Chapter One
An Unusual Introduction
The sunlight poured through the windows of the small flat, making the occupants feel drowsy. John found himself dozing off several times at his computer, and then waking with a start. He had to get some work done today.
Sherlock was having one of those days where he simply sat in his chair and said nothing for hours on end, and honestly, John was fine with it. One day of peace and quiet was what he'd been wanting for weeks. No cases, no unexpected visitors, no bombs. Just him, coffee, and work.
And then, the inevitable happened.
Sherlock's phone beeped and he glanced down at it, not entirely interested, until he read the text. He then rolled his eyes and sprang into action, grabbing his coat and rushing to the door.
'Good heavens, I will never get any work done, will I?' John thought as he groaned and stood up, following Sherlock quickly out of the flat. Well, perhaps it was for the best--he'd have more to write about later. He would need to take notes, if at all possible.
"What is going on?" John asked, panting for ( )eath as Sherlock paused to hail a taxi.
"She's done it again," he muttered, getting into the backseat before shouting directions to the driver.
"Who?"
"My sister, of course."<( ) /> "You're...what?"
Sherlock sighed and shook his head. "I thought you knew."
John frowned, frustrated. "I can't do that, Sherlock, deduce somebody and know everything about them. You never told me you had other siblings, so of course I didn't know!"
"Oh. Well," he said, shrugging, "you know now."
John sighed. "Well, fill me in, please, I would rather know what's going on. What has your sister done?"
"Gotten herself arrested. Again."
"So you're going to bail her out?"
"She'd do the same for me, if she had the money."
John pretended to be shocked. "You have a sibling you actually like?" This earned him a glare from Sherlock and he looked out of the window so that he could grin to himself without being noticed.
"I can see your reflection. Quit smiling," said Sherlock, and John caught a hint of amusement in his tone.
"Dammit."<( ) /> Now it was Sherlock's turn to smile to himself. He remained in an irritatingly good mood for the rest of the trip, at the end of which he composed himself and pulled up his coat collar to look more dignified.
"Let's go," he said as they parked near Scotland Yard headquarters.
John followed his friend into the building, interested to see what Sherlock's sister would be like. Greg stood up when they entered and led the way to a small cell near the back of the room. "She's in there," he said, sounding tired. "if you want to see her."
"Of course."<( ) /> Greg unlocked the door and John glanced at Sherlock, shaking his head when he saw the look on his face.
He was enjoying this, the loser.
Greg opened the door and Sherlock walked in, John following closely behind. Inside the cell sat a young woman who seemed to be in her early twenties. She had long, dark ( )own hair and piercing grey eyes; John got the same uneasy feeling when he met her eyes that he did when talking to Mycroft. And yet; she was beautiful, too. Very much so, in John's opinion, and his cheeks reddened a little, causing him to look away.
"What have we done this time, then?" asked Sherlock, obviously trying to hold back a smile.
"Uh--well, uh--I definately didn't steal a few hundred pounds..."
"Very believeable."<( ) /> "And after that, I definately didn't knock out a police officer, take his clothes, and use his credit card to by a Starbucks..."
"Of course not."
The woman grinned, seeming very content despite the handcuffs around her wrists. "You're not angry?"
"Why would I be? You've been spacing these arrests out a bit more evenly nowadays. Very considerate of you, seeing as I don't always have the money to bail you out."
"I learned from the time I was stuck here for three months waiting for your paycheck. Mycroft stopped by to gloat a little bit more often than I would have wanted. Still," she said, sighing and pretending to be upset, "I did lose a bit much this time, though...I'm ( )oke, after paying fines, and I've been living on the street for a month. Don't really have anywhere to go after this because I can't pay rent. Still grateful for the bail."
"That's not an issue. There's a flat open just underneath mine. I can pay your rent until you get a job."
John shook his head. "Sherlock--are you quite sure we have the money for--"
The gazes of both Holmes siblings turned to John, and he found his cheeks getting red and hot again, his eyes constantly straying to the woman's.
"Who is this?" she asked, standing.
"My flatmate, John Watson. John, this is my sister, Ashley."<( ) /> "Yo," she said, grinning. "I'd shake hands, but, you know...handcuffs."
"I--uh--yeah--nice to meet you," John replied, going even redder and turning away quickly. He muttered silently to himself, irritated at himself for being so awkward. 'So a girl is pretty. You've seen pretty girls before. What's wrong with you?' he thought to himself. He cursed a little, hearing soft laughter behind him.
'I definately won't be getting any work done today.'
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