.
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The other day started with an emergency call from Chief Super Intendant Cartland. Barbara was put on a case she should lead on her own. Sir Hillier had insisted on it, Cartland confessed and he was quick to tell her that he was not happy with that decision. Everybody knew that he had no high opinion of Detective Sergeant Havers' qualifications.
For completely other reasons Barbara was not happy either. She did not want to run around investigating in another murder when she had to sit at Tommy's bedside and finally stop orbiting around that kiss only in her mind. They had to unravel what it was and what it meant for them but when she had called the Commissioner asking for a few more days off he had told her that they needed her at work and that she was not the DI's wife. Teeth-gnashingly Barbara had to accept that.
The effect of her preoccupation with the crime throughout the day instead was that she was distracted from her worries about Tommy and everything that had come to surface with and after their kiss. Towards Winston who was her right-hand man now she even admitted that it also felt good to be in charge of something and to be responsible for the investigation. She silently confessed that she was afraid not to meet Hillier's expectations because she knew this was her test. She knew that she never would be able to meet Cartland's strange expectations but Hillier obviously still thinks she would make it and this looked as if he only wanted to know if she really was worth an overdue promotion. Barbara knew he would be observing her every move in that case. It was just a bad timing.
Around noon she called Daze to hear from her boss. She learned that after he had heard of her own case and had voiced his delight one of his next questions was about the bank-robber's state. "Can you believe that, Winnie?" Barbara rolled her eyes. "He's just up from a coma because he was shot and all he wants to know is if that arsehole is still alive!"
Winston chuckled but kept his thoughts to himself. Lynley had always been and still was a man who wanted a just punishment for criminals and not his own revenge and at least that one of those criminals would die by a bullet shot from his gun. Luckily that bank-robber in fact was still alive and only a bit more severely wounded than the DI.
Late in the evening Barbara finally had the chance to call it a day. She closed down her computer and drove straight to the hospital but Tommy already was asleep so she just sat there at his bed for a while before a nurse woke her up and sent her home.
It was lunchtime already when Barbara found some time to pay another visit the next day. Tommy, meanwhile brought into another room and freed from most of the wires, sat upright in his bed and was eating a sandwich with his right hand. His mother was there too so they had no real chance to talk in private. Almost hiding it half under the blanket they sheepishly held hands after Barbara had accidentally brushed his on the injured side and they exchanged a few shy looks. Unfortunately a nurse came in when Daze was leaving 'to get them some coffee' so they did not talk at all in those minutes too and when that nurse finally turned to leave Barbara's phone rang.
"Sorry, I'm on a major case." she defended the angry look from the hospital staff. "Yes, Thwaites, do you have the lists?"
Barbara ignored Tommy's narrowed eyes and listened to the new developments. It did not sound good for Lynley's ears. He watched his Sergeant coming close to his bed after the nurse had left the room again. She ended the call and with an apologetic smile she bowed down to him saying that she had to hurry and she would see him tomorrow but before she finally recognised that she was about to give him a good bye kiss the door opened and Winston came in. She jerked up but Tommy was able to keep her hand in his and he quickly gave its back a soft kiss. His face was a broad smile. It was obvious that he had felt she almost was giving him a kiss. He definitely appreciated it. Blushing Barbara smiled back but then turned her face to Winston now standing next to his bed.
"Hello, Sir! Good to see you so well again!" he said completely aware that he had disturbed something important. He could kick himself. "Sorry, Barb, I'm here to pick you up. Rowan has left his house and he has taken the dog, the car and his little sister. I'm afraid we have to leave quick."
The Constable gave her more new information and Barbara made two phone calls delegating tasks for her team. She was so engrossed that she did not even recognise that the men were talking about her.
"She's completely in her element." Tommy marvelled without taking his eyes from her.
"She's going to make it, Sir." Winnie winked at his boss. "Sooner than you know."
"If I don't pay attention she's sitting at my desk, I believe."
"Oh, she already does." This was the biggest smirk Lynley ever had seen on his Constable's face.
"Alright, Winnie. Let's go!" Barbara had ended the last call. "Will be a long night tonight. I'm afraid I won't come back today."
"See you tomorrow, then." Lynley sighed. "Good luck!"
Meanwhile Daze had returned so the room was almost crowded. Sheepishly Barbara just squeezed Tommy's hand for goodbye and quickly fled the room. Everything in her body had screamed to give him a kiss but something made her hesitate to do it in front of the others.
His proud gaze had followed her until she had closed the door. Daze had seen it and it made her smile knowingly. Winnie had seen it too and unlike Daze he had to mention it so a few minutes later a text message arrived on Barbara's mobile.
He's completely smitten seeing you so good at work.
"Winnie, I'm sitting here. You can talk to me." Barbara blushed but her eyes did not leave the road in front of the car. "And: bollocks!" She grinned nonetheless.
"Ma'am, you weren't supposed to read on your mobile whilst driving." Winston laughed. "And: yes, he is. And so am I, if I may say so."
Barbara only gave a grunting sound but still grinned. In fact she really enjoyed all this. If only there would be more private time with Tommy.
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