Chapter 5

Half an hour later Tommy was again sitting on the edge of Barbara´s bed looking confused from the envelope in his hand to the sleeping Barbara and back again. Now he know Sam but was also wondering how well he really knew her.

He knew he had been rude and probably arrogant to the guy but when he heard Sam was an old friend from her childhood days he got a bit jealous. He wasn´t sure why as Sam never indicated being more than a friend but who knows.

He had also told Tommy that they met every Thursday evening for weeks now but he hadn´t told what they were doing. From the conversation Tommy learned that Lafferty and his wife were there too so no romantic time for two then. But why had Barbara never asked him to join them? What was she afraid of or also possible embarrassed about? Then thinking about his reaction when she told him about her dates through the dating agency it was also possible that she just didn´t want to get such comments again.

Sam had left a few minutes ago saying that there was one side of his sergeant he obviously didn´t know so he should look in the envelope. It was some memories Sam hoped Barbara would like. Leaving the best wishes for her and the info to pass on that he would call her soon Sam made his exit quite quickly. And here he was again sitting here debating if he should open the envelope or not. With one other glance at Barbara curiosity won and he opened it. Inside was a disk written on it: JCS rehearsals and performance, Acton High School 1983.

Tommy got up and went into the living-room.

Sam was walking home smiling to himself. Lafferty had been right. At first he thought Lynley was just an arrogant ponce and was really thinking why Barbara would fell in love with him. But talking on and looking under the surface he saw more real concern and protectiveness than a boss would normally show and feel for a colleague and also a bit of jealousy when Tommy heard who Sam was and especially that they meet every week without him knowing.

So he left the dvd with Tommy and pushed the boat out into the water so to speak. Now the two only had to start rowing - hopefully in the same direction.

Barbara woke up still feeling dizzy. This time she remembered being shot and also being brought home by Lynley. She also thought she could vaguely remember being undressed and dressed by him. But perhaps she had dreamed that part. She was sure that she definitely had dreamed that he had caressed her scar and then the dream got on with her ending up in Tommy´s arms as it mostly did when she dreamed of him.

But hearing voices now she was confused thinking that the wound must had been worse and she hadn´t made it. She could hear her brother talking but also Sam which was weird as Sam was still alive. But then Sam sounded young and it just got even weirder as she also heard her own young voice. Perhaps she was still dreaming, going mad or starting to hallucinate due to the painkillers.

She opened her eyes and was relieved that she was in her own bed and everything looked normal.

But again she heard the voices but this time she could make out that they were coming from her living-room. Slowly she started to get up hoping not to pass out feeling still dizzy.

She managed to sit up on the edge of the bed and took a bit of time before trying to stand up. It worked better than expected so she took some shaky steps to her living-room.

There she saw Tommy looking paralyzed at the TV. She followed his gaze and gasped. She saw Sam, Terry, herself and a lot of others of her school mates working on the stage settings for their school performance.

She had to steady herself at the fridge and Tommy suddenly caught the movement in the corner of his eye. He stopped the DVD and went up to Barbara: "I´m so sorry to wake you, Barbara! You should have stayed in bed and called if you need anything."

She shook her head and asked: "What are you watching there? Where did you find it?" She looked confused and shaken so Tommy first managed to get her to the sofa settled her down there and then told her about Sam´s visit.

"I´m so sorry Barbara! I didn´t mean to wake you up with it but Sam said I could watch it."

Smiling weakly Barbara responded: "It´s okay, at least I know now that I´m not dead or going mad. Thought that hearing Terry´s voice…."

Tommy looked shocked at her hearing this: "Your brother is in this video? If I knew that I wouldn´t have…"

Here Barbara interrupted him: "It´s okay, really! Would you mind starting at the beginning again?" With that she made herself comfortable beside him on the sofa and Lynley started the DVD again.

First there were the works on the settings and some checks for light and sound. It looked like they all had a lot of fun. Barbara smiled and laughed a lot telling Lynley some stories behind some jokes and Tommy was totally mesmerized seeing her so young beautiful and carefree. She was as every normal teenager but totally devoted to her brother who was with her at the rehearsals most of the times.

There were also tears when she told about her brother as this was shortly before they got his diagnosis of leukemia. But as it didn´t seem to really distress her Tommy didn´t stopped the DVD at that point.

He still hadn´t figured out what they were playing only that it was something with a full orchestra.

"Will you tell me what you were performing now? And also what you did despite painting the settings?" Tommy asked at some point.

"We did "Jesus Christ Superstar" in the full orchestra version as you can see. And regarding my part you will see soon enough" was her answer.

And then the performance started. The orchestra was doing great for a school orchestra and as it got on Barbara yawned and in silence agreement she snuggled up with her head on his shoulder his arm which was on the backrest of the sofa coming up around her.

It was like being hit by a lightening when Tommy saw her on stage playing the female main cast: Mary Magdalene. She looked beautiful and when she started singing it was one of the most intense experiences Tommy ever had hearing music.

Not being able to say anything he just cuddled her nearer only to notice that Barbara had fallen asleep in his arms.

He went on watching the whole performance totally amazed about her voice and her playing. He had never thought that she had such a fine voice especially not when he first met her. Seeing her on this DVD there were some characteristics of her he had noticed over the last few years to appear again. Her being more open and happy than at the start of their working relationship, he could now see that she had been a very happy person before she closed the world out through the sadness that came with her brother´s death.

He looked down at her sleeping peacefully in his arms and felt a peace himself he never did with anyone else. It was really time to tell her that what he felt for her was more than plain friendship.

So he stopped the DVD and stood up carrying her to her bed to make sure she was sleeping comfortable. When he laid her down Barbara clinked to him in her sleep and wouldn´t let go off him. As he was feeling extremely tired himself after this emotional rollercoaster of a day he just laid down beside her and holding her went to sleep himself after a few minutes only.

A/N: thanks again for the lovely reviews and pms. Also it always takes me some time to go on I really enjoy it and hope you will also go on enjoying it.