Kate had, after feeling guilty from sponging of her aunt, taken a job as a waitress at a cafe just round the corner. It wasn't a particularly well known place, but at certain times she never got a chance to sit down. She did everything, took orders for take-aways, served and wiped tables, cleaned the counter tops, helped in the kitchen. It was something every waitress probably does, she thought, but she was not used to it, panicking whenever she had to carry a tray anywhere. The mish-mash hours were made bearable by another waitress, Becky. Kate barely knew anything about her, but her blunt observations, directions and the hilarious game of flirting with the customers were what caused her to keep coming back.
"Ooft, ooft, ooft, tall fittie entering," Becky whispered on passing Kate, who was stood by the till. Kate grinned and looked towards the door. Suddenly she jumped down under the counter, sliding her back down the side.
"What the hell are you doing?" hissed Becky.
"He lives above me!" Kate hissed back.
Becky whistled softly, "Tough luck sunshine, he's gone into your section, I would cover but I've already two tables waiting. Go on." She moved off.
Kate sighed, recomposed herself, then tried delicately to stand up and walked over to Sherlock.
"Lost something?"
She choose to ignore this comment.
"Don't normally see you in here, what can I get you? Black coffee?"
"Nothing, I just came to see you."
"Me?"
"Yes."
"Is everything alright?"
"Yes."
"Oh...well...you see you have to order something to sit in here, look I break in literally five minutes, I'll meet you outside then, will that be ok?"
"Perfect." He smiled, her heart did an involuntary leap, then elegantly rose and left. Kate grabbed the back of a chair.
"What did you do to him?" said Becky, a little too loud for Kate's liking.
"He came to see me."
"Ker-ching" winked Becky.
It was much more than five minutes later. Kate had been distracted by a spillage and an unusual rush. As her shift was coming up to an end and as her manager had noticed Sherlock hanging around she had let Kate finish early. She dashed in the loo dragging along Becky's make-up bag. She had just started to apply eye-liner when she realized that he would probably notice it and make some comment. Damn. Still, she had started now. She finished, scrunched her hair and brushed herself down before venturing outside.
"I'm so sorry, there was a-"
"I know."
"Of course you do." She smiled and to her surprise he smiled back, even his eyes twinkled. Kate blushed. For some reason this made Sherlock terribly self-conscious – though I doubt he'd admit it – and he stopped smiling and tried to find the words in his head.
"Oh, umm, these are for you." He handed her a bunch of yellow flowers, clumsily picked up from a nearby florist. He had gotten the idea from a rom-com he had been forced to watch, for some reason he hadn't deleted it, but still it had come in useful.
"Oh, thank you, you really shouldn't have!" she beamed, his momentary pause had made her confidence grow and these flowers. Surely, they meant something more?
"So, do you want to get a coffee?"
"Well, if you don't mind, I'd rather not I'm kinda sick of-"
"TAXI!" As one pulled up Sherlock opened the door for her.
"Just as long as you don't know what I'm thinking all the time." Kate grinned and stepped into the cab. They sat in silence most of the way home, for some reason – maybe it was without John, things became very awkward between them. When they reached the comforting sight of 221B, they both jumped out, Sherlock even paying for the taxi. Kate fumbled around in her bag, but Sherlock whipped the keys out of his pocket and eased the door open for her.
"So, why did you really come and see me then? It can't just off to been to escort me home – which I very much appreciate by the way."
"No, well, actually it was too..." his hands reached up and fingered his dark curly hair, "to ask you to dinner." He stopped moving and held her gaze.
"Dinner, that would be, that would be lovely thank you."
"Tomorrow then?"
"Perfect." Kate beamed again, and then stepped inside Mrs. Hudson's flat. Once the door shut she let out an involuntary squeal. Sherlock didn't realise he had been holding his breath.
John, he was her best bet. Kate had been up all night, which she knew would do nothing for her look tonight, but still. Once the adrenaline had worn off she had had a nagging feeling that this all was just an experiment, a game for Sherlock. I mean hadn't she already convinced herself that this was a bad idea? She had fretted about it constantly and decided to talk to John. So maybe he would lie to save his friend's skin, but it would put her mind at ease. It surprised her how much she trusted John.
"John?"
"Here!" His cheery head popped round from the kitchen door.
"Hi."
"Hi." He grinned back, "Looking for your date? Bit early aren't you?" He laughed, Kate struggled to join in.
"Actually I came to talk to you." John had half been expecting this. Kate had heard from the tales how Sherlock could and would manipulate people to get information or what he wanted, so it was understandable for her to have that niggling thought.
"He's not here is he?"
"No, he's not here."
"Good, I-"
"You wanted to know if it's some kind of experiment?" finished John.
"Yes," breathed Kate, she fell heavily on the sofa, "Is that awful of me? Is that really bad?"
"No, it's not." John plonked himself next to her. "The truth is I have never seen him like this."
"Is that a good thing?"
"Yes, yes it is." He chuckled, "He actually moves when you come round and does things, normally that only happens when someone is bringing him a dead body to decipher."
Kate laughed.
"Am I being normal? I mean it's so fricken' weird how he, like, captivates me I suppose."
"A lot of people are like that, but they normally can't see past his annoying traits."
"God, I have been fretting constantly, but I really want...I don't know what I want. Y'know he doesn't seem-" She trailed off every time not knowing what to say.
"Stop worrying, it'll be fine. There is bound to some kind of adventure with Sherlock." He said affectionately.
"Well then, I better think of what to wear."
"I wouldn't recommend heels!" joked John, Kate laughed "I'm being serious!"
She got up and walked to the door. "Thank you John." It was said with true feeling and in reply John nodded and smiled.
Oh dear god so many dresses. Dresses pulled of hangers, dresses strewn on the floor, dresses discarded on the bed. Dressing for a man who would take some meaning from everything was so hard. Kate finally decided on a black vintage dress with a flowing skirt and so she could wear her new red high heels, a red belt. John had only been joking hadn't he? Now hair...plait? All swept to one side? Oh god!
Sherlock himself was desperately trying to concentrate on experiment he had brought home from Barts, but his mind kept drifting. Why had he done this? It was bound to end awfully. End awfully...Yes, that murdered girl had been killed by her ex-boyfriend. But according to everyone around him he wasn't violent, what if it had been organised? A `new gang` was starting to circulate the area definitely up from Cornwall way, maybe people could...
"So, all ready?" Sherlock's train of thought was broken by John.
"Mmm" Sherlock decided to stare intently and he's experiment.
"Oh, stop grinning like that, John I don't know why all this amuses you so much."
"Isn't it time you were leaving?" Despite himself John couldn't help but carry on grinning.
"What time is it?"
"7"
Sherlock grabbed his coat off the back of the door.
Ready? Meet me in the hall – SH
He then turned down the stairs and left. John shook his head, what on earth would happen? Sherlock did not understand the concept of dating; he chuckled as he remembered his first date with Sarah. Actually with Sherlock out of the house, it would probably be a good time to ring her.
It was quite a small local restaurant that Kate was whisked off to almost as soon as she stepped out of Mrs. Hudson's making some "going out with the girls excuse".
They were seated by the window, but still relatively close to the fire which gave the whole place a cosy feel. At first the conversation was slow but soon Kate was telling Sherlock all of her old life. Hurried engagement, not helped by mother and the ever-changing choice of careers.
"Why am I telling you all this?"
"Because you think I already know it." Sherlock smiled, she laughed.
"Don't tell me it was my right ankle?" Kate laughed even getting a smile out of him.
"Are you ready to order?" a smarmy waiter interjected, doing a double-take at Kate.
"Oh, I haven't even..."
"I'll come back." He strutted off, still subtly staring at her.
"Watch him." It was more of a command than a suggestion; the waiter had somehow caused Sherlock to become suddenly protective of Kate, he was unused to this feeling but went with it anyway – for future reference of course.
"So what are you having?"
"I'm not eating."
"What? Then why did you bring me out to dinner?" she laughed, Sherlock shrugged.
"Well, so I don't feel bad why don't you have the duck and I'll have the chicken, so I can pick off both plates as I really cannot decide which one and I swear I am a fat girl inside! Oh god, I'm sorry, I'm rambling again!What are you looking at?" Kate had her back to the window and craned to her neck to see what Sherlock was staring at behind her.
"There's a new gang outside."
"You never-well John did say-"
"What? What did he say?" Sherlock flicked his head back to her.
"Oh now Mr. Watson got your attention then didn't he?" she cheekishly grinned.
"What are you suggesting Miss? That I am gay?" Even though he said it so bluntly he was smiling now.
"Oh well we can soon find that out..." She grabbed his hand which had been casually resting on the table and started to stroke it. Sherlock looked shocked at first but restrained his face at the test. Kate started to move her hand further up his arm.
"Shit." Kate had glanced up over his shoulder.
"What?" he turned to follow her line of vision.
"That's my ex." She whispered, dodging her head behind Sherlock, "Switch places with me."
"That will be even more obvious than you hiding attempts at the moment." He paused, "Do you want to leave?"
"Won't that be just as obvious?"
"Come on." Sherlock stood up and picked up his coat.
As they walked out Sherlock could see Kate's ex staring after them. Outside the gang ignored them, but if his theories were correct it wouldn't be for long. They started to walk out along the pavement. "Shall we wait for a taxi?"
"No, we need to keep to keep moving, they'll follow us."
"Who will?" Kate glanced behind them, "Why the hell is he-?"
"Come on." There was more urgency in his voice now, he grabbed her arm and pulled her along faster. Behind them the gang began to disband.
"Quick." He tugged her down an alley way. She decided to keep quiet, this must be the adventure. Once they were hidden from the gangs view, Sherlock broke into a run. His hand slipped down and linked with hers as she also sped up.
Raised voices and shapes burst from behind them into the alley way behind them. Sherlock led her down more little interlinking lanes, twisting off from the original one. Yet multiple sounds followed them which ever way they went until they reached a dormant road. Sherlock raced on the open ground dragging Kate off the pavement and sprinting down the road. She let out a yelp, as she went over on her ankle.
"Ow, shit." She looked behind her.
"Quick."
"I can't, these bloody shoes, Ow." She winced.
"Come down here." He guided her down an even tighter lane and pushed her up against the wall.
"What are you-?" she tried to push him away but grabbed onto his coat instead to hold herself up.
"Shh, hide your face." He said, looking out back onto the open road. Kate turned her head and buried it into Sherlock's shoulder and as he turned back round he rested his head on hers. Echoing all around them were passing pounding feet, then confused shouts seeping away into the distance.
They stood silently for a few minutes afterwards, breathing heavily. Kate was depending on Sherlock to keep her up. Their heads stayed resting on each other. Kate shivered and instinctively Sherlock moved his arms of the wall and wrapped them around her. Both parties realised what he had done and froze.
Sherlock quickly disentangled himself from her and stood away from her still breathing heavily, creating smoky patterns in the air.
"I think, I think they've gone, we should probably go." He couldn't meet her eyes, she was still leaning against the wall but he turned and carried on down the alley. When he reached the main street, he hailed a cab and opened the door as Kate hobbled out from the alley way. Once she had clambered in and Sherlock after her, she burst into a fit of laughter.
"Well, that's a new reaction."
"Better than crying!"
As they came into the door for 221B Kate continued to laugh. Sherlock took of his scarf and hung it on the behind the door, he looked at her and smiled. Kate pulled a face as she yanked off her right shoe and clasped onto Sherlock for balance.
"You owe me a new pair of heels young man!" she laughed, took the other shoe off then turned to find herself right in front of him, it was now Sherlock up against the wall. Without thinking Kate pulled herself up to his face and kissed him lightly on the mouth. As she pulled away she looked right in to his eyes and stepped back.
"I'm sorry, I-"she turned to go, but he grabbed her arm and pulled her back. He kissed her harder this time, his arms found her waist where as hers twisted round his neck. They drew back, both overcome with wild emotions and unsure what to do next.
"We should probably tell John about the gang." He turned and started to climb the stairs.
"Right...yes...ok," Kate was still in a daze but followed the sweeping black coat.
Sherlock needed to focus on the case. His mind was reeling from that kiss. What on earth had possessed him to do that? And all the other little things, this must be what `normal people` had as John would say. Still he needed to concentrate on this new development, not think of the rush when Kate had simply grabbed his hand. He would have to ignore the tightness in his chest or his work would pay, and that was all that mattered, wasn't it?
John was just clearing up the take-away that he and Sarah had eaten. She had only just left and he had enjoyed this breath of normal activity while it lasted and now as if on cue Sherlock entered 221B. Yet John could not place the look on his face, Sherlock looked...vulnerable, obviously showing his battle with emotions underneath. Sherlock saw John's face and quickly placed his unbreakable mask over his face. He was saved from questions by Kate limping in.
"What did you do?" John's question was directed at Kate, but he could not keep his eyes from trying to read Sherlock's face.
"Oh, y'know, same old, went over on my ankle whilst being chased by some gangsters!" she cheerily replied, she was trying to keep things as normal as possible, but still she couldn't look Sherlock in the eye.
"You should probably put some ice on that." John turned to go into the kitchen.
"No, its ok, I'll get it, you two, discuss." As soon as she left Sherlock started.
"It's a gang. People mention they want someone dead they do it, pays well I imagine."
"A-what?"
"The girl, John, she had just broken up with her boyfriend and left him with nothing. She was tied up for `questioning` and a bit of beating I expect then killed."
"And you got this from where?"
Sherlock nodded towards the kitchen, "We saw her ex-boyfriend."
"Oh no, you don't think-"Sherlock shook his head as Kate emerged from the kitchen.
"Well, I didn't particularly want to move the foot, I'm sure Mrs. Hudson has got some somewhere." She smiled at John then went past Sherlock who was right by the doorway.
"Well, thank you," she nodded at me, brushed his hand and a look past between them that John had no hope of reading. She turned and left. John desperately wanted to go all `school girl` and ask for details, but Sherlock pulled of his coat and slunk into his bedroom. He had enough buzzing round his brain at the moment.