Day 26 - December 31st
"What's that noise?" John mumbled, pulling the pillow over his head. "Want to sleep."
Sherlock, as expected, wasn't even stirring yet, even though the chopping noise kept growing louder. John groaned and threw the pillow off so he could sit up and shake Sherlock's shoulder. "Sherlock. Mycroft didn't have time to start a war last night, right? Why is there a helicopter so close to the house?"
"What?" Sherlock groaned. "Oh… Probably…"
There was a knock on the door and Freddie's voice sounded. "Mr Sherlock, Dr Watson, it's time to go."
John frowned. "Go where?"
Sherlock sat up. "What? Is he finally kicking us out?" He grinned at John. "Maybe trying to outdo them last night wasn't such a good idea after all."
John snorted. "I think it was."
"Please hurry," Freddie said from the other side of the door. "The plane leaves in an hour."
"Oh," John said. "We must have annoyed him quite badly if he's sending us out of the country."
"This isn't Mr Holmes' helicopter, sir," Freddie explained. "Mrs Holmes sent it."
"What?" Sherlock jumped from the bed and rushed over to open the door. "What did you say?"
Freddie quickly covered his eyes with his right hand. "Mrs Holmes sent you the helicopter, sir."
"Why?" he inquired. "What's going on?"
"It will get you to the airport, sir. Please get dressed. A light breakfast will be ready for you to take with you."
"And why are we going to the airport?" Sherlock asked. "Are we being deported?"
"I only know you need to catch an aeroplane, sir. You and Dr Watson," Freddie said. "Your suitcases are ready too. With a lot of warm clothes and blankets."
"Oh my god…" Sherlock stared at him for a moment, then turned to John. "She's actually doing it… She's getting us on the boat!" he said, looking slightly lost.
John beamed and Freddie decided that this was the moment for a hasty retreat.
"Really?" John said. "We're going?" He leapt up from the bed and wrapped his arms around Sherlock. "Well, what are we waiting for? Get dressed!"
…
"The boat sets out from Tromsø by two," Sherlock said as they found their seats on the plane. "No wonder we had to get up so early."
"Well, it's worth it," John said. He hadn't stopped grinning since Sherlock had figured out why they had to get up.
"We're going to have to change planes though," Sherlock said. "This airline does not fly that far north. Which means we'll be landing in Oslo. She's cutting it pretty fine."
"Should be fine if our plane isn't delayed, don't you think?" John asked.
"We're flying east, John. Different time zone, remember?" Sherlock said and took his hand.
"Yes, alright, it's early," John said, tickling his hand in defence.
"I know," Sherlock said. "And I kept you up late." He leaned over and kissed him.
"You and a certain noisy couple… Why didn't Mycroft just bring him over to his own bedroom instead of one that close to us?"
Sherlock giggled. "Maybe because I retrieved my experiment and stored it under his bed. Or… He just felt like a change of scenery."
…
"No, really, Sherlock. In a way she helped us solve the case. And this cup is just perfectly horrid," John said happily.
"But John… The line is too long. You're going to make us miss the plane. You can buy something stupid for Harry later," Sherlock said, almost dancing on the spot with impatience.
"We still have seven minutes," John said. "And look, the line's moving."
"Yes, but that old crone in front of you hasn't got enough money for those chocolates, and she'll be making a fuss about it. Just put the cup down. Come on…"
The 'old crone' turned around and glared at Sherlock. "Now, listen here sonny…." she began, drawling with a heavy American accent.
"'scuse me," John said as he slipped past her, even though she couldn't hear him through her own rant. He quickly put down the money and grinned triumphantly at Sherlock as he left the shop to wait for him.
Moments later, Sherlock joined him, making a small bow as if accepting applause, before he took John's hand and hauled him off to their gate.
…
"It's beautiful," John said breathlessly as he looked out at the snow-covered city, almost squeezing Sherlock's hand into pulp.
"I know," Sherlock said. "But we don't have much time. The boat leaves in 20 minutes and we still have to get to the harbour." He looked around for a cab, not quite sure what they would look like here.
"I can't wait," John smiled. "This really was a brilliant idea."
"I know," Sherlock said smugly, waving a cab over. "Much better than staying at Mycroft's place, right?"
John chuckled. "Yeah. I suppose you've won. You'll get your prize later..." He got in the taxi.
Sherlock got in after him and wrapped an arm around him as they drove off through the beautiful city where the many Christmas lights were sparkling in the dark of the arctic afternoon.