Sherlock Holmes: A Game For Two (CONTINUED)

|| chapter 1 || sherlock

"Okay Mr. Holmes, seems this is too many to count...."

I sighed deeply, rubbing my hand on my temple. Another day here at this boring office with this boring FBI agent listening to him ramble on and on about the cases I seemingly "stole", and sit here doing nothing but listen to him. I watched him walk back and forth as he counted the cases one by one. Getting more bored, I started to deduct some things about him. His ID, with the name Darwin Woods, seems new, no scratches or stains, he's either a new recruit or he just replaced his ID. Hair strands stick out of his head in the wrong places, didn't comb his hair on the way to the office. Beard incompletely shaved, judging by the small unshaved area around his left cheek. Must've been in a hurry going to the office today, and...oh...he IS a new recruit. First day on his job, yet he speaks as if he has been here for quite a while, must've been trying hard to impress his boss. And, I see coffee stains on his shirt, collar, and his lips. Eyes looking bloodshot and wide as saucers. Coffee addiction, due to amount of work given to him. Poor man.

John was with me, sitting beside me and giving his full attention to the agent rambling on and on like a coffee addict would. His hand rests under his chin, his gaze fixed on the agent intently. I lightly tapped my fingers impatiently. I can't spend the rest of my day here, it's too, boring. A few seconds pass and John looks at me, and signals me to listen to him. I just looked away and looked at the agent again, as he comes towards us.

"...and that's the 43rd case I presume. Well... I've never encountered this before..." he says, scratching his head while looking at the papers.

"I-I'm sorry, FORTY-THREE cases?!" John asked reluctantly.

"That's...what the paper says Mr. Watson..." Darwin replies with dullness in his voice.

John looks at me again with an annoyed expression.

"Sherlock..."

"I pick my own cases John; do you think I would let them pick the case for me? They are not the boss of me." I said in a monotone.

John sighs and stands up. "I'm so sorry about all of this, Mr. Woods...."

John looks at me, widening his eyes, asking me to apologize as well. I raised my eyebrows, not wanting to do so. He sighs again and apologizes in behalf of me instead. I stood up at once and looked at the agent.

"Well, thank you for that Mr. Woods, and please...comb your hair and shave properly the next time, it's quite annoying..." I said while pointing to his unshaved area.

And with that, I left the room without saying another word. John follows me hurriedly.

"W-what was that all about Sherlock? I told you to stop doing that, but you KEEP on doing it?!" John scolds me.

"No one bosses me but me, John, you know that. And you know me well right?" I said as I looked at him.

John sighs again and nods in agreement.

"W-well but you can't keep on doing this, they might get you arrested!"

"I got it under control John, stop it."

He finally shuts up. Just as we were about to reach the elevator, Lestrade blocks our way.

"Oh no Sherlock, you're not getting away THAT easy!" he warns me.

"What do you want Lestrade?"

"Sherlock...you know what I want you to do, STOP stealing cases!"

"Can't..."

He sighs and puts his hands on his waist.

"I-I don't know what to do with you anymore Sherlock...just....stop this..."