Just another night in Baker Street
The lights of 221C Baker Street were ablaze with light as Sherlock managed to add yet another candle onto the already full mantelpiece. The entire room was filled with a mish mash of candles, some scented, some tall, some short and all of them mixed into the already overstuffed apartment. John was standing in the kitchen, a fire extinguisher clutched in his hand.
"Sherlock?" John asked, nervousness colouring his voice.
"Not Now John" Sherlock growled as he arranged yet another candle onto the window ledge.
"But Sherlock surely this is enough? It over 100 of them?"
"Only 100?" Sherlock raised his head, "I thought there were more. It's not nearly enough for this experiment to be completely accurate."
In exasperation, John thumped the fire extinguisher onto the table, "Well it's more than enough to summon the fire brigade. It will just have to do!"
Hmphing sullenly, Sherlock dropped the BBQ lighter onto the floor.
"Ok then, let us commence," Sherlock grabbed the remote control for the old oscillating heater and aimed it at the unit, "If all goes to plan, then when I press this button the jet of air from the oscillating blade on the fan heater will push the flames dangerously close to the walls and wall paper. If a fire starts then we know that Daniel Slade is telling the truth."
"I understand that," John said, "But is it really necessary to risk setting fire to the flat directly under ours."
"Don't be ridikulas John, You have that extinguisher and there is hardly any wall paper left, which is why we chose this place to begin with." Unwilling to argue more Sherlock press the button and the old heater roared to life.
It coughed and spluttered but ultimately the heat pumped out steadily, leaving John and Sherlock hovering in silent anticipation of the result. As time passed, the hot dusty waves of air did not push the flame closer to the old wall paper on the mantle. If anything it seemed more likely the breeze was extinguishing more candles that is was feeding.
"I knew he was lying!" Sherlock exclaimed, "There is no way the breeze of a fan heater no matter the size could start a fire in an empty apartment.
"Are you sure that if the room heats up more that won't change things?" John asked.
Sherlock scoffed, "It's like you know nothing about science, hard to believe you're actually a doctor…"
"Sherlock that is a perfectly reasonable question," John said.
The sound of the heavy door opening interrupted their argument and Mrs Hudson appeared in the doorway.
"My gosh!" she breathed, taking in the over whelming number of candles littered over the dilapidated apartment. "What are you two boys doing down here in this old basement"
"It's an experiment Mrs Hudson, it's for a case we are working for the yard."
Mrs Hudson's eye brows rose, "There is no need to lie dear. If you boys wanted a private place for some erotic play, all you had to do is ask. Though for safeties sake you might want to move those candles away from the wall paper." She ducked back
"For goodness sake Mrs Hudson, I am not gay!" yelled John back through the closing door.
"Tell her Sherlock!"
"Tell who what?" Sherlock asked, his head bent over the window ledge inspecting a candle that had extinguished.
"Mrs Hudson!" John yelled, "Tell Mrs Hudson we are not participating in freaky candle sex."
Looking up from his spot at the window Sherlock struck him with a piercing gaze.
"Really John, Don't be so homophobic!"
With a swish of his jacket Sherlock was up the steps and out the door.
"Sherlock!" John yelled, "What about cleaning up these bloody candles."