Chapter Three

Unwelcome Surpises

I walked over to one of the walls, finding that there was in fact more than a little bit of plaster underneath it. The smiley face painted on the wall seemed to have been the target as there were multiple holes dotting around it. I got out a dustpan and brush and pulled the sofa away from the wall, accidently knocking a few books that were on the arm. I picked them up and placed them randomly in the bookcase, noting that there were many books.

I did a double take as the skull on the mantlepiece looked particularly creepy and went back to the wall. I cleared up most of the mess and decided that the sofa would cover any bits that I missed.

"I'll make you a cup of tea, dear." I almost jumped at Mrs Hudson's voice, nearly forgetting that she was there.

"Thankyou." I looked around at all of the mess on the floor and set to clearing it up, finding a few documents that looked important and those I put on the table. I rifled through the papers that I was holding and found that they were just squiggles. I didn't want to throw anything out that was vaguely important so I put them into a different stack.

"Do you know if there's anything I'm not allowed to move?" I asked, hesitant to touch some of the more important looking things. Mrs Hudson came to stand by me, both of us looking around.

"Hmmm, we'll have to wait until Sherlock comes back I'm afraid." I nodded and grabbed a duster instead. I went around the room, which was quite dirty and managed to make it somewhat presentable. I went into one of the bedrooms, the one at the top of the stairs and hoovered the entire thing. Picked up the laundry and put things in their place in the wardrobe and drawers. Other than that there was not much mess and I was happy to leave the room as it was. That was until Mrs Hudson gave me some new sheets so I went back and stripped the bed, taking a few tries to put the new sheets on because every time I did a corner and went to do another, the sheet would slip off.

I narrowed my eyes and climbed on the bed, using my foot to keep one of the corners down while stretching my body to keep the corners at the top of the bed on. Now that three corners were on I carefully stretched the remaining one onto the bed. When I successfully accomplished my mission I cheered quietly not wanting to anger the bed sheet, before backing away and throwing the duvet over. I plumped the pillow before feeling satisfied with my work. I nodded before leaving the room, shutting the door behind me.

I walked back downstairs and grabbed the tea that Mrs Hudson had made me, feeling like I deserved it for my struggles. I gulped it down, knowing that it wouldn't be too hot because I spent quite a lot of time in the bedroom. I then realised that there was another one on this floor. I groaned before putting my cup down, picking up the sheet that Mrs Hudson had left for me and went into the other room. This one was a lot messier than the one upstairs, there were a few odd things dotted about like a shelf full of different plants on the wall opposite the bed. I ignored that and went to the bed, stipping it and managed to put the sheet on a lot easier than last time.

I guess what they say is true. Practise does make perfect. I smoothed my hand over the sheet feeling victorious when it stayed put and put the duvet back on. I picked up a few suit jackets and put them into the wicker basket that I assumed was for washing, I picked up all the other clothes that were on the floor and put them in there as well.

I picked up the basket and took it with me into the living room before going back to dust the room. I uncovered something gross looking in the corner and I couldn't even tell what it was so I left that alone. It smelt pretty bad so I took some air freshner and sprayed the place up, opening the window as well.

I left the room after hoovering feeling glad that it wasn't my room and went back to the basket I'd left in the living room and it came as quite a surprise to me that there were people there. John and Sherlock to be precise.

John looked surprised to see me but I wouldn't have been shocked to know that Sherlock already knew I was here. I wondered why I didn't hear them come in but then I realised that I probably was too preoccupied with the mess that was Sherlock's room.

"Hi, just cleaning up. Hope you don't mind. I was hoping to be done before you got back but uh..." I trailed off "Your back" I gave an awkward smile, hearing footsteps on the stairs. I turned to see Mrs Hudson coming back up.

"You all done dear?" I nodded and picked up the laundry basket.

"Those are my clothes." Sherlock deadpanned looking into the basket.

I nodded "Yeah, I was gonna clean them, there are some of John's in here as well." Sherlock kept looking at me like I was up to something, so I have him a confused look "I'll bring them back when they're done." I promised. This seemed to appease him as he went over to the sofa and collapsed onto it.

I went downstairs, leaving them all to it and entered Mrs Hudson's flat where she had assured me I could use her washing machine and dryer. I bundled all the clothes in, making sure none were white because that would have been a disaster, and I'm pretty sure Sherlock would have killed me.

I walked out of her flat making sure to close the door behind me and bumped straight into John.

"Oh, I'm so sorry." I fussed over him. He smiled patiently at me, waiting for me to finish and when I did I was even more embarrassed then when I was to start with. "Sorry about that." I finished awkwardly.

"It's fine," He assured me "Don't worry about it." He walked out the front door and slammed the door behind him. I raised my eyebrows at his behaviour, wondering what had got him all stressed out. I went back upstairs to get all of my supplies, passing Mrs Hudson on the stairs.

Sherlock was looking out of the window, possibly watching John leave.

"Miss Roberts." I jumped as he addressed me without turning.

"Yes?" I walked closer to him, and when he finally turned to face me there was a loud bang and a rush of heat. Sherlock was pushed by the force of the explosion on top of me and we both went flying onto the floor. My breath went rushing out of my body as Sherlock landed on top of me, both of us were dazed and we remained in this position for a few minutes. That was until Sherlock realised where he was and he looked down on me as I finally managed to breathe once more.

He climbed off me, brushing down his shirt before offering me a hand up, scanning my body looking for any blood.

"I'm alright." I assured him, giving him the same scan and finding that miraculously we were both unharmed. "What was that?"

Sherlock went back to the window, touching the edges of the wall that had held up. He didn't tell me what his suspicions might be and I really don't know why I thought he might, I had realised that Sherlock didn't really like to explain everything that went on in his head, if his arguements with John were anything to go by.

I sat down on one of the armchairs, suddenly feeling very faint. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply.

It wasn't what I expected coming into work, a near death experience wasn't high up on my list of things to do today. I rubbed my arms feeling goosebumps erupt on my arms, my hands were soon replaced by someone elses. I opened my eyes to find Sherlock's startling blue ones looking at me.


Review? I'm trying to make it follow the canon, this is introducing episode 3 from season 1 if I remember correctly.