Lestrade was sat in his office catching up on paper work, trying to forget all about Eurus Holmes and her twisted game with Sherlock. He had of course stuck by Sherlock as had everyone else, Sherlock wasn't weak by any means but he did have a habit which he always ended back to eventually. Sherlock had once told Lestrade that self-medicating helped ease his mind but once you took something you can't stay away, it is after all an addiction. He had also promised everyone his days as an addict were over and Lestrade was glad, he could remember Mycroft bringing Sherlock to his attention as a "Special case" and told him that Sherlock needed guidance and something to occupy his brain. So Lestrade gave him cases and in return was rewarded with results.
He did however never trust Sherlock never to use again, he had maybe used three times and all times he had legitimate excuses so when Donovan said someone had spotted the consulting detective outside a drug den he had, of course, gone straight there.
He had expected to see his friend high as a kite, not simply stood outside the drug den, staring in. Sherlock was stood unusually rigid, his eyes were hollow and not for the first time Lestrade was worried.
"Lestrade it is awfully nice of you to show up but I am not thinking about using so there is absolutely no need to save me" Sherlock said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Greg walked over and stood next to the consulting detective.
"Why are you here if not to use?" he asked. Sherlock sighed, he kicked a needle which was on the floor and sighed once again.
"Do you know why I used in the first-place Gregory?" Lestrade wanted to laughed at the use of 'Gregory' but remained silent and shook his head.
"It is obvious to me now that it was an attempt to hide my emptions. I wished I hadn't but at the time the fight within myself was awfully tantalizing. The drugs…. They helped me stop fighting" the consulting detective became quiet and Greg let him think.
When no one said anything, the detective took a step forward.
"I know crackheads and scum of the earth, half of them are in my holding cells but you… you were never like them Sherlock, I don't know if that's any consolation but I always knew you were different." Sherlock smiled, he laughed.
"No I wasn't, I was obviously scarred. You wanted to know why I was here I guess… I just wanted to see why I stopped. Eurus did a lot to me on that island and I am trying to accept that what happened, I just came here to figure out why I'm not using" Sherlock's shoulder sagged. Lestrade placed his hands on Sherlocks shoulders
"Why aren't you using again?" he asked tentatively. Sherlock smiled again
"I used drugs to stop my emotions and now I don't want to, I like what I'm feeling Greg" Sherlock admitted. Greg grinned, his friend was growing up right before him.
"Come on Sherlock, let's get away from here" and then he guided Sherlock to his car. As they drove away Lestrade tried to associate Sherlock with the lost, calculating and bordering on cruel genius he once let on his cases but he couldn't.
Sherlock had looked through the relapse glass and this time decided he much preferred his family, Sherlock was changing and for once Lestrade could hands down say he was now a good man.