My Dear Benedict (A Benedict Cumberbatch Fan-Fiction)

Meeting

CHAPTER ONE

The Monkeys howled in the distance as I brought food to giraffes. The grain diet treated them well and they were enjoying the attention from the keepers and the guests. Yes they are wild African animals but they are so damn cute. My job is giving tours to the guests and animal care to primates for the most part. But I also have a thing for giraffes so I do both. It's a lot but I love it. Today's tour is a small one and it's also a photo shoot. Some publicity thing.

Mandi was supposed to do the tour but got really sick before. It wasn't on my agenda to do this tour, and I was hoping it would be a quick one, but no. The photo shoot would take a while, and I didn't want to have to watch a 1 hour photo shoot with some teenage girl feeding giraffes for the first time. Re doing each angle and making sure the light was near perfect. Oh no, when I walked over to the gate to greet some family, it was not some family. There were maybe 15 photographers and some security gaurds. I grabbed my radio, politely smiled at the hoard of humanity and called Sam.

"8-2 to 8-1"

"Go ahead" the voice crackled as the gasps began.

"Im covering Mandi's tour group for the giraffe and rhino feeding, should I know anything about this particular tour?" The flashing began. I went to open the gate,

"Give me a second; 10-4" I opened the gate and a rush of people ran in followed by a man in a plaid short sleeved button down and black pants. His hair tousled but combed back. Eyes a color I had only seen on one person.

"Still there 8-1?" I was stunned. I let him in and yelled a quick hello to the flashing lights.

"8-2 go ahead" I heard everyone giggle on the other end.

"No one told me we have a sociopath on this tour. Thanks for the warning."

I got a chuckle out of the man, he stuck a hand out.

"8-2 you said? I'm the sociopath, pleasure"

"That's a professional term, you can call me Ella." Professional term, I'm alone for a reason.

"You can call me Ben, although sociopath is flattering, Ben is easier."

Benedict Cumberbatch stood in front of me, his hands returned to his pockets. He looked down at my belt,

"I believe the professional you is being summoned."

I looked down at my radio and grabbed it turning it up,

"8-2 snap out of if come back to us, you are showing Mr. Cumberbatch to our giraffe and rhino feeding area. Don't let too many photographers in at once, you know the rules."

"Thanks for the info I could have used 5 minutes ago. 10-4"

I put the radio back on my belt and Ben laughed. I smiled and turned my back to him

"OK. So here's the deal. Mr. Cumberbatch here is going to ride on the cart with me as I can't fit all of you on the Zoo Mobile. Fancy I know," they laughed, it was cynical yet calm "the path goes right to giraffes so we are going to do 2 feedings each" I continued my speech and finally ended it with "Please, let the man enjoy himself, he's at a zoo and is going to feed giraffes and rhinos that are practically puppies."

I heard the small laugh behind me and with that turned around.

"Ready?" I asked

"Let's go then"

I walked him to the golf cart which we called Betsy but told guests was the Zoo Mobile. I put the keys in the ignition, he sat next to me and waved to the paparazzi behind us.

"What a life you live," I said sarcastically and he laughed.

"Oh yes, followed by flashing lights on a daily basis, I shouldn't complain as flattering as it is, but breaks are nice"

"I know it sucks, I mean, have you seen these stained pants, they are a hit at zoos everywhere."

"Gorgeous, the browns and greens are a statement" I glanced over at him and he smiled. The giraffes were about a 5ish minute drive and 15 minute walk from the entrance gates. So we had time. There was a pause after the gorgeous comment, although unserious, I took it as a compliment.

"So Mr. Cumberbatch, any particular reason you are here at my humble work place?"

"Well your humble work place happens to be home to giraffes, yes, well, it's an organization that brings kids with terminal illnesses to zoos to interact with well giraffes and such. It's not a common thing so they want to give kids the chance to see these animals up close, they wanted me to be the face of the organization, how could I refuse. It's an honour to be considered, and to be chosen was an accomplishment and privilege."

"How sweet of you," I replied with a smile. He was passionate about this and I respected that. We rode the last few minutes in silence which was nice. He seemed to enjoy the calm before the storm of flashing cameras that followed. We pulled up to the giraffes and I turned off old Betsy.

"Here we are. The giraffes are ready for you."

The paparazzi would get here soon so he jumped out.

"Could I uh feed them before they get here?"

"No." I said getting out of the worn cart. I walked away, he seemed confused but I saw the lightbulb go off. I grabbed some lettuce and handed him a piece.

"I see your first response was false"

"No shit sherlock,"

It was funny because it was true.

We walked up the stairs to the feeding terrace and I called Khali's name and she trotted over.

"Watch your fingers dear, their tongues are rather long."

"Dear?" Shit, shit, shit. Habits, bad habits.

"I am so sorry, I forgot I was talking to a celebrity"

"Oo not that word, dear is fine"

What have I done. I'm flirting. No.

Khali was in front of us and Ben stuck out more lettuce. I got in close, unintentionally, not really, and gave him another piece.

"So before the cameras arrive can I ask you something?"

"Go for it"

"I have to know about these marvelous animals. And to be honest I don't know much at all, would you mind giving me a run down about them? Coffee? Something of that sort?"

I was stunned. He asked me on a coffee date. Sherlock, asked me, on a coffee date.

"Sure, I would be up for that, there's a little coffee shop near my apartment. Not to crowded, I know the owners. We could probably go without flashing cameras following you."

"Sounds great, here."

He hands me his phone. His phone. Phone. His. Lord I'm dreaming.

I put my number in and handed it to him. He didn't type my name, I have no clue what he typed. I heard the muffled conversations behind us and he prepared himself. He ran his fingers through his red and brown hair shoved his phone in his pocket and smiled.

"See you in a bit dear."

I ran down the stairs. Controlled the paparazzi and filed them in. Thank god for security. They kept an eye on Ben and on me, making sure they didn't ask me questions. I handed them lettuce as they went. I caught Bens eye a few times and he smiled every time and I rolled my eyes. He was sweet and normal. We got along. I mentally picked my wedding dress, wait what.

Note: this is backstory to get the plot started. I swear the good stuff is soon!