Loving a Holmes

Henry Knight

Business had been rather slow since Sherlock had solved the case involving Irene Adler, a case that John had titled 'The Woman' when he had written it for his blog. I suppose that is rather fitting since it is all the three of us say when we refer to Irene Adler, which is very rare. Sherlock and I have since recovered though that has revealed some jealousy on my side, which still baffles Sherlock.

Since it had been very slow since then Sherlock had been doing anything and everything he could to fill his time. Taking on any case he could find and has been hyperactive, rude, arrogant, and a pain for John and I. But then again, that's just how he is normally. It doesn't help that he had been trying to give up smoking as well, once again, since he had started again after thinking that The Woman was dead. Promising John and I that he would quit cold turkey, this just made him itch for a case all the more.

One morning I had gone up to visit John and Sherlock, having just gotten back from a week-long visit to my parents. One that John was all too happy to point out was planned during Sherlock's peak anger and hyperactivity, in his emails keeping me updated on how Sherlock was doing while I was away. When I get there I look around the main area of the flat, expecting to hear Sherlock shouting or doing some experiment in the kitchen. "Well, he seems to have calmed down since I left."

John doesn't turn from his laptop as he is searching for a case that will hold Sherlock's attention for more than just a few hours or days, "He is not here. That's why it's so quiet." He turns to me for a moment. "Welcome back though."

I chuckle and sit in Sherlock's armchair, grabbing a book off the table. "Thanks. Has he been too bad?"

John shakes his head, his attention still on the computer. "No, he's just been more of himself."

I chuckle softly. "Ah.. so Sherlock without what little filter he has."

John nods and chuckles. "Yeah, that's about right."

The two of us continue chatting about Sherlock and my trip for a little while until we hear Sherlock coming up the stairs. Since the two of us had been either reading or trying to find a new case, we don't look over to Sherlock until we hear him slam something into the floor. Turning to see him holding a harpoon and covered in blood. "Well, that was tedious."

"Oh, dear God." John looks up in shock.

"You went on the Tube like that?!" I close my book and sit it back down.

Sherlock glance over at us. "None of the cabs would take me." Without another comment, he leaves the room. Hopefully to change and shower, before he closes his door I hear him call out. "Welcome home, Madison." John and I look at each other confused, almost as if to make we both saw the same thing. We wait for about twenty minutes until Sherlock comes back out, dressed in normal button up and slacks, but barefoot, with his blue dressing gown on. He paces from the window to the door, messing with the now clean harpoon he had earlier, as John and I flip through a couple of papers. "Nothing?"

John sighs. "Military coup in Uganda."

"Hmm."

I flip the paper of my paper. "Oh, um, Cabinet reshuffle."

Sherlock becomes frustrated and almost furious. "Nothing of importance?" He slams the end of the harpoon onto the ground, roaring with rage. "Oh, God!" He looks over to John intensely. "John, I need some. Get me some."

John shakes his head, keeping his focus on the paper. "No. Cold turkey, we agreed, no matter what."

Sherlock leans the harpoon against the table, clearly irritated, as I turn to him. "You've paid everyone off, remember? No one within a two-mile radius will sell you any. Or either of us for that matter."