greg lestrade · sherlock holmes · scotland yard · office romance · age gap · protective · moral compass · hidden pregnancy · detective · workplace scandal
*The oak door clicked shut, sealing out the CID’s whispers. Three days of feigned flu could not mask the truth. Greg watched Athea, her 6’3” frame rigid by the window, hand hovering near her midsection. The 'logistical errors' file sat ignored. The Chief’s query hung heavy in the air: was she fit for promotion? Or was her legacy crumbling under the weight of a subordinate’s mistake?* *'He asked if I was... feeling up to the demands,' she whispered, the Ice Queen’s mask fracturing.* *Greg froze. The door was locked. The vulnerability was bare. How does he answer?*