Fic: In the Valley of the Shadow

[impishtubist]

Title: In the Valley of the Shadow
Characters: DI Lestrade, John Watson
Fandom: Sherlock
Pairing: None intended, but could easily be read as Sherlock/John
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: c. 2,800
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Warnings: Language; Temporary Character Death
Spoilers: for ACD canon
Beta: canonisrelative

Summary: Lestrade and John, half a year after Reichenbach, find

Comments

[maggie_conagher]

Part 2 of Angst Fest, a little known German holiday. (jk)

What I'm stuck with here, when I can think straight between heaving sobs, is how you make an entire world, paint epic stuff and then bring it down to the practical and ordinary with stunning accuracy. You always do this, I'm just highlighting it here. As below (still working on my LJ skills; bear with me)

Lestrade holding human life in the palm of his hand, drunk with grief but also

He set the drink aside long enough to remove his watch and work his ring off his finger. He unbuttoned his shirt down to his sternum while at the same time pushing his socks off his feet with his toes. He relaxed slightly as the combined effect of the liquor in his belly and the removal of the day’s little confinements hit him at once. He curled his freed toes into the carpet, picked up his drink again, and resumed his musings.I love domestic fiction and also apparently have a toe kink regardless of character. You are haunted by Lestrade, aren't you

[impishtubist]

Part 2 of Angst Fest, a little known German holiday. - Oh, you make me giggle!

how you make an entire world, paint epic stuff and then bring it down to the practical and ordinary with stunning accuracy - That means so, so much to hear. Thank you. I'm happy that I'm able to accomplish that.

I am definitely haunted by Lestrade. Ha.

Sherlock and November - I'm so happy that works for you as well! It's always been kind of my head!canon.

You are going to outgrow fan fic eventually, Imp. I hope you are planning for that day. :) - That's terribly sweet of you to say. Nice as it would be, I highly doubt that will happen. But thank you for saying so. It's very, very kind and made my morning :)

[lestrades_lady]

Oh, where to start? The awesomeness! Sad, but awesome!
The line about Sherlock's "two closest friends" was very touching. So simple, but poignant. John thinking of Lestrade as "a good man - a great one, even." *sigh*
You capture them so well: Lestrade talking to the skull in order to vent, John going about his routine and constantly thinking of Sherlock . . . wonderfully written.

[impishtubist]

Thank you, thank you! Oh, this means so much to hear from you. I truly appreciate it. Thanks!

[rusty_armour]

I'm finally playing catch up again with the reviewing. First of all, brilliant title, but then all the titles in this series are. They're fitting for stories with such emotional depth, such as this one. I love the idea that Lestrade ends up with Sherlock's skull and finds himself talking to it in place of Sherlock. I also think it's great that he weighs Sherlock's "death" in terms of the number of people who have died because he wasn't there to solve the case in time. Oh, and that flashback scene with Lestrade and John is wonderful! I love John's “Are you - are we seriously having this talk? The hurt-him-and-regret-it talk?” response to Lestrade's question about his intentions towards Sherlock! And this bit of dialogue between John and Lestrade sum up the Sherlock/John bond so well:

“That’s - well, that’s sweet, John, but

[impishtubist]

THANK YOU so much for this, my dear! It's lovely to hear from you, as always, and thank you especially for this. I'm glad you liked the part about the skull and the hurt-him-and-regret-it talk. I'm also pleased that you found this an accurate depiction of the S/J bond. That means so much! :)