A/N: Take two, they're small. (Sorry it's short but hey, two chapters in one day!)

R&R and Enjoy!


Chapter 2: Silent Words

P.O.V: Sherlock Holmes

He stood in Alfredo's garage as he worked on a car. He was waiting patiently for Alfredo to finish what he was working on.

"If now is an inappropriate time I could always make arrangements for another," Sherlock said, his patience waning.

"Nope, I'm just about done," Alfredo said as he removed himself from the car. He leaned up against the hood of car, full attention on Sherlock. "What's bothering you?" Sherlock was silent for a moment. Trying to formulate a sentence.

"It's this whole situation with Moriarty. Things at the brownstone, with Joan and I, have…changed. I cannot conclude if this change is…good."

"Well, let's start with, how have things changed?"

"She keeps herself busy. And not just with the readings I select for her. If she is not reading, she is studying a cold case, and if she is not doing that she's out enjoying 'real world' time. It would appear that she is trying to put distance between us, though I cannot deduct as to why she is doing this."

"That does sound odd. Maybe something's bothering her."

"That is what I suspect. But she does not linger long enough for a conversation."

"So she doesn't want to talk about it with you. And you said this all started after that whole thing with Moriarty?"

"Affirmative."


P.O.V: Joan Watson

"Sherlock, I'm back," she said as she entered the brownstone. She noticed it was unusually quiet. She checked her phone and saw a message from him that informed her that he had stepped out. She had enjoyed her outing with Jeff. He had asked her, after coffee, if she had time for dinner tonight. She was hesitant but decided that she would go out with him. She went upstairs and started getting ready.


P.O.V: Sherlock Holmes

"Have you spoken more to Marcus?" Alfredo asked.

"We work in the same workplace and have the ability to communicate with one another."

"That sounds like progress." Sherlock remained quiet.


Sherlock arrived back at the brownstone later than he thought. Shortly after his meeting with Alfredo, Randy had made contact with him and requested that they talk. He couldn't quite figure it out, but he felt something whenever he had these talks with him. It was an odd good feeling.

He looked to see if there was any sign of Watson but it appeared not. He heard his phone go off and saw that it was a message from Watson. It said that she was going out tonight.

"What on earth is wrong with me?!" Sherlock asked Clyde. "Why is this bothering me so much? I told Randy that he needed to get rid of the woman that compromised his sobriety. And yet, I still communicate with the woman that caused me to spiral down!" Sherlock paced the brownstone as Clyde ate some lettuce. "This is all of Watson's doing! If she wasn't acting like…like a child! Then I would be able to focus on other things."

Frustrated he picked up the closest thing – which happened to be a mug – and threw it against the wall. He glances over at Clyde who was still eating his lettuce. He needed to find an outlet soon before he was going to go crazy! "Be thankful that you do not have to deal with socializing with the female gender of my species, they're nearly impossible!"