"Now Pixie. Do you remember what daddy told you?" Alexus' father looked down at her smiling.

"Six impossible things before breakfast!" She beamed.

"And what did my little girl discover today?"

"You first!" she giggled.

"How bout, I do one and you do one?"

"Deal."

"Whispering walls. That tell all your secrets."

"Judgmental petunias. Chatty ones." She smiled and crinkled her nose in mock disgust.

"Tattling turtles."

"Underwater trains. That can take you from here to China in 30 minutes flat."

"Hands for feet. Like monkeys, but better!"

Alexus looked up and saw their destination not too far off.

"Race you!" She squealed, already having took off towards the stables laughing with excitement, the game momentarily forgotten. She loved riding her horse 'Coco'! She loved it because her daddy taught her. Most little girls learned to braid hair or ride pretty, pink, bikes. Not Alexus, she learned to ride horses.

Alexus rode for miles with her daddy. They didn't stop till they reached their special spot. It was a beautiful pond shaded by a giant oak tree. Her and her daddy came here every Sunday.

The pair loved laying in the grass that surrounded their haven. They would stay there holding hands and breathing in the beauty around them.

Alexus looked on as her and her father whispered between themselves, trying not to scare away the animals. She then saw her father turning to smile at her. It was moments like these when she felt safe, loved and protected. Suddenly her father's smile disappeared as he seemed to be looking past her. That's when she heard the voices.

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Alexus woke with a start. It had been a long time since she last dreamed of her father. An all too familiar ache manifested itself in the pit of her stomach. That part of her was lost, but never, ever forgotten. She drew in a calming breath and hopped in the shower.

Today was going to be better. Alexus could feel it in her bones. The FBI agent smiled to herself thinking of the strange characters she now had as colleagues. Life would definitely never grow dull. Alexus sighed when she heard a knock at her door. Not again! She thought.

"Mr. Homes!" She groaned throwing the door open only to see a, very confused, detective inspector.

"Oh my soul Greg! I'm so sorry. I thought it was... someone else…" Alexus stumbled, not exactly sure how he would react to a, very late night visit from a certain consulting detective.

"I'm sorry for the intrusion. I just wanted to drop by in case you needed a ride again."

God this man is something else!

"Oh yes. Of course…thank you! I'll be ready in a few minutes." She said as she rushed to her room to change.

Greg looked around at all the pictures and at all the unpacked boxes. Maybe I could offer to help her unpack. He thought grinning. Though it was quickly replaced with a scowl. This has to stop! He was going out of his way to help and as much as he would like to believe he was just being a good partner, he knew otherwise. The truth was, he liked the idea of spending time with her outside of work. It made him feel like they were more than coworkers.

Greg didn't have many friends and he imagined she could be a great one. He'd already decided that anything more would be completely out of order and therefore wouldn't pursue it further. There was, however, no reason they couldn't be friends outside of work. Just then, the reason for his musing came bursting out her bedroom door looking refreshed and ready. Might as well add 'low maintenance' to her list of qualities. Greg thought leading the way to his car.

On the ride, the pair discussed the past cases they'd solved and people they'd worked with. Alexus shared with him her need for a roommate and her reluctance to board with someone she didn't know. He racked his brain trying to think of someone he knew who had a vacancy. Coming up blank he merely nodded his understanding.

Before they knew it they were heading into the station.

"Over here is your desk. Though I imagine you won't be spending much time in it." He said gesturing to an empty desk.

"What, she doesn't get a bloody office?" Sally muttered entering the room, the comment was clearly meant to create tension. Unfortunately being the youngest in all her classes at the academy, Alexus was well used to unmerited hostility.

"Office? Ha! I was promised the conference room." She replied trying her hardest to win the approval of her new teammate. She might not like detective Donovan but she did have to work with her… diplomacy, she decided was the best option.

While Sally was deciding whether or not to accept the comment as a joke or fire back another insult, Sherlock came trotting into the room.

Yes. Trotting was definitely the word Alexus would use for what he was doing.

"Lestrade I need to see the body and the new pathologist won't let me. I am in need of your assistance." He stated, irritation plainly displayed on his face.

"I'll call the hospital and tell them you're allowed."

Sherlock started to turn when he saw John giving him the "you're being rude" look. Turning towards Lestrade he managed a thank you. John looked satisfied so Sherlock once again span around to leave when he stopped and looked at Alexus with one eyebrow raised.

"Well?"

"Well?" She answered having an idea of what he was hinting at but having no intention of making it easy for him. She looked at John who, once again, looked confused.

"Aren't you coming?"

Alexus fought the need to smile at the clearly, unexpected invitation. Going by the surprised faces in the room, She guessed it wasn't the norm for him to share.

"I don't know. Lestrade, are we going?" She called to the DI.

Sherlock looked miffed she would include Lestrade in his personal invitation.

"You go on ahead I have some things I have to clear up here I'll meet up with you later."

Alexus turned around, surprised he had abandoned her. Then she noticed the look on his face. Of course, good ole Lestrade, trying to keep peace. He gave her an apologetic look to which she returned one of understanding.

The consulting detective looked on at the pair. They appeared to be having an entire conversation with their eyes. He didn't like that at all.

"Come along then Ms. King." Sherlock prompted accompanied by a wave of the arm, pointing her in the right direction.

John was lost in his thoughts the entire journey to the hospital. Sherlock's behavior was completely out of character. He had never seen him invite anyone to tag along with them. He could tell that Alexus was different. She was intelligent, that much was clear. Maybe it was the fact that she didn't seem overly impressed by his deductions as everyone else seemed to be. Regardless John liked her. He was sure her presence would soothe his temper somewhat.

"John?" They were staring at him like he was crazy. Had they been talking to him?

Just then Molly came around the corner running straight into John. The collision barely had an impact on John but it sent Molly tumbling to the floor.

"Bloody hell! I'm so sorry Molly." John apologized enthusiastically.

"Oh no it was completely my fault. I wasn't looking where I was going." Molly seemed to stop short noticing Sherlock had disappeared.

"Well we should probably follow them before Sherlock gets himself into trouble again." John sighed walking towards.

Meanwhile in the mortuary Sherlock and Alexus had begun an interesting conversation.

"Four years." Sherlock was trying to figure how many years Alexus had been working homicides.

"Nope" She answered popping the "p" Smiling. This was really starting to get to him. His facial expression reminded her of Spence's when he knew he was missing something.

It was at that moment Molly walked in with John. The pathologist immediately saw Alexus causing her to stop in her tracks and stare. Who was this woman and how did she know Sherlock? Looking over at her she noticed how pretty she was. Of course she's gorgeous! Molly hated her crush on Sherlock. It made her weak, paranoid and jealous. Sherlock didn't like women…or men. He was completely indifferent. Relationships weren't his area. She still couldn't help but noticed his eyes wandering in the woman's direction.

"Molly, when you're done staring at Ms. King we'd like to see the body." Sherlock sighed with a tone that scream bored.

"Hi, I'm Alexus King. I'm working with Lestrade over at the Yard." Alexus said giving her a pleasant smile.

"You work with Lestrade?" She asked. Sighing with relief. At least now she knew she wasn't a friend of Sherlock's. She was here for the case. Sherlock hated people from the Yard, not to mention Americans, no doubt he wasn't happy with her being here. Molly smiled to herself. Good!

"Yes. I just started yesterday actually. Greg's told me a lot about you." Again a smile appeared making Molly shift embarassed of her ill feelings for the woman who clearly meant no harm.

"Greg?" Sherlock said. Surprised she was on a first name basis with the DI.

"That's his name Sherlock!" John proclaimed in exasperation that he, once again, had to remind Sherlock of Lestrade's first name.

"I am aware John. I am just curious as to why a new coworker would refer to her fellow officer by his first name."

"I'm sorry, you say you know his first name?!" John asked completely missing Sherlock's implication of impropriety.

Molly looked on, not at all happy about the indignation in Sherlock's voice.

"Whoa there fluffy. No need to get your panties in a bunch." Alexus said hold up her hands in mock surrender.

Sherlock looked quite put out.

"I am not, in any way, fluffy!" Sherlock said defensively. Almost spitting out the last word.

Alexus couldn't help but giggle at his childish tone with an equally childish pout. Looking over at John she saw he'd seen it too. If his stifled chuckle was any indication, he found it amusing as well.

"So Molly, darling, what do you have for us?"

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Sorry about the cut off but I wanted to get something out there today. Hopefully I'll wrap up this case tomorrow! Fingers crossed. Thanks for reading!