Tommy checked on his patient every half hour but she had barely moved. At seven o'clock he was debating whether to wake her for dinner but she looked so peaceful and angelic that he had a strange urge just to lie down next her and hold her close. It was not for her benefit but for his and again he was ashamed. Here she was just out of hospital and in need of care and he selfishly wanted her to comfort him. Tommy was disgusted by his thoughts and went to have a shower and a long think. He had just got dressed and was staring out the window when she came wandering into his room. "Hiya."

"Hi. How are you feeling?"

"Yeah, not bad but I think the painkillers have worn off. My stomach is really sore."

"You should have taken them at six. I knew I should have woken you. Seems I make a lousy nurse."

Barbara watched as he ran his hand through his damp hair then smiled. He was totally unaware of the affect he had on her. Just being here with him was the best medicine she could ever want. "Quite the contrary. Nobody would look after me better than you."

They looked at each other as if they were going to say something more but then Tommy looked away. "Come on then I'll get your pills and then some dinner."

He moved towards the kitchen and she watched him move with cat-like certainty and grace. She remembered the other times they had been in such close proximity. The memories of caravans and showers made her smile. It had been worth the pain just to have these few days here with him. He was spoiling her and making her feel loved. It was not the same as being loved but it would do. They felt close and it made her quite light-hearted.

"I like your shorts," she said sarcastically. Tommy was wearing a plain grey tee and a pair of soft cotton sleep shorts that almost reached his knees.

Tommy looked down at his blue, grey and red tartan shorts. "What's wrong with them?"

"They match your coffee machine," she said grinning at him.

"They were a gift from Mother," Tommy said trying to sound offended. He neither liked them or disliked them but they were very comfortable.

"So she doesn't want you to find the next Lady Asherton in a hurry?"

Lynley was genuinely shocked. It was the first time they had talked about him being in future relationships let alone married. It was probably a good sign that Barbara thought he was ready to move on. He searched for a witty retort but winced at what he actually said, "if I'm married I won't want to wear shorts to bed."

Now Barbara was embarrassed. She had instantly regretted the joke about his Mother or any mention of his shorts. "Too much information," she protested as she headed for his kitchen. "Where are the tablets?"

She insisted they sit at the table to eat. Tommy gave her more soup and jelly and she ate voraciously. "Slow down Barbara, it's not a race."

"You missed your calling," she replied grouchily, "you would have made a great...schoolteacher." Barbara bit her tongue. She had been about to say parent. Poor Tommy; he would have been a wonderful father.

"Some people need a little discipline now and again," he said adopting a stereotypical schoolmasterly tone.

"Do you do bondage too? she asked cheekily. Oh Barbara, no! Don't say that.

"Not usually but for you I could make an exception." Oh yes, I could definitely handcuff you to my bed!

She nearly choked on her soup and Tommy grinned at her. "See what happens when you eat too fast!" He was trying desperately to clear the image of handcuffs from his mind. What is wrong with me?

Their banter had taken a strange turn and Tommy saw the confusion and distress on Barbara's face. He resorted to a tried and true technique and started talking about work before he sent her to get ready for bed while he cleared the dishes. When he went in to say goodnight she was sitting up in bed trying to find programmes on the TV.

"I recorded the drama channel last night in case you missed any of your shows."

Barbara's eyes lit up and he showed her how to access them. She was touched by his thoughtfulness. "Thank you."

"Well goodnight Barbara. I'll leave my door open but if you need me just press the yellow button on the phone. It's an intercom."

She was disappointed. "Do you have to go? I thought we could watch it together."

"I thought you'd have had enough of me by now. I can stay, if you want me to."

"Please. I'd like that but if I fall asleep don't take it personally."

Tommy turned off the light then self-consciously stretched out on the bed. Barbara was under the duvet but he stayed on top and kept his distance. He did not want to bump her or hurt her. Outside the window London was changing as the day faded and the lights brought out the softer texture of the city. He wished every night could feel so secure.

"Would you mind getting under the cover Sir? With you on top it pulls on my stomach."

"Sorry." He dutifully obeyed and they settled in, propped up on pillows next to each other watching television like an old married couple. The first programme amused him. "They're not very realistic are they?" he said as soon as the detective slept with the murder victim's mother.

"Nah, not always but they're entertaining."

"I don't know why most TV detectives all have to be brilliant but flawed characters in search of redemption with long-suffering sidekicks who they treat badly or constantly snipe at."

Barbara smiled at the irony. Anyone observing Lynley might think the same thing of him. "Is that how you think of me? As your long-suffering sidekick?"

Tommy looked at Barbara to see if she was concerned that he might actually be that shallow. Her eyes were shining and he knew she was teasing him. "No, you're my super clever and doggedly determined partner without whom no crime would ever be solved. I would never trade you for any of these."

"Not even Hatherway? He's quite brilliant."

"Only because he's got the dullest boss in history!"

"Barnaby's more boring."

"But he has a very dry British wit. I like him. Well both of them. And I like Sykes!"

Barbara mouth gaped before she started laughing. "Since when did you become so knowledgeable about crime dramas?"

"Late nights." Tommy realised he had started watching them because he knew every Thursday night when they were not working Barbara would be sitting five miles away watching the same thing. It had made him feel closer to her. It made sense at the time but now he wondered why he had needed that. "Anyway back to this one. He's been totally unprofessional."

Barbara had seen Tommy frown at her last question. Something was bothering him but she sensed now was not the time to probe. She decided to lighten the developing mood. "Yeah but he is cute."

"What him? He needs a good shave and shower. Surely you don't find him attractive!"

"Not as such but he oozes a kind of sensuality and vulnerability that is very sexy and that deep voice, hmm."

"So you like shortish, vulnerable baritones who don't shave?"

"No, if I had a choice I'd go for a tall, dark and handsome baritone; like most women. And what about you? Is your type leggy blondes with hourglass figures and sparkling personalities?"

"Oh definitely. Every man's dream," he said mocking her, "I don't have a type as such. I look a lot deeper than someone's appearance."

"Right. There've been an awful lot of women in your life then with great personalities who also happen to have impossibly long legs and great faces."

Barbara sounded vaguely bitter but Tommy put it down to the angst he had caused her over the years with his tortured love life. "I've grown up a lot since those days Barbara. It's about how a woman makes me feel emotionally, not physically. Sex is about love not the other way round. I want someone who loves me for who I am, flaws and all, and not my title or money. I want someone to complete me and make me feel like I am the most important person in their life."

Tommy felt her gaze and became uncomfortable. The only woman who had ever made him truly feel that way was lying beside him, completely unobtainable. Yes you, only how can I ever tell you? You would never entertain the idea. He exhaled slowly then pointed at the screen. "See where it got him. Now the woman has been murdered too."

Barbara wondered if the scene would remind him of Helen's murder but he seemed to be focused on something else. She was not sure how to react to his statement. Tonight their conversations had been strange and disturbing. "I'm glad."

"What, that she was murdered?"

"No, that you are looking for love."

Tommy looked at her and frowned. He was unsure where this conversation was headed but it was not going where he wanted it to go. "I'm not looking as such but we all deserve to find someone who really loves us."

"Life doesn't always balance out like that Sir. Some of us are here for other reasons."

The loneliness in her voice was palpable. He wanted to kiss her and tell her that he loved her and that she had someone who would ensure she never felt lonely again but it was inappropriate. She was sick and had no where to go. He had to look after her not frighten her.

"Have you ever been in love Barbara?" It had been a rhetorical question that he had not meant to ask aloud.

The question caught her off guard. She was going to say no but Barbara knew he would know she was lying. "Sort of. Not in a real relationship so I don't really know," she said sadly.

"Unrequited?"

"Yeah, pretty much."

Tommy heard the quiver in her voice. "What was he like?" he asked softly. He wondered what sort of man appealed to Barbara.

Barbara turned to face Tommy. How can I describe you? "Complex. Moody, arrogant and sometimes totally unreasonable but also incredibly kind and generous with the most amazing eyes that make you want to sink into them and lose yourself."

Tommy was jealous. "Sounds like you still love him."

Barbara looked directly at Tommy. It was the only opportunity she would ever get to actually tell him. "I always will."

The way she spoke send a shiver up his spine. Tommy swallowed hard. Her eyes had been so intense and it had seemed raw and personal for her. He had longed to hear Helen speak that way about him, with genuine passion and total commitment. He wanted Barbara to be saying that about him but he was also angry that someone was too stupid to realise what a wonderful woman Barbara was underneath her argumentative and prickly exterior. That shield had softened so much over the years and Tommy smiled at the irony. If this man knew you now he might love you as much as I do. "He was a fool not to notice."

They exchanged a long, intense look But neither knew what to say. They watched the end of the show in silence. Tommy turned it off. "Do you want to watch another one?"

There was no answer. Barbara had fallen asleep. He turned off the television and gently removed one pillow so that her neck would be at a more normal angle. She stirred and rolled towards him, wrapped her arm over him and sighed peacefully. He was worried he would wake her if he moved so he put his arm around her shoulders and let her nestle into his armpit. He always seemed to fall for women who could not love him in the way he needed but lying here like this he could pretend.