"Uh, who's all here?" I asked as we walked through the front door and laughter and talk trickled down the steps.
"Sounds like Molly and Lestrade," he sighed looking up the steps. "She must've had John call them both. Great a flat full of people on my first night home...lovely."
We walked up the steps and it was indeed Lestrade and Molly sitting with John in their living room. Sherlock took my bag and cut through a door to what looked like a kitchen. John noticed and waved me into where he was sitting.
"Hey Charlie. I see he found you," John chuckled.
"I wasn't that hard to find. I don't have that much of an active social life," I replied taking in the living room. It had a definite bachelor feel and could use some tidying.
"Greg, Molly, I'm sure you've met Charlie already," John said as I chose a chair and sat down. "Mrs. Hudson decided to make dinner for everyone."
"Ah. Is Mary coming back?" I asked.
"She might," John answered. "Depends on when her brother comes back to relieve her of her niece who wanted to come, but we figured it wouldn't be wise to introduce her to Sherlock."
"And why not?" he asked from the kitchen as he took his long coat and scarf off. "And what did you do with my chemistry stuff."
"Mrs. Hudson donated it. How were we supposed to know you were alive?" John replied.
"Where's my skull?" he asked glaring at the mantelpiece over the fire place.
"That we put in your room. We were still discussing what to do with the rest of your stuff when you suddenly decided to reappear out of nowhere."
"Someone is bitter about the whole thing," Sherlock drawled.
"Can you blame him?" Lestrade asked. "At least he wasn't suspended from his job because of you."
"I'm telling you, play the recording on my phone. Where is my phone? I thought you'd bring it. I'd like it back."
"No," Lestade said firmly. "If you're telling me there's some sort of confession on there, then its evidence and you can't have it back. Get a new one."
"I can't until Mycroft gets rid of my death certificate," Sherlock huffed as he sat down in the chair to the right of the fireplace.
"Does Mycroft even know you're alive?" John asked.
"As a matter of fact, he does. He paid Charlotte a little visit before I got there." John looked over at me and I nodded. "Which is fine because I need him to up security on everyone anyway. In fact, Charlotte, can I use your phone?"
"Sure," I said pulling it out of my jeans pocket and tossing it to him. He unlocked it and dialed a number before holding it up to his ear. We all watched him as he waited for who I was assuming was Mycroft, to pick up.
"I need you to come to 221B Baker St.," Sherlock said into the phone a few seconds later without any form of greeting. "I don't care if you're busy. You weren't busy enough an hour ago when you paid a visit to Charlotte, so I think you can spare some time to come here. I have something I need to discuss with you." He hung up and handed me my phone back.
"You really think he'll increase security just because he owes you?" John asked.
"I don't think, I know," Sherlock replied. "He's guilt ridden because of what happened with Moriarty was his fault. Besides I'm not asking a lot. You and Lestrade should be ok, your both used to watching your backs. It's the girls that will need it."
"So he's going to come after all of us then?" Molly piped up from where she was sitting.
"I'd say it's a safe bet."
"How do you plan on hunting him down?" Lestrade asked as Molly sank into the couch.
"Still going over ideas. I'm hoping he's cocky or bored enough like Moriarty and decides he wants to play a game, thus drawing himself out," Sherlock answered.
Mrs. Hudson came up with food a few minutes later and pulled Molly and I over to help. We finished bringing up what she made (roast, potatoes, and carrots) and made up plates for everyone as Mrs. Hudson took out drinks. We each took our own plate and a plate for one of the guys backs out. I held out Sherlock's for him and he looked at me like I was crazy.
"Not hungry," he said. I shoved it into his hands anyway.
"Neither am I," I whispered back hotly. "But you're eating, just like you're going to make me eat. Have a little respect."
He glared at me before taking his fork and stabbing a potato with it and shoving it into his mouth. I smiled at him as he chewed and sat down in the chair that was next to his. I looked up to see four surprised faces staring at us. Mrs. Hudson was the first to recover and gave me a smile and a wink. We were halfway through dinner when the tall stranger with the umbrella, who I now knew was Sherlock's brother, appeared in the doorway, not looking very happy.
"Please tell me you did not pull me away from real work for a dinner party," Mycroft drawled as he surveyed the room.
"No. You just happened to walk in in the middle of one," Sherlock replied. "I need you to up security on everyone."
"What are you talking about?"
"Moran, Moriarty's right hand man," Sherlock said. "I've been trying to track him since the fall. He seems to have taken over Moriarty's web. He also seems to have figured out that I'm still alive. He sent a message in the form of Charlotte's brother-in-law to the morgue. Somehow he knew I was behind that and now he'll be targeting everyone, including Charlotte and Molly. Therefore, I need security increased at least on the women."
Mycroft gave him a calculating look, "Why should I do that?"
"Really now Mycroft," Sherlock huffed. "Need I remind you, dear brother, that you were the reason Moriarty was able to do what he did thus causing me to fake my own death."
They stared at each other for a while before Mycroft nodded, "I'll see what I can do."
"Thank you. Also any other information you would have on Sebastian Moran would be wonderful," Sherlock added. "And get rid of my death certificate."
"Again, I'll see what I can do," Mycroft sighed. "Now is that all or can I get back to real work?"
We all watched as Mycroft turned and left the flat. It wasn't until after we heard the front door close that Sherlock jumped up and take his half eaten plate out to the kitchen.
"What makes you think he's going to do what you asked?" Lestrade asked.
"Oh he will. Let's call it brother's guilt," Sherlock said smiling at us before he turned around and walked to the back of his kitchen.
"Mycroft blamed himself for a while with the whole Moriarty-Sherlock situation," John explained. "He gave Moriarty all sorts of info on Sherlock in exchange for information. Moriarty used it to his advantage to bring Sherlock down. He'll do what Sherlock asks him, at least for the time being."
"Mrs. Hudson, do you need help cleaning up?" I asked.
"If you'd like, "She chuckled. "We'll take everything down to my flat."
"Ok."
Molly and I helped her carry all the dishes down. I offered to wash them while Molly dried and Mrs. Hudson put them away. Afterwards, Mrs. Hudson made a pot of tea and we sat at her table.
"Thank you for dinner," Molly said.
"Yes, it was delicious," I agreed.
"You're welcome and it was really no trouble," Mrs. Hudson replied. "I'm just so glad to see Sherlock and John back together again."
"It is nice, isn't it?" Molly giggled. "I'm just glad he's finally out of my hair. If I had to deal with him in my flat one more day, he really was going to be dead. How did you manage Charlie?"
"Um, well he really didn't seem too awful. Of course, I was kind of dealing with my own issues," I replied awkwardly.
"Oh yes," Molly said remembering. "I'm sorry."
"It's ok."
"If you don't mind, when's the funeral?" Mrs. Hudson inquired.
"Um, George said Wednesday I think," I answered playing with the handle of my cup. "He was in the middle of organizing everything."
"Well you just let us know.
"Oh no, you don't have to come. It's not like you knew Camille."
"Nonsense," the older woman said patting my hand. "Of course we'll go. You're important to Sherlock and that's as good enough reason as any."
"She's right," Molly agreed. "I used to wish for the day he looked at me the way he looks at you when you're not looking. Don't worry though, I'm long over that. Having him locked in your flat for long periods of time can drive anyone insane. I don't know how John put up with him."
"None of us do dear," Mrs. Hudson sighed. "Just let us know the details and we'll be there."
"You really-"
"Charlie," Molly cut me off. "You'll need all the support you can, so just be quiet. Besides, Mrs. Hudson is right. You're important to him."
"I don't have any idea why," I snorted. "I'm nothing special."
"To him you are. Do you know how many meals I've made for that boy and he didn't eat them?" Mrs. Hudson said. "You are the first person he actually listened to when told he needs to eat, case or no case."
"Trust me Mrs. Hudson," Molly giggled, "You would've cowered under the look she was giving him too. You'll have to teach us that look, though I'm not sure how effective it'll be if it doesn't come from Charlie."
The two of them laughed while I managed a smile. We talked a little more until we heard footsteps coming down the hall. Sherlock appeared a moment later, jacket and scarf on.
"Going somewhere?" I asked as he pulled his gloves on.
"Yes. With Lestrade. John will be up in the flat, he said he's too busy with trivial things like his job to bother, so if you need anything he's there," he said. "I don't know when I'll be back."
"Ok," I said with a smile. He stood awkwardly in the doorway before quickly hurrying over to me, kissing me firmly, yet swiftly, on the lips and rushing out the door. "Be careful!" I looked over at the two woman I was sharing tea with who were both looking at me with big grins. "What?"
"I've always said to myself," Mrs. Hudson smiled, "That when that boy falls, he's going to fall hard and fast when the right person came along. Always thought that was John, but I guess I was wrong."
"What are you talking about?" I asked confused.
"Charlie," Molly said, "Sherlock doesn't do what he just did. He's normally just gone at a moment's notice without a word of where he's going to anyone. That, what just happened, never happens. Not even with John."
"I really don't get what makes me so special," I sighed perplexed by what they were telling me.
Mrs. Hudson reached over and took my hand giving it a squeeze, "Sweetheart, don't think about it and don't worry about it. Take our word for it when we say this isn't normal Sherlock behavior. Whether he's willing to admit it or not, you've definitely ensnared him."
"Ok," I nodded even though I still wasn't sure. Molly left a few minutes later. I decided to go back up to John and Sherlock's flat, thanking Mrs. Hudson again. I walked up the steps and saw John sitting at the desk making notes on something. "Hi."
"Oh, hello," John said looking up. "Sherlock left with Lestrade."
"I know." John gave me a confused look. "He stopped downstairs and let me know where he was going."
"Did he? Wow, that's a first."
"So I'm told," I chuckled sitting in the comfy looking chair Sherlock had been sitting in earlier. "What cha doing?"
"Catching up on some charts for work," he sighed scratching his head. "There were some I didn't get to finish up Friday at the clinic. Have to take them back in tomorrow, complete hopefully."
"I see. Sounds fun."
"If you can call it that. Mary told me about the no charge thing from the other night. Thank you. You didn't have to."
"Don't mention it," I smiled.
"So what exactly is going on with you two?" John asked. "I tried to ask him, but he was tight lipped about it."
"Your guess is as good as mine. I'm honestly just going with the flow. There's been so much going on the last few days, I haven't thought too much about it," I sighed.
"You're into him them?"
I thought about it before nodding my head, "I guess so, yea."
"Just do me a favor," John sighed. "Watch yourself. Be careful with him."
"Ok," I nodded. Sounded simple enough.
"You've only known each other a few days, I'm not sure what's going through his head, course I never do," he chuckled. "Just…just be careful. You're a sweet girl and I'd hate for him to do something and hurt you in the process."
I smiled at him, "Thanks John. Don't worry, I'm a big girl."
"I know."
"Thank you though."
"You're welcome," he smiled. "Just doing my duty as his best friend."
"You missed him, didn't you?"
"More than I thought I would, yea," John sighed.
I nodded my head before yawning, "I think I'm gonna head to bed. It's been a long day."
"Ok. Down the hall there in the kitchen," John said pointing.
"Thanks. See ya in the morning," I said getting up.
"Good night."
