The minute John walked into the laboratory he knew his life had gone from boring to interesting in just one sentence. Stamford had taken him to see the other person who had asked "who'd want me for a flatmate?"

John now stood in front of a tall man wearing a well- tailored suit, cut close and accentuating the hard lines of his long body. Intimidating enough simply by his stature, it was the face of this man which was most extraordinary. He sported a thin face topped by a curly mass of raven hair and voluptuous lips which gave him an almost feminine appearance, despite his strong jaw-line. His eyes were the most piercing John had ever witness, grey, stormy depths seeming to look straight into your mind.

John felt short and plain in comparison, not to mention a little intimidated.

"Afghanistan or Iraq?" the tall man asked. For a moment John was put off, wondering what this man was talking about. Then realized he was asking about John's army career.

"Uh, Afghanistan" John replied, mouth gaping and couldn't help but be amazed at this man's intelligence. How did he guess that? Maybe Mike had told him

"Mike, did you…"

But Mike already seemed to know what John was going to say and only smiled wryly, half to himself- he knew this man's genius.

"nope"

John kept gaping at the clean cut man, who must have noticed but obviously had chosen to ignore him "Mike can I borrow your phone?" he asked in a rich baritone… and John was shocked he hadn't realized quite how deep this man's voice was before now.

As it turned out, Mike had left his phone in the car and John, wanting to get on the good side (if it was possible) of his new flatmate had offered his phone to the man.

"Here, you can use mine." He said and handed over the phone.

"thanks." Acknowledged his flatmate, barely looking at him, eyes glued on the phone, concentrating on his task.

"I hope you don't mind the violin. I play it when I'm thinking, sometimes I don't talk for days on end."

"excuse me?" John asked, yet again struggling to keep up with this strange man's train of thought. Why on earth was he talking about playing violin?

"You are a potential flatmate and I thought that was something you needed to know" the man quipped.

Ah. Of course. He knew that as well. What didn't this man know?

In one fluid motion, the man picked up a blue scarf and heavy overcoat and began to put them on.

"where're you-" John began to ask, but, for the second time that day he was interrupted.

"I found a wonderful flat in London, should be able to afford it if we split the rent."

"right" John pursed his lips. "I don't know who you are, or how you even knew that stuff and I'm meant to meet you somewhere in the middle of London at sometime tomorrow. Hell, I don't even know your name!"

"I know you are an army doctor and your brother is a drunk, I know that you served as an army doctor and I know that your limp is psychosomatic- sorry."

"right. And where are we supposed to be meeting?"

"221B Baker street" the man replied, half in, half out of the door. With his last sentence he winked at the shorter man and swiftly and efficiently walked away in long strides.

Well this should be interesting.