Chapter Ten: Something Stronger than Tea

"Shit!"

"Yeah." Greg sighed, resting his chin on the sticky table-top and gazing morosely into the murky depth of a Saturday morning pint.

"Shit!" John repeated, sitting back and trying to think of something more useful to say. "Why?" was the best he could come up with.

Lestrade made an inarticulate sound and shrugged. "It sort of made sense at the time. Fuck knows why though... I made a complete tit of myself."

"What happened after you... you know-"

"Legged it, didn't I? Better to retain at least a smidgen of dignity and leave of my own accord than get chucked out."

John sipped at his Carlsberg. "You think that's what would've happened?"

"What other outcome could there have been?"

"And you haven't spoken since?"

Greg shook his head. "It only happened last night, but no, I haven't heard from him and there's no way in hell I'm texting first

Hiding his smirk at his friend's childishness, John tried to remain serious. "It's probably not the kind of thing you should try and sort out over text," he suggested gently.

"Look," Lestrade sat up, gulping back a good third of his lager before pointing a finger at Doctor Watson and continuing in a subtly slurred tone, "Look, if he wanted to talk about it, he'd contact me. I'm not doing it – I've already made a right twat of myself. I just want to forget it ever happened, y'know?"

John couldn't honestly say that he did know "To be honest, Greg, you didn't exactly give him much chance to say anything – you've done a double head-fuck by coming onto him out of nowhere, and then ditching him seconds later. Not being funny, but you've been pretty dickish, mate."

Lestrade let out a long, load groan, his head falling onto the table with a painful thud. "I was happily married a month ago! I think the world's gone mad..."

"More than likely," John said, nodding sympathetically.

They sat in a contemplative silence for a few long minutes, then John asked tentatively, "What d'you think would've happened if Mycroft had been...receptive?"

Lestrade raised his head very slightly, frowning. "Huh?"

"I mean..." the doctor hesitated, picking his phrasing very carefully, "Do you, you know, fancy him? Or was it just an 'I've just broken up from my cheating wife' kind of thing?"

Greg rubbed his forehead as though trying to erase a headache. "You make it sound as though we're in high school..."

"The question still stands."

"Oh god, I don't know!" Lestrade groaned. "The thought hadn't really occurred to me. I'm not gay though," he added as the inevitable question began to form on John's lips. "The fact that he's a bloke sort of never really came into the equation."

"But?" pressed John, sensing that this was something his friend needed to talk through aloud.

"But...but I like the way we are together when we hang out, when it's just the two of us. good company, no pressure, decent banter...It's not a bit like it was with Caroline, obviously, but it's different to you and me hanging out, or being with the lads down the station. It was really good, and now it's fucked," Greg concluded eloquently.

"You've got to talk to him, you've no choice in the matter," John told him sternly, leaning forwards. "Even if it's just to clear the air. He's Sherlock's brother – there's no way you'd be able to avoid him, even if you wanted to." This last remark was accompanied by a very pointed look. "You've got significantly less to lose by confronting it than not."

"You're right, of course." Greg sighed heavily and reached into his jacket pocket, twisting awkwardly to reach his phone. "Better sooner than later, eh Doctor?" Heart thudding painfully in his chest, Lestrade tapped a quick message – Feel like a complete dick- can I buy you tea as a sorry? –Greg – and pressed send before he could rationalise himself out of it.

"Well done," said John, patting him on the arm. "Let us know how it goes."

Greg nodded, downing the last of his pint. "Don't you fucking dare mention any of this to Sherlock," he warned with deadly seriousness.

John gave a hollow laugh and mimed crossing his heart. "Although I accept no responsibility if he works it out for himself."

x

Mycroft: Are you free any time today? Could we meet for coffee? M x

Today, 11:48

Harry: Elizabeth has ballet 12:30 – 13:30, I could meet you between then? There's a French Cafe just over the road from the studio. Hope everything's okay x

Today, 11:52

Mycroft: Ritherdon Road? Will be there, sitting outside. x

Today, 11:53