Prompt from W. Y. Traveller: Watson's first Christmas without Mary.
"Dr Watson?" Lestrade rapped on the door.
The door didn't open.
Lestrade rapped again, harder this time. "Dr Watson, I know you're home."
The door remained closed.
Lestrade let his closed fist rest on the door. "Doctor – John, I know you're still grieving Mary, but you shouldn't be alone on Christmas. Please, come have Christmas with me and Beth and the kids." He tried a smile, hoping it would carry through in his voice. "Let us return the favour for all the times you and Mary looked after our kids."
He heard the muffled sound of a choked sob through the door, and winced at his tactlessness. He'd forgotten the secret Beth had shared with him, the secret that had brought more joy to Watson than he'd seen since Holmes had died.
He tried one last ditch effort. "Please, doctor, come home with me for Christmas. You know Mary wouldn't have wanted you to be alone."
He waited, hoping to hear the sound of shuffling footsteps, creaking hinges, anything at all to indicate Watson had listened and would come with him, but there was nothing.
He sighed. Beth wouldn't like it, but you couldn't help a man who didn't want to be helped.