Author's note: Another tale using the characters of Elizabeth George and the BBC.


Barbara Havers always regretted drinking too much but this morning as she woke to the syncopated clatter of a thousand jackhammers in her head she vowed never to touch alcohol again. She lay not daring to move, knowing that even the slightest twitch would hurt. Warily she opened one eye to surreptitiously peep at the day. Light streamed in past open curtains to say it was well past dawn. She grimaced at the light but reeled in shock at what it revealed. Both eyes shot open to survey a room she did not know. The curtains were richly patterned and neatly hung and the walls shimmered with a silvery motif that set of the dark timber furniture. Panic set in as she realised that there was a warm masculine body curled up under the soft silky sheets. An arm was draped carelessly over her naked midriff.

It all started to flood back and she wanted to die. She slowly turned her head to be sure and the sight of his dark wavy hair, which she had delighted in running her hands through last night, confirmed her worst fears. She had slept with Tommy Lynley. She closed her eyes in the vain hope it was all a nightmare, a ghoulish trick of her mind. This was going to be mortifyingly embarrassing for both of them. Not only did she have to work with him every day but he was her boss. If it ever got out she would be just another notch in the great Detective Inspector's belt, devoid of credibility. Barbara you fool! What the hell were you thinking?

That was the trouble she had not thought about it at all, she had just reacted. One minute everyone had been at Lafferty's party drinking and singing and the next she and Lynley had been in a cab with Winston. They dropped him off and as the cab pulled up at Lynley's house he had asked her in for a nightcap. It had been well after midnight but the night had seemed young. She did not fancy going home to her empty flat and it had been too easy to accept his invitation. They sat talking while they drank his best whiskey and when the background music changed to softer melodies he had pulled her to her feet and they had danced. She remembered being surprised but they were both intoxicated and feeling mellow and it had seemed such a logical thing to do. As the music had subtly changed to become slower and more romantic they had moved closer and closer and the dancing had become more of a gentle sway. The feel of his body so close had calmed her and excited her in equal measure and when he had kissed her it had been the most natural thing in the world.

Despite how awkward it was today the memory of last night was something to treasure. His kiss was so gentle and caring that all of her reason dropped away. The feel of his hands caressing her back, the touch of his lips on her neck, and the press of his body against her transformed years of unrequited love into a desire so urgent she had ripped his shirt in her eagerness. Shoes and belts and shirts must still lay strewn in a trail to the bedroom. Even drunk he had proved to be everything she had imagined him to be as a lover; tender and affectionate and talented. The first time had been lustful and bold. No one else had ever really bothered whether she enjoyed herself but Tommy had instinctively understood her body and satisfied needs she had not known she had. The second time had been more spiritual and Tommy had encouraged her to explore; the thought of it now sent shivers through her. By the third time she had actually cried out that she loved him. Oh God, no! She could never look at him again.

Tommy was awake but not game to move. He had not intended to take advantage of his drunken sergeant; he had simply wanted to spend more time with her. The music had been deliberate. He had wanted to dance with her, to feel her close to him. He had even wanted to kiss her but he had never expected that their repressed desires would be so consuming. It had been wonderful; far more beautiful than he had dreamt. She had responded to him with a passion Helen had never shown and when she had said that she loved him he had been in heaven. He had been a bit too intoxicated to show her the attention and finesse she deserved from a lover and he was annoyed with himself. He was tempted to make up for that now but he could tell from the way she had frozen when she had woken to find him beside her that she regretted what had happened. Disappointment prickled across his skin. He wanted her to want him as much as he wanted her; to love him as much as he loved her. He could wait. She had obviously enjoyed it as much as he had and she had said that she loved him but if she had not thought about a relationship with him she would need time to adjust and assess her feelings. He had an advantage; he been contemplating it for a long time but now he would take his cues from her and see where it led. He hoped it would not take her long. He feigned sleep and rolled over away from her, hoping she might snuggle up to him.

As soon as he seemed settled Barbara made her escape. She collected her clothes as she retraced her steps to his lounge room then dressed quickly and slipped out his door trying to close the lock as silently as possible. Tommy felt her leave his bed and heard the soft click of the door. He stood at his window and looked down as she hailed a cab. He ran his hand through his hair and swore savagely at his stupidity as he went for his shower. He should have made love to her again, in the light when they were almost sober, so that she understood it was not just a drunken mistake. He should have told her last night that he loved her instead of waiting until she had fallen asleep in his arms. They would need to talk.


Tommy arrived first to the office but he was still an hour later than normal. "Good morning Winston,' he said cheerily. Despite Barbara leaving he felt irrepressibly happy.

"Morning Sir. How come you're so cheery?"

Tommy looked at the bags under Nkata's eyes and the way he was holding his head. "I enjoyed last night much more than I had anticipated and I think I must use a better hangover cure."

Winston screwed up his face in pain at the reminder of his hangover then asked, "Have you seen the Sergeant? It's not like her to be so late."

"Not yet. I think she had a good night too. Send her in when she arrives please." Tommy could not help smiling as he walked into his office leaving a slightly suspicious Winston sitting at his desk.

Barbara snuck in hoping not to make a fuss. Winston had gone for coffee and she busied herself with paperwork. When he returned he hovered around her desk, fiddling with her papers while he waited for her to talk to him. "Hi Winston. What are you up to?"

"Nothing. The DI seems very chipper this morning. Did you get home all right last night?"

"Yes thank you." Barbara could feel her face redden. She did not need Radio Winston to find out or even suspect.

"Come on," he fished, "there's something you're not saying and he wants to see you as soon as you get in."

"Well he can wait until I'm finished this stuff. It is his paperwork after all."

"Suit yourself," Winston said smugly, "he wouldn't act so happy and you so grumpy unless something interesting happened."

"Nothing happened Winston. Everyone had a bit too much to drink and we are all hungover. People handle it differently that's all."

She avoided facing Lynley as long as she could so had leapt at the chance to assist with the interview of a robbery suspect. It gave her an excuse to not see him and took her mind off last night. She hoped that if enough time passed before she saw him they would just be able to laugh about how drunk they had been and how it meant nothing. Hopefully then they could move on. She knew him well enough to know he would not tell anyone. It was never him that bragged about his conquests, and in fact she had often wondered if they were simply figments of gossipy minds. By mid-afternoon she had convinced herself that everything would be perfectly fine, then she walked around the corridor and straight into his path. Her confidence disappeared at the sight of him. He was talking to another officer but he smiled at her in such a way that her knees literally buckled.

"Good afternoon Sergeant Havers. I had hoped you would come and see me earlier."

"I...I was caught up Sir, I'll catch you later," she said quickly as she dashed into the ladies bathroom. Fearful that someone might come in she locked herself in a cubicle to think. Seeing him had been far harder than she had imagined. Her heart was racing and her thoughts were jumbled. Her instinct was to run to him and bury herself in his arms and hold on forever but it was unrealistic. At best it would be a bit of a fling. Last night he had made her feel like a princess but she was far from the type of woman he deserved. Men like Lord Asherton did not form meaningful relationships with people like her. He needed a sophisticated woman, someone who could challenge him and be his equal. She had been correct this morning; she might never be able to face him again. She beat her head with her fists in frustration. Their friendship had been her mainstay and now the thought of losing it overwhelmed her. "Arghh!"

"Are you okay in there?" a constable from uniform branch asked.

Barbara had to laugh, the situation was pathetic. She was pathetic. "Yeah, sorry, the toilet roll is stuck again. Won't be long," she called back trying to sound as normal as possible.

She slunk back to her desk and grabbed her bag. "I'm not feeling too well Winston, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Take care yeah." His concern was etched into his frown.

"Yeah, I'm okay. Just too much to drink last night and too much of a headache today. I don't want to be disturbed." Winston nodded sympathetically. He too would leave as soon as he could.

A little before five Lynley came to find her. She could not keep running from him forever. He would take her to dinner at the pub and they could talk and hopefully he could take her home and show her how much he loved her. This time he would tell her and make sure she understood that last night was the start of something wonderful. "Where's Havers?"

"Ah…she left early Sir," Winston said, "I think her head was killing her. She hasn't been herself all day."

"Thanks. I'll give her a call and see how she is."

"I don't think she wants that Sir," Winston said cautiously, "she said she didn't want to be disturbed."

Tommy nodded and returned to his office. The longer this went on the harder it would be for both of them. He understood she was embarrassed but she had no reason to be. Again he berated himself for leaving her to fret and overthink it. He should have said something as soon as she came in to work. He grabbed his coat from the hook and headed for his car rehearsing what he would say when he arrived at her flat.