A few days passed, and Caitlin had started on a few new projects, Sherlock's violin often permeating her concentration, but at the same time almost making her work faster. Today however, she chose to only work a couple of hours, seeing as it was New Years Eve. Deciding to go see what the boys were up to, Caitlin threw on a sweatshirt and skipped down the stairs. Stopping in front of their door, she noticed it was slightly open. Knocking lightly before pushing it open some more, Caitlin called out,
"Sherlock? John?"
"John's not here," Sherlock's voice called from the kitchen, scaring her. Putting her hand to her chest, Caitlin exclaimed,
"Jesus Sherlock! You scared the life out of me!"
"You did call me. All I did was answer."
Rolling her eyes, Caitlin stepped in the flat before shutting the door.
"Where's John?"
"On a date, and if I'm correct, which I always am, he most likely will not be back until tomorrow."
Snorting, Caitlin just grinned, pausing for a moment before asking her next question.
"Are you doing anything tonight for New Year's Sherlock?"
Sitting in his chair, he just looked at her as if to say, 'Seriously?'
"Right…" Caitlin smirked before asking, "Would you mind if I hung out here with you?"
"If you wish. I don't guarantee that I'll be very entertaining."
Shrugging, Caitlin just replied,
"I don't mind. I just don't wanna be alone."
Sherlock just looked at her with an unreadable stare. Turning back to the door, Caitlin said,
"Be right back!"
As she rushed back upstairs, Sherlock just shrugged, and settled back to read.
The hours ticked by, each person in their own world, breaking out of their reveries to chat for a little while before sinking back into their own thoughts once more.
As Sherlock stood to go to the kitchen, he glanced over to see Caitlin stretched out on the couch.
"What are you doing?"
Looking up to find Sherlock gazing at her curiously, Caitlin just grinned.
"I'm crocheting."
Coming closer, Sherlock could see that Caitlin was holding a type of hook in one hand, the other holding some yarn from the ball resting next to her leg. Her fingers flew over and around the hook and yarn, as she made row by row.
"What are you making?"
Caitlin paused for a moment. Truth be told she was actually slightly surprised that Shelock seemed so interested. He was never usually interested in anything, unless it was a case, or his violin.
"I'm making a scarf. I'm going to send a few to my family. Smirking, Caitlin teased him. "Why? Do you want one?"
Ignoring her and climbing back up, he stated as he actually went in the kitchen this time,
"I thought you were from Texas. Tea?"
"I am, and yes please."
Laughing at his look that seemed to question her, she continued.
"Sherlock, just because I'm from Texas doesn't mean it's hot all the time. In fact sometimes it's colder there than it is here."
As the kettle whistled, Sherlock quickly poured the tea and bringing it in, sat beside Caitlin as he handed her a cup.
"You know," Caitlin said before taking a sip, "for someone with such a brilliant mind, you can still be an idiot."
Laughing at his scowl, she continued to drink her tea, Sherlock just glaring and letting out a huff.
Not too long after that conversation had taken place, Caitlin had made a small, (though late) dinner and the two sat and playfully bickered as they ate. Now, Sherlock sat in his chair, Caitlin curled up in John's, and they just relaxed and enjoyed the comfortable silence. Looking over at Sherlock who was completely enthralled in his book, Caitlin broke the silence.
"Sherlock?"
"Hmm," he hummed, not looking up.
"Will you play me a song?"
Glancing up sharply, his eyes met hers. No one had ever really asked him that before. Sure he had been asked to play at Christmas, etc. but this was different.
"You want me to play for you?"
Nodding, Caitlin smiled shyly.
"If you don't mind. You don't have to if you don't want to. I love listening to you though."
It was nice to hear that his music was appreciated. Usually it annoyed the hell out of John. Not that he cared though. Smiling internally, he stood to pick up his violin. Flipping through his music, he finally decided on a piece and smiling as Caitlin watched with rapt attention, began.
Closing her eyes, Sherlock's music wrapped around her, and filled her with comfort. Every note was beautiful. Once he stopped, Caitlin sighed.
"Sherlock that was amazing. Did you write that?"
"I did."
"It was wonderful. Just wonderful."
Seeing him place the loose paper back on his desk, Caitlin asked,
"Don't you have any composition paper?"
"No, I never have. I just write on whatever is closest when an idea strikes me."
Taking a seat once more, he picked up his discarded book, before Caitlin exclaimed,
"It's almost midnight!"
Not noticing Sherlock rolling his eyes, Caitlin pulled a bottle of whiskey from the bag she had brought in from her flat. Pouring a small glass for Sherlock as well as herself she took a sip before surprising Sherlock and sitting in his lap. Handing him his glass, she stated,
"To the new year."
Clinking her glass against his, they heard the clock chime midnight, and Sherlock gave Caitlin a half smile before drinking his whiskey.
As the chimes from Big Ben continued to ring, Caitlin was silent as she glanced at Sherlock, blushing slightly as he raised a questioning eyebrow at her with a grin. Caitlin took a deep breath. She had to do it before she lost her nerve. Leaning forward, her face close to his, she watched as his expression changed to one of surprise as she whispered,
"Happy New Year Sherlock."
Before he could say or do anything, Caitlin closed the small distance between them, and kissed him. Grasping his shirt, Caitlin tugged at him, begging him to move closer. Frozen in shock at first, Sherlock didn't move, but as Caitlin pulled him close, he gave into the moment and wrapped his arms around her, responding slowly. Breaking away, they looked at each other for a few moments thru half lidded eyes, struggling to catch their breath. Neither knew what to say, and after a few seconds, Caitlin just laid her head down on Sherlock's shoulder, adjusting herself on his lap, before closing her eyes.
Sherlock's mind was going a mile a minute. Caitlin had completely scrambled his brain, and that never happened. Finding that he still had his arms around her, he looked down about to try and say something, anything, only to find that she had fallen asleep. Sighing in frustration he stood, scooping her up in his arms in the process and laid her out on the couch, not bothering to take her back to her flat. Grabbing the closest thing, which happened to be his coat, he draped it over her, and couldn't help but grin when she snuggled into it. Turning off the light, he just sighed once more before heading back to his room.
Caitlin woke with a start in the middle of the night covered in sweat. She had been having a horrible dream. No, not even a dream. It was a nightmare. Seeing the clock read only three in the morning, she snuck down the hall to Sherlock's room. He had left his door open, and he was peacefully sleeping, his pale skin almost glowing in the moonlight. He had tossed his clothes at the end of the bed, so she lightly picked up the shirt he'd been wearing earlier, and changed into it, her own clothes damp from her sweat that had been a result of the nightmare. Trying to slide into his bed without waking him, she thought she'd succeeded until a low voice stated huskily,
"Is there a reason you are climbing into bed with me?"
Yelping, Caitlin nearly rolled back out.
"I-I'm sorry. I'm just scared and didn't want to stay out in the living room alone."
Sherlock turned over to face her, his eyes sleepy.
"Why are you scared?"
"Nightmares," she murmured. "I always have the same one, but it always seems to increase in intensity. When I wake up though, I can't ever seem to remember it."
Sighing, Caitlin pushed the covers back and started to get up, muttering,
" I'm sorry I'm bothering you. I'll leave, I'll put up with-"
Feeling a hand wrap around her wrist, Caitlin was pulled back down. Without a word, Sherlock just pulled the blankets back over her. Unconsciously wrapping his arm around her, he just muttered,
"Go to sleep."
Turning over to face him, Caitlin just murmured,
"Goodnight Sherlock."
Shushing her, he shut his eyes and muttered softly,
"Goodnight."