|| Be Her Guard || Sherlock Holmes x Reader

|♢| Chapter 12 |♢| Girlfriend

"Good mornin'," when you step into the living room, you're greeted with the sight of Sherlock quietly plucking at his violin by the window and John sipping on coffee while sitting in his chair, looking rather drowsy despite it already being nearly ten in the morning. Finishing wrapping your blanket around your shoulders to keep out the cold, you send both men a smile, "how did everyone sleep?"

"Terribly," John yawns, but it's followed with a small chuckle," 'didn't get back until late."

"I'm assuming your date went well then?"

"Very; best date I've been to in a while."

"Well then, you'll have to introduce her to us soon," you sit down in the chair across from him, fixing your blanket once more," Sherlock, did you get some sleep, or did you just stay up all night again?"

"I got two hours."

"...Better than nothing, I suppose...I don't understand how you do it. I get less than eight hours and I can hardly get through the day."

"One of the advantages of being me," you smile at his response with a hum.

"You look like you slept well yourself," John comments with another sip of coffee.

"I slept very well, actually. I think this is the best night's sleep I've gotten in a while without waking up a million times throughout the night."

"Yesterday was eventful compared to sitting inside all day," Sherlock mutters, pulling the bow across his violin strings. Even if he's not too engrossed in the conversation, he listens a little.

"Yeah, I heard you two...went out. How was that?" John sits up more against the back of his chair, awkwardly bringing up the topic of your date. Who could blame him? Sherlock Holmes not only went on a genuine date, but he came back with a girlfriend who's apparently on board with the idea without being paid or blackmailed.

"It was...nice; took my mind off things," you admit quietly, your cheeks dusted with red, although, a soft smile graces your features regardless," Sherlock's quite good at picking romantic settings, I must say."

"Who would've thought Sherlock could be romantic," John jokes, causing the detective to roll his eyes.

"At least I'll be able to keep my girlfriend. What number are you on, John? Five within the last three to four months? There was Lucy, Abby, S-"

"-I get it, Sherlock, I get it..." John huffs while standing to his feet and heading into the kitchen for some more coffee, mumbling under his breath in annoyance," I'm glad you keep track..."

"John's a lady's man, is he?" you chuckle quietly for only Sherlock to hear, watching as he makes his way around to steal John's spot but not before he quickly kisses your forehead.

"I believe one would call him a 'flirt'," he won't admit it out loud, but it's pleasant being able to experiment with stolen kisses without feeling that he's making a clear mistake. For the first time in all his years of longing, you're officially his girlfriend which feels strange yet relaxing to know.

The rest of the morning is spent with everyone sitting in an enjoyable silence only broken by the melody created by Sherlock's violin. John mentions plans to meet with his girlfriend for lunch, but aside from that, none of you have anything else planned nor have there been any calls from Lestrade with new cases meaning the entire day will likely be the same slow going pace for you and your boyfriend. For once, he doesn't find himself minding a day stuck at Baker Street.

After John leaves for his lunch date, you disappear into the kitchen with the intentions of making yourself something to eat, asking if Sherlock would like anything, too, although, he turns the offer down while finishing up his song.

Finally setting his violin down, he heads to the laptop and checks his email, half expecting it to be a waste of time, however, to his shock, there's already a reply waiting for him. Mandible had answered far quicker this time around.

Luckily for you, Mr. Holmes, I'm still good friends with the warden there. I've gone out of my way to ask him, but he, just like everyone else, has said the same thing: Apollo's still being held. His sentence is far from over, after all.

Sherlock stares at the screen, rereading the lines repeatedly. He's still in prison? No, he can't be. Apollo's free. They've either made a mistake or have lied.

If the warden insists that Apollo is still being confined, then tell him I want to see and talk to Apollo via live webcam footage. This is not something to be teetering with. If Apollo is out of prison, Ms. (L/n)'s life is in danger and will remain to be in such until someone can prove with evidence that her attempted murderer is still locked up. If I don't see proof of his current status behind bars within the next few days, I'll be marching down there to get answers myself.

With a heavy sigh, Sherlock leans back in his chair, sending the email while rubbing his temples. Oh, how much he wants to throw something or shoot the wall, maybe even have a cigarette, but sadly, both you and John would frown upon any of those solutions even if they cure his busy mind.

It feels like everyone's choosing to see him as the same idiot they took him as the moment he had stepped foot into that courthouse six years ago. In that case, they might as well laugh in his face by continuing to doubt Apollo's escaped. They're likely just trying to cover their own asses which gives him all the more reason to piss them off by uncovering the truth.

"Are you alright?" He hums at your voice, glancing over at you as you walk to stand beside his seat, your eyes on the laptop screen yet he's already clicked off the page by that time, leaving you with no chance of seeing the email or its contents," something about the case?"

"Mandible replied again and I'm sure you can recall how much she hated me."

You smirk," you did make her look like a fool multiple times by trying to take over most of her work. Not to mention you brought up that affair her assistant was having with the defense-"

"-What like that wasn't obvious? If anything, I helped her find a better assistant who doesn't play two sides. Besides, Mandible was handling the case all wrong-"

"-Sherlock-"

"-I wanted Apollo behind bars. I was merely making sure that happened," he waves his hand, standing from his seat and towering over you," luckily, no matter how much she hates me, she's always had a soft spot for you, therefore, I'm sure she wouldn't mind pulling as many strings as she has to in order to help your case."

"Did...did she figure out why he isn't behind bars anymore?"

"Not yet, but I'll make sure we get an answer soon," you give a distant nod while looking down at your feet. You know you can't rush anything and that it'll all take time, but you'd also feel so much better if the answers you searched for came miraculously quicker than they currently are.

Sherlock takes a step past you, wishing to go work on an experiment to distract himself with, but before he can continue on his path, he feels a pair of arms wrap around his waist, stopping him in his tracks which causes some surprise.

From behind, you nuzzle your face against his back, holding him tightly like a child would to a teddy bear. Your voice is quiet, but he still hears your words," ...thank you for all of this and everything else you've done for me. I'd be lost without you..."

"Of course, you would," ever so slowly, he brings his hands to your arms, holding them close to his chest. In a whisper of his own as if afraid to say it, he adds,"...I've been lost without you myself."

Who knew being loved could feel so good especially for a high functioning sociopath...