"What happened the other night?" Molly asked. Lauren looked up from her work.
"Oh, nothing," Lauren shook the test tube. The liquid inside turned a vivid shade of green. "Why are you asking?"
"Well, Sherlock, one of the men I told you were coming, can't stop looking over his shoulder as if he's looking out for something. Did something happen last night?" Molly looked at Lauren and tried to see Lauren's facial expression.
"Like I said… nothing," Lauren looked down then back up. "He's not still here, is he?"
"Yeah, he's at my lab," Molly turned back to see Lauren had disappeared. "Lauren, where are you?"
"Molly," Sherlock said. Lauren began to crawl out but froze when she heard Sherlock say, "Lauren."
Grimacing, Lauren stood straightening her lab coat. "Hey, Curls, what's up?"
"Curls?" Molly looked between Lauren and Sherlock eyebrows up. "You two know each other already?"
"Yeah," Lauren sighed.
Sherlock gave her cold eyes. "I guess you could say that."
Lauren opened her mouth then shut it again. She understood what Sherlock meant, "Yeah, right." Molly saw Lauren seem a bit unsure about things. "I'm just going to get back to work."
"Molly, I need some DNA checked." He handed her a vile.
"I don't know Sherlock. I'm actually leaving really soon…some date thing." Lauren watched Molly try not to look at Sherlock.
"Oh," Sherlock sounded sad and distant.
He was about to open his mouth when Lauren cut in. "Don't you dare say anything, Sherlock." Molly and Sherlock turned to Lauren. "Don't manipulate her. I'll do it. Molly, go on your date and have fun."
Molly looked Lauren unsure but Lauren only nodded. She left the room and Lauren got to work. Sherlock followed her. "How long have you been manipulating Molly?"
"I don't know what you are talking." Sherlock lied.
"Fibbing, Sherlock," Lauren cut in.
He opened his mouth then closed it. "How long have you been texting John?"
"Since I first met him, is that a crime?" Lauren shot to him.
"No," Sherlock looked away. He made a clearing noise in the back of his throat.
"The DNA analysis will be finished in a few hours." She turned to Sherlock putting his hand down quickly.
"Thank you," he said. He was about to leave when Lauren called after him.
"Sherlock," Lauren said. He stopped. "Look, this is ridiculous. Can we put the past behind us?"
"221 B Baker Street," he whispered.
"What?"
"221 B Baker Street, feel free to swing by sometime," his hand slid off the door. "I'm trying not to hold the past against you. The past is the past. What happened then shouldn't really matter. I wouldn't mind it if you joined John and I to solve some cases. You are clever and stuff. You were top of our class along with me. Even in college, you were incredible."
Lauren guessed he was trying to apologize but she couldn't be too sure. Deciding not to question it, she bowed her head. "I'd love to help you, Sherlock. Really I would love to, but I'm not sure I can."
"Oh come on," he whirled around. "I know that you want to. I see it. You miss it: solving the case, catching the bad guy, the chase."
Lauren looked to the side. "I got on with my life, Sherlock. At least, I tried to get on my life. I can see that you did too. You're having a great time with John solving cases."
"That doesn't mean that I don't want you as part of the team." Sherlock said then he disappeared.
Molly reappeared. She was nicely dressed. "Where's Sherlock going?"
"He went to solve the case, I suppose." Lauren shrugged.
"All right," Molly said. She turned to leave but suddenly turned back around. "You and Justin are joining me and Michael for the date on Saturday, right?"
"Yeah, of course we are," Lauren confirmed.
"It's been what nine months now since you two started dating," Molly questioned.
"Oh much longer than that, it's been practically eleven months." Lauren smiled happily. The thought of her Justin made her happy.
"It's almost a year. What are your plans for the anniversary?"
"I don't know. He's planning it." Lauren sighed. "I'm so excited. I wonder what he's got planned."
"I can't wait for you. That's great. Do you two think you will tie the knot?"
"I wouldn't know. I wouldn't mind but it's up to him if he wants to." Lauren started pushing Molly out the door. "Go or you're going to be late."
Molly disappeared down the hall and Lauren returned back to her original work. Just then there was a knock at the door. She turned on her stool to see Justin.
He was a dark haired tall man with slight muscle growth. "What's the occasion?" She teased noticing that he was dressed in a sharp suit and good tie.
"Oh nothing, just things and…. This…" He showed his hands to reveal that he was hiding flowers behind his back.
"Oh thank you, dear," Lauren took the flowers from Justin. She smelled them. "They are beautiful. But really, what's the occasion, Justin?"
"I talked to your boss and I got you the rest of the day off. We're going on a date." He took her hand. "Come along, dearest. We're going to your favorite restaurant."
