CHAPTER SIX

A/N: Warnings, spoilers etc. in Chapter One.

St Thomas's hospital was like every other one Greg had ever had the misfortune to visit. Crowded, noisy and it smelled.

He entered the accident and emergency department and walked up to the reception desk.

"Can I help you?" asked the woman behind the desk.

"I'm looking for Doctor John Watson. I believe he's on duty today."

"Can I ask who's looking for him?"

"Detective Inspector Lestrade, Scotland Yard. There's no panic if he's busy."

"I'll just check. Bear with me, Inspector." She vanished into the chaos, returning after a few minutes and said. "He's in the canteen. If you're quick, you'll catch him."

"Thanks, "said Greg.

The place was a maze but a helpful volunteer pointed him in the right direction. Inside he spotted John's fair head in a far corner. He was talking to someone else. It looked to be quite an animated conversation but John was smiling so Greg didn't feel too bad about interrupting.

"Hello, John."

John got to his feet. Dressed in navy blue scrubs with a stethoscope around his neck he looked every inch the medical professional. He also looked knackered but the old twinkle had returned to his eye, Greg was delighted to see. John grinned at him and stuck his hand out for Greg to shake.

"Hi, Greg, what are you doing here?" A look of concern crossed John's face. "You're not ill, are you?"

"Nah, I brought you something. Mind if I sit down?"

"Christ," exclaimed John, "Where did my manners go? Greg Lestrade, this is Huw Williams. He's a paediatrician."

"Hi," said Greg. Huw Williams was a very ordinary-looking man with short brown hair, broad shoulders under the obligatory scrubs and emerald green eyes but when he smiled his whole face lit up and he was transformed.

"Lovely to meet you, "His accent was Welsh which made every word sound like poetry. "John's told me all about you, Greg. You saw him through a really bad time. It's nice to put a face to the name." Greg felt insanely flattered.

"John, I have to go," said Huw. "The offer still stands."

"I'll think about it," replied John, smiling.

Huw took his leave and John watched him go. He couldn't help himself but when he looked back at Greg, Greg had the most fatuous grin on his face. John frowned.

"What?"

"Come off it! You're a bit of a dark horse, Doctor Watson. Are you seeing him?"

"No," said John. "We've been flirting up a storm. He asked me out again tonight but…I'm not sure it's a good idea."

"Bollocks. Go out and have some fun. Christ knows you deserve it. And he seems really nice, he could do you the power of good."

"He is really nice," admitted John "Bloody good doctor, he's an absolute genius with kids."

"So, go for it. You should be happy with someone that can love you back."

John threw his hands up in surrender. "Okay, okay, I'll go. We'll probably end up talking shop all night, anyway."

"Killjoy," teased Greg. He put his hand in his coat pocket and produced two CD's. "Yours, I believe. Found them down the back of the bed in the spare room the other day, I thought you might like them back."

"Brilliant, I wondered where they'd gone," smiled John. "Thanks."

"Not like I was doing much," said Greg morosely. "I'm reduced to cleaning out bedrooms and arranging things in alphabetical order when I'm off work."

John tried to look sympathetic but couldn't stop grinning. They both jumped at a harsh screech which came from somewhere in John's vicinity.

"Shit, it's the trauma bleep. I've got to go. See you Friday?"

"Sure. Same time," smiled Greg as John hurried off.

Greg stood up and made his way out of the hospital back to the car park. He hadn't been kidding when he told John he was at a loose end. Mycroft was still away, had been away for weeks and Greg missed him like hell, and until he came back, that's all he could do.

Later that night John Watson walked into the bar of the White Swan. Huw was sitting with his back to the door. He was wearing black jeans and a green polo shirt that matched his eyes and showed off the breadth of his shoulders. John walked over and sat beside him. He would always treasure the look of surprise and sheer delight on Huw's face when he saw who it was.

"I don't believe it!" Huw exclaimed. "You only bloody turned up!"

John smiled as he said "Shut up and buy me a pint, will you? I'm gasping."

When Huw returned from the bar John took a deep draught from his pint glass and sighed with pleasure. "I needed that,"

"So, I gathered," replied Huw. "Look, John, I know I asked you out but don't feel you have to treat this as a date. It can be anything you want it to be. Two blokes having a pint and a chat, anything. I understand what you went through with your friend, that kind of hurt doesn't heal overnight. I'll be just as happy either way."

John put his hand over Huw's where it rested on the table.

"It's time I moved on," said John quietly, his eyes never leaving Huw's or leaving him in any doubt of his sincerity. "And I want you to help me with that. I want this to be a proper date. And I'd like there to be a lot more of them. Is that okay?"

"It's more than okay," replied Huw, taking John's other hand. "It's brilliant."

The two men looked at each other in perfect understanding.

It was two o'clock in the morning when Greg's phone rang, jerking him into wakefulness.

"Woozat?" he mumbled, squinting at the screen.

"And good morning to you too, Gregory."

"Mycroft? It's the middle of the night. Where the actual fuck are you?"

"Somewhere over Europe, apologies for the lateness of the call."

"That's okay, I was beginning to wonder if you'd defected."

"Not when I have you to come back to, Gregory." Mycroft's voice was a seductive purr and Greg was wide awake now.

"And are you coming home?" he asked, trying not to sound too needy.

"I'll be back in London later today. I thought you might like to join me for dinner."

"Come to my house," said Greg firmly. "I'll cook and I'll threaten anyone at work who thinks about phoning me with ritual disembowelment."

"Sounds perfect," sighed Mycroft. "I will see you later then. Oh, and Gregory?"

"Yes?"

"I missed you."

Greg found himself with a silent phone. He lay back down, smiling with anticipation.

It was two o'clock in the morning and John turned over in bed, snuggling closer to his bed mate. Huw kissed him awkwardly on the ear and held him tighter.

John had surprised himself that night but he had absolutely no regrets for it had been wonderful, all of it.

He was smiling as he drifted off to sleep.

TBC