Hey everyone!
I am sooooooo sorry for the HUGE delay. Life has been hectic. I wanted this chapter to be longer to make up for how late it is, but i decided that it would take even longer to get out that way. So here is a super small chapter to get back into it. I hope it's not too out of character or weird... might take a chapter or two for me to get back into the swing of things.
Victoria rolled over in her bed. As she stretched she noticed some aches that weren't there the day before. She frowned to herself as she thought through how she got them.
"Oh..." she sat up and looked at the clock beside her bed.
7:00am
"Great, time to face the music." She rolled out of bed and changed into some sweatpants and her baggy jersey.
She shuffled down the hallway and entered the dining room. She stopped abruptly at the sight before her. Sherlock and Mycroft both sat at the dining table together, Mycroft biting into his toast and Sherlock taking a mouthful of tea as he read the paper.
"Ok it's like the twilight zone in here." She stood staring at the two.
"Ah wonderful, you're up. We didn't expect you for another eleven minutes." Mycroft smiled at her.
Victoria walked up to him and took his second piece of toast. She sat down; folding her leg under her as she took a bite.
Mycroft frowned slightly. "I would like to reiterate how rash your actions yesterday were."
Sherlock cleared his throat and continued to read the paper in front of him. Victoria looked between the two.
"Your pictures from the warehouse however were rather... significant." Mycroft muttered as Sherlock's mouth twitched slightly.
"Well gee Mycroft... is that a thank you?" Victoria smiled.
"It is recognition of your detective skills." At this Sherlock straightened up with pride.
Victoria noticed Sherlock's shift in posture. "It comes naturally." She chuckled knowing she would push Sherlock's buttons, as he was the one who had taught her everything.
Sherlock frowned and turned his scrutinising gaze on her.
"How is the ankle this morning?" His eyes sparkled in a slight challenge.
Mycroft looked to Victoria and ran his hands over his face. Victoria stared at Sherlock and answered through a tight grin.
"Why Sherlock I have no idea what you are talking about. My ankle is fine." Her eyes warned him to leave the subject alone but he smirked.
"You clearly favoured your left leg when you walked in. You typically tuck the right leg under you when you sit down but this morning you have used the other side. You must have jumped quite a distance to escape yesterday judging by the length of your legs and the average depth of an emergency escape step. Overnight your muscles will have stiffened and while you will feel fine in an hour or so, the initial movement will ache until you have warmed the muscle sufficiently." He smirked at her.
Mycroft stood and left, leaving the two staring at each other.
"Really? You and I both know my ankle will be fine! You just had to bring something up didn't you? Was it because I didn't mention your amazing teaching skills?" She laughed. "You're too easy to bait Sherlock. But you're also too smart to fall for a simple niggle," she frowned "so why did you bring up the ankle? What could you gain from... oh." She shifted back in her chair and looked at him. "Oh I see. You wanted to point it out so that Mycroft would feel guiltier for the danger this case will put me in. You're angry that he asked me to look into this. I chose this Sherlock. He didn't make me go out on my own yesterday."
"So you will face danger for Mycroft now will you?" He looked at her sourly.
"Sherlock, I left because..."
"I get it." He cut her off and sat back in the chair.
"You're so infuriating sometimes."
"Ditto."
Mycroft walked into the room to find the two sitting with their arms crossed staring in different directions. He sighed to himself knowing he shouldn't have left them alone. He placed the camera down in front of Victoria.
"How did you figure out that they were gathering supplies at this address?" He sat down next to her.
"There were some inconsistencies in the witness statements of several cases in this area. I updated the correct information into the database and ran a search for the least mentioned address. I felt that the one building, in such a troubled neighbourhood, that had no complaints would have something to do with the cover up. Turns out I was right. I haven't figured out exactly what they were preparing, but I know a dodgy situation when I see one." She had leaned forward when talking about what she had found and it was clear that she was excited at the prospect of a case.
"I'll take it." Sherlock looked pointedly at Mycroft.
"Take what Sherlock?" Mycroft sighed.
"The case. You offered it to me when you first suspected. I am now accepting the case." Sherlock stood up and began putting on his scarf.
"Hold up. You think you can just say ' I'll take the case' and expect me to drop everything I know about this and go back to work? Na uh. No way are you taking this case from me Sherlock. I'm a part of this now." Victoria rose and stood in front of the consulting detective.
His calculating eyes flickered over her face before he pulled on his jacket, nodded to Mycroft and left the house.
"Can you believe him? Just thinking he can waltz in and take this case off me?" Victoria turned to Mycroft with a flaming stare.
"I believe that after yesterday, he may be better suited to continue this case Victoria. I will inform my brother that you will continue to accumulate information, but that you will leave the legwork for him."
Victoria watched as the older Holmes brother turned away from her and stalked out of the room.
"Those two are kidding themselves if they think they can just boss me around." She started to get ready for work.
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Maybe if she had known how the day would turn out, she would have listened to the brothers.
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So there it is! Sorry it was a bit bleh. Promise more action and a longer chap next time! (which hopefully will be sooner rather than later). Please take the time to review, it will help me update faster. Thanks! xoxoxoxox