Tommy jumped in his bed. He had dreamt that Barbara was high on a cliff above him. As he waved and called out to her, she slowly tipped forward and fell past him. He turned to watch her splatter on the rocks below but was jolted awake before she reached the bottom. He rose and went to splash water on his face. Tommy hated his nightmares, but this was a frightening new one. It would be impossible to get back to sleep without knowing Barbara was safe. He opened his door and padded silently across the hall to her room. He was about to open the door when he heard her sobbing.

"Barbara, are you all right?" he called through the door.

"Sorwee."

Tommy opened the door slowly. Barbara was sitting in the foetal position with tears running down her face. He rushed over. Sitting beside her, he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her to his chest. Initially, she tensed before melting against him. He patted her back hoping to reassure her. "Hey, it's okay. You're safe. What happened?"

"I was listening to your tape and fell asleep."

"That's a good thing, isn't it?"

"Yes, but the tape stopped and I woke up and... and... I can't take any more. I'm exhausted. I think I am going nuts. The only way I will ever sleep is to die."

Tommy shuddered and pulled her closer. "No. I won't let that happen. We will beat this, Barbara."

"Help me, Sir. Help me."

"I will. I promise." He wrapped both arms around her and held her while she cried out all her pain.

A few minutes later her body stopped shaking, and her crying eased back to a few sniffly tears. "I'm sorry."

Tommy tilted her chin up so she could see him. "There is absolutely no need to apologise. I know what chronic insomnia can be like. It slowly crushes you. Let me get you some tissues. Would you like to wash your face?"

Barbara nodded. "Ta."

Tommy eased her back against her pillows. He stood. The front of his dressing gown was saturated. He took it off and tossed it on the floor. He fetched a glass of water, a box of tissues and a wet flannel from her ensuite. "Here wash your face then have a drink."

"Thank you. I'm sorry for waking you, but I am grateful you found me. I... needed that."

"My nightmares woke me, not you. I came over to check on you, and I'm glad I did. You should have come over and woken me. I don't want you suffering through this alone." He sat on the edge of the bed. "Would you like to talk about it?"

She shook her head. "I don't know what to say. I just can't sleep and it's... so... draining. I feel like one of those clocks when the battery is almost dead and the hand just jerks in the same place and can't move forward."

"Would it help if I stayed with you?"

She shrugged. "It might if you could keep talking to me all night."

Tommy smiled at her. "I'm not sure if I should feel flattered or not having such a soporific voice."

"Feel flattered."

Tommy pushed some hair out of her eyes. "I can talk to you until you fall asleep, and if you wake up, I will talk to you until you're sound asleep again."

Barbara gave him a broad but sad smile. "Thank you, but you don't have to. I don't want to be a burden."

"You're not. I didn't want to be a burden to you once either, and I should have swallowed my pride and let you help me. Don't repeat my mistakes, Barbara. Let me help you."

She nodded. "Thank you."

Tommy kicked off his slippers and climbed in beside her. She looked startled. "I'm not sitting up all night." He stretched out. "Now, snuggle down here where you'll be more comfortable."

Barbara looked at him then slowly eased herself over and into his arms. "Are you sure?"

"Positive. Comfy?"

"Yeah."

Tommy felt guilty that lying like this felt good. Far too good. He was supposed to be comforting her, not himself. He pulled her closer. "Now what would you like me to talk about?"

"I dunno. Tell me about... your childhood."

"Yes, well that would put anyone to sleep."

She looked up at him. "No, I'd like to know."

Barbara deserved to know more about his past. He made a show of sighing as if it was all far too boring. "Alright, but be warned. Sleep will be instantaneous."

"At the moment, that would be very welcome, and no reflection on you or your childhood adventures."

Tommy chuckled. "Okay. Once upon a time, an Earl and his beautiful young wife had a child. The baby was healthy, but a rather loud boy who protested at everything from being picked up to being breastfed. His elder sister had been an ideal baby and their son and heir was a right royal pain in the arse."

Barbara laughed. "Who would ever have believed that of you, Sir?"

"Huh, thanks very much. Anyway, his weary parents decided to have the irritable babe christened Thomas after the doubting, and presumably equally annoying apostle."

"It means twin."

"It does, yes, but whose story is this? You're supposed to be falling asleep."

"Sorry. Go on."

"Thomas seemed too harsh for a little baby, so they started calling him Tommy. Now little Tommy was quite a handful..."


Barbara listened not only to his voice but his words. His childhood running around the cliffs and beaches of Cornwall sounded carefree and happy until he had left for Eton. Tommy described his schooling as an expectation and obligation.

"Did you want to go to Eton?" she asked.

"I had grown up knowing it would happen, so I don't think I ever thought about alternatives, but I didn't particularly want to leave Howenstowe. You're not asleep. Should I talk about police procedures?"

Barbara sighed. "Maybe I will never sleep again."

His arms tightened around her. "Yes, you will. Shall I continue my story? I guarantee my Eton years will bore you."

"Yeah. Ta."

This time the lyrical quality of his voice overwhelmed her curiosity about his childhood. Slowly, she drifted to sleep.


Tommy woke but did not open his eyes. Barbara was still in his arms and snoring softly and for the first time in years, he felt at peace. After all she had been through, he did not want to wake her. It took him a few seconds to realise where his hand was resting. A warm surge of guilty adrenaline flushed his body. His hand was cupping her breast. He could feel everything through the cotton of her pyjamas. Her breast was full and heavy, and delightfully firm. He had no idea how his hand had found its way there, but he could not move it without the risk of waking her. Barbara's hand was over his fingers, holding them in place. Guilt again overtook his fear. He had inadvertently taken advantage of her when she was exhausted. It had never been his intention. He had just wanted to hold her close and keep her safe.

Tommy tried to think his way out of his dilemma. Barbara would be mortified if she woke to find his hand there. He had to move it, but with her hand clutching his, it was tricky. He opened his fingers to reduce the contact then slid his palm slowly over her breast towards her stomach. The friction caused her nipple to harden. Barbara let out a long sigh. Tommy stopped moving. He told himself it was so she did not wake, but he also knew he wanted to prolong the contact. He waited nearly a minute before he started to slide his hand again. Barbara grumbled and shifted and, to his relief, her hand fell away. He took a few seconds to gradually release the pressure on her breast before he too removed his hand and settled it on her hip. He listened to her breath. It was even and deep. She had not woken.

Unable to sleep, he considered what had happened, and more importantly, his response. Lately, he had thought a lot about what it would be like to be in a romantic relationship with Barbara. His contemplation had focussed mainly on overcoming her likely list of objections. He feared it would be a long, but worthwhile, process. They often ate together, and he had started to extend that to evenings at restaurants and not just the local pub. He had even convinced her to attend a new play with him, and they had tentatively planned to go to the release of a new movie she wanted to see in a couple of weeks. Was that dating? To him, yes, it probably was, but would Barbara understand that? He sighed. And then there was the issue of how to turn that into something more romantic. How would she respond if he kissed her? He had been more openly affectionate in recent months taking every opportunity to drape his arm around her shoulder or take her hand to help her in and out of cabs. She never objected, but she never returned his touch. Was that because she was scared? Or did she simply not want to touch him? Did she find him attractive? Just because other women fell at him, it did not mean she would. He was attracted to her, but oddly, he had not given her body much detailed thought. He had dreamt about making love more from an emotional perspective than a physical one. Somehow he had assumed the physical part would simply work itself out because he loved her and hoped she loved him. Tonight he had breached a barrier that had opened a range of feelings he had suppressed. It frightened him that he could not imagine ever sleeping without her again. Now he had to decide how to pursue his desire when Barbara felt better.


Barbara woke to find Tommy's hand on her hip. She smiled. Earlier she had woken when he had started fondling her breast. He was snoring lightly, so she knew it was accidental. Even so, it was comforting. For a brief moment, she could pretend her gorgeous boss was hers. She had put her hand lightly over his and drifted back to sleep.


It was nearly ten o'clock by the time Tommy woke again. He was on his back. Barbara was still lying in his arms but had rolled to face him and had her arm across his stomach. Her breath tickled his chest as she snored quietly. His arm had pins and needles where the circulation was impeded by her head in his shoulder. He slowly slid it up until it was free and her head was resting on his pillow. Barbara grunted then spun over to face the other way. Tommy wanted to follow and continue to hold her, but he also needed the bathroom. Reluctantly he rose.

When he returned, Barbara was awake. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you."

"You didn't. How long have you been up?"

"About five minutes."

She yawned. "What time is it?"

"Almost ten. You slept for over ten hours. How do you feel?"

"Better, but foolish. I'm sorry about last night. I was just so... overtired and..."

"Don't be sorry. I was glad to help. I do know what insomnia is like. Do you want to sleep some more or would you like brunch?"

"Brunch I think. Otherwise, I might not sleep tonight and the cycle will begin again."

Tommy nodded. "That's true. Brunch it is. I'll have a quick shower in my room then would you like porridge or eggs?"

"Eggs please."

"Come down when you are ready."


After brunch, at Barbara's insistence, they spent the day reviewing material for her exam. Tommy had managed to convince her to have dinner at the pub, but instead of a quiet evening, she had demanded that they continue to go over more material.

"You need a break, Barbara."

"I don't have time for a break. Three weeks remember?"

Convinced that Barbara knew the material, but just lacked confidence, Tommy tried to reassure her. "You know most of this. All you need to do is revise a few of the technicalities that they always ask, and you will fly through the exam. You also need to rest."

Barbara sighed. "I'm not tired. You go to bed if you want to."

"It's not that. I am worried about you."

"Why?"

Tommy frowned. "Because I care. I got you into this, but I never meant to stress you by it. You can function today after a decent night's sleep, but if you go back to being exhausted, you won't be able to think properly. Don't tire yourself by studying too much."

His sergeant gave him a defiant look then nodded. "Yeah, you're right. I'm just..." She shrugged.

"Scared you won't sleep well?" She nodded. "Then we just have to make sure you do."

"What, by sleeping with me every night until the exam?" she said sarcastically.

"Yes, if that's what you need." He ignored Barbara's widening eyes. "I will do anything you need to help."

A red-faced Barbara brushed past him. "Yeah, thanks, but I need a real solution."

"Meaning?"

Barbara shrugged. "I have to be able to function by myself. Last night was... lovely, but I can't develop a habit of only being able to sleep if you're there. That's... wrong. On so many levels."

"I see." Tommy fought his urge to be offended, or to blurt out his feelings. From her perspective, what she was saying made sense. "I don't think it's wrong as you put it, but I understand."

"You're right too though. We should call it a night. Thank you for today, it has helped."

Tommy nodded and managed an unconvincing smile. "Good. We can do more tomorrow if you're up to it."

Barbara looked around the room. "Yeah, ta. Well... goodnight, Sir."

"Nightcap?"

"Nah, better not. I'll see you in the morning."

He nodded. "Call me if you need me. I mean it. Don't lie awake for hours."

"Goodnight."

"Goodnight." As she left the room, he walked to his cabinet and found his favourite single malt.