AN: Irene stops by Sherlock's flat
The two eyed each other intently, one sitting across daintily and the other a serious one. The eerie silence consumed the atmosphere, only modest sips from their tea cups can be heard as the other's red lip curled into a smile.
"Fancy meeting you here." Irene greeted at the consulting detective. She helped herself to come inside Sherlock's flat, living a new life and still on the run.
"State your purpose." Sherlock said in response, checking on his watch as he crossed his legs.
"Purpose? I was just checking up on an old friend, is that so wrong?" The lady giggled, placing her tea cup on the side table.
"What's your incentive? Go on, tell me. We both know you have something you want." Sherlock raised his brows, standing up abruptly as he walked all over his flat, looking over the window.
"Oh don't be so stern, Sherlock! It's like you don't even know me!" Irene replied with an amused expression on her face.
Sherlock gave a look as he returned back to his seat, clasping his hands together as he asked, "Does Mycroft know you're here? I'm quite sure he'll be thrilled to see you." He said in a sarcastic tone.
"I'm sure he knows the minute I stepped back here in England." Irene replied. She looked at Sherlock and sighed, "You see, Sherlock… I want it to be deeper."
But before Sherlock could even reply, a loud thud of the door opened as Billy entered with short puffs of breath along with Molly.
"I'm sorry it took so long, your Missus and I were caught by the police. Apparently, they're investigating the case as well. But I have to give proper credit to your Missus, Shezza, she walked up to the DI and schmoozed her way out. We got what we needed anyway." Billy reported, taking off his jacket and hat as he hung it up on the rack, Molly couldn't react at all when she noticed a beautiful woman just across the detective looking at her.
"Good work, you two." Sherlock said glancing at Molly who was obviously curious who's his guest was.
"Missus?" Irene asked in a surprised tone, her eyes shifting to Billy who was getting water (wether it's sanitized or not, we don't know) from the fridge.
"Yes, Missus. Shezza's Missus, isn't it obvious?" Billy replied, taking a gulp from the glass of water and making a disgusted face in the process.
"I see.. Well, I congratulate you, Sherlock Holmes for finding a woman who can tolerate you." Irene said in a very stiff manner. She eyed the detective from head to toe, swallowing down a frown.
"What? No- Again with that Missus nonse-"
"I am most fortunate to have her, yes." Sherlock didn't let Molly finish her charter as he walked all the way beside her.
"That's great then. You are one brave soul, Molly." Irene forced a smile, hugging the pathologist lightly.
"Well, I better go then. I have to settle some things with Mycroft." She quickly walked out of the flat, giving no time for anyone to bid her good bye. She intended to deepen her and Sherlock's relationship, but when she saw the glimmer in his eyes when Molly walked in, it was a waste of time to even compete.
It was an uncomfortable silence when The Woman left, when a loud smack rippled it. Molly slapped Sherlock's arm and said, "She looked like she was about to cry! Honestly, using me to get out of God know's what." Pursing her lips in the process.
Sherlock was expecting a more violent approach like slapping his face once more, but to his surprise it was more tamed down.
"What I said was of the truth, I am most fortunate to have a reliable person like you who tolerates my own genius intellect." Sherlock said in response looking at Molly who had on a subtle tinge of redness on her cheeks that made him inwardly smirk.
"Isn't that right, Billy?" He added, looking at the entertained man in the kitchen.
"Certainly, if he was lying he wouldn't dare to look at you straight in the eyes." Bill nodded as a sign of agreement.
"See?" Sherlock cocked an eyebrow towards the pathologist, who was awfully quiet.
"Alright, alright." Molly replied meekly, "I'll be down at Mrs. Hudson's if you need me.." She said as an excuse, scurrying at lightning speed as the two men were left.
"You know, the Missus is quite relieved that you said that. She looked disheartened a while ago when you were talking to that enigmatic lady." Billy chartered, making himself at home as he sat on the sofa.
"I knew that."
"Oh really? Then you should know that before we came in, she accepted an invitation to dinner from that DI fellow."
Sherlock's eyes widened, his heart quickened and his hands immediately turned clammy. He bolted off down his flat to talk Molly out of having a date with Gavin (or whatever his name was).
"It was just a joke… Honestly, Shezza needs to be more honest with himself." Billy snickered, grabbing a magazine to read as he waited for Sherlock to come back up in utter embarrassment.