It had taken a while to get everyone calmed down. Tony had recovered enough from the blow to his nose to start one of those silent conversations with his brother. Which of course both hamsters were listening in on. Sherlock and Mycroft's conversation was anything but silent. They were currently hurling insults at one another in French in Sherlock's bedroom. John was left trying to be polite to the rather dishy Detective Sergeant Greg LeStrade had turned up with and hoping his Shepherd's pie was not going to be ruined.
"So you're a Doctor?"
"Yes. Ex army."
"Sorry, which one are you going out with? The mad one with the cheekbones, the shouty ginger bloke or the guy with the broken nose?"
"The mad one with the cheekbones. Although I'm open to offers." John could not believe he had just said that.
"Really?" Jason Silver coughed a little, but smiled warmly. "Oh you've got hamsters. I love hamsters!"
"The blond ones ours. The tweedy guy, we're just looking after." Huggins looked smugly up at Jason Silver. He was obviously enjoying the chaos he had managed to cause. "He is so cute." Huggins was going to be unbearable for the rest of the day.
"Don't let it fool you for a moment. Under that cute fluffy exterior there is a very determined little character." Jason turned back to John and smiled.
"Oh. I like cute things that surprise me." John had a feeling they were no longer talking about hamsters. Huggins looked thoughtful for a moment.
"Do you want a beer?"
"Love one. I've got two hamsters myself. Burke and Hare." John handed him a bottle.
"You should bring them round. They can all have a play date. And plot the end of the world. Are you hungry?"
"Yeah."
"Good. Because I'm starving." John set about dishing out the Shepherd's pie.
In Sherlock's room Mycroft was sat tearfully on the edge of the bed whilst his nonplussed brother went through the motions of comforting him.
"Mycroft. I can assure you that John and Tony have not had sex. If they had John would be unable to look at me. He has a traitorous conscience, and is consequently a very bad liar."
"It's just that Tony is so desirable. And I get insanely jealous whenever anyone else looks at him."
"Well I'm afraid you are going to have to get used to the idea that people are going to look at Tony. If you pick the most beautiful thing in the shop, you can't get upset when everyone starts admiring it. Now I really think you ought to go and say sorry to him before he changes his mind and decides he wants to marry that delectable thing Greg just brought in. And John's Shepherd's pie is fantastic"
Mycroft sniffed and dabbed his eyes with a large blue silk handkerchief. That pie did smell rather good.