Hello guys! We're so sorry about yesterday but that wasn't our fault! Apparently there was technical issue with the website. We tried to post the chapter five times last night and none of them worked. Thank you all for the heads up and we hope you like it:

Diego Rodriguez. His alibi was pretty solid, but Sherlock was convinced that he had something to do with the murder.

Besides Diego's, many other photos were spread across the living room floor, forming a semi-circle which the center was occupied by Sherlock. Every single one of them represented a suspect who could have committed the crime. Holmes just needed to find out which one was guilty.

The detective was very focused on that particular case, but that hadn't been enough to prevent him from remembering the conversation he'd had with Allistair two days ago. After leaving the bookstore that day, Holmes was willing to follow his friend's advice. He, however, had gotten that call from Gregson about the murder and since then he hadn't had time for anything else but to find leads or interrogate suspects.

Maybe it was better that way. After the "almost kiss" incident, nor him or Watson had mentioned anything about it again. Maybe it was better to just leave it alone...

Sherlock was staring at Diego's photograph so studiously that he didn't notice when Joan climbed down the stairs.

"I'm going out." she stated and went to grab her coat.

"Great. Because we're out of milk." he said without looking at her "I just finished the last bottle five minutes ago." he raised his empty cereal bowl up still concentrated in the photo he had in his hands. Joan didn't reply and Sherlock finally decided to face her.

"You…" he began but the words died in his lips. The detective, however, was able to hide his astonishment and carried on:

"Are overdressed to buy milk."

"Good. Because I don't plan on buying anything." she finally spoke while still looking for her coat.

Joan was wearing a red dress, approximately four inches above the knees that was tight enough to accentuate her curves without revealing too much. The shoes had stiletto heels which made her taller than usual. The hair was hanging loose but not completely straight. The make-up was simple and highlighted her eyes and lips.

And just like that, Diego Rodriguez didn't seem that interesting anymore.

"May I ask where you're going?" Sherlock stood up.

"Well, I thought you were the master of deduction." Joan teased.

"You have a date."

"See, it wasn't that hard, was it?" Watson decided to keep the sarcasm.

"With Angie's cousin's friend, I suppose."

Joan didn't deny or confirm as she continued her quest.

"Have you seen my coat?"

"I thought you said you wouldn't go out with him." Sherlock didn't answer her question.

"Well, I've changed my mind." she was still looking for the piece of clothing "I could swear I've left it right here!"

"Are you taking condoms or do you expect him to have them?"

"Excuse me?" Joan, who was heading to the kitchen, came back outraged.

"Well, it is obvious that you intend to have sex with him." Sherlock didn't wait for her reply and continued "first, the hair: slightly messy on purpose, of course, which suggests a wild and sexy side of you. Then, the make-up with emphasis on the lipstick that clearly makes your lips look bigger and incredibly more attractive and last, but certainly not least, the dress which, although not the tightest nor the shortest you possess, is the only red one. Color that, scientifically proved, increases considerably the sex drive in most men."

Joan would say something if only she knew what to say.

"Well, we can only hope he's not daltonic because if he is, then this whole color thing will be pointless…"

"You know what," the doctor finally cut him off "I don't owe you any explanation concerning my personal life, but maybe you're right. Maybe I'll end up in his bed tonight…but I'm not planning on it. In fact, I am doing the exact opposite: I'm not planning on anything." she said maybe a little too aggressively "I'm tired of planning and analyzing and being rational all the time! Tonight, I just wanna go out, drink and have fun…I mean, who knows what the night holds…" Joan concluded and checked her watch.

Sherlock smirked. Even though she had tried, she had lacked conviction in at least half of her words.

"What time is he picking you up?"

Watson looked surprised.

"It's the fourth time you check your watch since you came downstairs. You wouldn't be so anxious if you were waiting for a cab." he clarified.

The doctor, however, didn't answer his question. For some reason she didn't want to give him any information about her date and the more he asked, the more she was pleased not answering.

"I cannot believe that in our last night together, you're going to go out and leave me here alone."

Joan laughed. She knew very well what he was trying to do.

"I'm pretty sure you won't miss me."

But he would. And for the first time ever, he realized that he would miss her, not only that night, but when she was gone for good. He wanted to tell her that.

"But you are going to miss me." he said instead "this can be your last day as an investigator."

"Well, maybe I'm done with investigations." Joan affirmed and hoped he would understand what her words really meant.

Sherlock was about to reply when the bell rang and stopped him from doing so.

"You" Joan pointed at him with her index finger "stay here." she ordered and went to the door.

"Andrew!" she exclaimed to the elegant man, holding a bouquet of red roses on the other side of the door.

"I'm sorry for the delay, but the traffic was just…" he started but got distracted by the sight before him.

"You look beautiful." he stated and handed her the flowers "I didn't know which ones were your favorite, but at least these go with your dress."

Joan smiled.

"They're beautiful." she took the bouquet "I'll go put them in water." the doctor turned around only to see Sherlock approaching.

"At least, now we know he's not daltonic." he practically whispered when he walked past her.

"Sherlock Holmes." the detective introduced himself and offered the other man a handshake "I'm the client."

"Andrew." he said and accepted the gesture "Joan told me about you, she said that…"

"You have very small hands." Sherlock cut him off "I'd keep them hidden from Joan if I were you."

Andrew looked confused before that unexpected comment and gazed at his own hands.

"Shall we go?" Watson came back as fast as possible.

"Sure." Andrew said and shoved his hands in his pockets.

Joan followed him to the door and they both left.

"Watson!" Sherlock called from inside the house when they were already in the middle of the stairs.

"Just a second." Joan said to Andrew and went back.

"What do you wan.." she stopped talking when she spotted Sherlock standing in the middle of the living room holding her coat so she could put it on. Watson rolled her eyes smiling and then walked towards him.

"You left it in the bathroom last night when we came back from the precinct."

Joan remembered and put the coat on.

"Thank you." she said and remained there for a few more seconds. She was hoping that he would say something, that he would ask her to stay…but he did not.

"Well, good luck with your case." she finally moved.

"Good luck with your non-planned night."

Sherlock said and preferred not to accompany her to the door. He didn't know exactly what it was, but he simply didn't want to see her getting into a car with another man.