Author's Note:
Howdy, 3rd chapter coming' up! Please review, critique welcome!~! Mucho gracias to the best beta reader in the WORLD...HILARY! And COOKIES to all my reviewers THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!
Little 'Thank you' Notes
Sakura Moon: Yup, you assumed correct. Something related to that will come up later in the story! Thanks for reviewing!
Blackrose25: You'll have to tell me about that revolving holographic projection in the basement. Danric is SOOO unbelievably sexy...SIGH! Hehe, I don't actually have an ocean view from my window. The clouds just looked like it kinda lol, and I don't have a laptop...yet. I was writing on paper at the time, but my parents are so tired of me typing away on the computer all day so they're helping me save money to buy a Dell. YEE-HAW! I just have to sell enough stuff on Ebay though...tell me when you're new Holmes fic is on fanfiction, I'd really like to read it! Thanks for reviewing!! (Beta Add- in! - Hey Rose! Instead of making Kels tell ya I may has well tell ya myself: I CAN'T WAIT FOR YOUR NEW FIC! Did you know that because you got me addicted to Holmes, that I have trouble typing in Shevraeth anymore. Sherlock is the immediate reaction. :P I still want one of those revolving holograms. Has Top Hat been able to find me one yet? ;) Ta-ta Rose!)
Topazdragon: SO DO I!! SIGH! THANKS FOR ALL UR REVIEWZ!
Hil: Hey BIG G, that was it wasn't it? LOL, Mr. Smith talks A LOT!!~! Kinda odd tangents ain't they? Fighting and Florida stuff, lol. I swear, look on the synthesizer, it's made by a company called RHODES!! Omg I seriously almost SCREAMED when I saw that!! SIGH ETHAN RHODES! I have to read that fic again, and I HOPE she updates...SOON!! xoxo (LOL LMFAO JK JK JK JK JK) wOOt wOOt, SNORT SNORT, have a great almighty laugh week! Loki better come back down to the US from Denmark or he's gonna get a serious whoopin...from ME! You have to write some more Danric stuff...FLUFF!! YEE-HAW!
Scarlett: Thanks for reviewing! I only went in the GIFTSHOP, (tears) when I was at the Sherlock Holmes museum! I was SOOO mad! All the rest of my family wanted to go to the wax museum and spent FOREVER in the Beatle's shop so no time left for Holmes, tear, tear. I did get to meet and take a picture with an incredibly HOT Sherlock Holmes imitator and then I followed him down to the lower level, hehe, but that's a whole different story!~ J
Carolinus Took: *Screeches happily* THANKS for your review, hehe I'm glad you like it!!
Greeneyes616: Hehe thanx! I might go off onto a romantic Sherlock Holmes chapter tangents or something like that, but I'm trying to make this fic as much close to the books as possible, while changing the **romantic** side of Sherlock. TEE-HEE! I hope you like it!!~!
Snik: MWHAHAHAHAH THANK YOU ROSEBUD!
Meitantei Kudo KID: LOL!! HEHE! Sigh...Holmes!
Mysterylover17: Thank ya!! J I hope ya keep reading!
QueenOfSpain: AWESOME PEN NAME! That's so kewl!! Hehe, I did take your advise and asked a close Sherlockian friend (Hilary) to be my Beta Reader, I'm not talented at punctuation etc. You'll see this plot is pretty different from all other Sherlockian, I hope! Lol.
Georgie d: SORRY about the 'Doctor Holmes' thing, I kinda get off focused, must of slipped when I was editing it. Thanks for your review!!
Nath: Hehe, THANKS for your review! What country are you from, or what language do you speak, I should say? There's way too many hot mysterious guys in books and movies! SIGH, Please keep reviewing, I look forward to hearing from you!
~***Chapter 3***~
Sniffing and weakly trying to wipe my tears away I let myself be led by the kind woman and man. "Do you think he's alright John?" the woman asked, guiding me past the familiar houses I had just ran from including the Beatles and Elvis shop, now turned into a seamstress and a tailor. They stopped at 221b and for a moment I clearly doubted my sanity.
"No," I protested struggling to get out of their loose grip. "I can't go in there, I'm sorry."
"Why not?" the man said, who I assumed to be Doctor Watson in the flesh.
"Because, I've had...a...a... bad experience with Mr. Holmes," I stuttered, looking down at the dirty ground and avoiding looking into their questioning eyes.
"Darling, Mr. Holmes is a practical man, don't worry," the woman said.
"Yes, Mary is right, Holmes won't mind a bit at your presence," Watson replied.
Then it dawned on me. 'Now I get it,' a voice in me yelled, 'Watson and Mary Morstan!' "Are you two married?" I asked politely, my demeanor changing completely.
"No, we're engaged," Mary said to me, smiling and raising her eyebrows curiously, "How on heavens could you tell that?"
"You just look familiar," I responded, smiling innocently. Watson opened the shadowing door while Mary led me through by the crook of her arm. "Really, I appreciate all you've done, but this isn't necessary," I said again, looking nervously at the open door above the staircase.
"Come on, it'll all be fine," Mary said putting up a smile. My journey up the stairs was only a second and in minutes I was standing in front of the detectives door hiding behind Watson and Mary.
"Holmes," Watson yelled loudly, pounding on the dark orange door, "It's us." Footsteps could be heard approaching the door which soon swung open to reveal a very tired and saddened Holmes.
"Hello," Holmes greeted wearily, "Come in." Watson and Mary quickly entered into the room and I stood back besides the door so I could hopefully sneak away.
"Come on dear," Mary said, popping up next to me and dragging me inside. I at once pivoted my eyes to the ground, avoiding Holmes's gaze.
"Watson," Holmes breathed, striding at once to my side. "You found her," he whispered, tilting my chin upwards so my own eyes would meet his enchanting grey one's. At once I could see vivid emotion in his features. The way he was looking at me, I'd seen it before. It was the same look Will had given me after we first met the moment I got off the airplane. ~~~~~~~~~~~~
I wouldn't deny the fact that I was something to look at. Countless people had told me so. Old boyfriends murmuring it to me by the small farm lake in the soft moonlight. Or old ladies at church praising me on my church solo or how wonderful I looked. Beauty was a weapon, and a nuisance, not a god- given gift.
At the age of 7, my mother enrolled me in small modeling contests and little photo takes. I had absolutely no tolerance for it. I was a messy tomboy and would rather be running outside in the mud then sitting still in some scratchy dress, my eyes nearly blind from the constant blinking lights of cameras. But later all they had gone away when I decided to take a different path, one to college and an academic career. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Just by the look in Sherlock's eyes and I could tell I had captured the Great Detective's heart. We just gazed at each other, at first I thought he was going to kiss me and I put a finger to his lips. How could he seem so miraculously familiar? This was impossible, Sherlock Holmes had never loved anyone else, much less me. And we hadn't known each other, that was virtually beyond any way of happening.
But still, I felt like I had been by his side every day of my life. "What is your name?" Holmes whispered, as everyone else in the room began to fade and all that existed was Holmes and I.
"Audrey," I replied drowning in the large pools of his mystical eyes.
"Holmes," I heard Watson say behind me. "You never told me of any romantic acquaintance you'd had. Who is this young lady"
"And how in heaven's name do you know her?" Mary interrupted.
"I don't," Holmes replied in a husky deep voice.
"Just in our dreams," I responded grinning at Holmes.
"But...but... who are you dear?" Watson stammered.
"My name is Audrey," I stated clearly, "I am most definitely lost and have almost no idea what to do."
"You are from American correct?" Mary asked.
"Yes, but not the America of this age, from the America of 2004."
"That's physically impossible," Mary retorted, laughing, "You must be mad."
"I know, and I feel like I'm dreaming and about to wake up any second. But here I am and you certainly don't look my friends from NIU."
"Prove that you're from the future," Watson said smugly, sitting back in his armchair, arms crossed over his chest.
"Well, let me see," I answered taking off my worn lime green fanny pack around my waist and observing the items in it. "I have some English pounds and a few spare American dollars," I said handing the items to Watson. "And here is a bottle of sunscreen, sun glasses, a map of London, a tour guide book and my camera."
"What on earth?" Mary replied stunned, looking incredulously at the flexible gold and purple bottle of Banana Boat lotion.
"Look at this," Holmes said, finally saying a few words, "This tour guide has colored pictures of London in the future."
"What?" Watson weakly asked, looking suddenly towards the open book in Holmes's hands.
"There are pictures of incredible buildings, some five times the size of Buckingham Palace," Holmes remarked.
"And look those huge red things, they look like they're moving," Watson then whispered, his finger tracing the outline of the bus on the page.
"They're called double-decker buses," I said clearly, drawing attention to the words 'double' and 'decker'.
"I see, and what is this?" Holmes asked me curiously, leaning over and showing me a picture of the London Eye.
"Ah," I whispered smiling, "It's called the London Eye and it's a great HUGE Ferris Wheel." Mary, Watson and Holmes stared at me blankly. "Like a contraption that you can ride in that goes up and around then down and.." I demonstrated using my finger in a circular motion. Still blank stares. "Well it's the Millennium Wheel and a big thing and fun," I said quickly changing the subject.
"And this is a camera?" Holmes asked me holding the small box up near the gas light.
"Yup," I replied, "It takes little pictures." Then suddenly an idea dawned on me. "Mr. Holmes," I asked turning to him at my side, "Can I get these photographs developed?"
"I think I can," Holmes replied in a stiff manner, at once resuming to his impossibly intelligent self.
"Fabulous," Watson remarked, clapping his hands loudly.
"So you mean to tell me that you took pictures with this device?" Mary asked curiously, her face showing obvious doubt.
"Yes, in fact let me take a picture of all you," I said taking the camera from Holmes and motioning for them all to scoot together. Click.
"Odd contraption," Watson said, scratching his head and franticly blinking his eyes at the cameras quick flash. "You can get those images on paper, Holmes?"
"I can try through the Woodbury type of photomechanical process."
"Explain Holmes," Watson said, tilting his head curiously, ready for a lengthy explanation.
"Well, the Woodbury type is a method in which the process creates stunning pictures, but is an extremely difficult process. A light-sensitive gelatin material is exposed to a negative, resulting in a three-dimensional relief- map of the image. Then the hard part is applying huge pressure (with a hydraulic press most likely) on the gelatin relief to make an impression in a block of lead. The lead mold is used to create the prints, which have exquisite tonality and a slightly raised surface...." Holmes started to go on and on. Mary had started staring at the dwindling fire and had a glaze over her eyes, while Watson had been faintly nodding to Holmes his mind vividly trying to comprehend what the detective was saying.
"Sounds unique," Watson had suggested brightly. "What do you think Mary?" he asked his day-dreaming wife.
"What? Oh...I think it's a little above my intellect," Mary said politely. 'The total 19th century thing, men are smarter then women,' I thought in my head, narrowing my eyes at Mary.
"But why are you here?" Holmes asked me quietly.
"And how?" Watson butted in.
"I don't know," I just about screamed, rolling my eyes. My irritation level was nearing its boiling point and I'm sure you can tell that I have a hot temper. "All I know is that I don't belong here and I don't have a place to stay."
Watson looked at me peculiarly and then whispered something to Holmes. "Mary could you go down with Audrey to get our dinner from Mrs. Hudson?" he asked, Watson making a strange look at his fiancé.
"Yes," Mary replied. "Come on dear," she said smiling brightly. I nodded while glancing at Holmes and Watson. They seemed to have an unspoken symbol or way of communicating because I could see something was up. Mary started trotting down the stairs but I stayed behind listening to the door, careful not to let my shadow be seen.
"One of the most dangerous classes in the world is the drifting and friendless woman*(actually from the books, I'm quoting Doyle)," Holmes stated abruptly and paused, "but Audrey seems different. She's neither drifting nor friendless now."
"You're not making sense and she hasn't explained where she was when she suddenly changed time dimensions," Watson said.
"I have a suspicion," Holmes murmured, slouching in his chair staring into the fire. "This afternoon, I was...thinking, and I noticed someone slinking out of the room. I nonetheless thought it to be an hallucination but now Audrey has proven otherwise."
"How do you know her Holmes?" Watson inquired softly.
"I don't, it's rather unexplainable," Holmes said stiffly.
"I don't know if I believe her story," Watson said itching his chin.
"For some reason beyond this planet...I think I do," Holmes said calmly.
"She seems honest, but since when did we start believing in fairy tales other than reasonable explanations?" Watson said firmly.
"When I saw truth in her eyes," Holmes whispered.
"Was that POETRY?" Watson said incredulously, "Truly Holmes, what is it with you and this young crazy woman?"
"She's not crazy she's lost," Holmes said strongly, "But I believe there is much more behind it then that."
"Audrey!" a voice hissed behind me. "Come downstairs and help me," Mary whispered treading up the stairs and tugging on my arm.
"Fine," I whispered following Mary but looking over my shoulder at Holmes's door, wondering if he even knew I was there.
I was lead into a small kitchen with a snoring frizzy grey-haired woman in the corner. "That's Mrs. Hudson," Mary whispered quietly while handing me a tray with steaming stew on it. "Here take an extra," she said, winking.
"Okay," I replied. Mary was extremely nice. She wasn't exactly the most exciting or fun person to be with, but she was pretty swell.
"Shhh," she motioned, pressing her finger against her tightly closed mouth as we neared the landing. "Here's dinner," Mary announced opening the door and smiling brightly letting me hear snatches of conversation containing the words 'she' and 'stay here'.
Holmes and Watson both exchanged glances as Mary dished out the food. "Audrey, we've reviewed you situation and Holmes and I think it'd be acceptable if you stay here at 221b Baker Street," Holmes announced abruptly.
"What?!" I gasped, smiling at Holmes. "THANK YOU!" Even if this was a dream, it was a pretty good one.
"There has to be some reason that you've been transported here," Watson said briefly, "and you seem to be a decent young woman."
"Where were you when you suddenly arrived here?" Holmes asked me, stirring his boiling soup.
"Right here," I replied, standing up and walking to the spot by the two obsidian elephants that I was examining during my time period change.
"And before you noticed you were here, where were you?" Watson said.
"Umm...in the Sherlock Holmes Museum," I said weakly, trying not to look at the three's stupefied faces.
"What?" Mary laughed.
"Well there are stories written about you guys," I said giggling at their reaction.
"About US?" Watson asked.
"Yep, a whole boatload of them by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle," I replied helping myself to a bowl of, now cool, soup.
"He sounds familiar," Watson said, "Know him Holmes?"
"No, the name doesn't hesitate to ring a bell."
"But the stories," Mary insisted, "Are they in the future? Do you know what will happen after this night and for the next years?"
"I knew nothing of me in your world but I may remember certain mysteries." I replied casually. Watson and Holmes jumped at the idea.
"Can you tell us the outcome of our next cases then?" Watson practically yelled.
"I won't," I replied smiling, "no sense in spoiling it."
Mary then stood up. "Watson it's time I should leave," she said, nodding for Watson to come to the front door with her.
"Bye Mary," I said quietly waving good-bye to my only Victorian female friend.
"Bye Audrey," Mary replied, smiling cordially.
Holmes and I were quiet in discomfort able silence when the two engaged couple left to say their goodbye. "Why?" Holmes said staring into space, "Why did you do that?"
"Excuse me?" I asked, slightly smiling at the detective's analogical question.
"Today when you were sneaking past my residence and I...startled you, why did you...respond the way you did," he said a little uncomfortable.
"I don't know," I laughed, "I just felt like doing it."
"Oh," Holmes replied, frowning slightly in disappointment.
"But..." I paused, thinking, "I wanted to." Holmes smiled.
"I barely even know you," he whispered, "But you've totally changed my life."
'I've heard that line before,' I thought crossly in my mind. "I shouldn't have done that," I said softly.
"Why?" he demanded then smiled looking bashful.
"I'm distracting you from your complicated work," I said teasing him.
"No, you aren't and you won't," he said forcefully.
"Okedokee," I said, trying to hide an escapable yawn.
"We should get you to bed," Holmes said grabbing a hand knit woolen blanket and handing it to me. "You can sleep in my room; I'll sleep in the chair."
"Awwww Holmes," I whined, "you don't have to do that, I can sleep in the chair."
"No I insist," he said gently pushing me to the door of his bedroom. At the doorway I turned around and faced him looking into his eyes. "Thank you Holmes," I whispered standing on my tippy-toes to reach his dark grey eyes.
"You're welcome," he murmured leaning down to my face. He was going to kiss me, I knew it, a feeling rippled along my spine and I closed my eyes. But instead of a peck I felt a head nestled in my shoulder and arms around my waist. 'Damn,' I thought in my head. A hug?!
Well, it wasn't THAT bad. I mean a passionate hug from Holmes was a heaven sent miracle. When had he EVER even showed ANY sign of emotion to anyone? Much the less a strange like me he had just met. For moments we stood there. "Thank god for you," I heard him whisper and it raise many questions in my head. I mean sure I had just MET Holmes and already it felt like something...deep.
"Holmes?" I heard Watson say behind him.
"G'night," I whispered as I quickly shut the door. Whew, so much drama. I was in a different time period with lots to be explored and an extremely HOT guy in the room next to me. What else could have been better? But then the realization of singularity hit me. Of course being in a different time period made me practically stranded in a world of proper, polite, English zombies. And Holmes would probably wake up tomorrow morning and realize what a fool he and I were and extinguish all emotional feelings he had for me. Not that there were any...Then came the remembrance of my small family, probably assuming I'm dead, or raped or kidnapped...Slowly tears began to cloud my eyes, making the room around me swirl into circular shapes. What on earth would happen now?
Author's Note:
Hehe, that was a LONG chapter, took like a week to write, although for short periods of time. Well as always please REVIEW and tell me your feelings, thoughts or opinions. I hopefully will update soon, but this weekend I'm going up North to my momma's family for Easter. Thanks again, you guys are AWESOME!!
Kels*
Howdy, 3rd chapter coming' up! Please review, critique welcome!~! Mucho gracias to the best beta reader in the WORLD...HILARY! And COOKIES to all my reviewers THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!
Little 'Thank you' Notes
Sakura Moon: Yup, you assumed correct. Something related to that will come up later in the story! Thanks for reviewing!
Blackrose25: You'll have to tell me about that revolving holographic projection in the basement. Danric is SOOO unbelievably sexy...SIGH! Hehe, I don't actually have an ocean view from my window. The clouds just looked like it kinda lol, and I don't have a laptop...yet. I was writing on paper at the time, but my parents are so tired of me typing away on the computer all day so they're helping me save money to buy a Dell. YEE-HAW! I just have to sell enough stuff on Ebay though...tell me when you're new Holmes fic is on fanfiction, I'd really like to read it! Thanks for reviewing!! (Beta Add- in! - Hey Rose! Instead of making Kels tell ya I may has well tell ya myself: I CAN'T WAIT FOR YOUR NEW FIC! Did you know that because you got me addicted to Holmes, that I have trouble typing in Shevraeth anymore. Sherlock is the immediate reaction. :P I still want one of those revolving holograms. Has Top Hat been able to find me one yet? ;) Ta-ta Rose!)
Topazdragon: SO DO I!! SIGH! THANKS FOR ALL UR REVIEWZ!
Hil: Hey BIG G, that was it wasn't it? LOL, Mr. Smith talks A LOT!!~! Kinda odd tangents ain't they? Fighting and Florida stuff, lol. I swear, look on the synthesizer, it's made by a company called RHODES!! Omg I seriously almost SCREAMED when I saw that!! SIGH ETHAN RHODES! I have to read that fic again, and I HOPE she updates...SOON!! xoxo (LOL LMFAO JK JK JK JK JK) wOOt wOOt, SNORT SNORT, have a great almighty laugh week! Loki better come back down to the US from Denmark or he's gonna get a serious whoopin...from ME! You have to write some more Danric stuff...FLUFF!! YEE-HAW!
Scarlett: Thanks for reviewing! I only went in the GIFTSHOP, (tears) when I was at the Sherlock Holmes museum! I was SOOO mad! All the rest of my family wanted to go to the wax museum and spent FOREVER in the Beatle's shop so no time left for Holmes, tear, tear. I did get to meet and take a picture with an incredibly HOT Sherlock Holmes imitator and then I followed him down to the lower level, hehe, but that's a whole different story!~ J
Carolinus Took: *Screeches happily* THANKS for your review, hehe I'm glad you like it!!
Greeneyes616: Hehe thanx! I might go off onto a romantic Sherlock Holmes chapter tangents or something like that, but I'm trying to make this fic as much close to the books as possible, while changing the **romantic** side of Sherlock. TEE-HEE! I hope you like it!!~!
Snik: MWHAHAHAHAH THANK YOU ROSEBUD!
Meitantei Kudo KID: LOL!! HEHE! Sigh...Holmes!
Mysterylover17: Thank ya!! J I hope ya keep reading!
QueenOfSpain: AWESOME PEN NAME! That's so kewl!! Hehe, I did take your advise and asked a close Sherlockian friend (Hilary) to be my Beta Reader, I'm not talented at punctuation etc. You'll see this plot is pretty different from all other Sherlockian, I hope! Lol.
Georgie d: SORRY about the 'Doctor Holmes' thing, I kinda get off focused, must of slipped when I was editing it. Thanks for your review!!
Nath: Hehe, THANKS for your review! What country are you from, or what language do you speak, I should say? There's way too many hot mysterious guys in books and movies! SIGH, Please keep reviewing, I look forward to hearing from you!
~***Chapter 3***~
Sniffing and weakly trying to wipe my tears away I let myself be led by the kind woman and man. "Do you think he's alright John?" the woman asked, guiding me past the familiar houses I had just ran from including the Beatles and Elvis shop, now turned into a seamstress and a tailor. They stopped at 221b and for a moment I clearly doubted my sanity.
"No," I protested struggling to get out of their loose grip. "I can't go in there, I'm sorry."
"Why not?" the man said, who I assumed to be Doctor Watson in the flesh.
"Because, I've had...a...a... bad experience with Mr. Holmes," I stuttered, looking down at the dirty ground and avoiding looking into their questioning eyes.
"Darling, Mr. Holmes is a practical man, don't worry," the woman said.
"Yes, Mary is right, Holmes won't mind a bit at your presence," Watson replied.
Then it dawned on me. 'Now I get it,' a voice in me yelled, 'Watson and Mary Morstan!' "Are you two married?" I asked politely, my demeanor changing completely.
"No, we're engaged," Mary said to me, smiling and raising her eyebrows curiously, "How on heavens could you tell that?"
"You just look familiar," I responded, smiling innocently. Watson opened the shadowing door while Mary led me through by the crook of her arm. "Really, I appreciate all you've done, but this isn't necessary," I said again, looking nervously at the open door above the staircase.
"Come on, it'll all be fine," Mary said putting up a smile. My journey up the stairs was only a second and in minutes I was standing in front of the detectives door hiding behind Watson and Mary.
"Holmes," Watson yelled loudly, pounding on the dark orange door, "It's us." Footsteps could be heard approaching the door which soon swung open to reveal a very tired and saddened Holmes.
"Hello," Holmes greeted wearily, "Come in." Watson and Mary quickly entered into the room and I stood back besides the door so I could hopefully sneak away.
"Come on dear," Mary said, popping up next to me and dragging me inside. I at once pivoted my eyes to the ground, avoiding Holmes's gaze.
"Watson," Holmes breathed, striding at once to my side. "You found her," he whispered, tilting my chin upwards so my own eyes would meet his enchanting grey one's. At once I could see vivid emotion in his features. The way he was looking at me, I'd seen it before. It was the same look Will had given me after we first met the moment I got off the airplane. ~~~~~~~~~~~~
I wouldn't deny the fact that I was something to look at. Countless people had told me so. Old boyfriends murmuring it to me by the small farm lake in the soft moonlight. Or old ladies at church praising me on my church solo or how wonderful I looked. Beauty was a weapon, and a nuisance, not a god- given gift.
At the age of 7, my mother enrolled me in small modeling contests and little photo takes. I had absolutely no tolerance for it. I was a messy tomboy and would rather be running outside in the mud then sitting still in some scratchy dress, my eyes nearly blind from the constant blinking lights of cameras. But later all they had gone away when I decided to take a different path, one to college and an academic career. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Just by the look in Sherlock's eyes and I could tell I had captured the Great Detective's heart. We just gazed at each other, at first I thought he was going to kiss me and I put a finger to his lips. How could he seem so miraculously familiar? This was impossible, Sherlock Holmes had never loved anyone else, much less me. And we hadn't known each other, that was virtually beyond any way of happening.
But still, I felt like I had been by his side every day of my life. "What is your name?" Holmes whispered, as everyone else in the room began to fade and all that existed was Holmes and I.
"Audrey," I replied drowning in the large pools of his mystical eyes.
"Holmes," I heard Watson say behind me. "You never told me of any romantic acquaintance you'd had. Who is this young lady"
"And how in heaven's name do you know her?" Mary interrupted.
"I don't," Holmes replied in a husky deep voice.
"Just in our dreams," I responded grinning at Holmes.
"But...but... who are you dear?" Watson stammered.
"My name is Audrey," I stated clearly, "I am most definitely lost and have almost no idea what to do."
"You are from American correct?" Mary asked.
"Yes, but not the America of this age, from the America of 2004."
"That's physically impossible," Mary retorted, laughing, "You must be mad."
"I know, and I feel like I'm dreaming and about to wake up any second. But here I am and you certainly don't look my friends from NIU."
"Prove that you're from the future," Watson said smugly, sitting back in his armchair, arms crossed over his chest.
"Well, let me see," I answered taking off my worn lime green fanny pack around my waist and observing the items in it. "I have some English pounds and a few spare American dollars," I said handing the items to Watson. "And here is a bottle of sunscreen, sun glasses, a map of London, a tour guide book and my camera."
"What on earth?" Mary replied stunned, looking incredulously at the flexible gold and purple bottle of Banana Boat lotion.
"Look at this," Holmes said, finally saying a few words, "This tour guide has colored pictures of London in the future."
"What?" Watson weakly asked, looking suddenly towards the open book in Holmes's hands.
"There are pictures of incredible buildings, some five times the size of Buckingham Palace," Holmes remarked.
"And look those huge red things, they look like they're moving," Watson then whispered, his finger tracing the outline of the bus on the page.
"They're called double-decker buses," I said clearly, drawing attention to the words 'double' and 'decker'.
"I see, and what is this?" Holmes asked me curiously, leaning over and showing me a picture of the London Eye.
"Ah," I whispered smiling, "It's called the London Eye and it's a great HUGE Ferris Wheel." Mary, Watson and Holmes stared at me blankly. "Like a contraption that you can ride in that goes up and around then down and.." I demonstrated using my finger in a circular motion. Still blank stares. "Well it's the Millennium Wheel and a big thing and fun," I said quickly changing the subject.
"And this is a camera?" Holmes asked me holding the small box up near the gas light.
"Yup," I replied, "It takes little pictures." Then suddenly an idea dawned on me. "Mr. Holmes," I asked turning to him at my side, "Can I get these photographs developed?"
"I think I can," Holmes replied in a stiff manner, at once resuming to his impossibly intelligent self.
"Fabulous," Watson remarked, clapping his hands loudly.
"So you mean to tell me that you took pictures with this device?" Mary asked curiously, her face showing obvious doubt.
"Yes, in fact let me take a picture of all you," I said taking the camera from Holmes and motioning for them all to scoot together. Click.
"Odd contraption," Watson said, scratching his head and franticly blinking his eyes at the cameras quick flash. "You can get those images on paper, Holmes?"
"I can try through the Woodbury type of photomechanical process."
"Explain Holmes," Watson said, tilting his head curiously, ready for a lengthy explanation.
"Well, the Woodbury type is a method in which the process creates stunning pictures, but is an extremely difficult process. A light-sensitive gelatin material is exposed to a negative, resulting in a three-dimensional relief- map of the image. Then the hard part is applying huge pressure (with a hydraulic press most likely) on the gelatin relief to make an impression in a block of lead. The lead mold is used to create the prints, which have exquisite tonality and a slightly raised surface...." Holmes started to go on and on. Mary had started staring at the dwindling fire and had a glaze over her eyes, while Watson had been faintly nodding to Holmes his mind vividly trying to comprehend what the detective was saying.
"Sounds unique," Watson had suggested brightly. "What do you think Mary?" he asked his day-dreaming wife.
"What? Oh...I think it's a little above my intellect," Mary said politely. 'The total 19th century thing, men are smarter then women,' I thought in my head, narrowing my eyes at Mary.
"But why are you here?" Holmes asked me quietly.
"And how?" Watson butted in.
"I don't know," I just about screamed, rolling my eyes. My irritation level was nearing its boiling point and I'm sure you can tell that I have a hot temper. "All I know is that I don't belong here and I don't have a place to stay."
Watson looked at me peculiarly and then whispered something to Holmes. "Mary could you go down with Audrey to get our dinner from Mrs. Hudson?" he asked, Watson making a strange look at his fiancé.
"Yes," Mary replied. "Come on dear," she said smiling brightly. I nodded while glancing at Holmes and Watson. They seemed to have an unspoken symbol or way of communicating because I could see something was up. Mary started trotting down the stairs but I stayed behind listening to the door, careful not to let my shadow be seen.
"One of the most dangerous classes in the world is the drifting and friendless woman*(actually from the books, I'm quoting Doyle)," Holmes stated abruptly and paused, "but Audrey seems different. She's neither drifting nor friendless now."
"You're not making sense and she hasn't explained where she was when she suddenly changed time dimensions," Watson said.
"I have a suspicion," Holmes murmured, slouching in his chair staring into the fire. "This afternoon, I was...thinking, and I noticed someone slinking out of the room. I nonetheless thought it to be an hallucination but now Audrey has proven otherwise."
"How do you know her Holmes?" Watson inquired softly.
"I don't, it's rather unexplainable," Holmes said stiffly.
"I don't know if I believe her story," Watson said itching his chin.
"For some reason beyond this planet...I think I do," Holmes said calmly.
"She seems honest, but since when did we start believing in fairy tales other than reasonable explanations?" Watson said firmly.
"When I saw truth in her eyes," Holmes whispered.
"Was that POETRY?" Watson said incredulously, "Truly Holmes, what is it with you and this young crazy woman?"
"She's not crazy she's lost," Holmes said strongly, "But I believe there is much more behind it then that."
"Audrey!" a voice hissed behind me. "Come downstairs and help me," Mary whispered treading up the stairs and tugging on my arm.
"Fine," I whispered following Mary but looking over my shoulder at Holmes's door, wondering if he even knew I was there.
I was lead into a small kitchen with a snoring frizzy grey-haired woman in the corner. "That's Mrs. Hudson," Mary whispered quietly while handing me a tray with steaming stew on it. "Here take an extra," she said, winking.
"Okay," I replied. Mary was extremely nice. She wasn't exactly the most exciting or fun person to be with, but she was pretty swell.
"Shhh," she motioned, pressing her finger against her tightly closed mouth as we neared the landing. "Here's dinner," Mary announced opening the door and smiling brightly letting me hear snatches of conversation containing the words 'she' and 'stay here'.
Holmes and Watson both exchanged glances as Mary dished out the food. "Audrey, we've reviewed you situation and Holmes and I think it'd be acceptable if you stay here at 221b Baker Street," Holmes announced abruptly.
"What?!" I gasped, smiling at Holmes. "THANK YOU!" Even if this was a dream, it was a pretty good one.
"There has to be some reason that you've been transported here," Watson said briefly, "and you seem to be a decent young woman."
"Where were you when you suddenly arrived here?" Holmes asked me, stirring his boiling soup.
"Right here," I replied, standing up and walking to the spot by the two obsidian elephants that I was examining during my time period change.
"And before you noticed you were here, where were you?" Watson said.
"Umm...in the Sherlock Holmes Museum," I said weakly, trying not to look at the three's stupefied faces.
"What?" Mary laughed.
"Well there are stories written about you guys," I said giggling at their reaction.
"About US?" Watson asked.
"Yep, a whole boatload of them by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle," I replied helping myself to a bowl of, now cool, soup.
"He sounds familiar," Watson said, "Know him Holmes?"
"No, the name doesn't hesitate to ring a bell."
"But the stories," Mary insisted, "Are they in the future? Do you know what will happen after this night and for the next years?"
"I knew nothing of me in your world but I may remember certain mysteries." I replied casually. Watson and Holmes jumped at the idea.
"Can you tell us the outcome of our next cases then?" Watson practically yelled.
"I won't," I replied smiling, "no sense in spoiling it."
Mary then stood up. "Watson it's time I should leave," she said, nodding for Watson to come to the front door with her.
"Bye Mary," I said quietly waving good-bye to my only Victorian female friend.
"Bye Audrey," Mary replied, smiling cordially.
Holmes and I were quiet in discomfort able silence when the two engaged couple left to say their goodbye. "Why?" Holmes said staring into space, "Why did you do that?"
"Excuse me?" I asked, slightly smiling at the detective's analogical question.
"Today when you were sneaking past my residence and I...startled you, why did you...respond the way you did," he said a little uncomfortable.
"I don't know," I laughed, "I just felt like doing it."
"Oh," Holmes replied, frowning slightly in disappointment.
"But..." I paused, thinking, "I wanted to." Holmes smiled.
"I barely even know you," he whispered, "But you've totally changed my life."
'I've heard that line before,' I thought crossly in my mind. "I shouldn't have done that," I said softly.
"Why?" he demanded then smiled looking bashful.
"I'm distracting you from your complicated work," I said teasing him.
"No, you aren't and you won't," he said forcefully.
"Okedokee," I said, trying to hide an escapable yawn.
"We should get you to bed," Holmes said grabbing a hand knit woolen blanket and handing it to me. "You can sleep in my room; I'll sleep in the chair."
"Awwww Holmes," I whined, "you don't have to do that, I can sleep in the chair."
"No I insist," he said gently pushing me to the door of his bedroom. At the doorway I turned around and faced him looking into his eyes. "Thank you Holmes," I whispered standing on my tippy-toes to reach his dark grey eyes.
"You're welcome," he murmured leaning down to my face. He was going to kiss me, I knew it, a feeling rippled along my spine and I closed my eyes. But instead of a peck I felt a head nestled in my shoulder and arms around my waist. 'Damn,' I thought in my head. A hug?!
Well, it wasn't THAT bad. I mean a passionate hug from Holmes was a heaven sent miracle. When had he EVER even showed ANY sign of emotion to anyone? Much the less a strange like me he had just met. For moments we stood there. "Thank god for you," I heard him whisper and it raise many questions in my head. I mean sure I had just MET Holmes and already it felt like something...deep.
"Holmes?" I heard Watson say behind him.
"G'night," I whispered as I quickly shut the door. Whew, so much drama. I was in a different time period with lots to be explored and an extremely HOT guy in the room next to me. What else could have been better? But then the realization of singularity hit me. Of course being in a different time period made me practically stranded in a world of proper, polite, English zombies. And Holmes would probably wake up tomorrow morning and realize what a fool he and I were and extinguish all emotional feelings he had for me. Not that there were any...Then came the remembrance of my small family, probably assuming I'm dead, or raped or kidnapped...Slowly tears began to cloud my eyes, making the room around me swirl into circular shapes. What on earth would happen now?
Author's Note:
Hehe, that was a LONG chapter, took like a week to write, although for short periods of time. Well as always please REVIEW and tell me your feelings, thoughts or opinions. I hopefully will update soon, but this weekend I'm going up North to my momma's family for Easter. Thanks again, you guys are AWESOME!!
Kels*