Sorry for the delay (not really too late, but late anyway), my antique of a computer has been having problems, just to give you and idea it keeps asking me if it's really the midnight of a fourth of January of 1980 whenever I turn it on, also the screen keeps making only lines and when it actually has image the color red is missing, so, yes, I might need to get a new computer soon. One would want to keep the old machine, but more than ten years of working hard require changes (don't ask me why I hadn't changed it in all that time, I can't really tell you, but yes, it's the same computer where I wrote my very first fanfics all those years ago), things are that bad that I cannot connect it to internet, hence why I update at a rental centre.
Now, the story, I originally intended to end the story when the case was solved, but there might be still more to come even after that, as you can see the characters are already starting to notice that something is going on, the Mycroft's bit at the end of the last chapter was really interesting, and I really want to have him wondering for a while, I have plans for John, so don't misjudge him, and Mrs. Hudson is also returning in the next chapter to make things a bit more difficult for our couple =D. I leave you to chapter 10 (Yey!), read, enjoy and if you want please review.
10. - Plans (Doubts and suspicion).
-What now? - asked Mary looking up from the book she was reading when John entered the living room, huffing and muttering something before dropping himself on his chair right next to her.
-Do you really need to ask? - said John running his fingers over his face and through his hair.
-Ok, then what has Sherlock done this time?
-That's the thing. He's doing all sorts of random things and I can't follow him every where. I don't even know what kind of 'other things' he might be doing! He's supposed to be busy with THE CASE.
-Why? - She said opting for closing her book and pay full attention to her husband.
John looked at her. Not sure where to begin with the retelling of the busy day he just had. He sighed and chuckled as the memories of the early hours of the day came to his mind…
John was sure that something other than the various viruses that had somehow managed to make his friend get sick had gotten into him. How was it possible that they were outside the very building he had told him not to enter illegally? And waiting for a highly respected Detective Inspector from Scotland Yard, of all things; this was going to get them into trouble.
Sherlock was checking something on his mobile, and that left him with the task to tell him when Lestrade arrived.
-Is not really that difficult to move inside the building, their organization is something to be admired. But I'm going to need you to make a distraction, and that's where Gilbert can help you…
-Sherlock, this is not going to work. You told them to increase their security a while ago, I would think they actually asked Mycroft to help them with it, and I'm sure he thought of ways to stop YOU beforehand.
Sherlock was about to say something when a car stopped in front of them and the DI stepped out of it.
-Ah, Lestrade, come here, I need to know what you think could be a good distraction.
-Distraction? - said Lestrade looking at John shaking his head and then to the Consulting Detective that was still looking at some pictures in his mobile.
-Yes, I need to get some information that I'm sure they have in there to proceed with the investigation, now, I have found some points in this map that I could easily use to enter, but to keep the attention away from me I need you two to cause a distraction for both situations, entering and leaving, that's why John is going to help me get in and you are taking me out. Once I …
-Wait, wait, wait. – said Lestrade moving his hands in a gesture to stop him. – You want to go in there? – Sherlock nodded – And you want us to help you?
-Is that hard to understand? – said Sherlock with raised eyebrows.
It was Lestrade turn to shake his head; he crossed his arms in front of him and looked to John.
-I've already told him not to do it. Do you think he even hears me? - said John looking pointedly at Sherlock.
The man shifted his gaze from John to Lestrade, who were both looking at him with crossed arms.
-Sorry Sherlock, but I'm not going to help you. - said John.
-You already had enough troubles after what happened with Magnussen. You can't expect me to help you break the law.
Sherlock had a surprised expression over his face; he straightened his stance and turned serious.
-Very well. - He said turning around and walking towards the building.
-What do you think about some coffee? – said John still looking at Sherlock's back.
-Why not. I'm sure he'll need us in about half an hour; it'll help pass the time.
They waited inside Lestrade's car, drinking their tea and talking about Greg's ex-wife and how Sophie had changed John's life while hearing to some music. A little while later, Lestrade's mobile rang.
-What is it? ... Mhm… Yes, yes, don't worry, I'll handle it. – He said ending the call and turning to John. -Come on; let's get him before anything worse happen. – Johns chuckled and exited the car. They climbed the stairs towards the entrance of the building, almost laughing at the view right behind the glass doors where Sherlock was being watched by two guards, with his hands at his back, probably handcuffed.
Inside Lestrade showed his ID and after some words he led Sherlock to his car, still handcuffed and not looking at them. Once beside the car John opened the door and Lestrade pushed Sherlock inside it, slamming the door and then walking around to get in the car himself.
The silence between the three men inside the car was a tense, and they stayed like that for about two minutes before Sherlock started moving uncomfortably in the back seat.
-I think you can un-cuff me now. – He said effectively making John and Lestrade start laughing. – Are you two making a habit off this?
John and Lestrade both turned around to see him, at first wondering why he thought it was an habit, but then remembering the last time he had done something to make them both laugh like this, only to start laughing again.
-This is annoying. If you had helped me this would have never happened. – Lestrade gestured to John and gave him the keys to Sherlock's handcuffs.
-You shouldn't have ignored us, we did tell you not to do it, the chance of this working with our help wasn't better than you going alone. – He told him turning around and giving Lestrade his keys before he started the car.
-I could have used the time. – said Sherlock rubbing his wrists.
-Listen; if we had helped you the three of us would be now in the backseat of another car and I wouldn't be able to use my keys to let us free, much less find a good reason to avoid staying a night in prison. – said Lestrade driving them into the traffic now.
-Mary would be very mad if that had happened. – Said John looking through the window, the remaining of his laugh disappearing.
-And I don't really want to think what could happen if I had to cancel my plans for tonight. – said Sherlock leaning against the back of the seat.
-What kind of plans? – asked John frowning.
-It's nothing you will find interesting John.
The rest of the ride was spent in silence; John was curios about his friend's plans for later, since the man never used to be out at nights, especially since they were supposed to be working still on the case. Thinking that it was better to find out other day John returned to his house.
-Where do you think he was going? – asked Mary after hearing that part of John's retelling.
-I don't know. I just hope he's not trying to enter the building again tonight, if he is there's no way me or Lestrade or even Mycroft will be able to keep him from a day or two in jail.
-He's so lucky that you two had been there when the guards reported him. I can't believe he almost got himself in prison like that. Early in the morning!
-Well, that's not all the things that happened today.
-Please go on, this is really entertaining.
After spending some time online talking to the not so happy Sgt. Donovan, Sherlock decided that he could spend the rest of the day at one of his favorite places, so he headed to St. Bart's, he needed to ask for some favors anyway.
Once there he walked towards the morgue, feeling somehow more exited to be there than any previous time. The stomach problem they had had after eating spaghetti hadn't lasted long thanks to John's professional advice, and later that day he had called Molly and they both spent a couple of hours complaining about the food, that led to a chat about good restaurants and places where they could enjoy a good meal, and somehow they had ended making plans to see each other for dinner the next day.
He was never one to "hang out" (as people said), to fancy restaurants… or any public place, there were lots of people, it was overwhelming. But Molly's company was something he had started to enjoy, John understood him and they talked a lot about many interesting topics, but some of the things he thought were fun, his friend tended to dislike and he had endured long explanations as to why those were not really topics he should talk about with other people; Molly on the other hand, had her own share of non-conventional topics and, unlike John, she could talk deep and detailed about those things with him and never complain about his humor, so he was actually looking forward to their meeting that night.
He found her working on a corpse, a quick glance told him that the young man that was laying on the table had died in a car accident, judging by the injuries and bruises that he could see, another car was responsible of the crashing, good student, was in relatively good health, no bad habits, only child… he was going to be really missed by his mother. He didn't mention any of that to Molly, who looked at him from underneath her goggles and smiled. Sherlock approached the table and lifted the report that she was filling, most of her observations were really accurate and the reminder of why she was his pathologist made him smile.
-It's not the usual corpse that has you coming down here. – She told him rearranging some organs inside the body, signaling that she was about to finish the procedure.
-I'm not here to see a body. Not this time.
-Should I feel honored?
-Probably. – He said walking around the table and kissing her cheek. – I actually need some things, but that requires calling some people and asking a few favors, I was hopping you could help me.
-What do you need? – She said preparing a needle to start sewing the body.
-Well for a change this time I don't need you to help me fake my death, or to make any false paperwork. I need my family's medical records, mine too but those I can easily get, I could ask for Mycroft's but I'm not really interested in him.
-Why do you need that for? – She said turning her head to look at him that was currently at her back with his arms around her waist; did he know what he made her feel?
-Well I need to know more about some particular issues about my relatives, also I need to remember something and that could probably help me a little more, but I need to get this in the most discrete way possible, and I need you to promise not to look at them before I do.
-O…k... So, are those records here at Bart's?
-Nop. – He said looking for something in his coat's pocket, then showing her a piece of paper with a list, lowering his head until it was over her shoulder. – My parent's records should be in the first one and some other members of my family too, I know some of them are not going to be found, but ask for all the records they have at this place, then ask at the others, I don't expect you to get each one of them, just try to get as many as you can.
-What should I tell them? Why would I need your family records? - She asked frowning and struggling to finish the autopsy with Sherlock still behind her.
-John said the best way to avoid that question is to claim the confidential clause between a doctor and a patient, as to who is your patient, you can say it's me and that you and John are the usual doctors taking care of me, which you are, also that way we make sure the records arrive directly to your office, down here, where I can check them without trouble. I told John about this and he said he will help me go through them later, so you wouldn't be lying.
-But I'm a pathologist.
-And that's exactly why you are interested and asking for some files of my deceased relatives, you can say John is interested in the living ones. – This time she shook herself, trying to make Sherlock step away, she was still using bloodied gloves and didn't want to touch him like that.
-Uhm, Sherlock, could you please release me? I need to finish this, clean up, put Freddie away and … - Sherlock's hands traveled upwards and finally stopped when his fingers curled around her, giving a light squeeze making a shiver ran up her spine and her heartbeat race, he kissed her other cheek and then stepped away.
-You're right, we'll have time for this later tonight and "Freddie" here was underage, and clearly we can't do this sort of things in front of him. – Molly sighed, trying to stay calm, but if the look in her eyes had anything to say, was that maybe he should have waited… yes, probably it could have worked better in a more private place; leaving the needle over Freddie's body she turned around and with at an admiring speed she lifted her arms over his shoulders, careful not to touch him with her still gloved hands, and pulled him down to kissed him.
The next thing Sherlock noticed was Molly hurrying her sewing work and quickly rolling the body to the other room, faster than he had ever saw her work; she didn't even spend a moment to clean when suddenly she was kissing him again, it was wrong, anyone could enter and see them, but he wasn't going to stop her, especially not when she was taking revenge and was currently using her hands to make him shudder this time.
A few minutes later, unfortunately a text message interrupted them, and Sherlock left with the promise of that night's dinner. Not even minding the skeptical look on John's eyes when he arrived to Lestrade's office to start checking the first report sent by the team at France.
-You'll be happy to know that Mrs. Herbert housekeeper's name is Nicola Staton, that confirms his identity as the person who sent our past victim a while ago to buy drugs, the other employees say that this man has been working for years wit the Herbert's, surprisingly there are no complains about his work. Donovan told me that you reminded her to ask about the drugs; well it seems this man indulges in them only on his free days, when he usually goes to visit a friend in the town, further questioning about that friend led to an empty house, they found nothing in the areas they walked in.
They also asked the local police to get them an order to investigate the room where he lives, and to have access to a part on the empty house where they found a highly locked door that seemed out of place, I asked why they just didn't broke in, but the place is private property and Sally thought there could be possible consequences if they did. A quick interview with Mr. Herbert proved that he was the owner of the Special K found in Ms. Lawrence body, and he claimed not having knowledge of it being missing, saying that the only person with an emergency spare copy to the place is his housekeeper, the security cameras inside his vet surgery showed Mr. Staton entering the place with a kid, the boy handed him the bottle and he gave him some money in exchange, the boy was reported missing a while ago.
-If by tomorrow they are finally able to enter those places and make a proper report, ask the French police to keep a watch on the empty house and surroundings, maybe Staton's friend is already here as well, but lets not take risks, also send notice to the stations here in the area for a blind man with Staton's description, any sighting could tell us where they're hiding.
-Then, can I say we're already heading to the end and solution of this case?
-We will probably be solving it during the next week.
-Is that a lipstick stain on the collar of your shirt? – asked John, talking for the first time during that evening.
Lestrade looked at him surprised. – Of course not John. How do you think lipstick would get to my shirt?
-It could be – said Lestrade this time, leaning a little to take a better look at Sherlock's shirt.
-It's just a stain, it could be blood for all I know, since just a while ago I was at Bart's talking with Molly while she worked on a body.
-Why were you there?
-I had to ask her a favor; I'll talk with you, John, later about it.
-You've been seeing Molly more often than usual, is there something we need to know? – asked Lestrade in a casual way.
-Like what? – asked Sherlock suddenly very interested in trying to look at the stain.
-I don't know, maybe you two are working together on something, knowing you two I wouldn't be surprised to find a paper published by both about some forensics science stuff. – Said the Detective in his most casual voice.
-In any case – said Sherlock looking back at Lestrade – I wouldn't be spoiling your reading of said article, not that you would read it, is not your area. – He checked his clock. – Any way, I'll be busy later so please contact me in the morning. Come on John, I need to talk with you and we better hurry.
-I don't know what he could have told Molly to convince her to do this, is not really something we should do, but you know how weird he can be.
-So now you have to do lots of paperwork for the hospital to justify the need of those records. John, I know you've been complaining about that girl that is replacing me, and I'm sure you have a mountain of paperwork that still needs work, how are you going to do all of that?
-I'll have to bring some files here… - John huffed and then looked angry once again. – And he even had the nerve of telling me to leave because he was running late for some appointment he has…
-Don't worry John; if you bring those files here I'll do my usual work and help you. Sophie spends most of the time asleep, I'm sure I can do some work meanwhile and that way you won't spend that much time in front of your desk at work. I know how much you love running around with Sherlock.
-Thank you Mary. – said John looking for the TV remote, Mary place her book on the side of the couch and reached for the phone.
-Are we ordering pizza tonight? – John asked looking at his wife dialing.
-No, I'm calling Molly.
-What for? - said John looking at Mary who was now waiting for the phone to be answered. Mary lifted a finger to stop him from talking and lifted her eyebrows.
-Hello Molly! How are you? … Just wanted to talk with you… I see, fine, I'll call you tomorrow then… Yeah, good luck, be careful…
Mary hung up then, looking back again to her husband.
-And? – urged John, unable to hide his curiosity.
-Well, apparently she was going out somewhere, actually someone knocked on her door while we were talking. - John waved a hand inviting her to continue. – Connect the dots John! Sherlock said he had plans for tonight, he even make you hurry, Molly is going out as well, I don't think is a coincidence that the only time Sherlock is actually going somewhere without you at an specific hour, is the same night that Molly goes out since the last time she dated someone.
Sherlock and Molly were still laughing at a very funny case that he had worked on a while ago, this time the details of the deaths involved in the case weren't the main point, but the actual reason and affairs between the murderer and her beloved, they were walking back towards Molly's flat, Sherlock's explanation requiring him to try to made her visualize the scene and some different tools, the guard at the other side of the street in the building where he kept his watch, took his mobile and sent a text reporting their arrival and made sure to allow the remote connection with the computer that had asked him to transmit the recordings to be enabled before activating the cameras inside the apartment. A reply made his mobile beep, and he took a last glance through his binoculars to the couple entering the place.
Mycroft turned on his laptop and started the program to see what the cameras were recording at that moment. Sherlock and the pathologist entered the room and took off their coats, both still laughing to some stupid anecdote that his brother seemed to be enjoying retelling, well that was nothing useful, for a moment he regretted not adding microphones to the security there, but he had heard about the musical tastes of the woman and he wasn't really interested in hearing those when checking the videos later.
The couple headed to the living room, sitting next to each other, Sherlock had taken off his jacket as well and he was now rolling up the sleeves of his shirt, was he intending to become some kind of hippie, with no care at all of his appearance in front of other people? Hhm, well the shy doctor had taken off her shoes and lifted her feet over the couch so his brother was still on the safe line…
He wondered what had happened that now they were just looking at each other and with the dullest smile possible, he watched in surprise how his brother leaned closer to the girl. Was he being possessed? Not possible, there was no proof of the existence of spirits or ghosts, and if they existed they wouldn't posses his brother to do… Oh my god, was he really going to…? Apparently Sherlock's phone was ringing, he saw his brother upset expression before he actually stood up and somehow apologized to his hostess by giving her an awkward hug…
He saw him leave with a relief sigh, maybe what he had almost seen happen had been just part of the weird atmosphere that had been around them since they walked out of the restaurant, he knew that there were situations where following the natural flow of a situation was hard to evade, and he really hopped that his brother was just caught off ward. He gave a last look to the pathologist who was now lying on the couch pulling at her necklace with a dreamy look on her face and then turned off the program. Had he been in full health his next step would have been to pay a visit to his brother, but given his current state he had to think of something else…
Here joining the slightly heart-broken crowd of fangirls that still wishes Benedict all the happines in the world and congratulations on his upcoming nuptials! *cries* (come on girls we have a wedding to plan and an infiltration plan to start to be at the wedding, only i live to far and i don't think i'll make it =P)[never mind me i'm still crazy]