Author's note: yes, I did have a touch of evil writing this one. I like to see your thoughts and diverse views about what happened and why. Well, this one might give a few answers.

Barbara tried to scream but the weight of Tommy's body caused the wheelbarrow to topple backwards. Air was forced from her lungs in a strangled cry. In that moment, her world ended. Only hours before he had loved her with such tenderness she thought her heart might burst and now he was lying inert on her.

Tears started to roll down her face. She hoped the end would be swift and that he would be waiting for her on the other side. She was glad they had finally found each other but it was just her luck not to have time to enjoy it. She started to whimper as she sobbed.

His hand came over her mouth. "Shh, it's alright Barbara," he whispered in her ear as he released his hand, "I wasn't hit."

Her arms came around him and she beat her fists angrily against his back then hugged him so hard he could barely breathe. "Thank God!"

"Jones is dead. He was shot through the chest. Not close range. There is a rifle out there somewhere. We need to stay quiet and still."

They were whispering directly into each other's ear. "What if the shooter comes for us? He might have night vision goggles."

"They still need some light to work. It's too dark in here. If he's out there he'll be as blind as us."

"Some comfort. He might have a scope."

"He might but he still needs light. I don't think he, or she, will be there but let's just lie quietly and wait a while." He rolled slightly sideways so they were lying side by side.

He held her tightly. She had expected the murderer to come after them but nothing happened. Barbara could feel Tommy's heart thumping against her back. As they waited it slowed back to a normal beat which gave her confidence. Despite the threat, it was comforting being in his arms. She had been surprised by how natural and satisfying it felt being physically close to him. Her eagerness last night had been tempered by his patience. Unlike any other men she had ever been with, for Tommy, it was more about the journey than the destination and what a journey it had been! As if he was reading her thoughts, he nestled into her neck and kissed her softly.

"Tommy?"

It had been at least twenty minutes and Tommy thought his suspicions were correct but before he endangered their lives he had to be sure. "Crawl over there behind the mattress and barrow. I'm going to light a candle."

Barbara mumbled about his stupidity but obeyed. Tommy struck the match and held the candle as far away from his body as he could. He half expected a bullet to thud into him but even in the light, no fire was drawn.

"I think the rifle is on some sort of mechanical trigger," he said to Barbara as he crawled over to her, "motion sensor most likely."

"So if we move, we get shot."

"Not if we stay low enough. Otherwise, it would have kept shooting at Jones. It's firing at about four feet off the ground so I'd say the sensor is set between three and six feet. That would catch most people but not wild animals."

"Wild animals!"

Tommy laughed softly. He had never heard anyone shout as they whispered before. "You sound like an angry mongoose."

"I feel more like an angry...elephant seal."

Tommy snorted. "I'll remind you of that image when you're waddling around pregnant with our children."

"Oh!"

Tommy grinned broadly at her. He enjoyed rendering her speechless occasionally. "Let's get out of here first. Put the chocolate, candles and water in that huge bag of yours and I'll carry it over my shoulder. I'll take the crutches if you can crawl with the candle?"

"Yeah, I can crawl; anything to get out of here. On our knees?"

"On our stomachs would be safer. Like they do in the Army. Elbows and knees."

"Great, I joined the police, not the damned Marines! You lead. And don't get shot. When I thought you were...anyway never frighten me like that again Thomas Lynley!"

"You're going to be one of those bossy wives aren't you?"

"Wives?" Barbara stopped and stared at him, mouth agape.

Tommy grinned lovingly at her. "Hmm, I thought we'd get married as soon as we can," he said softly.

"And do I have any say? Well, don't even think about it until we're safely out of here!"

Tommy gave her a quick kiss then began to crawl. Barbara was half a body length behind him to his left. They reached Jones body quickly and Tommy searched it. There was no weapon but he found his car keys and slipped them in his pocket. "Poor Jones."

"Poor us. I thought he'd be out and had summoned help."

"Yes, and don't say what I already know, Barbara. We should have told Winston we were coming down the mine."

"They're probably still searching the streets of Bradford where you left your car. No one will think to look in some abandoned mine miles away in Mirfield. Maybe someone is looking for Jones?"

"I doubt it. He said he was a widower and his children both live in London. It could be days before anyone misses him. Besides, no one knows we were interviewing him."

They continued to debate their chances of rescue as they crawled cautiously along the tunnel. After ten minutes Tommy saw a flashing red light. "Look, I was right."

"Has to be a first time."

"I'll ignore that."

He crawled past it and then over to the wall. He held up the candle and could see the rifle mounted on a bracket that protruded about two feet into the tunnel. He slowly stood up aware that there might be another rifle mounted further along, but confident it would not be aimed at this one. "Pass me your penknife."

Barbara sat up and rummaged in her bag that he had left with her. She passed it to him and he carefully cut the wire from the motion sensor to the trigger. "It's battery operated so at least there won't be any alarms going off to warn them," he said as he took the rifle.

"Are you taking it?"

"Yes. I'm not going further without the ability to fight back. Someone doesn't want people going up there and we have to find out why."

"Can't we just get out alive?"

Tommy ignored that statement and checked the rifle. It was a lightweight, semi-automatic, military-style rifle. The magazine felt pleasantly heavy. They might need all the rounds it had to escape. He carefully cleared the weapon then counted fifteen bullets before loading them back into the magazine.

Barbara watched him in awe. She had no idea he could use a rifle. "How do you know about rifles? We only ever used handguns at Hendon."

"We use more than shotguns on the estate sometimes. Admittedly my hunting rifle doesn't have this kind of firepower. Does it worry you?"

"Only if you miss!"

Tommy smiled at her. "I won't. That rifle was positioned for the centre of the tunnel where most people would walk. I think if we stick to the wall we should be okay to walk. Keep your eye out for blinking red lights."

"And blinking bad guys!"

"Can you use the crutches? It'd be quicker than crawling."

"Yeah, the moon boot helps. I should be right. Come on."

Tommy handed her the crutches then put his hand on her arm. "Barbara, I'm sorry I was flippant about marriage and having children but they're something I want very much. Last night was...well you know how wonderful it was, and not just physically. I don't know what's ahead of us but I know together we can make it out of here." He kissed her lovingly.

Barbara smiled thinking about life with him as she began to hobble up the tunnel. The wall curved to the left and then opened into a broader cavern. "Which way?"

Tommy studied the map. "Straight ahead."

"Do we crawl again?"

They stood looking at the forty-foot diameter of the space where two intersecting tunnels met. "I'll go first. If it's safe, you'll be fine."

"And if you get shot?"

"I won't. Lend me a crutch."

Tommy set off across the gap waving the crutch wildly in front of him. Barbara watched him and could not help but smile. He made it safely across and she limped after him. "Piece of cake," he said as he gave her another kiss, this time, longer and more charged.

"How far now?" Her leg was throbbing. It was easier on two crutches but she could feel her foot swelling again within the hard plastic sides of the moon-boot.

"We're about three-quarters of the way there or a bit more," he lied, knowing they still had a third of the journey to go.

"Okay. Lead on."

The mine floor began to slope up. It was not steep but on crutches, it was a struggle. After half an hour Barbara needed to stop. "Can we rest for a little while, Tommy? My armpits are killing me."

Tommy helped Barbara sit down. He examined her leg. It had swollen up and she winced at even the gentlest touch. The bandages were stained bloody yellow. "You should have told me your leg was worse!"

"To be honest it stopped hurting an hour ago. It is my arms that are sore."

Tommy studied the map. They still had over five hundred yards until they reached the spot he suspected they might encounter resistance. It was a huge cavern cut into the mine labelled 'Spent'. Tommy suspected it might be being used to store something no one wanted to be found. Since finding Jones' body he had begun to piece it together. "I think there is something highly illegal being stored in this spot here," he said showing her the map.

"And we have to get past there to get out."

"Yes."

"Do you think anyone will be there or just more 'security' measures?"

"I don't know. We have to be prepared for either."

"Is it linked to our case?"

"I'm sure it is. You saw the scene at the house. Whoever tortured Wheelwright and his wife were after information. He was the retired mine inspector for the area. It was only that we found the number for Jones on his notepad that we are even here."

"Jones was sure that something was happening here after his old boss disappeared, what was his name?"

"Blackstock."

"Yeah. Then when he found that skeleton he contacted Wheelwright but not the police. He was sure it was Blackstock. Do you think he knew more?"

"I think he knew who was behind it but he was scared. He wanted us to get involved remember. I think the mine was booby-trapped. That cave-in was no fluke."

"But he'd been down the day before."

"I suspect it was a trap for vehicles. One man's weight didn't set it off but three people's did. Jones saved our lives by picking where the rocks would fall. He had no idea though what caused it and he did not suspect he was coming along here to his death."

"Any idea what they're hiding?"

"None. Could be guns, drugs, or people. They're the most lucrative contraband these days."

"I hope we can just sneak by and escape."

Tommy smiled grimly. "So do I Barbara, so do I."

It took them nearly an hour to cover the distance to the mine. Barbara's armpits were rubbed almost raw and her groin was throbbing. She suspected her foot was infected but she did not want to worry Tommy. He stopped just before the final curve in the tunnel and gave her water and some chocolate. "Last meal?" she asked forlornly.

"Last one in this wretched place I hope. Stay strong Barbara. We'll make it out." He stroked her face lovingly but was alarmed by her temperature. He did not ask because he understood she was being her usual strong, stubborn self and would not tell him anyway. "I love you."

"I love you too Tommy." They shared a sad kiss. "Don't do anything silly just to save me."

"It's not in my nature to act foolishly," he replied with a cheeky grin. He was pleased to see her smile back as she slowly shook her head. "Come on let's get this over with."

A/N: You didn't really think I'd kill off Tommy did you?