A/N: Sorry I let you wait for so long.
.
.
An hour or so had passed. In the hospital's cafeteria Winston had insisted of having a quick lunch although Barbara had been quite hungry she had left most of hers abandoned on her plate. They also had seen the local news with pictures of the robbery. Lynley was shown coming out of the bank, there was a glimpse of their kiss before the ambulance van went in the way and the final arrest of a seriously wounded criminal was shown too. They also showed an interview with the mother of the child glorifying the DI's brave intervention and one with the Commissioner talking about the incident and how well the special forces worked. Being asked about that man with the revolver he had told the press that he would not comment on that at the moment. Winston and Barbara only spoke a few short sentences but mostly kept silent. Both were dwelling on their own thoughts. From time to time Barbara wiped some tears from her face but she had calmed down a bit. She read in a boring magazine and finally even called the Commissioner who confirmed that Lady Asherton was informed and on her way. Finally Barbara jumped up from the uncomfortable plastic chair.
"I bet he's out and they forgot to call me." she grumbled and already was on her way to the exit. "Or did it on purpose."
"Barbara, wait! They won't let you in his room anyway. And probably he's not yet-" Barbara had stopped and turned to Winston.
"I must see him, Winnie. Or at least get some information. I can't keep sitting here!"
Winston sighed. "Okay. We'll go to the waiting room there. But we'll wait. They promised to call you and they will!"
When they arrived at the surgical intensive care unit they saw that there was a different nurse. Holding her arm Winston stopped her. "I have an idea." he muttered. "You'll wait here and I play my charming card. I'll get news about him and the room number if they have finished the surgery. Don't show up at the desk. I'll come back here."
Miraculously it worked. The combination of showing his warrant card, smiling his best charming smile and giving the promise only to come back tomorrow made the nurse tell him what he wanted to know. Barbara had been right. Due to a few other A&E cases they indeed had forgotten to call her that they have finished Lynley's surgery. To her relief everything went smooth but now Tommy was brought to another ward and he was still not awake. "Ward AE4, room number 7B. Just show your warrant card if they ask and try to look professional. Wipe your tears, luv." the DC grinned at Barbara and then hugged her. "It's going to be fine. Do you want me to come with you? Or shall I wait outside?"
"Thank you, Winnie, but you really can go home. You've helped me more than you would believe."
"That's what friends are for, Barb." They hugged again. "I'll wait a bit, ok? Just call me if you need me. Any time."
It was good to have a friend and even more so when you recognise them unexpectedly.
On quiet feet Barbara went through the corridors towards the other ward. There was nobody at the desk at the moment and three room lights were blinking. The light at the door to room 7B also was on so she knew that the nurse was in there. Barbara deeply breathed before she entered with a whispered "Hello!? Tommy?!"
"You can't come in, Ma'am. Who are you?"
"I'm his... partner." Barbara said. It was not even a complete lie. Fortunately the nurse had not heard her hesitation or had interpreted it as a swallowed sob and so she thought exactly what Barbara had intended with her choice of words.
"Oh, sorry, Mrs Lynley." Unrecognised by the elder nurse Barbara cringed thinking about Helen for a second. "Of course you can come in." She offered a chair and silently went on arranging and checking the IV bags and other tubes and wires around Tommy's limp body. Seeing that Barbara only stared in shock at his pale face she patted her arm. "He'll be fine, love. Since the shot hit an artery he's lost a lot of blood but his arm will heal. He's had so much luck."
Now Barbara really sobbed. She saw the bandage so close to Tommy's heart. Her quizzical look made the nurse feel obliged to explain more.
"He's in an artificial coma and won't wake up today, but you can stay here for a while. I guess tomorrow morning the doctors will bring him back into consciousness. Just press that button if you need anything." She pushed the chair next to the bed and nodded inviting. "Sit and talk to him. He'll probably hear you." With a last reassuring smile the nurse left Barbara alone with her boss.
Still watching Tommy's dauntingly peaceful face she sat down.
"Hiya." she whispered and almost expected his special smile on his lips. That small smile that was a bit tender and a bit impish. That small soft smile she only ever saw him giving her. Only realising it now that it was his smile for her exclusively Barbara tried to stay calm. There was so much she wanted to tell him but she found no proper words and of course did not expected to be getting an answer so she only watched his face. After a while her eyes wandered across the tubes and wires and to the quietly humming and beeping monitors before she stroked the back of Tommy's hand with her index finger. "You know it was a stupid idea, Sir." she began and hesitated. "Tommy." she added with a weak smile he did not see of course. "You've freaked me out with your silly action."
Eventually Barbara dared to take his right hand that had no cannula attached to it. "I was so afraid I would lose you... I... I wouldn't know what I'd do without you, Sir. ...Tommy." She sighed. A hopeful part of her had expected a reaction but of course there was none.
"I should go on calling you Tommy, shouldn't I?"
.
...