Chapter 6: 221b Baker Street

It took Scarlett just over an hour to pack everything she would need, Bruce was very confused as she pulled out her suitcase and rushed around the flat collecting things. John helped her carry everything to the cab that was waiting, Sherlock already inside. It hadn't quite hit her yet but someone was going to try to kill her, someone out there was planning her death. Scarlett suddenly felt the need to be close to someone, John sat in the front of the taxi, Sherlock in the back with Scarlett and Bruce. "221b Baker Street, please" said John and the taxi set off. Scarlett stroked Bruce's head to try and calm herself, but her nerves seemed to be building as Scarlett left her flat behind.

The taxi stopped at the traffic light its engine humming, a man crossed the street, and he looked in through the window at Scarlett, staring hard. She began very paranoid and grabbed hold of the nearest thing she could, which happened to be Sherlock's arm. Scarlett tucked her head into it and shut her eyes tight, his jacket smelt musky, he had been a smoker a long time ago.

Suddenly Scarlett realised what she was holding on to, without letting go she flicked her eyes up to met his, he looked at her strangely and she let go and scooted over to the other side of the taxi. She starred out the window very embarrassed; she watched his reflection look at her before looking back out his own window without a word.

Once they arrived John helped unloaded the two heavy suitcases, while Scarlett tried to calm the excitable Great Dane at her feet. Sherlock was already inside, when Scarlett and John got in.

"Scarlett you can't stay in our flat because we have no space for you, but Mrs Hudson was kind enough to allow you to stay in her spare room" Sherlock said as Scarlett took one of her suitcases from John.

"Oh ok" she said, Scarlett didn't know why but right now she didn't like the idea of being in a different flat to John and Sherlock, even if it was only down stairs from theirs.

"Oh there you are dear" called Mrs Hudson rushing up to Scarlett.

"Oh he's a big fella isn't he" said Mrs Hudson affectionately looking at Bruce, before scratching him roughly on the head.

"Well, follow me and we'll get you sorted" she said walking off, just to the right of the stairs leading to John and Sherlock's flat was a small corridor at the end was a glass panelled door similar to John and Sherlock's. Mrs Hudson pushed open the door and beckoned Scarlett and John in, Sherlock had already disappeared upstairs it seemed.

Scarlett stood in a small hall, four doors lead off of it, it was all painted in a sludgy green colour with a terrible floral print carpet that clashed horribly. The first door straight ahead of her was another glass panelled door, frosted but you could make out an old fashioned cream kitchen. To her left were two doors, Mrs Hudson stood in the doorway of one.

"Here we are dear, the spare room" she said holding the door open for Scarlett to see inside. She made her way in and dropped her suitcase at the foot of the double bed, John was not far behind her, and he too dropped her suitcase by the bed.

"Well I'll let you to get settled" said Mrs Hudson before shutting the door. John walked around the room, it was simple lilac walls and a large window that faced a garden Scarlett didn't know was there before. The silence licked at her paranoia, and slowly she reached out for John's hand as he past.

"Help me" she whispered as his eyes met hers, and the tears began to fall. For a second he didn't do anything he just stared at her, before finally he pulled Scarlett into a tight embrace. She rested her head on his shoulder and held on tight. She didn't want to be alone. She had read about cases like this in the paper and or seen them on the news and it never dawned on her how scared the victims were, till now.

"I don't want to die" Scarlett said choking on her tears, it sounded pathetic but she didn't know how else to voice her fears.

"You're not going to, Sherlock will work it out, we will save you" he said quietly his warm breath moved her hair slightly.

"Thank you" she said before pulling away and wiping her eyes.

"Go on, go help that nutter upstairs." Scarlett smiled weakly to him as he left, before starting to unpack. She got out Bruce's fold away basket and placed it on the floor next to the bed, and he immediately got in and shut his eyes. Once she was finished she sat down on the bed and shut her eyes.

"Calm Scarlett Calm" Scarlett said to herself,

"You're going to be OK, everything is going to be OK" Scarlett said but the tears were already rolling down her cheeks, she felt numb. She had never been this scared, but the thing was that Scarlett knew she was helpless. Scarlett couldn't do anything; she just had to pray Sherlock would work it out before. Well she didn't even want to think about it.

Slowly she wiped her eyes, maybe she wasn't all that helpless, maybe she could help Sherlock just do something anything.

Scarlett made her way out the room, the door across the hall was open and she could see Mrs. Hudson watching the lottery, sitting forward in her seat, ticket in hand.

"I'm just going to see John and Sherlock" Scarlett called as she made her way to the front door.

"OK dear" Mrs Hudson called though her eyes didn't move from the screen.

Scarlett shut it quietly behind herself, the hall was covered in darkness and her heart rate quicken. She didn't want to be in the dark any longer than necessary.

"This is pathetic" She growled to herself, she was acting like a child, but she couldn't help it every little noise frightened her.

Scarlett made her way to the foot of the stairs, it was dark out now, but the light from a street lamp outside cast a ray over the stairs.

Suddenly Scarlett felt someone else's presence. The stairs creaked as someone made their way down; involuntarily she let out squealed as they jumped the last two and landed with a thump.

"Scarlett?" came a voice and then she was blinded by light. John stood there looking at her very strangely, as he pulled at the collar of his coat.

"John!" Scarlett said relieved to see him.

"Are you OK" he asked stepping towards her.

"Yeah, you just made me jump" Scarlett laughed though she felt rather embarrassed

"Where are you going?" Scarlett asked realising he was on his way out.

"Got a date" John grinned,

'How could he be so happy when you could be killed any minute, he's supposed to be you friend' screamed a voice in Scarlett's head but she shook it away.

"Well have fun, I'm just gonna go see if I can help Sherlock" Scarlett said smiling weakly

"Oh right well, Good luck" He laughed and Scarlett joined in.

"See you later, have a good time" Scarlett said making her way up the stairs

"Will do" Scarlett heard the front door slam as she reached Sherlock and John's flat.

The door was open slightly and the light from inside cast down the stairs to meet the light that was now coming from the hall.

"Hello" Scarlett called as she pushed the door open and peered inside, Sherlock lay on the sofa perfectly still, his eyes shut. One of his shirt sleeves was rolled up to reveal three nicotine patches. For a second she thought he was asleep before one of his eyes opened and he glared at her. It shut again and he spoke in a deep voice, one she could tell he had not used for hours, from the scratchiness of it.

"Come in then"

Scarlett did as he said and sat across from him the fire lay smouldering, it had burnt out. Suddenly and without warning Sherlock sat up quickly. He stood and walked over to the seat opposite her. He leant forward and rested his elbows on his knees, his hands meeting in a praying like stance, under his chin. His blue orbs flicked over her quickly before his eyes rested on her own. He stayed like that for at least ten minutes his eyes searching Scarlett's eyes for something.

Scarlett fidgeted uncomfortably as his stare seem to bore into her, his blue eyes tearing her apart, piece by piece.

"What?" Scarlett said finally after what seemed like an eternity

"I was looking for something that connected you to the other two women" he said simply his eyes still starring

"My Job, we were all glamour models" Scarlett said simply feeling uncomfortable under his gaze.

"Yes that's obvious but it's something else something more" he said, standing up quickly and he began to pace the room.

"Where did you go to school" he asked

"St Olmens" Scarlett said simply

"No Match" he said his eyes flicking to the wall above the fireplace that was covered in papers and photographs.

"Where did you go to colleague?"

"North West London"

"No Match"

This continued for twenty minutes, until finally the questions stop. Sherlock continued to pace, then suddenly his face lit up. Scarlett didn't know why but it made her smile his face was full of excitement, full of happiness.

"It so simple" he spoke loudly making his way to the fireplace, he looked over the photos. Before bounding over to Scarlett, he knelt in front of her and cupped her face with his hands, again for a second she thought he was going to kiss her. Then he stood, he laughed a single HA. Before he sat down his face full of accomplishment

"What, what's so simple" Scarlett asked confused. He looked at her as though she had just dribbled down her front.

"Your eyes" he said as though it was the simplest thing in the world. Scarlett just stared at him, she didn't dare ask.

"You all have green eyes"

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