an ability to control your world because of his connection to Marissa. I don't know exactly what Ezekiel is, but what I do know is that he likes having an influence over humans. He likes to meddle in the living world. And when you killed Marissa / Penelope or whoever, you took away his connection."

"Ooookay. I can see how he wouldn't like that. So, you are saying he has thoughts of revenge – particularly towards Lucy?"

Jessica shook her head. "If only. No. It goes much deeper than that. He has plans for Lucy, yes, but revenge isn't it."

George sat up straighter. His face pale. "Oh. My. God! He wants a new host body! And he needs one who can communicate with him fully."

Skull gave a sarcastic, silent clap. I threw him a look and then ignored him. What George was suggesting was just unthinkable. Lucy as the host to a…for want of a better word…demon?

"George is right." Jessica confirmed. "We think that now Ezekiel has discovered Marissa wasn't the only Listener in existence with such advanced skills, he wants to replicate what he had with Marissa. With Lucy. She's younger, stronger. The perfect host."

I shook my head. "Lucy would never go for that. She'd resist it to the absolute limit."

"Lucy wouldn't have any choice. Do you really think anyone was born with the kind of intentions Marissa had? No, of course not. She was manufactured. Ezekiel manipulated Marissa from a young age. She lost control of her whole personality as a child." Jessica glanced at Skull. "Ask him what he would have done with Lucy when he was under the control of Bickerstaff. Only the connection Lucy had with you stopped Thomas from following in Ezekiel's footsteps." The distaste was clear in her voice.

I frowned. "But Lucy came into contact with the Skull about two minutes after I met her."

George coughed. "He was still in his jar then, and he couldn't talk to her because we didn't know about the jar's levers. Lucy only released the Skull's voice after the Annabelle Ward case. Admit it, you two were already hooked on each other by then." He grinned. "Actually, come to think of it, even if he'd spoken to her the moment we uncovered the jar it would have been pointless. Don't forget I was in the room with you two. It was like reading the world's most cliched Mills and Boon novel. I almost heard the bells ringing."

I bit my tongue rather than react to his baiting.

"I didn't have you down as a fan of bodice rippers, Karim." Kipps smirked. "Learn something new every day."

George groaned. "Maybe you could do us all a favour, Quill and learn about the concept of humour. You're missing it by about three miles right now."

Holly sat forward. "Guys, this is serious. Let Jessica finish. I can tell there is more to come and you two getting into a fight about how funny you both are is not going to help the situation."

"Thanks Hols." I smiled gratefully at her. "So, what you are saying, Jessica, is that Lucy is in danger from Ezekiel." I spoke the words automatically, before their meaning hit me. Lucy was in danger – and I was about 14 miles from her.

Jessica held up a hand to stop me, even as I started to rise from my seat.

"Yes, but not imminent danger. Let me finish."

I settled again, but I was ready to dash out the door if what my sister had to say next didn't change my mind.

"Ezekiel can't win Lucy over the way he won Marissa over. Her mind is not as compliant as Marissa's."

Kipps chuckled. "You got that right. Lucy certainly knows her own mind."

I couldn't argue with that. Lucy is a her own person. Haven't I just explained to you why I knew Lucy would never take my surname if we ever reached the point of marriage?

"But clearly you think she's at risk?" Holly pointed out. Jessica turned to her.

"Not think. We know."

Skull made some sort of gesture and mouthed GET ON WITH IT before pointing at me. My sister nodded.

"Thomas is reminding me that you will fly out the door and charge off to Lucy if I don't speed things up. Since that would be a flight in the wrong direction, I suppose I should get to the point a bit quicker.

"Lucy is stubborn, yes, I can see that. But she is also incredibly loyal. The only thing she puts above her own well-being and happiness is the happiness of those closest to her. She will do anything to protect her loved ones." She paused. "You saw that when she left you."

The words stabbed at me like little swords, and I fought to remind myself that it had been a temporary separation, a misunderstanding and we had both suffered. We had healed what needed healing, moved on from that severance.

"You mean Us." I mentioned. "Our family. Lucy would react to protect us."

Skull shook his head. NO NOT YOU.

Jessica voiced his words. "Ezekiel won't want to take on a team of strong agents. By taking on you guys, he will be taking on some of the most highly skilled agents in the world. You've already shown him that. Instead, he will find another way to get to Lucy. To make her comply, and then rely on Lucy keeping you at bay."

It was George who put two and two together. "Her northern family!" He exclaimed. "He'll come at her through her northern family."

I swore. Holly frowned. "Lucy doesn't get on with her mother. I remember because she just told me to remove her from her Next of Kin form. Would Lucy react to save her mother? I'm not so sure."

George shook his head. "I'm not talking about her mother. I'm talking about Mary and Norrie. Lucy is a private person, but I do know a little bit. I know she cares about Mary and Norrie…"

"Who the hell are Mary and Norrie?" Kipps asked quizzically.

I met George's eyes. "Mary is Lucy's sister. Well, one of them anyway. I believe there are several?"

George nodded. "Lucy is one of seven daughters. The youngest. And Norrie was Lucy's best friend."

"Until she was ghost-locked." I finished quickly, confirming that I was also aware of Lucy's past. "She's still alive though."

George frowned. "Are you sure? Lucy told me she hasn't heard anything from Norrie's family in over a year."

I looked away, sightly embarrassed. "I asked Barnes to reach out to his colleagues in the North-East shortly after I found out about Norrie a couple of years ago. I felt guilty for not asking Lucy about the photos in her room and so on and I wanted to see if there was anything at all we could do, you know, without interfering too much. She's in a coma. Has been since the actual incident with Lucy's crew. Barnes has promised if she… if anything changes, he will let you or me know first, so that we can break it to Lucy in person. I didn't want Lucy to hear it from her mum. I get the feeling she isn't the kind of woman who would break it gently."

George jerked his head in approval. "No, you are right." He said simply.

Kipps shifted in his seat, but his discomfort was emotional rather than physical. "And you think that Ezekiel will get to Lucy through Mary and Norrie?" He asked Jessica.

My sister nodded. "Not think. We know. How he will do it is uncertain, but he's been spotted in the North. We wanted to talk to Lucy. To get her to go and see her family. To judge the danger they are in. We wanted to forewarn her about Ezekiel's intentions."

"Lucy's in no position to travel to the North. And she won't be for a couple of weeks." I pointed out. "But we can't wait that long."

George went further. "If something happens to Lucy's family and we did nothing about it, we'd never forgive ourselves, and if Ezekiel succeeds in controlling Lucy… Lockwood, I don't think we can ignore this."

"Well then," commented Kipps. "We need to go North and sort this out for Lucy."

"Absolutely!" confirmed Holly.

I groaned and shook my head. "It's not that easy."

"Why not?" asked Kipps. "The four of us just nip up to Northumberland, have a quick chat with Lucy's family. Tell them not to do anything stupid like accepting sweets from strangers or going to look at any new kittens – and then we come home. Job done."

Kipps is a bloody good agent. He's quick on the draw and has great intuition. But he can be a complete prick at times – and this was shaping up to be one of those times.

"Tell him, George." I instructed in a bored tone.

George sighed. "Well firstly, if we go north, Lucy is left in the south, unprotected. This could very easily be Ezekiel's plan all along. If you think about it, that is exactly what Jessica said would happen. Ezekiel would be using Lucy's loved ones to make her do what he wants – and he'll be using her to put us out of the picture."

Kipps conceded the point.

"But if we stay here, Mary and Norrie are at risk. They will have no defence at all, and no warning that this is coming."

"Exactly." George continued. "Which means…"

I sighed deeply. "Which means we have only one choice. We have to split the team…"

"…which makes us weaker." George continued my sentence. "But it means we stand a chance of keeping both parts of Lucy's life safe. If we got Flo involved, Lockwood, we'd minimise the weakening of the teams. It only has to be until Lucy is conscious enough to be involved in protecting herself, or physically well enough to travel so that we aren't at two ends of the country."

I could feel Jessica's gaze on me.

"You aren't happy about this, Anthony. Yet it seems the most sensible option."

"Oh, it makes perfect sense to me." I agreed. "I can even tell you how I'm going to split the teams. George, Kipps and I will head north to Lucy's home town and see what's happening up there. Holly, if we can persuade Flo to join in, I'll be able to leave you guys with Lucy. It's better if she has female agents with her, the hospital are more likely to cooperate. Ezekiel isn't going to physically attack her – he wants her healthy or there is no point to his plan."

"So, what is the issue?" Kipps asked.

"I'm not sure the plan comes under Lucy's definition of 'Just Reckless Enough'. I may very well save Lucy and her loved ones. But I'm not sure I'll still be able to count myself a member of that exclusive club if I go through with it."

It was pointless to discuss it further, but once the ghosts had left, we did sit for a little while longer and attempt to come up with alternatives.

In the end, we were all in agreement. Someone had to go north and it made sense that it was me, George and Kipps. Holly reluctantly agreed to stay, seeing the sense in the office manager remaining close to the office. Hopefully, she would have Flo to help.

After that, we began the preparations. George disappeared off to consult with Flo. Holly and Kipps began making lists, going shopping, and packing for the trip.

I also went out, though I told no one where I was going, because it wasn't a business decision, it was an emotional one.

I caught a late night train to Lewisham.

The good thing about hospitals is they are twenty-four seven. There is always an open door and, if you are an agent, finding an excuse for being on the premises is not a particularly hard challenge. Hospitals attract death. There are visitors of the living and the dead variety, and agents are on site pretty much all the time. In most hospitals, traditional security on the wards is limited to areas where there are babies and young children.

Unless it is a ward for injured agents. When you get to be an agent, even if you are a child, you don't count.

Since I'd last seen Lucy earlier that day, she had been moved from Intensive Care to High Dependency, and it took me a little time to find her. I couldn't just waltz up to the nurses' counter and ask where she was…could I?

"Excuse me…" I approached the desk with confidence and a deliberate swagger. It never does to look timid in these situations. I rolled out the patented "Lockwood & Co CEO" grin too. And a business card – a new one with an "approved by DEPRAC" logo in the corner and silver edging.

"I'm looking for Lucy Carlyle? She was brought into Casualty last night with a ruptured appendix."

The nurse, one I'd not seen before, regarded me with a cool look before dropping her head back down to her work in disinterest.

"Visiting hours finish at 8pm." She told me. "You'll have to come back tomorrow."

I gave her an uneasy grin in reply. "Yes, well, that's probably not a good idea. You see Lucy is an agent and she was on a job when she was taken ill. Thirty odd ghosts at a single site in Bromley. She's part of my team, you see. Anyway, in all the confusion of last night, we've only just got around to doing an inventory of our equipment and something is…missing."

Lucy can laugh at my professional role play efforts, but occasional I pull a good effort out of the hat. Just the right tone in my voice to convey controlled panic. The nurse lifted her face to look at me.

"What's missing?" She demanded and I caught the nervousness in her voice. People get like that around agents. Like we, our equipment and our whole way of life are ticking time bombs.

Actually, they aren't far wrong.

I coughed. "We're missing one of the…erm…sources." I leaned forward and whispered the last word in her face.

The nurse's eyes widened in alarm. "Oh you are fucking kidding me!" She exclaimed. "Seriously! I don't get paid enough for this job!" She reached for the Salt alarm on the wall behind her.

"No! Don't!" I exclaimed and dashed around to stand in front of the red panel. "We don't need to be dramatic about this. The fact that I'm here telling you about the source is evidence that it's contained in some way. I've had this before. As an agent our pockets are engrained with iron fillings and salt crystals. Put a small source in your pocket and it can take days for you to realise." That bit was true enough. We knew that Annabelle Ward's ghost had been contained because Lucy kept the source in her pocket.

"What do you need?" The nurse asked abruptly.

"I just need ten minutes in her room to search her belongings. That's all."

The nurse looked back at the red button behind her and then at me in front of her with my best reassuring grin.

"Ok." She muttered. "But you need to be quick, and the slightest sign that the Visitor isn't contained and I'm hitting that button."

My grin this time was genuinely a relieved one. "Of course."

To stop her following me into Lucy's room, I drew my rapier in a flashy and determined way. It slid from its scabbard with a cool sounding hiss. In reality, I can draw my rapier at speed, without a sound, but when I'm making a point to someone, it helps to be dramatic. The nurse stepped back to her desk and pointed her way down the corridor.

"Third door on the right." She muttered. "I'll…erm…leave you to it."

As soon as I entered Lucy's room, I could tell she was on the mend. The cacophony of bleeping machines had been reduced to just the one which was dispensing the antibiotics. She was still lying on her back, but she looked a little more like my Lucy. Paler, her hair unbrushed, but she seemed at peace. A wave of guilt hit me that I was about to wake her up, but I pressed on.

"Lucy." I called gently, reaching her bedside on her right and once again picking up her rapier hand. "Luce? Sweetheart?"

Eventually, my words registered, I could tell. A small smile crossed her lips and she turned her face towards me, blinking her eyes awake.

Then she frowned. "Lockwood?" She licked her lips and I could see they were dry. "What are you doing here?" She glanced at a clock on the wall in front of her. "It's the middle of the night."

I leaned forward. I didn't even have time to pull up a chair. But I did reach for the glass of water on the bedside cabinet and helped her to have a sip.

"Listen love, I don't have long. I've told the nurse that you're harbouring a source in your clothing. It's only a matter of time before she grows impatient for me to return triumphant, source contained before she hits the salt alarm. We need to talk."

Lucy Carlyle knows me better than any other living person. She recognises my moods and calls me out on them before I've even realised that's where my head's at. As I stood beside her bed, she guessed instantly that it was serious, and she didn't waste time with further questions. And that is one of many reasons why I'm in love with Lucy Carlyle.

"Tell me."

So I did. As quickly and concisely as possible, beginning with the whole 'controlling Lucy' thing. I wasn't exactly sure how to broach the subject of Ezekiel's specific interest in her. It wasn't a particularly pleasant idea to contemplate. But I needn't have worried.

"You seemed surprised about this." She said after a moment or two. "Has this honestly only just occurred to you and George?"

I gazed at her in a stunned silence.

Lucy went on. "It occurred to me while we were in the same room as Marissa. You know, the similarities between me and Skull, then Ezekiel and Marissa. I mean, Skull has even said it to me a couple of times. Stuff like, 'when I get you in my power'." She chuckled. "He called you my Master on a few occasions." She paused. "I've never fully trusted the Skull, you know that. But Jessica is right, my relationship with you does make a difference. Why the urgency in dealing with this now?"

I explained about the theory that Ezekiel would use Mary and Norrie to control Lucy.

That DID have an effect on her.

"Oh my god! Lockwood! They are so vulnerable. We have to do something!"

I was glad, right then, that they had disconnected the heart monitor from Lucy. I had a feeling the beeping would have brought the whole hospital running.

"I know, Lucy, but you aren't well enough yet."

"We can't wait!"

"I know that love. We aren't going to. That's why I'm here."

Lucy froze in her panic. Then she stared at me.

"Lockwood…what are you planning to do?" It was accusatory. I winced.

"George, Kipps, and I are going to travel up to Northumberland and take a look. Holly and Flo are going to stay down here with you. If we are lucky, I'll be back before you get released from hospital. Otherwise, when you are well enough, you guys can follow us up north and join in the hunt."

"They've told me it will be weeks before I'm cleared for cases." She protested. "Lockwood…this is too dangerous. You won't have a listener."

"I know."

"Kipps is totally reliant on his goggles."

"I know."

"And separating… George and Flo?"

I smiled. "You mean separating you and me…?"

She blushed and looked away. "You promised me. Just reckless enough."

I ran a finger down her cheek. "Lucy, that is why I am here."

She turned back to look at me. "Meaning?"

I sighed. "Meaning the old Lockwood would have leapt on the train and hurtled north without a backwards glance. I'd have charged into danger and you'd have found out about it after the event."

"And now?" She asked in a small voice. "You're still going?"

I kissed the back of her hand. "Of course. You know that I can't abandon your family or Norrie. That's just not me. It's not Lockwood & Co. It's not how we operate." I leaned close and kissed her cheek, before whispering in her ear.

"They are my family too, Luce. As much part of my life as you are. And you are my life because you are the reason I am still here. I would die for you, but I will also live for you. I promised you that."

"I know." She whispered. "But…"

I kissed her temple and rested my head against hers. "I'm here because I want you to understand that I am not doing this lightly. I am aware I am breaking our promise, but I'm asking you to understand why. It's like the whole Jessica and her source business. I'd say I will stay here if you tell me to, but I already know you won't. This is your family this time. I know you'll agree with my decision, the way you have eventually in the past. The difference is I want this to be a mutual decision. An unpleasant decision, but a necessary one. And one made together. As partners." I grinned. "Fiancé to Fiancée."

Lucy rolled her eyes. "Holly." She muttered. "She's a bit of a meddler."

We smiled at each other.

"Thank you." Lucy said eventually. "I do appreciate the distinction…and the opportunity to say 'goodbye'." She caught her own words. "But I'm relying on that not being a permanent 'goodbye' Lockwood. I mean it. I will never forgive you if you get yourself killed."

"Frankly Luce, I'll never forgive myself! I have plans for our future and me dying in Northumberland doesn't feature in them."

I glanced towards the door. "I really need to go. I don't think Barnes would be too happy with me if I cause an entire London hospital to be evacuated over a non-existent source." I leaned forward and kissed Lucy on the lips. "YOU get better. Soon, yes, but properly better, Lucy. I don't want you bleeding out on me in the middle of a case. If I'm not back by the time they release you, you only follow me when you are capable. Promise me?"

Lucy nodded. "And YOU," she said cupping the back of my head with her left hand (canula and all). "YOU stay alive. I mean it, Lockwood. I have plans for our future too. Big plans and I will not be happy if I don't get to share them with you."

We kissed again and eventually I pulled away and smiled at her.

"I love you, Lucy Carlyle." I told her. "Always."

"I love you, Anthony Lockwood." She replied. "Always."

We held the gaze for a moment and then Lucy coughed to break the spell.

"Say hi to Mary and Norrie for me. Well, Norrie is obviously…And if you meet my mother, leave the rapier at home. She's not worth it."