Snipe

He lead her to their table and they were presented with fine wine. Victoria made polite conversation with Sherlock whilst his heart slowly melted in his chest like butter on hot toast. Sherlock made sophisticated chatter with her as they ate at a smorgasboard, both of them agreeing occassionally on conversation.
But she sat in all her beauty, fluttering her long black eyelashes and throwing her hair from one shoulder to the next, a perfect smile on her perfect face. As they drank the wine and they made sly-but-coy comments about working with Mycroft. Sherlock leaned in closer, his chin resting between his thumb and forefinger gently. Victoria leaned back in her beautiful fabric chair and crossed her legs. "So, from back home, not involving work or anything, what do you do?" Victoria quizzed and Sherlock laughed with a wide smile. She knew, deep inside she really knew. Hidden under all the gray, multiplying matter that she had no control over. She knew.
"Well, er, I enjoy solving crimes-"
"Oh, so you're involved in criminal investigation. Wow, so you're sort of like Columbo or Poirot then?" Victoria smiled back and leaned in also, completed enveloped in their conversation. Sherlock laughed again and nodded, blinking as though deeply complimented,
"Well, yes. Sort of. But I don't work with the police." He studied how her mind raced to find a conclusion to this segment of conversation but nothing flagged up,
"So you're that Sherlock Holmes. Private Detective? Hmm... Marvelous..."
"But that's plenty about my hobbies-"
"So, do you have any friends, not from your work?" Victoria pressed with doe-like eyes curious to learn more about the mysterious detective. Of course, somewhere, she knew, "Wait, hang on a minute, the more I look at you... It's weird, don't laugh... My brother... He has a friend like you. Sherlock Holmes... Oh... Ah... Two hundred and twenty-one B Baker Street, am I correct in thinking that that address is where you live?" Victoria copied Sherlock's hand placement and leaned on her chin. Sherlock screwed up his eyes and gave her a guilty smile and a nod, "You're John's junkie-friend! Sherlock Holmes! I knew I recognized the name!" Victoria was gleeful but her eyes were deep and understanding. Her excited tone resided and she almost frowned, "You get lots of buggery in the papers. It isn't fair." She sighed and put her free hand up to his cheek, rubbing her thumb against his cheekbone.

Some bottles of wine later and the moon rising higher over the city, Victoria suggested the idea to have a dance. They clung together in the patioed dance hall like it was the last time they would ever see each other. Her fingertips digging into his shoulder as they slowly waltzed around with following older couples enjoying a night on the town. She gripped him tightly as he carried her gently from space to space,
"Mister Holmes, you are a wonderful dancer!" She laughed quietly as they broke apart then he pulled her back softly,
"I had to learn, you see, for your brother's wedding. It was sort of a chore," Sherlock smiled to her and they resumed their close tightness, "I could always stop, you know, and let that sniper hit you between the shoulder-blades..."He whispered down to her ear. She only chuckled in return,
"Yes, and I'll let that sniper get you square in the eye," She gently spun them both around so that Sherlock could look up from her and to the floating red dot in the darkest of shadows, "You see, Mister Holmes, this is precisely why I am here. Why Mycroft is here. And I can only guess it's why you are here. I'm sure you are familiar with-"
"James Moriarty..." Sherlock completed her sentence and a seducing grin covered her lips, "I know of him, yes. A parasite."
Victoria smiled down to the ground and then he turned them both slowly,
"Now, what do you propose we do?" Victoria's gentle voice brought a smile to Sherlock's lips,
"In around four minutes, you'll take your jacket and we will float around the city for an hour or so. Then, as the sun comes up, you go home- you keep him running. That way; he will be easier to stop if he's pre-occupied. Like a cat chasing a mouse, it'll be simple." Sherlock chuckled heartily and continued to waltz them around the quaint floor, "When you are home in London, never stay in the same place for more than a few days. Go places under false alliases. Keep on running until Mycroft gives you a thumbs up. Can you do that?"
There was silence between them both and he felt a nod against his shoulder.