Chapter 2: Sherlock

It was a surprisingly busy evening at the local diner for it being Christmas Eve. Then again, by the looks of the people that were in here, they either had no choice or no families to go to. Just like Sherlock himself. The waitress had been nice enough, mid forties slightly unkept blonde hair and chipped nails showing that she did in fact work for a living and most likely had no one at home to impress. She was attentive to all the patrons equally, refilling coffee or tea and making sure the more lonely sprt had someone to talk to.

Normally Sherlock would not be caught dead in an establishment such as this. That was the exact reason he chose here. He knew that John would not want him around, not after he had been responsible for the man losing his wife. Mycroft was off on some super-secret business again. Mummy and daddy had decided to take a trip figuring the boys would be fine this holiday without them. And yet here was the great detective, dressed as an aging construction worker as he attempted to hide from his flatmate.

He knows I am responsible, Sherlock thought quietly as the healed bullet wound gave a twinge of pain. When I stepped into the room and she shot me, it left him only one option and that was to shoot her. How could he not hate me for forcing him to make that choice.

With his gaze focused outside of the window, Sherlock was ripped from his thoughts when he saw a familiar black car drive slowly by. It was his brothers driver, or better said his brothers agent. That meant Mycroft knew about his escape and that his current position was compromised. Pulling a few pounds from his wallet, Sherlock placed the money next to the uneaten food and quickly left via the back patio door.

Mycroft I have no time for your games Sherlock thought angrily. It's Christmas Eve, I would like to be alone and I will make sure that I am alone.

The detective knew that his brother had access to any kind of video and surveillance footage, including but not limited to traffic cameras and drones. His brother had sent a drone out once before but he had enjoyed that game. This time he was done playing games. Keeping up with the aged construction worker persona, Sherlock limped along the roadside halfheartedly trying to hail a cab. Not surprisingly, no cab stopped for him. And that was the goal. A man such as the personna he was attempting would not want company on a holiday like this. He would want to be alone but he would attempt to observe the social niceties.

Watching from the corner of his eye as the black car drove on Sherlock smiled slightly. He was pretty sure that he had evaded them but it was always better to be safe. Darting into a dark alleyway, Sherlock quickly climbed the fire escape of the nearest building and looked for an unlocked door. The third floor was not locked and without bothering to think of where he was, he darted in. At least here he would be safe from aerial surveillance.

What he did not count on was the fact that the building he entered had a silent alarm. Had Sherlock paid more attention, had his mind not been distracted, the detective would have noticed that he was entering a computer store loft that was in fact currently inhabited. It was a rookie mistake, and one that he was about to pay for dearly.

Sherlock noticed quickly where he was, but not quickly enough to prevent the occupant from noticing as well. As the man reached for the alarm button and a cricket bat, Sherlock quickly attempted to deescalate the situation in a rapid manner. He noted that the man was slightly overweight, was working on Christmas Eve, and had an ashtray full of cigarette butts.

"Ey mate," Sherlock said with a horribly slurred accent. "You got any smokes? My buddies down the way told me to come up here and ask ya for some."

"I do not know who you are but you need to leave," the computer technician said as his hand wrapped around the bat. "This is a secure facility and the cops are already on their way. Now, you can either be arrested on Christmas Eve and spend your holiday in jail or you can go back down that firescape that you climbed up. It's your decision to make."

While Sherlock himself would easily be able to overpower and handle the man in front of him, his persona would not. This was a critical moment. If he slipped even in the slightest the man would notice that he was no aged construction worker and Mycroft would quickly know where he was. The descision was an easy one.

"Aye mate ill leave," Shlerock said as he laid the accent on heavier. "Im sorry for botherin ya. The boys said here was a good place to get smokes is all."

Stumbling slightly to keep up the act, Sherlock quickly exited the door and climbed back down the fire escape. In the distance he could hear sirens and knew that the police were in fact already on their way. That means he needed to move quick.

Starting further into the alleyway and into the slums of London, Sherlock once again attempted to make his escape from his flatmate, his brother, and his memoroes

AN: well here's another chapter. After this one the chapters should be getting longer. I just needed to set into place the basic part of the story before I went to much further and went off what was in my head instead of explaining to readers what is going on in the story.

I would like to thank my first reviewer Mayla! It is wonderful to know that somebody is enjoying reading the story and if you have any suggestions feel free to post them. Same with all you other readers out there. I do accept Anonymous reviews so if you want to leave an idea without leaving your username feel free to go right ahead and do so.

I hope to update once a week and occasionally more than that until this story is done. Once a week will be on either Saturdays or Sundays