"I don't think this is a good idea, Greg."
"I concur. For once John is speaking sense."
"Ha ha. Funny, Sherlock. You know ... I do actually use my brain. Just not as much as you use yours."
"Hmmm. That is debatable."
Sherlock, John and Greg were standing at the entrance of the winter wonderland.
"You two need a break. And it helps when I've just won the lottery. Everybody knows the winter wonderland is not for people with lighter pockets." Greg said, looking around at the colourful array of people, stalls and rides.
"You know, Sherlock, maybe Greg's right. We could take a break. Besides we could get all we want. He does insist on treating us." John said, with a sly grin.
"Now wait a minute. You are not about to rob me dry, are you? I still have to treat the wife to a dinner." Greg asked, eyes widening slightly.
"No, you're not. Your wife's gone to stay with her sister and probably doesn't plan on coming back for a long, long, long, long, long ..." Sherlock's rattling was cut off mid stream by the frustrated DI.
"Yeah, alright, alright. Just ... Do whatever you want. I can't backtrack now. God knows why I decided to spend my 500 pounds on you two idiots." Greg muttered.
"Great. John, lead the way."
Half an hour later :
"Gavin, hurry up."
"Yeah, I would if I could." Greg complained as he shifted the many parcels of sweets, desserts, junk foods, a huge stuffed bear, a plastic toy that looked a cross between an otter and a hedgehog, a packet of M & Ms and a fake swiss army knife.
"Greg, Greg, over here. We have to go on the roller coaster. Please, please, please. Say we can."
"Yes Lestrade. It does look terribly inviting. You can show your heroics by saving me when I ride it without the safety harness on. It would do wonders for your image. Just imagine the headlines : Brave Detective Inspector saves the world's only consulting detective at the risk of his own life."
Lestrade sighed, dumping the things he had been carrying onto the ticket counter (after an apologetic glance towards the ticket seller) and buying three tickets.
Really, what had he been thinking?
"Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh. Stop it. Stop it. John heeeeellllpp. I am going to die."
"Sheeeeerrrrrrlloooooocckkkk. You have been a good friend. We will meet again in heeeaaavveenn."
"Both of you shut up and open your eyes. The ride is over."
"Greeeeggggg."
"Lessssttrrraaaaadddee"
"No. We are not going again. I nearly had a heart attack because I thought that you had really removed your safety belts. I am not going again."
"Fine. Let's go on another ride. Hurry up."
"Wait. I am not just leaving all the food you bought with my money, on the counter. You wait until I pick it up, or I am not lending you any more money."
"Hmph" said two voices.
"Please."
"Yes, Gavin, please. I'll even lend you my scarf for one day."
"And I'll lend you my ... Christmas jumper."
"What the hell would I need those for?" Lestrade scowled.
"They're ours. And we are famous."
"Yeah. Women and men would kill to have them even if it is just for a day."
And there they were, the world's only consulting detective and his blogger, making puppy eyes at a certain detective Inspector.
"Seriously? Those eyes are not gonna work with me. Do I look like a grandma who melts at puppy eyes? Nope. Not going to happen."
Two minutes later the world's only consulting detective and his blogger walked out of the stall digging into the costliest and tastiest chocolate calzone found in the wonderland, with a detective Inspector loaded with colourful goodies of all shapes and sizes, muttering curses and profanities under his breath, behind them.
"You promised us." whined a particular Belstaff coated, blue scarfed man.
"Yeah, I promised you that I would spend my lottery to see you both get a break, not that I would accompany you in stupid games and rides." Lestrade said, glaring at the detective and another man who was currently licking up the last of his triple scoop chocolate chip ice cream [Which incidentally he refused to share with Sherlock, as the latter had dropped his equally costly salted caramel ice cream, resulting in Greg separating the both of them when Sherlock tried to lick the dripped ice cream on John's jumper].
"But Greg, you know everything. You are so clever. Surely ice skating must be as easy as ... um ... solving cases without Sherlock's help." John said, slyly trying to wipe his sticky hands on Greg's coat.
Lestrade scowled both at the sly insult and the sly sticky hands [which he none too gently slapped away] and sighed again.
"Fine. But don't blame me when you two land on your butts, because I am not helping you skate."
"Oww. Ouch. Just ... No, I can make it. I don't need you two 'helping' me."
"We are so sorry, Greg. We just wanted to skate hand in hand like the little kids. We had no idea that you were standing there." John said, gently slapping the DI on the back and wincing at the yelp that proceeded from the owner of the back.
"Now look here. You both dragged me out there onto the ice and then continued to slip and slide all over the place. And the one time that you do fall, you fall on me. Both of you. Why? Why me? Why is it Always me?" Greg asked, shaking his head.
He may as well have been talking to himself, for the next time he looked up, he was alone on the bench.
He looked around to find the two men [giggling]standing under a snow covered tree nearly indistinguishable from the surroundings due to the snow covering their own selves.
"Why is it Always me?" he muttered again, and got to his feet, groaning as he did so, to go after two men [read:children] who were wrecking havoc in his life. Again.
"What? Why? We just got here." Sherlock asked, frowning.
"And you wanted us to take a break, didn't you?" John backed Sherlock, crossing his arms.
"We've been here nearly the whole day. I am tired from carrying all your goodies. I am cold from chasing you two all around. I feel sick from going on in different rides. And I am hungry." Lestrade said tiredly, resting his chin on his palm and staring up at the two 'men' who remained standing with arms crossed and the mirror image of sulking children.
"You just ate a large hot dog." Sherlock pointed out accusingly.
"No, YOU just ate a large hot dog. And in case you were wondering, I haven't eaten anything except that cucumber sandwich which you proclaimed as disgusting after you spent ten pounds of my precious money on it." Lestrade took a deep breath. "Look, you both spent all my money and we can't do anything else without it. So let's just go home and we'll come back another day."
"But isn't the fair open just for one day?" Sherlock asked, looking at John in confusion.
Greg frowned then opening his mouth to deny, stopped himself. He nodded slowly.
"Yes. Yes ... yeah, the winter wonderland is open only once every year."
"Then I guess we won't come until next year." John whispered mournfully to an equally sad Sherlock, both of them looking around.
Lestrade blanched. He was never again going to a fair again. Let alone with these two.
"No. No, no, no, no ... The winter wonderland closes this year and won't open for another decade or two. So this is the last time we can visit it."
"Oh no."
Lestrade breathed a sigh of relief when 221 B, Baker street came into view.
Nudging the other two to get out of the car, he switched off the engine and stepped out.
Unlocking the door with the spare key Mrs. Hudson had given him, he coaxed Sherlock and John up the stairs a hand on each of their back, lest they fall asleep on their feet. The ride to Baker street had been miraculously filled with less talk and more droopy eyes and yawns from those two.
With a tired sigh he collapsed onto the couch in the living room after dumping the purchases onto the kitchen floor.
Sure that he had earned a respite, he leaned back and rubbed his tired eyes. He felt Sherlock and John fall onto the couch on either side of him.
As one both of them turned sideways and promptly curled up, using Greg's thighs as headrests.
Lestrade stared at them, wondering whether to feel honored at the show of trust or annoyed with the heavy heads resting on his aching legs.
Deciding on the former he let his eyes slide closed, smiling slightly at the the already sleeping miscreants.
He would have to make sure that they did not fall ill or catch cold tomorrow.
Oh, he would never be able to stay annoyed at them, would he?
Hello. I am updating so soon. What is the world coming to?
Anyway, this chapter looks like kidlock but I assure you, it is not. It's just two grown men taking the life out of our favorite DI.
I know next to nothing about the winter wonderland or English currency or anything else. I don't mean to offend anybody. So please forgive me for any mistakes I have made and feel free to correct me.
As usual, opinions and ideas are welcome. Please r & r.
And thank you for all those who read, reviewed, favorited and followed.
Hope you enjoyed.
Ta,
Laila.