Dancing With The Devil (part two)

Chapter 42: Emergency

After their reunion coitus, Astrid and Jim just lay on the couch, intertwined, watching the news. Astrid's eyelids began to feel heavy and she slowly drifted off into a sleep, only to be woken by Jim waking her up with a quick jolt to her shoulder.

"Look."

Astrid blinked her eyes open and sat up, eyes pierced on the TV screen. A reporter was standing in front of a large bridge. She spoke to the television neutrally and clearly. She spoke of a woman whose body was found and that she had been recognised as Amelie Chaudoir, wife of the recently deceased millionaire Lucas Hansel.

Astrid jumped off the couch, "I need to go, I need to go to her."

Jim nodded and stood up, "go to saint Bart's, that's closest to where she's saying."

"I can't just rock up there," Astrid sighed, hands on her hips, "I'll have to go to baker street."

"What'll you say?"

"I'll pretend that you manipulated me, or something," she brushed her hands though her hair, "I'll think of something."

And with that she left the room. Jim followed her into the lobby and watched her take a pair of boots and sit on a chair near the front door. She slipped her shoes on as Jim went to stand in front of her. He lifted his hands slightly to place them at either side of her face, stroking back her hair.

"Are you sure about this?"

Astrid nodded

"I love you." for some reason the words came out of his mouth as a question, he continued to push hair behind his loves' ears. Astrid continued to pull her boots on, Jim repeated his question, "are you sure about this?"

"Never been more sure in my life," she answered as Jim leant down into her face and pressed his lips against hers, she lifted up a hand as Jim deepened himself into the kiss and she softly stroked the hair behind his ear. She let Jim place another small kiss to her cheek and then stood up, with his hands still wrapped around her face, "Jim." She smiled, softly, "I have to go."

Jim sighed and kissed her on the cheek again, "I'm sorry I can't come with you."

"It's fine." She smiled and tilted her head to lean into Jim's left hand, "I love you too."

She smiled at Jim once again, before taking Jim's hands and removing them from her face. She smiled once more and dropped his hands to his side and left the house. She drove as quickly as possible into the centre of London, to a car park near baker street, then, she almost speed-walked to 221b. She anxiously rapped at the knocker, for it to be opened by a very apologetic looking Mrs. Hudson.

"Sorry, sorry, I was-" upon recognising Astrid her apologetic look turned to one of disgust, "what are you doing here?"

"I-I have to speak to Sherlock," she said, acting upset, "i-it's really important."

"Why should he care? After all you've done to him?"

"I-I can explain, and I will, it's just, I need to talk to him."

Mrs. Hudson reluctantly let her in and Astrid thanked her, before rushing into the apartment. when she entered the sitting room, she saw John, typing away at the computer, Sherlock stood by the mantle piece and a heavily pregnant woman stood, leaning on the table.

"Um."

The woman smiled at her, "hi."

This caused the two men in the room to turn around and look at Astrid, both of their faces dropped at seeing her.

"Hi." Astrid smiled, thinly, "listen, I know what this seems like, but, I promise, I'm not here to hurt you."

"What do you want?" John asked, forcefully, causing the woman to thwack his arm at his directness. John looked up at her, "you remember the woman I was telling you about? The one that stayed with us for a bit, but turned out to be working for Moriarty?"

"Oh my God."

"Yes that's me, hi," Astrid smiled again and looked at Sherlock, "I wouldn't come if it wasn't urgent. I need to speak to Molly Hooper."

Sherlock raised an eyebrow, "I don't think she likes you very much, you stole her boyfriend."

"He was never-" Astrid began and cut herself off, "listen, they found the body of Amelie Chaudoir this morning, and I would have assumed that it reverted to St. Bart's morgue." She managed to start to tear up, "just, let me see her again."

"Who was she to you?" John asked

"My mother."

"No she wasn't," Sherlock deduced, "you're name is Scandinavian and you're accent and 'fake name' are both English."

" Amelie was my step-mother."

"Fake name?" the pregnant woman questioned.

"Alexa Holton." John chimed in.

"That was a while ago, Sherlock." she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, "and I'm sorry for everything I did to you, but, I just need this."

"Is Moriarty still dead?" John questioned, out of the blue.

Astrid looked at him, and he raised an eyebrow. She nodded, "I had nothing to do with the screen thing, " it wasn't exactly a lie. She looked at Sherlock, "I already told you that, Sherlock. Now can we please just go to Saint Bart's?"

"Why should we trust-?" John began but was cut off by Sherlock.

"Yes." He walked past Astrid to the door and lifted his coat off the back of the door and swung it round his frame, "John, you stay here and look after Mary."

"Sherlock." The woman Astrid now knew as Mary interrupted.

"Mary, you look after John."

"Perfect."

Astrid gave Mary a quick smile before looking up at Sherlock.

"Right, come on."