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The Thinker Challenge	By : marksandspence Category: S through Z > Sherlock (BBC) > Sherlock (BBC) Views: 2251 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: This story is based solely on the television show Sherlock that airs on BBC1, written by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss. I borrow their universe to play in and do not claim any ownership or intend to make any money off of this fun hobby of m

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
- 7
Chapter 6: Mobile blues
John and Sherlock are walking down the street with purpose, obviously on their way somewhere.
“Do you know this neighborhood? Are you sure we’re heading the right direction?” John asks.
“We might be,” Sherlock responds.
“That does not fill me with confidence. Maybe we should do a quick phone check.” John stops and pulls out his phone. “Sorry, dead. Do you have yours?”
Sherlock sighs in annoyance. He pulls it out of his pocket and tosses it to John. He fiddles with it for a minute.
“You got a text.”
“From who?”
“SS?”
John offers the phone back. Sherlock hesitates a moment and then grabs it.
“We just have to make a left on the next street,” John states with some confidence.
“Right. Lead on.”
After a few paces, John notices that Sherlock is lagging behind.
“What’s going on?”
“Nothing,” Sherlock responds, unconvincingly.
“Then, come on.”
They set off again. After half a block, Sherlock slows again.
“What is it?”
“I’m feeling a bit peckish. Perhaps we can stop for a minute?” he glances into the window of a café.
“Ok,” John responds, now a bit concerned.
They enter the café and sit at a table. The waitress comes over.
“What can I get you?”
“Just tea.” Sherlock responds.
“But you just said….” John turns to the waitress, “A plate of chips, please.”
“That’s not going to help with the baby weight,” Sherlock offers.
“It was your idea to come in here.”
“True, but I didn’t order the chips. You could have gotten a salad.”
John just sighs and shakes his head.
“You look a bit flushed. Are you feeling alright?”
“Not sure. I was thinking, perhaps, that since we are…friends…that this might be an occasion to…Friends do, occasionally ask for advice in…personal type things.”
“Are we about to have a moment? Because I might just have to text Mary.”
“Your phone is dead. It is not a lucky coincidence. Forget it.”
“No. I was only joking. Yes, friends ask for advice. It is something that friends do.”
“I just don’t want you to make a thing about it.”
“You’re not going to show me a mole, are you?”
“The text. I got a text from a person…a woman…and I am reacting in an unexpected way. I suppose I could use your advice, since I seem incapable of responding myself.”
“A woman?” John enthuses, which elicits a glare from Sherlock, who starts to get out of his chair. “No, don’t. A woman. Yes. Sit down, Sherlock.”
After some hesitation, Sherlock relinquishes his phone.
John reads:
SS: Are you free tonight?
SS: You haven’t responded, so likely on a case. Don’t want to interfere if busy.
SS: Same to you if I make other arrangements? Fine here. Will wait for response.
SS: Probably.
“So, uh, give me some background here,” John asks, earnestly.
“I was going to respond, but I am unsure what the ‘probably’ refers to. Is she probably going to wait or is she probably fine?”
John stifles a smile.
“I know you are enjoying this,” Sherlock complains.
“Again, what exactly is she referring to when she says ‘arrangements’? Did you have concert tickets or something?”
“Sex. We meet up for sex.”
“Oh, right.” Again, trying to hide his surprise. “That does complicate things.”
“Why?”
“Sex is always complicated.”
“But that’s the thing. It was my understanding that relationships are complicated, whereas sex is not. Sex seems rather straightforward, hence its appeal.”
“Lets just cover the facts first, before we get into any of that business. So you meet up with this woman for sex. Is it a paid arrangement?”
“No, John, she is not a prostitute. Already regretting having brought it up.”
“Ok, so you have a mutual sexual relat…(Sherlock glares at him)…agreement (?). How long has this been going on?”
“I don’t know – a couple of months, maybe.”
“Alright, alright. We’re getting somewhere. How often do you see her?”
“Twice a week. Well, except for the past couple of weeks because she’s been working.”
John inadvertently mutters, “lucky bastard.” He quickly adds, “Anyone I know?”
“You’ve met.”
“Who is it?”
“God, you can be dim. I’ll wait a moment while you work it out.”
“Ah, the text. ‘SS’.” He thinks a moment. Sherlock sighs his impatience. Finally, John brightens, “Sio Stanton.”
Sherlock nods and then sneers, “Perhaps you are qualified to teach remedial detective work after all.”
“I thought you were taking a class with her.”
“It wouldn’t be a stretch to say it has been… instructional.”
John utters a juvenile sort of laugh/grunt. “So every time you said you had to rush off to class…”
“Brilliant deduction.”
“So what’s the problem?”
“Obviously, I am busy. It is not a convenient time. And yet, I find myself hesitating.”
“Are you worried that she’ll be upset? Women do, sometimes, give little tests to gauge interest, commitment – things like that.”
“Do they?”
“Maybe she’s testing the waters and you’re worried about her reaction to your choosing work over her.”
He considers a moment. “I never worry about other people. I don’t think that’s it.
“You actually sound unsure. Fascinating.”
“Of course I am unsure, hence the advice business. Pay attention. What are your other ideas?”
“Maybe you‘re jealous. Are you exclusive?”
“The subject never came up.”
“So on the days she isn’t with you, she could be with other men.”
“I suppose.”
“And that hasn’t bothered you?”
“I don’t think about her when she’s not with me.”
“But right now, you are forced to think about it because if you say ‘no’, she’ll find someone else. It’s all right there in the text.”
Sherlock blinks hard a few times, processing this.
“Primal. She talked about primal responses – I think she may have mentioned jealousy. It would explain the physical response – I’m downright clammy.” He gives a little shudder.
“It’s totally normal to feel that way. It would be stranger if you didn’t.”
Ignoring him, “Obviously I am not in my right mind, so you text her back as me. Tell her I’m working and…” He pushes the phone toward John.
Frustrated, John pushes back. “Just tell her you are busy, but in such a way that makes clear that you’d prefer her to wait. We really need to go…”
“Absolutely not. It violates the rules of our arrangement.”
“You can change the rules. That’s kind of the point, isn’t it? If you like her…”
Sherlock looks at him blankly. “It’s not about liking, John. Don’t push your misguided sentimentality on me. This is simply a rare case of my body responding independently of my mind. Now that I know what’s happening, I can take back control and…”
The phone rings. Sherlock abruptly drops it on the table and sits back. “It’s her,” he says in mild panic.
“What are you, 15? Pick it up,” John says as he shakes his head, trying not to laugh.
After an awkward moment, Sherlock hastily picks up the phone and answers it.
“Yes. Uh huh. Fine.” He hangs up without emotion and quickly puts the phone in his pocket and gets up to leave. “Shall we?”
“Well?”
“Well, what? We should probably take a taxi at this point.”
“See, the thing and friends and advice is, you are obliged to tell us the outcome. Especially when it involves sex and your friend is an old married.”
“Don’t be silly, John. Let’s go.”
“I’m not leaving until…”
“She is delayed and so if we wrap things up quickly…”
“Done!” John responds, hastily putting on his coat and rushing out the door.
- 5
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- 7
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The Thinker Challenge