Chapter Eleven: How Silly of Me

Flashing forward again, four years. Kai is an actress between jobs and Sherlock is a consultant for New Scotland Yard.

Kai walked over to her desk, fetching the monologue she was preparing for her audition. Her toothbrush hung out of her mouth and she hadn't bothered to change out of her dressing gown yet. She went back to the loo to finish brushing her teeth while she went over the words again. There were times that she was envious of the Holmes' eidetic memories.

She smiled as she thought of Sherlock. They hadn't lived together for about two years. Kai had moved in with Clara for about a year, but after they split up, Kai decided to get her own flat. Sherlock had been anxious at first, choosing to believe that Kai had tired of him and was moving on. Kai reassured him that she wasn't moving on from him, but that she just wanted some space and refrigerator shelves not full of body parts. So, they had found adjoining flats on Baker Street. Mrs. Hudson, the charming landlady, had cut them both a deal on the rent since Sherlock had helped her deal with her…domestic problems and Kai helped Mrs. Hudson deal with…the Sherlock problems. (Mrs. Hudson had almost had a heart attack the first time Sherlock blew up the microwave during an experiment.) Kai had taken lodgings in the smaller flat, 221 C, claiming that Sherlock could use the extra space in 221 B for his experiments and lab equipment and his bookshelves. Sometimes at night, Kai could just hear the plaintive violin strains coming from the apartment above. Sometimes, she would dig out her own cello and accompany him. He never mentioned it.

She had dressed and was preparing to leave for her audition when her phone buzzed with a message alert. She clicked it open and read.

Could use your assistance with a case. SH

This was not unusual. Sherlock was always trying to drag her along to crime scenes now that he was allowed to operate as a consultant with NSY. She had politely declined after the first one she went to contained a bloated, mutilated corpse and she lost her lunch all over the forensic specialist's shoes. She had been embarrassed, but Sherlock had fairly crowed with laughter. The specialist—Anderson, was it?—had cursed her and Sherlock off the scene.

No, Sherlock. I don't do so well with the bodies remember?

No bodies. SH

Right.

Promise. SH

Irrelevant anyway. Got an audition in ½ hour.

I'll pick you up after. It can wait. SH

Sherlock…

Please? SH

Kai almost dropped her phone. A please from Sherlock Holmes? The world must be coming to an end.

Fine. You know where to find me. Pick me up in 45 min.

Thank you, a chara. SH

Kai smiled and put her phone away. She hadn't seen Sherlock in over a week. And if there weren't any bodies involved, perhaps spending a little time with Sherlock and watching him in action was just what she needed.

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45 minutes later, Kai emerged from the theatre to find Sherlock Holmes standing near a cab. He was wearing a dark suit as usual with his favorite dark purple shirt. Kai chuckled. That shirt gave everyone around him mini-strokes and he never seemed to notice. Kai was his best friend and a lesbian and that shirt made her brain short out for a second before she pulled herself together. The long, dark, and perpetual Belstaff coat was on but open. He opened the door to the cab and stepped inside when he saw her and she climbed in after him. He gave the cabbie and address not too far from Baker Street and they drove off.

"Good afternoon, Kainat," Sherlock said. He gave her a wan half-smile.

"Afternoon, Sherlock," she responded. Sherlock seemed paler than usual and the dark circles smudged under his eyes stood out in relief. "When was the last time you slept? Or ate anything?"

"Transport," he muttered. "I'm on a case, I don't eat when I'm on a case."

"Oh yeah? Well you might want to consider getting some food and some sleep, otherwise the next case you attend to is going to be your coffin."

He snorted disdainfully. "Thank you, Mother."

She shook her head. When this was over, she would make him some food and get him to lie down for a bit, even if she had to drug his food. "So where are we going Sherlock? And what are we doing?"

The cab pulled up alongside a restaurant, the name 'Angelo's' printed on a tasteful sign just over the door. Sherlock bolted out, leaving Kai to pay the cabbie as usual. She followed him as he stepped up to the door and knocked forcefully. Kai read the note on the glass front.

"Sherlock, they're closed. What are we doing here?"

At that moment, a small, short woman with dark hair appeared in the doorway. Kai heard the lock come undone and the door swung open. The tiny woman's hair was mussed and streaked with grey. Her eyes were rimmed with red and her whole face appeared to be slightly swollen from crying. Her hands were wringing nervously around a handkerchief. She looked warily up at Sherlock and then over to Kai. She looked back again, going between their faces. Kai smiled a little. She and Sherlock still shared an uncanny likeness.

"What you want?" the little woman asked, her natural Italian accent singing in Kai's ears.

"Sono Sherlock Holmes," Sherlock replied. He went on (in perfect Italian, of course) to explain his presence, but Kai unfortunately had forgotten all the Italian she learned except for the music terms. Whatever he said, however, appeared to have a great effect on the woman. Her eyes lit up and she started rambling in Italian, pressing the handkerchief to her face and beginning to cry all over again.

At this, Kai stepped forward and took over. She gripped the small woman's shoulders and turned her bodily and moved her back inside. She escorted the woman through the restaurant towards what appeared to be the kitchen. Once inside, she sat the woman down in a chair, all the while making soothing sounds. Kai looked around the kitchen. Sherlock had disappeared. Strange. She pushed Sherlock out of her mind momentarily and busied herself with the kettle on the stove. When things go to hell in England, put the kettle on. She found the tea in a cute little pot by the stove and made a cup for the grieving woman.

"Th-thank y-you," the woman stuttered when Kai handed her the cup.

"Can I ask you what's wrong, my lady?" Kai sat down in a chair opposite.

"My husband… he… the police come, they say he kill a man. My Angelo, he never could kill anyone! But they take him away… I not see him for three days. My Angelo, he would never kill anyone."

"And he didn't," Sherlock's velvety baritone echoed in the small kitchen. Both women swung around to watch the pale man stalk over to them, his hands behind his back. "Angelo didn't kill anyone."

The small Italian woman burst into tears again, but this time she had a smile on her face. She stood up and ran over to Sherlock, hugging the lanky man. Sherlock patted her back awkwardly before she pushed away.

"Thank you, Mr. Holmes. Will…will you bring my Angelo back?"

"As soon as possible," Sherlock intoned. He nodded at her and left the kitchen abruptly. Kai murmured her thanks before following him out.

"Sherlock, how do you know that Angelo didn't kill anyone? And why did you need me there with you?" They were back in a cab, this time headed to a new address that was unfamiliar to Kai. The sun had set over London and the interior of the cab was cast into shades of indigo and navy illuminated only by the yellow streetlamps.

"I couldn't very well search for evidence to prove Angelo's innocence when there was a crying woman around, could I? You helped me very much by taking her off my hands for a bit."

Kai rolled her eyes and huffed out a breath. "Of course. Why didn't I think of that? How silly of me." They sat in silence for a moment before Kai asked, "So where are we going now?"

Sherlock smiled. "To catch the real killer of course."

Kai could only nod her head while quirking her lips up in a defeated smile. "Of course. How silly of me."

The cab dropped them off in front of a row of flats that appeared to be abandoned, for they were dark and empty and quiet. Kai walked behind Sherlock, hoping that the long, flappy coat would somehow shield her from all harm. Suddenly, Sherlock stopped and Kai ran into his back. She felt him reach behind and grasp her wrist with his cold, thin fingers. They didn't move or seemingly breathe. Then, there was a slight sound at the end of the street, a gentle rattling. Kai tried to peek around Sherlock, but his broad back effectively prevented it. Without any warning, he took off like a shot, almost breaking Kai's wrist in the process. She wrenched it out of his grip and ran beside him.

She could see a shadow ahead of them…definitely male and definitely bigger than both of them. They followed the shadow in to the alley, but as they rounded the corner, Sherlock pulled up and tossed his head around. The shadow had disappeared from sight. The flickering streetlight cast a circle of pale yellow light, but it was the only thing standing in the alley besides Sherlock and Kai. Until that is… Kai felt a strong arm wrap around her shoulders and chest. She squealed in surprise as the unknown attacker secured her arms in his tight grip and pressed his free hand to her throat. She whimpered as she felt the cool metal of a knife snug up against her artery.

Sherlock had turned in surprise when he heard Kai call out. Now he watched warily as the thick ginger man grappled with Kai and pressed a lethal looking knife to her throat. He tried to look her right in the eyes, mentally willing her to stay calm.

"Let her go," Sherlock uttered, his voice as deadly and smooth as an oiled bayonet. His heart was leaping out of his chest and his brain whirling at one hundred miles a second, but his face and body betrayed nothing.

"I don' think so," the man said, his voice a grating presence in Kai's ear. "This 'un's too pretty to just let go. I think I'll keep 'er a little bit longer. What you say, love? We could 'ave some fun." Kai tried to dig her elbows into the man's ribs, but he only squeezed tighter, wrenching her arms and hurting her. Sherlock's nails dug into the skin of his palms. Enough.

"Do you think your mother approves of what you do, Wesley?" Sherlock had abandoned the threatening tone for a lighter, mocking one. He placed his hands behind his back and did a little skip closer to the man. "Do you think that she knows that you kill people and threaten innocent women when she serves your supper and changes your sheets?"

Wesley tightened his grip on Kai. Sherlock could see a thin trail of blood leaking down her neck and there was one small tear on her cheek. But her eyes were that shade of grey that damn near sparked with electricity as she stared at him. Wesley growled, "You keep my mum outta this, Holmes, you great busybody. You shut your mouth, or I will shut it for you and her as well." He dug the knife in a little tighter, and a bigger stream of red shot out. Sherlock's pupils dilated with anxiety when he detected a slight movement behind the pair. His mouth pulled into a grin. "Oh really?" he taunted. At that precise moment, Detective Inspector Lestrade darted out and slammed the butt of his revolver into Wesley's temple, knocking the man unconscious instantly.

Kai slipped from his grip and sagged to the ground. Sherlock darted over and picked her upper body off the ground, kneeling and sliding her up to him. He pressed his hands over the nick on her neck and patted her face, trying to get the glazed grey eyes to focus.

"Kai? Kainat, come on, wake up. You're not even hurt that bad, you melodramatic woman." Sherlock's voice shot up a few steps in pitch at the end of his sentence. He had to swallow hard to get past the lump in his throat. Lestrade caught his attention and after looking into Sherlock's eyes, called immediately for the medics.

"Sherlock?" Kai murmured.

"Yes?" Sherlock's voice echoed in her head.

She opened her eyes and looked at him. "Remind me why I'm here again?"

Sherlock thought a moment before responding, "No bodies…"

Kai stared at the cheeky grin on his face for a split second before they both burst into laughter. Kai murmured, "How silly of me," prompting another chuckle out of Sherlock. He pressed his nose into her dark curls and pressed a kiss to her head as they waited for the medics. Sherlock rode to the hospital with her, biting back a wave of unrelenting emotion as he thought that this was the second time Kai had been in an ambulance because of him. Only now she was the one lying on the stretcher.

And as the ambulance took off down the street, Sherlock felt Kai slip her hand on top of his and press gently. He looked up and into Kai's eyes and what he saw there almost made him drown in his own mind. He saw infinity. How could a person fit a whole galaxy into their visual organs? The look she gave him was neither angry nor forgiving, neither accepting nor denying. It was not furious or sad or...anything. It simply was. And somehow, through the rumbling of the vehicle and the quiet chatter of medics and the beeping of machines, Sherlock Holmes and Kai O'Meara slipped away from thinking and just… existed.

A/N: Hey! If you've taken the time to read this far, thank you so much. Please, please, please take the time to leave reviews and comments so that I can get some feedback and do some reflection. Your help and guidance is much appreciated!