Hey readers! If you're still out there, here's Chapter 13! Little bit of a shorter chapter, but it is definitely more humorous and a wayyy different tone than the last few ones. Hopefully that appeals to you :) We find out how Sherlock reacts when Addie meets a guy ;)

Chapter 13

"That's your brother isn't it?" the young man said as he approached Addie.

She looked up, startled and looked in the direction he nodded. She was slightly dazed when he addressed her, being an attractive man with blonde hair and gorgeous eyes. Addie found herself slightly melting when he leaned against the wall next to her.

"Yeah," she answered, looking flushed.

"The other agents say he's a bit of a prat," the man said.

Addie chuckled and turned to face him. "He is actually. A major prat."

"So does that make you a prat too? Since he's your brother? Guilty by association?"

"I hardly think it fair to inflict upon me the less desirable traits of my siblings," she smiled. "I happen to be the golden child. I'm never a prat," she said haughtily.

"No, I don't imagine you are," the man smiled back. "Agent Reynolds," he said offering his hand.

"Detective Holmes," she said shaking his hand.

"Do you have a first name, Detective Holmes?" Reynolds asked.

"Do you, Agent Reynolds? Or do you intend for me to address you by your last name whenever we talk next?" Addie replied.

"How do you know I will want to talk again?" he asked.

"Why else would you be over here?" she said raising an eyebrow.

Reynolds smirked, "Tom," he said simply.

"Adelaide," she replied. "Those who have the privilege of getting to know me better call me Addie, but that name is reserved for a select few."

"Well then, I hope to have that privilege someday, Adelaide," he smiled at her suggestively.

"As do I, Tom," she said returning his suggestive smile.

"So, what's he really like? Give me the inside scoop about the famous Sherlock Holmes," Tom said.

"I'm afraid I can't disclose such information. Sibling loyalty. It's in the sibling's code of ethics," she told him.

"There's no such code. You're having me on," he laughed.

Addie chuckled. "No, I swear. It's all online. You should do your research."

She was trying and failing to hold in her laugh as she watched him start to contemplate such a book and where he might find it. She laughed out loud when he started writing it down on his notepad to look up later.

Tom looked to her and scowled playfully. "You're a liar."

"Yes, yes, I know. No such code exists. I lied. I'm terribly sorry," she said, not looking in the least bit apologetic.

"No, not about that," he said.

"Then what do you mean?"

"About you not being a prat," he smirked. "Seems it does run in the family."

"I'm allowed to be wrong," she told him and smirked back.

Sherlock was watching the pair from across the room, taking in their body language and their constant smirks and teasing gestures.

"Is it standard procedure for an agent to talk so much with one of the detectives?" Sherlock asked.

Addie was now laughing and blushing as she talked to the younger agent. Sherlock watched them suspiciously with narrowed eyes and a clenched jaw.

John looked up from his notes at Sherlock's question. He followed his gaze to the pair giggling and chatting down the hall and he smiled to himself.

"I suppose if there's urgent business to be discussed about the case then yes, it is alright for an agent to be talking so much with a detective." He answered.

"What kind of business about the case could they possibly be giggling about? I'm going to talk to Lestrade about that one. He seems suspicious and far more interested in his outside activities than he is in his job," Sherlock said.

"Come on now Sherlock. Leave the poor kid alone. You can't go ruining his life because he finds Addie attractive," John tried to reason with him.

"And why not?" Sherlock asked with a raised eyebrow. "Did he just touch her?! John! He's touching her!" Sherlock whispered harshly.

"Relax Sherlock, he's shaking her hand," John rolled his eyes.

"Well I don't like the way he held it. It seemed too suggestive for a strictly professional relationship."

"You're paranoid."

"Don't I have reason to be? I've already lost her once, I…" Sherlock trailed off.

John looked guilty and apologized, understanding why Sherlock was a bit too protective of his sister.

Addie approached them with a smile on her face and a spring in her step. She was still blushing and looking dreamy.

"Had a nice chat?" Sherlock asked coldly.

Addie jerked out of her daydream and looked up at them. Her blush was gone and her smile faded. She raised her eyebrow back at him and smirked haughtily, not answering his question.

"He's not nearly at your level of intellect and he's quite frankly, an idiot. He still lives at home with mummy and his biggest accomplishment is winning the office Christmas party award for ugliest jumper. And it wasn't even that horrendous. John has worse in his closet."

John looked offended, "Hey, hang on!"

"I really don't care about your stupid opinions Sherlock. Tom and I are friends. He happens to find me funny and enjoyable to be around and, since I rarely find people like that, I see no harm in continuing to talk to him. Just because you seem to be satisfied with living a solitary life, doesn't mean I do," Addie said, sneering at him.

"Oh, so its Tom is it? On a first name basis already, I see," Sherlock teased.

"Yes, Sherlock. People generally call their friends by their first names," she glanced at him, "Well, most normal people anyways."

Sherlock narrowed his eyes and walked off to talk to Lestrade. John was left with an annoyed Addie.

"Look, Addie-"

"Oh don't you start too. I really don't need to be babied and held on a leash. I'm a grown woman for god's sake!"

"I was just going to say that Tom seems nice. And if he makes you happy, by all means continue to talk to him," John said.

Addie smiled gratefully at him.

Sherlock approached Lestrade purposefully.

"Lestrade. I wish to speak to you about one of your agents," Sherlock spoke professionally.

"Hmmm," Lestrade said as he read over a report. "Oh yes, which one?"

Sherlock pointed to the blonde agent collecting evidence across the room. "That one."

Lestrade followed his finger. "Oh, Reynolds. He's a good kid. What about him?"

"It seems Agent Reynolds and my sister have become friendly with each other. I feel it is inappropriate for them to behave in such a manner and to engage in conversation that is not strictly professional and relevant to the case."

"You want me to tell them they can't be friends?" Lestrade asked.

"No of course not. I want you to forbid him to ever talk to her again except for case-related issues lest he be fired and thrown out," Sherlock said.

Lestrade laughed out loud. Sherlock looked insulted and stared at him, shocked. Lestrade clapped his hand on Sherlock's back and shook his head.

"I'm not going to forbid one of my agents to have friends just because you are an overprotective and over-bearing big brother."

Sherlock was genuinely confused as to why Lestrade wasn't agreeing with him. He'd have thought if anyone was a stickler for propriety it would be him.

"I say, good for them. They're young, let them have some fun." Lestrade said as he smirked and walked away.

Sherlock scowled and narrowed his eyes at Reynolds. He'd be keeping a close eye on him from now on.