Wednesday 24 June 8:03 am Ward 407 University College Hospital

Tommy

He waited anxiously for Barbara to arrive. A few hours earlier he had discovered he could open his eyes. It had seemed strange at first. Everything had been blurred and bluish but gradually his eyes had adjusted. His mother had been on watch but she often fell asleep for which he was grateful. Now he could not wait to share his discovery with Barbara.

Since he had been admitted she had arrived promptly at eight each morning and evening during change of shift. Somehow the nurses had persuaded his mother and sister to leave him alone just long enough for Barbara to spend half an hour talking to him. He looked forward to her visits. She stood by his bed telling him about work and the minutiae of her daily battles with Hillier, the weather and her ever unreliable car. She never spoke about how bad he looked or how sad it was or how poor his prospects were of recovery. He had enough of that bad news from his family. Judith's shifts were fine. She would speak briefly and let him sleep. Peter sulked and blamed Tommy for all his life's failings. Had he been able Tommy was convinced he would have hit him but it had given Tommy an understanding of the Lynley self-pity that both boys had inherited from their mother. Tommy had had a lot of time to reflect on his life and behaviour. He had been selfish, especially with Barbara and yet she stayed close and was now enduring grief from his family. He desperately wanted to tell her he was grateful.

Barbara arrived and came up to his bed. A light spray of water splashed his face. "Sorry I'm a bit late. It's raining cats and...can you see me?"

Tommy blinked.

"Twice for yes, once for no."

Tommy blinked twice. It was an effort but the delight on her face was his reward. She looked relieved and proud.

"Do the others know?"

One blink.

"Do you want them to know?"

He knew she would understand. One blink.

"Our secret then?"

Two blinks.

"Could you hear the whole time?"

Two blinks. He saw a shadow cross her face.

"Then you know they don't want me here."

Two blinks.

He saw her hesitate then ask, "do you want me here?"

Four blinks.

"Four? Is that yes twice?"

Two blinks.

"Oh Sir, you've no idea how happy I am today." Barbra sniffed and turned away slightly.

He knew she was trying hard not to cry. Ask me if I love you!

Barbara chatted on asking questions. Are you in pain? Can you feel your fingers? Can I get you anything? Her half hour was nearly up. "Now you be good today. I'll be back tonight. I...I've missed you Sir."

Tommy hoped she might lean down and kiss him but she just smiled and waved as she left.

Barbara

It had been a long week. Barbara snuck in to see her boss twice a day. Kathy, the nurse who had approached her on that first night, had helped her although once she had been forced to hide in a storeroom in the hall when Peter had needed extra persuasion to take a break. Kathy had informed the other nurses too and now everyone helped her. Barbara knew that they had developed some romantic story about them being lovers whose relationship was frowned on by the family. By now everyone knew Tommy was Lord Asherton and most of the nurses related to Barbara's working class girl loves aristocratic boy story. At first she had felt guilty but it was largely the truth and if it let her see him then she would use it. Nobody was being hurt by it.

It had rained constantly overnight and with her car out of action again Barbara had needed to catch three buses. She arrived damp and slightly miserable. She put her battered blue umbrella beside his bed. "Sorry I'm a bit late. It's raining cats and...can you see me?"

Her heart leapt. Tommy was looking at her. He had an excited expression. He blinked at her and she wondered if he was trying to communicate. "Twice for yes, once for no."

He blinked twice! Barbra wanted to hug him but there was no room. She felt tears well in her eyes and she discretely turned away so that he would not see. Two big breaths and she could face him. She chatted to him asking questions until it was time to leave. He had waited to share his surprise with her. He did not want his family to know yet. Stick that Peter and Lady Muck!

This morning she was tempted to stay and confront his brother but to do that she would have to reveal his secret. She would never betray him so she left promising to return that night. She hurried outside then realised that she had left her umbrella beside his bed. She cursed under her breath then snuck back inside. Judith was sitting in the chair by his bed. She cursed again and went to find Kathy.

Kathy

She breezed into the room and collected the umbrella. "There you are! I must have left it here when I came in first thing." She could see that his sister did not believe her but she could never prove anything.

"How is Barbara? Is she coping okay with Tommy like this?"

Kathy tried to sound smooth. "Sorry who?"

"Barbara, the woman who visits my brother every morning and night and has all the nurses covering for her."

She did not sound angry and Kathy knew her reaction had probably given her away. "Sorry but I thought it was cruel the way your brother turned her away. It does him good. During the time she is here his blood pressure goes down. He knows she's here and it's important to him. He would recover faster if she was able to spend more time with him."

Kathy expected fireworks and to be reported but his sister simply nodded. "I know. He's quite dependent on her. Has been for years. I'll talk to Mother."

Wednesday 24 June 7:59 pm Ward 407 University College Hospital

Barbara

Barbara checked that the room was empty through the glass in the door as she always did then stepped into his ward. "Evening Sir," she said breezily.

"Hello Barbara."

She jumped and turned to see Judith behind the door. "Judith, what a surprise." Her heart sank but she continued to walk across to Tommy. His eyes opened and seemed to plead with her to not give up.

Judith came over and hugged her. "I'm so sorry about Peter and Mother. They should never have stopped you coming."

Barbara tentatively put her arms briefly around Judith then dropped them to her side. "What happens now?"

"I'll leave you with Tommy. Don't worry; I'll start taking the morning and night shifts. Come and spend as much time as you like. He needs you Barbara."

Judith turned to Tommy. "Hello little brother." He opened his eyes. "How does this work?"

"Two blinks for yes, one for no," Barbara answered.

Judith smiled at her brother. "Should I leave you two alone?"

Two blinks. Judith smiled. "I'll leave him to you then. We'll talk later Barbara."

Judith disappeared and Barbara turned to Tommy and smiled. "Seems I have an ally." Two blinks. "Well it looks like I can visit you for longer. I hope you like that idea." Six blinks. Barbara smiled at him and his eyes smiled back with that look that always melted her heart.

Judith

One look told her that her brother's colleague was a more positive influence than his family. Tommy only moved slightly but he had responded to Barbara's greeting. The cagey devil was foxing; he was clearly able to hear everything.

"Hello Barbara."

She watched her brother flinch and Barbara jump. It confirmed her theory. She was not angry but she was disappointed that he was avoiding his family. She hugged Barbara enthusiastically. She had always liked her and thought she balanced her sometimes unintentionally arrogant brother. He had softened a lot since knowing her and was much more understanding and forgiving of people. Perhaps she should lock her in a room with Peter and hope for a positive change.

"Hello little brother. How does this work?" Tommy had reluctantly opened his eyes. Judith had never been happier to see her brother glare at her. He was alive and clearly comprehending life around him. For the first time in days she thought he was going to make it. If Barbara was his confidante or his inspiration she was happy to support it. Tommy knew his mind. He was not a fool and if they had a relationship that they had hidden from the family she would respect that.

She bade her farewell and left them alone to talk in the language they had devised. She had always thought they shared an unspoken understanding and they would need it more than ever. She went to get coffee and wait.

Kathy

Barbara was coming down the corridor but Kathy had not seen his sister leave. Something told her disaster was imminent but she could not reach Barbara in time. She watched anxiously but no one emerged. Thank goodness. I must've been wrong.

But she had not been wrong and a couple of minutes later his sister left the ward looking lighter and happier. Barbara 1, Family 0.

Kathy was about to enter the ward when she stopped at the door and watched. Barbara was talking to him and seemed to be getting feedback. Cheeky bugger! He's awake. She was about to fetch a doctor but she saw the relief and love on Barbara's face. It seemed he had been awake for a while, so another hour or so would not hurt. She walked back to the nurse's station whistling gaily. She liked a good love story.

Tommy

Tommy resented his sister's interference. He hated that they had been discovered but not because he was ashamed of fooling his family but because his secret time with Barbara was under threat. Once his brother and mother knew he imagined they would try to stop her seeing him. He would fight that by any means he could. He could clamp his eyes shut and ignore them until they relented.

Barbara chatted happily about nothing in particular but he hung on every word. He could now move his eyebrows and had amused her with his expressions. "I'm going to have to go Sir," she said eventually, "it's nearly eleven." He blinked once. "Yes it is and I really should go. If I don't come back it won't be my fault."

Tommy heard an alarm go off and Barbara glance guiltily to his left. "Sorry, I shouldn't have said that. I'll be back in the morning." The alarm stopped. "You want that it seems." Four blinks. Barbara leant over him and looked into his eyes. For a moment he thought she was going to kiss his forehead but instead she simply smiled. "Night Sir."

He watched her leave as far as his vision would allow. He felt instantly lonely and closed his eyes. He opened them again when he heard her footsteps come back. Barbara reached over and kissed his cheek. "Sorry, I had to do that. I'm so glad you're back with us. Did you mind?"

One blink and he concentrated hard on not accidentally blinking a second time. It made his eyes water. Barbara wiped away an errant tear that escaped and ran down his temple. "Everything will be fine Sir. Just focus on getting better."