Sophia Holmes and the Inexplicable Matchbox (Sherlock/Marvel Fanfic) *Completed*

Chapter One

"Sophie, have you seen the news?" John asks over the phone one morning. "BBC One." As he talks, I turn the TV on and flick over to BBC news.

My mouth falls open as I see the pictures on screen. The Triskellion - one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s main buildings - is on fire, with the building looking to be structurally damaged. From the looks of it, some kind of aircraft was flown into the building. The headline beneath reads 'INTERNATIONAL SECRET ORGANISATION 'S.H.I.E.L.D' BRANDED TERRORISTS BY US GOVERNMENT'.

"What happened?" I breathe after a minute. 

"Some kind of battle, apparently," John answers. "I don't know, they're not saying much." The doorbell downstairs rings. "Has anyone contacted you yet? I thought someone would have told you."

"Not a word," I reply, still watching the footage. A new headline has come up saying Captain America is a fugitive. "They're clearly a bit preoccupied."

"Well I doubt they'll come after you, but just watch yourself, yeah? Don't go doing anything stupid."

I smile in amusement. "Oh don't worry about me, I'm the epitome of sensible!"

John snorts down the end of the line. "Yeah, sure. Look, I'm coming round later, so I'll see you then."

"Yeah, alright, I'll see you later." I end the call and stay watching the news for a moment, before it flicks over to a story about a French decathlete. As it does, I become aware of two pairs of feet coming up the stairs.

"Ooh-oh," Mrs Hudson says, knocking the living room door lightly. "You've got a client."

I turn the TV off, my back turned to the door. "I'm afraid my father isn't in at the moment, but I can take your case if you wish..." I trail off as I turn around to face the pair in the doorway. Beside Mrs Hudson, looking very worse for wear, is former S.H.I.E.L.D Director, Nicholas Fury. I compose myself quickly before Mrs Hudson can get suspicious, and give him a small, polite, smile.

"No matter," he replies. "I'm sure, from what I've heard, you'll be just as good."

"Take a seat," I say, then nod to Mrs Hudson to leave. As she closes the door behind her, I turn to Fury. "I've just heard what happened. What's going on?"

"S.H.I.E.L.D has been infiltrated by the very group it was set up to combat," he explains, taking a seat in John's chair as I sit in dad's.

"HYDRA?" I recall, and he nods.

"The organisation is in disarray, we don't know who's S.H.I.E.L.D and who's HYDRA, and to top it off, the US government have branded us terrorists and I'm dead - officially."

"So where do I fit into all of this?"

Fury puts a hand into his pocket and pulls out a matchbox. "S.H.I.E.L.D was recently made aware of a HYDRA experiment. We managed to acquire it, but we haven't had time to analyse it. Given the circumstances, it's no longer safe to keep this within the S.H.I.E.L.D labs. All we know is whatever it is, it's inside this matchbox." He hands it to me and I study it. From the outside, it doesn't look any different than a standard box of 'Ship' safety matches, yet it doesn't feel nor sound like that's what it contains.

"Do you know what's inside?"

"I've been told it's the inexplicable."

I raise an eyebrow, thinking through the possibilities of what the matchbox could contain. The size of it limits it greatly. "And you want me to find out what's inside?"

Fury nods. "Once we know what it is, we can contain it in the Fridge."

"Right," I nod. "I'll see what I can do." I look up to meet his eye. "I assume I'm allowed to share this with my dad and John?"

He nods. "So long as it doesn't go any further."

"You have my word," I smile.