I actually read this a couple of nights ago and neglected to comment. I'll confess that I had to skim through some of the torture (as I'm squeamish), but I loved the hurt/comfort! I'm a total h/c fiend, so this story fed my habit quite nicely! *g* My disgusting habit aside, it was great to see a more human side of Mycroft as he first freaks out about Lestrade and then cradles him in his arms, not caring who sees him. I think it's brilliant that Mycroft and Lestrade have discussed what would happen if Lestrade is ever held for ransom, as this seems like a pretty realistic concern given Mycroft's position. It's heartbreaking that Lestrade's first concern when he's finally coherent is to let Mycroft know that he didn't break.

I know this isn't a part of the "Reliable Man" series, but I could easily see it being a glimpse into the future for these two. :-)