~Chapter 3 Part 2/End~
"Damn this whole thing..." Sherlock shouted bitterly, "Damn you two and damn that stupid librarian!"
"Shhhhh! Will you shut up!" John said glancing around the lounge in embarrassment.
"Don't worry yourself John, these people can't hear me. They are too self absorbed in their own pathetic existence." he added slumping in his chair.
"Here the girls come now! Drop the pounting right now!"
"Oh course Mummy dearest..." Sherlock responded with a snarl. Suddenly something caught his eye pointing, "here! see what I mean?"
"What happened to Sarah's rule of this NOT being an investigation?"John added.
" My whole life is an investigation. Either this or I lose my sanity, your choice." Sherlock retorted.
Turning around John followed his gaze to their dates crossing the room. "Notice how she walks uncomfortably in a small stride along side Sarah?" Sherlock began whispering, " The woman is self conscious on her appearance when it comes to how she towers over her friends, also evident by the fact that she came from work wearing those flats. I bet you that all day her job at the library is the official human step ladder, with people asking her to reach the top of book shelves for them. Other times she just sits at her corner desk."
At that moment the two women sat back down, "sorry we took so long, having fun without us I see?" Rebecca said. "they were probably planning on a jail break to the nearest pub" Sarah added with a chuckle.
"Thank the Lord God..." John mumbled to himself as the food arrived on steaming plates. He was just about to take his first bite when Sherlock said sternly, "don't eat the Salmon".
"what? why?"
"just...don't, it's not cooked thoroughly enough. I can see from over here."
"what are you talking about?" he then took a bite, finding the Salmon to be instead moist, full of flavor, and most defiantly cooked.
"from what I just tasted its perfectly fine Sherlock. I think your just jealous because you didn't order anything."
"suit yourself John..."
After the plates were taken away, including John's fully devoured Salmon pasta, Rebecca asked Sherlock curiously, "I was just thinking Mr. Holmes, since you are a consulting detective, I'm sure an intellectual man like yourself enjoys some down time to relax in a chair and read .You seem like your into mystery novels."
"I don't need petty mystery novels to keep my mind busy..." he stated picking up his water glass, "I have my work"
"Even literature by Sir Arthur Connor Doyle? I'm sure you have read him."
Suddenly he choked on his water ,"Pa! You call his writing literature?! Good Lord I might as well be reading a Nancy Drew book. I especially don't waste my eye sight on that man's droll monstrosity! Petty bathroom reading."
The table grew silent as John sensed Rebecca tense up, "Umm Sherlock I don't think thats such a good-"
"Excuse me?!" She stared at him awe-struck, " The man you call droll happens to be one the most timeless,loved, and talented authors of literature this world over! I'm absolutely appalled that a man like you who quotes Descartes of all people dares to say his work is nothing more than bathroom reading! If that is the case Mr. Holmes than what do you consider literature?!"
"Simple..." he says proudly, "...anything but Doyle."
As if God sent, the waiter then appeared abruptly ending the conversation, he was just about to offer dessert when John said almost desperately, "check please...".
Later that night, Sarah decided to let the taxi drop them off at a coffee shop a few blocks from 221B, in hopes that it would at least end the evening on a pleasant note.
With coffee at the ready, John and Sarah were peacefully linking arms enjoying the crisp evening. Meanwhile Sherlock was casually tagging along behind the couple at a distance, leaving Rebecca behind with her book and barely touched latte as company.
"Someone please tell Sherlock to at-least walk with her, the poor girl looks miserable by her lonesome...some escort he is." Sarah whispered to John.
"I tried to tell you a million times, but you just wouldn't listen, and now Rebecca is left suffering for your stubbornness." he responded.
"Me?! Your just as guilty as I am!"
"ohh how lovely public displays of dissatisfaction, now this is getting interesting" Sherlock added with amusement.
"You aren't helping this one bit!" Sarah said. "But what will is if you apologize to Rebecca for what you said at dinner. "
"what?!" he said with a gasp, "Sherlock Holmes asking for forgiveness?...you will never see the day!"
"Can I talk to you for a second? I'll take care of this... " John said to Sarah before pulling him to the side.
"listen Holmes...I know you would love to be anywhere but here right now, either you say your sorry to that girl or I will never hear the end of it from Sarah! Even if its just those two words...thats it"
Sherlock narrowed his eyes, "Cigarettes..."
"what?" he blinked.
"Cigarettes! The only way you will ever get me to talk to that dull woman is if you give me a pack of cigarettes."
"Oh for God's sake..." John sighed rolling his eyes, "all this for a stupid apology?" He suddenly felt sick to his stomach even thinking of jeopardizing his friend's addiction progress...or was it from something else?
"Fine then, I'll just call a cab and leave it at that." He took out his phone, about to dial the number before John shouted,"Alright! Damn it fine! You can have your bloody cigarettes!"
"I knew you would pull through for me Watson,good show." he smirked putting his phone away.
"Is everything alright?" Rebecca suddenly asked with concern while walking by.
"Yes! Yes Becca everything is alright..." John said with a bright smile. "As a matter of fact my friend here has something to tell you." He then left Sherlock with Rebecca as he quickly walked down further to join Sarah.
"well,what is it?" she asked.
Trying to avoid the subject Sherlock started to walk down the street, it was not long before Rebecca joined beside him, curious as to what the detective was trying to put into words.
"I'm..." he began with a mutter, his face then contorted into a look of sour disgust as the last word spilled out onto his tongue like vinegar, "sorry..."
"what?" she suddenly stopped no less confused. "I didn't catch that last part"
"you herd me! I'm...sorry." Not once but twice in a single evening did he have to say those two dreaded words,John would pay dearly for such a disgrace.
"oh...well, it's alright, no need to." She lightly smiled taking a sip of her latte. "I suppose people are entitled to their own opinion, even if it is something I don't agree with. I'm sure there are other people out there who believe the same way that you do Mr. Holmes." At that moment they arrived at the steps of 221B. "oh dear...I guess this is the end of the line for me."
"Yes..well..." he added unmoved by her obvious discontentment, "I have a great idea, why don't I just get you a cab and forget this whole thing ever happened?"
"Sure! That would be actually quite lovely actually" she said looking down at her watch. "I have to get ready for a meeting on Monday anyway."
"great then..." he added playing along, taking out his phone.
After making the call, there was awkward silence between the two, when suddenly they herd police sirens echo in the distance.
"Sounds like a traffic violation" he observed looking into the distance down the street, "I hear only one car so it mustn't be anything important, probably near Crawford and Montagu."
Suddenly in the middle of his deduction, out of the corner of his eye Rebecca leaned in uncomfortably close to his side planting a light peck on his cheek, causing a shiver to crawl up his spine.
Her face turned a deep red, placing her hands on her cheeks she said flustered, " I'm sorry...I'm so, so, so sorry Mr. Holmes! That was absolutely out of my character, I-I-I don't know what came over me! I'm so embarrassed!"
"You ruined it..." he muttered in shock.
"I know! I'm sorry, I know I ruined the moment! I knew I should have waited but it happened so fast-"
"MY SCARF YOU IDIOT! YOU RUINED MY BLOODY SCARF!" he shouted while pulling off his dark blue scarf.
To her horror, she noticed that his scarf was tainted by a large fresh coffee stain down the front.
Meanwhile in her hand the top of her coffee cup was loose, with even more of what is left of her latte dribbling down the side.
"oh dear... Give me the scarf! I know exactly how to fix this mess! I will get it dry cleaned and pay for the bill personally! You'll see!"
Despite her plea, his mind was numb to her voice only focused now on the cab that was driving down Baker Street...the sooner this monstrosity left his presence the better.
"Hey Rebecca look!" He pointed to the cab. While her attention was on the vehicle, he hastily snatched the book from her hand throwing it down the street, landing in a drain puddle with a large splash.
"What the-what was that for?!" she said in confusion.
Meanwhile he ran to the front door scrambling to open it.
Before closing the door behind him, the last thing he saw was Rebecca dropping her coffee to run after both the cab and her precious book.
The oak door shut with a crash, making sure to lock it behind him. While leaning against the door to catch his breath he closed his eyes in relief, thankful that the worst was over. As he walked over to the hall mirror to adjust his coat, he couldn't help but violently scratch the right side of his cheek where Rebecca gave him a kiss earlier, "that damn librarian near gave me hives" he remarked.
"Watson!" he roared storming into the apartment. From the kitchen he discovered a sickly John hunched over the kitchen sink heaving, with Sarah standing behind him patting his back. Meanwhile Mrs. Hudson was hovering over a kettle of tea waiting for it to boil, "Don't worry about him deary! I'm brewing a nice cup of ginger tea, he will be better before you know it." she added perkily.
"I don't know what came over him" Sarah began as she folded her arms. "one moment he was sitting in the kitchen with me finishing our coffee, and the next his face turned this awful shade of green."
She then paused tilting her head, "you don't look to good yourself Sherlock."
"don't even get me started" he responded slumping into a seat. As John regained control of his stomach, he took a seat next to Sherlock as handed him a mug of pungent ginger tea, "make sure to drink all of it, it will help cure the nausea from what ever happened you, poor thing."
"Thank you kindly" John said, mustering whatever a smile he could after that ordeal.
"Can I get anything for you Sherlock dearie?"
"No...no I'm fine, just a restraining order." he mumbled.
She stared at him blankly, "what was that? Oh well, if you do need anything for John don't hesitate to hollar."
Mrs. Hudson then gave John one last pat on the back, "now don't you boys think that after this whole ordeal I'm going to be your room service, remember I'm your land lady-"
Sherlock and John had no problem finishing her sentence in unison,"not your house keeper, yes we know!"
"that's right" she nodded in satisfaction before leaving the kitchen.
After John took a few more sips of tea, Sherlock turned to him saying, "just say it John..."
"say what?"
"that I was right, the reason you practically lost half your body weight down the kitchen sink was from the Salmon. "
"oh lay off Sherlock!" he snipped before putting down his cup. "enough about me what the hell happened to you? It took you long enough to get over here."
"looks like our favorite detective had more than just coffee and a nice walk judging by his tousled state." Sarah said with a mischievous smile.
"Isn't it time for you to leave?" Sherlock added before turning to John, " she came onto me! I was practically molested by that crazy woman, I mean look what she did to my scarf!"
"let me see it then" he asked.
"of course, I manged to stuff it in my pocket here-" he suddenly froze with wide eyes.
"at..at least I think it was here..." he then began to dig around his other coat pockets in a frantic search,
"she must have taken it!" As if on que there was a loud knock at the front door.
"well?" John remarked, "aren't you going to answer it?"
"For the greater good of the hostage scarf...I must."
As he opened the door, Rebecca stood outside as expected holding out the scarf delicately, "I noticed that you dropped this before you went inside, thought you would want this back."
"Gee thanks, please dont come again." he said, suddenly slamming the door in her face.
After locking the door once again he turned around to find John, Sarah, and Mrs. Hudson staring at him in the hallway, "don't you dare all act surprised, I'm the victim here!" he said.
"Oh Sherlock for shame! She was such a nice girl for returning your scarf" Mrs. Hudson added.
"Yes, well its always the nice ones you have to watch out for Mrs. Hudson. Now if you three excuse me I need to wash the smell of librarian out of my clothes before I get as sick as John."
After he left, John turned to Sarah with the simple statement, "I...told...you! Five quid in my hand right now!"
"Shut up John!" she barked.
~Fin~
Authors Note: Soooooo...what you guys think of Rebecca? Poor Sherlock and his scarf. I had a lot of fun writing up this little story and hope you guys enjoyed it as well :) As always please comment!
Till then,
~Clicky