Past Perfect
He stood near her while Sherlock and Mycroft argued. She looked up from her Blackberry and smiled.
"Hello."
"Hi."
John realized several things at once. First: he had desperately needed a shower before chasing a criminal through a landfill. Second: he had buttoned his shirt wrong. Third: Anthea was impeccably dressed… and perfumed.
John fumbled with his buttons and grinned nervously. "That's embarrassing. It must've been like this all day. But I've been chasing Sherlock for forty-eight hours… and… well… It's just one of those days. You know?"
"No." She looked almost puzzled.
John blinked, and walked over to Sherlock.