Chapter 17

We made it to the theatre with plenty of time to spare and went to pick up our tickets.

"Tickets, name of Holmes," Sherlock said. "There should be two."

"Um," the man said. "I actually have three in that name."

"Hello Sherlock," said a voice from behind us. We turned to look and saw John standing there. "Sorry to crash your date, except, well, I'm not." He grinned at us, and I laughed.

"Oh Jawn, you're the most adorable little hedgehog to ever walk this earth," I said, clapping him on the shoulder.

"Hedgehog?" He asked. "Those aren't particularly threatening creatures, so I'm a bit disappointed."

"It's alright John," Sherlock said, collecting the tickets. "Earlier Helen called me an otter. Safe to say she's not discriminating with these sorts of things." The two of them had a bit of a stare down. "If you're still angry, then why are you here?"

"Couldn't let you do something stupid and get yourself killed, now could I?" John said, folding his arms. "Besides, you never know when you might need a spare pair of hands." He didn't sound angry any more. Maybe irritated, but not angry.

I began wigging out, my inner fangirl taking over for a moment. "Oh my god, that is the absolute cutest thing I have ever seen in my entire life, guuuuurgh!" If I was crazy, at this point I would have probably been frothing at the mouth. Which I'm sad to say that moment wasn't too far away. "You guys are so slashy, fuck, OTP coming at ya. I SHIP IT SO HARD." And thus I descended into another incoherent singularity. "Screw canon and screw Moffat. I will go down with this ship, unto thee I swear it!"

"Have you any idea what she's talking about?" John said.

"No," Sherlock said. "But I have the distinct impression that we probably do not want to know what she is talking about." He handed us our tickets. "Let's get inside."

"Ooh, can I have the thing the tickets came in?" I asked. My eyes were huge as I held out my hands like a child. "Can I can I can I?" I was acting like a kid, still not fully recovered from the fangirl high from a few moments ago. He looked at me with one raised eyebrow, but placed the tiny slip on paper in my hands. "Yes! Ermergerhd, this is the best thing to happen since canned bread!" I gave the stony faced man a peck on the cheek and ran ahead of them, skipping as I went.

Sherlock stood stock still next to his friend.

"Well," John began. "Look at you."

He betrayed no emotion whatsoever. "I don't know what you're referring to," Sherlock said, filing into the theatre, John snickering behind him as he followed.

"That's sweet of her, giving you a kiss on the cheek," he said.

"Shut up John," Sherlock said.

I milled about, gazing at the candles and spooky atmosphere.

"Any particular reason you desired the envelope our tickets came in?" Sherlock whispered into my ear.

"Suppose there was," I said quietly, not looking behind me where he must be standing. "Would you like to use a question on that?"

"No," he answered. "I'm saving them for the future. I was hoping that perhaps it was of such little consequence that revealing said purposes would be of no trouble."

"Oh, you're so naive when you assume things," I teased. "But you are right, it is such a petty thing to ask for. Trivial really." My mouth smirked unwillingly. "However I am not sure if you are prepared for what I have to say. Indeed my words may shock you to such a degree that you will, in fact, be speechless." This was fun. I disliked all the arguing and anger, but this was mere jest. I had to work just as hard at it, but mind you, the payoff was well worth the effort.

"Oh I highly doubt that," Sherlock said. "I am always ready for what others might say so as to respond exactly how I mean to in effort to avoid as much nonsensical miscommunication that I can."

"It seems to me that type of behaviour would rather discourage others from conversing with your person, but that couldn't possibly be your goal now could it?" I said, using as much ire as I could muster. "But no matter. Well, since you're so keen on discovering why, I'll tell you. The reason why, is because I wanted to treasure this memory as long as possible."

He laughed. "I see how it is. If you don't tell me I'll just be forced to find out otherwise."

"Aww, there you go again, assuming I was patronising you!" I said, wringing my hands in mock disappointment. "I was telling the truth you nitwit. The ticket stub may tell me I came here, but the envelope will help me remember that it was with you. It's not everyday that you get to infiltrate an international smuggling ring with none other then the Sherlock Holmes." I looked back at him, and we grinned in unison as the drums began.

John looked at me incredulously, and I shrugged my shoulders. He rolled his eyes as the demonstration began. We watched as the costumed woman plucked a feather from her headdress and placed it in the weight sensitive bowl, sending a bolt soaring through the air while the crowd, myself and Sherlock excluded, jumped about a foot in the air. We all clapped as the man stepped forward to be chained.

"Classic Chinese escapology act," I whispered to John, glancing at Sherlock and giving him a wink as I did so. I loved stealing his lines. Turning back to John, I stole his next words too. "See that crossbow? It's set on a delicate string. He has to escape before it skewers him." She picked up a knife. "See, she's gonna stick that in the bag and let the sand spill out, letting the weight drop gently into the bowl." The man grunted and struggled, and I sneaking a peak behind John to see Sherlock was gone.

"Oh my god," John muttered in amazement, clapping as the man grunted in triumph from having freed himself before dying a terrible and painful death. He too looked behind and saw Sherlock had left. "Does he have to sneak off like this?" John said in frustration. Just barely visible was his unwavering concern.

"Did you really expect him to bring us along?" I asked in amusement.

"Well," John said. "I guess not. That still doesn't mean that's right."

"You know, I have a question John." I looked at him out of the corner of my eye. "For not knowing much about either of you basically at all, and having technically only known you both for a few days, the both of you seem awfully comfortable letting me just, kinda, you know..."

"Kinda you know what?" I think he was thoroughly confused as to my meaning. I stared at him meaningfully for a few moments, but he shrugged his shoulders and tilted his head.

"Oh dear lord," I said, rolling my eyes. "You guys seem fine letting me get in the way of, things."

"Things? W-what things? You're another person for him to solve crimes with. Sherlock did the exact same thing with me. We had known each other scarcely a day before he took me to the scene of a murder. You really don't need to worry about it." He patted my shoulder. "Seriously, you've been able to hand more of his character then most. You should get a medal. I should too."

"I wasn't talking about that," I said in exasperation. "I mean I feel bad for being such a cockblock is all."

We both stared at each other, him deaf to the performer soaring through the air, and me raising my eyebrows unapologetically.

"You know what, I'm gonna pretend you didn't even say that sentence." John looked away. "Good performance don't you think? I wish I had asked Sarah here, she would have enjoyed this. Would've been a great place for a date."

I watched as the curtain moved erratically and narrowed my eyes. "Yeah, it would have been great up until the point when Sherlock showed up. Tell me again how you hope to gain a steady girlfriend when he has you at his beck and call?"

"I am not at his beck and call!" John protested.

As if on cue, Sherlock fell out of the curtain and into the circle of candles, and both of us looked at him at the same time. He was followed by the costumed man from previously, and John rushed off to intervene.

"Way to prove my point..." I grumbled. I grabbed a piece of wood and started thrashing the guy about to get at Sherlock mercilessly. He grabbed at the man's shoe, revealing the Black Lotus tattoo on the heel of his foot. I offered my hand out and helped him to his feet.

"Come on," Sherlock said, pulling me with him. "Let's go." John followed us as we exited the theatre as quickly as possible. Outside Sherlock hailed a cab. "I knew it," he said, wringing his hands as we crammed in. "A Chinese circus in good one night only? Obvious. There was no other explanation for it." He took out his cell phone. "I must call that dimwit from earlier and tell him to send a few cars over. He dialled the number and began ordering the man around. "You need to send officers to the address I'm about to text you. There's a smuggling ring that operated out of that facility tonight. You should catch them before they leave." He hung up then texted him the location.

"You alright?" I asked.

"Fine, why wouldn't I be?" He said, looking at me expectantly.

"Well you did just fend off an assassin," I pointed out. "I'm sure he got a few swipes in at one moment or another during your struggle, and in betting he wasn't being soft about them. Not to mention you kinda fell off the stage and onto a hardwood floor. That couldn't have been comfortable."

"I am perfectly fine," he replied icily.

"Hey hey woah woah hey!" I said, hitting him upside the head. "Trying to show concern for you is something a friend does because they care. I'm not trying to mother you nitwit, so stop acting like my worry was repulsive or something. Even John was worried for you. Geez. It's not like I'm being overprotective like Mycroft." I probably didn't need to get that angry, but the way he said it just pissed me off.

"It hardly matters," Sherlock said in response to my tirade. "Besides, your anger is not in fact anger, but a further manifestation of your concern for my welfare. If you hadn't already admitted that, then I would have pointed it out at the present for the sake of actually provoking you to anger."

It was hard to stay mad at him when he said things like that. "You were planning to make me angry? Aww, come here!" I latched onto his head and noogied him. "You great big genius you."

He swatted at me, but in the close corners of the cab it was near impossible for him to escape. "This is uncomfortable. I must insist that you cease action now or your revenge will be nigh."

"Bring it on dickhead!" I yelled, going to town on his skull. "It probably doesn't even hurt that much you little wuss. I mean, your afro has to help somewhat at least, right!" My skill with the noogie is unparalleled. "Didn't you and your brother ever give each other noogies? No, I bet you were all respectable and shit, playing with your words. How utterly boring." I let go of his head and smiled like a devil. "See? It's a lot of fun." His hair was just the same as before, except cooler somehow. His hair had that quality of looking curled but clean, but now it was messy with a touch of ease, like he had styled it to look messy on purpose and be all hipstery. Ticked me off. How could he get his head to look like that after I just gave him the one noogie to rule them all?

"In fact, that was my childhood," Sherlock commented. He gave me a look that scared me stiff. "But do not think I am unfamiliar with the concept of rough housing." He grabbed my head and gave me the same treatment, if not worse.

"Spawn of Satan!" I yelled, flailing helplessly. "It's the Cumberpocalypse! Somebody stop him before my eyes turn black!"

John rubbed his forehead in frustration. "I'm sorry about this," he said to the cabbie.

"It's alright, I've had worse in the back then the likes of them," he responded. "One time, a couple tried to have sex back there." He chuckled. "They seemed nice enough, until the just went at it. Like animals almost."

"Really?" John asked.

"Oh yeah," he replied. "Funny couple. For some reason the word MorMor comes to mind. Can't think why."

OH YEAH. I WENT THERE.

So what up? Yeah it's been forever. Too bad for you, but my life is meh so things happen. Anyway, here's this lovely chapter for all you peeps. What do you think? I still hate this episode. Well, I love this episode, but I want to get to the next one soo bad! With Mycroft and Moriarty and I can't wait!

Anyway, if you liked this story leave a review. Links to my tumblr, Facebook, and YouTube are in my profile, so if you wanna check them out go right ahead. On tumblr I fangirl, Facebook I make random posts, and YouTube I make anime reviews. If that's your thing, then go see what's up. Talk to you next time!