The Eighth Body

[capt_facepalm]

Author: capt_facepalm
Rating: PG
Fandom: Sherlock Holmes (gaslight)
Characters:  Sherlock Holmes, Inspector Lestrade
Summary:  This is an early vignette, situated after A Study in Scarlet.
Warnings:  Dialogue fic
Word Count: 100
Author's Notes: July 10th writing prompt; can also be read as a continuation of Thames Littoral

Baker Street
Midnight, August 1881


‘I’ll go wake the Doctor, shall I?’

‘Erm… It’s very late, Mr Holmes, if it’s all the same, perhaps you should leave him this time. I mean, if he's sleeping and all.’

‘What has gotten into you, Lestrade?  Dr Watson is far more competent than that fool, Langer. A drunken police surgeon is of no use in major cases.’

‘I agree, but it’s getting very ugly. Our fiend is escalating.  This latest victim… it’s indescribable.  I wouldn’t let my newest constables near it. Even veteran detectives were shocked.’

‘Watson has seen worse.’

‘Perhaps, but he doesn’t need to see more.’

.oOOo.

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Comments

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Awww, Lestrade looking out for Watson, how sweet.

[capt-facepalm.livejournal.com]

Originally, Holmes' and Lestrade's roles were reversed, with Lestrade wanting Watson along on the case. Then I thought, what if...?

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm glad you changed it then, it works so very well this way.

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

This made me smile. Even Lestrade is protecting our dear doctor!

[capt-facepalm.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you liked it! Do you know Shedoc from ffn? She used the term 'conspiracy of protection' to describe people's reaction to Watson. That has become very much my head-canon.

[methylviolet10b]

Awwww! I like how you have them both showing how they care in different ways - Holmes by not wanting to leave Watson out, and Lestrade by not wanting Watson to have to see the carnage.

[capt-facepalm.livejournal.com]

Exactly! Holmes knows how much Watson needs to be useful, but Lestrade sees just how bad this particular crime spree is getting and wants to spare his friend.
Thanks for commenting!

[leone (from livejournal.com)]

‘Watson has seen worse.’

‘Perhaps, but he doesn’t need to see more.’

That's extremely effective. Both Holmes and Lestrade are exactly right: Holmes because he knows what Watson can take, and Lestrade because he cares about not making him take it.

[capt-facepalm.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

Holmes also knows how angry/dejected Watson would be to be left out of a developing case. Lestrade has seen Watson's reaction to the previous victims of this spree, and this one is worse.

[morganstuart.livejournal.com]

Awww! I love how Lestrade's looking out for Watson here.

[capt-facepalm.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Watson deserves to have good friends around him.

[dork-nerd.livejournal.com]

I love how well Holmes knows Watson (and his limits). He'd be more affected by being left behind than by witnessing the horrors of the crime scene. I also like how Lestrade is there with another perspective on Watson (but that they both have his best interests at heart).

[capt-facepalm.livejournal.com]

This is an early case, so Holmes is still very much only interested in results. He knows Watson would be a better man to work with at the crime scene, and repercussions are not even on his radar. Lestrade speaks with wisdom of long experience.