Disclaimer: I own nothing, and only borrowed these characters for my own amusement for a little while.

About to step into his car, Thomas Lynley eased back and rested his arm on the polished roof. His eyes were on the woman walking away from him. Making a split second decision, he called after her. 'Barbara!'

She turned back to him with a smile and a question, brushing a stray hair from her face. 'Sir?'

'I'll give you a ride home.'

She smiled and made her way back to him. 'Thank you sir.'

Pulling up in front of her apartment blocks, Barbara Havers gathered up her things and turned to him with an invitation. 'Want to come up?'

He thought about it for a second and then turned off his car. 'Sure.'

Three floors later, she turned the key in the lock and surged forward into her small apartment. 'Sorry about the mess,' she apologised as she began to tidy the room. 'I haven't been home much this past few days.'

'It's fine,' he reassured her, closing and locking the door behind her.

Dumping a pile of things in her bedroom and removing her coat, she entered the small kitchen. 'Want a cuppa?' she asked the tall man standing in the middle of her lounge room. 'I know it's not your usual top of the range liquor but...'

He grinned as he interrupted her. 'It'll do.'

She popped the kettle on and reached for two mugs. Dropping two tea bags in, she turned for the fridge, only to find her partner suddenly before her. Resting a hand against his chest to prevent herself from flying body first into him, she stepped back as he showed off his prize. 'I found the sugar!'

'I'll put out an announcement shall I?' she muttered as the kettle whistled. 'Now, out of my kitchen.'

When she brought the two mugs around, Lynley was sprawled back on the lounge, an arm extending along its back length. He looked exceedingly comfortable.

Handing him his mug, she took a seat next to him, the back of her head resting against his lower arm. Blowing her hot beverage, she turned to where Lynely was taking a sip of his. 'Thanks for not saying 'I told you so'.'

He eyed her as he moved the mug away. 'How do you know I won't?'

She pushed against his side in retaliation. Laughing, he fended off her advances – and mindful of his hot drink – slid his arm around her shoulder, pulling her to rest against his body. She didn't move as he spoke again. 'It was a bad enough case without anyone rubbing anything in.'

It was a comfortable silence that followed as both detectives sipped their tea.

Empty mugs now on the table, Lynley began to speak in remembrance of their first meeting. Filled with various 'mms' and 'hmms' from the woman that was still somehow his partner, he drew his reminiscing to a close. 'We've certainly come a long way, haven't we?' he asked with a laugh. Hearing no response, he angled his head to look into Barbara's face.

She was asleep.

He stretched out his long legs and eased back. Drawing the half draped blanket from the table next to him, he pulled it over them both. He'd had far too much to drink and drive, he decided.

Far too much.

Shame they're not making any more, but this could be the fitting end that we never saw.