A/N: Again thanks for all your reviews! :-)

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Chocolat

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She had been watching him for quite some time now.

When they first had worked together Barbara really was annoyed by the nonchalance he could display in every moment concerning 'his lot', concerning functions like this or simple meetings with upper class persons. Only later she had learned that he was not playing it. It was a part of him - beaten into him throughout long years of conservative education, but he was naturally practising it. And how she first had hated his ever so fitting clothes. He always had been the exact opposite to her. Thinking back, yes, she obviously had changed a bit, and so had he. She was not too often wearing oversized jumpers and baggy trousers anymore now but he in return more often appeared at work in blue jeans. A crisp shirt, tie and jacket of course always accompanied it.

Or he was in uniform, like at the moment. She had seen him in it before just once when he had to attend some state funeral but did not want because he felt once more used only because of his noble birth, forced into the event by Sir Hillier who liked to bath in his 'glorious sun' - Lynley had rolled his eyes quoting the Assistant Commissioner but had gone there anyway. You do not reject such an invitation. But it brought the chance for Barbara to see him in this dashing clothing. Fitting every curve of his body which had grown slightly more adult, so to say, of course re-tailored by a professional and probably not his first one anymore, not like her own old uniform which still was like it had been once she got it bought. But nowadays she only teased him for all of that, she was not jealous anymore and her prejudice had lessened enormously if not disappeared at all. And by the way, did I already mention that he looked entirely good today? His hair cut recently, slightly grey at the temples, with the unruly lock - oh, Barbara would love to push it back sometime... his shoulders still straight and broad, his backside unfortunately hidden under the jacket, shoes shining, pips beaming, eyes smiling... Despite the fact that she adored him as a person she also could get lost in the view of that hunk of a man and involuntarily had to sigh.

"Stop undressing him!" Angela had appeared out of nowhere and whispering those words into her ear from behind made Barbara wince. And immediately blush.

"I'm not undressing him, Ange!" she grumbled in reply though she just felt caught unawares and could not be angry with her ever so observant psycho friend.

"Well, at least you try to eat him with your eyes - with or without this gorgeously fitting uniform."

"Oh, nothing like that!" came the weak reply.

"But he's a delicious Cornish pastry, isn't he?" Angela chuckled. "Or one of those sweet chocolaty pieces of eat-art they had passed around earlier? Go, take a bite." She winked.

"Gosh!" It was more ardent than Barbara had intended to sound. Oh, yes, he looked delicious. "Tommy-" at that she blushed and averted her eyes. "He's no piece of food..."

"Barb?" Rolling her eyes Angela placed her hands on her friend's shoulders and turned Barbara's face to look her straight in the eyes. "That thing between you is so bloody serious!"

"I know..." Barbara breathed somehow despairingly.

"Then, for all deities' sake, make a step forward!" Trying to reassure her in a way Angela nudged her elbow but Barbara could not take her eyes off of him.

If I only knew how...

Later that afternoon Tommy stood in a round once more with Winston and others when Barbara and Angela approached, the resolute woman in the red dress actually steering the Sergeant at her elbow to the group of men. They all chatted lightly though probably everybody sensed the tension between the Inspector and the Sergeant. Probably everybody saw the undeniable long looks between them too. Probably everybody saw the small accidental but nonetheless welcomed touches of their hands. And at least Angela saw the movement of his fingers when he kept the involuntary contact for a little longer by stroking the back of Barbara's hand with his knuckles which made her stretch her fingers and briefly press them against his in return. The psychoanalyst almost cried 'grab it!' in their direction.

That both had stopped breathing in those few seconds also did not slip Angela's attention so she had to hide her chuckle behind the rim of her glass. Winston had seen it too and grinned at his psycho-analyst conspirator. Eventually, making an almost invisible motion with his head towards Barbara, Winston, who already had had one or the other champagne with Angela, gave his boss an intense glare saying without words he should finally say or do something to the positively glowing woman who stood right next to him but when Lynley still made no more moves at all and still kept silent with just another loving look at her Winston only could roll his eyes and turn away leaving them with a quiet but frustrated groan. Angela followed him on the heel.

Since Barbara had run out of champagne Tommy went to fetch another one for her. On his way to the bar he met Hillier and Lawrence once more who engaged him in another conversation.

Coming back to Barbara he finally had a moment alone with her since the others had turned their attention to the group of special force's boys who were telling something incredibly adventurous. Though his stomach had made a joyful flip when their hands brushed on her third glass of expensive bubbly his mind was not really focussed on what he had wanted to tell her concerning those emotions because he had news from their superiors and so he just talked about the upcoming promotions in their department, for example that Winston would become Sergeant. And he also had another special piece of news for her.

"You know what, Barbara, I'm becoming DCI soon." Barbara's only thought was that they probably would not be separated in that case. "For my, well, our success over the years I've been a simple DI for too long now. Like you've been a Sergeant for too much time without climbing the ladder. And next year Dickinson will resign so Hillier had informed me that it's most likely that I will even become Super Intendent not very much later. In that case you will become the next DI Lynley, so-"

Tommy stopped abruptly and held his breath. It's not meant that way!

Barbara's eyes turned big.

"Umm... Well... I mean..." With red hot flashing ears Tommy stuttered searching for words.

"What?!" As if shaking that special thought away Barbara shook her head. He had not meant it that way, Barb, cool down!

Tommy knew he had to explain what had slipped his lips.

"I mean, you've passed your exams quite a while ago, haven't you? So you will become the DI that takes over my team." He gave her a lopsided grin and hoped she would eat this.

"What?" Of course she believed his explanation because she was sure he never could have meant what it also could have implied but she still did not believe this other thing - Barbara Havers a real DI? Well, haha... Though she had played acting DI for quite a while now, getting a real, an official promotion still was strange. "DI? Me? When?"

"Well... on Monday...?"

"What the... Are you crazy?!" Was he actually telling her what she thought he did? "When did you plan to ask me?!"

As soon as possible. he involuntarily thought and had everything but her promotion in mind with that. Between burning red ears his eyes twinkled and the smile that spread across his face could not be suppressed at all. Tommy cleared his throat. Back to topic!

"Well, actually you have no real options, Barbara, it's time for you to move on. You just have to sign the papers." His grin even grew wider. "Since it's only DCI for me first we'll stay a team for at least one year so you have the chance to get adjusted. You won't get rid of me so soon." He winked at Barbara who still looked a bit shocked.

"And whatever else will come when they heaved me onto the Super Intendent's chair, I will always be there, just one storey above you. And we still will go for a pint after work. The occasional lunch or dinner will still cross your way and... maybe even more? They're giving A Midsummer Night's Dream in London at the moment. Mother has tickets and I would love to go with you." Despite a little trembling his hand managed a soft stroke on her upper arm emphasising that he had meant what he had said.

"You won't buy me with theatre tickets, Sir, you know that." Slowly she tried to feel happy. He had said that they would not work separated, hadn't he?

"Alright. Then maybe a nice night at the cinema?" When he looked at her now his eyes were so teasingly soft that her knees went weak again. "Some nice action film with Vin Diesel perhaps?"

There was no need anymore to make it tempting for Barbara, she already had given in and was smiling happily at her boss' face. "Mmmh, I may consider a positive answer but don't be too sure. I'm still angry that you bunch of men have decided my future. Haven't you considered that I might not want to become a DI? Maybe I just refuse to accept that promotion?" Nonetheless her grin already was telling of her approval.

A loud laugh came from Tommy. "Oh, Barbara, I'm glad that our Queen doesn't know how insubordinate you could be sometimes."

It made Barbara smile. "I hope you won't tell her, Tommy-" Recognising that she had called him by his given name she stopped briefly like she always did in those moments. Tommy loved those little pauses. "-when you see her next time for dinner."

"Well, probably you'll meet her earlier. And next time when we go out for dinner I only see you, Barbara."

Now was the moment when he finally could tell her, quietly of course because they still were not alone in here, that they should leave now because he had to tell her something extraordinarily important regarding the previous months and their relationship which really could be less complicated than it appeared. He had to tell her something.

Unfortunately it was not yet possible.

They only shared a shy smile when they had to open the conversation round to two approaching colleagues who wanted to chat with Barbara. Their hands brushed ever so lightly again but now Tommy finally screwed up his courage and gently curled his fingers around hers. If he could not get her out of here to talk to her he had to try and show it without words. After squeezing it once he firmly held her hand, giving her a resolved look saying that he won't let her go, that he won't hide anything at all and that in fact he knew he was clearly ignoring that it may look strange for a DI and his Sergeant to hold hands.

It was more than just holding hands. It was like a communication between lovers. When the first moment of positive shock was gone Barbara adjusted her fingers into his hand. In the end it was easy and thanks to some bubbly at home and three glasses of champagne on an almost empty stomach she did not care too much about how it may look to others. He was holding her hand - that was all that mattered. And it felt so natural. First they only clung to each other firmly but then, when Tommy started to trace soft circles on the back of her hand with the tips of his fingers, Barbara relaxed her grip too. A small smile, only visible for the good observer, played around the edges of their lips when their eyes confirmed what their hands were doing.

An electrical sizzling went up her veins when Tommy gently tickled her inner wrist with his thumb and Barbara, now even feeling that wonderful tickle in her stomach too, answered with her little finger stroking the side of his hand. His eyes turned dark with hooded desire when he felt it. He gave her a deep look which had nothing to do with the verbal conversation they had with the group of people around them about something he had forgotten in the second it had been said. They only vaguely recognised that Winston and Angela, clinging to his arm, had joined the round.

Let me make you feel how intense I love you! his eyes beamed at her while Barbara said something witty to Angela and later could not remember what it was because of the distraction Tommy's middle finger caused tracing a tender line across the inner side of her hand. Before her eyes - and her voice - would betray her in front of the clever psychoanalyst she turned her face back to him so he was the only one to see the thrill burning in her eyes.

You wouldn't believe how much I love you! her whole face radiated up to his. Barbara was in a complete turmoil and felt like she would explode in a minute. This could go on forever, she thought but the endearments ended when Tommy finally interlaced his fingers with hers and kept them this way for the rest of the time they were attending this reception. It turned quite short.

They needed to leave. They needed to talk. They needed to proceed what their hands had begun. The surrounding conversation had reached their minds only in a blur somehow anyway.

If we're not leaving in an instant I'm going to kiss you right here in front of everybody! His glare did not even try to hide his covetous feelings.

Twenty minutes after they had started the tentative exploration of their hands they looked at each other in the middle of the small talk round with Angela, Winnie and three men of an armed squad team and exchanged another one of their well-known silent communications they had become quite good at recently. It had saved their lives, it even had saved their careers. Though they were not entirely familiar with the new vocabulary they agreed on leaving right now. Both knew that they really had to talk about something and with an almost invisible nod Tommy yielded the chance to Barbara to announce their leave.

"It's time. I'm leaving now." she simply said with a polite smile, meant for all but distinctively spoken in his direction, her look a mixture of anticipation and panic and the question how they could leave together without raising suspicion.

"Oh, I'm coming along." he added casually smiling and they bid their simple goodbyes into the round. That was easy.

Winston nodded complacent and almost had said that it was about time. Angela just grinned the naughtiest smile she was capable of. She had a hard time not to wish them fun.

DI Lynley and DS Havers were the topic of the evening when they had left the event - still holding hands.

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A/N: NP himself was as big a Barbara/Tommy shipper as probably anyone in the fandom and he once had declared that he would have ended ILM with Lynley and Havers holding hands and walking into the sunset. That's what I had in mind here... :-D