His champagne glass smashes on the floor at his feet. He looks down at it.
"Ooh, sorry. I ..." Says Sherlock.
The Master of Ceremonies hurries over to him.
"Another glass, sir?" He asks.
"Thank you, yes." Says Sherlock.
He looks out at the guests.
"Something is going to happen – right here." The voice of Mycroft in Sherlock's head says.
Sherlock looks around, clearly thinking frantically. He flickers back and forth between the Chamber and the reception but then looks at the guests.
"Now, where were we?"
"Could be any second." Says Mycroft.
Holding their glasses in the reception room, Mrs Hudson and Greg look a little anxious. Greg looks at Mrs H and frowns.
"You have control of the room." Mycroft Says.
"Ah, yes. Raising glasses and standing up. Very good. Thank you." Says Sherlock
Sherlock raises both hands and gestures downwards.
"And down again." He says.
Confused, the guests start to sit down, murmuring amongst themselves. Sherlock looks at them for a moment, then puts his glass down on the table and straightens up.
"Ladies and gentlemen, people tell you not to milk a good speech – get off early, leave 'em laughing. Wise advice I'll certainly try to bear in mind. But for now ..."
He puts one hand on the table and quickly jumps over to the other side. The guests gasp in surprise.
"... part two." He says.
He walks into the central aisle between the tables.
"Part two is more action-based. I'm gonna ... walk around, shake things up a bit."
Elisabeth frowns, knowing this wasn't part of the planned speech. Sherlock looks at each person as he walks past, mentally tagging each of the men with a sign near them reading, 'MAYFLY MAN?' The only male guest who doesn't get a tag is young Archie.
"Who'd go to a wedding? That's the question. Who would bother to go to any lengths to get themselves to a wedding?" Asks Sherlock.
Two thirds of the way along the room he turns around.
"Well, everyone."
He claps his hands once.
"Weddings are great! Love a wedding."
"What's he doing?" Whispers Mary to John.
"Something's wrong." Answers John.
"And John's great, too! Haven't said that enough. Barely scratched the surface. I could go on all night about the depth and complexity of his ... jumpers ..." Says Sherlock.
John closes his eyes in disbelief. Out on the floor Sherlock is pacing and turning back and forth, peering at each of the male guests and their imaginary tags.
"... and he can cook. Does ... a ... thing ... thing with peas ..."
John and Mary exchange a puzzled glance. Sherlock continues to pace and look closely at the guests.
"... once. Might not be peas. Might not be him. But he's got a great singing voice ... or somebody does."
He sighs in frustration, his teeth clenched.
YOU ARE READING
Vatican Cameos (A BBC Sherlock Fanfiction)
FanfictionVatican Cameos, A code word reactivated as Sherlock Holmes returns to London. Jim Moriarty is dead, but evil still lies deep within the streets of London. And The Baker Street Trio are needed more than ever.
