John sat nursing a bottle of beer at a quiet table, or as close to a quiet table as was possible in the bar where Harry had taken them. The room was dark except for the red and purple glare from neon beer signs and the glow of television screens. Harry sat across from him with her friend Jazz. A young woman with long hair that changed color from red to blue to black. She smiled at him. "So this is your brother. Well, he don't look so bad."

"Back off Jazz, he's an awful stick in the mud." Harry commented taking another swig of beer. "Besides that, he's gay."

"I am not gay."

"Yes you are. I can't believe it. You evoking the runaway pact. I guess that the honeymoon is over."

"Wait a sec," Jazz asked. "Can somebody explain to me this 'runaway pact' thing."

Harry laughed, "It was something we came up with as kids. Mom and Dad were in this bad place, and it wasn't fun being at home, so Johnny here got the idea to move into this nearby abandoned building and live there, but he was afraid that our parents would find him, so he made me agree to this pact."

"Don't act like it's all my idea. You were part of this too."

"I'm not saying anything bad about you. Hell, you are so sensitive!" Harry yelled at him before turning back to Jazz. "Well, we agreed that when the pact was evoked the other would swear to help the runaway in whatever way was necessary without giving away his or her location to the person or persons that he or she was running from."

"So did you ever use this pact Harry?"

"You bet she did," John replied. "Lots of times, but this is only the second time I've ever evoked it. So Harry. Will you do it? Will you help me?"

Harry looked at her brother and fiddled with the bead on her pierced lip. Then she smiled. "Of course I'll help you brother, but on one condition."

"What's that?"

"Tell me who you are running from and why?"

John looked down and then rubbed the back of his close shaved hair with one hand. "I'm in a sort of a situation, a romantic situation, and I need to get away to think about it."

"Romantic?" Jazz asked. "Didn't you say that he just got married?"

Harry smirked. "It's because he married a girl, but he's gay."

"I am not gay,"

"Well a little bird told me that they saw John Watson kissing another bloke under a bridge. It took me exactly one guess to figure out who it was." Harry laughed. "So love triangle is it? This is so rich!"

"It's not funny."

"Isn't it?" she said. "The only reason that you're having trouble with your wife is because of another man. I said it a million times. You are gay."

"I am NOT gay!" John yelled and then looked around nervously as others started to stare.

"Did you kiss Sherlock, or didn't you?"

John rubbed the back of his head nervously. "Well... although I am not gay," John began, "I may be a bit ... bisexual."

Harry laughed even harder. "Oh John, bisexuals are a myth. It's just gay guys who are too repressed to admit it."

"That's not true."

"That is so true, and you are so gay." Harry turned to Jazz, "Look at that shirt. See how he wears it loose. Lookin' like he just threw on something he had lying around the house and didn't have time to button it up. I've seen him spend hours in front of the mirror trying to make himself look casual. He is such a liar. He acts like he doesn't care how he looks, but he's always getting' those striped shirts and the country doctor jackets. Staring at himself while adjusting his tie." Harry moved her hand back and forth under her throat, "You wouldn't know it to look at him, but he is vain, so yes John, you are gay."

"Well this argument is getting old. So let me tell you the problem. This is going to be harder than just letting me crash in your flat."

"And why is that?"

"Because they'll probably come looking for me, and nobody is as good at finding things as Sherlock Holmes."

"Bloody Hell!" Harry spat.

"Language!" John said.

Harry stood up so straight that she almost rose out of her chair. "So you're still trying to lecture me? My perfect brother who is two-timing his beautiful new bride with his old flatmate?"

"I would have expected a little sympathy from my own sister."

"Like the sympathy you gave me when Clara and I broke up? I don't think you want to bring that up now do you?"

John turned away then and grasped the neck of the bottle without taking a sip. "So will you help me, or not?" he asked.
"I told you I would. But this is going to require help. We need to find someone who is clever, has resources, and is good at disguising men. That means we need to see..."

"Brandywine!" Harry and Jazz said together.

"What's Brandywine?" John asked.