The Science of Blood, Bombs and Brothers//BOOK ONE

Chapter 5~ The Curtain Rises (The Game Is On)

Teddy's P.O.V

We were back at the flat on Baker Street, John, Lestrade and I rushing right behind Sherlock who called for Mrs Hudson, the landlady, and the keys to 221c. She came out of the kitchen with a smile on her face and the key in her hand.

"Hello again Dearies, what brings you four all rushing about here?" she asked.

"We need have a look in 221c" Sherlock said simply.

Mrs Hudson led us down the hall and stopped outside a door.

"You had a look, didn't you Sherlock? When you first came to see about your flat?" She said, unlocking the door.

"The door's been opened. Recently," Sherlock said.

"No, cant be, that's the only key," Mrs Hudson told us, pushing open the door. "I can't get anyone interested in this flat. It's the damp. I expect that's the curse of basements. I'd a place once-"

But no-one was listening to Mrs Hudson's babbling. We were already inside the flat and closing the door.

"Ugh, damp,"I muttered, looking around. "Could be done up though, some new wallpaper, black leather couch, splash of colour, maybe some blood red curtains-"

"You planning on living here?" John asked with a chuckle. I shrugged, looking at him.

"Possibly. I'd rather live here than with Mycroft, with or without the red curtains," I smiled. For a teeny, tiny, millisecond, my mind went blank when looked at John, but I cleared my throat and shook my head slightly.

"You OK?" he asked.

"Hmm? Oh, uh, yeah, just-" I stopped. "Sorry about Afghanistan," I said, voice low. John looked at me, surprised, but he put his hands in his pockets and nodded.

"Oh.... its, uh, fine. Thanks."

"Welcome."

Our attention was brought to the middle of the flat where on the floor sat a pair of shoes.

"Shoes," John said.

Sherlock got down onto his hands and slowly, carefully, crawled towards the shoes. I bit my lip, watching my brother silently.

"He's a bomber, remember," John said, making Sherlock pause for a moment. It was silent in here, the only sound coming from the traffic outside and the slight creaking from the floor.

The silence was shattered by the shrill ring of a phone.

Sherlock got up off the floor and reached into his coat pocket, pulling out the pink phone. Unlocking it and pausing, he answered and spoke softly.

"Hello?"

"H-hello, S-sexy"

I blinked, head tilted to the side. What-

"Who's this?" Sherlock asked.

"I've sent you a little puzzle..... just to say h-hi," The woman on the phone said. I frowned. She was crying heavily, trying to get her voice under control so she could speak clearly.

"Who's talking? Why are you crying?" Sherlock asked again.

"I-Im not crying. I'm typing. And this s-stupid b-bitch is reading it out."

"The curtain rises," Sherlock said, voice barely audible.

"What?" John said.

"Nothing."

"No, what did you mean?"

"I've been expecting this for some time."

I looked at Lestrade who was frowning in thought, then at the shoes. A small wave of giddiness and excitement washed over me. Oh, this was going to be fun.

"12 hours to solve my puzzle, Sherlock. Or i'm going to be so naughty," the sobbing woman said before the call ended.

Silently, John, Lestrade and I looked towards Sherlock. I realized that out of all of us, we seemed to trust Sherlock the most. Lestrade because he was desperate for answers, John because Sherlock always seemed to know what to do in these situations, and myself because i've just always looked towards Sherlock whenever I was in the deep end. It surprised me, amazingly, how much people actually came to trust Sherlock's mind after they've gotten to know him. Perhaps not him himself, but his mind, yes.

"Lets go," Sherlock said, slipping the phone into his coat. I rushed forward and picked up the shoes, adrenalin running through my veins.

"Uh, Teddy, where-" Lestrade began.

"We'll be at Bart's if anyone wants us," Sherlock said, walking out of the flat with John by his side. I followed them, but Lestrade grabbed my arm.

"Hey, Teddy, wait," he said.

"What?" I said, impatient.

"You cant go running around like this. We should get back to the Yard and try and track down this woman."

"No point, we wont find her, plus that sounds utterly boring. I want to go with Sherlock!"

"No, you're to come back to the Yard," he said sternly, "We might need you."

"Might. You might need me," I said. He looked at me like I was acting like a little kid.

OK, i admit, I was acting like one, but it seemed more fun going with Sherlock and John.

"Teddy-"

"Ugh, Lestrade," I moaned, pouting.

"Now don't do that," he said, rolling his eyes.

"Lestrade," I repeated, looking up at him with desperate, big grey-blue eyes, "Please?"

"This is ridiculous, your acting like a teenager now," he said, but i could already see him cracking.

"Please. Let. Me. Go. With. My. Brother." I whispered. He frowned, then sighed.

"God, OK, OK!" He finally said. I jumped up, grinning.

"Thank you!"

"Shesh, and i've only known you for less that three hours, how am I going to last the next couple of months?" he said with a slight chuckle.

"Honest Lestrade, I owe you a drink!" I cried as I ran out to meet Sherlock and John in a taxi.

"Manipulative little thing, aren't you?" Sherlock said when we drove off.

"Learnt from the best," I said, looking up at him. He laughed lightly, patting my brown and red curls.

"Welcome back Teddy," He said.

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~DM