spoilers for reichenbach ; voicetesting

[inspectoring]

[Lestrade is unusually somber, but trying not to show it. Judge him all you like.]

It's hard to believe that there isn't some amount of chance when you've seen him take nothing but a footprint and save two kids' lives. Surely he can cheat his way out of a damn --

[Pause.]

-- I'll personally invite Anderson and Donovan to the 'I told you so' party when it's unveiled that these ridiculous gossip rags are wrong. Along with serving them their transfer papers.

[And then a slight clearing of his throat.]

I only work with the best.

Comments

[lostwithoutmyblogger]

Well done, Inspector.

[Murmuring.]

Not completely oblivious, for once.

[inspectoring]

Shut up.

[Automatically.]

You've lost a bit of the right to take a jab at me after I attended your funeral.

[Your fake funeral, might he add. When he finds you, he's going to punch you.]

[bigbrotheriswatching]

I'm afraid you won't get the chance.

There will be a few absolutely necessary personnel transfers between now and then. Perhaps a cutback or two.

[lostwithoutmyblogger]

[Take momentarily aback.]

It was a compliment.

[...sort of.]

[highfunctioning_sociopath]

[And perhaps it was the reception of an anonymous text that caused the good inspector to pause.]

There's always a chance.

[inspectoring]

Take your compliment and beat yourself with it, will you?

[But his shoulders slump slightly, the bite now gone, and he sighs, looking remarkably tired.]

Jumping off a building wasn't necessary.

We had to identify the bloody body.

[lostwithoutmyblogger]

I wish it hadn't been necessary, Lestrade, but you must trust me once more.

[inspectoring]

I had thought of filing a complaint with Parliament about a few inquiries myself.

[Even stare.]

Regarding keeping one's mouth shut when necessary.

[inspectoring]

[Ugh, Sherlock, you and your fucking texting.]

Go straight to Hell.

Do not pass Go.

Do not collect 200 dollars.

[bigbrotheriswatching]

Regardless of what you or I may think in retrospect, Parliament has made their stance on my decisions clear. They believe the interrogation tactics were justified, regardless of the collateral.

I wish I could agree with them.

[inspectoring]

You act like I stopped, Sherlock.

[Somewhat snippishly. If it hadn't been required practically by gunpoint, he would have never had Holmes arrested in the first place.

-- but, again, it's gone in a flash, and Lestrade rolls his eyes to look at the ceiling.]

There's absolutely no way to perform damage control on this, you know.

[inspectoring]

You wouldn't want to know what I actually think in retrospect, Mister Holmes, because I'm certain I would have to leave the country.

[Flatly.]

We've lost the only man who can keep this city safe from people like him and the only people in the world who know it are the ones who helped caused it.

There's a special spot reserved in Hell for men like that.

[lostwithoutmyblogger]

I don't care. If you all survive, then I shall consider the damage controlled.

[bigbrotheriswatching]

Speak candidly, Detective, there will be no retaliation. Not from me.

[He couldn't agree more. He'll listen to every word.]

[inspectoring]

[ ... hang on, give him a moment to absorb that as he stares a bit dumbly. Lestrade is certainly no Sherlock Holmes, but he's not an idiot, either, and the pieces seem to click together after a moment or two of contemplation.

The lack of contact after they ran away, Watson not contacting him the moment he knew something was wrong, hearing about the suicide off the fucking television instead of anyone bothering to tell him beforehand --

Lestrade presses his fingers against his forehead. A headache is forming.]

-- a bloody psychopath isn't going to shoot anyone in the street because they think it's funny while I still have license to carry a gun, much less me, or anyone else that you ... [awkward, because 'care about' is a weird term, and it's uncomfortable to think that he is part of the reason why Sherlock felt the need to do something so insane] -- know.

[Pause.]

Idiot.

[It's muttered, but there. DI Lestrade called Sherlock Holmes an idiot. Someone write the papers. It'll never happen again.]

[inspectoring]

[A moment or two of silence.]

I'd bet my entire life's savings on Sherlock Holmes rising back from the dead before I'd wager a single penny on the suits responsible for believing this utter crock of shit that he's a fraud, for managing half of what he did. You and the rest of Parliament can, quite kindly, kiss my hardworking ass before you lay a single finger on my department or anyone else that I work with, because I think I've earned the right to ship them straight to filing away divorce notices for the rest of their lives.

[Pause.]

Sir.

[322434]

Funny. [No, it isn't.]

If he were anyone else, I'd say you were in denial, Detective Inspector.

[bigbrotheriswatching]

Very well, detective inspector. I shall leave the remonstrations to your capable hand.

[As much as he wants to flay them alive. Still, there are other ways.]

[lostwithoutmyblogger]

Forgive me if I don't take your word for it. Especially considering that in the last few days, two people have been shot in the street for having the gall to shake my hand.

While you may be a tolerable police officer, if I wasn't able to stop them, what hope do you have? And Mrs Hudson? How shall she defend herself?

[inspectoring]

[Hrgh, Irene.]

Denial's for the normal people.

[Sherlock Holmes is the most intelligent man he has ever met. And definitely the most extraordinary. There is always a chance.]

[inspectoring]

Excellent.

It's a happy Christmas.

[Somewhat bitterly. Firing and humiliating the idiots responsible will make him feel slightly better, but it honestly, sincerely bothers him that Sherlock Holmes is the victim in all of this. The idiot never deserved it.]

[inspectoring]

The solution's not jumping off a hospital, Sherlock!

[In a snap of frustration.]

For heaven's sake, you've all of Scotland Yard at your fingertips if you'd taken the time to ask for it, consequences be damned. I'd rather deal with paper trail nightmare of not getting fired or being tossed in jail than having to examine your big-headed corpse to make sure you're dead as a doornail.

[lostwithoutmyblogger]

Were you at my fingertips when you were dragging me off in handcuffs? I had no reason to trust them.

[Just as snappish.]

Molly dealt with the examination, Mycroft will handle the paperwork.

[bigbrotheriswatching]

You don't sound pleased.

Perhaps you had his interests more at heart than I realized?

voice testing as well

[somereliance]

He always thought the same of you. Well, maybe not in those exact words, but you do know what I mean. I hope.

[John's shoulders are a bit stiff and square. But the stoney expression is only due to the mention of Donovan and Anderson. He has little grudge against Greg.]