Summary

Sequel to "Preparing for the Silence"

It was their first Christmas together; family, food and presents that probably should have had a second thought. But what Christmas would be complete with the drama and at 221B Baker Street, drama meant a lot more than usual.

Silence In Belgravia

The Silent Morning

Rose Spencer opened her eyes that frosty morning to Christmas. Rolling over, wide awake, she saw it was 6:35 am. Typical, she thought, old habits die hard I suppose. She had always been awake before seven on Christmas; even after her brothers left and she decided she didn't like the cold holiday anymore.

A smile sprung into life though; this Christmas, she'd be with her brothers again.

Throwing the covers off her, she quickly put her music on, deciding Bastille's "Pompeii" would do to start her morning. It wasn't Christmassy, but it made her smile, thinking about when she was younger.

"But if you close your eyes…" She sang along at the top of her lungs, not caring about the time of morning. "Does it almost feel like nothing's changed at all?"

Grin on her face, she jumped in the shower - still singing loudly - getting dressed quickly after, leaving her hair to dry naturally, the lack of a hair dryer making the long locks very wavy and wild. Again, she didn't care.

It had been several weeks since her meeting with Mycroft, having put the eyes and ears in place a few days after. She was on edge for a while, wondering if Sherlock had noticed anything different or had found the cameras she had hidden around the flat and the lab, but if he had found anything, the Consulting Detective didn't mention it, nor had the older Holmes told her of any cut feeds.

Checking the time as she turned off her music, she saw it was five minutes to seven. Shrugging at the early hour, she picked up the pile of presents on top of her dresser and went to take them upstairs to the living room.

A week or so ago, she had gone to see Mrs Hudson, asking if she had any spare Christmas decorations. The landlady had just given her a big smile and said she'd see if she could find anything left. That afternoon, after coming in from Christmas shopping for everyone - condensed into one, well thought out trip - she found the flat empty of people, with three large boxes of decorations in the living room.

Putting the presents and wrapping paper away for later, she immediately set about the small flat, decorating it completely; she even found a small Santa's hat, thinking it would be best placed in the skull.

When the two men had come home, she was back in her room, wrapping the gifts. While Sherlock didn't mention it - apparently ignoring the seasonal additions to the flat, though shot frequent glares at the skull - John had complimented her on a job well done. The ex-army doctor had not really got into the spirit of Christmas - usually spending it away overseas where the only decoration was a single, dusty, cut out paper snowflake that they'd barely had time to make - but soon found the spirit of the younger woman and her enthusiasm had him enjoying the holiday more than he had in years.

Flicking the kettle on, Rose set out three mugs for them and started on preparing the Christmas dinner she had planned for them all, her brothers staying for lunch as well.

It wasn't long before John and Sherlock came down in their pyjamas to find a very happy young woman as relaxed as they'd seen her in weeks; large baggy jumper with the sleeves pushed up out the way, jeans, socks sliding on the floor, manic hair flying around her with a life of it's own, even when she stood still, dancing around the kitchen with many pots, pans and a large turkey just going into the oven.

"Merry Christmas!" She greeted, turning to them with a big grin on her face, blue eyes twilling with glee.

John just chuckled at her, happy she was happy. "Merry Christmas, Rose."

"Merry Christmas…" Sherlock replied, sounding unusually unsure of himself, not used to celebrating the annual holiday. He just got a blinding smile and a wink before being handed a cup of coffee from the happy woman, John getting the same.

John just laughed at him, going to sit in the living room but finding a small parcel on his usual chair. Looking to the kitchen to find Rose's back was turned, he quickly read the name tag, finding his own name scrawled inside. Looking up, he saw there was another on the desk in the same wrapping paper and four more tucked beside the sofa.

"Go ahead." Rose said from the kitchen, hearing their silence. Throwing a tea towel over her shoulder, she leant against the kitchen doorway, smiling at John who still hadn't moved. "Go on!"

Smiling back to her, he picked up the parcel and sat on the chair while Sherlock went to the desk and sat in front of his own wrapped box, peering at it suspiciously, trying to guess what it was.

Pulling off the tape, John unfolded the paper to find two books. Smiling at the new reading material, he peered at the titles.

Kill as Few Patients as Possible

The Curious Cures of Old England

Laughing at the strange titles, he looked to his good friend. "Thanks, Rose."

"No problem." She replied, happy that she'd done alright by the books. She knew John liked to read and had thought the funny doctor-humour would suit him. Looking to Sherlock, she saw he was still looking at the box. Rolling her eyes, she just said lightly, "It's not a bomb, Sherlock." This seemed to disappoint him slightly though. She rolled her eyes. "Just open it!"

Picking it up, he froze for a second before frowning deeper, Rose just smiling in response. He gave the box a little shake before putting it back on the desk and looking at Rose with a dry expression on his sharp features. "It's empty…"

"Yes, it is." She replied, still smiling, earning her a glare from Sherlock and a funny look from John.

"So why did you wrap it?" The detective asked.

"Why not?" She replied with a laugh. "Joe's bringing it with him later."

Sherlock just sat there watching her, glaring lightly; what could it be? His mind was going into overdrive trying to figure out the puzzle, but it couldn't come up with any reasonable solutions as to what the unpredictable woman would get him for Christmas.

John just laughed a little. "When's Joe coming?"

"About ten…eleven…ish…" She replied, smirking as she did.

John just laughed louder as Sherlock's glare at the woman turned a little colder; that was at least three hours away, and they both knew Sherlock was not a patient man.

Smiling at her happy doctor friend, Rose went back to preparing the dinner.

A few weeks ago, she had talked to Joe on the phone about presents and he made a joking suggestion as to what she should get her unusual friend. Rose however thought it was a brilliant idea and sent him a cheque so he could pick it up for her and bring it with him when he came down for the chilly holiday. She didn't know whether Sherlock would like it but she was sure he'd find some use out of it one day.

A few hours of their usual morning - Rose happily busy, John reading and Sherlock on the sofa thinking, occasionally glaring at Rose - the door bell rang.

"I'll get it." The young woman said, going to greet her brothers. Opening the door, she saw them both stood there, dressed generally smart, a bag of gifts each, Joe with a slim box stood on its end, taller than them all. She gave them a blinding grin. "Merry Christmas, guys."

Joe just laughed, stepping forward to hug her. "Happy Christmas, little sis."

Releasing her older brother, she gave Zach a quick hug as well getting the same greeting. "Go on up guys, dinner's already cooking."

Zach picked up at the mention of food. "Smells good!"

Following her brothers up the stairs, she saw Sherlock immediately sit up and look at Joe, keen eyes finding the tall parcel in moments. He frowned though, only getting more confused.

Joe, seeing his confusion only said. "I'm sorry Sherlock, it's my fault; apparently she can't take a joke."

Zach went to shake John's hand in greeting. "Hey John."

"Hi." John just smiled back, taking the man's hand, hoping that it would be an argument free day. "Merry Christmas."

"And you, but…" Lowering his voice, Zach spoke quietly to John. "What's in the parcel? Joe wouldn't tell me…"

"No idea…" John replied, looking to the others.

As everyone got settled down again, Rose brought in a tray of drinks for everyone. When everyone had their respective beverage, Rose took the long box and placed it right in front of Sherlock, a loud thud sounding as she did so.

Sherlock frowned at the noise, recognising it vaguely but not really clocking on completely. Taking it from her, Sherlock took the random knife they had on the desk and sliced the sellotape holding the cardboard together. As the wrapping fell away he saw what it was, eyeing his present carefully before blinking, looking to Rose, who was looking rather proud of herself.

John looked from the present, to Sherlock's slowly smiling face to his friend in disbelief. "Why…Rose, why on earth, did you get Sherlock a harpoon…?"

"What do you get a mad genius for Christmas?" She asked, lifting a hand to the man in question who was indeed smiling in a slightly psychotic manner. "He seems to like it…"

John just shook his head, knowing it would be useless to try and get rid of the harpoon now. "Well, you're the one who's got to work with him…"

Rose just laughed, going to check on the food.

Zach sat next to his brother on the sofa, eyeing Sherlock warily. "You agreed to buy a harpoon… for Rose…to give to Sherlock?"

"It was only meant as a joke!" Joe insisted.

Out of nowhere there was a loud bang as Sherlock slammed the end of the harpoon on the floor. Rose dashed back to the room, stopping in the doorway.

Sherlock was stood there, proud as could be, hand on his waist as the other held the harpoon like a trophy, chest puffed out and chin held high as he inspected the metal tip of his Christmas present. "Brilliant!"

With that he picked the harpoon up and took a brisk walk from the room, heading to his bedroom to get dressed - they hoped.

After a second's silence, three heads turned to Rose - who was looking a little shocked - all wearing the same expression; what have you done?

"Okay…" She started, looking around them all before landing on John's expression, looking a little sorry. "Maybe it was a bad idea to give Sherlock a harpoon…"