Chapter 14

The following morning, John was woken by a sound he hated to admit he'd grown familiar with. A gunshot resounded through the walls of 221B and he ran downstairs to find Sherlock Holmes in his dressing gown, sprawled out over his chair with a gun aimed at the smiley face painted on the wall. It was too early in the morning to yell so instead he took the gun from his hand and spoke firmly.

"Mrs Hudson'll have your head for that."

Sherlock took one look at his disgruntled flatmate and smiled slightly. "Not if you have it first."

He was about to say something When Erika came charging into the room wrapped in one of Sherlock's dressing gown. Apparently, for her, it wasn't too early to yell.

"What the hell was that!"

"I'm bored," Sherlock said with his eyes closed.

"I don't give a damn! You don't fire guns inside!" Sherlock gave her a look that screamed make me but the anger in her eyes stopped him in his tracks. He slumped back in his seat, his head lolling back. Erika turned to John who gave her a small smile. She sighed and made them both tea. They sat at the table, ignoring their grumbling flatmate.

"I don't know how you put up with him," Erika said, blowing across the surface of her mug.

"I could say the same of you," John said with a smile. "But you lived with him for a while. Surely he got bored there as well."

"Sometimes," she answered. "I told him to kill a prostitute for all I cared."

The pair laughed and continued to talk as Sherlock sat there, tapping on the furniture. His whole body was brimming with energy and he couldn't stop himself from twitching. His mind was racing and he could see everything. His every sense was burning with information and his brain tried to process it all. Eventually he let out a frustrated groan and pressed the heels of his hands to his eyes. It was at this moment the craving hit.

Looking up, he saw Erika and John still talking and he interrupted. "John, get me some."

"No," John said without looking at him.

"I need them."

"No, you don't. We've been through this for months. Deal with it."

Sherlock hissed angrily, his whole body twitching. He looked over at Erika and then a small smile crept across his lips. She knew what it was like, she would have sympathy; something easily exploitable.

"Erika?" He said sweetly. Erika turned around slowly and looked at him with bored eyes.

"Yes dear?"

"Give me some of yours."

"You smoke?" John's interruption lead to both party's turning to look at him. Sherlock nodded but said nothing. Erika, however, did.

"No. And no, Sherlock."

"But I'm BORED!" Sherlock moaned, finally giving up his fake niceties. He leant back in his chair and closed his eyes. He then felt a warm pressure on his legs. Opening his eyes he found Erika sitting on his lap, her eyes teasing. She reached into the pocket of his dressing gown and pulled out his phone. Scrolling through numbers she eventually found the one she was looking for. Smiling, she pulled out her phone, typed in the number, and pressed dial.

Erika smirked as the phone rang, knowing it would be picked up fairly soon. Sure enough, after the third ring it was answered. "Lestrade."

"Inspector," Erika started, smiling. "Very soon you are going to have two highly important visitors. Please be in your office in one hour. Thank-you."

And with that, she hung up before the Inspector had a chance to ask any question. Sherlock had a grin spread wide across his face but John was still confused.

"I'm sorry, what's happening."

"What is happening, Doctor Watson," Erika said, stretching herself back to her full height. "Is that the greatest crime-fighting duo in history are making their grand reappearance."

Sherlock stood quickly and leant down to kiss Erika on the cheek. She blushed lightly as he disappeared to get dressed. She looked down at her hands for a while before feeling John's gaze on her. She looked up and their eyes met.

"Why would you do that for him?"

"I know what it's like to be bored," she sighed. "Bored and far too alive."

Within half an hour all three of them were dressed, fed and washed. John shouted out to Mrs Hudson that they were leaving as they ran out the door, called a cab and piled in. Addressing the cabbie, Erika told him to take her to Scotland Yard. Sherlock let a smile spread across his face as they journeyed there. Arriving at the building they all stepped out, leaving John to pay, and walked to the door. They were about to enter when Erika held out her hand to stop them.

"Sherlock, hide your face. John, try to act casually."

"Why?" Sherlock said, his face a mask on confusion. Erika smirked.

"Because you and I both have a personality made for the theatre. Come on." And with that she pulled the door open and stepped into the lobby. She smiled at the officer behind a front desk. "I'm here to see Inspector Lestrade. He's expecting me."

"I'm sorry, you can't go up there without permission." Sherlock fought the urge to reveal his face in order to glare at the man but Erika beat him to it, however she was far more subtle. Smiling sweetly, she leant forward and picked up the phone off his desk.

"Why don't you call him?" she purred and, stunned, the officer complied. Before a full minute passed, he spluttered an apology for making them wait before taking them to the elevator. Erika and Sherlock's eyes met in a silent laugh. When the elevator arrived, the three stepped in, the officer instructing them where to go before turning back to his desk. As soon as the door closed, all three burst into a fit of giggles.

"Well, I definitely didn't see that coming," John said with a smile.

"Which part?" Erika pressed.

"The...flirting." On the word, Sherlock turned with angry eyes to John. He could recognise the jealousy that burned there and was about to say something when Erika beat him to it.

"You're sexy when you're possessive," she said, grabbing his chin and turning his face to hers before pressing a soft peck to his lips. She then turned back to the doors just before they opened. With that they returned to their impenetrable façade. Sherlock's disguise attracted a few curious stares but nothing to concern themselves with. Eventually they came to Lestrade's office. Erika turned to them both and said with force, "Wait out here."

Then she knocked on the door and opened it without waiting for an answer. Inside sat Detective Inspector Gregory Lestrade with his feet on the desk and a mug of coffee in his hands. On seeing her he removed his feet from the table and put the mug down hastily, looking a little sheepish at being caught. Erika smiled and shut the door behind her, holding out her hand.

"I'm Erika Butler, we spoke on the phone." He took her hand, shaking it but said nothing, so she swiftly moved on. "I expect you're curious as to who your guests are."

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't," he said, grumblingly. She allowed a small smile to twist the corner of her lips.

"Well then, I'll put you out of your misery." With that, she turned and opened the door, motioning to the men to enter. They did so and Lestrade saw them, doing a double take. Erika closed the door and walked in front of them. "May I present Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson."