From Book girl fan: Welcoming a returning friend

….

I barely glance up from my chemistry set as I hear a familiar trend of footsteps on the carpet-I was intently watching a mixture of nitrogen triiodide bubbling in my conical flask, ensuring that nothing disturbed it- lest it accidentally reacted.

"Holmes, Mrs. Hudson says there's a visitor to see you," my flatmate said gently, tapping my back lightly for acknowledgement.

"Watson, please- this mixture is fragile." I muttered, waving my hand with patient dismissal, like one shooing a persistent bee. "I need my full and utter concentration to see this experiment through."

"What do you intend to do?"

"I'll explain my hypothesis later, if you so desire." I replied monotonously.

"Holmes, I do hope that experiment isn't dangerous." Watson chided. I rolled my eyes.

"It's no more so than what I'm used to, my dear Watson- though you would hardly approve, considering your profession and sentiments for my safety and wellbeing. The slightest disturbance to this experiment and it could"-

"Hello, Sherlock! Long time, no see!" A familiar voice laughed before I could finish. I jumped out of my skin, but I saved myself from disturbing the concoction on my desk.

"Hello, Victor," I replied, without turning around, "It has been too long." Despite the rude welcoming, I could feel a grin begin to emerge on my face.

"Indeed, it has. I've heard all about your adventures in the Strand. Mikey must be really pleased."

"Just be grateful that Mycroft isn't here." I grinned.

"Not that I was worried about him in the first place." Victor replied with a dry chuckle. "How is he, anyway? Still larger than life?" he joked, and I suppressed a chuckle.

"Yes, indeed. In more than one sense of the expression." I retorted good-naturedly, before spying Watson out of the corner of my eye. "Ah, how rude of me- Watson, I do apologise. Victor, this is my flatmate and biographer, Doctor Watson. Watson, this is Victor Trevor- my old college acquaintance who got caught up in the Gloria Scott case."

"Acquaintance?" Asked Victor, with a mock hurt tone.

"You really are trying, aren't you?" I asked him.

"I aim to please, Sherly." He teased. "Besides, that's high praise, coming from you."

Suppressing an amused snort, I finally turn around to greet my old friend properly. We shook hands warmly before he turned to Watson.

"Ah, it's a pleasure to meet you, Doctor," Said Victor admiringly, giving my flatmate a brief, polite handshake. "I've read several of the cases you and Sherlock have been on. Must say, my favourite's got to be either the Beryl Coronet or the Speckled Band."

"Well, thank you very much indeed, sir." Watson replied with the warm politeness I have come to admire over our time together. "I do appreciate hearing that."

"It's a pleasure, good Doctor." Victor bowed dramatically. "I do admire fellows that are capable of writing such terrific tales- particularly since you've made Sherly the star."

I rolled my eyes in response- and then let out a yelp and a curse as something familiar and cold started sniffing at my ankle. Feeling panicked at the prospect of being bitten again, I accidentally knocked my nitrogen triiodide.

With a loud 'BOOM!' ringing through the flat, and a shattering of glass, I watched with satisfaction as the mongrel yelped and darted to hide behind Victor's ankles, whimpering.

'Well, at least he won't be bothering me for a while,' I mused darkly.