Sherlock stumbled as Lestrade manhandled him into his flat. His body felt overly warm and his clothes were starting to itch. Lestrade spoke and Sherlock struggled to focus on what he was saying.

"… You need to stay in here and lock yourself in, Sherlock. Your Heat will attract unbonded Alphas if you don't." Lestrade squinted at the detective as he huddled on the sofa with his large coat wrapped around him like a protective cocoon. "Sherlock, are you listening?"

Sherlock glanced at Lestrade before averting his gaze as he felt another overwhelming swell of attraction for the silver haired DI. "Yes, yes, Lestrade. Fine," he muttered.

Lestrade flushed uncomfortably and shifted on his feet. Sherlock didn't look at him but snapped, "What, Lestrade? Just say whatever you're thinking, I hear you from here."

The older man cleared his throat. "Um, it's obvious your Heat will be starting soon. You need to um keep yourself occupied when it does."

Sherlock stiffened and glared at Lestrade. "Keep myself occupied?" He repeated, disdainfully. "You mean stuff myself with my fingers and rut until my Heat ends? I remember. It's been a long time but you don't forget something like that."

Lestrade blushed to the roots of his hair at the younger man's words. "Um, yeah, fingers probably won't cut it. Don't you have any … um… Omega toys? You'll need, er, more than just fingers in a full Heat." Sherlock was the one to blush now and looked steadfastly out the window.

"You do have toys, right, Sherlock? You must have something for when your Heat comes." The older man sounded concerned.

Sherlock glanced at him before looking away again. "I haven't had a Heat in over a decade. I have nothing. I haven't needed anything." He shrank into his coat and pulled his knees up to his chest.

"Jesus Christ on a cracker! Sherlock, you have to have something. Your Heat will start soon." Lestrade took a tentative step closer to the sofa where the consulting detective perched. "Listen, back before I was married and still trying to pull Omegas, I had a trick. I could smell when their next Heat would approach. I was usually right on the money."

Sherlock looked up sharply, intrigued despite himself. If he had more data, perhaps he could better manage his Heat. "Really? How?"

Lestrade shrugged and shuffled a bit closer. "I'm not sure really, it's just something I've always been able to do. I could do that for you if you want. Just sniff your neck. Nothing else, I swear. I'm sure this is, um, an uncomfortable situation."

Sherlock cocked his head to the side and looked at the older man. Part of him wanted nothing more than for Lestrade to bury is face in his neck and inhale him. He wanted him to mark him, to claim him as his mate. Sherlock mentally shook himself. 'No! Focus.' The rational part, that was rapidly dwindling felt what Lestrade was suggesting was a good idea. It would be helpful to know how much time he had until he was a mindless animal completely bound to his body's desires.

The detective slowly unfurled his long legs and stood up from the sofa. He moved his collar aside and nodded once at Lestrade. The DI took in a shaky breath and stepped into Sherlock's personal space. The younger man shuddered as his delicious Alpha scent filled his senses, threatening to overwhelm and undo him. He stiffened his back and slightly tilted his head, not truly presenting but allowing the Alpha space to scent him.

Lestrade clenched his hands into fists at his side and leaned into the taller man. As his nose touched the sensitive skin of the Omega's neck, Sherlock's knees threatened to buckle. He remained standing through sheer force of will but it felt amazing. His head filled with images of Lestrade above him in bed, his cock filling him and fucking him into the mattress, biting his neck and marking him as the Alpha's mate.

Quickly, Lestrade deeply scented the younger man, then stepped away. It was all Sherlock could do not to whimper at the loss of contact. The DI looked shaken and his eyes were dark with lust. He backed away, out of Sherlock's personal space. "You," his throat caught and he had to clear his throat to get the words out. "Er, you should have a couple of hours. You still smell like you're in the early stages." He shifted his legs in what appeared to be an attempt to ease pressure in his trousers. The detective could sympathize.

Sherlock, his face flushed and his pupils blown wide, shook himself and nodded. "Excellent, I can run out and get some toys before it starts."

"What?! Are you mad? No, you bloody well can't! You go out there like this and you'll be mounted by the first unbonded Alpha that you come across! It's too dangerous, Sherlock! Can't, I dunno, Mycroft send you over some toys? He must know you're an Omega." Lestrade was dumbfounded by the younger man's ignorance.

Sherlock flushed deeply and practically snarled, "I am not asking Mycroft for help with this matter! If you think leaving is unadvisable I will simply make do."

A strange look flashed across the DI's face. The younger man noticed it immediately, more aware and attuned to the other man than usual.

"What?" Sherlock bit out.

"I may have something that will help you." Lestrade refused to meet the younger man's gaze. "My ex was an Omega and we sometimes, um, played with toys during her Heats."

Sherlock cut him off, "If you think I'm 'playing' with your ex-wife's old toys you are even more feeble-minded than I feared."

Lestrade threw up his hands, "No! God, no! Yuck. I had bought some new toys shortly before she… well, before she left me for good. They aren't exactly the sort of thing you can return so I just shoved them in the back of the wardrobe. I forgot they were even there until just now. They are in still in the packaging. Untouched. I just thought that they might help. You will need something Sherlock, I swear it."

Sherlock managed to look even more uncomfortable than he had during the course of this surreal conversation. 'He's right. I hate that he's right. Damn my traitorous body!' Just the idea of something filling him made his body flush even warmer than it had been and he could feel himself creating more lubrication. He turned away from the older man and nodded. "Thank you Lestrade," he said in a low voice. "I accept your kind offer."

Lestrade swallowed a laugh at the Omega's formality while discussing sex toys. "Alright, stay here, lock the door behind me. I'll be back in an hour, give you the toys and clear out."

Sherlock nodded again as he heard, and more disturbingly, felt the Alpha leave the flat.