Secure Yourself (Sherlock)

[morganstuart]

Title: Secure Yourself
Author: Morgan Stuart
Fandom: Sherlock
Disclaimer: This universe does not belong to me; I'm just an appreciative visitor. I make no profit from this fan work.
Description: Comfort isn't Sherlock's area, is it?
Author's Note: Hahaha! Remember when I said I was done with 221b fics? I lied! This is a 221b ficlet: 221 words, with the last word beginning with a "b."
Warnings (Highlight to Read): Non-explicit but disturbing description of injuries




"Just talk to him, Sherlock." Forced calm flattens John's words into a monotone. He doesn't look up from where his hands work steadily in a crimson mess of shredded cloth and flesh.

Folded on his knees, Sherlock leans in, studying Lestrade like an anomalous clue. "What should I say?"

Lestrade chuckles once, then arches against the agony that follows, blinking back involuntary tears. The movement makes John hiss, and Lestrade tries, truly he does, to hold still.

"Doesn'tmatter." Lestrade grinds the words out between gritted teeth. If he unclenches his jaw, he'll scream. "Say... everything'llbe... fine."

His palms scrub along the pavement, seeking some way to brace himself against fire in his side and ice everywhere else.

"I'm not entirely certain it will."

Behind them, Sally summons an ambulance, her voice staccato-precise with throttled fear.

"S'posedtolie... Idiot." Fondly.

John presses harder. Lestrade claws at the concrete.

After a heartbeat, Sherlock captures one of Lestrade's wayward hands between his own, and glances toward John, as if for affirmation.

"No," Lestrade groans. "Breakyourfingers."

Sherlock blinks, frowns, then guides the hand to a bony Holmesian ankle, encouraging clammy fingers to curl around the solid joint.

"As tightly as needed," Sherlock murmurs.

Lestrade nods his thanks. Swallows. Closes wet eyes.

He squeezes hard enough to bruise.


THE END

Vital Stats: The title alludes to the lyrics "Secure yourself to heaven/hold on tight the night has come" from "Secure Yourself" by the Indigo Girls.

Originally written in August 2011.

Originally written to fill this prompt.

Comments

[killerweasel.livejournal.com]

This is excellent. :D

[morganstuart.livejournal.com]

Oh, thanks so much! :D I'm delighted you liked it.

I saw that you just recced it, too. I really appreciate that! Thanks for your kindness.

[openthecages.livejournal.com]

Aww, this is too sweet, makes me love Lestrade/Sherlock all the more.
I love it that I can hear Lestrade's "S'posedtolie... Idiot.". And In second the first comment, the only fault in this is that it is so short!

[morganstuart.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm so glad you liked this! I'm especially pleased that you could hear Lestrade speaking that line. This was one of my experiments with the 221b format, and I really appreciate your kind words about it! Thanks so much for reading and commenting.

[fanbot.livejournal.com]

Wonderful!

[morganstuart.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! I'm so glad you liked it.

[cuddles-and-jam.livejournal.com]

I love it that Sherlock finds his own practical way of comforting Lestrade. It took some trial and error, but he got there.

[morganstuart.livejournal.com]

I'm so tickled that you enjoyed this! You're right: Sherlock got there in the end. And if anyone could appreciate the genuine feeling behind the awkward gesture(s), I think it would be tolerant, patient Lestrade.

Thanks for your kind words! They're most appreciated.

[supermusicmad.livejournal.com]

I really like this. It's so like Sherlock to be practical, rather than offer words of comfort that he knows Lestrade won't believe anyway. Also, it seems that I am totally incapable of dealing with any sort of injured Lestrade any more, as that image of him clawing at the pavement had me squealing.

[morganstuart.livejournal.com]

I'm so, so glad this seemed fitting to you in terms of Sherlock's characterization!

Augh, poor Lestrade. I hate the thought of him hurt, and yet takes a whumping so very, very well! I'm glad you found the image of him clawing the pavement to be moving. And, er, sorry! ;)

Thank you so much for reading this, BTW. I appreciate your feedback so much, my friend!

[trishkafibble.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's gorgeous!!! It's so perfect--Sherlock's familiar social cluelessness serving as an anchor to Lestrade as he fights not to scream...and then, voila, Sherlock grasps the essence of what Greg needs and supplies it perfectly. So Lestrade, so Sherlock! And so touching.

[morganstuart.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you! I'm really thrilled you found this to be in character for both of them and touching, as well. I like to think that Sherlock's well on his way - his own, very Sherlockian way - of becoming a good man, as well as a great one, and moments like these attest to it.

Thank you for your lovely feedback on this wee ficlet! I appreciate it very much.