"Eleanor Winchester, what the hell was that?"
"That was me saving our skins, Sherlock," Eleanor said quickly, dragging Sherlock into the street and down the road.
Sherlock dragged her to a halt, "wait, what do you mean 'saving our skins'? What was the big danger to us in there?"
Eleanor looked at Sherlock and remembered the promise she and Neve had just made. Neve was her enemy, but something inside of Eleanor made her want to trust Neve, just a little.
Damn it Eleanor, she's a Moriarty, not a Winchester. She stopped being a Winchester a long time ago. Stop thinking like this...
"There was this... girl I know there..."
"What do you mean 'girl I know', is she a threat? Did she try to kill you?"
Eleanor looked at Sherlock, her mind racing.
How much can I tell? How much do I tell? Crap, I can never think straight when I'm tired...
"She... she did worse..."
"How much worse? Eleanor, who is she?"
"Somebody that I used to know, okay? Enough questions. I'm going home," with that Eleanor turned and sprinted down the road towards the railway station.
She had been staying at home for three days now and Sherlock hadn't seen her once. Eleanor was starting to wonder if Sherlock was finally going to leave her alone, although she was slightly disappointed that she wouldn't get to explain herself.
Eleanor was just finishing up marking her books for school; it would be starting for the year in a week. The January sun was still warm and Eleanor thought about going down to the beach with some friends.
I'm sure Avery would like a chance to check out some beach boys, it might get her mind off Sherlock. I swear, if I had known how enthralled she was going to be with Sherlock I would have asked someone else to rescue her...
Waking up her computer, Eleanor went on Facebook and sent a request out to some of her friends for a beach party in an hour.
Eleanor, Avery, Rain, Alexandra, Cyprus, and Greg were all sitting under a big gazebo set up on the soft sand. Eleanor began to smooth out the paper of their D'&D' map and character sheets while Greg got out everyone's dice.
Eleanor lay down on her stomach with a smile on her face, mini-skirt laying on her thighs and lose, open shirt spread over the sand. She began the recite her favourite lines;
"When last we saw our heroes..."
"Arlandria was talking to the Kitchen Lady, Stitches was flailing on the floor and holding onto Mr. Grin's leg, Kyros was stumbling over the river of guards still wearing rags because his clothes were eaten by a gelatinous cube, Grizwald had just entered through the door which lead to the flip-out in the first place, Lord Dinkleberg was sitting on the steps with his head in his hands, and Neve was sneaking in through the window," Alexandra said before Eleanor could finish.
Eleanor glared at her friend, and then she smiled.
"That's right, now how is everyone going to deal with this chaos? Arlandria, how about you start this round."
"Okay, I'm talking with the Kitchen Lady and asking for her help in stemming the madness in the entrance hall."
"Roll."
"D20?"
"It's a charisma check, of course it's a D20."
Alexandra picked up her translucent green D20 and rolled it over the sand.
"Ten!"
"Your pleading with the Kitchen Lady was successful. 'Don't worry dear, I'll help you stop all these shenanigans upstairs', the Kitchen Lady then reaches for her spiked rolling pin and proceeds to lead the way out into to entrance hall. It's going to take the two of you some time to get back, so let's see what Stitches is doing. Stitches, are you still flailing on the floor with Mr. Grins' leg?"
"Shit, it's my turn? Fuck, uh... Yeah... I want to throw the leg at the dwarf guy," said Rain, spaced out.
"Roll for throw."
Rain picked up her jet black D20 and rolled it over the map.
"Twenty! Fuck yeah!"
"Grizwald, make a saving throw against the... *sigh* skeletal leg being thrown at you."
Greg went to pick up his deep blue D20, but he stopped when he saw the shadow which was advancing on their gazebo.
"Who's that?" Greg called out to the stranger approaching the group.
"I need to speak with Eleanor Winchester," she knew that voice, that British voice.
"Bloody hell," Eleanor muttered as she stood up and buttoned up her shirt. Quickly, she hurried over to where the man was standing.
"Eleanor, we need to talk about what happened three days ago. I have to know-" he began.
"Hey Ellie, did you finally have sex with somebody?" Rain cut the man off.
Eleanor grimaced at her friends' lack of tact.
"Rain, please shut the hell up," Eleanor said back quietly.
"Shit, she's talking all fancy like, batten down the hatches!" quipped Alexandra.
"Guys, you really need to shut up now," Eleanor said turning back to look at her friends.
"Wait... I know that guy... You're the one who rescued me!" Avery exclaimed, standing up and walking over to the man.
"Sherlock, I think we should go talk in private..." Eleanor began.
"I think that might be a good idea," Sherlock said and started to walk away.
Eleanor was about to follow Sherlock on his path away from the group when Avery grabbed her arm and whispered something to her; "put in a good word for me, hey? If you know him that well I might actually get a chance with him..."
Avery pulled back and winked at Eleanor before running back to the shade of the gazebo. Eleanor just rolled her eyes and went to follow Sherlock.
"Who was that girl you fought with?" Sherlock queried.
"She's this girl that I used to be friends with, but 'went to the dark side', now she's a spiteful bitch who can't keep a boyfriend out of her pants," Eleanor said, distractedly.
"Eleanor... Ellie, that friend of yours, the one I rescued, what's wrong with her?"
"What do you mean Sherlock?"
"Well, she was acting strangely..."
"Oh... Wait, you don't know what was wrong with her?"
"There are certain things I don't really know about, this probably falls into one of those categories. Am I correct?"
"Yes Sherlock, you are correct. She likes you, and I do mean likes you, to the point where she might try to have children with you, given the chance."
"I assume there is a problem with that apart from the fact that I don't really know her and I don't feel anything in that respect towards anyone or anything."
"A bit of a problem, yes. Thirty-somethings aren't meant to have relationships with sixteen year olds, there's a rule about that. If I remember correctly it's 'half-your-age-plus-seven', therefore, by that logic, you shouldn't be with her, and... Wait, you never feel anything in that regard to anyone? Ever?"
"No, never. I don't even know what love is... Eleanor, what is love?"
"Aside from a song?"
"Aside from that song."
"Well... love is a complex thing Sherlock. There are different types..."
"What do you mean?"
Crap, why'd he have to ask me...?
"Well, I guess the most common type would be 'platonic love'."
"Define each one as you say it."
Shit...
"Okay, uh... Platonic love is pretty much the kind of love between friends. It's the kind of love that everyone can have, and everyone, in some way, shape, or form, has."
"Like me and John?"
"Like you and John. Then there's 'cupboard love', which is the kid of love where you only love someone in order to get something from them. Like borrowing money off someone and you say you'll love them forever if they lend you this money; that's cupboard love."
"Like me and Molly?"
"Maybe, I'm not sure about that one. Then there's 'familial love', the love between family members, it also kind of incorporates a bit of loyalty into it. So it's sort of like you going to any lengths possible to protect and look after a certain family member."
Wait... Do I still feel familial love for Neve?
"That's not like me and Mycroft at all."
"In your opinion, Sherlock. The final form of love is 'love' love or 'true love' as some people would say. True love is the kind of love you get that is a little mix of a few different things. It's got some loyalty, although some people think that doesn't matter so much, uh... respect, and physical attraction. A good working relationship should contain aspects of each of those, loyalty, respect, and physical attraction."
"Is that how your friend Avery feels about me?"
"Highly likely."
"Interesting... I need to think about this... Eleanor, I'd like to work with you on cases in the future."
"Uh Sherlock... School starts up for the year in a week."
"Well that's good for all the students. Now I think I may have another case starting up soon..."
"Sherlock! I'm going to school."
"Really? But, what about the case?"
"I think my education is pretty important. You can still work on your own, can't you?"
Sherlock was quiet for a moment, but then he mumbled something.
"What was that Sherlock, I couldn't hear you."
"I like having someone watch my back now."
Eleanor was slightly shocked at this statement.
"Sherlock... If you ever do need my help, just call. Okay?"
Sherlock looked at her for a moment, and then he smiled.
"Okay."
"Rain, that was mean. You shouldn't talk to Eleanor like that, she's had a rough week," Cyrus reprimanded.
"Oh, come on Cyrus, it was funny. Besides she needs to look at more porn anyway," Rain said with a slightly high smile on her face.
"Rain, you're a seventeen year old girl, most people would find it creepy that you, not only look at porn, but draw and write it as well. Not everyone thinks like you do," Cyrus tried to reason with her.
"Cyrus, you might actually like porn if you got to see it," Alexandra stated, matter-of-fact-ly.
"Yeah, come on Cyrus, it was you yesterday who was talking about duck fucking," Greg said with a little shrug of his shoulders.
"Really guys, I come back to hear you guys talking about duck fucking AGAIN. What is it with you guys and reproduction?" Eleanor said, finally rejoining the group.
"There's a reason why I never follow any links you guys send to me..." Cyrus muttered.
"So, did you put in a good word for me Ellie?" Avery asked, eagerly.
"Whoa, calm down there dear. I've known the guy for all of two weeks, and only seen him in person for three days of that time. Give me a chance to explain about my friends first."
"Aww..." Avery sighed.
"Oh, Ellie, your phone went off while you were gone," Alexandra said.
"Uh, thanks."
Eleanor reached into her bag and whipped out her phone. She checked the messages and, sure enough, one new message from an unlisted number.
Huh, that's weird; I didn't know you could hide a person's phone number in a text. I knew about calls...
She read the message.
Alibi quick – N
Eleanor had to remember the alibi Sherlock had told her.
Hayley Dukeford, 19, married Lachlan Dukeford 18 months ago, beauty pageant winner, suspected slut, winner in Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, California, London, likes public shows of affection – EW
Thanks – N
There was only one person "N" could be. It had to be Neve, helping her keep her cover.
Thank you Neve, I can't trust you completely, but sometimes...Maybe this is familial love, after all...