The Nook

Genre: Family, Humour, FUTURE FIC

Pairings: Greg and Molly, background

Main characters: Greg, Molly, adults Greer, John, Scott, introducing Josie Doyle

Josephine Elizabeth Doyle - best known simply as Josie - a waitress at The Weathered Oak, the preferred pub of the Lestrade family and their extended family, smiled brightly. She had become used to, in fact looked forward to, this family of coppers and medics and doctors and nurses, and all sorts of professions in between, joining up in random combinations in what her and the rest of the staff had come to refer to as The Lestrade Family Nook.

She knew these combinations generally involved one or more of the Lestrades. It might also include a Holmes, and a Donovan on occasion. Definitely a Watson or two quite often, or three, and if a particular Watson or two, then a Bailey of some variety between two generations, now and then.

Tonight, however, the gathering seemed to exclusively involve the family that The Nook was named after.

When John Lestrade arrived, still in his paramedic's uniform – fresh off shift and devoid of any and all patience to go home to the flat he currently shared with his brother to change back into civilian clothing – Josie only needed a single look from him, and him from her, to know what the order was. The earlier arrival of John's sister, Greer, indicated where to deliver the refreshment to.

"Scott will be around shortly this evening?" she asked the stunningly handsome young man, as she arrived with the tray. "Our stoutest stout, Johnnie, and Greer, our neatest neat scotch. Rough day, love?" she asked, as she met John's eyes.

"About average, Joey," he said. "Just tiring, I guess. More losses than successes I reckon is all." He offered an exhausted smile and a half shrug. "It happens."

Josie smiled and nodded, understanding. "Well, focus on the successes then love, and let's hope Scott has had a better shift then, shall we?" she said knowingly, as she reached out and gave his shoulder a quick little squeeze, then placed a second glass in front of a vacant spot in The Nook.

Greer, not having need to change as a detective constable wore civilian clothing, said, "Thanks Josie, yeah. Scott will be here shortly. Oh, and Mum too," she added, suddenly remembering.

"Your dad as well then, Greer?" the astute waitress asked.

"Reckon so, yeah," she said. As Josie turned to take leave of their table, Greer suddenly stopped her. "Oh, and Josie," she said, "thanks so much. You know us so well, you always know what we need."

"You'd be surprised what a simple little waitress knows about her regulars," she said modestly, sparing a glance to John. "My mum served your dad for years, and your Uncles as well. I just picked up where she left off, is all," she laughed softly.

"I wonder if she realizes how good she really is?" John said, almost absently, as he sipped at the pint he'd been served, perfectly, on the instincts of a pub waitress.

"Doubt it," Greer said. "She does what she does, just like we do. I get the feeling she really does love her job though, don't you?"

John hummed in agreement as he took a sip, just before his eyes moved upwards to greet his twin brother and their dad.

"Your mum will be along shortly," Greg said, as Josie suddenly re-appeared, with a serving of scotch for Greg – like father like daughter, and vice versa – and a pale ale for Scott. Smiling at the near-complete group, Josie placed a glass of Australian Shiraz at the lone remaining vacant spot, before sneaking a look at John.

"Intense, but ladylike, just like Molly," Josie commented, as she stood back. "Right then," she smiled, "will there be anything else?"

The family seated glanced at her warmly, before John spoke up. "No, thanks Joey. You're wonderful as always. We'll let you know, hey?"

Josie nodded at the handsome young man. What luck, she had always thought, to have a night like this with three blokes as fetching as that.

But, something in John, in particular, stirred about the pretty young waitress, who knew them so well.

If John were honest with himself, that little something had been stirring for a while now, too.

Were Josie to also be honest with herself, she might have admitted that yes, she could tell the difference between the Lestrade boys, and knew John from Scott by her heart alone.

When Molly arrived, her wine pre-swirled by Scott, she slid into her spot next to Greg. Their children pretended to study various things – the well-worn oak grain on their table, the size of the crowd that evening (with whispered, deliberately and passive commentary between Greer and Scott to that effect), John seemed to study Josie's particular chosen hairstyle that day – while Molly and Greg greeted each other in their customary way.

When their three grown children judged that the snog-fest had gone on long enough, Greer, ever no-nonsense, stepped in.

"So, Dad," she said, drumming her fingernails on her glass.

Awkward silence ensued.

"Daddy?" she said, a bit louder.

"MUM. Get a damn GRIP, will ya? NO, NO, not on DAD, that's NOT what I meant! Oh... HELL."

Her protestations sat utterly ignored.

Greer shared raised eyebrows of embarrassed amusement with her twin brothers.

"MUM! DAD! Hey, get a bloody room already, before I arrest you both for public indecency," she finally said, giving her dad a gentle kick under the table.

"Sorry darling," Molly said, not really sorry in the least. "It's been a long day and I needed this. Well not just… THIS," she said, nodding to her smugly satisfied looking husband. "I mean, THIS," she said, waving her hand around the table.

"Fair enough Mum," John said. "So, let the Lestrade Family Debriefing commence. Best and worst of your day. Who's first?"

"Ladies first," Greg said, deflecting.

"Beauty before age," Molly said, quickly realizing too late that her sons looked exactly like Greg, and that left her and Greer – who, aside from her eyes and her height, looked exactly like her.

"AGELESS beauty first," Greer said, sipping her scotch. "Spill it my gorgeous Mum," she said with a wink towards her dad, who simply raised an eyebrow in agreement.

Molly smiled, then blushed, then sipped her wine.

"Right then," she finally said. "Best of the day. Well, I completed four exams, that must be some sort of record, and all of them were natural cause. I was able to set a few hearts at ease today. Well… as at ease as they can be in the face of loss. It's always better when they know nothing could have prevented it. Not that that makes it any easier of course. "

Greg slid his arm around Molly, giving her a squeeze. "Your worst, then, Love?"

"My worst," Molly said, clearing her throat. "Well I suppose that would have to be the third exam. A beautiful little girl, only eight years old. She collapsed on the playground at school. Turns out she had a congenital heart defect."

Silence fell over the table for a few moments, as Greg pulled Molly just a bit closer, leaning into her.

"Well then," Scott said. "Who's next."

"I maintain ladies first," Greg said, as Molly elbowed him gently.

"Right then, since you blokes are so bloody insistent," Greer said. "I like to start with my worst as always because it won't put a damper on my best. Always was a bad news first if you please sort of girl," she grinned. Her dad and brothers shared a look. That was their Greer in a nutshell. Always did want to save the best for last.

Greer took a breath. "Okay. My worst."

"We attended a domestic. Didn't end well, it was a murder-suicide situation," she said grimly. She took a pull from her glass. "Julian warned me ahead of time as usual," she continued. She glanced at her dad with a short smile. "Sorry. Detective Inspector Bailey."

"We're off duty, Little Love. Familiarities are allowed." Greg said softly.

"So yeah, then. Julian gave me a heads up, and it was ugly. The husband had put up a struggle, you just knew he didn't want to die. We found clear evidence of self-defense."

The table fell silent, as John glanced over at his baby sister.

"BUT," she said, clearing her throat roughly, "there was a little boy who managed to survive it all. God only knows how but he did. He clung to me as if I were the only person in the world who could keep him safe in that moment," she said, her voice wavering. "That was my best, right there. That beautiful little boy. Oh that baby lad's got a long road ahead of him, but he's grandparents to look after him and love him. And I gave them my card too. Just in case."

"Yeah," John said, clearing his voice, looking into his pint for a moment.

"Best and worst today. Same as Greer. Our unit attended the scene and well… it was as she said."

"Are you going to tell them how you took the little lad from me when your unit arrived then, and held him just as tight, big brother?" Greer asked, gently.

"Didn't think it was strictly necessary. His name is Kevin, by the way. The little lad." John paused, then said with a bitter laugh, "Times like this I wish we could follow up and keep track. But of course that's not practical."

Scott, taking a cue, motioned Josie. As he waited, he said, "Well, my best and worst aren't near as heavy." His parents and siblings all looked at him expectantly.

"Best today," Scott said, as Josie arrived and she shared a particular look with John, "my unit attended a scene that was at best hilarious and at worst, a horrible meeting of coincidence."

The ears seated in The Nook perked up.

"So picture this, family," Scott said. "a soon to be ex-wife calls in because she's trapped in the spare bedroom. Her lover has managed to lose the keys to the cuffs. Not sure I need to elaborate further," he says, taking a pull from his ale.

"The now soon-to-be ex-husband, though now we're not sure he's aware of this just THEN, is found in the rather large walk-in closet in the master bedroom. Apparently they'd had a little afternoon delight quickie. Then the doorbell rang. Apparently the husband arrived home early from shift and wasn't expected by… shall we say a certain visiting party, to be home for another two hours."

Greer snorted loudly, right behind Greg, who quickly cleared his throat and raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, he did come out of the closet, thanks to us. And a set of bolt cutters. Because the bloody cuffs she was using used the same sodding keys!"

"I'm guessing this didn't end well then," Molly said, giggling helplessly against Greg's shoulder.

"Well, it did for the husband. Not so much for the soon to be ex-wife," Scott chuckled.

"And your worst, brother?" John asked, the first to regain composure.

"Well… it was one of those blessed days where there wasn't actually a worst. They're few and far between. I'm grateful for it today. Next debriefing might be different but I'll enjoy this one while it lasts," he said, raising his glass. "So I guess the real best of my day was that there wasn't a worst."

Scott's parents, his twin, and his sister, clinked glasses in agreement.

"So," Greer said. "Daddy, this leaves you. Your best and worst today."

"Report came across my desk. DI Bailey's team," Greg said, sharing a somber look with Greer, and then John. "That one was my worst. But my best," he continued, glancing to his daughter, "besides little Kevin, was Donovan's team. Sally met me for unofficial debriefing after shift. Apparently there had been a small traffic accident, involving two senior citizens."

Greg took a sip of his single malt before continuing.

"Apparently they ran a traffic light and very nearly caused an accident. Now before anyone points out that traffic isn't my division, or Sally's either for that matter, it had been initially believed that they had caused a near fatality, deliberately."

Greg suppressed a hearty chuckle as he concluded. "Turns out, the wife had been driving and the husband had been in the process of copping a bit of a feel, which obviously distracted her. BUT," he continued, "the alleged victim apparently has made a bit of a career out of false litigation claims. Donovan's team had it sorted in short order. And by the way, the wife has a clean driving record, she's probably more competent behind the wheel than most half her age."

"Sounds to me like they're just as frisky as most half their age as well, darling," Molly said, stealing a quick kiss from Greg.

Josie re-appeared suddenly, offering refills and inquiring how they were doing.

"Seriously brother?" Scott prodded his twin, whispering softly.

"She fancies you and don't tell us you don't fancy her," Greer whispered, as quietly as possible.

"Oh come on. She's just being friendly with her customers, is all." John protested, blushing fiercely.

Greer shared a look with her parents. "Bullshit," she finally said. "She's being friendly with YOU. So ASK her already!"

John glared at her before allowing his look to soften.

When the activity in the pub had slowed, and Josie had next visited them, John finally asked, "So, Joey," blushing slightly. "We have a bit of a thing in The Nook. Your best and worst of the day. So sit down lass, take a bit of a load off while you can, and tell us. Your best and worst today."

Josie blushed furiously then focused on John. "Well I suppose I do have a few moments," she admitted, smiling bashfully, sitting down cautiously beside him.

"So, I guess I can tell you then," she continued.

Josie wouldn't realize it for a long while yet, but she had just submitted membership and been approved unanimously, for a spot in The Lestrade Family Nook.