Dinner for Nine?

Sherlock and John open the door to Angelo's and within moments proprietor with the same name as the restaurant is out of the kitchen and eagerly shaking Sherlock by the name. 'Sherlock, good to see you again. Anything you for on the house.'

'Be a bit expensive for you, Angelo.' John smiles. 'We're having dinner with several people tonight.'

'Through to the back.' Angelo ushers them between the tables and into a private dining cum conference room. 'You must be the first to arrive.'

'Of course we are, Angelo.' Sherlock brushes the enthusiastic man away before the restaurateur can tug his coat off and risk ruining the expensive fabric. 'Bring them in will you?' Sherlock asks

'Of course Sherlock. Anything for you.'

'And Angelo don't keep repeating that infernal story.'

'Yes Sherlock.' Angelo backs out of the room to head back to the kitchen.

Greg and Mary arrive at the front door of the restaurant next but only moments before Mycroft and Sally. The four of them enter the private room and spot the two independent crime fighters lounging about waiting for everyone. 'someone looks relaxed.' Greg comments.

'He's promised to actually eat a full meal.' John gets in before Sherlock can open his mouth. The consulting detective throws the former army doctor a ferocious scowl.

'If looks can kill.' Dom mutters as he enters the room. Sherlock swings his legs down and sits up properly.

'Someone call Angelo, we're all here.'

'No we're not Sherlock.' Mary interjects.

'Mary, you didn't?'

'She didn't what?' John asks before realisation crosses his face. 'Not Jim?'

'Jim and Sebastian.'

'Moran, Sebastian Moran?' Everyone stares at him.

'What you going to do about it?'

'Ask for what you owe me.'

'How much?'

'Thirty.' Sebastian raises an eyebrow. 'Ten for the original bet, ten for no prompt payment and ten for falling into my trap.'

'Never ask Captain TC Watson how much you owe him.'

'When will you learn?'

'It seems never.' Sebastian hands over the money with good grace.

'DD or HD?' The two former soldiers glare at each other. 'Right. Explains that point.' Jim smirks knowing exactly what point John is talking about.

'Right, shall we?' Mary says before anyone can take the conversation out of context. Every one sits down.

Angelo clears the plates away after everyone has finished the main course. 'Are you going to have a third course detective?' Greg asks his younger son jokingly.

'Of course. Angelo makes the best banoffee pie in London. I took the liberty of ordering it for all of us.'

'Cheeky.' Sally pokes him in the arm.

'Right, a question for the geniuses.' Mary says. 'Everyone knows of the murder suicide.'

'Okay?' Jim says. 'explain.'

'What happens, theoretically, if you turn up to a supposed murder suicide but the forensic analysis says the suicide died an hour or so before the murder victim.'

'And the question is?' Sebastian prompts.

'How did it happen?'

'The obvious answer is that the suicide a rigged bullet to kill the murder victim probably in the doorway to the room where the to-be-murderer commits suicide.' Greg says.

'Too obvious.' Sherlock turns to Mary. 'Are we allowed poison?'

'Why not?'

'I would say two different poisons. Either a slow acting one for the murder victim and a quick one for the suicide.' Sherlock pauses.

'Or?' John encourages.

'Or, a poison for the victim, to be ingested at any time and the suicide commits suicide in what ever manner they want to.'

'How plebeian of you Sherlock.'

'What's your way then Mycroft?'

'Does it matter how the murder is committed?' Mary shakes her head. 'Well, I would make it look like double suicide. A noose around the neck of the murder victim with the knot not tight enough to kill out right but tight enough to choke him slowly. The murder however takes a quick acting poison.'

'Poison seems to be the popular choice.' Jim comments.

'And you would do it how?' The consulting criminal chuckles.

'I wouldn't. I would send a lackey in and have them both killed.'

'Yeah me.' Sebastian mutters under his breath.

'Play the game Jim.' Mary chides.

'It's how I would do it. Don't be silly Sebby, my sniper is much too important for that.' A glower is thrown at the youngest man in the room by the sniper. 'Although if I had to get my hands dirty and organise it.' Jim smiles at Sherlock.

'You would fix up a plan and commit suicide while setting up a situation that forces the murder victim to commit suicide. That being murder because the victim has no other choice.'

'Got it in one. Have a sweetie Lockie.'

'Don't call me Lockie.'

'And don't start fighting.'

'You would be repeating yourself Jim. Or have you forgotten, you already did that.' At this point, Angelo enters bearing an armful of dessert plates effectively stopping the argument in his tracks. The conversation turns to a slightly less gruesome topic and after coffees everyone begins to rise and drift out of the restaurant, home to their various residences across the city.

A/N:- This is for 'Book girl fan' and 'otakudrawsalot ft. KanaNoHana' although this might not have been what you guys had in mind. Any how; Next Time… Why John is really called TC.

Guys this is the last chapter that will be uploaded before the poll is closed! Vote quickly while you have the chance