Sitting Room

Watson leaned against the door leading to the sitting room to catch his breath after climbing the seventeen steps. Today was one of those days where his leg felt more than useless, due to the damp cold outside he was in constant pain and could barely stand, much less walk all the way from his patient back to Baker Street. No doubt, Holmes would be deducing all that as soon as he would step into the room, so Watson took a deep breath and steeled himself before entering the warm room. Luckily Mrs. Hudson had a fire going, but against his expectations, there was no sign of his fellow lodger.
With a weary sigh, Watson walked over to his chair and sank into it, glad to be in the warm confines of his home.

Lestrade smiled slightly when Mrs. Hudson opened the door and informed him that only the good doctor were present and that Mr Sherlock Holmes had not been seen since the early morning hours. Nevermind, he thought and shook his head, maybe it was quite as well that the detective wasn't here at present to hear the news. Lestrade made up his mind to just tell the Doctor about it and let him break the news to Mr. Holmes in return. At least he wouldn't kill the doctor for it...
"Good afternoon, Doctor." Lestrade greeted politely, he couldn't help but observe the slightly pained expression on the other's face. "Are you quite alright?" he asked in concern. Over the last few years, he had became good friends with the man and knew about the pains his leg and shoulder gave the man at time.

Watching the fire always had a rather calming effect on Watson, so he let the warm glow of the flames lull him into a dazed state while he thought about his last case. His patient, a young girl of fourteen, had finally, after weeks of torment, succumbed to tuberculosis. It was always hard to witness a patient pass on, but to see such a young person, still a child die was very depressing.
He let out a sigh and snuggled deeper into his armchair when suddenly the door opened unannounced and Inspector Lestrade walked in. Watson gave him a warm smile and waved him to the couch. "Good afternoon, Lestrade. What brings you to us? I fear, Holmes won't be back for some time. He said something about not waiting with supper." he told the other man chuckling.
At his concerned question, Watson waved it off lightly. "It is just my leg acting up again. Nothing a warm fire can't cure." he said grinning.

Lestrade took off his bowler hat and nervously squeezed it in his hands, as he walked over to the couch to take a seat. He really didn't want to admit his own failure, even to the Doctor who was a friend. Well, at least I don't have to face Holmes' wrath, he thought sarcastically. "The weather truely is getting worse by the minute." he agreed, looking outside to the darkening sky. Not much longer and the rain would pick up again, hopefully after he had made a dry journey home.
The other man's warm manner made him feel a bit more at ease, though he did not like to spoil his mood. For if he heard what had happened this morning, he would certainly not be in this amiably a mood any longer. "Doctor, I am here because I need to inform you of something that might turn into a threat towards your and Mr. Holmes' life." he said gravely, eyes shifting from the man in front of him to the wall behind him. "Early this morning, around four o'clock, Colonel Moran escaped from prison." Lestrade braced himself for the Doctor's reaction.

A deep sense of dread crept up in his heart, as Watson watched the inspector fidge with his hat, something he only did when extremly nervous about something. At hearing the other man talk about a threat to both himself and Holmes, this dread evolved into sheer panic. What could have probably had happened to upset Lestrade so? he wondered, steeling himself for the next words.
Still, nothing could have prepared him for the news that came then. Moran? Colonel Moran, Moriarty's right hand was free again? And probably out for Holmes' blood. And mine, Watson thought, trying to shake the overbearing sense of foreboding from his mine.
"How could that happen, Lestrade?" he asked the Yarder, his voice shaking slightly. "Didn't Holmes warn you to keep in securely locked away?" Watson could remember like it was yesterday, the day when they caught Moran and how he had cursed Holmes, promising revenge. And now he was free to do that. Jumping to his feet, Watson started to pace agiatedly in front of the fireplace. They had to warn Holmes. The man had no idea and that that madman was running around London again.

Lestrade felt his own heart sink at the doctor's shocked expression and he blamed himself even more for being the one putting it there with his news. Although he wasn't personally responsible for the prisoners, Lestrade had been the one to take Moran into custody and knew of his hatred for Holmes and the Doctor. He should have made sure to place extra guards around the colonel's cell. "I have every free man at the Yard searching for him, Doctor, and they shall not rest till he is locked away behind bars again. We at the Yard take this matter very personally, as you and Mr. Holmes are the ones threatened this time. You both have helped us so often, now it is our time to help you." he said with a very serious expression on his mouse-like face.
Lestrade knew that as soon as the detective got wind of this, he would go feral, it would probably be best for Lestrade not to show up as long as he didn't have some positive news.

At the Inspector's heartfelt words, Watson couldn't help but smile a bit. After working with the Yarders for over a decade, he knew that he could count on them. Even if they were often annoyed by Holmes and his condescending behaviour, they still respected him a lot and looked up to him. And Watson himself had become something of an honourable Yarder over the years where Holmes was gone, as he had been occationally working as a police surgeon.
"I know you will be doing all in your power to get him back under lock and key, but you also know that Moran is now probably the most dangerous man in London and could cause a lot of destraction not only for Holmes and myself. We must try to catch him as fast as possible." Watson said, his voice calmer once more, but still his eyes were much unsettled.