Chasing the tesseract

Chapter 54

The walk back to the apartment is quick and silent, neither me or Sherlock bringing up anything that's happened back at the crime scene. People rush by us, each one glued to their phone as they're hurry off into the distance. Sherlocks hands are stuffed in his pockets, only briefly coming out to unlock the door before they returns once again, his muscles tense.

"Mrs Hudson, we're back." shouts Sherlock as soon as we emerge inside the building, shrugging our coats off before making our way upstairs. Banging comes from within the kitchen, pots falling onto the floor before Mrs Hudson grunts follow. Sighing, Sherlock pushes open the apartment door, throwing his coat on the table before collapsing into his seat. Biting my lip, I place my own coat on the rack behind the door before taking a seat opposite him. Silence hangs in the air, the only sound throughout the room the ticking of the clock and the tapping of Sherlocks shoes.

"So when we're you going to tell me?" asks Sherlock, finally breaking the silence as he sits up straighter, pressing the tips of his fingers together whilst waiting for some explanation.

Sighing, I sit up straighter, my eyes meeting Sherlocks as I take a deep breath. Why I'm earth did I do that back there? I could have just, I don't know.... made something up? "Well in my defense, I have just met you so I didn't think I needed to." I argue, holding my hands, palm up in front of me in surrender.

"You didn't think I'd want to know that you can read minds?" he asks, his tone mocking as he pulls himself up off the chair and heads for the kitchen. Sliding the two doors open, Sherlock reveals the mess that is his science equipment scattered all over the table.

"I can do more than that Mr Holmes." I confess, dragging my exhausted body up from the chair and heading into the kitchen with Sherlock. Opening the fridge, Sherlock glances glances around it, searching for some food. But of course, it's empty.

Rolling my eyes, I reach across the table and grab the custard creams John was eating earlier, pointing them at Sherlock. "You know you can just call me Sherlock." he assures, grabbing the biscuits and heading back through to the living room. Does this man ever stand still?

"Okay Sherlock, since you know something about me, tell me something about yourself." I slump down into the chair, collapsing against its much welcomed soft surface. Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes and focus on my breathing, ignoring the sharp pain in my ribs that develops whenever I breathe in.

"Like what?" Sherlock asks, his voice interrupting my thoughts. Opening my eyes once again, I press my fingers to my rib, a small glow developing around them as I begin to heal the bruising that's developed. How I did it I do not know but hey, everyone has bruises that appear from nowhere don't they?

"Like what do you like? What don't you like?Family, friends or girlfriends." My mouth quickly closes, my eyes widening as I realize what I've said. Why in the nine realms did I ask that? Am I really that stupid? Oh gosh now he's going to think I'm interested in him. Which I'm not. I'm not interested in dating at all. Am I?

"Girlfriend?" he asks, raising his eyebrows whilst I fumble for words. My mind seems to go completely blank and for the first time ever. I'm at a loss for words.

"Or boyfriend." I add, making the situation even worse when he rolls his eyes, turning his back on me as rubbing the bridge of his nose with his forefinger.

After moments of silence, Sherlock turns back around, his eyes instantly meeting my own. "No I don't." he admits, reaching forwards and curving his fingers around the wooden chair in front of him before pulling it from underneath the table. Slowly, he lowers himself down into it, his eyes not leaving mine until he's completely sat down. "Dating isn't really my area of expertise."