Once they're back at the flat, John removes his scarf, gloves and jacket, then heads straight for the kitchen to make himself some tea, rubbing his hands together since he's quite cold from wandering around. Something occurs to him though as he slowly turns in a circle, looking at the flat. "Why don't you have any Christmas decorations, Sherlock?" he asks, not having expected a lot, but it still surprises him.
Having hung up his jacket, Sherlock heads to his lab table, also known as his kitchen table, before he looks up and around. "What is the point?" he asks as he looks over at John in confusion. "I have no intention on having anyone over, nor do I feel particularly jolly about the holiday." he says dismissively before he goes back to his microscope.
"So you didn't get me anything, then?" John asks, amused and maybe trying to guilt the detective a little bit, but mostly he's just trying to amuse himself a little by baiting the smug man.
"No - What?" Sherlock asks, replying almost automatically, before the question sinks in, then his head snaps up to look at the older man who is attending to his tea, examining him for a few moments with a small frown on his face. "Your attempt to distract me is crude at best, John. Are you not concerned that there is a murderer out there running free?" He accuses the doctor before he turns back to his microscope, though a part of his mind of course won't let go of what John said.
Still, the reaction makes John laugh a little as he looks over at Sherlock and then he nods. "Oh, I care. But there's nothing that I can do, is there?" he asks as he looks at Sherlock. "At least not right now. You're the brilliant consulting detective. I'm just a sounding board, remember? And if I'm going to spend Christmas here, it needs a bit of cheering up." he says with a nod of his head, finishing his tea before he goes over and grabs his jacket and things, hesitating before digging into the pockets of Sherlock's jacket and pulling out his keys. "Just in case." He says before he adds, "I'll be back in a bit, then." As he heads for the door.
Out on the street, John shakes his head for a few moments, not able to sit still just yet, as much as he was happy to be back at the flat and in the warmth, everything was almost nonstop since he woke up this morning it seemed like. And now he can't seem to stop going, his mind reeling from everything that's happened, and everything he got dragged into. So right now, a bit of shopping for Christmas decorations seems like the thing to clear his mind.
After about an hour when he's got a few things and decides to head back to Sherlock's flat, he feels the phone buzz in his pocket and pulls it out to look at the text message.
Man identified. Gone to interview widow. Might be late. -SH
May need assistance. Widow may also be suspect. -SH
John shakes his head a little after the second text. "Bloody idiot.." he mutters before he heads back to the flat, putting up the decorations he got just in time for a tree to arrive and he gets everything settled. Soon enough the flat actually looks like it's Christmas, and finally John settles down in the chair he has claimed as his temporarily, sipping a cup of tea and nodding a little to himself. Maybe for most people it's presumptuous for him to take over the flat like this, but there really has been nothing normal about his relationship with Sherlock so far. This is certainly no different.
Having almost nodded off, John jerks awake when he hears the text tone from the cell phone, nearly shooting out of his chair as instinct takes over at the unusual, alarming sound. It takes a moment before he locates the source of the sound and blinks once to look at the text message more clearly.
Require your assistance. -SH
Bring gun, left desk drawer. Surely you know how to use it. - SH
Might be dangerous. Address to follow. -SH
For a few moments the soldier can do nothing else but stare at the messages, and when the address comes in, he swears loudly before he hurries over and locates the gun, tucking it into the waist band of his trousers in the back, finally putting his jacket and everything else on before he hurries to catch a cab which will take him close to the area where Sherlock provided him with the address. He finds himself once again full of energy, knee bouncing in the cab, so when he gets to the area, he looks around for a few moments. It's cold, and dark, with very few street lights to guide him as he walks down the street.
It's when he passes an alley that a gloved hand comes out and grabs his arm, covering his mouth quickly, and it's only the faint smell of chemicals from the hand over his mouth that keeps him from reacting in a very violent manner. Still, he finds himself pulled into a dark alleyway, very close to a certain consulting detective for a moment before he pulls the hand away from his mouth. "Bloody hell, Sherlock, are you a complete idiot? I'm a soldier who has been living under rather stressful conditions for a while. You do not just grab someone like that off the street, I could have seriously hurt you." He whispers angrily as he turns to look at the somewhat ruffled looking man, frowning a little as he takes in his appearance. "Blimey, what happened to you?" he asks as he looks at him.
"Minor miscalculation. While interviewing the widow I started to notice several inconsistencies in her story as well as the decoration around the house. She is a meticulous person, so having such clashing decorations seemed unlikely. After asking why her husband would be in a relatively clandestine place, I noticed the change in her. It appears that she suffers from multiple personality disorder. How many she has is impossible to tell, but the one that came out while I interviewed her was rather unhappy to see me, and she is deceptively strong. I believe that she may have killed her husband, but she has no memory of it because it was committed by another personality. It may keep her out of prison but makes her no less guilty." He says softly as he looks around. "She has, however, recruited a few of her friends to find me who are rather good at tracking and a bit relentless." he says as he peeks out of the alley and looks around for a few moments. "You made rather good time, I hope you gave your taxi driver a good tip." he says thoughtfully as he turns his attention back to the shorter man.
"Seriously? Multiple personalities? Killed her own husband, then brought him to the museum in order for him to be found and investigated further? Bloody hell, you attract strange ones, don't you?" John asks in a quiet tone, pulling the gun out of his belt, glancing at it for a few moments. "I don't even want to know why you have this." he adds as he peeks around the corner of the alley as well, leaning around Sherlock to do so before he leans back against the wall beside the detective. "Right then. Now that I'm here, what is the plan, exactly? If I could get here so easily, why have you not slipped out somehow?" He asks in confusion in a quiet tone, pressing himself backwards as he hears shouting and then footsteps getting closer, shifting his grip on his gun for a moment.
Sherlock looks away from the opening of the alley and he grins slightly as he looks down at John. "Much easier to escape with someone watching my back, and as you see, you were not unnoticed." he says as he looks at the doctor beside him before he smiles. "Much more interesting than sitting at the flat alone decorating." He adds with another knowing smirk.
"What.. how did you.. oh, never mind." John whispers with a shake of his head, peeking past Sherlock for a moment. "You are the most infuriating man I have ever met." He mutters as he glances around, then motions. "Might be best if we go this way, then." He says as he motions further down the alley.
A small smirk is given from the detective again, who is clearly enjoying himself, or at least enjoying the current situation. "Yes, quite right. This way, John!" He says before he darts down the alley, leaving John to follow him through the dark and the damp.
Bit of Christmas, and then Sherlock ruins it. By being Sherlock. Hopefully he wraps this case up before Christmas itself, but it looks like we're getting close to that! I love how John just settles in like he's always been there. The two of them just fit. I am also excited that my new writing schedule is on track! I hope you all enjoy this chapter!
Reviews/Comments welcome!