The Unfinished Case// A Sherlock Story

XIX

"Hello, hi, I'm Agent Winchester and this is my partner Agent Castiel," Max states as she and Billie show their fake badges at one of the morticians.

"The FBI is here? For what?" A confused blonde asks.

"Well," Max begins, looking at the name tag on her lab coat "Molly, Sebastian is one of our main priorities at the moment so we just want to investigate the place he purchased for any clues. We can't say anything else because it's classified," She continues, faking a smile.

"Well, ok. If you need anything call me," Molly replies

"Will do," Max says winking at her before turning towards the entrance of the morgue.

"Shameless flirt," Billie dramtically coughs as he turns to inspect the area.

"It's a habit, I can't control it," Max replies chuckling at her friend.

"You know, if we were in a book you would be the comic relief guy. Like the fool from Macbeth," Max says chuckling as she sorts through some folders.

"Nah, I would probably be the badass villain," he laughs as he looks into a microscope. "Cool sciency things," he says twisting and turning the microscope.

"You know you need a slide to actually see anything right?" She smirks as she opens a cupboard.

"I knew that"

"Sure you did, sweetheart"

As Billie was about to snap back at her, they heard the sounds of doors being slammed open.

"Oh hi, Sher-" They hear Molly say before being ignored by the rude man. The footsteps of the man grow louder and louder, making Max and Billie's eyes grow wider. They both look at each other before they both jump down under one of the wooden lab tables.

"Sorry, Molly. Sherlock's been in this mood since we got back from the hospital."

"Oh- it's fine. What happened?" Max hears the conversation from a far distance.

Suddenly the doors to the lab slam open, creating a loud banging sound that rings through the silent room.

Max puts her finger to her mouth, indicating for Billie to be quiet as she crawls to lean behind the desk.

"Sherlock, you should be at home resting," John says sternly as he crossed his arms.

"John, I'm fine. Stop worrying about me," Sherlock reassures as he looks around the room.

Max listens to the two men bicker as she continues to sneak closer to the exit. Well that is, until something caught her eye. On the other side of the wall there was a small carving, half hidden by the desk. She can feel Billie's eyes burn into the back of her head as she begins to crawl towards the symbol.

She squats down, eye level to the symbol, and touches the rough indent.

"Oh by the way Sherlock, there are a few agents here- where did they go?" Molly asks as she enters the room.

"We're right here," Max says standing up, earning a death stare from Billie. Sherlock's eyes go wide as he sees her once again. His heart clenches in his chest as her figure becomes more visible. Every time he sees her it was like the first time all over again. Her presence washes over him like a tidal wave that he can't resist.

"D-D-Do you know each other?" Molly asks, stuttering slightly as she watches the two stare at each other.

"Yes"

"No," they say at the same time.

"Of course an agent, like yourself, wouldn't remember me." Sherlock says, taking a step towards her. A small gap separates them, their eyes glued to one another. Anticipation fills the air as they both wait for the next move.

"Oh yes, I forgot. We worked together on a case. Sherry right?" Max questions, smirking on the inside.

Sherlock's eyes calm as he can't help but internally chuckle at her childlike behaviour. He couldn't help but lean in closer, her ravishing scent clouding his nose as he inhales.

"Sherlock, actually"

"My bad, Shervy," She replies, winking at him. Before he could do anything else, Molly clears her throat.

"So... have you found anything Agent Winchester?" Molly questions, attempting to clear the tensioned air.

"As a matter of fact," Max says, turning away from Sherlock and pushing the desk to the side. "I have," She continues as she squats down once more to study the symbol.

Sherlock walks to stand beside her and he also analyses the symbol.

"Blonde almost suits you," Sherlock whispers looking at her wig. Max ignores his comment and begins to feel around the wall to find any more hidden carvings or messages. "Bingo," she states happily as she signals Billie to give her a piece of paper and a pencil.

Braille. A hidden message.

She shades lightly over the paper placed over the textured wall and she takes a look at her final masterpiece.

"So Agent Winchester, what have you found?" John asks interested in the woman who got Sherlock entranced.

"5.10.17" Sherlock says out loud, not taking his eyes of her. Max's eyes widen at realization before she turns to look at her partner. Her partner, of course, was oblivious to everything as he stands there waiting for a response.

"Just a bunch of numbers. Sheryl, you can keep that. My partner and I are going to go now, goodbye ma'am." Max finalizes as she shakes hands with Molly then John. When she reaches for Sherlock's hand, he pulls her closer to him so that his mouth is right beside her ear.

"We both know those aren't just numbers"

"Obviously"

"It's a date. Tomorrow to be specific. What does it mean?"

"It means stay out of it and let me do what I need to do," Max states curtly as she pulls back from Sherlock. She then storms out the morgue and head towards her car.

Only mere seconds later, Billie pops into the passenger seat beside her. As soon as he sits down she slaps him on the arm lightly, startling him as he looks shock from her actions.

"What's that for?" He asks rubbing his arm, feigning hurt.

"My dear, that was a date. Does anything pop into your mind?" She says as she sticks her key into the care and starting up the engine.

Billie sits for a while before realization hits him. He stares at Max and she returns with a nod.

It was the date of when the apocalypse is going to take place. It was the date of the grand release of S.K.U.L.L Industries' new programme and the grand opening of their new headquarters. Located dead centre of London.

Time is ticking and it's ticking fast.