Hi, everyone! it's been nearly two weeks since the Sherlock's season finale, and I must say that I think that's it's the best season that they've put out so far!

I got this idea while I was attempting to write a Sherolly fanfic that took place after the Final Problem. I haven't finished writing that one, but I got so much more ahead with this one, but, isn't that the way storytelling is anyway?

This takes place 17 years after the Final Problem.


"So you were in the army?" 17-year-old Rosie Watson looked across the table to where her date sat.

"For 8 months," was Derek Stanley's reply with a smile, "Until this happened." He patted his injured leg gently.

"Afghanistan?" Rosie felt a twinge of sympathy for the young man in front of her as she rested her chin on top of her folded hands.

"I wish," Derek responded with a scoff, "I was helping unloading a supply truck when the brakes snapped; didn't get out of the way fast enough. It was then that they had to let me go."

"I'm sorry," Rosie responded thinking of her own father's injury and how he was honorably discharged as a result.

"Yeah, well, it happens," Derek took a sip of his drink.

Beside her dinner plate, Rosie's phone suddenly vibrated. She saw that she had a text and decided to briefly read it.

He got an injury while he was in the army due to the fact that he was caught in the middle of cheating with his superior's young wife. Here's a news clipping:

C.H.

Rosie sighed in annoyance and looked across the table to her quizzed date.

"Would you mind if I took this? It's actually kind of important."

"Not at all," Derek flashed her a winning smile, "I'll still be here."

Rosie got up and went into the ladies' room. She leaned on the wall and with tight lips, read the news article that he had sent her.

Apparently, he had been right… again. Her date was caught in the middle of making out with his superior's wife, Sylvia Thomas…in her kitchen, no less.

When caught, Derek had jumped back in surprise, hitting the counter and causing one of the knives to fall off the counter and into his leg. Of course, he had survive but had to be dishonorably discharged due to his inappropriate actions leading up to the injury.

Rosie crossed her arms indignantly and tapped her foot in irritation.

Why did he have to be right about nearly everything? It was infuriating that he had even looked into her date to begin with! Why did he even care about her love life at all?

Instead of texting him "Grrrrr…" like she wanted to, Rosie, seething, took out her phone and responded:

Everyone makes mistakes.

R.W.

His response was slow in coming, which was unusual because he normally had a comeback for everything. When it did come, however, she could practically hear the snarky laughter in the text.

Oh, come, Rosie; he's a habitual cheater. The moment you left the room, he started to flirt with the waitress who, I must say, is far less attractive than you.

C.H.

"What the-," Rosie sputtered in barely contained rage. She felt her lips tighten as she responded.

Are you SPYING on me?! How long?

R.W.

His response was almost instant.

About 7.3 minutes. Now let him down easy, Rose; we have a case to solve! :D

C.H.

For some irrational, unfounded reason, Rosie wanted to blow that emoji up to kingdom come. Instead, she responded as calmly as she could.

We don't solve cases.

R.W.

A millisecond later, her phone vibrated again.

We do now; it concerns your father.

C.H.

Rosie felt some of the tight anger leave her as some concern set in. what was wrong with her father?

Before she could respond, her phone vibrated.

I'm outside the restaurant waiting by the door; you know what you have to do.

C.H.

Rosie sighed as she looked into the bathroom mirror more to compose herself than anything.

This was the third, no, the fourth time in a row that he had been right about one of her dates. Because of his unusual skill set it wasn't too much of a surprise.

Still…

Rosie took a deep breath the walked out the door.

When she sat down across from Derek again something was different. His earlier confidence from before was gone, but she didn't have time to address that.

"Who is Sylvia Thomas?"

Derek's face paled.

"Where did you hear that name?"

"Seems to me that there was a news article dating a few months back that concerns a young soldier, his superior's young wife, and a kitchen knife."

"Rebecca…"

"Rosie. And thank-you for your honesty and your willingness to pay for the meal. Good night."

She grabbed her handbag, stood up, took her black shawl that draped over the back of her chair and walked out the door.

"Do you mind?" She asked her friend once she spotted him leaning on the wall outside the restaurant door.

"If you mean do I mind you getting into a relationship based on dishonesty due to a kitchen knife accident, then yes, I do mind."

Rosie wanted to wipe the smug smile off of Callum Holmes' face.

"I can't believe that you actually screened him!"

Callum crossed his arms, his smile gone.

"Well let's have a look at your track record, shall we, Rosamund Watson? The last guy had two other girlfriends completely unknown to you, the guy before that kidnapped you to make a point to our fathers, and the guy before that was a serial rapist. A serial. Rapist, Rosie. I still remember the look on your father's face when I told him that one, so forgive me for being at least a little concerned!"

Rosie was stumped with rage trying to speak, but no words came out at first.

"Did my father put you up to this?"

"No. I did it completely out of my own accord. Though," he cracked a smile, "he probably figured I would do it anyway, so he probably didn't feel the need to even ask me."

"I hate you."

"No you don't." His smugness was back because, once again, he was right; she didn't hate him nor could she ever, no matter how infuriating he could get.

"What's with my father?"

Rosie saw his eyes twinkle in the overhead light with humor as he looked away before answering her.

"I was at your flat earlier picking up one of my scarves that I had left behind last week, and I arrived at the same time your father was checking the mail. In one of the envelopes was nothing but a little white flower."

Rosie drew her eyebrows together.

"That is strange."

"What was even stranger was his reaction. He turned as white as the flower."

"When I asked what was wrong with him, he told me to not to tell my father about it and to forget I ever saw it."

"Weird…"

"Probably because he planned on telling my father anyway. He's probably at my flat right now eating some of my mother's biscuits."

"So what are we going to do?"

"We," Callum responded with his trademark smile, "Are going to help solve it."


So…what do you think? Like it? Hate it? Please review and comment! I take constructive criticism, but please no character bashing and/or foul language.