Chapter 8: Ferreting Out Information
"Cecilia, this is the best lasagna that I've had in years." Praised Sarah. They were sitting around the kitchen table eating the meal that Cecilia had prepared for them. The flat was now clean enough that John could invite Sarah over, without fear. Cecilia had convinced him to make an event of it, a nice home-cooked meal with friends.
"Thank-you so much, Sarah, I can give you the recipe if you like."
"Don't bother. The only thing I can do is tea." She laughed. She and Cecilia had made fast friends. Cecilia liked having a female friend that was closer to her age than Mrs. Hudson. She loved her aunt, but there were just some things that you couldn't talk about with someone who's older than your parents. Sherlock hadn't made any acknowledgement of their clandestine evening in the past few days. It was still too fragile to speak of, even in private. This didn't bother Cecilia as she didn't know what she would say even if they did discuss it. Sitting at the table with him was the closest they had been since that night. Every now and then she just caught Sherlock's eye and a few times their knees brushed under the table.
"So John said that you wanted to be set up with someone?" Asked Sarah pointedly.
Cecilia shot daggers at John. "I can't believe you told her that. I told you no. Absolutely not, if I recall correctly."
"Oh, come-on now. What have you got to loose?" Sarah asked.
"Just my dignity…my time…all respect for men…" Cecilia mumbled playing with the food on her plate.
"Don't be silly. I've been really good at this before."
"You should let her. It'll be good to get out of the house a bit." Added John. "So you can see that all English men aren't," he glanced at Sherlock " insane."
" What's your type?" Sarah persisted.
"I really don't want to be set up on a blind date."
"We won't take no for an answer." Said John as he put his arm around Sarah. Cecilia sighed. They weren't going to stop. "Smart, Dark hair…" she let her eyes flick up to Sherlock and then away. He was leaning back in his chair, at ease, staring out the window. The corner of his mouth was curled ever so slightly. "…um…you know, scratch that. Blonde, buff, someone who's a good time."
Sherlock rolled his eyes. "Must we have this conversation; I just ate."
"Oh, just because you hate everyone doesn't mean she can't be happy." Sarah shot back. "Cecilia, don't worry, I'll talk you up to a few guys I know, we'll sort something out."
"Great." Cecilia said sarcastically. She noticed that everyone was done eating. She made a move to gather all the plates, but John stopped her.
"Let us clear them. You cooked."
"Thanks" she sat back in her chair as John cleared the dishes from the table. Sarah ran the water in the sink. They began doing the dishes together and whispering sweet nothings to each other as one washed and the other dried.
"While you two lovebirds are doing the dishes, why don't I go out and grab something for dessert?" Cecilia offered. "How about ice cream?"
"That sounds nice." Sarah answered. She was looking into John's eyes though, so perhaps she was referring to something else. Cecilia got up and was grabbing her purse when Sherlock spoke up.
"I'm going too." He looked meaningfully at Cecilia as he passed her. "You're not leaving me alone with them." He whispered as he walked out the door and started down the stairs.
"Bye. Be back soon." She called over her shoulder.
"Not too soon." She thought she heard John say as she shut the door to the apartment. She quickened her pace to catch up. Sherlock was already out the front door and was striding away from the building.
"Where are we going?" she asked when she reached him.
"You said you wanted ice-cream." He was walking so quickly. He always looked like he was running late for something urgent.
"Will you slow down?"
" Fine." He clipped his pace so she could walk beside him. They walked in silence for a while. Though nothing was said there seemed to be an electric crackle between them. The air was alive with a hunger that had little to do with sweet desserts.
They reached the door of a cute little ice cream parlour a few blocks from the apartment. The bell above the door jingled merrily as they walked into the bright white space.
"What flavours should we get for them?" Cecilia asked, her tone suggested this could be a game.
" Chocolate for John."
"Obviously." Cecilia knew chocolate was John's first preference when it came to sweets; always requesting chocolate biscuits with his tea.
Sherlock appraised her. " What would you choose for Sarah?"
She stared at the buckets of bright colours under the counter for a time. She really didn't know Sarah that well. "Strawberry?"
"A safe choice." Mild derision filtered into his voice.
" Well, what would you choose for her?"
"Frozen yogurt. Peach."
"And how do you know that? The particular whorl of her thumb print denotes someone who likes peachy frozen desserts?"
"No. She and John stopped for dessert on their first date. It's what she ordered."
" How do you know what she ordered on their first date?"
"I was following them. I needed to observe some acrobats at the circus and they were excellent cover.
"I'm sure John was very happy to have you along on a date."
"Well, I suppose it could have gone better." He nodded, remembering the terrifying events of that night.
"What flavour would you get for me?" she asked, interrupting his thoughts. She let a knowing smile curl the corners of her lips.
It was catching; Sherlock mirrored her smile. He scanned the selection of ice creams. " This one" he pointed to a bucket filled with light green ice cream.
"What kind is that?"
"Pistachio."
"But I've never had pistachio ice cream before."
"The question wasn't what is your favorite, the question was what would I choose for you."
"Okay. I'll try it. What are you getting?
"Nothing for me." He walked out into the street.
Cecilia rolled her eyes and went to order. She got John and Sarah's to go, but she got hers in a cone. She tasted the ice cream before walking out. It was excellent. Sherlock was right; it was exactly what she wanted. She stepped back into the street. Sherlock had wandered quite a ways down looking at posters. She sauntered towards him.
"Find anything interesting?" She asked as she licked her ice cream.
" Nothing in the slightest, unless I'd like to learn how to play the guitar." He sighed.
"We should get back, before their ice cream melts."
"Right." They turned to go back.
"You were right, the pistachio is delicious." Said Cecilia. "How did you know?"
Sherlock didn't answer immediately "It's my favorite." He looked away.
"Ice cream isn't too mundane?"
"Most is. But pistachio… that's really intriguing."
" Would you like some?" She held her cone out to him.
He placed his hand around hers and brought the cone to his mouth. Cecilia felt a flutter in her stomach.
"Good?" she asked.
"Very." He did not release her hand straight away. He tasted her ice cream again and then released her hand.
Cecilia had to turn her face away, she was quite sure she was blushing. "Tell me something else about yourself. All I know about you is that you're the worlds only consulting detective, you get bored if you don't have a case to work on, and your favorite ice cream is pistachio."
"What else is there to know?"
" Well for starters; who is Mycroft?"
" Mhm." He groaned. He didn't want to discuss him. "He' my brother."
"Your brother?" She stared at Sherlock, narrowing her eyes. "I'm sorry. I just can't picture it. Sherlock Holmes with a brother, as a kid? With a family?"
He looked at her, confused, "Well, I wasn't hatched."
" No, I realize that," she began to laugh "it's just hard to imagine. Why would you be so scared about your brother talking to me?"
"It's something like sibling rivalry. He continually tries to spy on me. If he approaches you he'll offer you money to give him information about me."
"So that's why you were so upset."
"I wasn't upset."
" A man runs up to you and grabs you asking if you're alright? He's not upset?"
" No. He just knows what resources his brother has and was…concerned about an innocent person."
"Right." she answered suspiciously.
" Though he will try to approach you eventually. He has with everyone I'm close to. He basically abducted John right off the street. Just remember that he won't actually hurt you, he just wants to scare you."
"You make him sound like some sort of wild animal."
"Like a weasel?"
" I'll make sure I pass that along when I meet him."
Sherlock winked at her. They had reached the front entrance of 221 Baker when Sherlock's phone rang. He quickly reached into his jacket and pulled it out.
"Sherlock Holmes….Finally!.. No, didn't mean it that way…I'll be right there." Sherlock's face was alight in a way Cecilia had never seen it. "A case!" He ran into the building and up to his flat yelling for John the entire way. Cecilia ran behind him.
"Sherlock? What's going on?" But she went unanswered.
He had reached the apartment before her. When she managed to get in the door John and Sarah looked just a dumbfounded as she.
"Lestrade just called. We need to go."
"What? A case? Now?" John and Sarah were quite cozy on the couch.
"Yes John. Come on!" Sherlock turned on his heel and walked back though the door. As he passed he locked eyes with Cecilia. She could see the excitement in them, it was the same look he'd had that night a few days ago.