Author's note: all usual disclaimers apply.

Sergeant Barbara Havers leant against the low brick fence in front of her flat. As she waited for her partner, DI Lynley, to arrive she busied herself playing Panda Pop in her phone. She growled in frustration. She had one baby panda left to collect when she hit the death cloud. She had no more lives and grumbled as she checked her watch. Tommy was not due for another five minutes. With nothing more interesting to do, she checked her email. Boring, boring, bill, boring, another ad from that dating agency, another bill and one from the Racing Club with the heading "Dress Code for Owners meeting HRH Queen Elizabeth II". Barbara was intrigued. It had no attachment so she cautiously opened it thinking it was more likely a scam than malware.

She was still laughing when Tommy's maroon car turned the corner. She was about to close her phone but thought he might be amused. "Morning, Sir," she said as she opened the door.

"Good morning Barbara. You seem chipper today." She blushed slightly when she noticed his smile. He had been more at peace with himself and the world lately, and had lost the tension around his eyes. He looked younger and fitter. She wondered if he was working out. She banished the image of him sitting astride a weight bench lifting dumbbells that flashed through her mind. It was a work day and she should focus.

"Bemused more like it. I got this email telling me what not to wear at Ascot on Saturday week in case I need to have the trophy for my horse presented by the Queen. Apparently nothing in lemon or sky blue. Well, they're not my colours anyway so I'm safe."

"Argh, yes. I didn't realise they would email you."

"Sorry?" Barbara watched his face turn red. It started in his neck and crept over his neck and into his ears. He was staring straight ahead, pretending to concentrate on the traffic.

"I meant to tell you..."

"Oh, haha! You had me going for a minute Sir. I don't own a racehorse!"

"Actually, you do. I've been meaning to tell you for a while now."

"I what?"

"You own a very successful thoroughbred. He's running at Ascot in the two mile."

Barbara tried to speak but no intelligible words emerged. Tommy began to grin sheepishly at her. He pulled the car into the kerb near Hyde Park and switched off the engine. "I should explain."

"Yes, you should! Is this some sort of Lord Asherton thing? Simply everyone should own a horse darling!"

Despite the gravity of the situation Tommy laughed. She was rather beautiful when she was angry and using her faux posh voice. Anger made her eyes turn from a light emerald into a deep green that reminded him of riding through a forest. "No, it's not like that."

"Or some sort of tax dodge. If you get me into trouble with my taxes. I'll..."

"No! I'd never do that. He's a gift."

"I don't want a horse! They cost a fortune, eat like there's no tomorrow and smell. I can't even ride a horse. And in case you haven't noticed, my flat doesn't have a horse shed attached."

"Stables."

"Whatever."

"He's stabled at Cheltenham, in the Cotswolds."

"How very scenic for him."

"You'll like him. We have to drive to Stroud today anyway. We could call and see him."

"I don't want to see him."

"You liked him before."

"When?" Barbara was trying to remember meeting a racehorse.

"Remember last year at the Yearling Sales?"

"That auction thing you made us stop at? Where the man spoke so fast I thought he was Scottish?"

Tommy smiled at the memory. Barbara had wandered around feeling overwhelmed by the noise and the rapid fire speech of the auctioneer. They had inspected a horse Tommy wanted to buy and somehow she had found a stable with a shy horse cowering at the back. He had completed his inspection and turned around to find her talking to it. It had come over to her and she was stroking it's muzzle. Tommy had never before wanted to be a horse but at that moment he was jealous of it. Woman and horse were exchanging secret jokes and affectionate nuzzles.

"Yes there. Remember that horse you befriended?"

Barbara smiled. "Yeah, poor thing was feeling lost."

"Well I bought it. He's grown up to be a fine racehorse."

"So you own him?"

"No, you do. I registered him in your name."

"How?"

"I filled in the form. It's all legal. All your winnings are in a trust account attached to the Howenstowe accounts. All the taxes have been paid.."

Barbara's anger was being watered down by a sudden rush of affection for her boss. He had done the wrong thing but he had meant well. "Did you paint him too?"

Tommy winced. It had been nine years since he had organised for her house to be painted and still she threw it in his face. "I thought...it might be nice."

"Lord Asherton, you sometimes have no idea how other people live. Has he won much?"

"Seven races. About three hundred thousand pounds."

Barbara swore, much more colourfully than Tommy had heard for many years. "Barbara," he said with an embarrassed glance.

"Is that my money?"

"Yes."

"And when were you going to tell me?"

"I've been trying for a while. I was going to take you today. Stroud was an excuse. I wanted you to see him again before Ascot."

"Well, I won't see him there."

Tommy looked up. "Why not? You have to go. You can't snub the Queen."

"Then you go."

"I can come with you, of course."

"Of course. Men need Morning Suits the email said. I didn't even understand what women are supposed to wear."

"I have someone who can help."

"No! Absolutely not. No! Now drive on, or I'll get out and go back to the Yard."

They drove in uncomfortable silence. Every time Tommy tried to start a conversation, she ignored him or grumbled for him to shut up. There was a quiet fury about her that disturbed him. This could get very ugly before she eventually forgave him.

Barbara tried not to smile. His gesture had been sweet and he had made her money; not that she would keep it. That did not excuse his presumption though, nor his inability to tell her. Am I really that frightening? She looked across at him. He glanced back and gave her a nervous smile. Her anger had gone but he did not need to know that yet.

They filed the paperwork required at Stroud and drove on to Cheltenham. Barbara allowed him to prattle on about the horse and it's races. "It's not a steeplechaser is it? I can't stand that. It's so dangerous."

"It's beautiful to watch."

"Not when they fall and have to be put down! I don't know if I approve of racing animals for our amusement and profit."

"They're bred to run. They enjoy it. Animals can be competitive too." Her grunt signalled the conversation was over. Tommy sighed and watched as clouds rolled in and rain began to fall. The weather inside the car was just as stormy and unpredictable.

They parked and picked their way through the mud to the stables. Tommy held an umbrella over their heads and walked as close to her as he dared. If they were not fighting he would have put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close to him. "Over here."

When Barbara saw the horse she fell in love. It had grown into a fine specimen, with well muscled thighs and sleek lines. It's shiny black coat shimmered like satin and the single white spot between its eyes added a hint of imperfection that made the rest more stark. "Oh, you're magnificent!"

"He's a fine animal."

She turned to Tommy and gave him a wide smile. His heart danced in his chest. They stared at each other a little longer than necessary before she broke his gaze and turned back to the horse. She reached out her hand. It sniffed her and then swished it's tail and whinnied. It then rested it's head on her shoulder. "He remembers me."

"He does."

"What's his name?" Barbara was stroking his head.

"The Flirt."

"The Flirt? Why?"

"Because that's what he did then and he's doing it again now!"

Havers turned back to the horse. "Hello Flirty. Are you a good boy? Are you going to win so I meet the Queen?"

The horse moved his head against her shoulder. "What's he whispering in your ear?" Tommy asked as he moved up behind her.

"He tells me I should forgive you."

"And do you?" Tommy reached over her shoulder and gave the horse's nose a friendly rub.

She looked up at him and nodded. "But I can't keep him, or the money. You have to change the paperwork."

Tommy moved as close as he dared until barely an inch separated their bodies. "He's a gift."

"An expensive one."

"He only cost me one thousand pounds. I bought him as a stable mate for Asherton's Glory but when they ran him on the track he was a natural."

Barbara tried not to snigger. "Asherton's Glory? Seriously?"

Until that moment Tommy had not seen the alternative meaning. "Oh! I see. Yes, well..."

"Is Asherton's Glory any good?"

"He gives me serviceable returns." Tommy grinned behind her.

"Is he a big one too?"

Tommy make a strangled noise. Now who's flirting? "He's bigger than most. Great staying power, definitely not a sprinter."

Barbara started to laugh. "Sounds...encouraging."

"It does," he said in a low, husky voice.

Her back bumped his front and they both froze, their bodies still touching. Neither moved until Tommy ran his fingertips from her shoulder to her elbow. Barbara moaned softly but did not move away. She wanted time to stop so she could stand with the warmth of him on her back and his scent filling her head with unholy ideas. "Sir?"

"Barbara?"

The Flirt became protective of Barbara and pushed Tommy away with his nose. Tommy stepped backwards amid Barbara's loud laughter. "Seems Flirty is a bit cantankerous," Tommy said as he straightened his jacket.

"He was protecting me."

"Do you need protecting?"

"I don't know. Do I?"

"Maybe." Tommy stepped closer. He bent down and kissed her softly on her cheek. He gave her time to back away but she stood firm.

"I think I'm safe, if that's your only threat."

He put his hands on her arms and moved his face close to hers. His second kiss was just as feathery; a gentle press of his lips on hers. Again she did not back away so he kissed her a little harder. He stood back and looked at her.

Barbara was smiling. She did not mean to, or even really want to, encourage him but she needed more; much, much more. "I will need protecting, if you do that again."

His arms slipped around her and he pulled her against his body. She was shivering. Fear or excitement? "I'm rather hoping you'll let me be your protector."

This time his kiss was more urgent; more demanding. It could not be mistaken for anything but desire. Barbara felt their bodies beginning to move together in a rhythm that she could not control. Her lips were answering his and raising the stakes. It was madness but it was wonderful, heady, unscripted madness. Her hands found their way under his jumper, exploring the smooth contours of his back. His hands were undoing her blouse in clumsy haste. Their breathing was heavy. The hot breath from his nose tickled her face. She gasped, then dug her nails into his skin as his tongue slipped inside her mouth. He made a noise halfway between a groan and a growl. His tongue went deeper. It seemed to fill her completely, almost choking her. She pushed back with hers and the ballet began. There were pirouettes, then fluid, energetic chasses where they pursued each other around their mouths. Precise, enticing movements took her by surprise. They matched the gentle grinding of his hip against her groin. Barbara tried to align their bodies so they were touching from shoulder to knee but Tommy twisted away, frustrating her. The ballet expanded to involve every inch of their skin. Lively exchanges of jumps and turns designed to inspire awe gave way to long, slow, graceful exchanges where one dancer allowed the other to star. The kiss was beyond anything she had experienced.

"Was that protection?" she asked as they rested their foreheads on each other dragging air into starving lungs.

"No, but this is." Barbara expected the same erotic kiss that had just set her on fire but this time Tommy's kiss was a soft caress, so gentle and loving that all her fears and barriers tumbled away. She returned his love, letting ten years of care and need pour into the kiss.

This time Tommy held her as close as he could. She rested her tear-stained face on his chest and he rested his cheek on her head. He smiled when he opened his eyes and saw The Flirt watching him. He could have sworn the horse winked at him before moving back into its stall.

"What just happened?" Barbara asked.

"We shifted the axis of the Earth."

"Should we have done that Tommy?"

"Why not?" He almost missed that she had called him by name. She said it so naturally yet it sounded so different to the way anyone else had ever said it. It was soft and gently loving yet lustful and humorous. "Oh Barbara! You called me Tommy. Say it again."

She smiled, glad he had noticed and delighted with his response. "Tommy." This time she added an evocative, blatantly sexual edge to it.

"Again."

"Tommy," she murmured seductively. "Kiss me again, Tommy."