Keeping their voices low, Sherlock and Watson began to brainstorm ways to fix the rift between Sherlock and Rona.
"The best thing you can do right now is to give Rona her space. But that doesn't mean we will just sit around and do nothing." Watson told Sherlock, the detective sitting on his own cushion.
"I never thought I'd ask this, Watson but what is the plan?" Sherlock asked and Watson gave him a faint smile before he moved to the pile of magazines scattered on the desk. After a careful search Watson found what he was looking for and Sherlock raised an eyebrow as his crime-fighting partner dragged one over. "What is that?"
"This is the answer to your problem." Watson replied, pulling the magazine close enough for Sherlock to see the cover. "I remembered seeing something on the cover about relationship problems and since that's exactly the problem you're having now..."
"This can help solve it. Watson, you're a genius." Sherlock finished for him and his friend gave him a smile, watching in amusement as Sherlock pulled back the first page. Scanning the index page he found the one he needed though he soon realized he would need help turning the pages until he found the page he wanted.
"I thought of that too." Watson told him and with a grateful smile, Sherlock worked alongside his friend turning the pages. Oblivious I lay on the cushion, making myself comfortable before I shut my eyes hoping to catch a quick nap. Sleep didn't come easy as my mind kept replaying every word of Sherlock's outburst and my heated response which had the added effect of stopping my tears.
Now with my earlier anger gone I could feel tears threatening again and I took a deep, shuddering breath to stop myself from breaking not wanting Sherlock to see just how badly he'd hurt me. With one hand under my head and the other arm resting on the floor I slipped into a light doze not even hearing Sherlock shout, "Eureka!"
Holding up his palms, Watson quickly moved to the edge of the desk. Sherlock waited silently, mentally scolding himself until Watson returned. "Rona's asleep right now." Watson whispered and Sherlock gave him a nod, returning to the page in front. "What have you figured out so far?" He enquired and Sherlock gave him a tiny smile, pointing to a paragraph with a pencil he'd liberated from Alex's jar.
"This paragraph mentioned that when you have an argument with someone you should take a moment and figure out why you had the argument. That's the first step apparently and the next one is talking to the other person." Sherlock explained and Watson knelt beside his friend as Sherlock rubbed the bridge of his nose. "The main problem is getting Rona to actually speak to me again."
"I have another idea if you'll hear me out, Sherlock." Watson said and Sherlock raised his head, looking at his friend with a slightly curious expression. "Since Alex has known Rona since they were young he would be a perfect person to ask." Seeing Sherlock frown at him, crossing his arms Watson sighed. "It was just an idea." He added though after some thought Sherlock shrugged.
"Since I am open to suggestions right now...I will ask Alex as soon as he returns." Sherlock agreed and Watson gave him a slight nod, pleased with his friend's willingness to seek out help.
As they whispered to each other Rona shifted on her makeshift bed, curling into herself. She didn't stir even when the pencil Sherlock set on the desk rolled onto the chair, bouncing before it landed on the floor below with a clatter. Both grimacing, Watson checked on Rona returning to Sherlock's a few minutes later.
"That woman can sleep through anything." Watson commented and at his side Sherlock nodded, shifting his legs a little. "Now do you remember what you will ask Alex once he returns?"
"Of course I do, Watson. Once he returns I will ask his advice." Sherlock answered and Watson just gave him a smirk. "Even if it pains me to ask a human." He mumbled.
Footsteps that made the floor under me shake woke me and I lifted my head to see a set of sneakers uncomfortably close to my head. Groaning I climbed to my feet and Alex chuckled as he knelt in front of me, holding out a palm for me to climb onto. "I know, I know. I'm not great straight after I wake up." I muttered, rubbing at my eyes as he straightened.
"I don't think you'll ever grow out of it." Alex commented once he set me down on the desk beside Watson and Sherlock the latter peering at me with both eyebrows raised. After a pause I saw his lips twitch into an amused smile and I coughed. "You should have seen Rona when she answered the door in her pyjamas." He added with a tiny smile and my eyes widened.
"Alex!" I hissed, burying my face in my hands while he laughed. "I was half asleep okay?" I mumbled lifting my head to see both gnomes exchange an amused smile. "Did you come back for a reason or was it just to tease me?" I asked Alex who cleared his throat.
"I really wanted to tell you that everyone else's gone home for the day so the warehouse is clear if you're all reay to leave." Alex announced and Sherlock smiled, making an attempt to stand until Alex shook his head. "Not until I make sure the repairs to your cracked leg worked."
"I sincerely hope you don't plan on...hey!" Sherlock yelled when Alex picked him up by the collar of his coat. "Do you have an idea how humiliating this is?" He grumbled, arms crossed against his chest as he dangled between Alex's fingers. Normally the sight would have had been rolling across the desk laughing but as soon as a smile crossed my lips I remembered how Sherlock had shouted that he had never wanted to kiss me.
Looking at my hands I stared at my missing pinkie once a reminder that I'd saved a friend without a thought to my own safety. Now it was just another reminder that I was a fool to care about someone who clearly didn't feel anything for me. Still staring at my fingers I missed Alex poking and prodding Sherlock's leg until the detective shouted at my friend.
"That is enough!" Sherlock shouted at Alex who nearly dropped the detective back onto the desk barely managing to catch him after the sudden outburst. Now dangling by one leg, not the repaired one thank goodness, Sherlock stared at Alex who gave the gnome a brief and awkward laugh. "Would you be so kind as to let me down...gently!" He yelped though Alex was very careful this time and Sherlock let out a shaky breath once he was safely kneeling on the desk again.
"Serves you right if Alex did drop you." I commented and everyone stared at me in shock as I headed for the door. "You heard me and I meant every last word." I added as I poked my head out the door to make sure it was clear. Satisfied I strolled into the empty warehouse not looking back as I did.
"Did I miss something?" Alex asked, scratching his head for a few seconds. Sherlock didn't answer too busy staring at the open doorway until Watson rolled his eyes, tapping Sherlock lightly on his shoulder until the detective focused on his partner. Watson nodded towards Alex who still looked confused and with a an eyeroll Sherlock moved over to Alex. Feeling a tug on his jacket Alex looked down to see Sherlock staring at him with one eyebrow raised and he leant in. "Is there something else, Sherlock?"
"You could say that but I need you to swear you won't tell anyone about this." Sherlock said to Alex who blinked back at him. "It concerns Miss Hart."
"Rona? Sherlock, did you upset her?" Alex chuckled and Sherlock released his grip on Alex's jacket before he moved back. "I'm just messing with you, Sherlock. Of course I'll help."
"This is already sounding like a very bad idea." Sherlock grumbled his open palm rubbing over his face. "Alright this is what happened."
While he and Watson explained the events leading up to the accidental kiss and Sherlock's outburst, I found myself wandering the warehouse.
"This place looks so big now that I'm so small. Well, travel-size I suppose. I wonder when Alex and Watson will be joining me. Oh and that gnome detective I guess." I whispered as I moved around a folded box. "What is his problem anyway? I thought he cared about me...boy was I wrong about that."
It took me much longer to find my way around the warehouse due to the lack of lighting though I did eventually reach the front entrance. Of course it was locked and I growled finding a crate nearby I took a seat, bringing my legs up under my chin I rested my head on my knees, deciding to wait until Alex arrived with his keys.
The sound of Alex's footsteps made me look up and I gave him a grin when he held his keyring up, the keys making a light clicking sound when they hit each other. Seeing Sherlock and Watson following at his heels I gave Watson a smile though Sherlock received a cold stare instead. While Alex sorted through his key collection I climbed off the crate just in time for Watson to step over to me.
"I know Sherlock and he didn't mean to upset you. He would take back what he said if he could." Watson whispered to me and near Alex's ankles Sherlock gave me an awkward smile.
"Maybe I'm not the forgiving type." I responded barely even glancing at Sherlock who gave a weak cough. I looked up at the sound of a click and to my relief Alex pushed the door open before he moved back. "Thanks again. I knew I could count on you, Alex." I told him as he knelt and I smiled at the key he handed me.
"Are you sure you three will be alright walking back in the dark? I could give you a lift back." Alex offered but I politely declined, leaning in before I gave his knuckles a light tap with my own. "Okay so good luck and maybe I'll see you around?"
"Of course. I'll come by and visit." I told Alex who held the door open so we could hurry through. I gave him a final wave before I started to run towards the street with Watson and Sherlock a short distance behind me.