I know this chapter is really short. I promise, I'll make up for it in the next chapter. There might be a delay in the next posting because I'm moving in the next week.
Here's where things get interesting. I'm not sure if I want to end it with the next chapter or try to keep going. Decisions, decisions.
Sherlock and John were standing at the crime scene of a kidnapped child. She was the third one this month and there was no developing pattern among the children. The first was a three-year-old Asian boy, the second a ten-year-old English girl, and now the third was a five-year-old African girl. They were from different types of families, neighborhoods, and schools. There was nothing similar about any of them, except that they had all been taken in the night when their parents had been out and a babysitter had been there.
Lestrade knew that his team could handle the investigation, but the media had caught wind of the second child and blown it into a whirlwind. Now, the Chief was breathing down his next to get results at the next crime scene. And that was why he had called in the investigating duo.
John was standing next to Lestrade while Sherlock poked through the drawers of the girl's dresser. When the doctor had first strolled in after his roommate, Lestrade saw he was walking a little differently. It was as if he were wearing a pair of pants one size too small. Sherlock had come striding onto the scene, much to Donovan's usual annoyance, with his long coat trailing after him, however, as he was analyzing the setting before him, the DI could sense that this wasn't the usual Sherlock before him.
His first hint was that it was taking the man longer than normal to give them his analysis. Lestrade was used to Sherlock beginning talking after about two minutes on the scene, at most. The DI knew enough about people to recognize pride and ego when he saw it, and Sherlock had enough for the whole city of London. He always had to show off his abilities to deduce as quickly as possible. The second clue was that he was pointedly becoming more and more frustrated as he spent more time in the room. He had arrived in his usual haughtiness, but his eyes were now scouring the room, even parts he had already seen, trying to gather every detail possible.
Having known Sherlock for six years, Lestrade quickly noticed that the man was looking every where in the room except at his own roommate and friend. In fact, as Lestrade watched John, the doctor was doing the same thing to the detective. Normally, John watched Sherlock like a puppy in absolute amazement of something.
John cleared his throat. Realizing that he had been staring at the shorter man out of the corner of his eyes, Lestrade went back to watching Sherlock going through the room, leaving it in a disarray. Taking one last, quick glance at John, Lestrade could see that his face was as red as a cherry, but John still wasn't looking at Sherlock.
"Is there something up between you and Sherlock?" Lestrade finally asked.
"No, why do you ask?" John did his best to look as inconspicuous as possible.
"Because I've never seen him like this on a crime scene and you are turning a nice red color, mate. Listen, I know it's none of my business. But I consider you a friend, and Sherlock as close to one as he can get. It's fine. Whatever it is. But I'm concerned about it affecting his job."
"Thanks, Greg. I'll talk to him." John sighed, looking at Greg, and then going back to looking around the room for clues. He doubted that he would spot anything that Sherlock would not.
"Anytime."
"I'll need to see the crime scenes of the other two children." Sherlock said abruptly, striding over to the two men.
"I doubt the parents would be okay with that."
"Then tell them that if they ever want to see their children again, I need to see those crime scenes." With that, Sherlock swept out of the scene.
"Wait, Sher! What did you figure out?" Lestrade yelled after him.
"I'll tell you when I have more data. Right now, I don't want to assume anything." Sherlock replied.
John and Lestrade looked at each other. John sighed and followed the tall man. "I'll talk to him." He stated again over his shoulder.
