"I need you to go to the Scotland Yard and get some reports for me," Sherlock said as soon as he heard John's steps coming down the stairs from the bedroom.
"I'm on my way to a date, Sherlock," John answered, not even slowing down as he took his jacket off the stand.
"Perfect. It's on the way to that new Italian place," Sherlock replied from behind the microscope.
"How did you-... No, never mind. Why don't you go yourself?"
"I'm busy, John," came Sherlock's slightly exasperated voice.
"Yeah, well so am I," John muttered. He shrugged on his jacket and put his hand on the doorknob. He looked back at Sherlock, who was still intently staring into the microscope. He hesitated a bit before turning the knob. Bad move.
"It's the Landon case files." Sherlock said as he picked up another dish containing who-knows-what. John groaned quietly.
"Anything else you want me to pick up on the way to my date tonight?"
"No, that would be all. Thank you, John."
John sighed. Apparently, the world's best observation and deduction skills do not include the ability to detect sarcasm. He pulled open the door and stepped out. He might as well pass by the Scotland Yard and get the files since it is on the way to the Italian restaurant. But damn him if he was going to go home early to hand in the files. He's planning on a very late night tonight. Hopefully that will discourage Sherlock from any similar errands in the future.
John supposed that he shouldn't be surprised at this point anymore. Nothing seems to go well when he's involved in anything related to Sherlock. Or maybe it was the other way around. Nothing seems to go well when Sherlock involves himself in John's plans. The simple task of getting the files from Scotland Yard has turned out to be anything but. Since Lestrade wasn't there, he's had to wait and be referred to another person, who asked him to wait again as said person had to make just a quick phone call to make sure everything checks out. He's on his third person now, and he's already late for his date but since he's put in the time to wait and was promised that they'll be with him in 5 minutes, he decided that he will get those bloody files if it's the last thing he does. But first he has to smack Sherlock upside on the head with them, of course.
He sent another message to Sarah, apologizing once more. He didn't bother making up another reason for being late; Sarah's too used to Sherlock interrupting their dates by now.
I'm really sorry. I promise I'll make it up to you. Won't be a few minutes now. - JW
His phone beeped a reply.
Don't worry, John. Take your time. - Sarah
John relaxed a little as he read Sarah's reply. He's lucky to have someone like her who can tolerate Sherlock. In fact, it seems that she's getting bothered less and less by Sherlock's repeated appearances on their dates. He sighed. Since when has Sherlock been such a regular fixture on their dates? Wait, no don't answer that. Of course since their first date.
"Dr. Watson?" came a young officer's voice. He was holding some files in his hand. John snapped out of his musings and stood up to acknowledge the young man.
"Yes, that's me."
"Here are the files you requested." The officer hesitated a bit.
"I understand, I'll keep the files safe," John said reassuringly. The young man nodded and handed the files to him. With a brief smile, John turned and practically ran out of the police station.
Sarah sat waiting at the table in the restaurant. She had arrived a few minutes later than their appointment, saw John wasn't there, and immediately knew it was because of Sherlock. She didn't need any skills in deduction to come to that conclusion. John was never late, and if he was, it was because of Sherlock. It was just as well that she brought in a book to read while she waited. Just a few minutes after she settled down, a message arrived from John, confirming her own conclusion that it was because of Sherlock that he was running late.
She was just a few pages into the book when she looked out to the street from the window and saw a familiar figure hurrying towards the restaurant. She smiled ruefully.
The chimes by the door jangled as the man entered and unerringly went straight to her table.
"Good evening."
"Good evening. Please, have a seat." Sarah couldn't keep the smile off her face.
"Thank you." He paused as he saw Sarah's expression. "You find this amusing," he stated.
"Well Sherlock, it is amusing, in a way. I mean, I'm waiting for my date to show up and you come in instead. And-" Sarah continued before Sherlock could say anything, "I know you've shown up on just about every date I've had with John but I do believe this is the first time that you actually showed up before he did."
"Yes, well, he's tied up at the Scotland Yard."
"On an errand for you."
"Yes."
Sarah raised an eyebrow.
"I've just realized that he might take long because Lestrade wasn't there. So I decided to come down here."
"To keep me company?"
Sherlock inclined his head and didn't disagree.
"You do realize that you could've just gone to the station and helped John out?"
"He doesn't need my help. My presence there will hardly make the files get to him faster."
"I suppose we can just wait for him together, then," Sarah said.
"That was the plan."
"Do you mind if I order a little something while we're waiting?"
"Go ahead."
A companionable silence fell between them. They've gotten more used to each other over the many times they've spent in each other's company. Sherlock spent the time observing Sarah as she made up her mind as to what to order. He could almost hear her mind clicking as it worked. He was quite sure that she wasn't just contemplating the choice of appetizers in the restaurant.
"What is it?" Sherlock finally asked, getting a little impatient.
"Hm?" replied Sarah distractedly as she looked through the menu.
"You're not just contemplating food, you're thinking about something else."
Sarah closed the menu and looked back at Sherlock who has turned his laser beam eyes at her, looking as if he thought if he stared hard enough he could pull the thoughts from her head.
"I was wondering what time John would be getting here." Sarah answered.
"Given the way they work at the Yard, I would say half an hour or so. Next."
"All right, there has been something I've been wondering about." Sarah hesitated a bit.
Sherlock made an impatient noise. Sarah shook her head a little and chuckled.
"I've been thinking about your 'Science of Deduction'. I mean I know the method somewhat and I understand how it works. Given physical details you can work out a person's history and habits." Here Sarah looked at Sherlock for approval.
Sherlock nodded.
"I was wondering how accurate it is in predicting a person's reactions to certain actions or events."
"Quite accurate. People aren't nearly as interesting or mysterious as they like to think." Sherlock motioned to the waiter. "Let me give you an example."
"Yes, sir?" The waiter said when he reached the table.
"She is going to have the tomato soup."
"Will that be all?"
"For now, yes. Thank you."
They were quiet at the table for a moment. Sarah looked at Sherlock. Sherlock quirked an eyebrow.
"If you're going to say it's obvious-" Sarah began.
"It is obvious. Just three points: the weather, John's arrival, and your diet. Oh, plus the fact that you didn't really bother looking through the rest of the menu, but just focused on the first few entries. So make that four points."
"All right. Your powers of deduction are certainly impressive."
"But?"
"It's not a 'but'. I just wanted to say that women too, have a little something of our own called 'a woman's intuition' which can be quite accurate at times."
Sherlock did not look convinced, which was unsurprising. 'Intuition' was too much like guesswork to him, too hit or miss. And while it is true that it can be right at times, it was too unscientific.
"How about we put it to the test?" Sarah suggested.
"What do you mean?"
"Let's pit a woman's intuition against the science of deduction."
Sherlock snorted. "If things were that simple, then we should've had only women detectives."
"Well, that's the downside of a woman's intuition: it works only with people we know."
At that, Sherlock turned to regard Sarah a little more closely. This was slowly starting to sound a little more interesting.
"I'm sure you already realize where this is going."
"John."
"Yes."
"You're proposing to do an experiment on John?"
"It's not an experiment. It's more like testing intuition against deduction."
Sherlock waved his hand dismissively. An experiment is an experiment.
"So how do you suggest going about this experiment?" Sherlock asked.
"Fine. Experiment it is, then."
"You know it is."
"I was thinking of something not very complicated. Just action and reaction. The action will be the trigger and we will both use our respective 'abilities' to determine how John will react."
"How do we determine the action?"
"We can take turns suggesting it? That way it will be fair for both parties."
"So we'll be doing a series of actions?"
"Isn't that how experiments are supposed to be carried out?"
"Quite."
Sherlock considered Sarah's proposal. It was ridiculous, to be honest: pitting his science of deduction against a woman's intuition. This experiment is hardly scientific and has no benefit whatsoever for his work or his mental development. But here was a chance to prove a point and conduct an experiment on John. He would be lying if he said that wasn't even a little bit interesting. He had always found his flatmate something of a puzzle, and doing this experiment would be a step to solving the mystery that is John Watson.
"So when are we starting?"
Sarah looked a little surprised. She'd half-expected the proposal to be dismissed. She thought for a moment.
"How about let's do a test run first? I suggest the first 'action' to be your coming here on my date with John before he could even arrive. After all, this is the first time it has happened which will make it a good one to start with."
"Fine," Sherlock agreed.
"And here," Sarah took out a notebook and tore out two leaves. "We can each write how we think John would react here. I won't look at what you write so you can't say that I've been influenced by your ideas."
Sherlock took the sheet of paper. He put the tip of the pen to it, ready to write and found that it was more difficult that he'd imagined. Perhaps it was because of his personal involvement in the experiment. But he needs to be detached. He is going to look at it as just one more challenge added to this endeavour. He looked up to see Sarah scribbling away. He scowled. So that was one more challenge added. He started writing.
Surprised. This is expected. Anyone would be surprised in that situation, so it doesn't count.
Pleased. He imagined that John, being a kind person, would find his gesture thoughtful. After all, he had gone to the trouble of finishing up his experiment quickly and then staying to accompany Sarah while she waited. He paused. He wondered if he should add more details or just leave it as it is. He could write down the state of John's clothes once he arrives at the restaurant out of the rain. He is confident he will be quite accurate. But he supposed those details are unnecessary in their experiment. He decided to leave things simple first. Later, he and Sarah would discuss what details are necessary.
"All right?" Sarah asked.
Sherlock passed the piece of paper to Sarah wordlessly. She took it, folded it in half, and slid it with her own slip of paper back into the notebook. They waited in silence.
The bells by the door chimed once more as John entered the restaurant. He hadn't brought an umbrella when he went out; he didn't anticipate that it would be raining. He tried to brush a few stray droplets of water from his hair. He looked around at the restaurant, and was surprised to see the tall figure of his friend seated across the table from a woman…who is his date, Sarah! He stalked to the table. Only the presence of Sarah prevented him from smacking the files he'd kept dry inside his coat on Sherlock's head.
"Sherlock," John gritted out in greeting to Sherlock.
"Hello, John," said Sherlock, trying not to aggravate John further when he saw that he was definitely not pleased.
"Sarah, I'm so sorry I was late," this time directed to Sarah.
"Don't worry about it, John. No harm done," Sarah said, with an easy smile. John took the empty chair and sat down. The waiter came over shortly to bring them a menu. Sarah took the opportunity while John was reading to pass the slip of paper she wrote on to Sherlock. Sherlock knew without even reading it that Sarah got it correctly, just judging from the way that she could barely suppress a grin from breaking out. Still, he opened it.
I think that John would be furious to find Sherlock in the restaurant. From what I know, Sherlock sent John out on an errand just before our date. Seeing Sherlock in the restaurant kind of shows that Sherlock could have done the errand himself instead of asking John to do it.
Now Sherlock, you need to apologize and at least offer to pay for dinner. Actually, forget paying for dinner – the apology at this point is more important.
There were arguments that he wanted to say against what Sarah had written down, but he knew that he wouldn't say them because the proof was here: John was barely holding himself back from hitting him and for the reason most likely stated in the note he had in his hand right now.
"John," Sherlock began.
John sighed and continued looking at the menu. He was quite sure that Sherlock would just come up with explanations as to why he, not Sherlock, had to go to the Yard at that time. He's not sure he wants to hear them at the moment.
"I'm sorry," Sherlock continued.
John stopped looking at the menu immediately and turned to face Sherlock, who was doing his best to avoid looking at him. He waited for more explanation, but apparently that was all Sherlock was willing to say. Still, it was more than what he expected.
"It's fine, Sherlock. Don't worry about it," John found himself saying. He really couldn't stay mad at Sherlock, especially now after that apology. Suddenly in a better mood and appetite, John called the waiter to place his order.
Sherlock, in the meantime, was watching John and observing the change in mood. Sarah was right on two points there. He knew that it was only a test run, but he also knew that this round goes to Sarah.