A Deduction of Wings
A Surprise in Scarlett
John's POV
Something interesting happened yesterday something I never expected to happen not about a case or anything but interesting never the less.
It was a normal day at Baker Street; I sat drinking tea wondering what Sherlock could have done to make such a horrible smell from the kitchen. Possibly to do with the severed head I found in the fridge yesterday? I sat debating if I should go in there to what on earth he was doing when the doorbell rang, I quickly got up to answer assuming Sherlock never answers the door, when I opened it a came to a strange sight, a girl, holding a cello. I wasn't sure what to say because I had never seen her before but I finally said after a minute of staring I said
"Who are you?"
The girl chuckled and replied….
"Hello, I'm Scarlett, a relative of Sherlock's. I dropped by to say hello. Can I come in?"
Sherlock's POV
I was right in the middle of boiling the saliva of the severed head as part of my experiment when the doorbell rang. Leaving John to answer, I ran though the list of people it might be…Could be Lestrade but he usually calls if there's a case, so I rule out that option. Molly? Highly unlikely, she's still mad at me for what happened at Christmas. I doubt it's one of John's girlfriends. Since the boring teacher he never invites them here he says I 'drive them away'. I go through several more options, all negative. I finally give up and stride into the living room. Surprised to see Scarlet quietly sitting there chatting with John…
Scarlett's POV
I walked in to 221B. Not surprised to see the collection of various chemicals and human remains scattered around the flat. I glimpsed Sherlock in the kitchen, with what I think was a…. severed head? Better not ask. Being Sherlock I'm guessing he was running tests on it,
"I'm amazed he hasn't blown up this flat yet, based on the horrible smell." I thought as we walked into the living room, careful to avoid the other experiments dotting the room.
"I'm amazed anyone can even get around this place…so messy." As I noted the bullet holes in the wall. Sherlock getting bored I presume.
We finally made it to two armchairs, the only things untouched in the room. John and I sat down. John was mentioned a few times on Sherlock's blog, and honestly those were the only even slightly-interesting articles, I mean really! Who wants to know about the 240 types of tobacco ash? Not everyone is a science nerd like him!
"So how are you related to Sherlock?" John's voice snaps me out of my daze
"Oh, I'm his half-sister" I replied smiling…
We chatted for a few minutes about various things. Until Sherlock came in., a cup of saliva in his hand and a surprised look on his face…
Sherlock's POV
I wasted no time; I knew she was here for some reason other than a friendly chat; the Holmesfamily didn't work like that. I looked at Scarlett analyzing new data and in a few seconds I knew the reason for this unexpected visit.
"Shall I explain, or will you." I confidently questioned Scarlett
"37 seconds, you're getting slower" Scarlett replied smugly
I ignored the insult and started explaining why Scarlett was here and how I figured it out to the now slightly-confused John
"You work at a café now don't you" I was a statement not question.
Scarlett nodded, I smirked. I was winning
"You live in the flat above the cafe because the owner lets you stay there in exchange for working as a waitress. You came here because one of your experiments….misfired. Until the damage is cleaned up you can't live there. Mycroft's off on business so you came to me." I summed up quickly
"How'd you work it out?" Scarlett asked me, her tone flat.
"Simple" I answered "The white powder underneath your fingernails most probably baking soda or flour, Coffee stains on your shirt, you don't drink coffee so you must have spilled it on yourself when bringing it to a table. The smell of gunpowder and smoke on your clothes proves you were working guns and fire, and I know from experience those two things don't mix…. Mycroft's on business so you came to me…Did I miss anything?"
"How'd you know Mycroft was busy?" Scarlett demanded
"He's always busy." I replied curtly….
John's POV
When I opened the door I was unsure of what to say since, I'd never met this person before. She had long curly hair that was almost in was black as night except a streak of bright red highlight. Her eyes were ice blue but when she turned her head I swear they were green. She was also tall, pale and skinny. She held a cello case and a small suitcase that looked heavy but she seemed to carry with ease and had in intelligent look in her eyes that you wouldn't find from someone so young. She could only be maybe 15 or 16, after a moment, I finally gained my senses enough to ask a simple question…
"Who are you?"
She laughed and replied….
"Hello, I'm Scarlett, a relative of Sherlock's. I dropped by to say hello. Can I come in?"
She did look like Sherlock so I wasn't surprised that was true but, Mycroft "visits" were occurring more and more often lately so I didn't trust her
"She's probably Mycroft's little spy."I thought bitterly…
"Can I come in?" Scarlett asks again
"Oh yes, of course." I replied forcing a smile and holding the door wider so Scarlett could enter….
After we had made it through the normal monstrous mess of a flat and sat down in the armchairs, I started firing Scarlett with questions…
"So how are you related to Sherlock?" I asked politely
"Oh, I'm his half-sister, different mother" She replied smiling, but I could tell it was fake smile. It was close to the one I knew so well when Sherlock had to pull a smile to trick or gain evidence from someone…
"For the record, Mycroft didn't send me." Scarlett laughed slightly as she said this "Is he bothering you? That's so like him, always in everyone else's business!"
"Oh..." I mutter relaxing
I wonder if Sherlock even notice me come in. Does he always experiment on decapitated heads? It wasn't this bad when we were kids." Scarlett says jokingly... Smiling again, this time I knew it was real.
"Oh, the head he's had it for weeks now." I replied
'Where'd he get it, I can't imagine someone would just give him a dead man's head!" Scarlett stated
"My friend Molly, who works at a morgue, gave it to him for him to experiment on.' I answered …
The conversation went on like this for a while, I answered the questions, but I knew Scarlett already knew all this and was just checking her facts that she got from Mycroft.
After a few minutes Sherlock walked in, a cup of salvia in hand. He saw Scarlett and his eyes went wide for a moment, but they went back to normal so fast I wasn't sure if they even did. He immediately got that look on his face, the ne he only uses when he's thinking. After about half a minute he said…
"Shall I explain, or will you."
Sherlock then did what he always did. He explained exactly why Scarlett was here and what she had been doing recently. I sat completely still; still amazed at the way he could deduce everything about someone or something in a matter of seconds with only a few simple facts.
He said everything about Scarlett so much you'd think he'd read a biography about her, not just being siblings. I was even more amazed at what Sherlock said next…
"You can stay." He murmured so quietly I wasn't sure if I heard correctly…
Scarlett smiled in relief, but didn't make a move to thank Sherlock. In fact, she did something strange, she whistled, a sharp quick whistle. Almost instantly a cat with ice blue eyes and fur the color of fire whizzed in. I sighed slightly, I had a cat once. I hated cleaning up hairballs….
Chapter 2
When John's Away, The Holmes will Play
Scarlett's POV
It's been three days since I arrived a 221b and things are normal… well, as normal as life with Sherlock can be. There hasn't been a case in over a week so Sherlock's bored, which is never good…