Hey guys,
I know it has been ages since I have updated this, not because I have given up on that story, but mainly because I didn't know where I want the story to head. Now I have made up my mind (for 1 chapter at last) so here we go!

As I was switching between Stephen's and Jemma's perspective in the last chapter, here we go now with Stephen and John! The chapter will also be full of references, I hope you will spot them.

Thank you for the reviews, you made my day!

Kenobi1: Happy to see that you like my Sherlock idea! I am not revealing all seven characters yet but I can tell you they include 1 more Marvel character and 1 evil queen.
Guest1: Thank you very much :) I won't ship Strange/Simmons here though even if they make a cool couple (maybe that would be something for my next fanfiction, who knows). I hope however that you will find my Strange-ship in this story as strange (but also interesting) as I do :)

Please let me know what you think! Ideas and guesses about characters are also apprechiated

Disclaimer: I still don't own anything.


The sign of four

The guy, Watson, didn't look like a creature from another dimension, but who could tell, Kree or Skrulls for example could imitate humans very well. Also, there was something in this man's posture, in the way he held himself, that screamed "fighter" to Stephen. Even though he didn't seem to be a threat at the moment.

"Strange, come on, get a grip on yourself!", he chided himself.

He knew better than just standing there! With a lazy flick of his hand, he let the portal close behind him. When Watson jumped, the sorcerer had to hide a grin. He might burn in hell for this, but the look on people's faces was just too funny.

"Doctor Watson, how can I help you?"

Well, that was unexpected. John looked at the (now not flying) man in awe. Then he remembered his ability to speak.

"I just searched shelter from the storm that started so sudden", the doctor confessed, "I didn't want to trespass, I hadn't expected that door to ... open."

He was momentarily distracted by the way the sorcerer moved his eyebrow, it just reminded him too much of Sherlock. Actually, hat whole man looked like the detective, they could have been brothers, even twins. Was there a third Holmes sibling after all? It wouldn't be the first secret in that strange genius family. Why was that man looking at him so weirdly? Did he have something in his face? The sorcerer caught a glint if his reflection in a mirror on the side of the room and had to suppress a smile. Of course, that was why! He had again forgotten he was wearing his "uniform" especially his loyal (and sometimes slightly too snuggely) coat. He should give him a name, maybe Greg or something like that. Or something more sophisticated, like Zephyr, the westwind. Back to the matter at hand: Watson seemed to be genuine and to be fair, he wouldn't want to kick him out when the weather was like that.

"If that is so, then why don't you have a cup of tea with me and my... friend Doctor Simmons?"

That was an offer he wouldn't decline, definitely not. A cup of tea was always a good idea and at least he wouldn't be alone in the company of a man whose every movement brought back memories of what he had lost.

"Yes, sure, why not?", he answered politely, following Strange through the hall and up the stairs to a corridor.

In the next room, he saw a young woman sitting on a couch, her whole appearance a mixture between fragile and poised. For some reason she reminded him immediately of Molly Hooper, maybe it was the slightly lost look in her eyes.

"Hello, I am John Watson", the man introduced himself. "Jemma Simmons, nice to meet you Sir", she responded, her voice quiet but melodic.

He was amazed, apparently he wasn't the only Brit in this room. Suddenly, something shifted in her expression and her eyes literally began to glow.

"Wait, are you THE Dr. John Watson with the blog?"

Well that was a new developement, normally hardly anyone acknowledged him at all!

"Uhm yes, that's me", he admitted, "so you are reading my blog?"

"Indeed I am. Or used to. With Sherlock gone and you not updating there is nothing new on it. And that is a shame! You were such a good team, in fact, I think the detective wouldn't have been half as good without you!"

Watson wasn't so sure about that, nervertheless he appreciated Miss Simmons kind words.

"So, what brings you to New York?", she wanted to know. That was a question he had asked himself a few times during the last three days, especially when he had been stuck in traffic or being shouted at in one of those weird American accents.

"I had to get away", he confessed, "had to put some distance between me and everything that had happened. So, Mr. Strange, who are you?"

"I am the Sorcerer Surpreme and I look after this Sanctum", he answered, his face blank.

He was waiting for Watson to burst out laughing or telling him he was crazy, but nothing of that sort happened. The man merely furrowed his brows, as if he was silently depating something.

"Dr. Watson, are you going to laugh at me?", the magician asked, not sure what answer he actually wanted to hear.

"No, it is strange - excuse me, no pun intended - but I believe you. I can see no other explanation for you flying, doors suddenly closing and tea cups appearing than some sort of magic. My friend taught me that if I have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth."

The other doctor nodded thoughtfully while the lady muttered something to herself that sounded like "yeah thought so too after the portal."

"Your friend, Mr. Watson, seems to be a very clever man indeed. I myself thought two years ago magic of this kind was impossible, but here I am. There is a lot more in this world than we believe or want to believe in."

As if destiny wanted to prove his point, there was another bang downstairs. Then a few more, getting louder and louder. Sighing, Strange got up again. Why couldn't he just have a nice undisturbed talk to some nice normal people? Must be part of the job...

"Please excuse me, I will be back soon", he muttered before making his way downstairs. When he opened the door with a slight movement of his hand, it was nearly ripped out of his mental grip because of the raging storm outside. Snow and ice were being whipped in, so thick that you couldn't see the streetlights outside. In the doorway, there was a dark silhouette, the silhouette of a broad shouldered man.

"Can I come in, just until the storm passes?", he asked, nearly shouting to be heard over the wind. It was a stupid idea, letting in a stranger just like that, Strange knew that. And still he stepped asside so the guy in the leather jacket could pass. At least not another Brit, that would be too much for him, the Doctor mused. Judging from his way of speaking, that new dude was Canadian. And smoked too much.


Thank you so much for reading!
Just a little explanation to the timelines: I am totally messing around with them but at the moment it is roughly (after the movie), Sherlock (after Reichenbachfall) and AoS (after Simmons is back).

Any ideas who the new character is? Let me know!