The art of Deduction

Ghost Stories

"Sherlock!" John called, waving and wearing a grin on his flushed face.

Sherlock honestly tried to suppress the grin from slipping into his lips, but it was in vain.

"Well done, John! Sherlock and I really enjoyed watching you." Irene said, turning her head back to wink at Sherlock. John smiled at her and moved closer with the sea of players leaving the field.

"She's right. It was... most enjoyable." Sherlock added, staring down at John with a rare smile of his own.

John looked like he was about to say something, but with a whirl of movement and colour, Lestrade's and Sarah were before them. Lestrade's only exclaimed praises for John's performance, but Sarah crossed the grass and flung herself into a startled John's arms.

"Oh, John! You were great. I don't really watch football, but it was totally worth it for you. I was a little late because I lost track of time, but I still got to see you play. Irene told me Sherlock's made plans for all of us to go out and celebrate."

"Thanks Sarah!" John replied, placing his hands on her waist and moving her away from his body.

   John wasn't sure why, but her sudden display of affection embarrassed him. He actually found it a shade annoying.

John glanced down sheepishly and nodded at his friends.

It took some convincing on Lestrade's part to encourage their friends on the team to go along with Sherlock's plan, but eventually they were all making their way to Norma's diner.

  Norma's diner was a place Sherlock had never been and actually laughed at the idea of seeing his brother here. It was complete with dull over affectionate waitresses, a red and white retro colour scheme, faded pleather booths, obviously uninspected tile floors, and too quiet jazz music in the background. Perfect for an after game meal for a couple of public high school mates.

  Once the groups had arrived, they set up in the booths. Sherlock made sure he was at John's table. Irene sat next to a girl name Alyssa that Sherlock had no trouble deducing Lestrade's affections for, and Sarah sat on Irene's other side. Lestrade's made sure he sat across from Alyssa, and that left John across from Sarah and Sherlock across from Irene.

  Once each of them had ordered (with the exception of Sherlock who was not only without appetite, but suspicious of the restaurants preparation process) Lestrade's started the introduction's.

  "It's nice to get to know John's new friends. Alyssa and I have no hard feelings about John's move, so don't worry about us. The other guys are a bit pissed right now, but they'll come around."

"I see why. John's really cool. Although  you're not so bad yourself." Irene flashed Lestrade's a smirk, which he appeared not to notice.

"Well, he's a great boyfriend. And a good friend of John's. It's been quite a few years." Alyssa said rather sharply, giving Irene a threateningly looked.

Irene smiled back at her.

Sherlock could only summarize the rest of the meal as dull. With the exception, of course, of any new information about John he acquired.

As they talked about where they wanted to be after college, John told them all about his military plans.

"All the nice girls love a soldier." Irene said, winking at Sherlock once John had finished.

John cocked his head to the side and furrowed his brow in confusion.

"It's sailor, Irene. And I hardly think becoming an army Doctor makes you a real soldier."