My Saving Grace

Chapter 10

John nodded grabbing a jacket from his room and meeting Sherlock at the door. They took a taxi to the mall. John followed Sherlock with ease moving quickly beside him. Eventually, they reached the food court, pulling out a seat Sherlock sat suddenly. John followed suit.

"We're going to play a game," Sherlock said suddenly removing his coat, draping it carefully on the back of the chair beside him.

"What game?"

"It's called deductions."

"And?"

"Use your eyes and tell me anything and everything you can about someone. We will go back and forth, I'll start."

Sherlock scanned the room and pointed to his left. "See the old woman?"

John nodded.

"She's a widow, lonely, come to the mall for a change in her day, uncomfortable, unsure of where to go, tired already, cat owner, submissive, people pleaser, and finally sick."

"How can you tell?"

"She wears a ring on a chain around her neck, tucked beneath her dress. One from a significant other. She is alone, but well dressed, revealing she cares about her appearance. The way she stands holding her wrist in her hand shows she is nervous, she isn't used to coming to a place like this, but life with her cats is getting fairly boring, the cat fur on her stockings."

"That's bloody brilliant."

Sherlock fought the urge to smirk with pride

"You next. See the man walking in front of the shoe store, tell me about him."

John squinted at the man, trying to figure out anything and everything he could.

"New shoes, the still have the size sticker on the bottom of them."

Sherlock nodded. "What else."

"I don't know." 

"He just got a job promotion, hence the new shoes and five hundred dollar watch on his wrist, accompanied by the suit he's carrying. He works late at night, hence the wrinkles around the eyes, squinting into the dark to read papers. He's cheating on his wife, he moved his wedding band to the other hand, too bad the indent from the ring has left the skin pink."

"You are amazing."

"Thank you." He said scanning the room for another person to deduce.

"What is the point of this?"

"By using basic observation, you can use the information to cause an emotional change. For example, you with your abuse."

John nodded his eyes following Sherlock's

"What about the waiter for the sub place behind me?"

"Teen mom. Working early but anxious to leave so she doesn't miss college classes."

"How?"

"She has her child's name tattooed on her wrist with a footprint. She isn't older than 20, hence the teen mom. In her work pants is an ID card for the local college, and the way she keeps looking at the clock tells me she needs to leave."

"Where did you learn to do this?"

"If you spend enough time by yourself, you learn to read people."

"Why were you so alone."

Sherlock barked out a laugh. "I'm not exactly like everyone else."

"Maybe not, but that doesn't mean you can't talk to people, you talk to me."

"You are different."

"How?"

I'm attracted to you 

"I had a reason to speak to you."

"You don't need a reason to do things."

"You may not, but I do."

"Why?"

"I just do, what is the point of doing anything unless it can be explained."

John didn't have a response, and lucky enough for him, for someone had arrived at their table.

Molly Hooper. "Hi John," she said softly.

"Morning Molly." John smiled

She was wearing a pink top covered with a light cream sweater. She had a floral printed shirt with black flats. She had her hair tied up into a ponytail. 

"What are you doing here so early?" She asked 

"I'm here with Sherlock, what about you?"

"I'm here with my cousin."

"Molly?" Another girl arrived at the table. "There you are, let's go, I want to get to the store before anyone gets those shoes."

She turned looking down at John and Sherlock. She had sharp blue eyes and cheekbones that resembled Sherlocks. She was wearing black leather pants and a low cut red top.

"Oh." She smirked looking down at them. "You are?"

John was the first to speak. "John Watson."

But her eyes were glued to his flat-mate.

Sherlock said nothing

"You are rather adorable," The woman smirked leaning forward to touch his cheek, revealing her cleavage stacked high in her shirt that was two sizes too small.

Molly tugged on her cousin's sleeve. "Irene let's go, the sale remember."

Irene gave Sherlock one last look before turning with a flip of her auburn hair.

"The sale." She confirmed.

"See you at school," Molly whispered to John as she passed, meekly following her cousin.

"Well, she was interested in you," John said breaking the silence.

"Mm."

"What do you think of her."

"She isn't my type."

"What is your type?" John asked before he realized what he was saying.

Sherlocks eyes flicked to Johns with amusement

"Blondes." He said flatly.

I'm a blond, John thought with a smile.

They sat for hours watching people go by and making their deductions, Sherlock's much more accurate and in depth, but deductions nonetheless. While they sat and talked John could see the wheels turning in his friend's head.

"What's on your mind?" He asked taking a sip from his drink.

Sherlock didn't know how to put his thoughts into words so he said nothing and changed the subject. That night he laid awake staring at the ceiling, thinking about how he felt. There were too many feelings to go through. So he shook them from his mind and rolled over attempting to chasing sleep.