"Keep your hands off of me!"
"Just let them Sherlock…"
"First taking my chick and then taking my rights in the petting zoo!"
"Shut up. Just stop talking" John begged. Sherlock and John were both escorted out of the petting zoo after someone complained about 'misconduct around other guests'.
"This is ridiculous. That kid knew it was my turn to pat the rabbit…" Sherlock continued on as a set of sturdy hands guided him from the building. The two security guards placed Sherlock outside on a nearby bench and nodded to John.
"You may want to get him home… or whatever mental institute you busted him out of" The one of the guard's muttered. John knew getting defensive would just get them kicked out of the park all together and time was running out.
"Yes sir. Thank-you" John waited for them to disappear back into the complex before checking his watch. John looked over at a now pouting Sherlock Holmes sitting up on the pew. He strode over, taking a seat next to his friend. At least the rain had stopped, that was a small blessing.
"It's 4.30 now, Sherlock. I think we should call it quits" John stated, steering the subject away from the fact that Sherlock shoved over a bratty 4 year old.
"The Zoo closes at 5. We have plenty of time" Sherlock stated, not manoeuvring his gaze.
"That's thirty minutes and we have been all around the park at least once with no sign of him. He's not here" John persisted.
"Are you saying I'm wrong?" Sherlock twisted his head to face John, his eyes simmering into him.
"No… I'm just saying that you may have made a…"
"I don't make mistakes John. Anderson is here and I know exactly where to find him" Sherlock sprang up from the bench and out of his gloomy mood. His hands glided up to his coat collar and turned it out.
"Hang on" John started. "So this whole time we were here… you knew exactly where Anderson was"
"Yes. Your detective skills are improving" Sherlock sorted the graphitised blue scarf into a knot around his pale neck.
"So all these hours of searching were for nothing?" John exploded, jumping hot and bothered onto his feet.
"No. I got to see monkeys and feed them peanuts. That was defiantly worthwhile" Sherlock specified, pulling the scarf tight. "Are you done asking questions?"
"Just one more" Sherlock raised an eye brow.
"hm?"
"How do you know where Anderson is?" John locked his eyes with Sherlock, signalling that he means business.
"John, I…"
"Don't give me some random excuse. The least you can do for me is tell me the truth and stop hiding it from me" John pressed on. To his surprise, the corner of Sherlock's lips turned up in a half smile half smirk. If the situation was different, John would have melted.
"In due time, I will tell you but not now. Our wanker needs us" This time Sherlock didn't just take off, he moved side by side with John in a relaxed pace that almost set John uneasy.
"Ok so if you are going to keep up with this 'aloof' thing. Can you tell us where we are headed?" John asked, tucking his hands away into his jacket pockets.
"Dinosaur exhibit" Sherlock replied.
"And the reason would be…?"
"Everyone loves dinosaurs John"
"But that is not the reason you know Anderson is there?"
"Nope"
"Offcourse not"
The dinosaur exhibit was the only exhibition in the entire zoo that didn't have a cuddly animal on display for Sherlock to go ga-ga and 'spoilt little brat' over. There were fossils held behind glass cases and little buttons for children to press to hear random dinosaur roars, but the thing that stood out the most was the T-rex monument mounted up on a pedestal. Surrounding the giant lizards green feet (another park inaccuracy that made Sherlock's hair line retract) was some artificial shrubbery, dense enough to hide a person inside.
"Any bets on where Anderson is hiding?" Sherlock glanced over at John, about to answer but then stopping himself, noting it was a rhetorical question. The two of them stepped up onto the pedestal, balancing on the concrete wall. Sherlock was the first to drop onto the fake ferns, his shoes making a low crunching noise on the bark lining the floor. John followed after him, landing in a not so cat-like stamina that Sherlock did. I didn't take long to locate Anderson, only a bit of a tussle with the bushes and a few clumsy falls into the dirt.
Anderson was lying, curled up in a ball, directly underneath the statue. Sherlock and John stood over him, not quite sure how they were going to move him. Anderson's face was wrapped underneath his arms. His usual repulsive hair style was now a tangled grotty mess, launching itself through the gaps in his arms. John was the first to move; he crouched by Anderson's side and gently placed two fingers to man's neck.
"He's alive" John said, looking up at Sherlock. The consulting detective bent over and slipped his hand into Anderson's exposed pockets.
"Offcourse he is alive. The only positive thing that has happened to us today was the end of the downpour, I don't think we are fortunate enough to have another stroke of luck" How negative, yes, Sherlock Holmes was back. Anderson's phone wasn't anything special so there were no incriminating codes to brake. Sherlock's fingers rammed away at the miniature keys.
"What are you doing now?"
Sherlock slid the phone into his breast pocket. "Holding onto it, for safe keeping. It wouldn't be a surprise if there are more humiliating video's where the last came from" John didn't argue.
"So how do you suggest we move him?" He asked. Sherlock tucked his hand under his chin, considering it for a second. He circled Anderson's coiled up form like a bird of prey before coming to a stop beside John.
"You will need to carry him"
"Me?" John scoffed. He wasn't Anderson's worst enemy; he just didn't particularly want to come into close contact with him. "Why can't you carry him?"
"I don't have the stamina or muscle tone that you do and besides, he repulses me" Sherlock didn't leave it up to discussion. He had already begun to move from the monument, whipping out his phone. John glanced back down at the dozing cop. The smell of vomit and alcohol was present on him, much like how John had been earlier in the day. He got down and shuffled his arms underneath Anderson's body and awkwardly lifted. Surprisingly, Anderson wasn't as heavy as he suspected. John stumbled back as the pressure of Anderson's body on his was suddenly on him. John let his arm slip under Anderson's knees and to cradle his back, bridal style. Anderson's face rolled back to face John, eye lids fluttering. There was a dark purple bruise forming like a cloud over his left eye. The empty bottle of cheap wine slipped from his fingertips and rolled off into the shrub. Anderson let out an unintelligent moan.
"Charming" John wrinkled his nose as the stench of alcohol leaked form Anderson's mouth. Sherlock glanced over his shoulder at John, a look on his face that was a mix between amusement and a scowl. John felt Anderson stir in his arms and held still. A pair of arms reached up around John's neck and pulled him close with a little murmur, dragging John into a strangling hug. Sherlock stifled a chuckle. "Oh shut up you lunatic" John griped and began to clamber his way clumsily down. Sherlock was of course, impatient with John's steady movements. John carried the slumbering Anderson in his arms delicately, using all his strength to keep the drunken detective unconscious. Sherlock hovered, occasionally circling John, as they moved towards the exit. And, as per usual, the got some funny looks from other park goers.
Nothing to see here…. John thought, just one heterosexual guy carrying another heterosexual guy out of a zoo. Nothing quire going on.
They passed by the ticket man's booth on their way out, the nosy salesman leaning out of his window and eye balling them as they moved towards the main road. The corners of his round cheeks swelled as he gave them a mischievous grin, all sorts of dirty thoughts passing through his mind.
"So… you going to text Lestrade or…" John finally spoke, getting over his initial embarrassment.
"Already on it. Sally is on her way with a truck" Sherlock didn't look at John; his eyes were fixed on the road. The tall, pale man didn't want to look at his partner, not while he was nursing Anderson so. It made him feel genuinely sick to the stomach. John nodded his reply.
"Meehhnna…" Anderson stirred again, suddenly coming back to life.
"Anderson?" John asked. The cop's eyes slowly slid open, gazing up wistfully at John.
"Joohhnnn…" He slurred, still intoxicated. Sherlock took a step toward John, watching over the smaller man's shoulder.
"Good afternoon Anderson" Sherlock sneered. "At least he can't speak under his heavy inebriation. That is a bonus"
"Sherlock…" Another airy response. Sherlock rolled his eyes, losing interest in Anderson's lame moans.
"Yes hello you little twit. Have a nice doze?" Anderson blinked at Sherlock's nasty comment. Behind his dull eyes, his mind was chugging back into gear.
"you would 'av 'ad a better one" Sherlock froze, his eyes widening only slightly. "With ol' Johnny here" A giggle.
"Shut up, you drunken mess"
"What is he on about?" John asked and more importantly, "can I put him down now?"
"I don't know what he is talking about" Sherlock muttered.
"Oh how could you forget Sherly?" Anderson's face titled slightly. "I remember it"
"Anderson what the devil are you talking about?" John asked the man in his arms.
"He is clearly drunk. He has no idea what he is on about" Sherlock answered for him. "What is taking Sally so bloody long?"
"Oh don' plah dumb Sherl-l-l-lock. Don't you remember it Jawn?" Anderson slurred John and Sherlock's name's, rolling it around in his mouth.
"Ignore him" Sherlock strode a few paces away, his neck craning irritably up the street, tapping his foot. John watched Sherlock's sudden change of behaviour, he was anxious. John felt a tug on his collar. Anderson was trying to get his attention.
"Jawn? Hey Jawn? Do you not remember?" He whispered. John flinched at the odour.
"Remember what?" John asked, dipping his head down.
"Last night…. You and Sherlock were…." More fits of giggling.
"Were what? Spit it out Anderson" John shook Anderson, trying to snap him back to the real world.
"Well… I can't say because it is naughty to tell…" Anderson was starting to sound more like a little kid with a big secret than a full grown man. Sherlock had returned from his pacing, standing a few feet away from them. Anderson let his head tilt back to face the clouds and he opened his mouth again. "But I can tell you this John. It sounded like…"
Sherlock's face turned to stone. He felt like a convicted man, lining up for the bullet in his head. There was no stopping Anderson, it was too late for that. Sherlock could only stand and watch the words spill from his lips.
"OH JAWN! YES! OH OH YES!" Insane moaning of ecstasy ripped through the afternoon traffic. It was a terrible mimic. A firm hand grabbed onto John's collar and gripped tight. "And then there was a SHERLOCK! PLEASE DON'T STOP! OH SHERLOCK! AH! YEAH!" Anderson continued to scream out to into the sky. When Anderson was finally finished he collapsed into a fit of laughter.
John looked up at Sherlock. Sherlock looked back at John. Anderson fell as every limb on John's body went numb, smacking onto the pavement.