Chapter 8 – Accepted
Watson stood nervously beside the door watching his companion walk around the room.
"I don't think that this is very proper behavior," he finally said when Holmes began examining the wallpaper as though it were a piece of art.
"And why is that Watson?" Holmes replied moving over to the door to the bedroom.
At seeing his friend advance on the room Watson left his post at the door and instantly rushed over. He stood in his friends path and frowned disapprovingly at him.
"Because we should not be going through a lady's personal belongings."
"Come now Watson, she has been injured, she is a victim of a crime and therefore as a detective I am willing to offer my services to solve that crime," Holmes replied before easily side stepping Watson and entering Elizabeth's bedroom.
Elizabeth stared at the ceiling above her and once again heard the creaking of the floorboards. She smiled to herself.
"Look all you like Detective, you won't find anything suspect."
Elizabeth quickly pulled on a nearby robe and walked out into the living area of the Holmes and Watson apartment.
Quickly she went about her official duties, every now and then checking to ensure that the owners of the apartment were still upstairs in her apartment. She moved a few objects and examined others as quietly as she could but she was unable to resist the urge to examine everything in the room minutely.
Finally she turned and was faced with Holmes favorite armchair. She watched it for a moment as though expecting it to leap forward and swallow her whole or at the least offer a condescending remark. Nothing happened and Elizabeth slowly backed away from the chair though her eyes were still mesmerized by it.
She suddenly realized that the noise above her had stopped and that footsteps were now descending the stairs. She knew better than to attempt to make a run for the room and pretend that she was still asleep but the prospect of facing him again scared her. It was a fear she had not felt in a long time and one which she had thought she had long since gotten over. And yet, here she was frozen in her spot, her mind a complete blank.
'Well, I have no choice.'
"Come, Watson, be reasonable man, how else are we to uncover this mystery without a little investigation?" Holmes said as they descended the stairs.
"What concerns me is that you are treating Miss Elizabeth as a suspect and not a victim," Watson replied.
"All a matter of perspective," Holmes said before opening his door.
Holmes and Watson stopped short of entering the room when they saw Elizabeth faint at the sight of them.
"Miss?" Watson repeated a few times while placing smelling salt under her nose.
"Oh it is only you," Elizabeth said weakly looking up at Watson gratefully, "I had thought those thugs had returned to finish me."
At this she burst into tears and hugged Watson. Over her shoulder Watson glared at his friend as though attempting to convey his continual disapproval of Holmes attitude towards Elizabeth.
Sherlock shrugged his shoulders and walked over to his armchair.
"Thank you," Elizabeth said when Watson helped her to her seat.
"Can I get you anything?" Watson replied sitting down near her in the sofa.
"Did Lestrade come see while I was unconscious?" she questioned Watson.
"He looked after you for some time yesterday, while Holmes and I had business to attend to."
Elizabeth looked concerned at this reply.
"How long have I been asleep?" she questioned.
"No more than a few days," Watson said with a smile, "Quite remarkable indeed!"
From his seat Holmes could see the unsatisfied look on Elizabeth's face.
"Well in that case I have imposed on you two for far too long," she said standing from her seat, she swayed on the spot and Watson moved to assist her but she shook her head at him, "I thank you for your care and concern but I would feel much more comfortable in my own apartment."
"I do not think that is wise – " Watson began but Holmes cut him off.
"Very well then," Holmes said before walking her to the door, "And you may keep the robe as long as necessary."
Watson saw Elizabeth stare at Holmes wide-eyed before looking down at the robes she wore.
Watson only just noticed that they were in fact Holmes robes.
Elizabeth recovered quickly from the shock and bowed at them slightly before turning to ascend the stairs to her room.
Sherlock closed the door and turned to return to his room.
"Are you going to sleep?" Watson questioned, though he understood how eager Holmes was to have his own quarters to himself once more he wondered that he did not follow his usual habit of playing the violin or smoking his pipe for a while as he pondered over Elizabeth's case.
"Sleep? Why on earth would I sleep when I have fresh evidence to examine," Holmes muffled voice replied from the room.
Watson sighed before walking into Holmes room to see his friend leaning over his bed and examining the place that Elizabeth had just been.
"Well?"
Holmes turned around to smile at Watson.
"As I said, fresh evidence," Holmes said pointing to the bed.
Watson walked over to look at what Holmes was pointing at.
"What am I looking at?"
Again Holmes smirked at him.
"Why blood samples my dear Watson."
Elizabeth heard the speaker crackle before the voices were heard more clearly.
"Why blood samples my dear Watson."
Elizabeth reached for another green pill and drank it down hastily with some tea before leaning back in her seat. A smile played on her lips as she watched Holmes extract some of her blood from the bed sheets.
"Very good detective, but it would hardly be that easy to find out about me."
Elizabeth tapped her table and the touch screen appeared above her. She instantly began typing away, preparing the brief statement to be sent to Lestrade.
Elizabeth quickly read through her statement and checked the lists of resources she required, satisfied that she had not forgotten anything she typed in the final words of the statement.
"Mission 103 successful. Target remains unaware of danger or of agent's identity. Request for further investigation and protection will be accepted.
Agent E. Adler."