Lestrade dragged the heel of his palm down across his eyes as the conversation between the men around him progressed into talk of cars and the such like.
He could feel his head begin to throb with the strain of trying to keep up with the stream of talk surrounding him, and he was only able to contribute a slighter murmur of acknowledgement when Gregson referenced one of Lestrade's more favoured bikes.
It was only when a knock sounded from the entrance of the office that Lestrade sat up at full alert.
The sound of chattering died down around him as Greg's eyes settled on the smaller DI, who was stood awkwardly on the threshold of the room, his eyes darting from face to face as he tried to locate the one he had come looking for.
Greg shifted uncomfortably in his chair as he noted that Dimmock was the only detective inspector that hadn't been invited to the (albeit somewhat redundant) meeting.
"Uhm…Lestrade?" Dimmock asked to the room at large.
"Come in," Greg assented, grinning slightly as he heard Hopkins chuckle (the sound muffled slightly by the fact that the man had the sleeve of his shirt pressed against his mouth).
Dimmock still looked wary as he stepped into the room, his eyes flickering to the floor as he stuttered out his words "I…uh…do you have the case file for the Duckett case?"
Greg held the aforementioned file aloft, but as Dan approached him to accept it, Greg pulled it backwards just out of reach.
"Hold up, not so fast Dimmock." Greg chastised, his lip twitching upwards on one side.
Dimmock looked momentarily confused, his gaze slipping to the DI's around the table who had lent forward with interest, until Greg elaborated "Where are your manners?"
"Please?" Dimmock attempted, his voice barely audible.
Greg shook his head vigorously, before twisting his head to one side and saying "You're going to have to do better then that sunshine, come on don't be shy." the condescension in his voice was painfully apparent.
Dimmock realised the other man's intentions and, for a moment, looked like he was going to complain, but at the present time all he wanted to do was to return his own office away from the leering eyes of the other Detective Inspectors.
So it was with a bregrudging bout of confidence that Dan swallowed back the lump that had formed in his throat and lent forward to press his lips against the older mans cheek.
He pulled back abruptly, his own cheeks burning red at the mocking (although stifled) laughter now ringing in his ears, and (reassured that the file was firmly clasped in his hand) began to make his way out of the room, head bowed and determinedly ignoring the call of "Good boy" that followed him.