A/N: I do not own Sherlock Holmes or any characters related to the books written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, I am simply a fan and I receive no money for this story.

Chapter 3

Unlike Any Other

"Lestrade, would you allow Watson and myself to accompany you to the crime scene?" Holmes questioned as Lestrade descended the carriage.

"Well it's just a simple break-in, there's really no need to…"

"Ah, but in my experience the simpliest of cases end up being the most complicated and not to mention interesting," Holmes interrupted.

"Strange, how another's misfortune can be so entertaining to you," Elizabeth said inaudibly as she followed the others out of the carriage.

"There's hardly any need for you to get involved Miss," Watson said as Elizabeth joined them.

"Is it alright with you, Lestrade?" Elizabeth asked as she adjusted her jacket.

"Of course," Lestrade responded quickly before adding, "The carriage will remain here, to take you all home afterwards,"

"Well, what have we here?" Lestrade asked one of the officers when they had entered the apartment brightened by a lone candle on the breakfast table.

"Some jewelry thieves, sir,"

Elizabeth scanned the room quickly before looking up at the ceiling beams. She glanced quickly over at the others still talking to the elderly couple who were robbed before moving further into the room.

"Are you sure that's all that was stolen sir?" Holmes said as he kept an eye on Elizabeth.

"Yes sir," the husband responded, "Just my wife's' jewelry, and well the music box which held them."

"Music box?" Holmes said interestedly taking his eyes off Elizabeth.

"Yes, but it was of no great value, I had purchased it only yesterday at,"

But the elderly mans voice was drowned at the sound of a struggle in the bedroom. Holmes, Watson and Lestrade hurriedly entered the room and were surprised to find a masked man had one arm securely around Miss Elizabeth throat while the other held a gun to her temple. Elizabeth didn't appear alarmed despite the fact that she had blood trickling down her face until she saw Holmes step forward. The masked man instantly pointed the gun at Holmes and would have shot at him had not Elizabeth used her elbow to jab him in the ribs. The man lay sprawled on the floor before struggling to find his gun that was until he froze as he felt the cold metal of a gun on the back of his head.

"You've got two options," Elizabeth spoke as she pointed the gun at the man, "One, slowly stand up with her hands above your head, or Two, pick up the gun and be shot through the head,"

The three men standing at the door stood silently as they watched the scene unfold before them.

"Think very carefully," Elizabeth continued, "I have no problem with killing you,"

The man sat contemplating before raising his hands and slowly standing up. Seeing him with raised arms, Lestrade regained his bearings and took out his own gun. Suddenly, to everyone's surprise Miss Elizabeth used the blunt handle of her gun to hit the man over the head, knocking him to the ground unconscious.

"Was that necessary?" Watson questioned, shocked at the behavior of the young lady.

"If she hadn't, I…well we three would have been poisoned by those darts in his hand," Holmes said as he leaned over the body.

"I'm sorry Watson, I didn't intend for you all to get involved," Elizabeth explained as she wiped the blood from her face with a silk handkerchief from her pocket.

"Perhaps you should let me look at that wound Miss Elizabeth," Watson spoke apologetically as they helped Lestrade carry the unconscious body out of the apartment.

Elizabeth shrunk away at the suggestion, "It's not necessary, I'm fine," she said as she left them to sit in the carriage.

"I'll take you home Miss Elizabeth than I'll return to Scotland Yard to question that man," Lestrade said after closing the carriage door.

Seating himself across from Holmes and Dr Watson, Lestrade noticed some tension in the air. He gave Watson a questioning look but the doctor shrugged his shoulders to show that he was as clueless as the Constable.

Finally, Sherlock broke the silence,

"Where did you purchase that gun Miss Elizabeth?"

"Why does it matter where I purchased it?" Elizabeth retorted before adding, "Why don't you just ask me what's really bothering you?"

Holmes kept his calm visage as he continued,

"What compelled you to go and seek that man?"

"Well how would you have handled the situation?" Elizabeth shot back angrily

"That man was dangerous and would have killed you had we not arrived in time."

Elizabeth folded her arms and shook her head in disbelief,

"You are implying that as a woman, I was defenseless against him in a physical fight!"

"Now, now, let's not fight among ourselves," Watson interjected.

"Do not presume to make statements which are not my own!" Holmes responded, ignoring Watson's pleas.

"As I said before, if placed in a dangerous situation I perfectly capable of taking care of myself. I require no assistance from you, Detective, or any other man!"

"Believe what you wish," Holmes said having regained his composure, "But woman will always remain…"

"The lesser sex? Is that what you were going to say? Well it's hardly surprising that woman have trouble defending themselves when they are forced to wear those devices of torture known as corsets,"

Silenced fell on the group when Elizabeth finished speaking. Holmes turned his face to the window at hearing Elizabeth's comments; after all it was not often that corsets were mentioned in ordinary conversations.

"The great detective speechless?" Elizabeth said sarcastically staring at Holmes with a murderous gaze.

"I simply do not wish to speak lest I say something which I may regret," Holmes answered pointedly.

Watson wondered at his friends behavior, never had he seen any person affect Sherlock Holmes emotions as Miss Elizabeth has in such a short time of knowing each other.

'There is something about this girl that has intrigued Holmes curiosity, why else would he show such emotion especially when all woman before this young lady have been treated with scorn and a cold almost mechanical civility,' Watson thoughts were interrupted when again Miss Elizabeth continued in a raised voice,

"You obviously don't consider anyone as an equal to your 'Great' self, and I wager that there have been many times when you have treated others with the same disdain and scorn, which can only support my previous conclusion that you are one of the most arrogant men in all of England!"

"And you Miss are completely ignorant of your position!"

"Well, since I am so beneath you, I will bid you gentlemen goodnight," Elizabeth said bitterly as she opened the carriage door, and while the vehicle was still moving she jumped easily onto the street before anyone had the chance to stop her.

"Stop the carriage!" Lestrade ordered the driver as we all watched her disappear among the crowd.

"No need, she obviously wishes to be alone," Holmes said, and then adding under his breath, "Impossible Woman."

"Really Holmes! The streets of London are hardly a place for a young lady especially at night, no matter how she may be attired," Watson said trying to return some sense to his friend.

But to this, Holmes made no comment.