Bradstreet straightened up. "There he is, Holmes-oh." The Inspector caught Holmes by the sleeve as he would have stepped forward.
Watson stared at the sight before them. Lestrade, covered in mud and what might possibly have been blood, had entered the Yard with a small bundle in his arms and his eyes flashing. Concerned, the doctor looked Bradstreet. "Is he-"
Bradstreet cut him off with a sharp motion of his hand, but said nothing. He recognized the look in the older Inspector's eyes. Very rarely was Lestrade seen in such a fury, and Bradstreet knew the man well enough to guess what had put him in such a rage and what was in the bundle in his arms.
With a gesture to Holmes and Watson to stay put, and a prayer that they would listen, Bradstreet gingerly approached the livid Inspector. "Anything I can do?" He asked softly. He watched, ready to back away immediately if it became necessary, as Lestrade barely managed to bite back a harsh retort.
Lestrade closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and forced himself to relax minutely. "Holmes and Watson are here." Bradstreet told him. "I can take care of the child, Lestrade." He offered, nodding toward the bundle in the other Inspector's arms.
Lestrade hesitated, then nodded and held the small bundle out for Bradstreet to take. Bradstreet accepted the bundle carefully, and Lestrade looked over to where Holmes and Lestrade looked over to where Holmes and Watson were standing." He said before heading for his office.
Bradstreet looked down at the baby now cradled in his arms and sighed softly. Lestrade always had had a soft spot where children were concerned. Nothing made him angrier than someone who would harm a child, and so it was no surprise to anyone when the Inspector occasionally came in looking a mess and in a foul mood and carrying baggage in the form of some abused or neglected young thing.
He rejoined Holmes and Watson. "Don't ask." He warned them. It was better to leave whatever had happened alone. "I mean it."
"Is that a child?" Watson asked, surprised. Bradstreet sighed again.
"This is a child that Lestrade has apparently rescued from someone or something." Bradstreet explained heavily. "What that entailed I don't know, nor would it be a good idea under any circumstances to ask, so please-just-don't."
Bradstreet excused himself before the two could finish properly digesting that bit of information. The rest of his day was more than likely going to be spent finding a home for the small bundle in his arms.
Disclaimer: Sherlock and the boys do not belong to me.
