The car comes around to pick them up for shopping, and as much as Sherlock grumbles about it, they finish it relatively quickly, with Sherlock telling the driver to bring their things back to Baker Street, and they would follow later, now that they are equipped with better clothes.
While John is in familiar jeans, t-shirt and sweatshirt instead of a jumper, Sherlock has chosen something similar, jeans, converse, a t-shirt and a hooded, zip-up sweatshirt with a light jacket over it to protect him from any rain. "Come, John. Surely Lestrade has something for us to do." he says in frustration. "We shouldn't need to spend much time as teenagers, given the time it took them to create an antidote to what I did before, they should be able to compensate for the use of sedatives fairly easily. I need something to occupy myself, or I need a cigarette."
"No cigarettes, Sherlock. You're doing too well." John says in a firm tone as he follows his taller friend down the street, watching him for a few moments. "You were much calmer as a child." he notes with amusement as he looks up at him, shaking his head for a few moments before he continues. "If we're going to Scotland Yard, let's get a bloody cab, looks like it's about to start pouring." He says as he indicates the sky.
Looking up at the darkening clouds, Sherlock nods a little. "Very well." he says as he walks over to the curb and holds up his hand to hail a cab. And like always, one of the black vehicles almost immediately pulls up to the curb, letting Sherlock open the door and slide in to wait for John.
"How the bloody hell do you do that.." John mutters, mostly to himself as he follows the man into the cab, looking at the driver warily for a few moments. He can't help it, cabs make him nervous ever since that first case, the Study in Pink with the insane cabbie. At least that's how he tends to think of the cabbie. Insane.
Instead of replying, Sherlock glances at John with a slightly arched eyebrow before he slumps back in his seat, steepling his fingers in front of him as he stares straight ahead, presumably going into his Mind Palace to think over whatever is on his mind.
"Scotland Yard." John says to the cabbie finally when he realizes he's not going to get a response back from the detective. Sighing a little, he leans back in his own seat and watches the city go by, remembering the first time he was in London as a young boy, for a football tournament. He grew up in a town, but nothing the size of London, so even he was relatively impressed by the infrastructure, and the historical buildings.
When they arrive at Scotland Yard, John is left to pay again though by this time he expects it and is already in the process of pulling out his wallet when the detective exits the vehicle, making the doctor roll his eyes a little. He finally gets out though and follows the long-legged man, jogging a little to catch up with him. "Hold on." he says as he grabs the man's arm, hesitating and tugging him over toward a food cart.
"This is hardly the time to indulge your - " Sherlock begins, but is cut off when he sees the serious look on his friend's face, immediately becoming more alert and looking around the area to see what has the doctor so on edge.
Sighing for a moment after giving Sherlock a shrewd look, John glances around again. "Two groups of people, two to three meters toward the street on either side of the main doors. They look sort of like some of the thugs that escaped from that human trafficking ring we exposed a few weeks ago." he says as he glances sideways at his companion.
Casually turning in order to look around a little, the keen, mercurial eyes of the brunette spot the men John is talking about and he nods quietly as he turns back forward, rubbing his hands together for a moment, acting as 'normal' as he can. "I see them. You're right. I should have seen them first. I'm distracted. This isn't good." he says with a shake of his head. "We have not exactly been subtle about what has happened to us, they may know and want to get us while we are more vulnerable. They won't risk anything right outside Scotland Yard, but they may follow us if they spot us." He says as he looks at the blonde for a few moments.
"Best we go, then." John suggests as he glances around for a few moments. "This way." he says after he gets two cups of coffee from the street vendor, handing one to Sherlock before he turns and casually starts to walk down the street, assuming that his friend will follow his lead. Though he is sure that once the detective catches on, he will take the lead.
Taking the coffee and sipping at it slowly, Sherlock easily falls into step beside his friend. "You didn't happen to bring your gun, did you?" He asks, knowing the answer and sounding like he disapproves of the doctor taking such chances. He continues to look around without being obvious about it. "We are being followed." He states after a few more steps.
"Bloody perfect. No, I didn't think I needed the gun to go clothes shopping." John points out as he looks over at Sherlock. "Only you could make something like that dangerous." he says as he finishes his coffee quickly and tosses the empty cup in a trash can as they pass it, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his jeans. "You're the one with a map of London in his head, lead on."
Considering for a few moments, Sherlock makes a sudden turn down an alley, looking around for a few moments and leading John through a few twists and turns. Apparently it's not enough to evade their pursuers though as they turn a corner and there are two blocking the alley, footsteps indicating more people are approaching from behind.
"Well, this was unexpected." Sherlock says as he looks at the men, then he looks back at John. "They don't appear to be armed, it seems we're going to have to fight our way through." he says calmly as he looks at his companion, starting to move forward toward the two guarding the mouth of the alley.
John follows, though he's not sure about this plan, pulling his hands out of his pockets and letting them hang loosely at his side as he looks at the two skinnier men in front of him, trying to take into account his smaller body as he evaluates the people in front of him. But he keeps walking forward with his friend. "This is not going to end well, Sherlock."
Suspense! Next chapter.. action! Hope you all enjoy, I'm still trying to decide which way to get them back to normal, lol. Still, I hope you enjoy!
Review/Comments welcome!