I'm afraid I've been so busy that I've finished this chapter but haven't had time to properly read it through and check for any mistakes etc. I didn't want to keep you guys waiting though and don't know when I'll have time to read it, so if you see anything that needs changing please let me know :)

Anyway, hope this chapter's ok, please review! :)

Just Like the Old Days

There were a couple of seconds where all three of us just stared at each other, no one really knowing what to think of the whole situation. Donovan was trying not to look smug, while Lestrade looked grumpy and Sherlock, for some reason, perfectly calm.

After a moment Lestrade seemed to realise I'm in the room as well. "Sorry about this John," he said. "How are things?"

I'm not sure why the detective was trying to make conversation with me while he arrested my friend, perhaps he's feeling a little guilty for suddenly appearing out of nowhere with some unpleasant news. "I'm all right," I said with a shrug. "Though these idiots have just come along to arrest Sherlock," Lestrade shifted on his feet, looking awkward, while Sherlock gave a smile. "Any reason why?" I prompt.

"Is it because I'm alive?" Sherlock asked, "because in that case, you can arrest yourself."

Lestrade actually went a little pink as I couldn't help but laugh at Sherlock's statement, Donovan just glared at us.

But then the conversation turned more serious, and Sherlock's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "How did you know I was alive?"

"Tip off," Donovan explained, even though it wasn't a very good explanation.

Sherlock scowled, "I bet it was Mycroft," he muttered, "right, that's it, dinner's off next week."

"No it's not!" I snap quickly, Sherlock had been trying to think of ways to get out of dinner with Mycroft since his brother left the hospital, and I wasn't even going to let this surprise arrest become an excuse.

"That's enough!" Donovan said quickly, as she could see an argument was just about to break out. "Sherlock, you're under arrest for fraud, kidnap, and I wouldn't be surprised if we find you guilty of murder as well."

I suppose she expected Sherlock to be angry at this statement, or perhaps even confess, but instead he rolled his eyes and groaned as if Donovan was someone trying to sell him something and would not leave him alone. "Really? That's the reason? I assumed you would have dropped the case after I'd died."

"We had," Lestrade confessed, still looking uncomfortable about the whole situation "but now you're alive again...we still want to question you about being a fake consulting detective."

"For goodness sake, he's not a fake!" I snapped. It surprised even me that despite all the weeks that had past, the theory that Sherlock was a fraud still upset me.

Sherlock though, had become surprisingly calm. "It's fine John, this is nothing to worry about."

I'm not so sure. But the look in Sherlock's eyes told me he had an idea, and I decided not to argue and point out the obvious reasons why this is something to worry about. Already I find myself wishing for a quiet day, when Sherlock wasn't causing trouble and accused of trouble he hadn't even caused. Not that I would ever give up this life now.

Sherlock turned his attention to Donovan, his grey eyes burning into her and making her shift uncomfortably. "The boy who was kidnapped and poisoned with mercury, he was unconscious last time I heard anything about him, but he's woken up now, hasn't he?"

Donovan definitely looked uncomfortable now. "Yes...but-"

"And he was more willing to talk than his sister?"

"He was...but-"

"So he told you what really happened?"

Donovan really didn't like where this conversation was going. I've never seen her under pressure before. Can't say I feel sorry for her, I still remember what she said about Sherlock when she randomly appeared at Baker Street.

But before she could answer, Lestrade spoke. "The boy said the man who kidnapped him was wearing a mask, when we asked him to describe the mask, it sounded just like you."

Donovan glowered at him, as if giving Sherlock this information was a betrayal.

Sherlock gave a knowing smile. "So why would I be wearing a mask of my own face? Seems a bit pointless, don't you think?"

"The boy could have been mistaken!" Donovan said quickly. "That's no proof to say that you're not a fake!"

"Your sister-in-law is stilling giving you trouble then?" Sherlock spoke quietly.

Donovan stared at him, "what are you talking about? And what has that got to do with anything?"

Sherlock sighed, as if it was obvious. "Because you're one of those people who always take their problems into work. I hear you talking on the phone to someone called your 'brother' about someone called 'Susan' who by the tone of your voice you clearly don't like, and you always promise to go and see him up in London only your facial expression always says that you don't want to. That's not cheating by the way, that's listening," he added, turning and looking pointedly at me, before going back to Donovan. "It wouldn't be your brother that you don't like because he wears the clothes he gets you - you're wearing one right now, the labels sticking out a little on the back and he's written a little note to his dear sister at Christmas." He gestures at the flowery blouse Donovan's wearing. "Of course you would have worn something he bought you when you go up to see him today, which you have because I can see the train ticket still sticking out your pocket with today's date, also suggesting that you were in a rush. Anyway the point is I've seen you wear that top before when you haven't gone up to London, which means you appreciate what your brother gets you and care for him. The top's fairly new though and it doesn't say it's from Susan, which suggests that you don't get or want a gift from her. The fact that you're always reluctant to go up and see your brother even though you get on well means there must be something keeping you away, something that can't be gotten rid of. In this case, it's the sister-in-law. You've visited her and your brother today and as usual, she's annoyed you, so now you come back home and discover that I'm still alive, so without even bothering to go home you stuff the ticket in your pocket and demand to go right to where I've been spotted. It's quite obvious, really."

There's a long silence, in which Donovan does a very good impression of a cod fish. Both me and Lestrade are trying to hide any emotion that might be emerging on our faces (as the silent seconds tick by it's getting really hard for me not to laugh). Sherlock just looks quite pleased with himself.

Finally, Donovan managed to find her voice. "How did you know..."

"I just explained how I knew, weren't you listening?" Sherlock rolled his eyes. "Oh and I can tell you've not gone home yet because there's a stain on your trousers, looks like bolognaise sauce, you always dress so smartly, you would have noticed and changed, your hair doesn't look brushed either."

Donovan was slowly growing red. "You always do this to people! It just shows you're a fraud!"

"No, I just made an example to show I'm not a fraud, how does that show I'm a fraud?" Sherlock demanded.

Donovan turned to Lestrade, "it's obvious isn't it? He's been spying on me! He listens into phone calls and follows people, that's how he knows everything!"

Sherlock rolled his eyes again. "Oh yes, because while I was pretending to be dead I was actually stalking you. Please, I have better things to do than that! And besides, I don't need to spy on people, I can learn everything from observation. And that does not make me a fraud."

"But-" Donovan opened her mouth to argue, however she was interrupted before she could get any further.

"Oh shut up Donovan, I knew this wouldn't be a good idea!" Lestrade snapped. "I never wanted to arrest Sherlock in the first place!"

We all stared at Lestrade, taken aback by the side he had taken.

Donovan went even redder. "Sir how can you-"

"Because what he says is true. The boy did see a man in a mask, you do talk to your brother on the phone who lives up in London, and you really don't like Susan." He turned his attention to us. "Sorry about the disturbance, but it turns out to be a waste of time, no one needs to be arrested here."

Sherlock looks quietly satisfied. While Donovan is about to open his mouth to argue again.

"In actual fact," Lestrade continued, "I've got a case right now that I'm having a bit of trouble with, would you mind helping out?"

Sherlock grinned, "Not at all."

"But Sir-" Donovan started.

But Lestrade had run out of patience. "Listen, your idea of Sherlock being a fraud was on thin ice from the start and if you keep on arguing your case after I have made up my mind then your job might be as well."

That shut Donovan up.

"I have some things to sort out at Scotland Yard, I'll see you there?" Lestrade said, Sherlock nodded.

Lestrade left the room, Donovan slinking after him with a miserable look on her face. Sherlock and I just stared at each other for a little while, before we grinned at each other.

"So John, looks like we might have a pit-stop at Scotland Yard before we go back home, is that all right with you?"

"Absolutely."

And all of a sudden, it was just like the old days.