Lewis: Hathaway, Lewis and Hobson "The Sound of His Voice"
Title: The Sound of His Voice
Fandom: Lewis
Characters/Pairing: James Hathaway, Robbie Lewis, Laura Hobson (Hints of Lewis/Hobson possibility)
Word Count: 1095
Rating: K
Summary: "He finally remembered."
Author's Notes: Spoilers for the end of Morse in a way.
Dedication: For nakeisha. I have to thank her for the beta and the kind words after an upsetting experience. After writing in fandoms consistently for about a dozen years and getting my fair share of critics, I received such a personal attack on a story I wrote that I've not put fingers to keyboard in nearly nine months. So, I'm a little rusty.
Detective Sergeant James Hathaway had been standing by the pub window for nearly half an hour, debating about going outside into the rain. On the other side of the mottled piece of glass sat a lone figure in the beer garden: his DI, getting progressively wet and broody.
A hand on his arm pulled his gaze away from his boss as he turned to look at the owner of the hand. A small smile graced his face, "Nice of you to join us, Dr. Hobson."
"I was finishing an autopsy for DI Logan and you know it. You could have been gentlemen and waited for me," the petite medical examiner shook her blonde head at him.
"And change a lifelong habit of being annoyingly thoughtless?"
"Cheeky sod," Hobson laughed before looking around for second. "While we're on the subject, where's the other cheeky sod?"
Hathaway frowned slightly and tilted his head towards the window. "There."
"What's the bloody hell is he doing out there in this weather?" She peered in disbelief at the dejected form of a soaking wet Robbie Lewis.
"Don't know," Hathaway shrugged. "He was fine all day today, then he went to get in the first round. When he came back, he was suddenly in a black mood. Just handed me my pint and walked out. Didn't say a word."
"He finally remembered," Hobson whispered cryptically, before she too walked out into the rain.
Watching as she went and just sat down across from Lewis, Hathaway rolled his eyes, "Has everyone gone crazy today?"
*~*~*~*~*~*
Although he didn't acknowledge her, Laura knew that Robbie knew the moment she sat down across from him. She let the silence linger, wanting and needing him to be the one to finally break it and open up to her.
It took several long minutes before he finally did. "You're getting soaked."
"You already are," she matched the monotone of his voice.
Finally he looked at her. "The last pint he had was at this table. That was nine years ago."
Nodding, she sadly smiled her understanding, "I know."
"Did you remember what today was?" When she nodded, he grunted and looked away, "I didn't. Didn't even give him or the day a moment's thought. Then when I asked the landlady for a pint, she pulls me that," he gestured toward the pint of ale being slowly diluted by rainwater. "Said she thought I'd want to toast him with his favourite today. Didn't know what she was going on about for a minute."
"Robbie..."
He cut her off, "I spent fourteen years of my life working with him. Spent more time with him than Val and the kids, mostly. Went abroad with him more. I couldn't even spare a moment or two to remember the anniversary of his death? Couldn't keep the date in my head as important? It feels... it feels..."
"It feels what, Robbie?" She questioned as he trailed off.
He looked at her, tears threatening against his lower lids, "It feels like I'm forgetting; losing him. I can't even remember the sound of his voice anymore."
Having no profound words of comfort, she stood and walked to stand in front of him. Wrapping her arms around his shoulders, she allowed him to wrap his arms around her waist as he buried his face in her stomach. She knew that had she not been soaked, she would have felt his tears seeping through her blouse. In the window she could just make out the form of James Hathaway turning away.
*~*~*~*~*~*
"Hard at work, I see," Hobson teased from the door of Lewis and Hathaway's shared office.
The two men looked up and then looked at each other, noticing for the first time that they sat in identical positions leant back in their chairs, legs with ankles crossed propped up on the corner of their desks. Neither man changed position, but Hathaway did stretch and yawn dramatically.
Rolling his eyes at his DS, Lewis smiled, "Professional or social visit, doctor?"
"I've got a present for you."
"Oh," Lewis dropped his legs and leant forward slightly.
"Catch." A small white envelope sailed through the air making Lewis jump as he barely caught it.
Opening the cardboard envelope, he pulled out a small CD, "What is it?"
"Give a listen and you'll find out. Wait, you might want to wait until you're home," she warned as he started to pop the disc into his computer.
This made Hathaway sit up, "Oh, is it porn?"
The other two just stared at him. Finally, Hobson spoke, "Why the hell would I give him porn, Hathaway?"
"Don't know," Hathaway shrugged, "wishful thinking?"
"Can we just ignore him?" Hobson asked Lewis.
"I usually do," Lewis teased. Spinning the disc on a finger, he asked, "Why do I have to wait until I'm home?"
"It's just rather private, something I think you might like listening to on your own."
"Told you, it’s porn." Hathaway slumped down in his chair at the twin glares he received from Lewis and Hobson.
Once he was sure Hathaway would remain quiet Lewis smiled up at Hobson, "You've heard it?" She nodded before he continued, "And it won't corrupt young James over there?"
She just laughed.
"Good," he turned back to the computer, "then we can all listen."
The whirring sound of the CD being read and a few clicks of the mouse later a voice filled the room. To two of the people in the room, it was an achingly familiar voice. Lewis leant forward as he rested his elbows on his knees and his chin against his closed fist, his eyes closed as he listened to Morse's voice.
Lewis recognized what he was saying as being testimony from the trial of one of the last cases Morse and he worked on together; as he listened a flood of memories came back. He wished he'd taken Laura's advice to listen alone until he felt her drop to the arm of his chair and lay her arm across his shoulders.
Just then he heard the one thing he truly longed to hear, Morse once again saying his name. His hand trembled slightly as he reached up and paused the playback then carefully dragged the bar back enough to hear it once again.
Turning he smiled up at Hobson and mouthed the words ‘thank you.’ She smiled her acceptance and leant down to rest her chin on his head as they listened to the sound of Morse's voice.
Detective Sergeant Hathaway sat at his desk, debating leaving the office.
Fandom: Lewis
Characters/Pairing: James Hathaway, Robbie Lewis, Laura Hobson (Hints of Lewis/Hobson possibility)
Word Count: 1095
Rating: K
Summary: "He finally remembered."
Author's Notes: Spoilers for the end of Morse in a way.
Dedication: For nakeisha. I have to thank her for the beta and the kind words after an upsetting experience. After writing in fandoms consistently for about a dozen years and getting my fair share of critics, I received such a personal attack on a story I wrote that I've not put fingers to keyboard in nearly nine months. So, I'm a little rusty.
Detective Sergeant James Hathaway had been standing by the pub window for nearly half an hour, debating about going outside into the rain. On the other side of the mottled piece of glass sat a lone figure in the beer garden: his DI, getting progressively wet and broody.
A hand on his arm pulled his gaze away from his boss as he turned to look at the owner of the hand. A small smile graced his face, "Nice of you to join us, Dr. Hobson."
"I was finishing an autopsy for DI Logan and you know it. You could have been gentlemen and waited for me," the petite medical examiner shook her blonde head at him.
"And change a lifelong habit of being annoyingly thoughtless?"
"Cheeky sod," Hobson laughed before looking around for second. "While we're on the subject, where's the other cheeky sod?"
Hathaway frowned slightly and tilted his head towards the window. "There."
"What's the bloody hell is he doing out there in this weather?" She peered in disbelief at the dejected form of a soaking wet Robbie Lewis.
"Don't know," Hathaway shrugged. "He was fine all day today, then he went to get in the first round. When he came back, he was suddenly in a black mood. Just handed me my pint and walked out. Didn't say a word."
"He finally remembered," Hobson whispered cryptically, before she too walked out into the rain.
Watching as she went and just sat down across from Lewis, Hathaway rolled his eyes, "Has everyone gone crazy today?"
*~*~*~*~*~*
Although he didn't acknowledge her, Laura knew that Robbie knew the moment she sat down across from him. She let the silence linger, wanting and needing him to be the one to finally break it and open up to her.
It took several long minutes before he finally did. "You're getting soaked."
"You already are," she matched the monotone of his voice.
Finally he looked at her. "The last pint he had was at this table. That was nine years ago."
Nodding, she sadly smiled her understanding, "I know."
"Did you remember what today was?" When she nodded, he grunted and looked away, "I didn't. Didn't even give him or the day a moment's thought. Then when I asked the landlady for a pint, she pulls me that," he gestured toward the pint of ale being slowly diluted by rainwater. "Said she thought I'd want to toast him with his favourite today. Didn't know what she was going on about for a minute."
"Robbie..."
He cut her off, "I spent fourteen years of my life working with him. Spent more time with him than Val and the kids, mostly. Went abroad with him more. I couldn't even spare a moment or two to remember the anniversary of his death? Couldn't keep the date in my head as important? It feels... it feels..."
"It feels what, Robbie?" She questioned as he trailed off.
He looked at her, tears threatening against his lower lids, "It feels like I'm forgetting; losing him. I can't even remember the sound of his voice anymore."
Having no profound words of comfort, she stood and walked to stand in front of him. Wrapping her arms around his shoulders, she allowed him to wrap his arms around her waist as he buried his face in her stomach. She knew that had she not been soaked, she would have felt his tears seeping through her blouse. In the window she could just make out the form of James Hathaway turning away.
*~*~*~*~*~*
"Hard at work, I see," Hobson teased from the door of Lewis and Hathaway's shared office.
The two men looked up and then looked at each other, noticing for the first time that they sat in identical positions leant back in their chairs, legs with ankles crossed propped up on the corner of their desks. Neither man changed position, but Hathaway did stretch and yawn dramatically.
Rolling his eyes at his DS, Lewis smiled, "Professional or social visit, doctor?"
"I've got a present for you."
"Oh," Lewis dropped his legs and leant forward slightly.
"Catch." A small white envelope sailed through the air making Lewis jump as he barely caught it.
Opening the cardboard envelope, he pulled out a small CD, "What is it?"
"Give a listen and you'll find out. Wait, you might want to wait until you're home," she warned as he started to pop the disc into his computer.
This made Hathaway sit up, "Oh, is it porn?"
The other two just stared at him. Finally, Hobson spoke, "Why the hell would I give him porn, Hathaway?"
"Don't know," Hathaway shrugged, "wishful thinking?"
"Can we just ignore him?" Hobson asked Lewis.
"I usually do," Lewis teased. Spinning the disc on a finger, he asked, "Why do I have to wait until I'm home?"
"It's just rather private, something I think you might like listening to on your own."
"Told you, it’s porn." Hathaway slumped down in his chair at the twin glares he received from Lewis and Hobson.
Once he was sure Hathaway would remain quiet Lewis smiled up at Hobson, "You've heard it?" She nodded before he continued, "And it won't corrupt young James over there?"
She just laughed.
"Good," he turned back to the computer, "then we can all listen."
The whirring sound of the CD being read and a few clicks of the mouse later a voice filled the room. To two of the people in the room, it was an achingly familiar voice. Lewis leant forward as he rested his elbows on his knees and his chin against his closed fist, his eyes closed as he listened to Morse's voice.
Lewis recognized what he was saying as being testimony from the trial of one of the last cases Morse and he worked on together; as he listened a flood of memories came back. He wished he'd taken Laura's advice to listen alone until he felt her drop to the arm of his chair and lay her arm across his shoulders.
Just then he heard the one thing he truly longed to hear, Morse once again saying his name. His hand trembled slightly as he reached up and paused the playback then carefully dragged the bar back enough to hear it once again.
Turning he smiled up at Hobson and mouthed the words ‘thank you.’ She smiled her acceptance and leant down to rest her chin on his head as they listened to the sound of Morse's voice.
Detective Sergeant Hathaway sat at his desk, debating leaving the office.