Contact High → Sherlock Holmes (BBC) [on hold]

{ forty-five }

Sherlock was right. It was burning. Carmen felt sweat gather on the back of her neck and she shifted uncomfortably. Why did John and Mary's wedding have to be so giant? When she got married, it was going to be small. Just family and immediate friends. Every person that passed through the doorway smiled and shook her hand, and she wanted to scream at all of them.

The unnatural heat of the spring day made her temper flare. Besides, it didn't help that Sherlock looked so perfect next to her. He didn't look uncomfortable at all, in fact, the sun did his complexion wonders. His skin was practically glowing, his eyes matched the bright blue sky. Not that Carmen was looking. She shifted underneath Oliver's touch. It was too hot to have his hand on her back. She shrugged away from him, which didn't go unnoticed by any of them. Janine gave a scowl at Carmen.

A weedy looking man approached Mary and John, the early grey in his hair shining in the light. He looked sweaty and uncomfortable. Mary reached out to give him a hug but he backed away from her awkwardly, sticking out a hand for her to shake. She tilted her head at him curiously before shaking his hand.

"You look, uh, really nice," the man laughed awkwardly.

"Thank you!" Mary chirped. She gestured to the people down the line, "Oh, that's Oliver, and Carmen, Sherlock, and Janine. All of you, this is David!"

David chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck, "Yeah, uh, I've met Sherlock before." He shook John's hand and went inside, leaving all of them in confusion. Carmen glanced up at Sherlock, "You threatened him, didn't you?"

Sherlock shrugged, "Only a little."

Janine sighed and left to go inside, tired of the heat and not being the center of Sherlock's attention. Carmen gave a short laugh as she watched the other woman go back inside. "What did you say to him?" Carmen asked quietly. Sherlock gave her a tiny grin, "I told him to stay away from Mary. He called me a psychopath."

"You're a high-functioning sociopath, if that," Carmen scoffed.

"I know," Sherlock said fondly, looking down at her, "And one with his number."

Carmen laughed brightly. She caught herself, her laughter dying unnaturally. It was strange to be so happy with Sherlock. Especially with Oliver by her side. Oliver watched the two of them, feeling vaguely like a third-wheel. He moved away from Carmen, "Hey babe, I'm going inside to get a drink. Want anything?"

"A saline IV would be nice," Carmen joked flatly. Sherlock gave a snort. Oliver gave a nervous half-laugh, unsure what was going on. Carmen nodded at him, "Um. Nothing for me. I'll meet you in there, alright?" Oliver nodded and went inside.

Sherlock looked down at her, "He calls you babe?"

"Shut up," Carmen snapped.

"Whatever you say, darling," Sherlock said snidely.

Carmen glared up at him, ignoring the people who passed by them, "Don't call me that!"

"Just trying it out," Sherlock said slowly, "Never saw the appeal of pet names."

As he finished his sentence, the pageboy from the ceremony and his mother appeared. Mary smiled down at the little boy, but the boy ignored her. He ran to Sherlock, practically tackling him and wrapping him in a hug. Sherlock froze awkwardly, unsure what to do. He settled on patting the boy's head. A stiff but affectionate move.

"Well, Archie, it's nice to see you again," Carmen smiled. He let go of Sherlock and ran to Carmen, giving her a hug as well. "Hi, Ms. Hughs," Archie smiled. His mother watched him fondly, "He's really come out of his shell. I don't know how you two do it!"