Veet sprang at Barbara gripping another broadsword he had pulled from the prop bin. Hearing Tommy's warning she had swerved to her left but felt a searing pain shoot through her right leg and into her groin. She looked down to see the sword being pulled from the flesh at the top of her thigh. Had she not moved, it would have disembowelled her. Despite her attempt to stay on her feet she fell backwards and sprawled onto the floor of the stage at the base of the scenery. The first panel dominoed into the next as they tumbled loudly to the floor. Blood ran over her leg and pooled at the base of one of the trees of Birnam Wood. Consciousness became an abstract shadow.

Veet raised his sword ready to strike her again. Tommy saw her fall and a seething madness took over his senses. He was behind Veet and lunged at him with his sword. He missed as Veet swirled to face him and their blades clanged together ferociously. The stagehand had experience handling the awkward weapon having helped to drill the actors for their battle scenes so he easily parried Lynley's next thrust. Barbara's blood sprayed from the top of the blade as Veet stabbed at him and settled in a thin line across Lynley's face. Tommy brought his hand up to wipe its sting from his eye. Veet charged again and they crashed against a panel of trees, their swords crossed between their chests. They pushed off each other and cautiously circled looking for an opening their opponent's defence.

In the gloom it was hard to see each other's faces but a light from backstage glinted off the honed edges reflecting eerie light across Birnam Wood. Barbara looked on disbelievingly at Tommy and Veet duelling in the forest, believing it to be an unearthly dream. Tommy had fenced at Eton and Oxford but he found it was no training for a real sword fight. The four foot long blade grew heavier in his hands with each stroke. His arms ached and his shoulder clicked painfully with each stroke. His opponent was much younger and fitter but Tommy had to protect Barbara whatever the cost. He called to Barbara but she did not answer. His only consolation was her loud groans telling him she was still alive despite the blood that seeped further towards the edge of the stage. Lynley advanced across the stage waving his sword in large figures of eight and pushing Veet backwards. Their blades clashed in a torrent of blows as they both fought to kill the other. As they reached the edge he ducked under the policeman's leading edge and forced Tommy onto the precipice above the orchestra pit. Tommy was balanced delicately and as Veet thrust his blade forward hoping for a kill Tommy jumped to his right and evaded the blow.

Each of the stage lights snapped on in sequence illuminating the scene. Tommy slashed the blade across Veet's arm when the younger man paused in surprise at the sudden brightness. Veet yelped with the pain but held firm. He and Tommy stood facing each other swords pointed at each other's chests. The heaving of Tommy's breathing was the only sound. The first to move or falter would be run through by the other.

"Joel, stop!" Tommy recognised Rampe's voice. Veet swore savagely at him but the director was undeterred. "Joel did you kill Ruth?"

Veet's eyes never left Tommy's. "I'm not Joel, I'm Jeff Smith and yes, I murdered the stupid bitch. She finally worked out who I was and wanted to play happy families."

The shock in Rampe's voice was unmistakable. "You're her son?"

"Oh so you knew her dirty little secret did you? She abandoned me to a home. She cried when I told her how they beat me and how when I was eight they started to rape me. I showed her the scars on my back and she expected me to run into her arms for comfort. She had no idea. She deserved to die."

"Every day she regretted leaving you but she did it because she thought you'd be adopted out to a family who would love you. I'm so sorry son."

"Son?"

"I'm your father! Ruth never told me she was pregnant. She just disappeared. I only found out last year."

"You bastard!" Smith turned and struck at Rampe narrowly missing Lynley's moving blade. Rampe leapt aside as his son crashed at his feet, his sword clattering out of reach. Rampe reacted quickly with a furious desire for revenge that Lynley understood. Father attacked son, kicking him viscously in the head. Smith went limp and Lynley pulled Rampe away before the second blow landed.

"Leave him. Call an ambulance!" Tommy shouted. He ran over to Barbara stripping off his shirt. He wrapped the shirt tightly over the cut in her thigh to stem the flow of blood then noticed the wound near her groin. He undid his belt and threaded it around her thigh and over the cut. He tensioned it as much as he could as he tried to reassure her. "It's not too bad Barbara; you'll be as good as gold in no time." He only wished he believed it as he cradled her head in his lap. He never noticed the tears that streamed down his face.

An eternity passed for Tommy before the paramedics arrived. As he sat waiting he could not help but think about the time she had been shot and he had been so shocked all he could do was call her name. When Helen had been shot he had frozen completely. It had been Barbara who reacted and tried to save her. This time at least he had not panicked and had actually done something. Blood was no longer flowing from the wounds and as he ran his fingers lightly down her face he only hoped it was enough.

As he held her he struggled to find the words to tell her how he felt. How was he going to ever be able to explain the depth and sincerity of his love when he had tried to kill her less than twenty-four hours before? Why would she even believe him let alone trust him? To him love had always been a heady emotion. Like a teenager he was caught up in lust and allure and its glorious, misleading imitation of being in love. With Helen he thought it was different, that he had grown up. He had been her friend and that bond had been the basis for commitment. They had seemed ideal for each other and there had been moments of fun and desire but no unquenchable passion. The spark of attraction had faded to duty soon enough.

Barbara was also his friend but at times when he had considered it, and he had contemplated it over the years, he had always convinced himself that he was not in love with Barbara. Any physical attraction he felt he always dismissed as biological instinct. He had assured himself his feelings were love on a higher plane; an intimate meeting of minds. A true friendship. He was closer to her than he had been to anyone. They squabbled and disagreed passionately and he sometimes wondered how he could even like her but he did not have to tell her everything as he had with Helen, she just knew and accepted his rough edges and imperfections, as he accepted her.

Now, as he sat worried he would lose her, he understood how wrong he had been. It was indeed love on a higher plane because it was a total love. He needed her in a way he had never needed Deborah or Helen. He desired her beyond physical; he wanted to make love to her mind, her soul. He wanted to immerse himself totally in her and have her lose herself in him. What he felt was more balanced than with any other woman. He was committed to her. He had never thought about it, he just expected to have her in his life until he died.

He was so lost in his own thoughts he did not hear her speak but he reacted when she poked him in his ribs. "Arghh!"

"I said, 'did you win Macduff?'"

Tommy was astounded that she knew the reference but nothing should have surprised him with this wonderfully intriguing woman. "Yes, but I had help."

"Good."

"I love you Barbara, more than I've ever loved anyone," he declared earnestly. She smiled weakly and squeezed his hand. He had not even realised he had been holding it all this time.

Veet was transferred to Stratford Hospital and placed under police guard. He was unconscious and would have a headache but he would live. The paramedic wanted to send Tommy there too but when they decided to send Barbara to Warwick Hospital for assessment to make sure no major arteries were damaged and to manage any infection risk Lynley insisted on accompanying her. Tommy quickly organized for his car to be driven to Warwick in case he needed it. Entrusting his car to a local constable was not something he did easily but cars could be replaced, Barbara could not.

On arrival she was whisked away before he had the chance to say anything. A doctor checked his ribs and sent him for x-rays but no one seemed to be able to tell him anything about Barbara. After he had been strapped to protect his three broken bones he went in search of answers. He was worried and irritable. He checked his watch and was surprised it was not yet four o'clock. He eventually charmed a nurse who made enquiries then led him to a ward. "Ms Havers will be back shortly Sir." Tommy thanked then sat down gingerly on a rigid plastic chair to wait. It was hard to find a comfortable position; no matter how he sat some part of him was in pain.

When he woke a little after five Barbara was propped up in the bed looking at him. She had a drip in her arm replenishing her blood and looked tired and haggard. The bruises on her neck had been covered discreetly by bandages but the sight of them brought back all the guilt and shame. Relief overpowered him and he sank forward on the chair his head in his hands. Tommy ran his hands through his hair while he organised his thoughts.

"I was wondering how long you were going to keep snoring," she said.

He winced at the sharp pain in his ribs as he stood and moved to the side of her bed. He tried to sound jovial. "You can talk. I'm up on stage doing my very best Count of Monte Christo impersonation and all I get from the stalls is load groaning!" They both tried to laugh but the pain stopped them abruptly.

"Thank you," Barbara said seriously.

"For what?"

"Hmm, perhaps for saving my life – twice." Tommy looked at her strangely. "If you hadn't called out I would've had my insides sliced open and if you hadn't applied your tourniquet I would've bled to death. So thank you."

"I wasn't going to lose you but it still doesn't make up for last night." Tommy was contrite and it still tore at his heart knowing what he had done.

"I don't know; two positives, one negative, I'd say you're in front Sir."

"It's not that easy though is it?"

"I could be if we let it." They simply looked at each other both trying to assess where they stood. "Are you still going to take me away somewhere mysterious? I think we have the perfect excuse for Hillier now."

"Yes but we might have to wait a few days until they let you out." Tommy had forgotten about the other issue temporarily but sighed knowing it had to be faced.

Barbara smiled at him. "Most of the damage is superficial. My leg is a clean entry and exit wound and apparently my fat layer took most of the blow across the stomach." Tommy grinned mischievously. "Don't you dare say it! Anyway they'll let me out tomorrow morning. What about you?"

"Three broken ribs and severe muscle fatigue." He was supporting his weight by half-sitting on the side of her bed.

"Do you think we are getting too old for this?" she asked as a joke.

Tommy smiled as he said it but he was serious, "probably, you should marry me and we can retire to Cornwall." He leant forward and kissed her lovingly. This time she did not push him away.