Caitlin O'Connor rocked back and forth on her feet as she stood outside 221 Baker Street. As soon as she knocked, the front door had swung open, and she was met by a kind looking older woman.
"Mrs. Hudson?"
"Hello dear, you must be Miss O'Connor."
"That'd be me. I talked to you about renting the flat?"
"Oh yes, of course, how nice to meet you!" Mrs. Hudson smiled.
"Very nice to meet you too," Caitlin paused, before continuing, "Would you mind if I came in? It's awfully cold out."
"Oh my, where is my head?! I'm terribly sorry! Please dear, come in and sit. I'll make some tea and we can discuss things further."
Shutting the foyer door and following Mrs. Hudson inside, Caitlin shrugged out of her woolen pea coat and hung it on the coat rack once she was inside the older woman's flat. Taking a seat, Caitlin watched as Mrs. Hudson put the kettle on, before coming to sit across from her.
Two hours and a cup of tea later, Caitlin and Mrs. Hudson had reached a reasonable rent price, and had also learned much about each other. Standing and pulling her coat on, Caitlin was pulled into an unexpected hug by the other woman. Opening the door as she bid Mrs. Hudson goodbye, Caitlin stepped out and was nearly knocked to the ground as a black blur rushed past, but was righted by another person behind her.
"Are you alright Miss?"
Caitlin looked up at the voice. Her eyes met the grey/blue eyes of a man around her height that had dark blond hair. As she straightened she smiled at him.
"Yes, thanks to you."
Mrs. Hudson peered around Caitlin, smiling at seeing who it was.
"Oh, John dear, how are you? Was that Sherlock?"
As Mrs. Hudson stepped out into the hallway as well, the man smiled at the older woman.
"Hello Mrs. Hudson, I'm doing alright. Yes that was Sherlock."
Turning back to the younger woman in front of him, John grinned.
"I don't believe I've properly introduced myself. My name is John Watson."
Holding out his hand to Caitlin, she shook it with a smile.
"Caitlin O'Connor pleased to meet you."
"John, Caitlin here is going to be taking the flat above you. Isn't that nice?"
"Really? Well, welcome to Baker Street then!" John beamed. "However, I'm sure he won't be very delighted," John sighed rolling his eyes toward the ceiling
"He…?"
"My flatmate. He's the one who practically plowed you over."
"Does this mysterious person have a name?"
"Sherlock."
"Sherlock. That's a name you don't hear every day. So I take it he doesn't like new people?"
"He doesn't like anything. I wouldn't worry about it though. He's just-"
"Sherlock is just a bit of an odd duck," Mrs. Hudson cut in.
"That's one way to put it," John muttered, grinning at Caitlin's laugh.
"Well John, it was nice to meet you, but I'm afraid I have to go. Mrs. Hudson
I'll see you Wednesday."
Caitlin walked out the door, turning and waving before heading down the street.
"Well, this ought to be interesting," John stated, laughing when he saw Mrs. Hudson throw her hands up and head back into her own flat.
John entered the flat upstairs, and hanging his coat, heard Sherlock talking before calling out,
"Am I right John?"
"Sherlock," he stated as the other man walked out of the kitchen. "You do realize I haven't been here for at least the last ten minutes, don't you?"
"Really?"
Watching as John nodded, Sherlock just continued on his lecture about whatever, only coming to a halt when John said,
"I was downstairs talking to the new tenant."
As he watched Sherlock's reaction go from concentrated to irritated, John smirked a bit before he continued.
"She seems very sweet, even after you almost bowled her over."
Growing curious for a moment Sherlock asked,
"Oh, is that what I hit?"
John ran his hand exasperatedly over his face.
"Yes Sherlock, you hit a human being."
Growing irritated once more, Sherlock commented,
"Why must she live here?"
"Usually, when there is a flat to rent, someone will move into it. So sorry to inconvenience you, but we're getting a new neighbor so deal with it."
"Well, as long as I don't have to 'get to know' her, I suppose it won't be too bothersome."
Letting out a sigh, John just picked up the paper and ignored his flatmate in favor of reading.
As Wednesday morning rolled around, Caitlin arrived back at Baker Street, moving van in tow. Back and forth, back and forth she went, from truck to flat until only a few boxes remained. Grabbing another box, Caitlin turned to head inside when she was met by the smiling image of John Watson.
"Caitlin, how nice to see you again!"
"Hi John! Great to see you too," Caitlin grinned back, shifting the box to rest on her hip.
"Let me help you get the rest of these," John said, grabbing the last two boxes, following Caitlin as she thanked him. Placing them on the floor after walking in the open door of 221C, John asked,
"Why don't you come for tea this afternoon, after you settle in some?"
"I'd love to. What time would be good for you?"
Thinking for a moment, John paused before answering,
"3 o'clock sound good?"
"Perfect. I'll see you then!"
As John headed out, Caitlin called "Thank you!" once more, before starting to unpack.
As 3 o'clock grew close, Caitlin paused in her unpacking, taking a moment to straighten her hair and quickly throw on a change of clothes. Descending the stairs to come to stop in front of John's flat, she reached up to knock, but was surprised when the door was jerked open before her fist even touched it.
"What do you want?"
"Umm…"
"How very eloquent."
"SHERLOCK!"
The man in front of her was roughly pushed out of the way, and John opened the door wider, motioning for Caitlin to come in.
"Come in Caitlin, so sorry about my flatmate."
Laughing lightly, Caitlin replied,
"It's alright."
Watching as the taller man fell back into a chair, steepling his hands together under his chin, she stated,
"You must be the illustrious Sherlock."
She watched as he turned his face back towards her, a single eyebrow raised. Caitlin couldn't help but notice his piercing blue/green eyes that were focused on her at the moment.
"That would be me."
"Caitlin O'Connor, nice to meet-"
"Don't bother, I don't care."
Frowning at him and watching as he sunk back into his chair, Caitlin huffed trying to come up with a retort before John interrupted by bringing the tea tray over.
Noticing her expression, John handed Caitlin her tea, asking,
"What did he do?"
"Absolutely nothing," Sherlock stated, coming over and taking his own tea, continuing, "I was just being myself."
"Ah, well," John stated, taking a sip from his own teacup.
"So Caitlin, tell me about yourself. Why did you move to London?"
"Well, I'm a fashion designer and my career has started to take off, it's just a small start mind you, but it helps that I love what I do."
"You design clothes? That's-"
"Of course she does John, it's very easy to tell."
"Sherlock…"
Gazing at him curiously, Caitlin asked,
"Oh and how is it so easy to tell?"
"Oh no…"
John groaned, massaging his temple as he felt the beginnings of an oncoming headache.
"Well," Sherlock began, "to begin with, your lower lip is chapped, most likely from worrying it with your teeth when you're concentrating. You have circles under your eyes, obviously from staying up late trying to finish a project. You're slightly pale from working indoors, yet not so much that you never go out. Finally, your hands are roughened, most likely from continuously pricking yourself with a needle."
"What-did that really just happen?" Caitlin asked, completely stunned.
"Unfortunately, yes," John replied. Pretending not to notice Sherlock's glare, he continued on.
"Just ignore it. I've learned to."
"Um, yeah. That might take me a little while," Caitlin murmured, eyeing the smirking man across from her.
"Well, anyway…before Sherlock so rudely interrupted, what else can you tell us? Do you have any family here?"
"Well, I have two siblings, an older brother and sister. My sister used to live here, but moved back home a couple of months ago."
"What part of America are you from?"
"I'm from Texas."
"Well yee-haw," they both suddenly heard.
Growling, Caitlin jumped up to face the offender.
"You seem to just delight in being an asshole don't you?"
Without saying anything, Sherlock just turned to walk into the kitchen. Heading to the door, Caitlin faced John saying,
"I'm sorry John, but I need to go. Thank you for having me."
Apologizing, he just replied,
"Not a problem. Hope to see you soon."
Smiling at him, Caitlin just waved, before heading back upstairs.
Closing the door, John exclaimed,
"You just couldn't help yourself, could you?"
Walking out into the sitting room holding a jar of eyeballs, Sherlock stated innocently,
"What?"
Scowling, John just grabbed his jacket and left.