Vatican Cameos (A BBC Sherlock Fanfiction)

26. The Sign of Three

EVENING.
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An orchestral rendition of the waltz "On The Beautiful Blue Danube" by Johann Strauss II can be heard.

In the foyer of the wedding venue, Sherlock and Elisabeth are waltzing alone. Sherlock is counting time.

"One, two, three; der, der, der ... Ahh, pretty good."

They stop dancing.

"Just ... hold your nerve on your turning."

"Why do we have to rehearse?" Asks Elisabeth, adjusting the top of her strapless dress.

"Because we are about to dance together in public, and your skills are appalling!" Says Sherlock.

He smiles at her and she laughs.

"Well, you're a good teacher. And you're a brilliant dancer." Says Elisabeth.

"I'll let you in on something, Janine." He says, leaning in and whispering.

"Go on, then."

"I love dancing. I've always loved it."

"Seriously?"

"Watch out."

Looking around to make sure that nobody else can see him, Sherlock swings both of his arms to the left, takes a sharp breath, rises onto his left foot and does a full-circle pirouette.

"Ooh! Woah!" Says Elisabeth.

"Never really comes up in crime work but, um, you know, I live in hope of the right case." Says Sherlock.

John has just walked into view and has spotted them. He walks over.

"Well, glad to see you two are having a great time, what with murderers running riot at my wedding." He says. He claps his hand on Sherlock's back.

"One murder... – one nearly murderer." Says Elisabeth.

The entrance door opens and Greg comes in.

"Sherlock? Got him for you." He points back out the door.

"Ah, the photographer. Excellent! Thank you." Sherlock says, clapping his hands together as the wedding photographer walks in. He walks over to the photographer and points at the camera he's holding.

"Er, may I have a look at your camera?" He says.

The cameraman pulls his camera back nervously but then holds it out to him

"What's this about? I was halfway home!" He says.

"You should have driven faster." Says Sherlock, taking the camera.

He looks at the screen on the back of the camera and starts flicking through the pictures.

"Ah, yes. Yes, very good. There, you see? Perfect." He says.

"What is? You gonna tell us?" Asks Lestrade.

"Try looking yourself." Says Sherlock, handing thr camera to Lestrade.

"Um, look for what?" Asks John, walking over to Lestrade.

Sherlock and Elisabeth stroll closer to the photographer.

"Is the murderer in these photographs?" Asks John.

"It's not what's in the photographs; it's what's not in them – not in any of them." Says Elisabeth.

"Oh, for god's sake. You're showing off now too?" Says John.

"There is always a man at a wedding who is not in any photograph but can go anywhere, and even carry an equipment bag around with him if he likes, and you never even see his face." Says Elisabeth, walking closer to the photographer and looking down towards his hand.