Chapter ten: Other lady

I come down the stairs as quietly as possible, my white heels clicking on the creaking wooden stairs. Sherlock and I hadn't talked at all, but I wasn't sure I wanted too. I'd been avoiding him all day and I realized that I was acting like a child. At that moment I decided that I would stick my head in to see him and John. But I knew that I really wanted to know if Adler was still there. I'd also apologize to Sherlock as well.

I raise my hand to knock on his door, but I find it ajar, so I peer through it. Sherlock is in his chair; Irene is across from him, still in his robe. Again, they're both locked in deep eye contact. "Have you ever had anyone?"

My heart stops at her blunt question that she's asked Sherlock. Who did she think she was? Oh, my bad. It's Irene Adler. I hold my breath as I peer through the door to see Sherlock looking at her with a somewhat blank expression on his face. "Sorry?"

"And when I say "had"," Irene purrs. "I'm being indelicate."

"I don't understand."

"Well, I'll be delicate then." Getting up from her chair she walks over and kneels in front of Sherlock. She places her hand on top of his hand and curling her fingers around his wrist. "Let's have dinner."

My heart stops. "Why?"

"Might be hungry."

"I'm not."

"Good.

Sherlock sits forward a little and slowly turns his hand over hers. My heart stops as he curls his fingers around her wrist. "Why would I want to have dinner if I wasn't hungry?"

Slowly, Irene begins to lean forward, her gaze fixed on his lips, intent on kissing him. "Oh, Mr. Holmes," they're now close enough to kiss. "if it was the end of the world, if this was the very last night, would you have dinner with me?"

Mrs. Hudson calls up the stairs. "Sherlock!"

Irene exhales with a disappointed tone in her voice. "Too late."

"That's not the end of the world," Sherlock points out. "that's Mrs. Hudson."

Irene pulls her hand free and stands up, walking away from him as Mrs. Hudson comes up the stairs. "Tammy?" I shift away from the door and approach her. "What are you doing outside Sherlock's door?"

"Nothing." I can hear Sherlock jump up from his seat and I hurry towards the stairs. "Nothing at all. I don't know what I'm doing here. It was all a big mistake."

"Tammy?" Sherlock calls. "Wait a minute."

I shake my head. "No." I look up and glower at him. "I don't want to disturb your dinner."

Sherlock grabs me and spins me around sharply. I gasp and hold my breath at the look in his eyes. "Irene and I are not having dinner tonight."

"I know." I bite out. "We most certainly aren't having dinner tonight either!"

Sherlock pulls me towards me and captures my lips in a bruising kiss. I whimper and struggle against him. He breaks the kiss, his eyes flashing darkly. "You and I have a date tonight, and you will keep it."

I can't speak, I can't even breathe, and I feel as if I've been frozen to the floor. "Sherlock," Mrs. Hudson's voice causes him to release me. "this man was at the door." I push past her and hurry down the stairs. "Is the bell still not working?"

"Tammy," Sherlock calls after me. "be careful!"

"I can take care of myself!" I slam the door and hurry away into the night, fighting back the tears and pain that I desperately want to unleash. But I've got to concentrate, I've got a show to do, and I put my 'mask' on my emotions so I can be ready for whatever else the evening holds ahead.

Do you ever, other lady, as you're walking through your day? This was a perfect song choice at first, but now, with Irene in the picture I regretted my choice. It was way too personal now. Think about the man we're sharing, think which one of us is play? Do you wonder, other lady, if you've passed me on the street? Would you know it's me you're seeing? Would your heart speed up a beat?

I lick my lips and look down at the ground. Do you see me in his eyes? Do you feel me coming through? Does he bring my scent in with him? Tears are threatening to pour down my cheeks as I try to maintain control over this song. Does he have my funny smile? Do you laugh at things I say? Do you do things our way? Do you know me, other lady? I look up and see Sherlock and Irene standing a few feet away, waiting for me to finish singing. I know you.

Irene smiles as we make eye contact. When I'm lonely, other lady, I pretend I'm you not me. You become the waiting woman. I'm the one he goes to see. I drop my gaze as tears burn my eyes. Let's be friends, there is nothing left to be. I look up at her and admit freely. I have always known he loves you. She smiles at me, but it's soon diminished when I point out to her. You know he depends on me.

Sherlock whispers something in her ear, causing her to laugh at him. Do you see me in his eyes? I demand that she look at me as I sing directly to her. Do you feel me coming through? Does he bring my scent in with him? Does he have my funny smile? Do you laugh at things I say? Hurt wells up in me and I let my hurt pour out of me as I sing those lyrics. Do you do things our way? Do you know me, other lady? As I hold that note, Sherlock impatiently stalks up to me as I sing the final notes. I know you.

He grabs ahold of my hand and pulls me off the stage. The audience protests as I stumble after him. "Come on, I need you."

"Sherlock!" I protest. "I am right in the middle of a show!"

"I don't care. I need you." He pulls his coat off and drapes it over my shoulders. "Come."

"Touching." Irene sneers.

"She's allergic to cold air." He points out. "Can't have her coughing all night."

"Sherlock let me go."

"Not now." We come outside and I see Mycroft standing outside, with his dark limousine and a rather exhausted look about him. Sherlock nods at Mycroft. "You two go on ahead, Tammy and I will take a cab."

"I'm not going anywhere with you!"

"Oh yes you are!" Sherlock flags a taxi, all the while refusing to release his firm hold on my hand. "We'll see you there."

"Sherlock!" I protest. "I need-

"Let's get in." he pushes me into the taxi. "Baker Street." He turns to me as the taxi driver pulls away from the curb. "Now, I need your help breaking the code on Irene's phone."

"You don't need anyone's help Sherlock, and you certainly don't need mine!"

"Can we argue about this later?" He asks. "I've just put hundreds of people's lives at stake by helping Adler."

"And I'm your push broom?"

"No, you're my heart." I jump at his words. I look at him, finding a sincere look in his eyes. "For some reason you have a knack of solving riddles. I can't do this without you, I need your help." He reaches over and takes my hand. "Will you help me?"

I exhale and shake my head in despair. "I really shouldn't do this, but I will." Sherlock exhales and smiles broadly at me. "Now, give me the facts."

"You're wonderful." He clears his throat and focuses on me. "Now, Adler has had possession of her phone now, so she could have changed the code now."

"Anything about her that I should know?"

"She's attracted to me."

"I guessed that." I fight to keep the bitterness out of my voice. "I heard the dinner invite."

"She's not my type. You're more my type. You've always been my type." My mouth drops open in surprise. "Now, can we please solve this and get Adler out of our lives? Because I have a dinner for you tonight that you really do not want to miss."