This is a sequel to my Skulduggery Pleasant/Sherlock crossover story When Egos Collide. If you haven't read that yet, go check it out on my profile. It'll be a bit hard (translation: too hard) to understand this without reading that first. Go on; I'll wait. (And if you're too lazy to go look, don't worry. I totally relate. But you've been warned.)

A note to anyone who's read When Egos Collide (please read 'cause I'm note going to cover this in the story. Author's Notes mid-sentence are something I try to avoid.): I know that in my last chapter I said that John gets married, but pretend that it never happened. Let's also pretend that this is set a couple months after WEC, though everything else still happened, (I won't say what in case I spoil even more for any new readers), Valkyrie's parents know about magic, you've all watched Doctor Who, (I don't expect you to go watch the first two seasons, though if you had, it'll help. All lot. If not, you can just read a general summary of the first two seasons if needed.) and that Rose Tyler is in her late twenties though she's still traveling with the Doctor. Oh yeah, and one last thing: Rose Tyler is still with the Doctor. No tear jerking farewell at the end of Season 2 (Whovians, you know what I mean.) I like Rose too much for that.

Anyways, that's it. Anybody who's made it through the longest AN I've ever written, kudos to you. Now here's the story!

-ravenwings52

"Valkyrie! I'm going!"

Valkyrie mumbled something, and rolled over.

"'Kay..."

Suddenly, she sat up abruptly. Grabbing her jeans, she started to pull a t-shirt on while talking.

"Wait, what? You can't leave without me!"

"Yes, I can!" Skulduggery yelled from downstairs.

She slipped on her jacket while shoving her feet into her boots, and clumped down the stairs.

"Jerk!"

Valkyrie ran outside, just as Skulduggery was pulling out of the driveway. She ran towards the car, and pulled the door open before he could leave. She buckled her seatbelt, then slapped him across his stupid cheekbones.

"What the hell, Skul! You can't just leave me at home while you go off willy-nilly to god knows where!"

Skulduggery was frustratingly calm.

"You know, slapping me probably hurt you more than I did. And I did tell you where I was going."

Valkyrie glared at him. Her hand did kind of sting; it was his fault that he had a skull. She corrected herself. Everybody had a skull, really, except his head was a skull... Wait, that wasn't right either. She shook her head. That wasn't the point.

"When did you tell me that?!"

Skulduggery had the decency to look a tiny bit sheepish.

"At two in the morning?" He offered.

Valkyrie resisted the urge to scream in frustration.

"You know I was asleep!"

He muttered something that sounded suspiciously like, "maybe that's why I told you then."

She sighed. This wasn't the worst he had done.

"Fine. But you're taking me to Starbucks."

She snatched his hat, and put it on.

"Why would I do that?"

"Because I had to rush, and didn't get to eat breakfast. So you're going to take me to Starbucks to make up for it." She thought for a second, then added, "If you don't, I'm staying over at Gordon's for a week. My parents won't mind if I visit. Just because they know about magic now, doesn't mean they approve of my living arrangements.

"It's not like I wanted you to move in," Skulduggery sniffed, but he bought her a coffee frappuccino anyways.

An hour later, they stopped at a small cafe. Only then did Valkyrie realize that she had no idea why they (she) was there.

"Um... Who are you meeting?"

Skulduggery gave her a purposely vague answer while tapping the tattoo on his shoulder.

"An... Acquaintance. You know him, too."

Valkyrie narrowed her eyes. She had finished her frappuccino a long time ago, and her initial irritation had returned.

"Skulduggery," she growled.

The skeleton offered his arm. Valkyrie ignored it.

"Oh, look. We're inside, now. Let's go find our mutual acquaintance, shall we?"

Valkyrie would've said something, but she recognized the cafe. It was the same place where she had met up with Sherlock a couple months ago.

Skulduggery seemed to have found their "mutual acquaintance", and speak of the devil: it was the infamous detective himself.

"Sherlock? This is who you're meeting up with? I thought you hated him!"

"This is why I was going alone..."

"You aren't going to work with him, are you?! Do you not remember last time?!"

"But it sounded interesting..."

Sherlock coughed slightly. Valkyrie rolled her eyes, and left the matter alone, sitting next to Skulduggery.

"You've decided?"

Skulduggery nodded.

"But Valkyrie will be joining me."

Valkyrie kicked the skeleton. The facade didn't do much to mask pain, and he flinched slightly. She looked at him.

What're you talking about? I never said I'd join you on a search for some myth! I'm not babysitting you two again!

Skulduggery studiously avoided meeting her gaze.

"Of course," Sherlock replied, "John will be there as well."

This time, Skulduggery had a harder time masking a grunt when Valkyrie kicked him. She tried to convey her emotions through her eyes.

Skulduggery! You are so dead when we get back!

Skulduggery frantically tried to reply, blue eyes wide.

What? It's just us, your ex-boyfriend, and the most egotistical detective I have ever met!

That was it. Valkyrie dragged him out of the cafe by his arm, but not before telling the only consulting detective in the world that, "This idiot will not, and I repeat, will not, be joining you on your quest to find this so-called Doctor."

"Valkyrie-"

Valkyrie slumped even lower in her seat.

"Nope. I'm not going."

Skulduggery tilted his head pleadingly, slightly sticking his bottom lip out. Damn the skeleton's need to have an attractive facade, even if it was his old face.

She said no again, but both of them knew that her self-resolve was weakening.

Skulduggery sighed.

"I'll let you drive the Bentley."

Valkyrie perked up, until Skulduggery amended his statement.

"But only once."

Valkyrie shook her head.

"From here until we find this Doctor of yours."

Skulduggery caved, and his shoulders slumped in defeat.

"Fine."

Valkyrie didn't shout or rub her victory in his face, though. She had a deal to exploit.

"Pull over," she commanded.

Skulduggery furrowed his eyebrows.

"Wait, what?"

"You heard me. Pull over. I can drive the car from here 'til we find mystery man, yeah? And technically, that starts now."

Skulduggery began to protest, saying that they weren't really searching yet, but Valkyrie just raised an eyebrow.

He pulled over, and they switched seats.

Valkyrie couldn't help it. Pushing her foot down hard on the gas pedal, she yelled,

"Seatbelt!"