Title: Burning the Candle at Both Ends

Author: tarotgal
Fandom: Grantchester
Pairing: Sidney/Geordie
Rating: PG
2017 Comment Meme Prompt: The case is complete, but the boss seems determined to stay late to finish the paperwork, never mind the increasingly nasty cold he's been neglecting for the past few days. Maybe someone can coax him into taking it easy, though... or at least drinking this good hot tea they've brought.

Burning the Candle at Both Ends

Sidney knew the way to Geordie’s office so well he could have made it there in the dark. As it was, the soft rays of dawn were already creeping up to the tops of the trees in the distance. The world could hardly look more innocent and peaceful outside. He only hoped the same could be said for what was to be found inside the police station.

Geordie had been short with him the night before. He’d been close to breaking a case he’d been working on for three weeks straight. He couldn’t possibly stop working, not even for a pint. He’d only had time to ask a few questions to help work things out in his head and push the investigation in the right direction. That was all. And if he’d gone home that night even after the case was complete, Sidney would eat his hat.

Not that he was wearing a hat. He never did when he rode his bike, not even in the rain. Mrs. Maguire would scold him if he came home wet and chilled and sniffling from it, but it was too late now. Besides, he wasn’t the one with the cold.

After setting the bike against the railing, Sidney headed inside. He shook off the rain water, wondering if he looked much different from Dickens as he did so. Then he headed through the nearly deserted building.

He found Geordie just where he’d expected and also in the state he’d expected. The detective inspector was hunched over his desk, papers strewn about, the thickest handkerchief possible pressed firmly to his nose. He didn’t look up, but he didn’t need to. “It’s dice to see you, but I really dod’t have tibe for a gabe right dow, Syddey.”

“I didn’t come for a game, Geordie. I came for you.”

“Be?” He looked up, head raising and his hand going right along with it, keeping his hanky in place. “Really? I should’t thidk you—“

“Yes, really,” Sidney interrupted. “I was worried about you. You haven’t sounded well for days.”

“Oh that. Doe, I’b all right.” He shook it off and looked back down at his paperwork, adjusting the handkerchief to give his poor nose little rubs.

“You’re not though. You’ve got a terrible cold and you’re not taking care of yourself.”

With a huff of exasperation, Geordie gestured with his free hand to the papers in front of him. “Baybe you did’t dotice, but I’ve beed dealing with a double… dub… ahh-hehh… double hah… hobi… hobi-hahh! hahhhDDddtchmphhhhhh!” He rocked in his seat, the wood creaking beneath him from the movement. He snuffled into the hanky, massaging at his nostrils through the cloth. “Blast it!”

“God bless you.”

“Doe thadk you.”  

Sidney smiled, strangely charmed by a defiance of faith that shouldn’t be charming at all to him. But that was exactly who Sidney was. He was a man of the cloth who sometimes found good reason to break the Lord’s Commandments. He was a moral pillar of the community who had indecent, private thoughts about the man sitting before him. He was a student of life and humanity who had been to war and killed there. He was a seeker of peace and quiet who couldn’t resist being right there in the middle of the action. He was a vicar who didn’t drink sherry. Speaking of which….

“I’ve brought you a little something. Best drink it while it’s warm.” From the bag slung over his shoulder, he pulled out a metal thermos.

At once, Geordie turned his nose up at it. “I thought I told you before. Sniff! I don’t wadt tea. Sniff! I dod’t deed tea. Sniff!”

“Good,” Sidney said with a smile. “Because this isn’t just tea.” He unscrewed the cap and poured some of the steaming liquid into the cap.

With his free hand, Geordie picked the cap up by the handle. He took an experimental sip to taste. “A hot toddy?” A smile played at the corners of his mouth.

“Of course. Made with some of my best whiskey to boot, so I expect you to drink it all.”

“But sniff I’ve got work.”

“You’ve got a nasty head cold. And it’s only going to get worse if you don’t slow down a little bit.”

“But I… I… hahhhh… hahh-Kxxshmphhh! Hah-KTtchmphhh!”

“God bless you.”

Geordie looked up at Sidney. He gave his nose a fierce couple of rubs. Then he lowered the handkerchief to show fully that he was smiling. “Subtibes I think baybe he does.” He took a proper sip of the drink with its mix of herbal tea, honey, lemon, and whiskey. “S’good,” he said before helping himself to a longer sip. Then another. And another. His shoulders sagged. His eyelids began drooping. “Really good,” he murmured slowly.

Not sure whether to leave him now to fall asleep in his chair or keep him awake for more care, his decision was made for him by a rumble in his own stomach.“Glad to hear it. Because I also brought some breakfast. It’s just a few scones and jam, but….” He trailed off as he pulled the remainder of the items he’d brought out of his bag. There was enough to feed both of them.

“Sit,” Geordie commanded, waving his hand at the chair in front of his desk. He snapped his suspenders and straightened his tie as he sat up and readied himself for a meal. “Let’s eat.”

Sidney didn’t need telling twice, though he couldn’t help pressing the man on this matter for fun. ”Don’t you have important paperwork to finish?”

Nodding, Geordie eyed the scones. “I’ll finish it af… afterwahhh ward hahhhhh ha ha HA-Ngxxxmmphhhh!” He shoved a small stack of papers aside to make room.

“God bless you. Eat up while it’s still warm.”