Spellbound

Chapter 5

That's How You Know

Mrs Hudson climbed to the top of a statue for a better view. Lestrade climbed up too, hoping to catch a glimpse of dark curly hair.

"I wonder if we might cover more ground separately sire," Sally said. "You by yourself and me with," she waved her hand at the rodent, "it."

"An inspired plan, Donovan." Lestrade climbed down wearily. He hadn't realized towns could get so big, it was slightly overwhelming.

Mrs Hudson started shouting, "Look, over there! It's him, it's Sherlock!" She jumped up and down trying to catch Lestrade's attention.

Her high pitched squeaks went unnoticed by the prince but not his footman. Sally looked out and saw Sherlock being led by the hand by a short blond man. Sally jumped, catching Mrs Hudson and squeezing so she quieted. The pair was coming this way; Sally needed to do something quick. "Look, sire! Over there!" She pointed to a lanky brunette walking away from them into Elder Gardens Park.

"Sherlock!" Lestrade shouted in joyous rapture and took off running.

Sally stepped out of the light and furtively kept watch on the twosome. She heard the blond man say, "I can't help you anymore. When we get to the flat I can give you some money and after that, you're on your own." And she heard Sherlock reply, "I don't need money, what I need is a wizard." Sally followed closely enough that she could hear, "Well, there aren't wizards here, or if there are I don't know any. Don't you have any friends or relatives here?" Sherlock snorted and said, "I don't have friends." The way he said the last word made it sound dirty. Sally wasn't fooled, she knew Sherlock wanted friends, he just couldn't get any. He was a freak.

John stopped and Sherlock walked into the back of him. "You don't- right. Fine." He let go of Sherlock and curled his hand into a fist.

Sherlock realized his error, "John, I didn't mean-"

"No," John cut him off. "It's fine." He took out his wallet and took out all the cash in it. "Here." He held the wad at Sherlock.

"I just meant: I don't have friends, I've only got one." Sherlock begged John with his eyes not to make him say anymore. He wasn't good at talking about his emotions, even singing about them was hard. It was one of the things that made him strange in Andalasia. Sherlock made no move to take the money.

That took the wind out of John's sails. He put the money back in his wallet and the wallet back in his pocket.

The two bickered back and forth but to Sally it sounded friendly. Sally noted that the blond man took Sherlock's hand again. The pair finally agreed that John would get some money then leave Sherlock in Regent's Park. Sally dashed off; if she was lucky she'd have everything ready when Sherlock was alone.

—-

John went into 221B and walked into his room to change out of the stuffy uncomfortable clothing he wore to Harry's office. Sherlock followed behind him and peered through John's closet making pained faces at some of John's clothing but wisely keeping his mouth shut. John ushered Sherlock out of his room and shut the door for privacy.

Sherlock was stunned. He'd seen the officer's uniform in John's closet, it was the one from his visions. Lestrade's uniform was red and Sherlock had assumed that the colour of the clothing didn't matter, that it was just an odd representation of the spell since everyone knew that all officer's uniforms were red. But not here, here they were dark navy.

After John was done changing he took the emergency stash of cash he had from its hiding place and started counting notes. He couldn't decide how much to give Sherlock. Sherlock's admission when they were walking back had startled John. John didn't have many friends either but seeing Sherlock so distressed made John wonder if Sherlock had ever had any friends.