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

[ascendant-angel.livejournal.com]

I love it, the only problem is it's too short :D, left me wanting more. I especially like when Sherlock guides his hand to his ankle and says as tightly as needed.

[sc010f.livejournal.com]

*wails*

It's gonna be ok right? Right?!?

Gorgeous as usual!

[archea2.livejournal.com]

I'm tempted to second the above comment and beg you to write this again as a longer fic. (I love the ending!)

[impishtubist.livejournal.com]

Oh, god, this physically made me ache. And I agree with the above commenter - it's far, far too short. Definitely leaves me wanting more. I love especially the image of Lestrade holding onto Sherlock's ankle as tightly as needed - very sweet. It's marvelous how much you can portray in only 221 words. I adore your talent! :)

[list-of-lists.livejournal.com]

Brilliant writing! I particularly liked Lestrade worrying about breaking Sherlock's fingers, despite everything, and Sherlock offering his ankle instead.

(I'm agreeing with the above commenters too- more would be lovely.)

[methylviolet10b]

*gasps*

*shrieks*

Holy moly, my friend. HOW do you pack so much story and tension and emotion into 221 words?

This does feel like a piece of a bigger story to me, but it stands perfectly - if agonizingly - well on its own. Well done, you. Now please make Lestrade better? ;-)

*stares in awe*

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

Brilliant. There's so much there, and so much left for us to imagine.

[fengirl88.livejournal.com]

I'm not good with fics where Lestrade gets seriously injured, but I love what you've done with this - wonderful work, as always!

[cookiefleck.livejournal.com]

Oooh, very, very nice and touching. I share with you a liking of stories where the characters work together, their personalities playing off one another, illuminating each in turn. Bravo!

You are NOT going to stop writing 221Bs. I knew that already. So there.

I hope Lestrade does not cut his hand on that bony ankle, though. ;o)

[lizachief.livejournal.com]

aww *whimpers*

I'd love some more though

[goldvermilion87.livejournal.com]

Love it--Sherlock's solution is very... Sherlockian! :-)

[kari77.livejournal.com]

And there I thought I couldn't be more in awe of you. This is yet another level of brilliance.
I love these short snippets, the intensity brought together wonderfully by your carefully chosen words and this special format.

I've always been a huge believer in 'actions speak louder than words", and your Sherlock is a perfect example for that.

[thisprettywren.livejournal.com]

Oh, this is fantastic.

I love the results of your experiments with 221b fics - I reading this I can see where you're economizing on words to include everything you want, and it gives just the perfect amount of detail. I just love the characterization here (does that even need to be said? I ALWAYS love your characterizations). The care and respect they have for each other (no matter how awkwardly expressed), Lestrade grasping at the concrete - poor guy.

Just lovely.

[embroiderama]

Oh wow, I love this--so much in so few words.

Re: Secure Yourself

[disassembly_rsn]

You're always good at writing Lestrade - although you're not usually good *to* Lestrade, so to speak... :)

:) Sherlock really *is* rubbish at telling comforting lies just for the sake of giving comfort. (He could of course do it if he were fishing for information on a case.)

studying Lestrade like an anomalous clue

Nice simile.

I join the chorus - the exchange about fingers vs ankle is very good.

[zephyr-macabee.livejournal.com]

I wonder whether it was Lestrade's hand that bruised rather than Sherlock's bony ankle.
Very nice!

[machshefa.livejournal.com]

*weeps

It'll be all right, won't it? Won't it?

Love John being so busy keeping Lestrade alive while Sherlock is nearly frozen. How typical of him... an ambiguous situation without something for him to know or explain or do... and he freezes. Temporarily, at least.

Beautifully done. As always. :)

[darthhellokitty.livejournal.com]

Wow. That was AMAZING.

His ankle...

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

This is lovely in a very sad sort of way. Poor Lestrade, the tears and trying not to scream. And Sherlock, being useless with words but managing to provide some practical help.

[morganstuart.livejournal.com]

Aw, thank you so much!

I'm especially glad the ankle part seemed appropriate. I was smitten by the idea of Sherlock uncertain, trying to follow John's direction, get his affirmation, and at last figuring out on his own a practical means of expressing care and concern. Another step on the way to becoming a good man, I'd like to think...

I really appreciate your reading and your kind words.

[morganstuart.livejournal.com]

Aw, thank you! :) I'm afraid I don't see this going farther. (I'm sorry!) I just wanted to show the progression from Sherlock being at a loss, to trying to follow John's suggestions/cues, to discovering for himself a practical (Sherlockian?) way of expressing concern/comfort. I'd like to think this is another step on his way to becoming a good man...

But I really do appreciate your kind words, and I'm especially pleased the ending worked for you. Thanks so much!

[morganstuart.livejournal.com]

Aw, thank you!

I'm sure Lestrade will be okay. He has the most BAMF!doctor in the world giving him emergency care. ;)

Thank you so much for reading and commenting. I'm so glad this little piece seemed effective to you. I loved the idea of Sherlock eventually coming up with a way to express his concern and attempt to comfort.

Thanks again!

[morganstuart.livejournal.com]

Oh, you're so kind! Thank you so much. I really appreciate this. I'm sorry for making you ache, but selfishly, it's wonderful to hear that the description made an impact. I'm grateful for your encouragement, especially in these super-short pieces, which have been a real departure for me.

I'm afraid I don't have more planned as a follow-up to this, specifically, at the moment. (I'm sorry!) I just liked the idea of tracing Sherlock's responses from being at a loss, to trying to follow John's direction, to finding at last a (Sherlockian?) way to express concern/comfort. I'd like to think this is a snapshot of his larger journey toward being a good as well as great man.

Needless to say, I'm particularly pleased, then, that the ankle moment worked for you. :)

Again, many thanks, my friend!

[selinabln.livejournal.com]

I love the way you convey so much emotion in 221 words. Lestrade's voice here, just spot on as is Sherlock, still not part of the caring/comfort lark but learning with every day.

And as so often, I just want to hug the boys after reading on of your fics, there is so much vivid, heartfelt emotion in there that doesn't want to leave the reader alone...

[innie_darling]

Wonderful.