A WEEK LATER

Lestrade slapped on the handcuffs as Sherlock was released from hospital. He put him in the back of the police car. Sherlock was silent the entire journey to the jail. Lestrade gave him an apologetic look as he pulled Sherlock out and led him up to the door. After he was processed, Lestrade locked him in a solitary cell and left for his office

'Why?' Lestrade muttered to himself as he saw the other inmates eyeing Sherlock through the bars.

"Who's the new guy?" The prison warden asked Lestrade.

"Sherlock Holmes. Drug addict."

"Well I'd watch out for him, he's too pretty for prison"

The warden left Lestrade to his thoughts.

Sherlock lay curled under the cheap prison blanket on his small bed. He could hear the other prisoners around him and did his best to ignore them and sleep.

"Hey gorgeous, get that ass over here"

He shuddered and tried to shut it all out.

NEXT DAY

Lestrade was pacing, frustrated. The case was going cold and he had no leads. He left his office and walked around hoping to clear his head. He ran into Detective Sally Donovan

"Any leads?"

"None yet sir"

"What about the second body, anything?"

Sherlock could clearly hear the two of them discussing the case. He had read about it when he was sober and lucid. Something clicked into place and he jumped up excitedly.

"Inspector!"

Lestrade turned to see Sherlock up and excited. He walked over to him.

"Yes?"

"The stepmother did it."

"What?" Lestrade was very confused.

"The stepmother murdered the two sons for their estate"

Both Lestrade and Sally were silent.

Sherlock looked at their vacant expressions and sighed, exasperated.

"It's obvious, don't you see!"

Lestrade recovered first, glancing quickly at Sherlock

"How can you possibly know that?"

Sally looked at Lestrade like he was crazy,

"Sir we can't take the word of a prisoner!"

Lestrade ignored Donovan; he was too focused on Sherlock.

Sherlock looked smug as he began to explain it to Lestrade.

"Isn't it obvious, the bodies were found somewhere only someone with a key could have gotten to. There was no sign of forced entry so it was someone they knew and trusted. The only person then that they would trust, who had access to the key and who would stand to gain anything after they were dead, was the stepmother."

Donovan couldn't believe what she was doing; her boss was mad, so she got up and left. Lestrade left Sherlock after hurriedly thanking him, he ran out to his team.

"Come on we have a murder to solve!"

"Sir do you think it's wise to take the word of a prisoner. How the hell can we trust him?"

Lestrade didn't reply.

"Come on, this is a lead. Lets go get the bastard."

They pulled up at the stepmother's home and arrested her; she gave a full confession to her crimes.

Lestrade returned later, alone, all the other officers had gone home. He went to Sherlock's cell and found him awake staring blankly.

"Umm,"

He begins awkwardly, Sherlock looks up at him, getting up and wandering over

"Sherlock I would like to thank you for your help on the case, we wouldn't be able to solve it without you"

Sherlock grins

"I knew you wouldn't, that's why I spoke up"

Lestrade can't help himself, he grins back, "no need to get cocky now."

But Lestrade can't help himself. He smiles affectionately at Sherlock.

R&R is much appreciated!

littleredfez & luvmyangelofmusic