Disclaimer: I own nothing from the show.
A/N: Enjoy! Please review!
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After an interview left her not far from her husband's workplace, Kate Watson Lestrade decided to take her lunch break and drop in for a bit. She picked up some takeaway, figuring that even if he was too busy to eat, Gabriel could always reheat it later.
She entered New Scotland Yard, winding her way around cops and desks to her husband's office. The glass walls allowed her to see what was going on inside. Her blue-green eyes narrowed. A beautiful blonde was seated across from Gabriel, leaning over the desk to touch his arm. She was all but batting her eyelashes.
Kate glanced over her shoulder to where one of Gabriel's subordinates, Sergeant Donovan, was doing some paperwork at her desk. She'd know what was going on.
"Sally? Got a second?"
The other woman got up and walked over. "Sure, Kate. What is it?"
Kate jerked her chin towards the office. "What the hell is that?"
Sally rolled her eyes. "Oh. Her. Name's Brianna Travers. You know the artist who was found dead last week? He was her brother. Coroner ruled it a homicide. She drops by once a day to 'see how the case is going.'"
A familiar voice spoke from behind the two women. "You'd think his ring and the wedding photo he keeps on his desk would be clear signs that he's not interested."
Kate turned to find Sherlock Holmes standing behind her. As usual, he was accompanied by his flatmate (and Kate's cousin), Dr. John Watson.
She sighed. "I suppose I'll just go back to the paper and eat lunch at my desk, then."
"No need for that," Sherlock replied. "My time is too valuable to be wasted, so I think I may have to break up this little meeting. The evidence I've found is much more important than some pathetic woman using her brother's death as an excuse to flirt."
"And no one will be surprised when you barge right in," John was starting to catch on, "because you never observe the usual social niceties."
"Precisely."
Kate chuckled as the consulting detective strode towards the office. "I owe you one."
She watched as Sherlock opened the door and walked right in. Gabriel's expression promptly changed to a combination of admiration and exasperation (the look he almost always wore around Sherlock Holmes). Brianna Travers' face fell as she realized that her time was up. She gave Gabriel one last simpering glance before leaving.
Kate smirked as she watched the blonde leave the Yard. Mission accomplished. As John passed her to join Sherlock and Gabriel, she followed. Sherlock did most of the talking in these instances, which meant there was no reason why her husband couldn't eat and listen at the same time. And she rather enjoyed following their cases, occasionally from a professional standpoint, but mostly from a personal one.
Two days later, Kate was once again able to join her husband for lunch. She perched on the corner of his desk as they talked and ate. Gabriel reached over to rest a hand on her leg, fingertips just disappearing beneath the hem of her skirt. She raised an eyebrow at him, getting an innocent look in return.
"You do realize these walls are glass?" she pointed out.
"And it's a pity. Think of all the fun we could have if they weren't."
Kate laughed. "I agree. Guess we'll just have to wait a few more hours." She glanced at her watch. "And speaking of time, I'd better get back."
Gabriel stood and gave her a soft kiss. "I'll see you tonight, darling. I love you."
"I love you, too."
As Kate passed Sally Donovan's desk, she noticed that the sergeant was smirking widely. She paused, curious.
"What is it?"
"Brianna Travers," came the reply. "She stopped by hoping to, in her words, 'discuss my brother's murder with Detective Inspector Lestrade,' by which she meant flirt with him. You should have seen her face when she saw the two of you together!"
"Mmm, I can imagine."
On her way home that evening, Kate tried to think of a way to get Brianna to back off. Suddenly, it hit her, and she quickly began walking in another direction. She soon reached the doorstep of 221B Baker Street.
As she'd hoped, Sherlock was home. Kate didn't waste a lot of time on pleasantries.
"Brianna Travers is getting on my last nerve. I need you to solve her brother's murder so she'll no longer have an excuse to hang around the Yard."
"A woman like that will find another excuse," John pointed out. He ignored his cousin's glare.
"Actually, Kate, I've already agreed to look over the case," Sherlock explained. He motioned to some papers on the table. "That's the file."
"Brilliant! That woman will be out of my hair in just a few days, then!"
Sure enough, the case was solved five days later. With the murderer behind bars, Kate figured Brianna's pursuit of Gabriel would be forced to end. But when she stopped by Scotland Yard the day after the arrest, there was a large bouquet of flowers on his desk. Her eyebrows flew up.
"Okay, I know those aren't from me, so who are they from?"
Gabriel frowned as he read the card. "Ms. Travers. Wondering if she could take me out to lunch as a thank-you for solving her brother's murder."
"Tell her if she wants to do that, she should be taking Sherlock to lunch."
He laughed. "Good point. I will, of course, be declining her invitation."
"You can do that in person; here she comes." Kate quickly slipped out into the bullpen. She was actually rather glad Brianna had stopped by. She was sure to notice the love bite Kate had left just inside Gabriel's collar the night before. Combined with a polite but firm refusal of her lunch invitation, maybe it would be enough to make her get a clue.
Kate leaned against the wall, watching as Brianna almost immediately entered Gabriel's personal space. Then she frowned and stepped back quickly. Yep, she'd noticed the bruise. The two spoke for a few more minutes before Brianna exited the office. She was smiling, but clearly not happy. Message received.
As soon as Kate finished cleaning up the kitchen after dinner that night, Gabriel pulled her into his arms for a long, thorough kiss.
"What was that for?" she asked.
He shrugged. "Several reasons. I love you, you're incredibly attractive, and, to be honest, I kind of like that jealous streak of yours."
Kate smiled. "The American poet Maya Angelou once said 'Jealousy is like salt in food. A little can enhance the savor, but too much can spoil the pleasure.' Besides, it would be rather stupid of me to not be somewhat possessive of a man like you."
As he picked her up and started upstairs, Gabriel asked, "Well if I'm such a great catch, how come it took me so long to find love?"
She stopped nibbling at the underside of his chin long enough to answer. "Two possibilities: One, all the other women you've encountered are idiots; two, we were meant to find each other, it just took a while."
He responded with an especially tender kiss. "I think I like the second one better."
Kate smiled as he lowered her to the bed. "Me too."
