Kate was waiting by the gate having been forewarned Nick was on his way home.

He got out of Oscar Blaketon's car and momentarily she took it in, the cuts, bruises and his clear exhaustion. And then she flew into his arms half sobbing.

"Hey come on, come on I'm okay."

Oscar had got out of his car and gave a half cough."Nick, I'm going to give you some time. We need to have a chat but for now, well, I'll leave you two alone."

"Thank you Sarge."

"Nick?" Blaketon cleared his throat, gruffly. "Its good to have you back lad."

Kate helped Nick inside the house. "What would you like first?" she asked. "Bath, and patch you up or eat first?"

"Bath. I – I'm filthy Kate."

"Come on."

The bath was comforting. Nick lay back in the hot water and closed his eyes, easing the bruised muscles. Kate came into the bathroom and silently looked down at him noting the bruising over his stomach. She traced it gently. "How did you get this?"

He spoke briefly, "Got kicked in the belly."

"Oh Nick." She passed a hand over her eyes. "They tried so hard to find you. They looked everywhere."

"No one's fault Kate. They could never have found me up at that farmhouse except just by that piece of luck."

He closed his eyes wearily. She gave him a light kiss. "Come on, no falling asleep in the bath. Jump into bed and have some toast and soup and I'll patch your head and wrists up."

Nick could hardly keep his eyes open long enough to eat something and let Kate patch him up. "I can't seem to stay awake," he said.

"Exhaustion. Sleep is the best thing," she said gently. "You get your head down now and you'll feel so much better when you wake up."

Kate sat with him for some time as he slept just watching him hardly able to believe he had come back to her.

Some three hours later he was still sleeping. She was still sat with him half dozing herself when she was suddenly roused by a banging on the front door. She hastened to answer it before Nick was disturbed.

It was Oscar Blaketon. "I, well I and the lads, we just wanted to see how he was Kate," he said. "I suppose I could have telephoned but. –"

"Come in. He's asleep at the moment. I suppose I could wake him –"

"No, no leave the lad be." Blaketon watched as Kate put the kettle to boil. "How is he?"

"Exhausted. I just managed to keep him awake long enough to eat and have a bath." She sighed and passed him a mug of tea. ""He's got cuts and bruises but generally he's not too bad." She sat down at the kitchen table with her cup of tea and then suddenly burst into tears.

Oscar Blaketon who found emotion a rather difficult animal to deal with nevertheless sat down at the table and put his hand over Kate's. "Aye, I know," he said gruffly, "its been a tough few days."

She smiled at him through her tears then, "Tell me. Did you ever think he wouldn't come home?"

Oscar looked down at the table then, "There were times. When it seemed he'd just vanished off the face of the earth. And the longer it went on." He stopped and cleared his throat. "But he has come home, Dr Rowan. We've got him back."

After Oscar left Kate went back upstairs. Nick was still sleeping. She smiled and sat down by the bed. As she did so Nick stirred and opened his eyes.

"Hallo," he said.

"Hallo yourself. How are you feeling?"

Nick sat up carefully wincing. "Like I've gone ten rounds! But I'm okay."

"Oscar Blaketon was here a little while ago just to see how you were. He'll come back later with someone from CID to get your statement."

Nick nodded. He put up a hand and traced his finger down her face.

"God Kate I wondered if I'd ever do this again.."

"Hush. I know. I know." She swallowed back tears. "Its been ….tough. But we've done it, we've come through it. It'll all be okay. I know it will. Now you're home and safe."