A Picture says it All (Benedict Cumberbatch FanFiction)

Chapter 1

Note: I by no means own Benedict Cumberbatch, I don’t know what he is really like, and this is all a figment of my imagination. All the newspapers are made up and do not exist, if any names sound familiar, it is purely accidental.

Benedict Cumberbatch wakes up slowly, at first not really sure about where he was, only when he looks around and hear the familiar hum of the plane, does he remember, he is on his way home, back to England. He runs his long slender fingers through his hair, ruffling it; it still feels so strange to have it styled so short, he kind of missed the Sherlock curls.

He looks around at his fellow passengers, all still asleep, the long flight taking its toll. He tries stretching his long slim legs, but it’s difficult in the small space. Looking at his watch realising it’s no use, they haven’t given them the local time, not even knowing how long until they land. He gets up slowly, stretching when he gets to the narrow isle. Reaching up to the overhead compartment he removes a little bag, inside his agent has placed a make shift disguise. She found out that the paparazzi have been camping out at Heathrow since they heard that he will be returning to London this week. He smiles to himself, he was sure they will still recognise him, but still it’s a full flight, there is a chance he might sneak past them.

Heading to the bathroom, everyone is still sleeping. He reaches the bathroom, looking over to where the flight attendants sat; the little blonde smiles shyly at him. She recognised him immediately and has really been overly friendly. He is sure she has probably kept everything he has used throughout the flight. He nods towards her, returning the smile, and enter the bathroom.  Looking in the mirror, he could see the bags under his eyes, those eyes that look like he could stare into your soul; he really does need a holiday he thinks to himself. He changes into his outfit. Casual brown slacks, t-shirt with a band name on that he hasn’t heard of, a pauper’s cap and nerdy glasses. Before he leaves he takes one last look, “Come on Benedict pull yourself together”. Before he opens the door, he hears the captain announce that they will be landing in the next 10 minutes. He can’t wait to get home, but first he needs to get past the paparazzi.

***

Meanwhile in the terminal just outside the international arrivals, the usual buzz of excitement that goes with families waiting for their loved ones to return has increased dramatically when a horde of paparazzi pushed their way closer to the doors. Lisa tries to push closer with the usual gang, but her slight frame makes it difficult.

This is her first job. She started as a photographer at the London Gazette only the week before. When her boss phoned her earlier that afternoon he informed her that she should go wait for Benedict Cumberbatch at Heathrow, since they have it on good authority that he will be returning today, she had to stop herself from asking who he was. She quickly googled his name and saw he was a well known actor, famous for his television and movie work. She had to stop herself from giggling, she has never heard of him. Now this might sound weird to any other person, but Lisa only arrived in London from South Africa two weeks before that. She quickly saved a picture to her phone, and grabbed her camera bag and headed to Heathrow.

While she was standing outside with all the other photographers, she looked at her phone again. Benedict was kind of hot in a weird sort of way. The picture she saved was one of the promotional shots from a BBC show called Sherlock. Lisa loves everything that has to do with Sherlock Holmes; she has read the books and has seen both the Hollywood movies several times. She stares at the picture, his beautiful blue green eyes staring back at her, his mass of black curly hair looking unruly, high cheekbones, his long neck not really hidden by the upturned collar and blue scarf. She places her phone back into her jean pocket, taking out her camera, she was sure she knew what he looks like, and will be able to get a good shot. She moves closer to one of the other photographers.

“You new here love?” he asks smiling at her shaking fingers. “Yeah, it’s quite nerve wrecking isn’t it?” She smiles back at him. “Don’t worry love, we have all been there, stick with me” She moves closer to him, checking all the settings on her camera again. “Your accent sounds different, where you from love?” she stammers slightly, “South Africa, I came here about 2 weeks ago.” He nods at her, “Ah yes, I thought so. Welcome, don’t worry, we paparazzi have to stick together, it’s a cut throat profession, but we look out for one another.” Lisa looks at the older man. He reminded her of her father back home. He was slightly portly, with salt and pepper hair and kind brown eyes. “My name is Lisa, and I work at the London Gazette.” “Bert, Daily London.” He shakes her hand giving her a big toothy grin, “So you also here for Lord Cumberbatch?” Lisa looks shocked at Bert “I did some research; I didn’t see anything about him being a Lord.” She grabs her phone and only looks up when she hears Bert and some of the other guys laughing at her. “No love, we give the celebs nicknames, he isn’t really a lord” He chuckles softly to himself, shaking his head. He could hear Lisa giving a huge sigh of relief. She placed her phone back into her pocket.

“So how long does it usually takes for him to arrive?” she asks, clearing her throat, trying to sound more confident than she actually was. “Well this is Cumberbatch we are talking about, number one rule, he is always late, the flight is full, so he might sneak past, but he will be asked for autographs on the other side, and I’ll take you out for a pint if he doesn’t come out later than anybody else.” He winks at her smiling from ear to ear. Just then the doors open and the first dazed passengers come through, searching for family or friends. Lisa always loves watching people coming out of the arrivals terminal. You could see the instant they saw their loved ones, their faces would light up. Instantly forgetting the long flight they just had. Running toward one another, sometimes crying. Yes Lisa loved these small moments.

***

Standing in the queue at customs, Benedict loved watching the anticipation building. People getting excited to either come back home or entering into a new unfamiliar country. When Benedict got to the counter and handed over his passport, he almost gave a sigh of relief, the customs officer, hasn’t really looked at him, he might actually get past without a hold up. Just then he could see a smile spreading across the young man’s face, as he read his name in the passport. He looked up at Benedict giving him a big toothy smile. “Mister Cumberbatch, what an honour, may I please have an autograph?” Benedict looked around nervously, trying to not attract attention; he grabbed the pen the officer held out to him, signing the piece of paper held out to him. “Thank you sir, oh thank you so much.” The officer handed him his passport, and to Benedict’s dismay when he turned around he was met by a group of people gathering with their phones ready for photo’s and autographs.

He gave them his best showcase smile and started signing whatever the people pushed towards him. When he finally finished signing all the items, he grabbed his bag and walked towards the exit. His heart felt heavy, most of the passengers have already left this means if there were any paparazzi waiting on the other side of the door, he would not be able to get past them.

***

Bert looked at Lisa, seeing the panic rising in the young girl’s eyes. “Don’t worry love, he will be here, you will have your photos.” She gave him a small smile, looking aguishly at the doors. “Hey lads, look what the cat dragged in!” One of the other photographers yelled, just then a slender man with a cap and classes walked through the door, Lisa looked at him and then towards the others who were taking photos vigorously, “Bert is that him? He looks nothing like his photos?” Lisa tried to get her camera working, but all the photos she took looked grainy. Her hands were shaking so badly, she saw the others leaving after snapping the perfect shots, running towards their deadlines. After a couple of seconds only Bert remained. “Benedict” Bert called him over. “Bert! How are you?” Benedict shook Bert’s hand and looked expectantly at Lisa. “Benedict, this is Lisa, she is new to the gang and you are her first.” Lisa could feel her cheeks burning. She couldn’t help staring into those eyes, the photos she has seen not doing them justice. “Nice to meet you,” She stammered. Benedict gave her a big grin, “Did you get a good shot?” Benedict asks he looked at her; he liked her eyes, a deep green reminding him of a meadow “Do you want to take another one, just in case; we want you to stick around.” Benedict shocked himself with his forwardness. “You don’t mind?” Lisa aimed her camera at Benedict, her hands shook so badly, that her camera slipped, she just missed the strap as it slid through her fingers crashing to the ground.