Chapter 26

'As a matter of self-preservation, a man needs good friends or ardent enemies, for the former instruct him and the latter take him to task'
Diogenes

"John you are a male who is familiar with correct protocol with a female," Sherlock had been awake long before John. With his dressing gown on he sat in the living room ready to pounce on John.

"Excellent observation Sherlock," John didn't like where this was going as he eyed the pyjama clad detective. It was never a good sign when he spent half of his day in this fashion his dramatic mood would get taken out on something, "get to the point." John had only just awoken. A dose of sulking Sherlock was never a good thing on an empty stomach then again it was never a good thing on a full one either.

"It appears that during sexual-"

"Oh god Sherlock no! Just no!" John covered his ears.

"You know I don't like to be interrupted," Sherlock's words were cold.

John was mentally disturbed at the thought of his friend having sex with anyone, "Just. No." It was not a topic open for conversation.

"I have no problem discussing a perfectly normal act of nature," Sherlock

"You might not but other people do," John lowered his hands from his ears.

"I will skip over the details then," he hurriedly snapped, "a relationship," There was the usual distaste of the word "requires the sharing of frivolities. I informed Miss Thornton that there was no connection between her fiancé and Moriarty after sex-."

"Alright I get it. You are classing that as a frivolous issue? Actually, no, "John diverted his outrage to the real issue, "you bring her missing, suspected dead fiancé up after," John waved his hand hoping Sherlock was following.

"Not good?" Sherlock turned to military doctor, "and it's ex fiancé."

"No. That is not good," John walked into the kitchen.

"Where are you going?" Sherlock wasn't finished.

John placed a few slices of bread into the toaster and ignored his friend. He then flicked the kettle on. Without answers Sherlock followed John into the kitchen getting in his way as he made breakfast. "Take this to Harriet and apologise," John had placed toast and coffee onto a small tray.

Sherlock Holmes was a lot of things. Butler was not one of them. Did John really expect him to take Harriet breakfast in bed? Sherlock looked towards his closed bedroom door and with a sigh he picked up the tray. Harriet was still sleeping soundly tangled in the bed sheets. His hands were full so he couldn't give her a gently shake to wake her up. With his right foot he kicked the door shut as he balanced the tray. She stirred but didn't wake up. Sherlock rolled his eyes.

"Miss Thornton," he announced his presence. Still no reaction. Annoyed he placed the tray on the set of draws, the china clinking together, and opened his wardrobe door pulling out a clean shirt. He closed the door without concern for the sleeping woman in his bed causing the coat hangers to rattle.

"S-Sherlock?" she stretched ensuring the sheet stayed in place. The consultant detective decided not to make a remark about her modesty after the previous night's activity.

"Breakfast," He nodded his head towards the tray. Harriet reached for something to put on but couldn't find anything within reach. She tugged at the sheet but it didn't move.

"Would you mind?" she expected him to bring the tray over but instead he threw the shirt at her.

"Thanks," she slipped the shirt on and buttoned it up. By the time she looked up the enigmatic consultant detective had disappeared. "Sherlock?" she called after him but he didn't return.

Harriet showered after her breakfast in bed and noted the need to thank John when Sherlock wasn't around. Although she wouldn't let on that she knew it was John who had set it up all along. Harriet spent a lot of time thinking about what Sherlock had said before she went to sleep. She wasn't surprised by his timing it was more that he was insistent that her fiancé had been involved. Harriet had loved the man and was finding it hard to believe he would be in league with Moriarty. It was Sherlock's lack of faith in her knowledge of the missing man. Harriet wanted to call him on it but didn't want to spoil her last day with him but more to the point it wasn't worth the effort. Sherlock was Sherlock. A niggling in the back of Harriet's mind told her he was write to still be suspicious. He wasn't blinded by emotions and sentiment and was seeing the situation without clouded vision. Harriet on the other hand cared deeply for her ex. He had been a huge part of her life.

"So, I'm not going back to Gloucester till tomorrow. What are we doing today?" Harriet asked as she towelled her hair dry safely away from Sherlock and his laptop.

"I have a date," John announced.

"I wouldn't waste your time, she's seeing a city boy on the side," Sherlock didn't look up from his laptop.

Harriet dropped down onto the settee, "that's okay. We can do something can't we Sherlock?" Both Harriet and John's eyes were trained on the consultant detective.

"No," he drew out the pronunciation.

Harriet ignored him, "go and have a nice time John. I'm sure she's lovely," the consultant detective earned a glare from Harriet.

Sherlock had no intention of 'doing something' as Harriet had put it. Not when Moriarty was still at large. Harriet had other ideas. She'd slipped into a pair shoes forcibly dragged the consultant detective away from his laptop, "either come along without resistance or I will choose the most expensive restaurant I can find. You will be paying." Sherlock signed in resignation and accompanied her from the flat.

"A museum?" Sherlock turned his nose up, "boring."

"You're boring. We could have lunch instead, the choice is yours. I really fancy eating at-"

Sherlock grabbed Harriet's hand and dragged her inside not wanting to hear which of the many expensive restaurants she had taken a fancy to. He pulled Harriet closer. If he was going to suffer it he may as well enjoy the comfort of her body next to his.

"This is boring," Sherlock peered into a glass cabinet of wooden objects from some ancient civilisation in the Middle East.

Harriet rolled her eyes as she glanced at an Iron Age helmet. "Hush. I like history and besides this is useful for my job."

"Then maybe you should pack your job in," Sherlock didn't find teaching to be an exciting career choice.

"No, I like my job," she ignored Sherlock's blatant dislike of her job.

"Your job is boring," Sherlock declared.

Harriet was tempted to point out that at least she had a paying job but didn't. She had other ideas. "You know what?"

Sherlock didn't like the tone in Harriet's voice. It was full of a fake innocence. "Do I want to know, Miss Thornton?" He decided to play along.

"I think you do," she looked up at the consultant detective and stepped closer. She was close enough to reach up to press a kiss to his bow shaped lips. "I'm hungry. Get your wallet out Sherlock, we're going for lunch."

John's date was a washout. She cancelled at the last minute apparently having to work. Her name was Anna and she was an investment banker. John doubted she had to work and was with the city boy Sherlock had to great pleasure in pointing out to him. John hoped Sherlock was having better luck on his date. The consultant detective would deny to the bitter end that his afternoon with Harriet was not a date. He could believe that if it was what made him sleep at night.

Harriet tormented Sherlock about a posh lunch but settled for a Panini in Angelo's on their way back to Baker Street. Once back at Baker Street Harriet sat down to finish off some of her marking whilst she waited for Lestrade to arrive.

Sherlock peered over Harriet's shoulder as she marked the handful of ALevel papers she'd bought with her, "Errrgh, boring." He continued to flounce around in his dressing gown before sitting down with his laptop. Harriet noted that everything was boring to Sherlock. He needed a case.

John returned late afternoon. He'd been out for some food shopping. "An exciting date as usual?" Sherlock inquired as he went through the motions of social etiquette.

"No show," John replied dejectedly.

"The city boy?" Sherlock asked.

"The city boy," John confirmed.

"Her loss," Harriet tried to offer some comfort. Sherlock's phone trilled from his dressing gown pocket.

"Lestrade," Sherlock answered his phone. Both John and Harriet tried to listen in the conversation but couldn't work out what was being said. Sherlock kept his reply's short and to the point giving nothing away. John knew it was a case. The small twitch in the corner of Sherlock's mouth gave it away.

"Miss Thornton, John will be accompanying you back to your humble abode tomorrow," Sherlock was pacing excitedly as he tossed his phone between his hands.

"I will?" John was confused. Lestrade was supposed to be driving her back. John assumed Sherlock would invite himself along again.

"You will. I'm going with Lestrade to the crime scene you stay here. Miss Thornton," he paused in his pacing and took three long strides across the room, placed his hands on her cheeks and her lips to his. He caught Harriet by surprise. As she relaxed into the kiss Sherlock pulled away, "good bye." His mind was back on the case. Harriet blinked in disbelief. John shook his head as he caught her eye.

Sorry! It's been far too long since I updated. This chapter hasn't got much going on but it has cured the writers block that crept up on me. I'll try and update in few days but I started a new research role and on top of that ofsted have been in school and I've been revamping schemes of work but mostly I have new obsession with a song of ice and fire books. Fun. Thanks to everyone who's been reading and reviewing.

kie 1993- You're right Sherlock is a bit of an idiot at times.

Gwilwillith- glad you thought the chapter was brilliant. I did work experience in a court once. Trials definitely aren't fun.

Jumper Guy- I've got more in store for the pair yet :D

88Dragon06- Some of my favourite parts of the show are when Sherlock puts on a bit of an act, plus it's fun to write.

xXxCastielxXx- I would hate to think what else Sherlock has lurking in his freezer apart from human.

chaosrachel- Thanks for the lovely review. I definitely plan on continuing.