Science Project
Gregory Lestrade and John Watson had refused to partner with Sherlock when their science teacher had set them the task of partnering up for the year, starting with a homework project. Spencer didn't understand why they wouldn't want to partner with him, he was very smart and good at science, so they partnered up.
That was until she was helping with an experiment in 221B and the whole thing caught on fire. They had cursed and tried to put it out without much success, instead Spencer had thrown the whole thing in the shower, successfully soaking not only the experiment but them as well.
"You didn't have to ruin the whole experiment" Sherlock moaned as he stepped out of the shower, his clothes sticking to his body.
"And you didn't have to set it on fire" she responded, accepting his hand as she stepped out of the shower. She grabbed a towel from the rack and began to dab at her hair before wrapping it around her body and pulling her wet clothes off underneath it. The jean and top a wet pile, Sherlock mimicked this as she stepped into the bedroom.
"I didn't set it on fire" he answered back. The door opened, Greg and John walked in with confused looks at the sight of Spencer in nothing but a towel. Their shock evident when Sherlock stepped out of the bathroom in the same attire.
"You didn't exactly try and stop it though" she said.
"I was about to get the fire extinguisher when you picked it up and put it in the shower. Thanks for that by the way." He scoffed, running a hand through his wet curls.
"My pleasure" she replied, sitting on the desk chair and pulling the towel to make sure it covered her properly. "I don't like fire ok, I panicked and that seemed like the most logical idea at the time." She turned her attention to Greg and John who had paused in the doorway. "I see why you didn't want to partner with him now, the genius is bloody mad!"
"I heard that" Sherlock snapped as he grabbed himself some new clothes to wear.
"You were meant to" she shot back.
"Alright children, calm down" John said as he sat on the sofa, followed by Greg. "why don't you like fire?"
"My parents died in a fire" she said sombrely. She added "Sherlock give me something to wear so we can finish this damn project."
Sherlock threw over a pair of blue boxers and a band top not even bothering to ask why she didn't go home and change into some of her own clothes. She slipped on the boxer shorts under the towel and pulled the top on before taking the towel off and throwing it at Sherlock's head.
"Your parents died in a fire?" John asked as clarification.
"Yeah" she replied "Well technically it was murder but they never found the person responsible." She shrugged it off like she was stating that she had eaten a ham sandwich for lunch.
Both Greg and John were about to say something when there was a knock at the door. "Mycroft" Sherlock muttered before opening the door. "Go away." He said to the man's face.
"Sherlock" the voice said "there is no need to be so rude, I'm just popping in to say hello." The man stepped past Sherlock. Automatically Spencer could see they were related because of their sharp cheekbones and similar height. He was dressed in a dark brown three piece suit, holding an umbrella and grinning at her. His brown hair pushed off his face.
"No you're not, you are here to meet Spencer." Sherlock said quickly, the towel on his hips swishing as he moved.
"Pleasure" Spencer said as she stood to shake his hand. "Spencer Valentine, you must be Sherlock's brother."
"John, Gregory" he regarded the boys who nodded in greeting before turning his attention back to her. "Mycroft Holmes but I doubt Sherlock has told you anything about me."
"Why would I?" Sherlock snapped as he ducked into the bathroom to change.
"Your right, he hasn't told me anything about you Mister Holmes but I notice from the way he treats you that you are his older brother, similar to the way I speak to my own brother. You work in the government right?" she asked rhetorically. "I'm not a genius like you or your brother but I can see the similarities between you and my brother so you must work in the government."
Mycroft smiled "Quite. I know your brother, Jonathon Valentine. A good man who is very good at his job."
Spencer sat down on Sherlock's bed instead of the chair. "You wanted to meet me, see what my relationship with your brother is. I assure you that we are just friends."
Mycroft's face was alive with a smug grin as he sat on the desk chair. "And you kiss all of your friends? Wear their clothes? And come out of a shower with them?"
"Only the really lucky ones" she joked. "Well first of all lets clear this up for the sake of you" she gestured towards the shocked looking Greg and John. "We kissed once, kind of an experiment, he kissed me first may we add, I am wearing his clothes because I want to finish our science project before the end of the night and the shower was my attempt at putting out a fire."
Mycroft raised an eyebrow. "You have quite a fear of fire, so I am told –" He was cut off by Sherlock coming out of the bathroom, now dressed in a plain top and tight jeans. He rolled his eyes at the sight of his brother and sat on his bed next to Spencer. He continued "nine weren't you? Stuck in a burning house, quite traumatic if your notes are anything to go by.
Spencer took a deep breath, she was ready to burst with anger. Instead she spoke calmly "I was lucky I got out uninjured, so a few bad dreams are hardly a price to pay for that. I'm more interested in the fact that you are obviously quite concerned about me and my influence on Sherlock, let me reassure you that whatever bad habits or trouble I get into this year, I will not involve him."
"Am I supposed to take your word for this?"
"Yes." She hesitated before continuing in French, knowing that he would be able to understand and only Sherlock would be able to pick up bits of the conversation. "Quand je vous donne ma parole Monsieur Holmes, je vous donne la parole de ma famille. Mais petit ou cassé que nous soyons, je soutiendrai certaines traditions et je ne vais pas casser mon mot à vous. La mort de mes parents me hante de plus de manières que vous pouvez imaginer, je rêve constamment sur le feu et de la chaleur jusqu'à ce que je crois que je suis encore une fois pris au piège dans les flammes. Il ne m'a pas donné le meilleur départ dans la vie, j'ai eu de nombreuses occasions de me montrer mieux qu'une simple victime, j'ai lamentablement échoué jusqu'à présent. Je fais de mon mieux, ton frère, même si vous l'homme croyez pas que c'est une influence incroyable sur moi, il me fait sentir que je dois quelque chose de mieux pour." (translation - When i give you my word Mister Holmes, i am giving you the word of my family. However small or broken we may be, i uphold certain traditions and i will not break my word to you. The death of my parents haunts me in more ways that you can imagine, i constantly dream about the fires and heat until i believe that i am once again trapped in the flames. It hasnt given me the best start in life, i had many opportunities to prove myself better than a simple victim, i have failed miserably up to now. I am doing my best, your brother, although you man not believe it is an incredible influence on me, he makes me feel like i have something to be better for)
Mycroft mouth had turned up in the corners revealing a small satisfied smile. "I believe you Miss Valentine, I will take your word on the matter."
"Merci" she said quickly.
"Sait-il que vous vous sentez de cette façon pour lui?" Mycroft asked raising an eyebrow. (translation- does he know that you feel this way for him?)
Spencer gave a brisk nod. "Il sait seulement que je l'aime, comme il me le fait, il sait aussi que je ne cherche pas à le changer ou d'une relation. Il est même ne cherche pas une relation, je sais seulement que dans un petit nombre de fois que je suis venu à s'occuper beaucoup de choses sur votre frère, plus je pense que c'est nécessaire. Rassurez-vous, je n'aurais jamais intentionnellement blesser et ne veulent ce qui est mieux, si cela signifie rester loin de lui, alors je le ferais sans hésiter, mais je crains que nous sommes déjà dépassé ce stade." (translation - He knows only that i like him, as he does me, he also knows that i am not seeking to change him or a relationship. He is similarly not seeking a relationship, i only know that within a small amount of time i have come to care a great deal about your brother, more than i think is necessary. Rest assured i would never intentionally hurt him and only want what is best, if that means staying away from him then i would do it in a heartbeat, but i fear we are already past that stage.)
"Quite" Mycroft said, pronouncing the 'T' harshly. "I like this one Sherlock, she's different, try not to screw it up." He said as he waltzed out the room. "I'll be seeing you." He called back as the door closed.
"What did you say to him?" John asked, obviously eager to understand how she had got a compliment from Mycroft in their first meeting.
"The truth, no more no less." She replied. "You heard him Sherlock, don't screw it up." She joked, nudging him with her shoulder.
Sherlock lent down and whispered. "I speak French, your speech was touching." Spencer ducked her head to hide her blush.
