(no subject)
Title: Hidden Refuge
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Mentions of torture, OC character death
Word Count: 987
It was another child. Little Emma Sanders, just five years old. Her body was found in the boot of an abandoned car. She had been tortured before her throat had been cut. A life cut short before it had barely begun. These were the cases that threatened to break Gregory Lestrade. It made him question the existence of god.. How could something like this happen to such a precious child?
The case had been mercifully easy to solve. A man with a history of mental issues confessed to the murder. It brought little peace to Emma's parents, and it brought little peace to Lestrade as well. Tonight sleep would not come easy to him, if at all.
After he left work, Lestrade knew that there was only one place were he could go. He started walking towards a church not that far from the Yard. It was one of the few churches that stayed open all night. This church was his refuge. He always did come here after an hard case in search of some peace, in search of a place where he could allow his emotions to run free. He slipped through the doors and made his way to the candles. He knelt down and lit four candles, one for each member of the Sanders family. He watched the flames for a few moments, letting his emotions take hold. He felt the tears fall down his cheeks, and he didn't bother to brush them away.
He stood up and made his way to the pews. He sat down and exhaled a breath he felt like he had been holding since the body had been found. Lestrade ran a hand through his hair and he tried to put into words what he was feeling.
“It's not really even his fault. If someone would have tried to help him, if someone would have paid attention to him when he needed it...two families wouldn't be ruined today. She was such a beautiful girl...she didn't deserve the ending she received. It's just...a waste. That boy doesn't need jail...he needs help, and he's not going to get it.”
He wanted to say more...he felt more...but the day had worn him down. He felt much older than he was, and all he wanted to do was go home and curl up with the love of his life. He made his was out of the church, still unsure if his job was still worth doing.
**********************************************************************************************
Virginia Lgorus, age 83. Hit by a car in front of her home. It took 20 minutes for her to succumb to her injuries. She should be spending time with her grandchildren, not in the morgue down at Bart's. After his shift, Lestrade made his ritual trip to the church. He lit seven candles that night, for Virginia and her family.
This was all the energy he had this day. He wished he could do more...she deserved more...but he didn't have the strength. As he exited the church, he failed to notice the black car running not that far from the church.
**********************************************************************************************
Today was his worst nightmare. He didn't even wait until the crime scene was clear before handing everything to Sally. He was ashamed that he couldn't get through the case, that he wasn't as strong as he should be being a Detective Inspector. He ignored the whispers from those at the scene and the concerned look Sally gave him. He just wanted to get as far away from the scene as possible.
When he reached the church he didn't stop to light candles. He automatically went to one of the pews and bared his soul.
“Their only crime was being in love. They were two men in a relationship and they were killed because of it. It just...it doesn't make sense. I stopped believing in religion a long time ago because of things like this, and days like today only make me believe I made the right decision. Is that what's going to happen to me? To us? Are we going to end up being killed by some closed-minded idiots? If that's how it's going to end, then why bother? Is it worth it? I need to know...”
Lestrade heard his voice echo through the empty cathedral. A harsh breath escaped his lips as he held his head in his hands. He didn't hear someone approach him until a hand was placed on his shoulder.
“Gregory...”
Lestrade blinked a few times before he looked up and saw Mycroft Holmes standing next to him. Mycroft; who had a meeting in the morning and who should be resting in their bed, but instead he was standing there next to him. Looking up at Mycroft and seeing the worry etched into his face, everything suddenly seemed much clearer. This man in front of him why it was worth it. This man was the reason he did anything at all. It was all for the love of this man.
“Gregory?”
“How did you find me?”
Mycroft sat next to him and it took all of Lestrade's strength not to curl up into the man's lap.
“I...well, I followed you a few night ago. I wanted to see where you were going all those nights. I was worried about you. Still am, if I am honest.”
Lestrade let out a deep sigh as he reached and threaded his fingers with Mycroft's. He looked down at their intertwined fingers while he thought about what to say. Mycroft sat next to him and waited patiently, giving Greg’s hand a reassuring squeeze.
“I'll be alright. Some days I just...need a moment.”
“By all means my love, take as long as you need.”
Lestrade smiled at Mycroft and brought their linked hands to his mouth, kissing Mycroft's hand.
“I'm fine. Shall we go home?”
Mycroft smiled and the two of them walked outside the church. Together.
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Mentions of torture, OC character death
Word Count: 987
It was another child. Little Emma Sanders, just five years old. Her body was found in the boot of an abandoned car. She had been tortured before her throat had been cut. A life cut short before it had barely begun. These were the cases that threatened to break Gregory Lestrade. It made him question the existence of god.. How could something like this happen to such a precious child?
The case had been mercifully easy to solve. A man with a history of mental issues confessed to the murder. It brought little peace to Emma's parents, and it brought little peace to Lestrade as well. Tonight sleep would not come easy to him, if at all.
After he left work, Lestrade knew that there was only one place were he could go. He started walking towards a church not that far from the Yard. It was one of the few churches that stayed open all night. This church was his refuge. He always did come here after an hard case in search of some peace, in search of a place where he could allow his emotions to run free. He slipped through the doors and made his way to the candles. He knelt down and lit four candles, one for each member of the Sanders family. He watched the flames for a few moments, letting his emotions take hold. He felt the tears fall down his cheeks, and he didn't bother to brush them away.
He stood up and made his way to the pews. He sat down and exhaled a breath he felt like he had been holding since the body had been found. Lestrade ran a hand through his hair and he tried to put into words what he was feeling.
“It's not really even his fault. If someone would have tried to help him, if someone would have paid attention to him when he needed it...two families wouldn't be ruined today. She was such a beautiful girl...she didn't deserve the ending she received. It's just...a waste. That boy doesn't need jail...he needs help, and he's not going to get it.”
He wanted to say more...he felt more...but the day had worn him down. He felt much older than he was, and all he wanted to do was go home and curl up with the love of his life. He made his was out of the church, still unsure if his job was still worth doing.
**********************************************************************************************
Virginia Lgorus, age 83. Hit by a car in front of her home. It took 20 minutes for her to succumb to her injuries. She should be spending time with her grandchildren, not in the morgue down at Bart's. After his shift, Lestrade made his ritual trip to the church. He lit seven candles that night, for Virginia and her family.
This was all the energy he had this day. He wished he could do more...she deserved more...but he didn't have the strength. As he exited the church, he failed to notice the black car running not that far from the church.
**********************************************************************************************
Today was his worst nightmare. He didn't even wait until the crime scene was clear before handing everything to Sally. He was ashamed that he couldn't get through the case, that he wasn't as strong as he should be being a Detective Inspector. He ignored the whispers from those at the scene and the concerned look Sally gave him. He just wanted to get as far away from the scene as possible.
When he reached the church he didn't stop to light candles. He automatically went to one of the pews and bared his soul.
“Their only crime was being in love. They were two men in a relationship and they were killed because of it. It just...it doesn't make sense. I stopped believing in religion a long time ago because of things like this, and days like today only make me believe I made the right decision. Is that what's going to happen to me? To us? Are we going to end up being killed by some closed-minded idiots? If that's how it's going to end, then why bother? Is it worth it? I need to know...”
Lestrade heard his voice echo through the empty cathedral. A harsh breath escaped his lips as he held his head in his hands. He didn't hear someone approach him until a hand was placed on his shoulder.
“Gregory...”
Lestrade blinked a few times before he looked up and saw Mycroft Holmes standing next to him. Mycroft; who had a meeting in the morning and who should be resting in their bed, but instead he was standing there next to him. Looking up at Mycroft and seeing the worry etched into his face, everything suddenly seemed much clearer. This man in front of him why it was worth it. This man was the reason he did anything at all. It was all for the love of this man.
“Gregory?”
“How did you find me?”
Mycroft sat next to him and it took all of Lestrade's strength not to curl up into the man's lap.
“I...well, I followed you a few night ago. I wanted to see where you were going all those nights. I was worried about you. Still am, if I am honest.”
Lestrade let out a deep sigh as he reached and threaded his fingers with Mycroft's. He looked down at their intertwined fingers while he thought about what to say. Mycroft sat next to him and waited patiently, giving Greg’s hand a reassuring squeeze.
“I'll be alright. Some days I just...need a moment.”
“By all means my love, take as long as you need.”
Lestrade smiled at Mycroft and brought their linked hands to his mouth, kissing Mycroft's hand.
“I'm fine. Shall we go home?”
Mycroft smiled and the two of them walked outside the church. Together.