Hey wormie worms I'm back. Sorry I was focusing on getting healthier mentally and didn't want to over rely on writing. But I'm back. Hope you worms like my garbage :)
Several months later:
"Hello," a calm voice said at the other end of the line, "and welcome to London's Premier Psychiatric Hospital. How may I help you?"
Sherlock Holmes rolled his eyes before saying, "Charlotte."
"Alright."
Several seconds had passed until a young woman with dark circles under her eyes and long hair came to the receiver.
"Hello?"
"Today is your last day."
"I know," she sighed smiling, looking around the hospital she was in, fixing her robe while doing so.
"You better not go back do you comprehend," Sherlock said sternly.
"Of course," she said tiredly back. She came a long way. "How's Tom by the way?"
Sherlock rolled his eyes once again. They haven't spoken in months yet all she wants to hear about is her best friend.
"How am I supposed to know," he spat.
She frowned, sad that he still didn't like him.
"You know everything," she replied smirking.
He didn't respond as he went into the cab.
Suddenly, another line rang in the background. The lady at the front answered it.
"It's for you."
"I have to go Sher," Charlotte said quietly. And then after no response, she hung up.
"Hello?"
"Hi Char."
"Tom," she replied quietly, grinning.
"How are you?"
She frowned. She had heard that question too many times ever since she came to the hospital. And she knew that even when she would leave, it wouldn't be the last time she would hear it.
"Deduce me," she replied smirking.
"Well based on the fact that your sort of ignoring the question the only logical assumption is that you don't like the question. Since it's not personal nor is it uncommon I can only assume that it is a question you get too often. Plus you're wearing
an oversized gown."
"I'm always wearing an oversized gown here."
"Well not anymore," he said in a hopeful tone, "and you just talked to your dad."
"You're getting better at this," she complimented, "Not as good as me but..."
"Show off."
"Oh you know you love it."
"So," he paused, "look up."
She slowly looked up and then-
"TOM," she yelled grinning, running to him as if she were someone running to someone coming home from the war. In a way, she was.
"Char," he smiled as she jumped on him, fixing her long gown in the process.
She giggled back, a girly giggle, a giggle she never ever expressed in her life erupted out of her throat. And their was no denying that it was for her best, and probably only friend her age, Tom.
Their then was a cough.
She let go quickly and blinked seeing Sherlock awkwardly standing by the door with his hands behind his back.
"Sherlock," she grinned.
"Charlotte," he said montonely but with a hint of a smirk on his face, unable to hide how happy he was.
"Sir," Tom interrupted offering his hand for a shake, "I believe we met a while back."
"Yes," he paused walking past him, clearly ignoring him, occupying himself by signing Charlotte out.
Tom awkwardly put his hand down and nodded in understanding, "let me help you get your stuff Char."
"I actually got it," she replied grinning, rushing away to get her stuff out of her room, "thanks though."
His smile was gone as she left to get her stuff, stuck once again in another awkward situation with the famous Sherlock Holmes.
They waited in silence for a couple minutes.
But everyone knows Sherlock Holmes is not a man of silence.
"Charlotte will say this isn't necessary, however," he paused, "you should meet her family. The family."
Tom swallowed nothing nervously, "Yes of course. It would be an honor."
"Since you and her are-"
"Oh no," Tom laughed awkwardly, "we aren't-"
"Your eyes and most of all your pants tell me otherwise."
Tom choked in surprise, not expecting that response.
"She doesn't-"
"She has defended you on multiple occasions Thomas. It wouldn't surprise me if-"
"I heard the word surprise," a voice interrupted.
Sherlock and Thomas turned at the same time, both wearing different expressions. Sherlock of course wore one of great confidence. While Thomas on the other hand, looked like he was going to throw up.
"Thomas is going to come by to meet everyone sometime."
"That isn't necessary," Charlotte's smile faltered as she walked out the door.
"Oh but since you talk about him all the time and he's with you all...the...time...the most logical step would be-"
"We aren't," Tom and Char stated at the same time, then looked at each other for a moment before looking away.
Sherlock rose an eyebrow.
"The logical thing to do is to have proof that this," he explained motioning towards the pair, "is a mistake. So making him meet everyone, watch him suffer and leave you, can help you move on and get back to what's important."
"Sherlock-"
"Hold up," Tom said holding his hand up to silence Charlotte.
"Oh forgot you were here," Sherlock said sarcastically, "please do speak. Everyone is dying to hear what you have to say."
"It's obvious you don't like me, but it's not as obvious as to how bad 'everyone' is. If I prove I can survive 'everyone,' I stay and I continue being here, with Char. If not, I go. Deal?"
"What about I choose who I have in my life not you two," Charlotte snapped.
"No," they both said at the same time as they shook hands, finalizing the deal.
"I'll see you later Charlotte," Tom said smiling, leaving the lobby.
As he drove away, and Sherlock and Charlotte finally got a cab, she turned to him.
"You. Are. Ridiculous."
"What's ridiculous is-"
"Don't start with me Sherlock Holmes. You don't say you don't like someone tO THEIR FACE."
"How many times do I have to tell you? Socializing doesn't matter. All that matters, is the work-"
"Sherlock this isn't about socializing. This is about me. Your-"
He glared at her. She'd faltered for a moment but continued.
"Your daughter. And the fact that you may be taking away her only friend her age."
"You don't need friends. You have-"
"Redbeard died remember? You told me over the phone. And everyone else is going to die before I do. Even you. So what happens then?"
Sherlock paused before repeating, "You don't need friends. You survived without one for a while."
He immediately regretted saying that.
"And look where I ended up," she said seeing the hospital slowly get smaller and smaller.
"You don't need HIM as a friend," he corrected himself.
She sighed giving up as she saw the familiar address of 221B Baker Street.
