The Science of Starting Again//Book Five

Chapter 4~ The Return of Teddy Holmes

Lestrade's P.O.V

It had been a long, stressful day at work. There had been an attack on a guard at Buckingham Palace and so far we had come up with no evidence whatsoever. Not even Sherlock had picked anything up, and he was the greatest there was. If he was stumped then we were all royally screwed. However, the man would live so that lightened the weight on my shoulders considerably. Knowing I wouldn't have to solve a case for the sake of a dead man being able to rest easy knowing his murderer was behind bars put my mind at ease. His attacker was still out there, though, which meant that no-one was safe.

Sometimes, I thought, sending one last email for the night before shutting down my computer. Sometimes I wish I didn't have such a stressful job.

"Right, I'm clocking out for the night," I announced to the last few stragglers in the office. They were the people who purposefully stayed behind because they didn't want to go home to A) an empty house or B) a full one. I used to be like that too, staying behind for both reasons. However, I had come to accept the silence in my house now. I wasn't afraid anymore. I had accepted the fact that my love life was offically dead and i would live out the rest of my days alone. Didn't mean I wasn't lonely though.

Just as I made the announcement a figure appeared in the large, open area and suddenly all eyes were on the newcomer, including my own. At first I was confused. What was this stranger doing in the building, and how the Hell did they manage to sneak past security? Then came the gasps and whispers from the small group of workers still about, all shocked and wide-eyed. It took me a moment to wonder where the shock had come from, but then I took a closer look at the stranger and realized that's no stranger at all.

"Teddy?" I gasped, unable to believe the sight before me. She stood a few metres away from me, looking like she couldn't care less about the attention she was receiving. Her grey-blue eyes stayed locked onto my brown ones and for a moment none of us said anything. It was so strange to see her here. Her trench coat was gone, now replaced by what appeared to be a man's leather jacket that was two sizes too big. She wasnt wearing any make-up, a surprise as I knew that she loved wearing the stuff because it gave her a happy boost for the day. Her skin was pale, even sickly-looking, and she looked thinner than usual. I frowned at that, worried for her health. However, all that was forgotten when she finally spoke. For the first time in nearly three years I got to hear her voice again.

"I need a Guinness."

She took a step forward, eyes only on me as though we were the only two in the room.

"You free to go to our usual watering hole?"

I gaped at her, probably looking like a goldfish with my mouth hanging wide open. Without a sound I stepped forward, hesitated, before closing the gap between us and throwing my arms around her, hugging her tightly. She made a slight noise of discomfort but before I could let go and ask her if she was alright her arms were around me too and we were hugging and she was real and she was back.

"Oh my God, Teddy," I whispered into her hair, grasping her tightly. "I've... God, I've missed you."

She chuckled softly, rubbing my back softly and giving me an extra squeeze.

"I've missed you too, Greg."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I hadn't been to our usual pub since Teddy had left. Not surprisingly it hadn't changed, however they now served BBQ crisps along with the usual ready salted, chicken, and salt and vinegar. When we were seated at our booth, drinks in hand, I spoke first, still stunned that the youngest Holmes was back in London.