There But for the Grace
Genre: Drama
Pairings: None
Main characters: Greg, Sally
"Sir, there's been an accident," Sally said, as she stood in the doorway of Greg's office. "It's a bad one."
Greg Lestrade had long since learned how to read his Sergeant's face. He knew from her expression, grim and pained, that it mattered not a whit that this wasn't their division.
"The Chief has called all hands on deck. It's horrible, Greg," she said. "All CID are summoned to the scene. It may simply be an accident but he wants all of our forensics and investigative…" she trailed off.
Greg swallowed hard as he rose, throwing on his overcoat.
"Right, then," he said as he approached her. Stopping only a few moments, he placed his hands on her shoulders, giving them a squeeze and looking her square in the eyes.
"Whatever we're about to face, we face it together. Whatever we can't handle, we handle it together. Understood, Sergeant?"
Sally nodded, taking a sharp breath. "Aye, Sir. Understood… together."
"Greg," she said, as they headed down the hallway. "Molly and her colleagues are going to have a long night, as will John and Alex in the A and E. I might suggest our families bunk together in 221A with Mrs. Hudson. It's unlikely we're to be home anytime soon.
"Shall I advise Julian to send Emma and their boys over there as well?" Greg asked, as they approached the exit.
"Yes," Sally responded. "Mrs. Hudson will need the help, and Julian and Rosie… they're a strength of their own. Our children will need all four of them on their game."
"Sally," Greg said, bringing them to a halt a few feet from their car. "What are we going to be seeing?"
"A football team, Sir. Aged 16 to 21 and their supports… their coaches, other personnel… their bus was in an accident. It's bad, Greg. Multiple fatal…" she said, her voice breaking and her fist flying to her mouth.
Greg said nothing as he pulled Sally into his arms, allowing her the few moments to break down. When she had begun to calm, surprisingly fast, he pushed away, looking her in the eyes. "Right, then. From this point forward you are to be professional and on your game, understood, Sgt. Donovan? We'll have time for tears later, but right now, we're on duty, and we have a job to do. No matter how difficult it becomes, we have a job. John Watson will be on triage as a soldier. Alex will do what she does with utmost professionalism. Sherlock will detach himself as he always does to look at the evidence and figure out what happened. Molly will do her job as expected. You and I and Julian, we will conduct ourselves accordingly."
Sally nodded, bringing an impatient hand up to wipe away tears. Greg's expression softened. "But we do all of that together, Sally. In any situation like we are about to face, we must remember always, there but for the grace of God go I. Chin up, now. I can't guarantee I won't have moments too, but we MUST be on our game, for the sake of all. They'll do no less for us. We don't know who we may make that difference to today."
He wrapped a paternal arm around her shoulder as they arrived at the car. "Right," she said, as she opened the car door and got in.
The day would prove to be taxing, to say the least, but on balance, they would discover the strength of the human spirit and the innate good of the people of London, who would mourn the losses as a community. Countless gestures, large and small, would come together to make the unthinkable at least a bit bearable.
221 Baker Street would also cope, always remembering, "There but for the Grace of God go I."
In loving memory of the 16 who perished, and the 19 who survived on the Humboldt Broncos bus. April 6, 2018. #HumboldtStrong
In tribute to the driver who owned his guilt and plead guilty to all charges that he may prevent further pain. May God have mercy on your soul as your soul has felt remorse. There but for the grace of God go we. Amen.