I don't know why,but I always pegged Dimmock as the piano master type. So,anyways,enjoy!^-^

The room was dense with idle chatter of the dazzled crowd. The competitions were usually the best place to catch the eyes of the most talented and influential musicians around the world. Though, most of the competitors had gone home after all the elites had flocked to Dimmock's side, seeing as how they weren't going to leave until he had made a decision on who he wanted to pick as his predecessor. They were there to make his life something different, to take him away from all the pain of being a DI and having to work for his money.

So why the hell he was thinking of Greg's absence, instead of a bright new future, spoke wonders of how he felt about the whole situation.

"…and with your talent being so exceptionally exquisite, I thought it would only be fitting if you'd learn how to play the violin too. I mean, if you want to get into the music business, and possibly play full time for the Queen, then you need to learn early."

"Yeah, you're probably ...wait, what," Dimmock stammered out. His head had clearly not been in the conversation at all. There was no way he was going to work for the Queen when he had a perfectly normal job right at the Yard, where Greg worked.

"Iain, this is the perfect opportunity for you-"

Thankfully, Dimmock didn't feel any kind of emotion as he turned his attention fully on the uptight group of men. If it were any other time, he would have felt extremely insignificant under their calculating gazes, but it wasn't any other time, and he couldn't keep his jumbled mind from wandering to the one man that should have been there, the only person he wanted there.

"I'm sorry that I have to cut this little meeting short, but I'm feeling rather, er…sick. Bit of a sod just leaving and all..." He didn't bother filling in the rest, seeing as how it was rather minuscule to what he was really feeling in his heart.

"Oh yes… of course" The men each shook Dimmock's hand. "It's been a pleasure having the opportunity to talk to you, Iain. I daresay," the oldest of the group said, "I'll see you at other events like this, soon." He raised his wine glass in a toast before sauntering off to the minglers.

Dimmock entered Lestrade's dark flat with bleary eyes. He didn't feel like going halfway across town to his own flat, and surely his boyfriend wouldn't mind. It was kind of weird, but it was the only piece of the man he could keep with him at the moment, seeing as how the older DI was out working a case at four in the morning.

He took his time undoing his tie, and even more shedding his suit. By the time he had gotten into a pair of Greg's old sweats and a gray over shirt, it was already four -forty. Dimmock fumed silently as he flipped off the light and climbed into the cold bed. He wasted no time pulling the comforter up over his shoulders, milling in the despair that seemed to radiate off his body.

Dimmock took a deep breath- held it for a moment- before forcing himself to ignore the raking across his heart. It couldn't really be Greg's fault, seeing as how their demanding schedules always kept the pair busy until the wee hours in the morning. If he was still gone ad hadn't bothered to call Dimmock, then Greg was probably on a hard case, one that required the help of arrogant consulting detective. He had no right to feel bad by any means simply because they both had been let down in the past when one was called away without a minutes notice. Dimmock didn't know how many times he had celebrated an achievement on a case or even just a free night alone, and vice versa. It was one of the reasons their relationship worked so much because they both knew how demanding the schedule of a DI could be.

When one of them was falling into the bed, the other had just dragged himself out of it. And always, there was the matter of spending time out of town on murderously long cases, with the exception of fuzzy phone calls and promises to see each other soon.

And even with knowing all of that, it was impossible to not feel let down and hurt. Dimmock had been secretly waiting for this day for two months because he knew that Greg was finally going to see him in a new light, not being picked on at the Yard.

In the cocoon of the blankets, and the privacy of the dark, Dimmock finally allowed himself to cry, something he hadn't done since he was in primary school.

Minutes passed by, eventually hours, and yet no sign of Greg. The tears had stopped flowing some hours ago while Dimmock ran his fingers across the icy surface of his partner's side.

"I love you, Greg, wherever you are" Dimmock murmured before slipping off into deep sleep, a single tear running down his cheek.

I feel bad for ending the chapter with Dimmock crying, but I needed some angst here because not all relationships are perfect. Don't worry though, they'll make up and be happy soon:D Remember,you can request any particular gesture you want and don't forget to review!