Almost Wanted

Sherlock plays his game

All of you filed into your flat. Sherlock walked right up to the shoes much to your chagrin. John reminded Sherlock that we were dealing with a bomber. Sherlock seemed to pause for a second before dropping to the ground and looking at the shoes. You were chewing on you lip nervous and when Sherlock picked the shoes up you relaxed immensely. 

"They are just a pair of sneakers. Why are they so special?" John asked. Sherlock was muttering to himself. 

"I must go to the lab. " Sherlock announced. You stepped passed Lestrade and picked a random book from your shelf and followed Sherlock and John out. Lestrade had left to deal with other business. Before you could all step out of the flat, the phone rang. John froze and Sherlock slid the phone out of his pocket. It was a blocked number. You heard the click as Sherlock answered. 

"Hello." There was a pause and you heard mumbling on the other end. 

"Why are you crying?" Sherlock asked. You knew why. There was a bomb strapped to their chest. Hostages are never happy to be hostages. I stepped out of the flat waiting in the hall because honestly I didn't want to hear Sherlock try and get answers out of the wack job talking through a new face. 

"We have 12 hours to solve it." Sherlock said as he bristled past you. You followed and piled after him into the taxi.  I cracked opened the book and started reading. 

"How can you think about anything else right now?" John asked appalled. 

"Have to keep my mind calm and it is not my job to solve this. I am just keeping Sherlock safe." You replied as casually as you could. Honestly, you wanted to work with Sherlock to figure it  out and catch the bastard, but you wouldn't be focusing on Sherlock. 

"Carl Powers." Sherlock muttered. You narrowed your eyes and looked up. 

"Who is Carl Powers." John asked curiously. 

"My first case. He was a swimmer and suddenly drowned in the water. They said he had some fit in the water. All of his things were accounted for except his shoes. The police didn't believe me when I said there was something else going on." Sherlock explained. 

"You first... How old were you?" John asked. You snickered. 

"I was 8, but what does that matter. This means it was a murder and I was right." Sherlock said. 

"So, Why does he want you to solve a 15 year old murder. Especially when he had gotten away with it until he pointed it out." You asked. Sherlock looked at you and smirked. The look basically told you that you couldn't stay out of the case. You rolled your eyes and started reading again. 

In the lab at St. Bart's you were sitting on empty counter with your feet tucked under you. Your shoes were sitting on the ground. John and Sherlock were complaining about Mycroft having a root canal, which was why he was texting them about the missile defense plans. Molly had walked in and bustled about. She kept glancing at you even though she was currently in a relationship. 

"Hello." Said a voice. it was almost unmistakable. 

"Oh Sherlock this is my boyfriend Jim. He works in It. I guess we have an office romance." Molly said. The man before you was clearly gay but you wanted him to speak again. Say something to make you sure it was him. He bumped into the table and knocked a dish down. He muttered an apology which was something he never said before. You bit your lip unsure. He looked up and saw you reading. His eyes froze for a second before he kissed Molly on the cheek and ducked out. 

"Gay." Sherlock muttered. You snorted confirming what he had said. It was so plain. 

"Gay why would you say that?" Molly said glaring at you. Sherlock explained and when he finished he was holding Jim's phone number in his hand which he promptly set down on the table. Molly left looking rather dismayed. 

"Really you two. That was a bit unkind." John said. Sherlock didn't understand, but you did and you frowned. You went back to reading your book. It contained some of the best true spy storied told. It was interesting, and a lot less James Bond then it sounded. 

" John what do you see." Sherlock asked John. John picked up the sneaker carefully. 

"Um, well they look old, but they are taken well care of. I would say one of those vintage shoes. Also, they look to be adults size..."

"But." 

"But no adult writes their name on the inside in felt tip." John said. You smiled. 

"Good and." Sherlock asked encouraging him. 

"And that's it. That's all i can see." John said. Sherlock simply hummed then turned to you. 

"Your turn. What do you see." Sherlock asked. You sighed and hopped down off the counter. You took the other shoe that Sherlock wasn't holding out to you. You blinked as you looked at it closer. 

"Not vintage. Came from about twenty years ago. Definitely a kids shoe. A kid with large feet granted. Um re-laced about three times. Maybe more. I think, It that skin. So the owner had eczema or something like it." You answered handing the shoe back to Sherlock he took it in his hand looking at it. 

"It was re-laced four times and the owner was indeed a kid. Although he wasn't from London." Sherlock said. 

"Okay, how did you know that?" You asked. 

"Well I analyzed the dirt that was still in the tread." Sherlock said proud. You scoffed. 

"That's cheating." You muttered as you padded back to the counter. You jumped back up and tucked your feet back up under me. Sherlock continued to study the shoes as time ticked on by. You tried to not get anxious by focusing in the book. John had left a while ago to be with Sarah. 

"Y/n are you coming." Sherlock called. He was holding the door open for you waiting. 

"Oh yes. I am coming." You muttered as you picked up the book and your shoes. You followed after him not even trying to shove your feet in the heels. 

"You should wear your shoes and not take them off. It isn't very healthy." Sherlock muttered as you tried to catch up with him. 

"Ahh Sher. You care about my health. If you want me to put my shoes on I need you to stop for a second." You replied. He stopped and stared at you while you quickly shoved you feet in the shoes. You were using his shoulder to keep you balance as you slipped them on.  You followed Sherlock to the taxi and the beginning of the ride was quiet, which was what you expected and it wasn't a awkward silence. 

"Why did you call me Sher." Sherlock suddenly asked. You looked over at him from the window. Your cheeks were dusted pink. 

"It's a nickname. Shows that I care." You whispered. You watched as he looked at you trying to deduce something. When he turned back to the window you relaxed. That's when you got a text. You looked at it and your heart dropped. 

Hello Kitten. Tell Sherlock I say hello. -Moriarty

"Sherlock." You whispered as you voice wavered. You handed Sherlock your phone. He read the text before handing it back to you. 

"So. I know the name Moriarty. He is a criminal. I don't know why he has taken an interest in you." Sherlock replied. 

"Because I spent six months in his hands. And because he blew up your flat." You responded.