AN: Yes, I forget to apologize for my prolonged absence (it should be a crime to have 3 weeks of 3 midterms each week) in my last installment, so I'm posting this section just a bit earlier than I planned. Anyway, I think there's just bit more to go!
Chapter 12
The next five hours were a blur, of which I only remember bits and pieces. Finding out that Austin's body was being wheeled to the medical examiner's office for an autopsy. Talking with the police and the assistant district attorney. Refusing a counselor. And waiting. I sat in the waiting room as if I was expecting something to happen. Holmes had gone in with Lestrade and was nowhere to be seen, although the police had mentioned they had spoken to him already.
"Excuse me, Dr. Watson. Detective Lestrade is awake and wants to see you," a nurse interpreted my self-imposed segregation.
I obediently got up and followed her into a nearby room.
"Only 15 minutes, Mr. Lestrade. You need your rest if you want to go home tonight," she admonished.
I approached the bed. Lestrade's shoulder was covered in bandages; his face reflected extreme fatigue.
"How are you, detective?" I murmured.
"I'll be just fine, Dr. Watson. I'll be back on active duty in no time." he replied, without a trace of the usual skepticism.
I nodded, not sure what else to say.
He shifted uneasily in the bed. "Anyway, I just, you know… this is difficult… thanks, Dr. Watson."
"You're welcome." The world was definitely coming to an end. Lestrade, thanking me?
His voice took on the normal tone. "Of course, I'd like to see you first thing tomorrow morning at the station so we can close this up. I heard that SOB shot himself. Definitely saved us the work from frying him."
I shoved my hands into my pockets.
"Have a good day, Dr. Watson." He waved me off.
Guess he didn't change that much after all. I nodded a curt goodbye, and left the room, closing the door behind me.
I ran into Holmes in the waiting room.
"Lestrade back to his old self?"
I nodded. "More than you know."
It seemed as if Holmes was studying me, as I sat down next to him.
"So now what?" I asked him, unsure of what to do next.
He shrugged. "The cases are solved, and Dr. Reingold is dead. That part of your personal past- it's gone too."
"I know," I shot back testily before softening. "But I don't…"
"Feel like it's over just yet?"
I tried to smile. "Exactly. Doesn't feel like closure."
He stood up. "Come on, I want to show you something that might help."
I jumped up and followed him.
AN: Thanks again so much to my reviewers! Oh, and would you all want a sequel?