One knock.
"Client?" Sherlock thought to himself.
Two knocks.
"Lestrade?"
Three knocks. And more.
"Is that Amy?" Sherlock asked as he ran towards the door and threw it open, revealing the fair haired girl and the man-in-bowtie.
"Hey!" She sang, sweeping him up in an embrace. Normally, Sherlock would just stay still if anyone did this, but to his surprise, he found his arms lingering on her back and pushing her closer.
"Sherlock, it's Rory…" The Doctor began.
"He's dead." Sherlock and Amy said at the same time.
"Indeed…" The Doctor shook his head. How Sherlock worked that out he never wanted to know.
"I'm sorry for your loss." Sherlock said, burying his head into Amy's shoulder. But if he was honest with himself, a small percentage of him was glad. But why? Because Rory was Amy's husband? Sherlock had an affection for her ever since he first met her, but surely not in that way? He was Sherlock Holmes. He certainly was most definitely not falling in love, and he most certainly did not kiss her cheek as he departed from her shoulder.
"Why are you here? Surely you should be all morose or something?" Sherlock asked. Amy let out a small laugh.
"It was a few weeks back for us, we just thought you should know. Where's John?" Amy asked, surveying the clutter.
"In Dorset for the day." Sherlock said, straightening his suit.
"I spoke to him over the phone last week." The Doctor said solemnly. "He told me about Irene Adler. That you… loved her."
"No. I don't feel those emotions. But she was the closest thing I had to an intellectual equal."
"Have you ever loved?" The Doctor asked.
"I'm not sure… I think I might, but love is a chemical defect found in the losing side. It makes people slip up. Love can also be used as leverage. If one is kidnapped, one's lover will do anything to get them back. And vice-versa."
"You need someone to love you Sherlock. Even with the disadvantages, it makes life better. Who have you felt closest to? Irene? John?"
"Amy." Sherlock blurted out, then his eyes widened. Had he just said that?
"What?" Amy asked, eyes wide. But before any more could be said, Sherlock grabbed his violin and started composing. That last statement of his certainly was something to think about.
"Da da da daaaaa, da…" Sherlock sang along amidst the questions of Amy and the Doctor. Finally, a hand intertwined with his, and he stopped playing. He looked around slowly to see Amy, smiling softly. "I don't feel these emotions." Sherlock reassured himself aloud. "I am not in love." But his face edging towards hers told differently. "I am not in love." Then, their foreheads were touching. "I-I…" Was all he could muster. Their lips were dangerously close. The Doctor just watched with satisfaction. Sherlock had finally found someone. But would Amy want to stay with him on the TARDIS anymore? Unless Sherlock came to… Then, just as their lips met, the Doctor pulled Amy away.
"Come on, Amy! Things to do, people to see!" The Doctor said, and slowly lead Amy away.
"No." She said, shrugging him off.
"Amy." Sherlock said. "I am not in love. I'm not capable of love. What that was, was just a slip up. Chemical defect… No. Not me. But why am I sweating? And why do I feel an emotion akin to… elation?" Sherlock asked.
"Call this an experiment." Amy reassured.
"An experiment." Sherlock repeated. "Yes, I like that. A better name for it. Better than love."
Then, a loud knock echoed through the room from the other side of the front door. No more followed.
"Client!" Sherlock beamed, giving an impromptou hug to Amy before running over and swinging it open.
"I think that my car's been stolen." The voice rang out.
"Boring." Sherlock stated bluntly before swinging the door shut and rejoining the TARDIS crew.
"It's just for a month." Sherlock heard Amy plead.
"Amy…" The Doctor began.
"For you it can be two minutes!" Amy exclaimed.
"Why do you want to stay here?"
"Many reasons." Amy wasn't backing down. The Doctor shook his head and walked over to the door.
"One month."
"Promise."
And with that, the door opened and closed, and the Doctor was no longer with them.