Annie Harrison had spent multiple days getting used to her new workplace, but in the end, she had to recognize of right Sherlock had been when he suggested finding another job.
The gossip did not do for her, so she returned to her old love. With her history degree, Annie got used quickly to the cultural branch of the news, sometimes being consulted by her colleague Robert St. Simon for his political articles.
And that working relationship led her to know about his problem, something he was willing to bring to the attention of Sherlock Holmes.
''I do not think he would be interested in my case, but I can try'' he said when they met for lunch.
His dark eyes stared at her uncertainly, and Annie could not blame him. Sherlock was as famous for his excellent brain as his rudeness, and she wondered how he found clients with that attitude.
''Come with me. You already met him before, just as moral support''
''We parted on bad terms, Bobby. He could refuse to spite me'' she poked her salad distractedly.
''Then I can stay in the dark, I am not interested in an arrogant detective who insults my friends''
''He is the only man in London capable of understanding what happened that day. Strange happenings are his thing''
The male journalist did not look particularly convinced but relented when she paid for their meal and took his hand, searching for a cab to drop Bobby at Baker Street.
The pair arrived in front of the building, and she could tell Bobby was even more anxious as they stopped in front of 221 the street.
''Good luck. If you want to talk, call me when the man lets you go'' Annie smiled at him reassuringly.
The male journalist watched the girl disappear into a café before taking a deep breath as encouragement and ringing the bell.

Sherlock did not know how he felt. He was happy to have a new case after the disappointing ones he had received lately, even if, as Annie Harrison resurfaced after months of silence, an unwanted door he thought sealed and forgotten was about to open.
''Annie said you are very good with oddities and such, so I thought to give it a shot''
''Present your case in detail and don't be boring'' the detective snapped, ignoring how her name caused an unpleasant pang of remorse in his guts.
Robert was pretty cute with his dark and honest eyes, according to Mrs. Hudson, who commented on Annie's good taste. The face wasn't what Sherlock would define as perfection, but John reprimanded him when he mentioned it without a care in front of their client.
Bobby didn't take it personally and laughed, a sign of good self-esteem in his opinion, which made Sherlock even more irritated with him at that moment.
''A couple of years ago, I was engaged to the daughter of a family friend, and we were to get married the week after a strange mishap. The bridal gown sold by the boutique to Mr. , who went to pick it up, but I didn't even know what shop my fiancee consulted. Hatty thought it was a bad omen and wanted to find who had stolen from us, but we couldn't exactly go to Scotland Yard with nothing to show''
''Wise choice. They would have laughed at your expenses. Go ahead'' Sherlock droned boringly.
''Well, there's not much else to say. On the day of the wedding, Hatty didn't show up. Cold feet, I thought, but she never reappeared, and her parents didn't want to call the police. I found it strange because even now, after so much time, they never took into consideration the idea of her murder or something''
''This is why you're asking for my help on this disappearance. A bit useless to find answers now, not to mention too late''
''I want to know why she didn't feel comfortable enough to speak about it with me. If a woman thinks it's better to run instead of facing you, anyone would be offended''
Sherlock had found it difficult to be civil with the woman and his brother after Mycroft decided to recruit Irene Adler. They were dangerous before as isolated pawns on the chessboard, but together the duo Holmes-Adler was terrifying, so in his case, he could only hope to scare Irene away one day and be free of her presence.
The consulting detective wasn't enthusiastic when the news reached his ear and had personally protested with his older brother for his poor choice. The oldest Holmes said she had been a valuable source of information once the government accepted her as a 'collaborator' much to her delight and Sherlock's disappointment.
He spent days sulking about it, and John had been at his wit's end with the behavior the detective was displaying in front of their clients. Women were a sore topic because their mention sent Sherlock in a bad mood.
''We'll see what we can do, Mr. . In the meantime, I wanted to ask if...''
''Shut up, John. Come back next week, and I will let you know what your former runaway bride thinks of you. In the meantime, pass this message to Ms. Harrison...''

''He said, ' I don't care how many clients you send me. If you have something to say, do it in person. And he proceeded to chase me out of the flat. Strange fellow, isn't he?''
Annie scoffed, wondering how egocentric Sherlock Holmes could be to think it was all a strategy. For what purpose she could have done, it was a mystery.
After his words, the journalist had no intention of noticing how his popularity grew. Of course, it was impossible to ignore all the rumors her colleagues caused whenever he solved a case, and the press persecuted him for an interview, but Annie strived to do what he had requested: to go back to her life and leave him alone.
The man was infuriating and full of himself to the point of being insufferable, even for a polite girl like Annie. Bobby had laughed when she told him how the detective acted in the past, but now that they met in person, he balked at the unpleasant character Sherlock Holmes portrayed in front of strangers.
''Do you still want to make him work on your case?''
''Well, he charged me a ridiculous fee for it, and it wasn't a mystery good enough for his standards. So I think it would be best to call Mr. Holmes and leave Hatty alone. I'm ready to move on, so there's no reason to go through another heartbreak''
''Then fire the detective and pay for a vacation with the saved money'' Annie shrugged, sipping her chocolate milkshake.

''I'm sure it's her fault. My client fired me. No one fires me. No one'' Sherlock snapped, throwing the newspaper on the table as soon as he got off the phone with Bobby.
''You said it was boring not even an hour ago. Just because the man said he is Annie's friend, you are in a foul mood now. It was your idea to be an ass with her''
Sherlock didn't even grace John with a retort and went to the door, picking up his signature scarf and coat before shouting at him to follow. They had a journalist to hunt.
He didn't expect the same woman crossing the street with her friend to go to the Underground. Even with pale blond hair cut short in a curly bob, professional tailleur, and makeup, Sherlock had recognized the woman that caused such violent mood swings in his usually collected behavior.
''You!'' he exclaimed in the middle of the street, making passers-by balk and John redden in embarrassment.
''Good to meet you again, Mr. Holmes. Dr. Watson'' Annie smiled politely at them even if she was seething on the inside.
''Is this your idea of getting back at me? Sending your accomplice with a case to humiliate me? Because I'll tell you, it's a very childish way for adults to treat each other'' Sherlock snarled.
''I fear this is a misunderstanding, Mr. Holmes. Annie was...'' Bobby was about to say.
''Shut up. We're talking''
''I don't understand why you're so dead-set on blaming me. Ever since we met, you've been unpleasant and rude, not to mention how you handled my fiance's murder. I want nothing to do with you, Mr. Holmes. I just gave your name to my friend since your expertise is not in discussion'' Annie retorted, ''Now excuse me, but we have to work and no time to waste in pointless arguments''
John was pleasantly surprised by her new confidence, not to mention the offending frown Sherlock was sporting at that moment. The new work improved the character of the sad and small woman he met all those months ago when her world collapsed because of her brother's bad choices.
''Let's go, Annie. We'll be late for our appointment'' Bobby said, a hand firmly on her shoulder to comfort his friend as a subtle tremor shook her.
Sherlock didn't even notice how the woman tried to stay composed while his eyes were stuck on the amicable closeness between Annie and her colleague. For some reason, it upset the detective to see her leaning over someone in support when he was the victim of the situation.
''I'll work on your case, Mr. St. Simon. I refuse to get fired on the base of this woman's insinuations. Free of charge''
''Now, Mr. Holmes. There's no need to...''
''I insist. Good morning. I'll come back to you with the solution in a week as we agreed''
The detective strode away without waiting for his friend, who apologized profusely for Sherlock's behavior before running after him.
'' I hate him'' Annie seethed, stomping in the opposite direction.

''This case is too easy, she left that man for her first love'' Sherlock groaned, throwing himself on the couch in despair, ''She saw him in the streets after years of absence, they rekindled their long-lost passion and eloped with the bridal gown paid. Frankly, it has been a waste of time''
''Then why did you...''
''John, I couldn't let that woman win. It's spite, trust me''
''You're being childish, Sherlock. And I don't think you matter enough for her to sabotage your job. God knows you already do it on your own''
Sherlock glared at him but didn't bother to correct John, fully conscious of how his foul mood had already cost him a couple of pretty good cases. Mycroft, who seemed to know everything even out of the

country, had called to inform him of Joseph Harrison's evasion and requested to keep an eye on Annie. It was a gamble, but the government hoped he would find his way back to London, maybe to get closer to his sister and see if Joseph's elusive partners in crime had shown up to hurt her.
''I'm sure Mycroft wanted you to have a civil conversation with her and find out if Harrison contacted their family. But now, we will be lucky if you don't receive a restraining order''
''There's no need to speak with her. I can find out where Harrison is without his pesky little sister's help''
''And there we go. Can you at least tell me why Annie annoys you so much?''
Sherlock didn't know why he felt like this every time her name came up, and it was confusing how the sight of her had sent his whole being into a frenzy. The very need to show off and prove his intelligence in front of Annie was like an instinct born from the very depths of his being, which ashamed Sherlock because of the unleashing of contrasting emotions she provoked.
''I don't want to talk about it, John. Leave me be''

When Mycroft came to Sherlock with another case, the day started with a rainy and cold morning, large clouds loomed over London with the dark promise of a whole week of bad weather, and none of the residents in Baker Street looked forward to leaving those warm rooms.
John had the day free and was about to enjoy a nice cup of herbal tea Mrs. Hudson had kindly brought to him when the tell-tale sound of rushed footsteps came from the kitchen where Sherlock was busy on an experiment.
''John, my brother is coming. Put away the tea and bring out those unbearable sugary pastries Mrs. H made''
Sherlock was in a petty mood if he had the wish to mess with Mycroft's diet once again. The detective had found out with utmost pleasure how to use his older brother's weakness for sweets and make him flee out of the flat more rapidly, so John watched Sherlock take advantage of it with childish happiness.
''Maybe he has a case for you. Let him speak and then chase him out if you wish'' John commented with a shrug, already used to the Holmes brothers' peculiar relationship.
The man in question arrived in his usual sleek black car, accompanied by a couple of bodyguards who stayed outside the flat and kept even Mrs. Hudson out of the premises. The invasion of their home was something Sherlock never took kindly, and he asked his brother to send his dogs out of the way before returning to the reason why Mycroft Holmes had decided to knock at their door on such a bad day.