The only one

'Don't tell me you were actually interested in that imbecile.' Sherlock says to Irene as they sit in the taxi back to Baker Street without John; due to the pair's extravagant exit, never mind he would catch up.

She laughed heartily, 'No of course not, who in their right mind would find him attractive.' She smiled at him genuinely. He smiled back saying, 'Then why were you flirting with him?'

'Can't a girl have some fun?' He didn't reply, she added, 'You hardly ever let me have any.' He scowled at her; 'What do you mean?' He sounded confused but he knew exactly what she meant, so did the taxi driver he guessed as he watched the eavesdropping middle aged man chuckle in the mirror. She smirked at him, turning her head to face the window watching the ever bustling Baker Street.

Sherlock payed the driver and they both got out of the taxi. He was just about to retrieve the keys from his pocket when a cheery Mrs. Hudson opened the door for them. 'Irene!' The elderly woman said with delight ushering her inside. Sherlock sighed heavily, was his landlady really going to react like this every time she saw her? Then again Mrs. Hudson did seem quite convinced that Irene was his partner.

The two women chatted happily, Irene liked Mrs. Hudson she assumed that Sherlock's landlady acted as a mother figure to him. He removed his coat and scarf placing them in the cupboard. Just as he began to ascend the stairs he turned around to the sound of Mrs. Hudson saying his name.

'Yes?' He said, she pleasantly replied; 'Well dear I was just wondering how long Irene would be staying with us.' Well this was a difficult question to answer, Sherlock had gathered that the woman's residence would remain at the flat until the crime web was finally defeated. Even though she had not admitted it it was quite obvious that she wasn't only there to aid him in defeating Moran, Irene was there for his protection.

In a way he was pleased she had come to him, but of course he would never think that Irene completely depended on him; she was a strong woman who could take care of herself, nevertheless Sherlock was determined to protect her. Irene would maybe only be expected to stay till that happened, but at the back of his mind he had a feeling that she may have other intentions even if she was not aware of them herself.

'As long as it takes.' He replied running speedily up the stairs before she could ask him another question, she could not find out about the real reasons for Irene's visit; it would worry her to death.

'As long as what takes?' Mrs. Hudson said quizzically to Irene. Oh Sherlock had thrown her into this one.

An hour later John Watson returned to the flat which already looked like a bomb site. 'Couldn't have just waited for me could you.' The doctor caught sight of the living area of 221B, sheets of paper were scattered over the floor accompanied by hundreds of post-stick notes which decorated the wall and mirror above the fireplace.

'Good god!' He said as he entered the room putting the shopping bags in the kitchen. Sat in the middle of the room was Sherlock and Irene, both were on the floor in deep thought, the detective in his usual thinking position; staring at the evidence in front of them and Irene sat cross-legged next to him with the laptop.

Neither of them had spoken to him for a couple of minutes, 'Found anything?' He said. Sherlock replied instantly, 'Mr. Fisher said he didn't think the bite was from a bug he was right if his more detailed description of the men was accurate enough then it was clear that neither of them had been abroad recently to receive a bite which would make them itch that regularly.'

Irene interrupted, 'Therefore the creature must have been imported and handled nothing that lives in England could cause that, a snake, would be our suspected culprit.' John opened his mouth as to begin to speak, 'Got it!' Irene said excitedly, Sherlock turned to her immediately.

'Oxybelis aeneus, otherwise known as the Mexican vine snake.' She began confidently. 'We know of Moriarty's previous South American connections, some of them must have been rebuilt allowing easy trade.' He said.

Irene continued standing up, 'It's extremely thin yet very long.' Sherlock smiled; rising to her height, 'So it could easily fit through the air vent bars without disturbing them.' She ended triumphantly 'And it's venom is not poisonous to humans but can cause severe itching for a short period of time.'

'But how could a snake break through glass, it's fangs wouldn't be strong enough and how could it steal a diamond?!' John said in complete confusion. 'We're working on that.' She said disappointingly sitting down again.

Within moments the noise of Sherlock's mobile rang throughout the flat disturbing the peaceful silence. He retrieved it from his pocket, then answered it. 'Sherlock Holmes.'

Sally replied down the phone her voice much kinder than hours before, 'Its Lewis, he's missing, we think he's been kidnapped.' 'Me and John will be there as soon as possible.' And with that he hung up.

'What about me?' Irene asked irritated. Sherlock replied coldly 'It won't be safe for you. Stay here.' The two men walked down the stairs leaving the woman alone in the flat.

She stood up once again with a grumpy look on her face, 'Well someone's being protective.' She mumbled to herself and sighed as she watched them get into a taxi through the window. Replacing the curtain she entered the bathroom to pour herself a long, relaxing bath, she had a feeling that they wouldn't be back for a while, she might as well make use of the time instead of sulking.

Nearly four hours later they returned 'Thank God your back, I thought I was going to die of boredom.' Irene said, she was curled up in Sherlock's chair; wearing his blue dressing gown and watching the television. She didn't only wear his clothes to get to him, she enjoyed indulging herself in his musky scent (however silly and sentimental it may be).

'So what happened? Enlighten me.' She spoke as an seemingly exhausted John slumped down opposite her on his armchair. 'They haven't found the body, but we've been informed of his death.' From his pocket he extracted a small piece of paper; with fluid curled writing that read quite simply 'Don't bother searching your witness is dead.'

'Well, quite the opposite style to our Jim's isn't it.' She said after she had read the note. 'Evidently, I at least expected a riddle of some kind but apparently the technique never remained in the business.'

'So what are we going to do?' Irene asked. 'Wait.' Said John. 'But what about the dia-.'

'We solved the case, a simple metal contraption was attached to the snake's head with a sharp blade containing a diamond covering strong enough to break through the glass, all that was left for the criminal to do was train the snake to grasp and hold the object in its mouth long enough for it to be retrieved, sadly the snake was not very compatible at first; biting its trainer.'

'H-how?!' She said turning to look at John who just shrugged his shoulders. She smirked at Sherlock, one of the things she loved most about him was his intelligence, his ability to deduce everyone and everything within seconds.

'Hungry then? I'm starving.' Irene said walking into the kitchen. 'Me too.' John yawned stretching his arms above him.

Opening the fridge door was nearly always a mistake when in 221B. Inside she found nothing but a freezer bag filled with three rotting human ears, 'Why three?' She asked, not the usual reaction Sherlock was used to.

'I guess it'll have to be something from the cafe.' Said John. 'Yes, indeed would you mind picking it up John? I'll have a chicken salad.' She said her voice as smooth as silk. 'Um, yes, I'll be back in a minute.' He said; sounding slightly concerned of Irene's possible plans; then swiftly left the living area.

Irene removed herself from the leather armchair, walking over to Sherlock where she stood on her toes to kiss him on the cheek just as she did all them months ago in this very room. 'Well done.' She said. Sherlock looked down at her to find her pupils dilated so much that her eyes were almost completely black.

He stated the obvious, 'Your pupils are dilated.' She smiled at that, they both reminded themselves of past events. 'Would you like to take my pulse?' Said Irene in a low voice her face now dangerously close to his. Instead of replying he delicately took her wrist as he placed two of his fingers on the pulse point and felt the racing beats. They stood frozen for a few moments before Sherlock spoke, 'Elevated.' In response Irene painfully slowly wrapped both her arms around his neck, bringing their faces closer and closer until their lips were just centimetres apart and they stared into each other's eyes with such intensity that the world around them disappeared.

'I'm back, really quick actually we were lucky.' John said loudly as he re entered the building with a collection of carrier bags containing their meals which were retrieved from the cafe below them. Irene reluctantly removed herself from him; tracing her fingertips across his neck until they were completely separated.

A couple of minutes later the group were seated at the kitchen table (with Sherlock's experiments pushed to one side). They ate their dinner mostly in silence whilst the detective and the woman exchanged odd glances. Once again John disturbed them. 'Listen, I need you two to do me a favour.'

'And what's that?' Asked Sherlock. 'Well Mary asked to meet my friends, so... Could you both come on a double date together with me and Mary?' Sherlock almost spat out his drink and Irene chuckled as John queried the pair, 'Except you seem to have missed one crucial detail.' Said Sherlock patronisingly then continued, 'Me and Irene are most defiantly not dating. Why didn't you ask Mike?'

'Because he doesn't have a girlfriend.' John said becoming rather stressful. Sherlock put his hands in front of him in explanation, 'Well neither do I!' Irene laughed at the pair of them quarrelling, 'Well I'm in.' She smirked flirtatiously at Sherlock receiving a cold stare in return.

'Yeah, see.' John gestured to Irene, 'It will only be two hours over a meal.' Sherlock let out an irritated sigh 'Okay if I must.' Irene leaned towards him and for the second time kissed him on the cheek, 'Good boy.' She said condescendingly then picked up their plates and put them near the dishwasher.

As Irene went into Sherlock's bedroom to get changed and ready for bed John smirked at Sherlock, 'It'll hardly be difficult, you act like you're together anyway.' Sherlock scowled 'She may behave that way but I most defiantly do not.'

'Then how would you explain this morning.' John said. Sherlock knew what he meant immediately, the little Anderson encounter earlier, 'Goodnight John.' He said sharply walking to his room.

'Goodnight.' John chuckled, could Sherlock really not see how obvious he was being he thought.

Once Sherlock and Irene were in bed he turned out the lights and closed his eyes, analysing today's events, all these thoughts were cut off when a he felt a sleepy Irene move her head to rest it on his chest and lay her arm across his waist. 'Irene what are you-.'

'Shh.' She whispered nuzzling closer to him and fell into a relaxed, dreamless sleep.