Volunteers (Sherlock)

[morganstuart]

Title: Volunteers
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: After an awkward Christmas party follows a lonely New Year's Eve.
Historian's Note: This takes place during events in depicted in the second-series Sherlock episode "A Scandal in Belgravia."
Author's Note: This is a 221b ficlet: 221 words, with the last word beginning with a "b."
Warnings (Highlight to Read): Spoilers for "A Scandal in Belgravia"!



Molly glanced up from the corpse. "Oh! Didn't expect to see you here on New Year's Eve."

With a shrug, Lestrade said, "Volunteered. Others had somewhere to be…"

"And someone to be with" went unspoken.

She glanced toward his ring finger, but he'd shoved his hand deeply into his pocket, as a wounded animal curls around the source of its pain.

He passed her new paperwork. "Sorry you're stuck here."

"No, it's fine, really. I volunteered, too. Had enough of the holidays."

A kind, sympathetic smile crossed his face, gentling its lines, but failing to reach his eyes.

"She's an idiot," she blurted, then clapped her hand to her mouth.

For a moment he appeared puzzled. Then he slumped, shaking his head.

"Sorry," she offered. "But when Sherlock makes an announcement, it's hard to… unhear."

"I know." Lestrade studied his shoes. "And thanks. But if I'd been there when she needed me, not at work, maybe she wouldn't have looked elsewhere."

"Don’t.”

If you weren't so dedicated, Molly thought, you wouldn't be you.

"She is an idiot.” Unrepentant this time.

He coloured. Cleared his throat. "Well, for the record, so's Sherlock."

She grimaced, then grinned.

Softly, "You deserve a happy new year, Molly."

"So do you."

She crossed her fingers. He returned the gesture, then let himself out with a bow.


THE END

Vital Stats: Originally written in January 2012.

Originally written for this prompt at the "Laud Lestrade Fest" at dilestrade.

Comments

[litlover12.livejournal.com]

Nicely done! I liked the line about the wounded animal.

[morganstuart.livejournal.com]

Aw, thank you so much! I'm glad that line, in particular, worked for you. I appreciate your kind words!

[belleferret.livejournal.com]

Awwwww!!!!! Love the slow blooming of something between these two.

[morganstuart.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm so glad! Thank you. I feel for both of them so much.

[seren-ccd.livejournal.com]

Well, this happened. *nods* This totally happened. Very awesome. :D

[morganstuart.livejournal.com]

Oh yay! I'd like to think so. :) Thank you so much, my friend! :D

[carolstime.livejournal.com]

Aw, the victims of Sherlock's words united. It's a nice scene that I do hope really happened, it'd be cruel if they didn't have anyone understanding on that day. (And right after that my brain has automatically started shipping them, I think they'd be awesome together, either as friends or anything more.)

[morganstuart.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you so much! I hope it happened, too - as you say, they can understand each other, and even that little bit of comfort would, I think, go a long way.

I think they'd be awesome together, either as friends or anything more.

I agree! I really appreciate your reading and commenting. Thanks for your kind words!

[missilemuse.livejournal.com]

Very very apt!

Waiting for some Lestrade-Molly fic... I know this is not exactly a pairing fic but both of them need some real lovin', very badly, and I hope this is the start! I would root for M/L, but the way Lestrade was checking her out... Let's just give him what he wants! ;)

[morganstuart.livejournal.com]

Very very apt!

Oh, I'm so very glad you think so! Thanks so much. I am ready for something good to happen to Lestrade. And Molly deserves some happiness too, doesn't she?

[cookiefleck.livejournal.com]

Ah, this is nice. And accurate! I hope we do see some happiness for each of these characters in the upcoming eps!

Hmm, second fic of 2012. I truly am so glad you are inspired! *winks*

[morganstuart.livejournal.com]

Aw, thank you so much, my friend! I saw this prompt and I couldn't resist. I'm so glad this felt right to you.

I hope we do see some happiness for each of these characters in the upcoming eps!

Oh, so do I! From your mouth to God's ear. *fingers crossed* At least we won't have to wait long to find out. :)

Hmm, second fic of 2012. I truly am so glad you are inspired! *winks*

*laughs, blushes, and runs away*

Thank you so much for reading this wee ficlet. I appreciate it!

[blooms84.livejournal.com]

ahhh. quite satisfying and thank you for making Molly and sensitive, intelligent person--not a ditz.

[morganstuart.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm so glad you found it to be satisfying! And I'm happy you liked my take on Molly. This is my third time to write her, and I do think the world of her - as you said, she's a sensitive, intelligent person, and I'm grateful that came through here. Thanks so much for your encouragement, my friend!

[coldlikedeath.livejournal.com]

Spoilers. Arse. There was nothing spoilery in there, and I haven't even seen the fucking thing cos I'm in Europe. Love the fic.

[morganstuart.livejournal.com]

LOL! Excellent. I'm so glad to hear it!

And I'm quite tickled that you liked the story. Thanks ever so much for reading and commenting. I really appreciate it!

[eanor.livejournal.com]

Aw, how nice! I am really happy now you decided to give them a better New Year "celebration" than the Christmas party. Although both of them are alone, I guess they can understand each other perfectly. I so hope we see more of the two together in the course of the second series! <3

[morganstuart.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm so happy you liked it! Thanks so much for your kind comments. I agree with your wholeheartedly about hoping to see more of their interaction in this series. Fortunately, we don't have long to wait. :)

Thanks again!

[fitofpique.livejournal.com]

Oh, lovely.

*happy sigh*

[morganstuart.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you so much! I really appreciate it.

[darthhellokitty.livejournal.com]

LOVELY. That scene was dying for this to follow it up.

And I liked the "wounded animal" bit, too.

[morganstuart.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you liked it! I really appreciate your kind words.

I'm particularly pleased that the "wounded animal" line worked for you. Thanks so much for this!

[sabrinaphynn.livejournal.com]

You vividly show how raw and wounded they both are at this time, and how just acknowledging that is somehow a comfort to them both. One of my favorite rare pairs. :D

[morganstuart.livejournal.com]

You vividly show how raw and wounded they both are at this time, and how just acknowledging that is somehow a comfort to them both.

Oh, thank you so much for this! It means a lot to me.

This is one of my favorite rare pairs, too. I'm so happy you liked my take on this. I really appreciate your feedback!

[kari77.livejournal.com]

Perfect.

[morganstuart.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you so much! I'm so happy you enjoyed it. I appreciate your kindness.

[tunes84.livejournal.com]

Oh, this is so unbelievably cute. I love drabbles, and this one just tugs my heart. That scene in particular killed me, all of it, and this little tag with so few words just fits perfectly in my mind. Adore it! Wonderful job, my friend, as always. I'm never disappointed when I read something of yours! <3

[morganstuart.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you so much, my friend! I'm delighted that this seemed fitting and right to you. Your kind words have thoroughly made my day. :) *hugs*

[goldvermilion87.livejournal.com]

Very nice. I like that it's understated and in character. :-)

[morganstuart.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! I'm so happy to hear this seemed in character to you. I appreciate your reading and commenting very much.

[archea2.livejournal.com]

Very sweet! I'm almost tempted to say pre-canon if the Moftiss take up RG on his splendid background acting.

[morganstuart.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! RG's acting was splendid, wasn't it? Alternately adorable and heartbreaking. I can't wait to see what he has in store for us in the next two episodes. Here's hoping that Lestrade finds some happiness/satisfaction along the way!

I really appreciate your reading/commenting, my friend.

[in_lighter_ink (from livejournal.com)]

Oh, gorgeous. This is exactly what I wanted after that exchange.

(And I'm reasonably sure the wounded animal line will be sticking with me for a bit.)

[morganstuart.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you so much! I'm delighted that you found this to be satisfying, and I'm so glad to hear that the "wounded animal" line, in particular, worked for you. I really appreciate your kind words.

[tocourtdisaster.livejournal.com]

This is lovely and exactly what I needed after the Christmas scene. :)

[morganstuart.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm so happy to hear it! Thank you so much. You've put a big smile on my face.

[arnie1967.livejournal.com]

Awww, this was sweet. Someone commented about the ep that Lestrade was totally checking Molly out when she took off her coat - and he was! I could easily see those two getting together, and your fic is a really nice start to that.

And yeah, Lestrade's wife is a fool.

[morganstuart.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm so happy you think so! I really appreciate this. Thank you.

And yeah, Lestrade's wife is a fool.

Absolutely! ;)

I can't wait to see what they have planned for Lestrade in the next episodes.

[kholly.livejournal.com]

That was lovely. So evocative even being short. Very well done. They both deserve a bit of good treatment.

[morganstuart.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you so much! I'm delighted that you think so. I really appreciate it.

They both deserve a bit of good treatment.

They really do, don't they?

[letshavedinner.livejournal.com]

Just... so... adorable! I thought that the way you wrote it was lovely, as we see two people pushed together unwittingly by Sherlock. I thought the line about Sherlock being an idiot was very good, as though he was trying to make Molly see that there are actually men who she'd be interested by, if you know what I mean... Lovely. I think this may have found a place in my bookmarks. :)

[morganstuart.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you so much! I'm so tickled you liked it. I loved your description of them as "two people pushed together unwittingly by Sherlock" - that's it, exactly! I'm especially pleased that Lestrade's comment about Sherlock being an idiot worked for you. ;)

I really appreciate your reading and leaving such kind comments. You've made my day!

[kristinaa1.livejournal.com]

I have become obsessed with Molly. She needs more love! Or to be revealed as a secret BAMF. Hehe

[morganstuart.livejournal.com]

I agree wholeheartedly! This is my third time to write her (first time in a 221b), and I really do have a soft spot in my heart for her. She does need more love! And I wouldn't be surprised to find out she is a secret BAMF. ;) Thanks so much for reading this!

[travels-in-time.livejournal.com]

This is pretty much what had to happen after that Christmas party. You've written the scene exactly as I'd have imagined it in my head. (Only, you know, I didn't, and you did. :D)

[morganstuart.livejournal.com]

Oh, yay! This makes my day. I'm glad to hear we were thinking along the same lines.

Thank you very much! :)

[gekidasa.livejournal.com]

This was very sweet. Thank you for writing and posting!

[morganstuart.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm so happy you thought so! Thank you for reading and commenting. I appreciate it.

[chamekke.livejournal.com]

Oh, this is wonderful! I love the unspoken feelings in this ficlet, the understated loneliness, their bravery, and the generosity with which each tries to encourage the other.

Especially loved this:

She glanced toward his ring finger, but he'd shoved his hand deeply into his pocket, as a wounded animal curls around the source of its pain.

And this:

He coloured. Cleared his throat. "Well, for the record, so's Sherlock."

Beautiful. Thank you ♥

[morganstuart.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you for the beautiful prompt - and for your kind patience with me. ;)

I love the unspoken feelings in this ficlet, the understated loneliness, their bravery, and the generosity with which each tries to encourage the other.

This makes me so happy! I'm delighted that these things came through. I'm also tickled to hear that you liked those two lines, in particular. Dear Lestrade, how I adore him.

Thank you very much for this, you wonderful person, you.