Author's note: all usual disclaimers apply.

Tommy's head felt as if it had been cleaved in two by an axe. He tried to move but there was a heavy mass on his chest, and his right hand was pinned underneath him. He felt around with his left. The weight was a body. Slowly everything settled in his mind like muddy water being filtered through sand until one pure idea emerged. "Barbara?"

The body shifted and groaned. "Mmm."

Tommy's heart quickened as he started to remember. They had come to question the magician, but the tent had slowly filled with green mist that smelt of exotic Asian spices. They had tried to find the exit, but he could not remember escaping. All he could recall was Barbara asking if he was hungry and fancied tandoori for dinner. "Barbara, are you okay? Barbara?"

Barbara resented the interruption. In her dream, she was on a warm beach underneath the shade of coconut pines, and Tommy had his arms around her. He was about to kiss her; she was sure of that. Perhaps they might make love in the warm, azure ocean. He kept calling her name...

"Barbara! Wake up!"

She was being pulled back from the beach. "No! Let me stay. I want to..." Too late. "What?" she asked angrily.

"I said are you okay?"

She tried to sit up, but her arm was trapped. She yanked it hard, and her boss cried out in pain. Barbara used her free hand to trace down her arm in the dark. "Bloody marvelous. We're handcuffed together."

Tommy untangled his body from Barbara and tent pole that was lying across them. He struggled into a seated position next to her. "Next time we try to question Zorko the Magnificent we're bringing a regiment of SAS."

Barbara laughed despite the situation. "Are you hurt?"

"A massive headache but otherwise I seem fine. You?"

"Same. I'm very thirsty. I'd kill for a beer."

"Right now I'd prefer a key for these." He jiggled the hand manacled to Barbara. "Can you see anything?"

"I'm not a cat. I can see about as much as you."

"I think he collapsed the tent on us. Feel around and see if you can find a way out."

Weaving their way between fallen poles, scattered circus paraphernalia and flaps of canvas in the dark was testing. They bickered about the direction and struggled to get one small and one long body connected at their wrists, moving together. Fifteen minutes later they were lying exhausted on the grass looking up at clouds drifting across the fading light of a late evening sky. "Can you get these off?" she demanded.

"I'll wave my magic wand, shall I? Abracadabra!"

Barbara gave him a withering glance. "You don't have a key or something?"

Tommy sat up unintentionally pulling Barbara up with him. "No. I must have left my lockpick set at home. Why would I have a key for handcuffs?"

"I assumed they were yours. They're not mine."

"Or mine! I don't carry handcuffs around with me." He bristled at her unspoken accusation but relented and examined them. They were an extra heavy duty set and did not appear to have a lock. "They must be used in his act. There has to be a secret release point."

They both twisted, pushed and pulled but the handcuffs remained in firmly in place. "Let's get back to the Yard and have someone get these off," he suggested.

"How are you going to drive with me handcuffed to your right wrist?"

Tommy glared at her. "We'll have to walk."

Barbara grumbled as they stood then started to move towards the exit of the park. They moved awkwardly, out of step with each other. Tommy stopped abruptly and with Barbara still moving forward both felt a searing pain in their shoulders. "We have to work together Barbara."

"I know. I'm trying to walk in step with you."

"That's the problem. We have to walk out of step, so our opposite arms move together."

They tried again with the same result. Tommy twisted his wrist and took Barbara's hand. It was much softer than he imagined but she immediately tensed.

"What are you doing?" she demanded.

"Relax Barbara, let your subconscious take over. People automatically walk together when they hold hands."

"I wouldn't know."

"You mean you've never thought about it before."

"No, I mean I haven't walked holding hands since I was six!"

Tommy was surprised, but when he looked at her, he could see the concern in her eyes. He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "Then think of me as a schoolfriend being made to walk back to class."

"Every girl in class would at been fighting to walk with you."

"Not at six. I took a long time to grow into my ears."

"Really? You looked like Prince Charles?"

"No, not that bad but I was terribly shy and awkward."

"I doubt that." She shook her head and laughed, but encouragingly her hand relaxed in his grip.

"See we're walking straighter now. Besides, if we hold hands we won't look as suspicious walking through the city."

Barbara had to admit they were now walking more comfortably. "We can't hold hands near the office. I'll never live it down."

"Why not?"

"You know why not! I'm not having anyone think I'm one of your conquests."

"I do not conquer women, Barbara. I've never been with anyone who did not want that, and I doubt very much that anyone would believe I could ever conquer you."

Barbara frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"That you would never be won over by my good looks, my money or my title, unlike many women."

"Tickets! Tickets, please! Roll up to see the man with the world's biggest ego! Tickets!" Barbara cried out across the grass pointing at Tommy with her free hand.

A few people walking through the park turned to look then chuckled thinking it was a lover's tiff. Lynley pulled her towards him, laughing at her. He looked into her eyes and went silent realising he had been about to kiss her. Shocked and unsure what to do, he straightened himself and pretended nothing had occurred. "Point made, Havers," he said sternly. His ears burned red, and he wondered if she had noticed. She was almost smirking, so she probably had not read his intention. He relaxed slightly. "But so was mine. You're impervious to my charms."

They walked silently down the path, both lost in their thoughts. Barbara was enjoying the envious and uncomprehending glances from some of the women they passed who obviously wondered why a man like Tommy would be holding hands with someone like her. He never would of course, if he had a choice, but they would never know that. For ten minutes she could pretend and let them wonder how a dowdy Acton girl had snagged a lord.

Tommy was unaware of the world or the people in it. He was trying to understand why he had wanted to kiss her; why he still wanted to kiss her. How could he be attracted to Barbara of all people? She was his irascible and feisty partner, the woman he had spent the better part of ten years arguing with; the woman who had just accused him of trying to conquer every woman he met. If he were truthful, there had been many women he had bedded just because he could. He had no pride in that. He knew his weakness for physical connection, but it had been months since he had thought about being with a woman. His sergeant would never believe him, but he had been celibate for nearly a year. The experience with Julia had affected him more than he had let on to anyone, even Barbara.

What he felt now was different. Barbara's hand in his seemed natural. Physically it was like holding any other hand, but emotionally it was as if they had created an electrical circuit that had brought him to life. He was warm and safe. He did not want sex but he wanted to enjoy the intimacy of kissing her. His feelings confused him. And after her little performance, he could see she did not return them. He sighed and gripped her hand tighter. Perhaps it was only the effect of the drugs they had inhaled. He hoped so, facing the other possibility was too much.

Barbara watched as her DI ran his left hand through his hair. It was usually a sign that he was troubled by something. "I'm sorry. I was only joking."

"What about?" Tommy felt he had missed something.

"About your ego. I know you weren't serious, Sir. Anyway, we're nearly there, and they'll cut us free, and we can go home."

"Via that pub. I'll buy you that beer while we plot how to capture Zorko. It's fairly obvious now that he's the diamond thief."

As they rounded the corner near The Yard, Tommy tried to let go of her hand, but Barbara held on. He looked down at her. "You're right," she said, "it is easier to walk. Everyone'll hear about the handcuffs soon enough anyway, so why should we risk falling over?"