Disclaimer: Sherlock Holmes belong to Sir ACD and in this reincarnation Moffat, Gatiss and the BBC. We own nothing and are only writing this for fun.

AN: This is a collab between myself and the amazing trulywicked. It contains M-preg so if that isn't your cup of tea you might want to click the back button now. Thank you kindly for all the faves, follows and the wonderful comments. We hope you'll enjoy this chapter as well.

Tell Me This Night Is Over.

Chapter Two.

Molly ushered John and Sarah in through Bart's back door, she'd asked them to come in that way both because she'd wanted to avoid the route that would strike John the most painfully, and because it was closer to the MRI rooms.

"Thank you again for this Molly." John followed Molly, eyes firmly fixed on her, not on the familiar rooms and hallways surrounding him.

She looked back at him, "I'm just glad to be able to help." She saw clearly how awful he looked and her guilt stabbed her in the heart again as she opened the door to the MRI room she'd managed to clear for them. "You have to have two people to operate the scanner, one in the control room," she gestured to the other door, "and one in here to handle though you probably already knew that."

John nodded, he did know that and he had talked things through with Sarah. "I know, we were sort of hoping you could stay and help." He caught her eyes. "Listen Molly, nothing of what you learn here can come out. I trust you so please, please, please. You can't tell anyone."

Molly's eyes went wide at the almost desperate undertone in his voice. Something was very, very wrong. Oh God if John was dying then Sherlock...it just didn't bear thinking about. She swallowed and nodded, "I promise, I won't tell anyone."

"Thank you." He pulled her in for a short hug, then he turned to Sarah. "Let's get this done then. You start up this monster and I'll get undressed." John just wanted it done. In his mind he was nearly a hundred percent sure that he was pregnant but he needed to know for sure. Needed to know if he did have a reason to try and pick himself up and put himself together.

Sarah nodded, "Alright," she passed all of the metal she had on her to Molly, "Control room is yours."

"Alright." Molly took both Sarah and John's things that could react to the magnet, and headed into the control room. She watched for a moment on the monitor as John slipped on the hospital gown and lay down on the table while Dr. Sawyer began switching on and setting up the machine then Molly set about working on her end. It was mostly a routine scan and she just registered the images the scan captured, saving them to a flash drive instead of the computer system of the hospital, without really paying attention until she spotted something that was absolutely not your average part of the male body.

A gasp came out of her and she stared at what she was seeing in vague horror and disbelief before feeling just a little sick. This was just...so very, very improbable but there it was. Oh poor John and oh God when Sherlock returned. Oh this was going to be a mess.

John lied inside the MRI machine, trying to pretend that he was anywhere but here. It felt like lying inside a coffin and the scanner made the most horrible loud, slamming sounds as it worked around him, scanning his body. He knew he had to keep completely still and he held his hands tightly clenched to keep his tremor from acting up.

If the MRI proved what John felt he knew was the truth then things would only get worse from here on out. How was he supposed to hide a pregnancy from...Well almost everyone for another seven months? He would have to quit his job at the clinic. It felt wrong to hide but it was the only thing he could do, he did not want to be labeled a freak and haunted by reporters as well as everyone who would think they had a say.

Sarah was on tenterhooks, worried and nervous for John, wondering how much they could really trust Dr. Hooper, and how in the world they'd get John through this whatever the results of this was. When the scan ended and the table was sliding back out, freeing John from the tube of the MRI machine, she was almost twitching with impatience to see the results so she knew the magnitude of fall out they would have to handle. She powered down the machine and helped John off the table, handing him his clothes, "Alright, let's see what we've got then."

Nodding, John walked behind the screen and got dressed as quickly as he could. His heart was pounding against his ribs and his stomach was knotted with nerves and worry. Still he needed to know the truth. He walked with Sarah into the control room and with one glance at Molly's face he knew. "So it is true then? It's really there, no ultrasound glitch?"

Molly jumped up and hugged him tight, absolutely terrified for him, "I...it...um how exactly..."

Sarah moved to the computer screens to begin studying the scans, "Chimerism."

Molly moved back just a bit and looked at John's stomach, "This..." she looked back up to meet his eyes, "Anything you need John, if I can help just ask."

"Thank you Molly, I might just do that because I think I'm going to need all the help I can get." One hand came to rest over his stomach again. "You realize why no one can know right? Not only would I be turned into some kind of sideshow freak but if anyone could tie Sherlock's name to this as well...All hell would break lose." John licked his lips, his usual nervous gesture. "We're trying to keep it from Mycroft for as long as possible as well...I don't trust him and if he were to get involved I would never be able to stop doubting his motives."

She slipped an arm around his waist and guided him over to one of the chairs, "I know. I'm not going to tell anyone John. When Mycroft finds out, he won't be finding it out from me. I wish there was a way to keep him from finding out at all." Because like John, she couldn't completely trust the motives of Sherlock's brother. She knew he was helping keep Sherlock hidden and disguised, easing his way as he did...whatever it was he had to but that could easily be because it benefited him in some way. Something like this? No she couldn't trust his motivations.

"We're giving it a solid go though. John look," Sarah brought up the image of the uterus itself and the way it was structured, "Looking at this, natural birth would be possible, if agonizing as hell and offering a high risk of hemorrhage and severe damage. C-section is the way to go though."

"I couldn't agree more, as tempting as agony, hemorrhage and damage sound." John's tone was dry but he put all thoughts of secrecy out of his mind and focused on the medical part. Christ, he was pregnant! There was a baby inside of him, a baby that was half Sherlock. He blinked rapidly, no time for crying now, he'd cried enough for a lifetime. "Also if you look at the uterus and where it is located, it doesn't look as if it will be a problem as it expand. It probably won't be the most comfortable but no other organs seem in danger of being crushed or dislocated. Judging from these images, it looks as if I might actually be able to go through with this."

She nodded, "The biggest complication in expansion will be from your pelvic bone but it looks as though once you've expanded as wide as you can, it'll be out and up." She frowned, "Near the end you'll need to be put on bedrest." She clicked to the inside view of the uterus and the odd little thing there that would, hopefully, continue growing, changing, and be born without any problems in roughly thirty three weeks. Right now it looked like a bean shaped mix between a beluga whale and a tadpole.

Molly actually had taken her phone out and was secretly recording John's reaction. She couldn't tell anyone about this and she wouldn't, but when he finished his job and came back, she thought Sherlock would want to know everything about this. So she'd record it for him on the down-low and keep it safe.

John reached out and ran his fingers over the strange little alien like creature on the screen. It was still a marvel, a mind twisting, heart pounding marvel that this was inside him. "For this, for this I'll do anything, even bedrest." His eyes were fixed on the screen and his free hand went to his belly, it had already become an unconscious habit of his.

"You'll be bored as hell," Sarah's voice was warm, "We'll have to set it up so you can consult on patients via webcam, keep you from rotting your brain with crap telly."

"You know me too well." John's lips quirked up into a smile that felt alien on his face, like he didn't quite remember how to smile. "I actually happen to like crap telly...In small doses, Mrs. Hudson and I used to have our little marathon afternoons of talkshows and make over programs." He removed his hand from the screen showing his bean baby. "John Watson, pregnant consulting doctor...take that Sherlock, I bet I am the only one in the world at that."

Molly made a soft laugh and leaned down to kiss John's cheek, "Congratulations...are you going to go for Papa or Mama? I mean I know you're not a woman but you are the Mom...should I just shut up now?" She shifted uncomfortably.

"You know, I haven't really thought about it just yet." John turned serious. "I'm guessing Papa, not that it matters, I'll be doing this on my own anyway."

Sarah pinched his ear, "You might not have Sherlock here John but you've got me, and Dr. Hooper, and we're not going to let you do this on your own. Are we?" She looked over at Molly.

"Absolutely not," Molly squeezed his shoulder, "You'll have me and obviously Dr. Sawyer to help and support you."

He smiled and placed his hand over Molly's on his shoulder "I know and I am so very grateful for it." That wasn't quite what he'd meant but he saw no reason to tell them that, they were really going above and beyond to help him. Still this baby would only have one parent. John would be there to rock it from nightmares and ear infections, witnessing the first tooth and the first step. He would do it alone...Sherlock would never see anything, never know he had a child. It was going to be rough, John held no illusions, it was going to be the hardest thing he'd ever done but he could do it.

Molly squeezed his shoulder again as Sarah finished going over the scan then she reached out and closed the program out and ejected the USB drive, handing it to John before erasing the evidence of the session that remained in the console. "The USB should be the only thing left of the scan."

Sarah relaxed and smiled, "Good. Thank you Dr. Hooper."

"Oh just call me Molly," the nervous little pathologist gave her a smile, "We'll be working together after all."

"Sarah then," she offered her hand in a shake of agreement. She then looked over at John, "We'd best get going before someone comes in here for the next MRI appointment though."

John nodded and moved to give Molly a hug. "Thank you Molly, for this and for being such a good friend. I'll be in touch, make sure you don't get into trouble over this." He tucked the USB in his pocket and donned his usual jacket. "Think we could sneak out the backdoor as well?" John really didn't want to go out the main door.

"Of course," Molly gave him a hug, "It's not locked or guarded or anything. I just wanted to be there to greet you so you didn't have to come down to the morgue." She hugged him back, "And don't worry. I won't get in any trouble. Promise."

He gave her smile and hugged her again, grateful for her thoughtfulness. Then he and Sarah made their way back through the corridors until they could slip out the back door. Once they had walked a bit away from the imposing building, John felt as if he could finally breathe again. "So change of diet, weekly checkups and exercise...Anything more I should think of straight away?"

"You'll have to straighten up the flat," it was spoken gently, "Straighten it up, spend time baby-proofing, because you and I both know you won't be able to live anywhere else." She met his eyes, "Not all at once or immediately, you've," she did some mental calculations, "probably sixteen weeks before it gets hard to bend over, but it'll have to be done."

"I know, I know you're right...It's just once everything's gone it just shows that he's gone too. That he's never coming back to perform his insane experiments or stab the mantelpiece with knives." John sighed and looked down at the sidewalk where they walked. "I do know he's gone, at least my head does...I'm just waiting for my heart to catch up."

She laid her hand on his arm and squeezed, "Not everything gone though. Just baby proofed. You'll still have the skull, that shot smiley face on the wall, the violin, his chair, his clothes. Rather than a knife you can just nail the Cluedo board to the wall. And by clean up I mean putting all the papers, equipment, and whatnot into archival boxes because you'll be telling stories." She rubbed his back, "The tadpole is going to want to hear about its daddy and, if he or she winds up half as brilliant as daddy, he or she will want to see the things that back it all up."

"No matter how brilliant though, this child is never going to feel bad for being smart. I won't let that happen." There was a silent strength to John's voice. Sherlock had been teased and alienated because of his brilliance and John hated it. He had tried to make Sherlock see how utterly amazing he was and he would make sure that their child knew from its first breath. "I'll ask Mrs. Hudson if she helps me with the flat, together we can figure out what to put away and what can stay."

"You'll have to tell her, in your own time." Sarah shook her head with a smile, "I'm more than sure she'd tell the King Tit to go fly a kite if you told her not to tell him. You're her boy, a son in her heart and mind. I think she'd take a broom to anyone who dared to upset you."

John chuckled. "Mrs. Hudson is one of a kind, not even Mycroft could budge her. I'm lucky to have her in my corner." As much as Mrs. Hudson played up the ditzy old lady act she was one of the sharpest and kindest people John knew. "She'll make an excellent Grandmother."

"She will, and she'll help all of us make sure the tadpole knows that whether brilliant or not, he or she is utterly perfect." Sarah hoped with every last ounce of her being, that John would carry to term because even though he was still a little broken she was seeing him come back to life. If the baby didn't make it...they'd lose him forever and she knew that.

"So in term with turning over a new leaf and taking care of myself, what do you say to lunch? My treat?" Lunch was the least he could do for Sarah after everything she was doing for her. It still felt foreign to smile and walk and talk but John had to start somewhere. He was going to be strong and do everything he could do ensure this baby's health and safety.

"Sounds brilliant. Where do you want to eat?" She gave him a happy smile.

"Don't know, somewhere with real food and not sandwiches. Greek maybe? There's a nice little place just a couple of streets from here."

"Lead the way Captain," she hooked her arm through his in a friendly manner, "I could go for some spanakopita."

"Then let's go get you fed." They walked to the restaurant and took their seats. This was a good place, good food and best of all John didn't have any emotional ties to it.

Sarah directed the conversation to work, "I did mean it about the webcam consulting. It's the perfect way to keep your job and stay safe in the flat at the same time. And it wouldn't be limited just to the clinic. I've seen the records of your work in the field, other surgeons would kill for a chance to consult with you."

"That might have been true once but I haven't performed a real surgery in years. You know how quickly that world shifts; the methods I used are probably already outdated. I will accept the webcam consulting greedily though because being locked away and doing nothing would drive me spare within a week." He poked at his food before deciding to be a good boy and eat without being difficult, this not eating thing was something he had to get over and fast.

Sarah just beamed as he ate, just happy that he was eating. She caught sight of a CCTV camera and, in a fit of joy fueled boldness, held up two fingers to it, flipping whoever might be watching off before tucking in to her own food.

Sarah marked a few things down into John's file, just tracking as she'd done in the month since the MRI, and spoke into her phone, "Okay so that's another pair of trousers that's starting to feel a bit tight, brings the number up to four out of ten and personally I'm absolutely thrilled about it."

"Me too." John replied on his end, rubbing his little bump. He was only three months along but since despite his chimerism he really wasn't built to carry a child it already showed. He could still hide it behind lumpy jumpers though. "When we first started this I was afraid it never would happen."

"Well we can stow that fear away now. Are you still having trouble convincing yourself to eat or have the cravings kicked in yet?"

"A little bit of both actually. I still have to sit down and really tell myself to eat and then at times I can get these insane cravings. I feel like a first class binge eater." John chuckled into his phone. "The eating thing is getting better with every day though, so no worries there."

"Good. And everything else is going smoothly? No odd feelings, bad cramps, or pain anywhere?" She made a scribbled note in the corner of the file.

"No, nothing except for the ache at the hips that we talked about during the last check up. A bit sensitive nipples but nothing out of norm...Or what can be considered norm in this case."

She chuckled, "Alright then, and neither the King Tit nor his handmaiden have been around making a nuisance of themselves?"

"No they haven't," John walked to sit down on the couch. "Actually their complete silence is freaking me out more than to be constantly watched. Mycroft is not the sort of person to simply back off. I can't help but wonder what he's up to."

"That does sound a bit nerve-wracking. Well you did say a month at best to keep it from him if we weren't being paranoid so perhaps he's getting...irritable with the lack of success? Should we start being paranoid?"

"What do you mean start? I'm looking over my shoulder even inside the flat." John was a little worried; it was easier to avoid Mycroft when you knew that he was watching. "I'm sure he will find out soon enough...I just wonder how to keep him away when he does find out."

"Cattle prod?" It was a dry statement, "Taser? Guard dog? Chains forged by Hephaestus?"

"Get me those chains and I will tackle him myself to chain him up somewhere where the sun doesn't shine." John let out a breath. "Seriously though, I can worry but I'm not going to obsess over Mycroft Holmes. I've got more important things to think about."

"Good on you," She finished updating the file and closed it, "It's just about dinner time so I'll let you go. You eating in or going out tonight?"

"I thought I'd venture out, maybe going to Angelo's, see if I can actually make it inside the door, before I turn tail and run." John had tried going there several times and bailed every time.

"Alright then, good luck and you know you're welcome to come by here and risk my cooking if you can't take Angelo's yet."

"Your cooking is not a risk, it's a treat and you know it. We'll see I suppose, I might come knocking on your door if I chicken out again." John smiled even though he knew, Sarah couldn't see it. "If not then I'll talk to you tomorrow."

"Okay, watch out for crazy drivers crossing the street then. I'll talk with you tomorrow at the latest." She looked up with a frown when she heard a knock on her door, "Someone's knocking so I'll let you go now. Have a good evening John."

"Good evening." John hung up his phone and looked around the apartment, it was a lot cleaner now, and most of Sherlock's things, his lab, clothes and research had been put into storage. John knew that he probably should have given Sherlock's clothes away but he hadn't had the heart to do it. The nights were still rough and wrecked with nightmares but John took it a day at a time, it was all he could do.

Grabbing his, jacket, phone, wallet and keys he stepped out to see if he actually could make it to Angelo's this time.

It was busy this time of day, just after dusk, everyone hustling about to get dinner or get home for dinner. It wasn't what most would consider the typical time for a crime to occur but then again, nothing in John's life had really been typical of late had it?

Roughly a block and a half away from Angelo's, two men came struggling out of an alley, one of them calling for help, and being basically ignored, the other snarling and yanking and trying to pull a bag away from the one yelling for assistance. Then, between one breath and the next, the thief made a move that most would mistake as punching the other man in the gut, most that was, who hadn't been in combat. It wasn't a punch; it was a stab into the body with a large knife that was twisted on exit.

The pain made the victim gasp out and release his grip on the bag, letting the other man escape with his loot.

"Oi!" John saw the attacker run away but he couldn't leave a man bleeding on the street, that was not in him. He whipped out his phone and called 999 for an ambulance as he hurried over and kneeled next to the man. There was a lot of blood, a lot of it and from the dark color of it, John could see that the liver had probably been nicked.

John pulled the man's shirt up and winced at what he was seeing, pressing his hands against the wound but seeing more blood seep out between his fingers, finally he took off his jacket, pulled off his jumper and pressed it tightly against the bleeding wound. "It's okay, it's going to be fine, the ambulance is on its way." He kept his voice as calm as possible.

The victim gave him a shaky smile, "Thanks for the thought. I don't-" he winced, "I don't think it's going to get here in time. Rush hour through London?" He made a grimacing laugh before latching his eyes onto John's face, "You have a girl?"

"No," John shook his head. "Had one...not very lucky in love I suppose." He kept his ruined jumper pressed against the man's abdomen even though the doctor in him recognized that it was hopeless. He'd seen a lot of liver wounds in the Army, never got easier though. "How about you? You got a girl?"

An ironic twist of his lips, "Wife, pissed her off something awful. Put the job over her for too long. Ducked into a shop to get her some crazy bauble, pulled into the alley after I left," he sucked in a labored breath, "Stupid. Should have just apologized and made a picnic like we used to go on. Easier to get some expensive bit of nothing I thought...stupid, real apology means more." His eyes closed, "You find a new girl, you never hesitate to really apologize laddie, pride's not worth words lost."

"I know, believe me I know." John removed one bloodied hand from pressing the jumper against the wound and took the man's hand. "I also know that your wife loves you. Pissed or not, work or not she would forgive you no matter what. Probably already has." The man had turned ghostly pale and from the labored breathing, John knew he didn't have long left, it didn't matter if the ambulance showed up, it would already be too late. It was so bloody unfair.

"Yeah, just wish I could tell her that I love her too one more time," he opened his eyes again lips tilting up to look at the sky, "You know I read something once, where old warriors never fought on a cloudy day because then it wouldn't be a good day to die. They wanted clear skies so their souls didn't get lost in the clouds." The night sky was crystal clear, "Guess it's a good night to die," he squeezed John's hand, "Thank you laddie, I'm glad I'm not alone." He took a few more strained breaths then his eyes slid shut and he was still.

"Bloody, buggering cuntwanker." John cursed under his breath. Sitting down next to the dead man, glaring daggers at the crowd that had gathered around. Fucking useless idiots, it was great to stand around and gawk but good heavens if someone actually asked if they could help.

The sound of sirens was finally coming closer; John reached up to rub at his cheek, leaving a bloody smear behind. He hoped Sarah wouldn't be mad but he wasn't much in the mood for dinner.

It was the police that arrived first and, in keeping with sod's law, who should be the first man out of a car but Detective Inspector Gregory Lestrade, who's first words upon catching sight of the scene and all it entailed were, "Christ."

"And the day just keeps getting better." John clenched his jaw but stayed where he was, he knew he wouldn't be let out of there until he'd answered their questions, especially since he was covered in the victim's blood.

"Well look who it is, back on the streets to be found where crime is committed. Knew you wouldn't be able to stay away for long." Sally smirked at the good doctor.

"Sally," Greg cut a warning look in her direction, "Help the constables push the gawkers back and collect statements." It was firm and it held an edge of danger. He'd been cleared of any wrong doing in regard to letting Sherlock onto crime scenes but he wasn't anywhere near to forgiving Sally for forcing his hand the way she had and he wanted to keep her away from John as much as humanly possible because God knew she'd never manage to keep her mouth shut. Even Anderson knew better than to poke a sleeping tiger.

There was a tightening around Sally's lips but she did as Lestrade asked ordered the police tape to be put up as well as taking statements from a few of the onlookers that had been there from the beginning.

John looked up at Greg from where he sat on the sidewalk. "Single stab wound to the abdomen, liver damage, he bled out. He'd stopped to buy his wife some sort of jewelry, was pulled into the alley when he exited the store and was stabbed when he didn't let go of the bag. Can I go now Detective Inspector?"

Greg held a hand out, offering it to help John up, eyes tired and sad. He knew it wouldn't mean anything to John but he'd lost a friend when Sherlock had jumped off that roof and he knew that a lot of the blame was his. "I'm sorry John but I'm going to have to get the whole story from the start with all the details. That's the way it goes."

"Funny, I didn't see the truth matter very much before." John pointedly ignored Greg's hand and got to his feet on his own, looking around for his jacket since he was only in a thin undershirt after having used his jumper to stanch the blood.

"Oh my God!" Sally's voice was piercing as she promptly walked away from the crowd to go stand in front of John. "What's that?" She pointed at his small lump. "I can't believe it; I guess he was more of a freak than anyone could have known, even managing to get his little sidekick up the duff. You can't actually mean to carry it to term though right? It's unnatural, it's sick...You can't let that monster breed, it would probably be another monster just as bad as he was."

John saw red, he couldn't hear anything except for the pounding in his ears as he pulled his shoulder back and planted his fist right in that hag's face. He caught some vague satisfaction of seeing her crumble to the ground but it wasn't enough, he wanted to kill her...He would kill her.

"Shit!" Greg jumped forward and caught John under the arms, pulling him away from Donovan, "John, John! Stop!" He shouted for one of the constables to help Sally up and keep her at the scene while he took John inside a nearby shop, barking out orders to be taken back to a private room so he could calm John down, however unlikely that would be. Jesus. He knew Sally could be stupid but really? She sees that John's put on weight and automatically assumes that a man is pregnant before shrilling out insults about the lover of a man who'd just had someone bleed to death in front of him? God knew she'd had that punch coming and he was going to do his damnedest to keep John from getting into trouble for it. "John I need you to calm down for God's sake."

"No, did you hear what that cunt said? Did you hear?" John's fists were still clenched and he was shaking from absolute rage. "Fucking bitch wasn't worth licking Sherlock's shoes and she knows it. She has no right saying those things, no right at all. Sherlock was the best man I've ever met, he wasn't a monster." One hand came to curl around his belly. "He wasn't a monster or a freak and neither is this baby...No right, I should have hit the bitch harder"

Greg made a strangled choking noise, letting John go and moving so that he was blocking the door out of the room, "What?" His eyes jerked down to where John's hand was covering his stomach protectively, a gesture Greg had seen many times on women cops just before they ducked out of the field. "Wait a minute...she wasn't just talking out of her ass with that assumption? You're..." he couldn't squeak out the word, "but aren't you...you are a man right? I haven't just been so blind as to miss a very stocky woman binding breasts down have I?"

"Fuck." John leaned back against the wall when he realized that his secret was out. With Sally's screeching out there, there was no way that this wouldn't get back to Mycroft and quickly too. He looked at Greg with resigned eyes. "Oh for God's sake, yes I'm a man, I have the junk to prove it if you want to see. Long story very short because this is none of your fucking business. I have chimerism...Started out as twins but my twin sister's cells were absorbed by me causing me to have working female bits inside...Didn't know any of this before this little surprise was sprung on me."

Greg gave up all hope of staying upright and just slumped back against the door, sliding down to sit on the floor, staring up at John for a moment before running a hand over his face, "Jesus fucking Christ," he pulled his talkie and spoke to the constable who'd taken Donovan aside, "Keep Sally sequestered, I think she might have had a glass or two too much at the pub before the call came."

"Yes, sir I'd say she did considering the things she's spouting. We've got her locked up in the back of the ambulance for now sir. Statements are still being taken but it looks like a clear case of theft turned bad and a Good Samaritan sir."

"Right, thanks then." He closed out the channel and blew out a breath before eyeing the bump of John's abdomen again, "You've really got a little Sherlock in there?"

John blew out a harsh breath through his nose. "Yeah, yeah I really do." He looked around the room they were in until he caught sight of a chair and pulled close so he could sit down on it. "I really don't want this to get out. You heard what the bitch said...People would not take this well, not any of it."

"It's not like I'm going to go screaming it from the street corners John," Greg watched him, "Sally might try but she'd be risking her entire career and wind up in Bedlam. Everyone knows you're a man so unless that...what was it? Chimerism? Unless the masses know that, she'll be looked at the same way that End of Days criers are, completely off her rocker." He scrubbed a hand over his hair, cupping the back of his neck, "She's worse than usual right round now too."

"Got passed over for promotion despite all her intrigue then? Boohoo for her." John's voice was absolutely cold. "She shouldn't be a cop at all and you know it but it's not as if you're doing anything about it, too busy clinging to your own career." John was so tired; he just wanted to go home. "You were my friend Greg, not just Sherlock's but mine too but I will never trust you again. Just take my statement so I can get the fuck out of here before Mycroft shows up."

Greg's jaw flexed but he didn't snarl out back at John. It wasn't just his career he'd been trying to protect, if he'd tried to get Sherlock out of the muck like every time before then it would have just pushed him down deeper. The 'arrest' wouldn't have held water because of the lack of evidence and if Sherlock just hadn't run then things would have been alright. The only reason the arrest had taken place to start with had been because Sally had fucked the Superintendent into agreeing with her. Now both Donovan and the Superintendent were the ones under an internal investigation, one Greg had a sneaky feeling had been requested by Sherlock's brother. He sighed and got up, running a hand over his face and opening the door, "Hell with it. I'll pull you in tomorrow." He pulled off his own jacket and held it out to John, "Cover up; I'll get your jacket back to you tomorrow when I come by." He turned his talky back on, "Blake, need you to take our wit round home to avoid the godawful media I know are already swarming around."

"Yes, sir I'll have the car running hot."

John put Lestrade's jacket on, feeling a little bit like a kid in his parent's clothes. His weight was fine and the baby healthy but he was still a lot skinnier than before, except for around his waist. Since there was nothing left to say to Greg he just stood there and waited for the car to come and take him home. He needed to wash the blood off his hands...Again.

He missed Greg, missed the man's dry humor and his friendship but he had spoken the truth, he couldn't trust the other man and right now he needed people who he could trust with everything that he was.

When the car came, he got into the backseat, closed the door and closed his eyes, letting the movements of the car soothe his frazzled nerves.

Greg huffed out a breath and then walked out to deal with the mess left behind. Speaking of, he had to have a very long talk with Mycroft as soon as he finished up here.

To be continued…