.

.

He had foreseen it. Winston had known beforehand that it would disturb her but he still thought it had been the right thing to give the flowers to Barbara on that very day. Together with Lynley's mother he comforted the sobbing woman. Of course he felt sorry for Barbara but it felt good to finally see her not hiding her emotions like she used to.

When Barbara had composed herself the three decided on leaving the hospital. They knew now that Tommy was stable and there was nothing else they could do for him at the moment. And to be honest they all needed something proper to eat and later a good rest. Tommy would sleep at least until the next morning and so should they, especially Barbara, so all three went to a restaurant and had dinner together. At first Winston was a bit shy in Lady Asherton's presence but in the end it became a still nice evening. Daze, she had insisted to be called that way even by the Constable, appeared indeed as the noble lady she was but still she also was a very normal and unpretentious woman. Winston understood that Barbara would easily cope with her.

They stayed together until about ten o'clock then Barbara took a taxi home where she could not find peace for hours. Today so many significant things had happened and it all kept her mind busy before she finally fell into a dreamful sleep.

The next morning Barbara only called Winnie to tell him she was on her way to the hospital. Very early she had managed to eat two buttered toasts and drink a cup of coffee before her tense nerves pulled her back to Tommy's hospital room. Only with a short break during the medical rounds she just sat at his bed for two hours before Lady Asherton arrived. Later a doctor informed them that Tommy would be woken up earliest in the evening hours and they should distract themselves with something happier than the sight of him lying in his bed.

It was easier said than done. Nonetheless Daze went to his house in Belgravia and Barbara paid a short visit to the office. She tried to do what she had stopped yesterday but there was the DI getting into her mind with every picture she looked at and every moment of that case she tried to write down.

"Winnie, I'm the world's worst police officer." she finally sighed pushing her mouse away. "I should be more professional. I should pull myself together! But no, I'm a nervous wreck! I can't go on working like that. I think I should retire."

"Ah, bollocks!" Winston was seriously shocked. "You're just a bit... personally involved. It's no wonder that you can't concentrate on this as long as he's... well... I mean... in hospital. But you'll see, everything will be fine. Why don't you go shopping and dist-"

"Shopping!" she snorted in reply to his stupid suggestion.

"Or relax in Christchurch Gardens and have a coffee in the sun? I'll pick you up later and we'll have lunch together. Or go jogging. Or better take a nap on his couch. You look as if you had not slept at all tonight." Winnie knew that since after the Thompson case she had the keys to his office.

Thinking it was a good idea that was where she went. The new surroundings in his finally a bit more personally styled working place soothed her and she truly found some sleep with his soothing scent that still hung in the air there. And later after they had lunch together the wonderful Constable did his best to distract her from bad thoughts so the evening came quicker than she had thought.

They met with Daze in the entrance hall of the hospital and Winnie knew Barbara in good hands so he left for home. At least that's what he said. In fact he went back to the office and did the rest of the work Barbara had not been able to do in her flustered state of mind.

The women were there when the doctor slowly started the waking process with Lynley. Barbara sat on one side and held his intact hand, Daze sat on the other side. Since the monitors would be enough for watching over his safety and the doctors were not needed anymore they were alone in there when Tommy eventually opened his eyes.

The first thing he saw was his mother smiling at him in relief. "Mum!" he mumbled.

Feeling the hand on the other side being squeezed he slowly turned his head. His eyes lit up. "Barb! Yo' 'ere!" His voice was slurry from all the painkillers in his blood streams. His eyes fell shut again and he kept on sleeping for another while.

When his eyes opened again both women still were crying a few tears of happiness but Barbara could not help but call him an idiot and a bloody fool to put himself in such a danger. It really could have ended worse. Tommy just grinned weakly. She was right. He nodded.

"Yah. You're o'righ'." he murmured. " 'm a fool 'n lo'."

Daze actually giggled. Of course there had been nervous tension to be released but these two really were quite a couple. She wiped another tear away. Tommy was waking up from a coma and Barbara, the entire time a nervous mess fearing for his life, had nothing else to do but chide him straight away. They should kiss and be happy, she thought. For her Tommy's words had sounded as if he had said 'I'm a fool in love'. This was exactly what Barbara had heard too but she never would allow herself to trust her ears. Nonetheless her face flushed and she averted her eyes.

There was still enough sedative in his system so Tommy did not yet wake up completely. He just laid there dozing off from time to time. After Daze and Barbara had talked about this and that, the weather, weapon and the coming exhibition in Nanrunnel, trying to involve him, a nurse told them it would be better to give him some more proper rest and real sleep. She was right so they heeded her advise and went home.

It became a very nice evening at Tommy's house in Belgravia. Daze told Barbara a few stories from Tommy's childhood and Barbara gave his mother a nice insight in his life as a police detective. Many barriers fell that day and many prejudices were eliminated on both sides.

"I really would not want you to leave his side, Barbara." Daze confessed when the taxi picked Barbara up to bring her home. "He's always talked a lot about you when he eventually had spent a few hours at Howenstow."

Barbara could not answer. There was a huge lump in her throat. She had not planned on giving up their friendship or leaving Tommy nor had she planned on spending her life with him although she knew she would. But it was not her decision alone and there still were so many fears and doubts and contras in her head. For the moment Barbara was glad that Tommy was alive and that was all that mattered.

The rest, whatever that was, would enfold in the future.

.

...