"You're on the ball this morning," Scarlett commented when she moved from the bedroom and into the kitchen, placing on her simple brown blazer as she did so, pulling her blonde hair from under the collar as she looked at Sherlock who was sat on the sofa, drinking tea.

"Well," Sherlock replied, "I have a case this morning and John and I need to be out early."

"Oh right," Scarlett said, crouching down and going through her bag. "What case would this be then?"

"Ah." Sherlock said. "Nothing interesting by the sounds of it. So John and I shall be sharing a cab with you to your work this morning."

"I was thinking about walking," Scarlett admitted. "I have my wellies and it would save on cab fares."

"Don't worry," Sherlock pushed her, not wanting her walking when Moriarty was about. "We'll split it."

"Fair enough," Scarlett said. "So where are you heading to?"

"The row of restaurants which are just a few streets away," Sherlock informed her. Luckily he knew his way around London to lie to her.

"Morning," John's voice came into the living room, his eye catching Sherlock's and he gave his friend a stiff nod as Scarlett placed her coat onto her body.

"Morning John," she spoke happily and John began to hand Sherlock his coat as his friend stood up.

"We're catching a cab with Scarlett," Sherlock informed his friend who simply raised his brow. He thought they were off to the London Eye, but the look on Sherlock's face told him not to even go there whilst Scarlett was in the room.

"Well I have to be off then," Scarlett said. "Mr High wants me to finish off some paperwork this morning before his first client."

"Lead the way," Sherlock told her and she began to move down the steps of 221B Baker Street until she came to the outside world. The cab journey was spent in silence. Scarlett often looked across to Sherlock but he was sat there and looking out the window at the sights as they passed them. When it drew up outside her office building she looked at the two men and raised a hand with a smile.

"I'll see you tonight then," she said and hopped from the cab. Sherlock looked past John as she climbed out and the cab began to drive off, but Sherlock tapped on the glass;

"Wait a moment," he instructed the driver who stopped the cab and Sherlock continued looking out the glass, making sure that he saw the blonde hair move into the building safely before he allowed the cab driver to go again.

"And why," John began, "did we get a cab with Scarlett when we want to be off in the opposite direction?"

"Because if Moriarty is truly after her then I'm not letting her stray far from my sight. At least when she is at work I know he won't try anything. The building is full to the brim and he daren't make a move," Sherlock said. "Not when he wants this to be perfect."

"So you...you wanted her to get in safely...that's..." John struggled to find a word for it. "That's sweet Sherlock," he grimaced and his friend looked at him with a raised brow;

"I'd say practical," he responded and John shrugged simply;

"That too," he said. "So what's the aim of today?"

"Get rid of Moriarty...somehow," Sherlock responded, "see if it is him behind this, although I am ninety nine point nine percent positive it is."

"And you're sure he won't try anything, are you?" John asked. "Because he did strap a bomb to a man in the middle of London."

"But he wasn't there at that point, was he?" Sherlock said. "This time he will be in public."

"And where do you want me to stand?" John asked Sherlock who simply shrugged;

"To the side somewhere," Sherlock said. "This is just going to be between Moriarty and I."

"I don't like the sound of this Sherlock," John pursed his lips. "And lying to Scarlett..."

"She'll know what has been happening by tonight when the police hold their conference," Sherlock replied. "It's not like she's never going to know, is it?"

"But you could have told her," John murmured.

"And just let her worry when she has no need to yet? At least this has given me twenty four hours without her constant panic," Sherlock complained.

"Sherlock." John scolded his friend. "The girl was almost killed...I think she has a right to worry, don't you?"

"Not as much as she normally does," Sherlock responded and the cab stopped. Even at nine in the morning the queue for the London Eye was building up, people were walking past it, some staring at it and some not bothered as they saw it every day. Sherlock paid for the cab and jumped out quickly, looking back at John and nodding once at him, allowing the blonde man to go off to the side somewhere whilst Sherlock took to standing in the middle of the pathway, stuffing his hands into his pockets as he looked onto the Thames and then up to the Eye, pretending to take an interest. John remained stood further back, sat on a bench, watching as people walked by him intently. As Sherlock stood there, he felt the gaze of a man on his back, and then he stopped beside him, also looking at the Eye, neither man looking at each other.

"I got your message," Moriarty drawled, "I have to say that it was very presumptuous of you to think I check your blog and would get the message."

"Oh I knew you checked it," Sherlock replied. "After all, you're so intent on knowing my every move, aren't you?"

"It's like they say Sherlock," Moriarty chuckled deeply.

"Keep your friends close and your enemies closer," Sherlock clarified.

"You class me as an enemy?" Moriarty raised a brow.

"Well...archenemy," Sherlock shrugged.

"That's better." Moriarty said. "Now I imagine there is a reason as to why I got out of bed to come here?"

"I want a simple yes or no answer," Sherlock demanded from him, his voice low and sounding almost bored as he spoke.

"To what question?" Moriarty wondered, watching as the Eye began to turn very slowly.

"Is it you who is killing all the young women?" Sherlock asked.

"No." Moriarty said and Sherlock looked down onto the man, standing to face him as he did so, loathing the smirk which was playing on his lips with a burning passion. "It's not me personally...I thought you knew they were all accidents?"

"We both know they're not," Sherlock replied, managing to look into his eyes. "So in that case...I have another question."

"You said you only had one," Moriarty responded. "Need to get your facts right Sherlock...this isn't good...she's making you lose your touch."

"Don't talk stupid," Sherlock replied curtly. "And the women...why are they all like Scarlett?"

"Are they?" Moriarty feigned innocence. "I had no idea."

"Of course you did," Sherlock replied.

"Tell me," Moriarty placed his hands behind his back, rocking back and forth from his heel to his toes, "does she know?"

"No," Sherlock responded.

"Tut, tut," Moriarty replied. "Keeping secrets from her so early into the relationship Sherlock? That's not a solid base."

"So I was right," Sherlock said slowly. "You're doing this to mess with her head, aren't you?"

"Clearly not as she doesn't even know," Moriarty replied, looking past Sherlock's shoulder onto the Eye, "but that will change when the police give their conference later today."

"And after she finds out?" Sherlock asked. "What do you plan to do then?"

"You'll see Sherlock," Moriarty replied. "You know me...I always have a few tricks up my sleeve."

"Not this time," Sherlock replied. "I won't let you."

"That's funny," Moriarty chuckled, "you said that the last time...and I am afraid it isn't a question of you letting me...your opinion is irrelevant."

"You won't get to her," Sherlock promised him.

"Oh." Moriarty grinned. "I will...now why don't you run along and go start your feeble attempt in protecting her...I hear she's a busy girl today, what with the Allen case this morning and then the Croft case this afternoon."

"How do you even know that?" Sherlock asked and Moriarty chuckled as Sherlock paled even further.

"I know everything Sherlock," he said and clapped his hands, "so if that is all then I shall be leaving."

And Moriarty began to turn, walking a few paces from Sherlock before the consulting detective called out to him;

"And what is to stop me from shooting you right here and now?" Sherlock wondered, his hand resting onto the gun which was in his pocket as Moriarty turned around and looked at him, crowds moving around them.

"Because," Moriarty chuckled, "you wouldn't want your little lapdog to get hurt. Would you?"

Sherlock allowed his gaze to move over to John where he was sat on a bench, a tall man stood behind him, a gun hidden in his coat but aimed straight at John's head.

"This isn't over," Sherlock warned him and Moriarty grinned;

"Not by a long shot," he agreed.

...

Scarlett continued moving from her desk to the photocopier and then back to the meeting room where the meeting was in full swing and she delivered documents which were needed.

"Scarlett," Mary said curtly to the girl. "Mr High wants coffee taking into the meeting."

"And why can't you do it?" Scarlett asked as she bent over her desk, her hand resting on her mouse as she ran a hand through her hair and sent more documents to print as Mary pursed her lips, the elder woman sat at her desk and eating a pasta salad.

"Because I am on my lunch," she told her and Scarlett stood back up straight and went to the printer, taking the papers and resting them on her desk before moving over to where the kettle was, placing it onto boil. As she stood and waited, she removed a heel for a moment and stood in the small kitchen area. As she rubbed her foot she looked back out into the office from the kitchen but she froze when she saw something. Through the glass doors to the office there was a desk where people were admitted into the building via reception. And stood at reception, with a smile on his face, was Sherlock. Scarlett blinked several times as she watched him stood there, leaning against the desk carelessly, a large smile on his face as he laughed.

"What the..." Scarlett drawled, placing her heel back on and walking back out into her and Mary's office area;

"I'm off on my lunch," Scarlett said, just managing to grab her bag as her eyes remained transfixed on Sherlock at reception.

"You can't," Mary retorted "The coffee needs making and I'm on mine."

"Make it yourself," Scarlett snapped, still not looking at her. "I'm off out for an hour."

Scarlett hastily moved out the solicitor's part of the building and into the main reception where you could be admitted to other companies in the building.

"Ah," Sherlock smiled widely, "here she is."

"Sherlock," Scarlett said, "what are you doing here?"

"Coming to take my beautiful girlfriend out for dinner," he grinned and looked at the small brunette receptionist. "Anyway...I thank you for your time but there's no need to find her...because...well...she's here," Sherlock laughed and the woman laughed with him and Scarlett noticed her clearly eyeing him up.

"It's quite alright," she told Sherlock. "It was nice speaking to you Mr Holmes."

"And with you too," Sherlock said and he carelessly draped an arm over Scarlett's shoulders as he led her over to her elevator.

"You turned bipolar?" she whispered as he hit the button and stood with her.

"Quite simply being nice," Sherlock said. "I was trying to get her to drag you away from work...I believed if I was my normal self it may not have worked."

"So you tried to manipulate her to let you in?" Scarlett asked and Sherlock shrugged awkwardly, walking into the elevator and smiling at the receptionist as the doors shut before his face went back to frowning.

"If you want to call it that then yes, I was attempting manipulation," Sherlock replied to her. "But there was no need considering you saw me before I had a chance to make a move," he concluded and his arm moved from her shoulders and he adjusted his gloves.

"So why am I needed away from work?" she asked him. "Because Mary is going to have a complete fit with me and Mr High may consider firing me again."

"Don't worry," Sherlock said, "there's a perfectly sound explanation."

...

"Scotland Yard?" Scarlett asked as she rejected another one of Mary's calls on her phone.

"You'll see," he said once again as they moved into the building, Sherlock leading the way as Scarlett followed him. She noted Donovan sat at a desk and looking at her computer before Sherlock moved into an office and Lestrade sat there and raised a brow at Sherlock quizzing.

"I didn't need your help today," he commented and Sherlock shook his head;

"You do," he said. "I need you out."

"You can't just kick me out of my own office," Lestrade said and he checked his watch and Sherlock smirked;

"You have a press conference anyway," he said.

"Fine," Lestrade huffed, "don't make a mess...I think I know what this is about."

"I'm sure you do," Sherlock agreed. "You're not as dumb as they say."

"Don't push it," Lestrade warned and he left the room. Sherlock shut the door quickly and told Scarlett to take a seat behind Lestrade's desk which she did so and Sherlock pulled one around to sit next to her, opening up the case notes on Lestrade's desk, laying four photos of the dead young women on the desk, jabbing his finger at each and every one.

"Notice anything similar?" he asked Scarlett.

"They all look...well...the same," she responded and Sherlock nodded;

"In another three minutes roughly...the police are going to announce their murders...I...I had to tell you myself before you found out via someone else," Sherlock informed her, having a change of heart, knowing it would be best if she broke down where he could see her then he could control the situation.

"What are you going on about?" Scarlett asked in complete and utter confusion.

"These women were all paid to have a good time at clubs Scarlett...they were paid to take drugs and drink...be somewhere at a certain time and place...and all of them died..." Sherlock told her hastily. "Someone was paying them to do what they said but they died before they ever got the money."

"What?" Scarlett asked. "And why do I need to know this? I don't get it."

"You need to know," Sherlock said, looking her in the eye, "because it is Moriarty who is killing them."

"Moriarty?" Scarlett checked and he nodded. "But why?"

"Scarlett...look at the photos again," Sherlock said and the young woman complied, taking in their appearance and shaking her head;

"They...Sherlock they look like me..."

"Exactly," Sherlock said. "He's...he's doing it to mess with your head."

"What?" Scarlett snapped. "How do you know it is him?"

"Because I spoke with him this morning," Sherlock said and Scarlett searched his cool eyes and she shook her head;

"I knew you were not going to a case...you were different this morning...how long have you known?" she asked.

"Since last night," Sherlock responded. "I put two and two together and managed to get the answer."

"And why didn't you tell me you were off to see Moriarty?" Scarlett asked him.

"Because you would have worried," Sherlock whispered. "And I had to make sure it was him."

"Oh God," Scarlett buried her head into her hands;

"What now?" she asked Sherlock who shrugged;

"Devise a plan."

...

"You told her then?" John asked when Sherlock walked back in with Scarlett after he had made her go back to the office and pick up anything she needed before dragging her from the building reluctantly, Mary shouting after her, threatening she'd be sacked.

"Yes," Sherlock said, "I decided it be best she heard it from me."

Scarlett had rushed off into the bathroom, the back of her hand constantly going onto her eyes as he had brought her back home.

"Good choice," John advised and Sherlock nodded;

"I thought so," he said. "But then again if it was my choice then it would be."

"I'm surprised she can handle your cockiness," John whispered and Sherlock shrugged, hanging his coat and scarf up.

"Hmm."

...

"Scarlett," Sherlock called into the corridor, she had been gone for ten minutes in the bathroom and Sherlock had decided to go and make sure she was okay. But he found her in the bedroom, the door wide open and her body curled on the bed, shaking profusely as she held her phone in her hand.

"What is it?" Sherlock asked her as he knelt on the floor beside her, looking into her watery eyes.

"Look in my inbox," she handed him the phone and he looked. Quickly he placed it onto her bedside table and rested a hand onto her cheek.

"You can't let him get to you," he told her.

"He sent me a picture of a dead girl Sherlock...how can it not get to me?"

"Because if it gets to you then he'll manage in cracking you Scarlett," Sherlock said, his thumb slowly wiping away the tears on her pale skin.

"You're cold," Sherlock stated. "Would you like a drink or anything?"

"I'm coming," she said.

"You can stay here if you want?" Sherlock said but she began to stand up and she shook her head;

"I can move," she said and walked out into the living room, but before she got there, Sherlock stopped her in the hallway and he gently rested his hands onto her waist and she laid her head onto his chest as he did so. He truly didn't know what to say to her. All he could do was stand there and hold her tightly in the dark hallway, away from John's prying eyes.

"Sherlock," Scarlett whispered. "Thank you."

"What for?" Sherlock wondered.

"Just...just...thank you," she muttered.

...

Right! So, I have to say thank you to zenstarrflower, yeah, I read from my BlackBerry too and thank you for reviewing!

Also thank you to My Purple Skies for your reviews too, glad you liked my chapters and thank you for the review!

And then thank you to Cheeseball too, don't worry, for the sake of my own life I shall not kill Scarlett! Haha!

And then thank you to eruptingearth, thank you for giving up time to read the whole story three times, don't worry, I don't think you're obsessed!

Anyway, please do review!