This is very AU, just to point out. Forget that last episode ever happened (well, two episodes, really). Lewis has retired, but Hathaway's just done his inspector's exam.
There's a new pathologist working with Thames Valley Police. Her name nearly makes some of the officers choke on their tea, though. Just who is Abigail Morse? And just how dead is the (in)famous detective? Contains references to Morse and Endeavour. Please tell me if this should be a crossover.
XoxoX
Chapter One: A New Face
James Hathaway pulled his car up on the banks of the river. A body had been found, and James was eager to do well on his first case as an inspector.
He climbed out, quickly met by his new sergeant, one DS Olivia Sanders, an admirable young officer, by all accounts.
"What have we got, Sanders?" he asked.
"Body of young girl, around twenty, probably been in the river a few weeks," she said. "Doesn't look good."
"Right, where's Dr. Hobson?"
"It's not Dr. Hobson, it's a new one, a Dr. Morse." James was struck dumb for a moment. Surely this Morse couldn't be related to the Morse? "She's just over there." Sanders pointed towards the edge of the bank, where a woman with dark blonde hair was crouched down, presumably examining the body.
"Thanks, Sergeant."
The woman stood up as he approached. "DI Hathaway, I presume?" she asked. He nodded. "I'm Dr. Abigail Morse. I'd shake your hand, but I've been examining the body."
"Of course." James zipped up his scene-suit. "What have you got for us?"
"Woman in her twenties, probably - it's harder to tell when they've been in the river so long. It's a little difficult to say what happened, since there's no obvious signs of trauma. I'll be able to tell you more after the post mortem."
James nodded, going to examine the body himself. He was curious. Was this Dr. Morse a relative of Lewis's old boss? Or was it a coincidence?
"What'll you have Jim?" asked Lewis in the pub that evening. "It's my round."
"Hmm? Oh right," James looked up from his reverie. "Oh, I'll just have my usual, thanks."
"You're awfully distracted tonight, James," said Laura from beside him. "You've barely said a word."
"I've got a rather unpleasant case at the moment; girl found in the river."
"Who's covering pathology?"
"The new one. I presume you've met her."
"No, I've been of this week. Who is it?"
"One Dr. Abigail Morse." Laura almost choked on her drink.
"Morse?!"
"Yup."
"What's this about Morse?" Lewis had returned with their drinks.
"The new pathologist; her name's Morse."
"Really? You don't think...?"
"I don't know."
Abigail turned her key in the door of her house. It was small enough, but it was comfortable for two people and a little Jack Russell terrier.
She noted that the dog's lead was gone; the other occupant of the house had obviously taken Horace for a walk. It was funny; for quite a while, he'd pretended to hate that dog, but Abigail had seen him talking away to the dog when he thought no one was looking.
Abigail was washing vegetables for the dinner when the door opened. "Abby?" called the man who's just walked in.
"In the kitchen, Dad."
In walked a man of about eighty with a head of white hair. It couldn't be anyone other than the presumed-dead DCI Endeavour Morse.
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Emotional Dalek, AKA: Nessa, xoxox