Title: Skull –my sort of friend
Summary: A social work student has been assigned to work with Mr S Holmes who has just been realised from re-hab. This is about how the social work student helps shape a detective and then becomes a skull on a mantelpiece (No romance or pairings. Tried not to have a Mary-sue character).
A/N: This story is told through the skulls' point of view before it became just a skull. The character is not created at male or female so that you can make your own mind up about this. I also left the character nameless as it leaves the Skull with some mystery. I hope you enjoy. The character might not be quite right but this was seven years ago before Sherlock meet John Watson.
Week Two
I did not bother knocking this time. Sherlock never replied to my text so I just walked on up towards his bedroom. There was no music this time, but there was a lot of noise. "Sherlock?" I questioned as I walked inside.
I screamed…. Like a little girl.
"What the hell Sherlock?" There was a human head… on the office table. I had remembered seeing a hand last week, but I had assumed it was fake. Not anymore.
He glanced up over his magnifying glasses, "Experiment." Was the only explanation he gave.
"What? What for?" I asked, shocked and more shock on my face.
"What's it matter you would not understand anyway."
I laughed, Sherlock raised an eyebrow, "Hurtful but most likely true." He tried to hide it, but I did see an almost smile there for a moment. "Well." I sat down on the couch, "How was your week?"
"Boring!" I snapped, "Pointless questions. Is that all you're going to do ask pointless questions?"
I blinked, "Well, what would you like to speak about?" I questioned.
He smirked. "I see your flatmates kept you awake all night again."
No point denying it, "Yeah." I replied, "But were supposed to be talking about you Sherlock. Like if you've used at all since you left the center?"
Sherlock sneered, "You tell me."
"I can't observe like you Sherlock. But I would like to think not." But we both knew that was not likely.
"So these flatmates of yours, why did you move in with them?" I sighed, he clearly did not want to speak about it today. Though I suppose this was only our second meeting, despite it feeling like a lifetime.
I half shrugged, "Because I signed the lease before I meet them all."
We spoke for some time after this about my flat mates, work and his experiments. Until we got onto the topic of Mr Holmes.
"It's good of him to let you stay here." I stated.
"Please! He would not let me go anywhere else!" He snapped out frustrated, not at me, but at his brother.
"Still, it's nice that he cares."
"He does not care! He is just controlling!" Before I could reply my phone rang.
"Sorry Sherlock." I pulled my phone out of my pocket to check who it was. It was work. "Hello?"
"Where are you?" It was Ms Darleen
"I'm at Sherlock's, why? What's wrong?" I questioned, hearing the annoyance in her tone.
"You're still there? It's almost five". My eyes widened in surprised. I had been here for hours. No wonder I was hungry.
"Ok, I will leave in a moment. I will see you on Monday." She did not say goodbye before she hung up. Rude.
"Dinner?" It was not me who asked. I glanced up at Sherlock. I knew I should say no, it was after hours. But if he wanted to keep talking well that was good. I also couldn't say I minded.
"Sure, you can tell me more about what you deduced about Darleen." I started grinning as I grabbed my jacket. He grabbed his jacket as well and we made our way out.
"Arr so much to say …." Sherlock began as we left.
Week 14
I had been working with Sherlock for 14 weeks now. At first I wanted him to open up and speak to him. But now I just wanted him to shut up.
"Sherlock, I'm on a date!" I snapped. Sherlock having pulled up a chair and sat between us. My date looked very uncomfortable.
"I can see." Then, with a half glance stated, "6 cats? A bit excessive don't you think?" My date glared at Sherlock before excusing themselves.
I sighed, no second date for me. "Sherlock, why are you here?"
"Because your spouse to stop me from using." He grabbed a chip from my plate.
"I am not your AA sponsor Sherlock." I sighed, my date clearly already ruined, and clearly not coming back. How embarrassing. "You're thinking of using?" I question.
"It's why I am here." No, it's because his board. But never mind that now.
I threw some cash onto the table, "Come on then, I have an idea."
He stood following me out.
It didn't take long before we found ourselves at laser tag.
"Laser tag? This is ridiculous we are not children." He snapped. But I noticed he did not leave. I grinned. "Let's make a deal, hmm?"
"I'm listening."
"If we play, and you enjoy it you have to come with me to the employment agency next week."
"And if I do not?" Clearly believing this would be the case.
I thought for a moment, "Then you can pick next week's activity." He thought for a moment. "Ok" He held out his hand to shake.
Before my hand grasped his I stated, "But you actually have to try. No half-arsing it!"
"Very well." He replied. I smiled and shook his hand.
"The game is on!" I stated with a grin.
Two hours later.
We were both laughing as we exited the building, "Did you see that kids face when you jumped down from there. Hilarious!"
He laughed alongside me, "It was highly amusing."
"I knew you would be great at this game! With that big brain of yours there was no way we were going to lose." I stated as my laughing began to die down. But I still felt high on the adrenaline.
"Yes, well, when you pushed me out of the way of that red haired girl and then shot her, "He paused, "That was," he paused again, "good." He finally finished. Emotions and manners clearly not his strong point. This was a big win for me.
"I grinned. It was fun, we'll have to do it again sometime." I glance over at him from the corner of my eye as we walked heading towards the tube.
"Indeed." I blinked. Did he just admit he enjoyed himself? He did!
I grinned, "You enjoyed yourself!"
He glared, but did not deny it.
Week 15
We sat outside the employment agency devoted. I also felt quite embarrassed.
I sighed and scratched the back of my head, "Maybe an employment agency is not the way to find you a job."
My mind flashed on the poor employment women who was crying and then screamed for security after Sherlock had told her life story including the crush on her female co-worker. Awkward. Needless to say not my best idea when it came to Sherlock.
"Indeed." I could hear the amusement in his tone. Typical.
Week 18
I have known Sherlock for 18 weeks now. I was also know longer a student. I had finally graduated and had been offered a job, in hopes that I would continue to work with Sherlock. I accepted. Though right at this moment I wish I had not.
You see, Sherlock since week 14 has gotten in the habit of texting me, a lot. At random times. He is also texting my personal mobile not by work. I asked how he got my personal mobile, but he just laughed. Probably Mr Holmes.
"Sherlock, go away." It was 3:26am on a Friday night – well Saturday morning, and I was at home in bed with Sherlock is looking down at me. Needless to say if this had been the first time I would have been bloody freaked out. But sadly this had been the 14th time. The first time I had screamed like a little girl who found a monster under the bed.
I pushed my face into the pillow, trying to ignore Sherlock. "Your flat mates are making more noise than I am." He stated. Which was true, they were all out in the living room drinking and well I didn't ask what else.
"Yes, I know, but they're not in my room." Which had been locked, but this was Sherlock so I was not going to bother asking.
"It's Friday night you should be partying! Your younger than me, why are you not out drinking like the others?" I had been surprised he had not figured it all out by now, but my spouse even Sherlock Holmes can't be perfect.
"Because I have been at work all week and now I am tired and I just want to sleep." He did not leave, "Because I don't like to party."
"Something bad happened?" I sighed, rolling over glancing up at him.
"I don't want to talk about it Sherlock." He sat down on the bed. That is when I smelt it. He had been drinking. I sat up in the bed, ignoring as he began to deduce what had happened to me as a teenager. I pushed his left sleeve up to see the track marks there.
Damn.
He pulled his arm out of my grasp.
"This is none of your concern." My eyes narrowed as he stood from the bed and began busying himself around the room.
"Of course it is Sherlock, I'm your worker!" I wanted to say friend at this point, but now that was pretty pointless. "I care."
"You care because you have to." I shook my head and snapped back, "I care because I want to! Because you're a good person!"
He looked up, but before he could interrupt I continued, "Let me tell you what I observe about you, Sherlock Holmes!" He stood listening as I spoke my voice becoming softer and less angry as I went on. "I see a person with lots of anger, because of a trauma as a child or because you never fit in I don't know –maybe both. I see a man you learned to play an instrument that requires great care and patience. I see a man who cares so much that he won't let anyone in. I see a man who is so brilliant that he could do anything – ANYTHING- he wanted, but he doesn't because trying would mean caring and god forbid you care for anything. I have seen the way you can focus for hours on an experiments, play laser tag with a bunch of teens and sing Karaoke at the local Pub for kicks!" I took a deep breath to continue, "You are the most strangers, amazing and intelligent man I have ever met and I would hate to be at your funeral because you overdosed. It would truly be a waste!"
I was breathing a little heavily at this point, but Sherlock had not left and had not healed or hit me so I figured I was still ok at this point. "You're a good person Sherlock Holmes."
He did not reply just left. I sighed, maybe I should not have said all that?
Week 29
Sherlock and I were fine, we had moved on pretending that night had never happened, but I was more careful about what I said.
I sat in the office typing up case notes when I Ms Darleen popped her head in, "There is an officer who wants to speak to you about a case." I looked up unsure, "Sherlock?" I am questioning, a likely assumption at this point.
She is shocked her head, "No the Thatcher case." I nodded, standing and heading out to the interview room. "Good afternoon, sir." I held out my hand to the Police Officer.
"Lestrade" He started shaking my hand, "I am here about Grant Thatcher." I nodded, "Sure how can I help?"
"He was murdered last night." I gasped in shock.
"He was what? Why?" I asked I moved to sit down on the office chair. He moved to sit across from me.
"I was hoping you could help me figure that out. We are a little stumped with what happened." He scratched the back of his head.
I glanced at him, "You're not a detective?" I questioned.
"No, just hoping to get promoted to Detective." I smiled at his honesty.
We spoke for about an hour about the case. I gave him all the information that I could include friends, family, where he liked to stay, drug of choice, crime of choice and girlfriend. We shook hands again and I watched as he left.
I sat there for a while just letting everything sink in.
Then it hit me.
I quickly grabbed a pen and wrote on one of my business cards before I ran.
"Lestrade!" I shouted as I ran down the street finally catching up with him at the end of the street, "Wait!"
He laughed, "You ok?" I nodded, taking a moment to catch my breath – I really need to work out more.
"I'm fine. I just thought of something." He began pulling out his notebook again, "No. Not about the case." He raised his eyebrow but before he could accuse me of hitting on him or something I spoke. "I know someone who could help."
"Help? Did he know the victim?" I shook my head no, "Then how could he help- no one of those psychics now." I laughed
"No, nothing like that. But he could help. His brilliant, really clever and amazing with observation and clues." He rolled his eyes
"Armature he likes to think there a detective. No, its ok -" I interrupted him. "No, nothing like that. Please. Just think about it. I can set up a meeting, though his number is on the card as well if you just want to call him directly – though the text is usually better. I promise you won't regret it." I paused for a moment, "Well, you might but I promise he will be able to help. His name is Sherlock Holmes. He is a right git, but he is a good person and I hope one day, with a little help, that he will be a great one as well." I took out my card, "Here have a think about it, if you still can't work it out, call me and I can set up a meet. Just meet him and see for yourself. I promise you won't regret it." I looked stern at him holding my card out. Please.
He sighed, taking my card, "I'll think about it."
I smiled, "That's all I ask."
Week 32
I was out drinking. The first time since I was 19 years old. It was for a friend's birthday.
"Cheers!" We clicked glasses before allowing the vodka shot to roll down the back of our throats.
"So how's work?" Rebecca asked with a grin.
"That's right, what's his name, Sherlsic?" Matthew piped up.
I rolled my eyes, "He's a client so I can't talk about it." Not that it mattered, they had all met him at one stage or another, with him popping up to parties, catch ups and weddings it was hard not to.
"Sherlock!" Lee stated.
Jo replied, "That's it!"
Rebecca went on, "Where is he tonight?"
I smiled, "visiting relatives." I laughed. It had been funny getting him ready to send him off to see his parents. I had been able to meet them once, lovely people. How they made Sherlock and Mr Holmes I will never know.
2:00am
I found myself in a club. Well, right now I was sitting outside the club. My head was dizzy, having drank far too much.
Suddenly someone was sitting in the gutter beside me. I looked over to see a blond man looking quite intoxicated himself, "You Ok?"
He looked over at me, "Yeah, its fine. It's all fine." We both laughed.
He leaned back on his hands, "Ever get sick of the night seen just want to settle down?" I looked over at him again.
"Sometimes." I replied, "I am guessing you've been thinking about it?"
He laughed, "Nuh far too boring, but maybe one day. If I find the right girl." Before I could reply he went on, "You believe in soul mates?"
Normally I would have thought before answer, but since I was quite intoxicated I blurt out, "Are you hitting on me?" I laughed.
He laughed as well, "I'm an army doctor."
I laughed again, "No wonder you would find settling down boring." As he took a sip of his pint I went on, "Maybe your soul mate is not a woman to settle down with and have kids. Maybe it's a best friend that will give you on your toes, full of adventure and danger?"
"WATSON! COME ON!" A man yelled from the end of the street.
He smiled slapping his hand on my back as he stood, "Maybe, be pretty perfect, yeah?" I smiled and waved him off as he left.
Drunken conversations always are random.
My phone buzzed. I looked down to see Sherlock name flashing on the screen. I opened the text and read it out loud, "I heard from an officer named Lestrade." I smiled. Things would work out.
Week 34
"Hey Sherlock." I smiled across at him. We were out at a coffee house, a stakeout according to Sherlock in regards to his case with Lestrade.
"Quite."
"Yes, I figured that." I stood.
"Where are you going?" He questioned, looking up at me.
"I have to go see a new client, I'm already late. But we can meet up again later if you like." I pulled my jacket on.
"You can't go now." He stated.
"Why not?" I asked.
His reply was quick, "Because I need a good sounding board, you're not very smart, but your listening allows me to process. Better than speaking to thin air anyway." Before I had met Sherlock I would have been very offended by that. But these days I took it for what it was, an almost compliment.
"You don't need me Sherlock. Your brilliant without me sitting here telling you so." Though it was clear he liked to hear it each time.
"Fine," he finally snapped. I smiled, "I'll text you when I am finished and you can let me know how it's all going."
With that I left.
Walking down the street with a smile on my face. Life was pretty good in this very moment. Sherlock had opened up to me and was working. If it turned out well he would be able to keep moving forward. I was about to move out of my flat and in with people I actually liked, I was speaking with my parents again and even Mr Holmes had given me a compliment "Well, you didn't run screaming like the rest", well as close to a compliment as one could get with Mr Holmes.
Life was good.
"Hi!" I turned.
A loud bang. I looked across at Thatcher's ex-girlfriend. Gun firmly in her hands she walked towards me.
My hands lifted up to touch my chest. Blood.
I knew I shouldn't have jinxed it.
I didn't want to die.
I looked up at Thatcher ex those cold brown eyes. I could not speak and she did not say anything as she aimed again for my chest before she pulled the trigger.
Then nothing.
Chapter Two
I blinked looking over at Sherlock who sat in his room looking down at a skull, "Is that my skull?" I questioned.
I flinched looking surprised at me. "What are you doing here? You're dead!" He snapped.
"Obliviously." I rolled my eyes moving to sit across from him, "You're imagining me out of guilt. Clearly!" My head flicked sideways, "Though why would you feel guilty?"
His hands ran across the skull, "It was my fault you got killed." Before I could speak he jumped in, "The stake out, your client" he spat the last word, "was all a trap! I didn't see it!"
I looked down at my skull, "They did more to me than just shoot me, huh?"
"They attempted to get rid of any evidence that could identify you, thankfully they were bad at it and we court them before they could get rid of the bones." He still looked quite distress.
"You court him, that's good. I Lestrade going to let you work with him again?" I smiled thinking this was a good thing.
He shrugged, "I don't know." His confidence still building from the past traumas. Though I knew it would not be long before his confidence (cough ego cough) out shined the sun.
"Well even if not I know you enjoyed this!" It was clear even if I wasn't just a figment of his imagination right now, "you could do it for other people."
"OH!" He stood up arms flying everywhere, "Consulting detective!" He pulled his lap top out and began typing.
I smiled this would all work out, even if that did mean I would be tagging along until he found a friend.