"The body is three weeks old, new to the country. New winter coat, with thin clothes underneath. Recently quit smoking, maybe six to-oof!" Sherlock's deduction was cut short as a cloud of white, wet, cold smacked him in the cheek.
"Ha!" the on looking, and very amused, police officers turned round to look for the snowball's previous owner.
"Six-five John!" a flushed Tori called, sprinting out from behind a snow covered bush. The purple winter coat Mrs Hudson had lent her, insisting she couldn't go out in this weather in her leather jacket, was sprinkled with delicate tiny white snowflakes. Along with some rather less lady like, clumps of melting ice where John had attempted to score points.
"Looks like they're having fun" Lestrade remarked, pulling his coat tighter as the wind sent a few more flakes down.
"Ridiculous" Sherlock muttered, wiping off the remaining droplets of water from his now heated cheek.
John appeared from behind a tree, pelting a few snow balls at the younger girl. It was an intense game, his military training against her speed and sheer luck.
The consulting detective sighed and turned back to the frozen corpse, grumbling to himself. Intending on continuing with his inspection he looked up for Lestrade but was surprised to find the D.I.'s attention elsewhere. Mainly focused on the battle in front of them, as were a lot, if not most of the other officers.
"Hey Sherlock!" he heard Tori call, her voice muffled by the thick grey scarf wound tightly round her neck. "Come help me obliterate John!" There was a very un-Tori-like squeal as John threw all his weight against the trunk of a silver birch tree before hurrying to the cover of the park bench. Effectively sending a blanket of snow over her.
Lestrade let out an appreciative grunt as she shook the melting droplets from her hair.
"It's quite strange isn't it?" Inspector Dimmock said, inwardly cursing at Sherlock for taking a liking to him. He should be at home, making a snowman with his kids, not standing over a corpse while the army doctor and the little girl had all the fun.
"Hmm?" the consulting Detective asked, lifting the body's hand to check the finger nails.
"Her. Tori. Being all, you know, happy and, young"
"She is usually happy" Sherlock replied tartly. "And always young, she's eighteen".
"You know what I mean, usually she's all morbid and acts older than she is, and well, now she's making a snowman" he pointed to where Tori was rolling up a pile of snow with a group of younger kids.
It was true, his younger flat mate was grinning, her pale skin glowing and a rosy blush adorning her cheeks. Her mood practically throwing it's self at them.
John approached the group of officers, the snow melted from his clothes and face flushed bright red.
"Having fun?" Sherlock spat out, standing up and towering over the doctor.
"Yeah, Tori's got a cracking shot you know?" He chuckled, wiping a few droplets of melted water from his cheeks.
"Well I'm finished here" he pulled off the latex gloves, replacing them with his leather ones. "Ready to leave?"
"Well I am" the doctor stopped to take a breath. "But I think Tori wants to stay a little longer"
"Fine leave her" He turned, coat swishing round his ankles, getting stuck in the snow. John sighed, waved a good bye to Dimmock and followed tiredly.
"Mycroft!"
He turned from where he was window shopping, some jewellery for Mummy, to spot a small female form, surrounded by children, waving happily at him.
"Tori. Hello" He made to step forward, but she and her young entourage were already in front of him.
"Having fun?" he smiled at her before crouching down to greet the children.
"Yep" A dark curly haired girl, in a rather garish pink coat, replied, holding onto Tori's arm.
"We were out in the park and now Tori's taking us for hot chocolate" A freckly ginger boy grinned, his eyes sparkling with the prospect of such a treat.
"Fun day was it?" he asked again this time standing up, directing his attention at Tori.
"I forget how lovely snow is" she remarked, looking up as, if by magic, flakes started falling again.
"The way a crow. Shook down on me. The dust of snow. From a hemlock tree" Mycroft recited, looking up as a flake settled on his nose. "Robert Frost"
"So where's..."
"Juliet. Visiting friends out of town"
"She's not, is she"
He chuckled, this time the smile not reaching his eyes.
"No"
They stare for a moment, she looking for something to say, he trying to keep the information he knew from her.
"Well you better be off, those coffee shop's look positively packed to the brim" He gave her a quick wave as she turned to lead her pack toward the cafe's entrance.
Watching her for a moment, he pulled out his phone and doubled security on the youngest resident of 221b Baker St.
A.N
Ooh it's chilly out! I can almost smell the snow, plus it gives me a chance to wear boots to school and miss freezing my toes off.
I have to tell you about the lovely weather yesterday. It was really cold, bit drizzly and misty, but I went for a walk down to the pier and let me tell you, there is nothing nicer than going for a quiet walk on the beach. Anyway, hope you're all having a lovely winter.
Love Rosie