Title: Orpheus and Eurydice Part 2: The Bone of Contention

Fandom: Inspector Morse

Pairing: Morse/Lewis, Lewis/other

Author: Cicero

Email Address: Cicero@sockiipress.org

Categories: Angst, first time

Feedback notes: On list or offlist. Any kind of feedback will be appreciated, even if you just write me a one-line email telling me that you've read the story, and I will be happy.

Warnings: Murder, WIP

Notes: This is my first Inspector Morse story, so if you have any comments, please tell me. I had a bit of trouble with Lewis' accent, and I'm also on the look out for Americanisms. Anything in brackets "[ and ]" are my personal notes. If there is a question or suggestion in them, then let me know what you think about that as well. I have only seen 8 Morse stories on TV so I am probably writting against cannon as well.

* * are for emphasis. Anything in italics are thoughts of a character.

Disclaimer: I do not own Morse or Lewis. Central Independent Television owns them. I'm just playing around with them.

Part 2: The Bone of Contention

Everyone watched as Lewis walked into Strange's office. News had spread fast that Morse had pushed his normally mild-mannered partner too far, and that Lewis had disappeared to places unknown. There was an office pool with about half believing that their partnership was at an end while the other half believed that Lewis, like always, would forgive Morse. But nobody could predict how Strange would react to Lewis' escape.

Lewis entered the office knowing that all eyes were upon his. Strange was sitting at his desk, reading the newspaper. Without looking up, he said, "Sit down, Lewis."

Lewis did so, his hands in his lap and his eyes downward. He expected a severe reprimand, maybe even a suspension, especially for missing the arrest. It did not matter that he had not known of it. His job was to keep up with those details.

They sat in silence for about a minute until Strange asked, "Has Morse apologized to you yet?"

"No, sir," Lewis replied, surprised. "There's no reason for him to."

"You make it sound as thought it was your fault, Lewis."

"Isn't it, sir?"

"No, it isn't. Morse should learn to control that temper of his. You were right to leave. You didn't need to take his abuse." He looked up to find Lewis flushed with guilt.

"He didn't get into trouble, did he?"

"I had to tell him to lay off. It shouldn't happen again."

"What about the arrest?"

"Kershaw was able to fill in for you." He paused, unsure about whether to say the next thing. "Are you feeling better now, Lewis?" He could see that Lewis was looking moderately better, once the guilty look left his face. He did not know where Lewis had disappeared to, but he had left his wife behind. That did not bode well.

"If you need to speak to me, at all, then please let me know."

"I will, sir." Strange waved him away, and he breathed a sigh of relief as he left. He put on a blank look, but everyone knew that things were better. He went back into the office. He could not type up the report yet since he did not have the details. Since he was so early, he decided to clean up the office.

About an hour later, Morse entered the station. Lewis' car had been parked outside in its usual spot. He took a deep breath, and entered their office. There were stacks of papers everywhere. Lewis was sifting through them, organizing them into piles. He looked up as Morse entered. His face was wary. Morse hated that look on his sergeant, and mentally kicked himself once again.

"Good morning, sir," Lewis said, turning back to the papers. He fanned himself with one of the folders.

"Good morning, Lewis," he replied, watching the brown hairs on Lewis' head dance in time to the quick breeze.

There seemed to be an inordinately high number of people continually passing by their office. Morse's eyes jerked towards the door. Lewis' eyed followed his, and he nodded slightly.

Morse smiled as he moved to his desk. They were, for the moment, in harmony with each other.

TBC...



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