Hey guys, sorry it was so late late again. In all honesty I forgot to reply to Rayne. Silleh Jessica I know. Here it is now and I've started the next chapter already. SORRY I'M SO FORGETFUL SOMETIMES recently. Hope you enjoy it.
John huffed as he threw himself next to Toni on the sofa, no elegance was required. The Holmes brothers made him feel like an inelegant bumbling fool anyway, no point in trying to hide it. Or even worse, trying to deny it.
"So," Mycroft smiled pointedly, motioning at the young girl sat next to John, "this is the female you would like protected."
"Yes." Sherlock nodded sharply.
John continued for him, knowing that Mycroft would already know all the facts but he felt that he had to pretend, for Toni's sake, that these boys were almost normal. Otherwise she'd be entrusting her safety, and her life, to a pair of nut jobs and an ex army doctor. "We want to put her with my sister. Harry has agreed to it all, and accepts that she will take responsibility for Toni's sanity." He cracked a grin here, trying to ease the tension building in his chest. "She wants nothing from you, but we need security. We need to be alerted if anyone would dare to touch Toni. She is a... Key witness and a valuable asset on that case of yours." He tried not to sneer at the thought of making sense to Mycroft Holmes, but knew that he wouldn't give them the security unless he had a good reason to.
"Very well." Mycroft nodded solemnly. "You shall have no more than twenty men over four weeks. Any attempts to break security procedures and you know what happens, Sherlock," he cracked a small grin before composing himself. "If you do not have this solved by then, I will have to terminate this matter in its entirety. Understood?"
Without waiting for a reply, he walked out of the flat. The black umbrella in his hand making a clicking sound against the floor, like a cane would've.
John puffed his cheeks and leaned back, "That could've gone worse."
Toni raised an eyebrow. "That was good?"
"For those two, yes." John snorted, remembering some of the times he had been with the brothers and felt the tension in the air. "Oh, that was positively delightful for those boys."
"A month though..." Toni shook her head. "That's not long... Will, um... Can you do it?" She directed this question at Sherlock who was staring out of the window, his eyes glassed over.
"Yes, yes," Sherlock flapped the idea away as though it was annoying him, "it will take less than a month. I just need a few more pieces of information."
John sighed, he knew what was about to be asked of Toni. Maximisation of brain capacity to recall information and memories from with the cranium or something like that anyway. He had heard Sherlock recite that countless times as he had interrogated key witnesses. Not some of his most empathetic moments. Even as a medical man John didn't like to think much about the workings of the memory. Mainly because of the uncertainty in the subject. However Sherlock rattled on about sensory, short and long term memory and then went on to insult the witness in someway. Hopefully he would have developed to be more subtle. "Anything I can 'elp with, Mr Holmes?" Toni asked hopefully, leaning closer to the edge of her seat. "I'll do whatever I can."
Sherlock signalled her over to sit within John's chair. This way he would have better access to cataloguing her body language. She obliged. "This man at the house. The laughing one. A description is required. However due to the amount of time passed and stress experienced the chances of you remembering such details are highly unlikely. Age hinders testimony and you saw him briefly. Unless you rehearsed his face within your mind with the right amount of force you will not be able to recall his features to a satisfactory level. Which hinders my next moves," Toni started at him with a little uncertainty. Sherlock looked over to John who was frowning. Somewhat disappointed with Sherlock's choice of words. "Not good?"
"No, Sherlock. Not good," John sighed again. "Basically, Toni, do you remember what the guy looked like? Mr Swallowed-A-Text-Book over there believes you may not be able to remember to his standards because of a few things."
Toni nodded, she understood before. She wasn't stupid. Despite what it looked like. She just didn't like the accusations. However she placed that to one side. "About six one, blonde. Dark blonde mind you. Nothing light. Looked sort of sandy. It was almost a buzz cut at the side. Had a fringe. He had scars near his eyebrow. Like a cat had scratched him. Thin lips. Normal nose but too thin in the face. He was tanned too. Weird thing is he wore a suit yet had boots on. Like an army guy would wear." She paused for a moment, trying to recall information. "And his eyes... his eye looked sad. Despite the laughing. They looked sad. Though I don't know if that means anything." John smirked. Turns out Toni did know after all. "That do, Mr Holmes?"
Sherlock nodded, pleasantly surprised. He held his hand out to John, "Phone."
John sighed and picked up Sherlock's phone. Slipping it into the detective's hand, he felt the warm skin brush against his and, like he was a teenage girl, his heart skipped a beat and burst into an excited flutter.
Toni shot him a questioning look, she had noticed something... He shrugged; there was nothing to be concerned about. She couldn't know.
Sherlock, oblivious as always, was texting Lestrade. Well, there was an idea. He thought about how long it had been since he had texted Lestrade properly like this. It had been quite a while, actually, going back a few months. He decided that the next time he had any spare time; he would send a message to his... Friend.
It was weird to consider Lestrade a friend but after everything the man had done to help Sherlock the title of friend was acceptable. Lestrade had always been there for him. What with managing to actually avoid detection of Mycroft Holmes whilst collecting information and contacting Sherlock. Then there were the many times he had given Sherlock the chances he needed. Looked after him. Saw him through things. Yes. In the conventional sense Lestrade was his friend. A good one by the looks of it.
Once he sent the text Sherlock looked up, smirking. "Movement will commence later today. The police are aware of the description and I have organised for my catalogue of criminals to be brought round."
"But I thought it was here in the flat?" John asked, puzzled. It wasn't like he had moved any of Sherlock's paperwork. Let alone the old book he had gathered together containing detailed profiles on criminals. Ones known and unknown to the police. Photographs included.
"It use to be until I allowed Lestrade to use it. The description is familiar however in order to clear up my hard drive," he tapped his head. "I recorded a few irrelevant subjects and deleted it from memory."
"Deleted it from memory?" Toni exclaimed. "Can he just do that?"
John nodded, leaning against the table near the window. "Apparently so with him. Least he's not gone into his little palace and in an actual talking mood today."
"And you get this daily?" She chuckled.
"I use to," John smiled before taking time to think about his words. His smile dropped slightly. "Looks like it's back again."
"John, you discussion subject choice is within the room. I believe in contents like this society classes it rude," Sherlock called backwards. His eyes closed, trying to figure out something within his head.
"And when are you one to listen to society?"
"Touché."
Toni shuffled in her seat. Feeling like she was intruding in on a conversation. She decided to remain silent until one of them asked her a question.
John suddenly realised that he knew next to nothing about the girl, and there were a few key things that needed addressing. "Toni," he began before realising that he had no idea what he was going to ask.
She lifted her eyes to his and raised her eyebrows, expecting a question any minute now.
"Is there... Anyone else that this man could use?" he asked, blurting out the question as it came to mind.
"Sorry, I don't understand..." she shook her head.
John cleared his throat and nodded, "That's alright, I didn't exactly ask very well. Is there anyone significant in your life that this gentleman can use to get your attention? Close friends, relatives, boyfriend?"
Toni blushed slightly, a rose tint to her cheeks that made her even more attractive than she was normally. "Boyfriends aren't exactly... My area of expertise. But, no. There is no one that he could use."
John pondered this for a second. If she didn't have anyone to threaten, she lived a lonely life. Sad as it was, John thought, even Sherlock had weak links in his armour; places to hit to get him to crumble. Either this girl was lying, or she really had only had her father. He smiled at her, masking the worry in his eyes. "Okay, that's great."
"Great?" She puzzled. John cursed himself, not the best phrasing he had ever used.
"I believe what John means is that it is 'great' that these men cannot anybody you care about as emotional blackmail against yourself. A low tactic which causes the person to comply with their demands," Sherlock said, unconcerned. "Low but effective. Not a nice experience. So by saying 'great' John is implying that it is good you shall not have to go through that," he paused, trying to think of the right word, "pain."
John shot Sherlock a thankful glance, although it went unnoticed. "Yes, exactly. You don't want them being able to get to you."
"Ah well no people here," she smiled sadly. "Caring about people gets you nowhere," her voiced trailed off. "Well that's what Da use to say anyway."
That reminded John of another person. Yet he wasn't going to say that in front of said person. Sherlock use to say the exact same thing however that had slowly changed. They were friends. People care about friends. John hoped that one day Toni would find somebody to be her friend. It was upsetting to see a good looking young woman like her alone and without friends. It just wasn't right, thinking that caring about people was pointless. "It's not so bad, you know."
Toni raised her eyes to his, "You think?"
"I know." John said calmly. "Having people that care for you, and people to care for, is amazing."
Sherlock grinned, listening to John talk and looking out of the window as he usually did. The smile was new, something that he had only recently started doing. John had taught him the same lesson he was now discussing with the young girl sat before him. It seemed to be a pillar of his beliefs...
But this was taking far too long. It made him ill tempered when he had to wait, and wished to spare the people around him the most of it. He drew his phone from his pocket.
Lestrade, hurry up - SH
Five seconds later, he got a reply.
Here - GL
It was good that Lestrade had started to sign his messages. It put Sherlock's mind at ease. Yes, Lestrade was a friend... One he trusted, and cared for in his own way.
There was a rapping at the door.
"John, get that. It's Lestrade." Sherlock said, not bothering to turn around. "I need that book."
John walked to the door without complaint, not even his usual grumblings. He didn't want to seem too impolite; he had to make up for Sherlock's behaviour. John pulled the door open and there stood Lestrade, a thick book under his arm.
"I have Sherlock's... Um... Book?"
"Come in, Greg," John gestured him in. "He's in his usual space. Did he tell you about Toni?"
"Yes, he did. I'm up to date with the situation," Greg replied, smiling weakly at John before finally making his way into the living room. "Sherlock, I informed Molly about the events and why you cannot attend the autopsy. I also have it here," he lifted it up. "Three matches to what you said. Bookmarked with the pink post-it notes."
Lestrade handed the book over to Sherlock who instantly handed it over to a very confused Toni. The book heavy within her hands. Resting it on her lap she stared at it or a while. It was irritating to Sherlock. "Look at the profiles Lestrade here has picked out. Familiar?"
Slowly opening the first post-it note marked page Toni scan her eyes over the picture. Taking a few moments to register the picture and reading some of the texts. John waited by the kitchen, watching the two men and Toni. Hopefully she'd be able to find him. It would be the first step to helping her that's for sure. After a short while she turned to the next page marked with pink, looked at the picture and froze. Her hands ghosted over the page. Turning to look at Sherlock she nodded, trying to control her breathing. "It's him."