Note: We are getting to the main story! Yeah! Hope you like it!

Chapter 4

Sherlock sat on the couch his phone tight in his hand for several minutes just staring at the text. He didn´t know how he should react to this, he felt a genuine excitement rushing through his veins. It would be quite stupid to go there, on his own, could be a trap, could be dangerous. That was it he raised from the couch and strode into his bedroom, when he emerged again he was fully dressed and if it was nothing he still wanted his coat back.

The moment he wanted to storm out the flat he ran into John.

"Where are you going?" John was surprised to see him up and fully dressed.

Sherlock contemplated over his answer for several moments, John would certainly not let him go on his own to meet the world´s only consulting criminal. So he could lie but what should he tell John? That there was a case, he would want to come along. Sherlock went with the most innocent reply he could muster: "I am tired of lying around and before I start shooting the wall again, what would surly upset Mrs. Hudson, I considered to go for a walk like ordinary people might do. After that I will go to the shops, do you need anything?"

John seemed to be astonished to say the least but as far as Sherlock could tell he was taking the bait.

"Uhm – okay, do you want me to join you?"

"No thank you, I´m fine."

And with that Sherlock made his way down the stairs leaving John with a look of clear disbelief on his face, before he shrugged it off and closed the door of the flat. Sherlock grabbed a cab, it was rather nice outside. The sun was shining but it was still chilly and some clouds hinted that it might rain later. Sherlock leaned back and watched the people on the streets without really looking, his mind was working and he frowned. 'What is she up to?' Was the only thought that circled around in his mind palace. He hoped he would at least get his coat back, it was sold out everywhere and he even complained to Mycroft about it.

With a sudden break the cab came to a halt, quickly Sherlock paid the man and left the street behind him walking down a smaller road forbidden for cars to the famous bridge. The Tate Gallery appeared before him and the sound of the river reached his ears. Today the bridge wasn´t as crowded as usually and he could see a lonely woman leaning over the balustrade with her arms her eyes somewhere in the distance.

The fact that she came obviously alone with a bag to her feet surprised Sherlock. Slowly he walked on the bridge, making his way over to this woman, who was supposedly the most dangerous one in England. As he´d made half of the way she noticed him but remained leaning on the balustrade with her arms, her hands entwined, cocking her head slightly that her hair starting falling to one side; then she turned back to watch the Thames. Sherlock slowly made the rest of the way and stopped beside her hands in his pockets. Gemma straightened to look up a cocky smile on her lips.

"Sherlock Holmes. Here we are again."

The way she said his name made him grit his teeth and his reply seemed kind of uninspired to him.

"Gemma Moriarty. Glad you could make it."

He grimaced at that and her smile widened and she leaned down to grab the bag and hand it over to him.

"Your coat. I´d it cleaned. The way you looked when I took it implied that you are quite fond of it. And I must admit that I like it on you. Otherwise I would have kept it as a souvenir."

He took the bag from her outstretched hand.

"What do you want?"

His blue eyes locked with hers. Gemma raised an eyebrow at the question as if it was just too obvious but when Sherlock didn´t react, she shrugged and slowly walked around him while she answered.

"Isn´t it obvious? Even in my line of business there are very rare occasions you actually meet someone really interesting." She emphasized the last bit. "And I must admit I am intrigued. But so are you, why else would you be here?"

"Maybe I am intrigued as well but maybe I just wanted my coat back, as you´d just pointed out I´m quite fond of it."

"No, no. That is not why you came, at least not the only reason." She stood behind him now, her hands behind her back and her heels clicked sharply as she took another step. Sherlock turned his head slowly over his shoulder to look at her.

"If you don´t mind, I would die to become acquainted with you."

There was something off about the way she emphasized words, it made Sherlock shudder inwardly.

"Become Acquainted?" He raised his eyebrows but still didn´t turn.

"Besides our different lines of work, of course. I would even lay low for a little while. Not much up right now anyway. But you must know how boring it can be to play with the ordinary people all the time…" She pouted a bit before the crooked grin appeared again around her deep red lips. Sherlock remained silent because he could think of nothing to reply, he just furrowed his eyebrows.

"Come on Sherlock, don´t be boriiiing!"

"Fine. I truly do not know what you want. What do you suggest?"

Sherlock couldn´t put his mind around the fact that he´d just agreed to get acquainted with a criminal. Maybe the fact that she hit a nerve with her statement was it that made Sherlock fall for the idea to be around someone actually smart except for his brother but Mycroft was mostly smug about it. He was so bored most of the time, that this idea made his nerves tingle. The sensation of danger and excitement on a whole different level were brought to him with this. Sherlock had always tended to be someone who didn´t really mind if he were harmed. His drug abuse told that story pretty good.

It started to rain and Gemma made a few steps backwards to stop right next to Sherlock eyeing him with her dark brown eyes.

"I will contact you again soon. I just have to make a few preparations. I hope this will be fun, don´t let me down, Sherlock."

And with that she left her heels making a clicking sound on the ground. Sherlock opened the bag and retrieved his coat. The rain got stronger and he put the coat on, his suit was already wet and he shivered. The feeling of his coat was comforting and he inhaled deeply when he suddenly stopped mid breathing. The scent of the coat had changed, it wasn´t the scent of dry cleaning, it was the scent of the perfume Gemma wore that day at the pool. Sherlock turned around to look after her just to see that she´d stopped on her way and had revolved to watch his reaction. Sherlock couldn´t see her face properly in the distance and with the stronger rain anymore but he could tell that she smiled her crooked smile. And he returned it.