Author's note: Sorry for the delay. Real life reared its ugly head very unpleasantly last week and bit me badly. I have not been able to focus on our two friends. If this feels rushed, it was!

Barbara tried to stifle a yawn. It was a little after eight o'clock and she was standing next to Tommy as he explained to the assembled police team how they had cracked the code. She was grateful that he had omitted any reference to contacting his family.

"There are nine names here," Tommy went on, "and this address in Cringila. I think that's where Roo may have been held."

"And this nipper thinks that playin' spies with his secrets codes is useful. What're we s'posed to do? Raid the place based on this?" Bazza snorted.

"Yes," Lynley answered him, "that's exactly what I propose."

"And what judge'll issue a warrant based on your decodin' of some underlined letters in a football programme?"

"Most of them," Davo cut in, "and I'm going to find one now. Excellent work you two. You look exhausted. Did you get any sleep?"

"A little," Tommy lied.

"This'll take a few hours to sort out. Go home and get some sleep," Davo insisted.

"We want to be part of this," Barbara replied in away that brooked no argument.

"You will. I promise."

Back at the apartment Barbara climbed gratefully into bed. Tommy undressed but then dashed back into the living room before returning with his glasses and iPad. Barbara looked at him and groaned. "No!" she said firmly, "no Skyping and no sex."

Tommy laughed. "I promise never to Skype anyone again unless I'm fully dressed and I'm as tired as you. I just thought you should leave a message for Roo."

"How?"

"Reply to a comment by KoolCat on the Cats page."

"Sneaky you."

Tommy found the site and quickly created an account with the alias of Barb. "Here's her latest comment 'Good game. Tommy is a smart player in form.' That has to be for us."

"That's a bit egotistical isn't it?"

"Possibly," Tommy admitted then continued completely ignoring her implication, "what if we put 'Thanks for your insights and help with the team stats. I understand the rules now. HOpe to meet again soon'? Does that sound okay?"

"No, it sounds like you're trying to send a message. What about 'Great result. Tommy read the play brilliantly. Go Cats!'?"

Tommy typed it into the box and pressed send. "That should tell them we understood."

He was about the log out when a message from KoolCat appeared. He read it to Barbara. "CU at the next game. Take care."

"They understand. Now sleep."

Tommy held her tightly and kissed the top of her head gently. Barbara knew he was worried. "What's wrong?"

"I'd prefer you didn't go today. I don't want you to get hurt." Tommy had a strange feeling something was going to go wrong and the harder he tried to ignore it the more his stomach sank and his heart-rate increased.

Barbara bristled at his over-protectiveness and wriggled to try and loosen his grip. "I won't be. I don't want you hurt either but we have a job to do. We have an obligation to those kids."

"I know but we also have an obligation to each other."

Barbara knew he was right and understood his fears after losing Helen but she was not going to allow him to be possessive and paternalistic. "If this is going to last..."

Tommy moved back from her in horror. "Why wouldn't it last? You're my life Barbara. You are the reason I exist. I thought after the last few days you knew that. I thought I meant the same to you."

Barbara took a deep breath. "You do. You know that but I also know that loving you will never change you and you can't expect me to change either. If we stop to second guess ourselves for fear of what might happen we won't be good at our jobs anymore. I'll be careful, I promise but you have to put the job first not your feelings for me. That's why they don't like couples serving together remember."

"I've always put you first," Tommy protested.

"No, you haven't. Remember charging into barns against women with shotguns? Or any number of other occasions that you tried to get yourself killed. That can't change. Well it can, you can be more careful, but not because you are worried about me."

"I just have an uneasy feeling about today," he admitted quietly as he pulled her back into his arms.

Barbara snuggled into him and stroked his back. "I promise to be careful. I haven't waited this long to be like this only to lose it. Now go to sleep!"

Six hours later they were assembled at the Bulli lookout being briefed by Davo and Gibbo. One of the names on the list was a Chief Inspector in the Wollongong police so Gibbo had brought in ten officers from Vice to assist. Assignments were given and plans and timings synchronised. There were to be simultaneous raids on seven properties. "Barb, you go with Bazza to the house in Cringila in case the kids are there and need reassurance. Tommy you can come with Gibbo and me to Wollongong LAC to arrest our corrupt friend. I need someone from a neutral force there so he can't claim we abused the process."

Barbara say the distress on Tommy's face. She was still annoyed that he had become so smothering. "That will be fine," she said quickly avoiding his gaze.

As they moved to their vehicles Tommy grabbed her painfully by the arm. "Don't do anything stupid just to prove a point Sergeant," he hissed quietly.

"I'm not. I just want to do our job and rescue those kids. Then we can sort our relationship issues out."

Her words stung Tommy. "We don't have relationship issues! I love you and intend to spend my life with you. I simply want you to be alive long enough to enjoy what we can become. Take care." He turned and started to walk away.

"Tommy wait!" Barbara caught up to him and put her hand on his arm. "I'm sorry. I'll be careful. I still find this very...awkward. I love you more than anything, you do understand that don't you?"

He looked at her and smiled. Her eyes were open to her soul. He could see the storm of conflict raging there but above everything was a certainty that she did love him. "Yes, I do."

Barbara rushed back to the car when Bazza honked the horn impatiently. "Sorry," she said as she thumped down into the passenger seat.

"No problem love. How long 'ave you two been t'gether?" he replied sympathetically.

"We've worked together for ten years."

"That's not what I meant. You're a lot more 'n workmates."

"What makes you say that?"

"I didn't come down in the last shower love! It's pretty bloody obvious you two are 'avin' some kinda affair but I can't tell if it's somethin' new or somethin' real old."

"Both," Barbara said cryptically.

"You're good together. Lynners might sound stuck up but he's okay. He'll protect ya."

"I don't need protecting! Why does everyone think I need looking after today?"

"Because you do Babs. Everyone does. Don't try to get through life alone because that's exactly what ya'll be. I know thanks to two ex-wives. Lynners needs protectin' too an' you do that all the time. Let 'im return the favour once in a while."

Barbara nodded and then looked away from the grin that spread across his face. The damned man was right but she did not know how to surrender that last piece of independence.

"Ya don't 'ave to give up bein' who you are love. Ya just 'ave to make decisions for both of yers instead of just yerself. I think ya've been doin' that for years anyway but just can't admit it."

Barbara stared at him wondering if he could read her mind. "It's complicated."

"Horse doo doo!," he said as he winked at her, "it's simple really. Either yers love each other or it's just sex. Work that out an' the answer's pretty bloody clear."

Barbara smiled and chuckled. "Horse doo doo?"

"The blokes make me pay a dollar every time I swear. Cost me a fu...flipping fortune! After a while not swearin' b'comes a habit."

They stopped several doors up from the house. Bazza handed Barbara a bullet-proof vest that she strapped on carefully. The other officers were heavily armed and Bazza drew his handgun. She followed him closely as they carefully made their way down the street. She looked around at the modest houses. Most were timber with faded, flaking paint. Yards were overgrown and some were so unkempt grass grew through discarded sofas or bikes left rotting in the sun. Once they had been proudly kept by local workers but now they were neglected and hopeless, reflecting the lost glory of the heady days of full employment. Some curtains were pulled back from the windows to watch the show. Some just pulled slightly to peer unobtrusively; others blazenly open with a line of curious faces. "Lotsa drug addicts an' refugees 'ere," Bazza said, "it's a bad neighbourhood but great for somethin' like this."

As they crept up to the house Bazza hissed a warning. "I've got a bad feelin' about this love. Stick close."

Walking abreast into the Wollongong station with Davo in the centre and Gibbo on the left, Tommy expected to hear the theme music from The Untouchables. They spoke briefly with the officer in charge then proceeded down a sunny corridor to the office of DCI Stefan Jonovski. The man blustered and protested but walked out of his office with dignity and walked proudly down the hall into the interview room. Davo confronted him about the paedophile ring rattling off the list of names Roo had provided. Jonovski looked shocked but quickly hid it. He held firm until Davo mentioned Roo's father. Tommy saw the flicker of awareness and fear.

"He's alive isn't he?" Tommy demanded.

"Who?"

"David Woods. He's alive and that worries you."

"It doesn't worry me. I've done nothing wrong. All you've got is the ramblings of a gambler who'd sell his grandmother. I've nothing to fear from him...or you."

"Then tell me how a nine year old boy knew you and all those names?"

"Over-active imagination. I don't know...his father must have told him."

"So you know which boy I was referring to then? How?"

"You've just been talking about Woods. I assumed it was his boy."

"How did you know he had a boy? The lad's been living in England."

"He must've mentioned it."

"So you admit you know him?"

Jonovski grimaced then sighed. "I interviewed him when he beat up his wife."

"When?" Gibbo asked.

"I can't remember. Two, maybe three years ago."

"Did you charge him?" Tommy asked.

"No, we gave him a warning."

"Despite the fact he had done it before."

"Yeah, well sometimes you can't prove stuff. Like now. If you'll excuse me I'm going back to work unless you have anything more." The man stood and arrogantly smirked at the men opposite him.

Kosti came into the room and handed Davo a piece of paper. He held it up triumphantly. "Actually we can. You see we raided your house too and Tech Services have just found your hidden room. At least twenty computers all full of child pornography. Seems like you hosted a pay-per-view service from there."

"I want a solicitor," Jonovski bleated.

"And I want those boys. This says you had photos of them in cages. Where are the cages?"

The man remained silent. Tommy thought a different tack might rattle him. "You know of course that Woods gave us everything. It's only a matter of time now."

"He didn't know anything and he's been locked away for weeks so you have nothing you pommie git."

Davo and Tommy exchanged glances. "You used Woods as your gaoler. He's at the house at Cringila. Do you really think he hasn't talked?"

Davo and Tommy both saw the shock on Jonovski's face. Tommy had guessed correctly. He pressed his advantage. "What did you have over him to force him to do that?"

Gibbo burst through the door. "Davo a second."

Davo excused himself for the tape recording then followed Gibbo. He returned triumphantly a few seconds later. "We conducted seven raids. We've arrested everyone and found photos, records, links to other crimes. You're all going down for a long time. It will go easier on you if you co-operate. Nasty place gaols for ex-coppers."

"Don't threaten me Davidson! It was his son. He would have done anything to keep the boy safe. He sent him away but we found him because he was stupid enough to contact them. He was going to expose us. I want to ring my solicitor."

Davo nodded and the corrupt officer pulled out his mobile and dialled a number. His conversation was short. "It's me. Do it."

"Do what?" Davo demanded.

"Poof!" Jonovski laughed and made a mushroom cloud gesture with his hands. "No evidence."

Davo swore colourfully. "They've rigged the Cringila house to blow. You'll keep you filthy low-life scum."

Tommy went white. His dread from earlier gripped his stomach and twisted into knots. Davo explained quickly to Kosti and Gibbo then the three men set off at pace for the car pulling on cumbersome bulletproof vests.

Tommy tried to call Barbara's mobile but there was no answer. "Can't you drive any faster?" he snapped at Gibbo.

"We'll get there. They'll be okay," Davo said more confidently than Tommy believed he felt.

It was only a five minute drive but it felt like an eternity. The siren blazed and their lights flashed. Traffic moved out of their path but still it was too slow. Finally the car pulled in at a forty-five degree angle to the kerb and the men jumped out. Tommy started to run towards the open door of the small, cream weatherboard cottage. He was about fifteen yards from the entrance when Barbara appeared with two scared boys wearing only skimpy underpants. "Run," he yelled, "there's a bomb!"

Barbara looked straight at him. She shoved the boys towards him and disappeared back inside. "No! Come back Barbara."

The boys ran and clung to Tommy. They gripped his legs so tightly it hampered any movement. He scooped them up and turned to hand them to one of the other officers. As he spun back to run into the house Barbara appeared clutching a small, frightened boy. He looked no more than three or four. Bazza came out of the house directly behind her. She had taken about four running steps when the house rumbled and shook. Tommy watch in slow motion horror as flames filled the windows. The house seemed to expand then slowly contract before it exploded in a red and yellow fireball. Tommy could not look away. Barbara threw the boy at him and now the boy was crying in his arms. He had no recollection of catching him. She crashed to the ground about ten yards in front of him. Bazza dived on top of her in a chivalrous act that surprised Tommy.

The force of the explosion lifted Tommy off his feet. He turned away and shielded the boy. Shards of glass shot out like shrapnel and cut Bazza badly. Tommy felt fragments pound into his bullet proof vest and whip around his unprotected limbs and head. Runnels of blood trickled down his neck. When Tommy looked back at the burning house he knew instinctively the ocker policeman was dead. Tommy felt someone pull the young boy away as he scrambled on hands and knees over to Barbara, ignoring the pain of the glass cutting his hands and legs. He stumbled to his feet and rushed over to where she lay lifeless beneath Bazza as a pool of dark blood oozed across the grass. His premonition had become reality.