Valerie glanced at Lestrade sitting behind his desk as she walked back to hers. She sat with a sigh, grateful that her desk faced away from his office. Being able to see him all day would be a distraction.

She still saw him in her mind; his head down as he read a report, the tip of his pen between his teeth, and his free hand rubbing the back of his neck.

"Parker."

She jumped, so lost in thought that the sound of his door opening never registered.

"Yes, sir?"

"I need you in here."

"Be right there."

She grabbed a pen and pad and closed his office door before sitting in the chair in front of his desk. He slid a folder to her.

"This cold case was just dropped in my lap, and it's bizarre at best."

"Initial thoughts?"

"That I should call Sherlock."

"That shouldn't be your gut reaction. You have solved cases without his help. Quite a lot of them."

"It's not my gut reaction. I've been through ten gut reactions, and they all make no sense in light of the facts."

"Well, fill me in on what doesn't make sense."

Lestrade leaned back in his chair, and Valerie took notes as he went through his thoughts. She stared at her paper, rolling her pen between her fingers.

"Take the folder back to your desk and look it over for yourself. Maybe you'll see something I'm missing."

"Yes, sir."

She stood and Lestrade opened another folder.

"It's late," she said. "Shouldn't you be getting home to the missus?"

He ran his hand over his face and squeezed the bridge of his nose.

"Wouldn't do any good since she's likely not there. Been spending a lot of late nights out with the girls, so she says."

"You don't believe her?"

He hesitated. "I do. Downside of being a DI, I suppose. Highly suspicious."

"All due respect, sir... I've never known you to be highly suspicious. I've always thought you were a little too trusting for a man in your position."

He leaned back and ran a hand through his hair.

"You saying I'm right?"

"I'm saying you should trust your gut more. Go home, sir."

"I think I will."

She was back at her desk when Lestrade strode past, shrugging into his coat. She hoped what he found, or didn't find, waiting for him at home didn't hurt him. He had been sullen, and now she knew why; he was questioning his marriage.

She stayed another two hours going over the file and her notes before her yawning became a distraction. She waited for the lift, bouncing a bit on her toes to wake herself up.

The doors opened, and Lestrade leaned against the back wall, head down, shoulders slumped. He made no move to get off, so she pushed the button for the garage and leaned back next to him.

"I should have stayed here," he said.

"I'm sorry."

"Not your fault."

Valerie watch the digital numbers descend.

"Fancy a drink?" she asked.

"Nah, I'm sure you're tired. Nothing bad waiting for you at home."

"Nothing at all waiting for me at home. Come on. Let's get a drink."

"All right."

They found a table at a pub and Valerie went to the counter to order drinks. She came back with six beers and slid three bottles in front of Lestrade.

"This should keep us for a minute or two," she said."

Lestrade guzzled half the first bottle, then held his face in his hands, elbows on the table.

Valerie let him be. She leaned back in her chair and sipped her beer. Nothing she could say would help. She wasn't even sure exactly what he found at home. She could assume, but what was the point? She waited for him to tell her, if he wanted to.

Into his second beer, Lestrade leaned back and sighed.

"She's shagging another guy."

Valerie leaned forward, but resisted the urge to reach out.

"I'm so sorry."

"Didn't quite catch them in the act, but I may as well have. And she had the nerve to blame me! My job keeps me too busy. Too many late nights. Too much time apart. Apparently that makes it ok."

"How long has she-"

"She swears she never did. That this was the first time, and I saw as far as it got."

"Maybe she's telling the truth."

"Doesn't change the fact that if I hadn't gone home she'd be-"

He slammed his fist on the table then lowered his head, holding it in both hands.

"Maybe not. Maybe she would have stopped it herself."

"You really believe that?"

"I don't know. I don't know her... Not well. You two should talk. Maybe you can work it out."

"Maybe."

He drained the rest of his beer and opened the third.

"Tomorrow. I don't think I can talk to her tonight."

"Where will you stay?"

"I've slept in my office before for a late night. That's where I was going when you got on the lift."

Valerie bit her bottom lip.

"You're welcome to spend the night on my couch."

"Thanks, but I wouldn't want it getting back to my wife that I spent the night in another woman's flat."

She nodded. "Understood. I didn't even think about that."

"And you think I'm too trusting?"

Valerie smiled. "I hope you know I wasn't implying your wife was cheating on you when I said that. I had no idea. I only meant-"

"Forget it. I know what you meant."

"I really am sorry."

He ran a hand over his face. "Did you get to look over that folder?"

She glanced at him for just a moment, wondering if distracting himself with work was such a good idea.

"I did."

"And?"

"And I think you're right. It doesn't make sense."

"So, I'm calling Sherlock after all."

"No. We will figure this out. You will figure it out."

"You were probably right the first time. We will. Don't know what I'd do without you, Parker."

"Thank you, sir. How did we end up with a cold case, anyway?"

"The murder we had last week."

"The subway carriage?"

"Right. Someone connected the body placement to the old murders. If it's the same killer, that makes it an active homicide case."

"So, we get it."

Lestrade nodded.

"Then we'd better get some rest," she said. "I get the feeling we've got some long days ahead of us."

"Looks like."

Outside, Lestrade pulled out a pack of cigarettes and put one between his lips. Valerie grabbed it and threw it to the ground as he fumbled for his lighter.

"Oi! Those aren't cheap."

"I knew I smelt cigarettes the other day. You lied to me."

"Because I knew this is how you'd react."

"You were doing so well. You went months without one."

"Yeah, well, I've been a bit stressed lately."

Her voice softened. "I understand that. I do. But this is your health we're talking about. If you have to chase a bad guy, you want the lung capacity to overtake him, right?"

Lestrade stared at the pack in his hand.

"Right," he said. "Take these."

He put the pack in Valerie's hand and closed her fingers around it. She stared at his hands wrapped around hers.

"You know I'm just looking out for you?"

"I know."

"Any more back at the office?"

He shook his head and let go of her fist. "That was the first pack I bought since I quit."

Valerie peeked inside. Half the pack was gone.

"I guess this could be worse. Let's get you back to the office."

"Go home, Parker. You've been barely awake all night. Don't think I didn't notice."

She nodded. "Yes, sir. See you in the morning."