"Excuse me?" Scarlett asked Sherlock as she sat on his lap, her throat still croaky as Sherlock finished his text and dropped his phone onto her lap which was on his.

"When I went to meet Miss Adler I noticed his number in her phonebook which she had on the bar surface...at first I didn't think anything of it due to the fact she only had his number...the numbers finally made sense and it was only then when I realised it was Lestrade."

"Why do you think she has his number? Surely if he knew her then he would arrest her...she's got to be in the government most wanted list," Scarlett replied and Sherlock allowed a small grin to fall onto his face as he looked down at her.

"It isn't the FBI Scarlett. They don't tend to have Most Wanted lists like the Americans do."

"How would you know that?"

"I read in my free time," he shrugged and his phone suddenly began to vibrate and he picked it back up, checking it quickly before sliding her body from his lap and reaching for his coat and scarf, quickly moving into them before Scarlett readjusted herself on the sofa and looked over at him with wide eyes.

"Let me guess," she whispered, "he wants you to meet him somewhere?"

"Scotland Yard," Sherlock didn't bother buttoning his coat up. "I need to get to the bottom of this."

"I am well aware. And do you promise to be careful?" Scarlett checked with him and he smirked carelessly at her.

"My promises don't tend to be kept well," he told her. "But you look after yourself, okay? Don't let anyone in and have John come home."

"He's with-"

"I don't care if he is with that blonde haired boring doctor," Sherlock rolled his eyes. "He will realise that you come before she does when we are in situations like this."

"That's not fair Sherlock," Scarlett replied. "He shouldn't have to give up his life just because you anger people."

"It isn't just me who has angered him," Sherlock pointed out. "You helped too."

"But-"

"No arguments," Sherlock demanded and placed his phone into his pocket and then took for the stairs. "Don't let anyone in!"

...

"I think I know what this is about," Lestrade said, allowing Sherlock into his office late at night, flipping through a brown file as he did so, switching on another lamp in his room before settling down into his leather chair and rubbing his eyes whilst Sherlock remained stood, his face emotionless, looking at Lestrade and monitoring his every movement.

"If you are so sure then why don't you guess?" Sherlock replied. Lestrade dropped his file onto the table and looked at the consulting detective.

"It's about Moriarty isn't it?" Lestrade asked. "Your brother told me about him earlier today. Apparently he is out for you and Scarlett...he wants me to keep an eye on you."

"Did he really?" Sherlock drawled. "How touching."

"Yes, I thought so," Lestrade said. "But then I remembered that you don't do caring for people."

"I don't," Sherlock confirmed. "But Mycroft does."

"So is that why you're here?" Lestrade wondered and Sherlock simply shook his head, sitting down in the seat opposite his desk, looking at him from over the stacks of paperwork.

"No," Sherlock said lowly. "That is not why I am here."

"Oh?"

"Hmm," Sherlock confirmed. "Why does Irene Adler have your number in her phonebook?"

"Who?" Lestrade asked. "Never heard of her."

"She seems to know you," Sherlock replied. "Your number is in her phone Inspector Lestrade."

"I'm telling you the truth Sherlock," Lestrade said, desperation apparent in his voice as Sherlock managed to look at him, deducing if he was lying or not.

"No you're not," Sherlock replied. "You're sweating far too much and you've just loosened your tie...and swinging around in your chair doesn't help."

"You can't do that Sherlock," Lestrade growled.

"Do what?"

"Read me like you do other people," he snapped.

"What makes you so special?"

"I keep you in a job."

"And I can easily destroy yours," Sherlock replied quickly. "Now tell me."

"I am," he replied.

"No you're not," Sherlock said.

"Fine!" he snapped. "I slept with her!"

Sherlock remained silent for a minute and continued staring at Lestrade, waiting for an explanation.

"It was the other week...I was at a bar and I met her..."

"Save me the trivial details," Sherlock pleaded with him. "I imagine I know the rest of what happened. I am imagining she took your number when you were asleep due to the fact you don't want to be associated with her and so you must know that she is top government priority. But I am also guessing she has been phoning you recently...blackmail?" Sherlock guessed and Lestrade sighed.

"She wanted information," he whispered.

"On me?" Sherlock checked and Lestrade nodded.

"She threatened to tell my wife of this Sherlock," Lestrade said in a raspy voice. "I didn't know what I was doing...we've been having problems at home-"

"And you don't want to break up with her because you truly do love her and want things to work," Sherlock interrupted quickly. "Did you give her any information?"

"Are you honestly asking?" Lestrade checked and Sherlock nodded.

"If I was not planning on asking then I would not have asked."

"I told her nothing," he snapped. "And how could you think I would do such a thing?"

"People do anything when they are desperate," Sherlock spoke deadly.

"I would never tell her anything about you or Scarlett. I couldn't do that to you."

"Why not?"

"Because it would mean betraying you and you know that I need you Sherlock...even if you are an arsehole."

"Thank you very much," he said, sounding serious for some odd reason. "And why did you not tell me of this sooner?"

"I haven't told anyone up until now," Lestrade grunted. "I didn't know how to tell anyone without them knowing about my affair."

"You could have told me," Sherlock said. "You should have told me."

"Well you know now."

"Hmm."

"And what do you plan to do?"

"Find out why she wants information on me...and then find Moriarty and kill him."

"You can't do that Sherlock. You'll go down for murder."

"Not if no one finds out," Sherlock said and began to stand up and move over to the door.

"You've just told me!" Lestrade snapped.

"No I didn't," Sherlock replied and opened the door.

"But you did!"

"Definitely did not," Sherlock shouted and continued moving down the side of desks. "I shall see you later Detective Inspector."

...

"What happened?" Scarlett yawned at four o'clock in the morning when she felt Sherlock settle down on the bed beside her and she rolled onto her side, looking at him. He remained on top of the covers in his suit which was beginning to crease and he ran his hand through his hair. The darkness remained in the room and Sherlock began to think about what to do, his brain working overtime as he ignored the half asleep girl next to him and she nudged him in the ribs but he didn't flinch.

"Sherlock?" she asked.

"Hmm?" he wondered, still in his own world.

"What happened?"

"Not a lot. Go back to sleep."

"Sherlock," she complained with a yawn.

"You won't be awake for the whole story. I need to think and then I shall talk to you," Sherlock promised.

"Why can't you speak with me now?"

"Because you're not coherent and I need to think about the whole story. Now be quiet."

"God you're such an arse," Scarlett huffed and rolled onto her side whilst Sherlock remained with his own thoughts.

"I love you too," he whispered in his unconsciousness and Scarlett simply just smiled, resting her hand under her cheek and not saying anything back to him, savouring the moment he had told her that he did love her.

...

Thank you to everyone reading! Sorry I haven't updated in a few days but I've been busy studying and working and life is just so busy! But please do review and let me know what you want to happen next!