221B

Chapter 8 - A Study in Pink

Kate:

"So, you want to go now?" Sherlock asks me.

"Sure."

"So is that all you have?" John gestures to my small suitcase with his cane.

"Yeah."

"Great, let's go." Sherlock says, with that, he swiftly strides across the room and out the door, pausing in the hallway and turning to face us. "Come on." He waves us over.

I pick up my suitcase and walk out. John closes the door behind me.

After I sign out at the front desk, there's already a cab waiting for us outside the building.

Sherlock opens the door to the cab and gestures for me to get in.

"Thanks."

I climb in and John gets in after me. Sherlock comes in next and slams the door.

"Baker Street." Sherlock tells the driver.

When we arrive at Baker Street, we stop in front of a door with 221B placed above the brass knocker.

Sherlock gets out and opens the door, not waiting for John and I to get out of the cab.

"So I'll just pay then?" John calls to Sherlock.

Sherlock looks at John, smirks, and then walks inside.

"Of course." John mumbles under his breath, then pays the driver. "Thanks." He says, then gets out of the cab, holding the door open for me.

"Thanks." I say, climbing out of the cab with suitcase in hand.

"No problem. Oh, and by the way, he always does that...not pay for the cab, he'll always leave the other person to pay for it."

"What if he's alone?"

"He'll usually run away without paying. Or he won't take a cab at all."

"Sounds great, and he works with the police?"

"He doesn't work with the police, the police come to him if they need help."

"Interesting."

"That's what I thought at first. You eventually get used to it though." John opens the door and I step inside.

"Here, this way." John shows me up a staircase not far ahead of me and we come into a cluttered living room with a fireplace. A small kitchen (also cluttered) connects to the living room and then leads to a small hallway with two doors in them. The living room has two large windows with heavy curtains parted next to them, letting the only light in to this one room. In front of the fireplace is a coffee table and two chairs, one of them Sherlock is occupying. His hands glued together and placed underneath his chin, he's staring into space, his eyes directed to the coffee table and he's leaning forwards so his elbows are resting on his knees.

When John and I both enter the room, Sherlock sits up, leaning against the back of the chair and placing both arms on the armrests, he looks at us. "Where were you two? I've been waiting."

"Had to pay the driver." John replies.

"Hm." Sherlock mutters in disapproval. "Well, let me show you where you'll be staying Katherine." He pushes up off the chair with both hands, leaping up and striding through the door I had just come in.

I follow him, and he leads me down a hallway which leads out of the living room, opening the door and flicking the lightswitch next to him. A bright light on the ceiling turns on, igniting the room.

Two large windows just like the ones in the living room are on the wall to the across from me, except they're covered with heavy curtains. Sherlock crosses over and parts the curtains, outside light streaking in. A little ways in front the window next to the wall on my left is a grand piano and bench covered with a white sheet. Sherlock whips the sheet off, a small cloud of dust rising into the air and then eventually settling back down. He slides the matching black bench out from underneath the piano across the dark wooden floor, the bench resting against the wall on my left. In front of the other window is a neat, polished wooden desk and chair.

Up against the wall to my left close to the door is a wooden dresser and a closet. Up against the wall on my right is a bed and a nighstand with a lamp and clock on it. On the other side of the bed is a full-length mirror handing on the wall. In front of the bed is a circular blue rug, located in the very center of the room.

"It's not much, but hopefully it'll work." Sherlock says.

"It's perfect." I say, smiling, walking into the middle of the room.

Sherlock smiles. "Glad you like it."

A small older woman comes into the doorway. "Sherlock, is this-?"

"Oh yes, Katherine, Mrs. Hudson. Mrs. Hudson, Katherine."

"Hello dear, nice to meet you." She says, walking forward and shaking my hand.

"Hi, nice to meet you too." I reply.

"Oooh! I like her!" She says with a smile, looking at Sherlock. Then I see a little light bulb click on above her head. "Oh! Sherlock, is she your girl-?"

"No! Mrs Hudson, she is not!" He says quickly. "For God's sake we've only known each for...about a week."

"There's such thing as love at first sight you know." She smiles, and turns around to go to the door. I look at Sherlock and he looks at me, rolling his eyes at her. "Oh, and Sherlock..."

"Hm?" He looks at her.

"Don't get this girl into trouble. She's so sweet!" She walks down the hallway.

Sherlock covers his eyes with one hand. "Christ...what am I going to do about that woman?" He says.

"Mrs. Hudson?"

He removes his hand away from his eyes and looks at me. "Yes! Known her for so long, and she's almost like my mother." He replies, gesturing with his hands like usual.

"I think she's cute."

"Wait until you know her for more than a week."

"She can't be that bad."

"Well, I've known her for quite a while. It can get a little tiring, believe me."