Well hello! I'm currently on vacation and I'm spending my free time writing and writing, I'm finally in the mood. Thank you everyone for any kind of support, feel free to write a review, I want to know what ya'll think. Okay, enjoy the chapter, I love you all!

Chapter 13 - Not a date!

It was nearly half past five and Sarah Winston was nervously brushing her blonde hair. She mentally slapped herself about a hundred times now for agreeing to do this. She didn't like these formalities. Having dinners with people who were not her friends, not that she had many friends to go to dinners with. Yes, Detective Adam Filcott said this would be just as friends (well, acquaintances according to Sarah), but before that he did ask her out on a date, which she politely refused and Sarah had a feeling he would try to make this dinner one. She huffed. Okay. Just this once. You'll have some food and you'll talk about some dull stuff. Try not to analyze his every movement and his every word, but be aware of his body language. God, it's going to be hard to turn off the psychologist side of her brain. She put down the brush and checked herself out one last time in the mirror. She was dressed quite casually, wearing a black blouse and cream coloured trousers. She put on her grey coat, because March weather was still as cruel as in January. There, she was ready to go. Unfortunately.

Now she was sitting in a little restaurant just outside the city center, the waitress just brought their meals. Adam was sitting in front of her and his brown eyes were glistening in the dim light. He managed to change into his civillian clothing after work, so he was wearing a dark blue shirt which was tucked into his black trousers. He was quite handsome, but it was obvious his forties were at his doorstep because of the light wrinkles on his face. Sarah strarted to eat her meal while Adam just ranted about his passion for racing cars, she was trying her hardest to just smile and nod like racing cars are the only reason she lives for, but it was starting to get a little bit too much boring. But it was Adam talking or her. So she just let him do his thing as she had no interest in talking herself. She thanked heavens when her phone started ringing. Finally a reason to interrupt Adam in his love declaration for Porsche.

"Sorry, do you mind if I take this?" She asked him with an apologetic smile.

"It's fine, just go ahead." He replied and he started eating his own meal.

Sarah took out her phone and her eyebrows ended up somwhere on the ceiling. It was Sherlock Holmes. She stared at her phone for a few seconds and then she answered.

"Hello?"

"Sarah."

"Sherlock what is it? Is it important? I'm actually in the middle of something…" Sarah said to the phone, trying her hardest for Adam not to hear a word, but unsuccesfully.

"Oh, who's Sherlock?" he asked curiously and leaned a little across the table.

"Who's that? I heard a man's voice." Sherlock asked on the other side of the phone. Sarah's head was about to explode.

"Yes, well I said I was busy. What do you need?"

"Well, you told me to stay in touch. This is me… staying in touch. Oh, and I wanted to ask whether you have some cases that could be worth my time?"

Sarah rolled her eyes. "Nope, I have nothing, Sherlock. I just came back to Liverpool two days ago, remember?"

"Yes, but I need a case!" He almost yelled into the phone.

"Well what do you want me do to about it? Really, I have to go, I'll call you back, okay?"

There was a little pause. "Come to London."

"I just was in London!" Sarah screamed/whispered to the phone.

"Well then come back, what's so hard about that?"

"What's hard is that I live here, I can't just ride back and forth all the time. I need a little break."

"Hmm, I assume you're having one now. And with company."

Sarah ignored his provocative remark with a sigh. "Sherlock, look, I have to go. I'll call you later?"

"Fine. Enjoy your date."

"It's not a date!" She yelled, but he hung up. His last sentece had a really unusual light tone for Sherlock, which made it clear to Sarah that it was sarcasm. She decided not to worry about his jittery mood, it was probably because he was bored without a case. John mentioned that Sherlock tends to get very annoying without anything to do. Well, she assumed, that big brain of his probably needed to work 24/7.

When she put the phone back into her pocket, she finally turned her attention back to Adam, who was still looking at her.

"Sorry about that, he's just a bit…" Sarah began.

"It's fine. Who was that, if I may ask?"

"It was just Sherlock. My friend."

"You mentioned London. Did you solve the cases with him?"

"Yeah, we did."

"Oh, so I assume he's the reason why tonight's not a date, huh?" He gave her a small smile.

Sarah almost choked on her potatoes. "No, nope. God, no." She chuckled. "He's just my friend. We met about a month ago and we solved two cases and spent some time together. It's nothing like that."

"Oh, okay. I just assumed…"

"You assumed that I don't want this to be a date because of another man." Sarah finished.

"Well, yes." he admitted.

"It's not that. It's just that I am in no place to have a relationship like that. And I probably won't be for a long time. I am a very careful person." Sarah chuckled. Careful person my ass. You met Shelock and John on a crime scene and slept in their apartment the very same night. Not very careful. Oh God, what was I thinking back then?

"That's understandable. Well, cheers to our new friendship then?" Adam raised his glass.

Sarah smiled and raised hers. "Cheers."

When they walked out of the restaurant Adam offered to walk Sarah home, but she politely refused, so he just waited for her cab with her.

"You know, I had a great time tonight. I haven't been out with anyone in a long time, so thanks for coming along with me." Adam told her and Sarah smiled.

"Of course. I had a good time as well, it was nice getting to know you." She said and she fidgeted with the buttons on her coat. Adam looked down to the ground as if he was trying to gain courage.

"You're an incredible woman, Sarah. Even though you're still a mystery to me." He chuckled.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you're a very secretive person. You hardly told me anything about youself. But I don't mean that as a bad thing," Adam said as Sarah frowned, "I just mean that it's okay to share sometimes. It doesn't neccessarily have to be me, though. Maybe that friend of yours, Sheldon, was it?"

Sarah grinned. "Sherlock."

"Oh well, Sherlock. Or it could be me. If you want. I'm here." Adam told her and he placed his hand on her upper arm. Sarah looked down at his hand on her arm but she didn't feel anything, her head was empty. It was getting quite uncomfortable and she hoped her cab would arrive soon. Thankfully, the cab's headlights showed up in the distance.

"My cab's almost here," she said quietly.

"Then I'll see you around. Goodnight, Sarah." Adam said and he looked her in the eyes. She looked in his and she noticed he was getting closer. Dangerously closer and closer. She wasn't sure she was liking this. Suddenly Adam's lips found hers and he kissed her. Sarah stood there in shock for a second, then she pulled back and she frowned, anger slowly rising. She calmed down as the cab was still getting closer. She huffed.

"Why would you do that?" She asked with a disappointed tone. Adam blinked.

"Oh, I thought that we- okay. Well, um, I'm sorry. God, I made a real fool of myself now, have I?" He pinched his nose with a sigh. "Sorry. I know you said this isn't a date-"

"Yeah, yes. That's exactly what I said several times." Sarah nodded and her cab pulled over and waited for her.

"I'm really sorry. It's just that I like you. A lot. Ever since we met I wanted to ask you out. So I just tried to shoot my shot. Turns out I was wrong, so I won't do that again. Sorry." he apologized again.

"Adam, I am sure that there are women out there who would love to be with you, it's just not me. Sorry." Sarah gave him a small smile, then said goodbye and hopped into her cab, sighing tiredly as she saw the man stand on the pavement with a sad look on his face. What the hell was that. A man just kissed her. It's not that she hasn't kissed anyone before, of course she has, but she always wanted to kiss someone, not that it happened often. Maybe in another universe she would still be Sarah Brook, the spoiled daughter of two rich Irish real-estate company owners and she would have a one-night-stand tonight. But not her. Sarah Winston was a very different breed. A vigilant, secure woman, who didn't let anyone in easily because she would get burned. That's why she was surprised with herself that she was now sitting on the couch in her apartment, almost completely in the dark except for three scented candles lighting up the coffe table, a phone in her hands. She was staring at a certain name in her contacts. Sherlock Holmes. An image of him appeared in her head. His dark curls and his ocean eyes, a smirk on his face, his Belstaff coat. She still remembers how he smelled when she hugged him goodbye two days ago. She was surprised he let her do that. Again. She was aware that he wasn't very eager on human contact, but he let her hug him and kiss him on the cheek. Friendly little gestures, meaning a lot to both of them. To Sarah, it was a sign that she was letting someone in. Someone she could trust. Someone, dare she say, knew the most about her, more than anyone else ever did. And ever will. A friend. Sarah almost pressed the "call" button on her phone but she stopped. It was three am now, she was sitting here after having a shower for almost four hours now. Probably not the best time to call someone. But something told her that he would be awake, looking back on his unusual sleeping habits. But just to be sure, she chose to send him a text first.

Are you awake? -Sarah

She pressed "send" and she anxiously waited for an answer. She was afraid that he will be angry with her for the way she turned him down back at the restaurant. She felt tears in her eyes. She was so mean to him and for what? For a man who thought he had a chance with her even though she said no before. She was getting too emotional so she took a breath. He's not going to answer even if he's awake. He's probably cross with me. She closed her eyes and she rested her head on the couch and she felt herself slowly drifting away. Suddenly, her phone beeped. She jolted up and glanced at her phone.

What do you need? SH

Sarah smiled in release. She pressed the "call" button, waiting for him to pick up. And he did.

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry." Sarah blurted out. "I'm so sorry for waving you off like that, that was rude and I should've explained calmly that I was busy. I'm sorry about that."

Sherlock paused for a second. "It's okay. I guess I was a bit of an arse as well. So how did the date go?" Sarah could feel his smirk trough the phone.

"It was not a date. And not so good."

"Oh. Why?"

"Well, we went out as friends and everything went well, we talked, well, mostly him. Something about racing cars, I don't actually know, I was trying not to nod off there." Sarah told him and he chuckled.

"Oh and then you callled. He thought you were the reason I didn't want to go on a date with him, can you believe that?"

"Hmm. And was that the reason?" he asked her and Sarah couldn't believe her ears.

"Of course not, you goon!" she laughed. "Well then he waited for my cab with me and… he kissed me." Sarah said and there was quiet for a while.

Sherlock was sitting in his leather armchair, frowning. Why was she telling him that? But somewhere a little voice inside him growled angrily. But why would he care? Maybe just an instinct to protect his friend. That was it. "He did?"

"Yeah. It was really bad."

The little voice stopped. "Why?"

"Because…" it wasn't you. What? No, that was not what I wanted to say, what is wrong with me? "Because I just didn't want to kiss him. I'm not really comfortable in this whole relationship area so… you know."

"I do know."

"Well then you probably know how I felt when he did that. So, not a really good ending to an average evening. I had more fun when we were running from the chinese bird-spider assasin." Sarah told him and he chuckled again. This felt nice, so natural, so comfortable. They chatted for another half an hour and the call only stopped when Sherlock asked Sarah a question, but instead of an answer he only heard soft snoring. He smiled to himself, wished Sarah a goodnight and ended the call.

Sarah woke up the next morning, feeling a bit stiff from falling asleep on the couch. She ran her hand across her face and fell back into the cushions. Her phone suddenly beeped and she hurrierly dug trough her couch to find it. She finally had it in her hands, so she could check the new message. Turns out she had an appoontment today with one of the kids she had sessions with. It was a ten year old boy, who loved comic books and whose parents were constantly fighting. However his mother had the feeling that her son was problematic and she asked Sarah to "fix him", which enraged Sarah greatly. There was nothing about this boy to fix, other than his stupid parents who couldn't stop bickering over the smallest things, which she witnessed herself. Even though she informed the parents that their son was perfectly alright and that he didn't suffer from any mental illnesses, they insisted on Sarah having sessions with him. So Sarah came up with a plan. Every session they had, instead of talking, they would go into the city and they would do something fun. They went to cinema, visited the zoo and mostly, what little Danny loved the most, they went to comic book shops and searched for comics which he'd like to read. Today was going to be one of those days.

Sarah rook a quick shower to refresh, allowing herself to think back to her phone call with Sherlock last night. She couldn't help but smile at the memory of them just talking like they knew each other for years and years. She changed into casual jeans and a red pullower, grabbed her coat and headed out the door.

It was a lovely time with little Danny, he happily rambled on and on about Ironman, Spiderman and any other -man that came to his mind. After visiting the comic shop and then some ice-cream, they said goodbye and Sarah went back home. A few hours later, she was on her couch, watching the telly, and her phone rang. She turned down the volume and answered.

"Hello?"

"Sarah?"

Uh oh. It was Adam. "Speaking."

"It's Adam. I just wanted to apologize for yesterday again. I just… I wanted to know, are we okay?"

Sarah smiled. "We're fine, don't worry. Just don't try to kiss me again, because then I'll be forced to punch a police officer." She chuckled and she heard him laugh as well.

"Okay, that's fair. Well, I better get back to work now. I'm glad we're okay then. Have a nice day Sarah."

"Thanks, you too. Bye." She put down the phone. Whew.

A week has passed, Sarah and Sherlock exchanging few texts a day, other than that - boredom. John has found Sarah's phone number as well and he was sending her texts always complaining about something new the consulting detective was up to, occasionally sending her pictures. Sarah would always have a good laugh about it. Especially one photo of Sherlock sitting upside down in his armchair, eyes closed, drifted away in his mind palace.

Few days later, Sherlock Holmes was playing the violin, looking out of the window when something caught his attention. It was a certain Detective Inspector hurrierly walking to the 221B door. Sherlock smirked. Finally. This better be good or else Graham is going to fall down another step of Sherlock's favourite people ladder. Right now he was sharing third place with Molly, right behind Mrs Hudson on second and John with Sarah on the first. Hmm. Interesting. He never thought about what step Sarah occupied before… The said Detective Inspector pulled him out of his thoughts when he rushed up the stairs. Sherlock calmly turned to face him with a satisfied little grin on his face.

"What's the rush, Detective Inspector?" he asked curiously.

Greg Lestrade made a grimace and tried to catch his breath.

"No car today?" Sherlock inquired.

"Broke… down." Lestrade answered between little breaths. When he finally was aboe to continue, he straightened up. "There was a homicide. At the security company near Foster Lane. Someone killed one of the employees. No sign of a break-in. No leads."

Sherlock smirked. "No leads yet. Okay, I'll give it a shot."

"Are you going to call Sarah as well?" Lestrade grinned.

Sherlock gave him a pointed look. "Maybe."

"Shit, now I owe John ten pounds."

Sherlock frowned at him completely outraged. "What?"

"Ooh yeah. I underestimated you, Sherlock. I thought you wouldn't call her after such a short time."

"Why wouldn't I? She is more capable to work with me than all of the Yard combined. Not mentioning the IQ, poor Yard is heading to negative numbers ever since Anderson joined in." Sherlock scoffed and Lestrade rolled his eyes.

"Okay, just come as soon as you can and meet me there. One more thing."

"Oh no. Don't tell me. Anderson's going to be there." Sherlock closed his eyes in exasperation.

Greg shrugged. "Yes. He's going to be there, so you better behave."

Sherlock gave him a shocked expression. "I'm the one who's supposed to behave? I always behave."

"No you don't." John walked into the living room from upstairs, joining the conversation. Greg gave him a welcoming nod and he smiled.

"John, I owe you ten pounds!" He said with a smug grin and John just smirked.

"I told you you'd lose, Greg."

Sherlock stood there just looking from one man to the other. "Is this some kind of a joke? Because I'm not going to be a part of it." He stated as he made way to his bedroom and closed the door with an angry thud. John and Greg just started laughing.

Sarah was sitting on the bed in her bedroom, typing away on her laptop, numerous books scattered all around her. She was working on her study she started when she finished her PhD, a thesis on PTSD of crime victims, focusing mostly on children and teenagers. She had most of it done already, maybe another month and it will be done. She stopped typing and exhaling, she checked her phone. One text from Greg. Interesting.

You better start packing, - it read with a winking smiley face. Sarah frowned. What?

And then it all made sense as her phone started ringing. Who else would it be other than Sherlock Holmes? She smiled to herself as she answered.

"Well hello Mr Holmes."

Sherlock smirked. She already knew what was going on. "Ready for another round?" he asked.

"You bet." She responded with a grin.