Masked Phantom: "Hope you enjoy the 'break'. Here's the second part."

Disclaimer: As usual... no difference from the first one.I own nothing but the plot.

Part 2: Sparks, Romance, Developments (II)

A week later…

"WHAT! How could that compudroid pet of yours be kidnapped?" bellowed Grayson.

"That compudroid that you are referring to is called, Watson. Chief Inspector." Holmes remarked coldly.

"Whatever. But all I just have to do is to do a D-W and it will settle the problem." Grayson suggested.

"No sir. It can't be done this way. Watson is unique and we can't just deactivate him and wipe his memory banks out." Lestrade protested.

"That I agree. Watson has some properties in which some private company would surely like to duplicate." Holmes mentioned in disgust.

"What do you suggest? You know the procedures when a compudroid goes missing or stolen for more than 12 hours." Grayson reminded.

"Give us 12 hours and we'll find him." Lestrade said.

"We can't risk having our criminal files and information being hacked into or duplicated if that is what you say. Anyway Watson is just a droid. If we just proceed with the D-W and it'll be worthless to whomever who had stole it." Grayson negotiated.

"No… I can't, just give us time and we'll definitely find him. We got some clues on who had kidnapped him." Lestrade persisted.

"Believe us. I assure that we'll find Watson before our culprit could do anything to him." Holmes added determinedly.

"Procedures are procedures, Lestrade. And you know it well, Inspector." Grayson said sternly, as he became more impatient.

"Damn to those procedures! Why can't you just trust us Grayson?" snapped Holmes.

"How dare you… So it's now an issue of trust isn't it Sherlock Holmes. I trust that your feelings for the inspector did not interfere with your thoughts." Grayson said with anger and sarcasm.

"Enough! That is between the both of us and it does not concern the issue that is being brought up! I'm asking you, do you trust us? Chief Inspector Grayson." Holmes argued back. Realizing what he had just said, he took a step backwards, shocked.

With that the argument ended in a cold awkward silence and the words said began to sink in to everyone. The first person to speak was Grayson, "The both of you got less than 8 hours."

Lestrade left the room in haste with Holmes right behind her. For the first time she was afraid of Holmes. She never expected that from him. It was all just too sudden. She knew she had a job to do but she wanted to run, away from Holmes.

However, she was pulled back by him. She was not sure whether should she turn to face him. Her heart raced as she summoned the courage to speak, "Is it true?"

Holmes swallowed hard and said in a barely audible voice, "Yes."

Slowly he brought himself in front of her. Looking deep into her eyes, he finally admitted it, "Yes, I do have feelings for you but for now, I need your help. We need to find Watson."

Why can't they understand
the way we feel
They just don't trust
what they can't explain
I know we're different but,
deep inside us
We're not that different at all

That night…

The two sat alone on the couch at 221b, Watson was saved and was now at New Scotland Yard for some fixing and checkups. It was meant to be a celebration but silence just took over it.

Holmes was the first to take the initiative to speak up, "I erm… know that this isn't the best time to say it but I do know how I feel about you but I don't expect…"

"Sh… I understand." she hushed him her fingers were on his lips. The atmosphere was intense as the couple grew closer to each other. Sherlock gently stoked a stray strand of hair away from Beth's face, he tilted his head in an angle and he softly pressed his lips onto hers. He wasn't sure if he wanted a response but it did come in passionately. It seems that it could last forever but they just stopped when they ran out of breath. The answer was clear.

Sherlock looked into the depths of her dark blue eyes and said, "Beth, I promise you, when this is over… will you be with me, right by my side, together as a man and woman should be?"

Beth shifted her body so that she could lean against his chest and they spent the night enjoying the company each other.

And you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more

Masked Phantom:"Alright… That's the end of another part. I do hope that you enjoyed it. Please do drop a review. No flames. Last but not least, Part 3 is in the progress."