The third time occurs at the Yard.

Lestrade wants Sherlock and John to go over a series of kidnappings where the kidnapper leaves notes (clear of fingerprints—they use cloth gloves, according to Sherlock (something about cat hairs sticking to the papers)—and cut out of magazines, which is dull, according to Sherlock and John) for demands of money and leaving the number of days the family of the kidnapped to pay it off. If the money is not paid off, they will kill the kidnapped person.

The first family paid the money off quickly. The second family did not. Lestrade found the body (young boy (19), currently enrolled in uni, top twenty-five percent of class, has a girlfriend, his last meal was steak—he was celebrating his one year anniversary with his girlfriend) in a graveyard. There was one knife wound straight through to the heart, dying slowly.

Lestrade does not want the third family to bury their child.

Twenty-four hours remain.

The case file sprawls over Lestrade's desk, Sherlock bent over it and John hovering next to him, offering advice at random intervals and occasionally asking questions that guides Sherlock's deductions.

Five minutes later, and the boys are arguing over the cat hairs left on the notes.

"Everyone has a cat!"

"Including the victims! All the hairs belong to the same species—it means something, John."

This, of course, is when Lestrade chooses to fetch coffee for himself and tea for John and Sherlock in the cafeteria. Taking just three minutes, he is surprised to find that they have stopped arguing (because he has seen some that go on for thirty minutes) and are back to studying the file.

They haven't necessarily moved from their positions, but they stand just a bit closer, arms brushing randomly but consistently. Their heads are tilted to each other, and Lestrade thinks they must be murmuring to each other, possibly having resolved the cat issue. At eight o'clock in the evening, the meager lighting is artificial, but somehow, it makes John and Sherlock look beautiful, like comic book heroes; the shadows on their faces enhances the intensity on their faces. (Lestrade also thinks that the intensity is not just for the case, and maybe he's wrong, but Sherlock has fallen in love with John and it is quite possible John has fallen in love with Sherlock (though he has yet to see that deep expression Sherlock carried, just a few weeks ago) and when you're in love, that person becomes your whole life.

He makes a detour for Keller's desk, carefully pulling out the camera, before walking back to where he was previously standing. And with practiced ease, Lestrade saves this moment forever.