Fight for Me

Chapter 26

John glanced uncertainly towards Lydia, "and you're sure that you're alright being here alone with him?"

"John, honestly, it will be fine. Besides, you have to constantly put up with him and deserve a break. Enjoy your date and please try not to worry about us," Lydia assured him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

To be completely honest, Lydia was a little nervous to be left alone with Sherlock. She constantly feared that he would start questioning her and that she would slip up; it was much easier to lie to him when she was still committed to hiding the Foundation's secret. Now that the group had discussed Sherlock being their key to getting out of this life, she was fighting the urge to tell him everything. But she had to protect her friends so she had to be smart with her actions.

"And you are completely sure about this?"

"For God's sake, John," Lydia laughed in light exasperation. "Go out and have fun, I really don't mind babysitting duty."

"Babysitting?" Sherlock inquired as he entered the room, looking at the two of them with suspicion.

John looked over at his friend, "yeah, I have that date, remember? I'm putting Lydia in charge of making sure that you don't do anything stupid."

"Ah yes, Abigail."

"No, Amanda," John corrected and Sherlock hummed but it was clear that he wasn't really listening as he plopped down into his arm chair with a book.

Lydia gave him a small smile, "good luck, John, I hope it goes well."

He sighed, "yeah, me too. Erm, just call me if he gets to be too much, I'll see if Molly has any body parts to entertain him or something."

With that John left the two of them alone in the flat, alerting Mrs. Hudson to the situation before leaving so that she could check on them every now and then. From what John had seen of them, they got along like cats and dogs, that was if the dog was constantly hounding the poor cat for information because he was convinced she worked for his arch nemesis.

But the evening was relatively uneventful for the two of them, something that Sherlock was absolutely despising. He needed a case or his cigarettes or something. He could feel his brain rotting as he tried to focus on the book in front of him. However it failed to provide the stimulation he needed so he threw it across the room in frustration.

"Careful," Lydia spoke up, reminding him of her presence. "You are going to break the binding if you aren't careful with it."

Sherlock merely huffed in response and pulled himself out of his chair, searching the flat like a mad man. Lydia frowned at his actions and asked, "looking for something?"

He ignored this question as he trashed the flat, tossing about everything in sight to find his cigarettes. Even though John had hidden his emergency stash in the fireplace once before, he checked that spot just in case. Meanwhile Lydia just watched him over the top of her own book, not making any effort to stop him or aid him in the search.

Mrs. Hudson chose the wrong time to come up and check on the two, nearly dropping the tray of tea she was carrying when she saw the mess that Sherlock was making. Gripping the tray a little tighter, she reprimanded, "Sherlock, this is no way to behave with a guest staying. I'm so sorry, dear, he gets into these states and tears the flat apart."

"Oh, I don't mind, Mrs. Hudson, so long as his aim remains accurate enough to miss me when he throws everything about," Lydia assured the old landlady with a smile. Sherlock's antics were just starting to grow less strange to her and she was just trying to take everything he did in stride.

Sherlock looked relieved when he saw his landlady standing there and quickly rushed over to her, nearly making her spill the tea for the second time. "Mrs. Hudson, you look absolutely wonderful tonight. Please, tell me where they are."

"Where what are?" Lydia tried to ask again, but was met with the same disregard as earlier.

Mrs. Hudson, however, was happy to explain the situation. "He's looking for his cigarettes, dear. But what he seems to have forgotten is that John doesn't tell me where they are, not since I let his hiding spot slip during one of Sherlock's previous episodes."

"John's not here, Mrs. Hudson, it's just us, he'll never know."

"Oi, I'm here, Sherlock," Lydia interjected in mock offense, but Sherlock just gave her a disgusted look. "And I will tell John, so you might as well back off of her. The poor woman just wanted to bring us some tea."

Sherlock had turned into a rabid animal and Lydia almost swore she saw him foaming at the mouth as he growled at her. "You wouldn't dare, you have no idea what it's like to have a brain like mine. It needs stimulation, not sitting around the flat doing nothing. It must be so nice having a mind so ordinary."

"Sherlock-" Lydia started, but was interrupted by the ringing of his mobile.

As though he were going to die if he did not answer right away, Sherlock immediately snatched his phone up and spoke, "Sherlock Holmes."

There was a brief pause in which Lydia watched Sherlock's eyes light up. She had never seen him so excited, nor had she grown used to how drastically his mood could change. She supposed he was a bit like a pregnant woman in that regard, though a bit more frightening.

"On my way," Sherlock finally replied, keeping his voice even in his response, but jumping up and down as soon as he hung up. "Finally! There's been a murder!"

Lydia raised an eyebrow at this, "is that really the way to act when you've heard that someone's been murdered?"

"Oh, don't give me that look. The game is on, Lydia!" Sherlock practically ran to his Belstaff, shrugging it on as he looked up at her expectantly, "well, aren't you going to throw a coat on, too?"

Lydia frowned and glanced over at Mrs. Hudson in confusion. "Why would I come? I'm an actor, not a detective."

"John's gone, so you'll have to fill in," Sherlock replied as though it was obvious, but Lydia noted how his face fell ever so slightly when she seemed hesitant to join him.

Although still confused as to what she could do to help solve a murder, Lydia found herself unable to refuse Sherlock. Perhaps his excitement to go to the crime scene which was rubbing off a bit on her, but she also found herself rather curious as to how Sherlock worked at an actual crime scene. She had seen him deduce before, of course, but this was different, he was going to be solving a case right before her very eyes.

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(A/N): And we're getting into some crimes! Do you think Lydia will do well as John's temporary replacement? I hope you enjoyed this chapter!