25 September 2011

Makes you think.

Just had one of those weird conversations. I mean, the conversation itself wasn't weird. But it made me think about things.

Basically, Mrs Holmes just offered me money, for my 'role' in the boys' lives.




Which I turned down, obviously. But then...well, first off, I'm a police officer, I can't just take money for a sort of 'second job', and can't have money just appear in my bank account. She looked at me as if I was an idiot for thinking that would ever be a problem - which, fair enough, I'm sure she could sort all that out, no questions asked.

So then she sort of assumed that I'd accept, which...well, I'm just not. I mean, I haven't - didn't. Because it's not a job, is it? I don't do it for any reward. And then the conversation got complicated, because of course I think John should be paid, because it is his job. Except I know it's not just a job for him either, is it? It's...well, it's the same. We both love these boys, we'd both do anything for them. But I definitely shouldn't be paid, and he definitely should, despite us both feeling the same, and anyway, we left it at that. And me feeling thoroughly confused. I suppose the difference is that I have another job, and I don't spend nearly as much time looking after the boys as he does - I barely see Sherlock some weeks. Maybe half an hour in the morning, another hour or two in the evening, if I don't end up working late. Whereas John, despite his protests, would struggle to fit in any other work - especially with the school holidays. So maybe that's the difference. I don't know.

I did offer to pay her rent. She didn't dignify that with an answer...so I'm essentially earning a decent wage, living rent-free, with hopefully, soon, tenants to pay off my own mortgage.

I think once we're home (if we survive Sherlock's piloting skills) John might put some pictures up of where we've been. You won't believe it. I'm not sure I do. Can't really believe we'll be back in London tonight.

31 comments:

Small Hobbit said...

Wow, it does show how much she values your contribution to the boys' lives and how much of a difference you have made to them. And don't start denying it; we all know it's true.

I suppose the main difference is that whilst John's first duty is to the boys, yours is to your job, which includes the fact that you can, and are, sent elsewhere with very little notice.

Looking forward to seeing the pictures.

Greg Lestrade said...

Yeah. To be honest, there have been times where I've felt my position in all their lives was tenuous. Because of the power she has. She chose John to be in their lives. She didn't choose me. So, yeah, it sort of felt like she...I don't know. I feel more secure. She asked about how I was settling into the flat and stuff, too. It was good. A good conversation. I hope we both understand where each other stands a little better now.

As for where my duties lie - I think that really depends on the circumstances. If my job weren't sometimes life-or-death, it would definitely come second to the boys. But it is. So it can't. And I do struggle with that, sometimes.

innie said...

I wonder if offering you money was her way of (1) showing you that she doesn't consider your role in her sons' lives is not tenuous and (2) allowing you to declare to her that you love them without any monetary inducement. Integrity established all around, I think.

(Did Sherlock get to fly the plane?)

Greg Lestrade said...

Sherlock did get to sit in the pilot's seat on the way out here. I'm not sure how much 'flying' there was. We're due to leave again shortly. I'm fairly sure he will perform some sort of mutiny if he doesn't get to do it again...

John H. D. Watson said...

I don't want to go back. Let's go hide on the roof again.

Greg Lestrade said...

I'd be entirely happy with that. Sherlock doesn't want to leave, just fly the plane...I bet Mrs H and Anthea don't really want to go. And Mycroft could set up a proper observatory here, if we stayed.

Yeah, let's stay.

John H. D. Watson said...

Right, who's going to break it to the pilot? Maybe he can take Sherlock up and fly him in circles for a bit.

Trills said...

Well, you could think of it this way if you liked:

Mrs Holmes in CEO of Holmes family inc

She personally hired John as Senior Manager in Charge of Children just as she hired Anthea, Senior Manager in Charge of Security.

John decided that his department needed a new position in the form of Part-Time Unpaid Administrator in Charge of Kisses, Cooking and Cleaning up Glitter.

Now the CEO doesn't interview for every role, just as I'm sure she didn't personally interview every member of Anthea's security team. She trusts her managers to pick the right people for the jobs. If she didn't trust their judgements in these things then she wouldn't have made them managers. As long as they're doing their jobs satisfactorily (and again, she trusts her managers to make those sorts of judgements as well) and pass her personal security checks then that's fine.

So basically just because Mrs Holmes didn't interview you personally doesn't mean you aren't an important part of her organisation. If John thinks you're the right man for the Job, I'm sure she agrees (in fact you should be sure as well as she just offered you a pay rise (from 0 money to some money) as a reward for your good work!)

Greg Lestrade said...

I think that prospect would make the pilot decide he'd stay here with us.

John H. D. Watson said...

And I definitely think he's the right man for the job. Especially when the job involves cleaning up glitter.

Greg Lestrade said...

Trills, I can honestly say that's not how I think of it. But regardless, I feel very...included now.

And I am indeed head of glitter clean-up operations. (I really need some underlings.)

John H. D. Watson said...

Sorry, I just don't think it's in the budget this year...

Greg Lestrade said...

All right, Guv - er, Senior Manager.

I could always go over your head, apply to the CEO...tell her to use my pay rise to pay for underlings. They could also be used to do 'boring stuff'. (My definition isn't the same as Sherlock's...)

John H. D. Watson said...

Ha, good thing!

Greg Lestrade said...

Right. We're packed, Sherlock's things are packed...apart from a suspiciously absent water pistol. And a suspiciously absent Sherlock. I'm predicting a siege situation. And that in removing Sherlock from this fort, we're going to get rather wet.

John H. D. Watson said...

But at least not pink.

Greg Lestrade said...

...you hope.

Sherlock said...

I want to go home so I can fly the plane again and so I get my last birthday present. but I want to come back here lots. And fly lots.

Becca said...

Well, it's quite an improvement from the earlier detente, yes? Though it must have been a tricky conversation.

Trills said...

Have just realised my analogy has unfortunate implications about Lestrade only getting the job because he was sleeping with the boss.

Oh well.

Rider said...

Trills, he's in charge of Kissing, you said so yourself.

The sleeping part comes in under "other duties as directed".

Trills said...

Rider, are you suggesting John is the one who does the directing when it comes to those duties?

Greg Lestrade said...

Trills, I think we can safely say the only reason I got the job was sleeping with the boss. I had no other interview or qualifications...

John H. D. Watson said...

You tell good murder stories...

Greg Lestrade said...

You didn't know that until after I seemed to get the job.

Greg Lestrade said...

Unless up until now I've been on my trial period... for training and assessment.

Rider said...

Assessment: Cooking good, glitter cleaning acceptable, kissing needs more assessment at different times of day. Other duties also, as there have been interruptions.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like your training has been way more fun than mine.

Greg Lestrade said...

Becca - it wasn't such a hard conversation, once wed both danced about each other to start with. It ended a very good conversation.

Rider - if John thinks he's the one doing the assessment, he's sadly mistaken. The Masters of this house are definitely the under-14s.

Anon Without A Name said...

I'm glad the conversation turned out well :-)

And I totally get why you think you shouldn't get paid, and John should. after all, your degree of participation in the boys lives is entirely at your discretion, isn't it? (What I mean is, an acquaintance of mine dated someone with two teenaged kids, and he didn't get involved in their lives at all. His relationship was strictly with their Mum, nothing else. Your relationship with the boys is as it is because you choose it to be that way).

I agree with Innie, too, FWIW.

Anyway, I'm glad you're feeling a bit more secure in your place in their lives (even if Sherlock would currently like to register a complaint :-p)

Greg Lestrade said...

Well, I wouldn't like to try to fight it out with Sherlock over who gets to see John if I wasn't as involved as I am... I think I might lose!

As for Sherlock this evening - he's tired, coming off a big high of an amazing weekend, and seriously not used to people saying 'no' to him. Hence his phrasing of 'I'm getting Degu' - no question about it, in his mind!

I'm sure once he and John have talked about it, he'll be a bit calmer. I hope.

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